Lashkar-e-Islam ( ur, لشكرِ اسلام), (''LI'' or ''LeI'') literally ''Army of

Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or '' Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the ...

'' also transliterated as Lashkar-e-Islami, Lashkar-i-Islam) is a militant terrorist organization active in and around Khyber Agency,

Federally Administered Tribal Areas , conventional_long_name = Federally Administered Tribal Areas , nation = Pakistan , subdivision = Autonomous territory , image_flag = Flag of FATA.svg , image_coat = File:Coat of arms ...

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...

. LeI was founded in 2004 by Mufti Munir Shakir. The most recent leader was

Mangal Bagh Mangal Bagh (1973 – 28 January 2021), also known as Mangal Bagh Afridi, was the leader of Lashkar-e-Islam, a militant group operating in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He was killed in a roadside bomb attack in Nangarhar, Afghanistan on 28 January 2 ...

. On 12 March 2015, Lashkar-e-Islam announced that it was joining

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan The Pakistani Taliban (), formally called the Tehreek-e-Taliban-e-Pakistan (Urdu/ ps, , lit=Student Movement of Pakistan, TTP), is an umbrella organization of various Islamist armed militant groups operating along the Afghan–Pakistani bo ...

. Pakistan banned the organization in June 2008.

History

On 17 April 2008, Bagh claimed that LeI has over 180,000 volunteers in Khyber Agency. On 27 April 2008, it was reported that a "Lashkar-e-Islam" has changed its name to "Jaish-e-Islami". It is unclear whether this is the same group, or another which happened to use the same name. The reports stated that this LeI is located in

Bajaur Agency Bajaur District ( ps, باجوړ ولسوالۍ, ur, ) is a district in Malakand Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. Until 2018, it was an agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, then during restructuring that merged ...

, and at the time was headed by Wali Rehman. *In October, a key commander of the militant group surrendered to security forces along with 80 of his men. During

Operation Khyber-1 Khyber was the code-name for a 2014–2017 military offensive conducted by Pakistan's military in the Khyber Agency in four phases; Khyber-1, Khyber-2, Khyber-3 and Khyber-4. Khyber Agency was among Pakistan's seven semi-autonomous tribal d ...

numerous militants had laid down their arms and surrendered to authorities. *On 10 November 2014, Official sources said that three key commanders of the group, newly appointed spokesman of the LI Saifullah Saif, Commander Ilyas and Commander Wajid, have announced that they were leaving the LI and have surrendered to authorities. Currently, Lashkar-e-Islam has its headquarters in

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is borde ...

. Senior Afghan analyst, Borhan Osman, said that the Afghanistan government support to Lashkar-e-Islam is an open secret. There are currently 500 members of Lashkar-e-Islam in Afghanistan. Residents of

Achin District Achin ( ps, اچين ولسوالۍ) is a district in southern Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, on the border with Pakistan. Its population is 100% Pashtun. Achin is home to the Shinwari tribe, one of the largest Pashtun tribes. It was a stro ...

in Afghanistan report that the Afghan government is generously hosting Lashkar-e-Islam members. The members of groups are allowed to host their group's flag on their houses. Similarly, along with militants from groups like

Tehrik-i-Taliban The Pakistani Taliban (), formally called the Tehreek-e-Taliban-e-Pakistan (Urdu/ ps, , lit=Student Movement of Pakistan, TTP), is an umbrella organization of various Islamist armed militant groups operating along the Afghan–Pakistani bor ...

, members of Lashkar-e-Islam are also allowed freedom of movement in the province and treatment on government run hospitals in Afghanistan. Afghan intelligence agency,

National Directorate of Security The National Directorate of Security (NDS; ps, د ملي امنیت لوی ریاست; prs, ریاست عمومی امنیت ملی) was the national intelligence and security service of Afghanistan. The headquarters of the NDS was in Kabul, ...

(NDS) wants them to fight against the Pakistani government.

Leadership progression

*2004: founded by Mufti Munir Shakir *2006: reportedly led by Haji Taj Mohammed, "member of the

Afridi The Afrīdī ( ps, اپريدی ''Aprīdai'', plur. ''Aprīdī''; ur, آفریدی) are a Pashtun tribe present in Pakistan, with substantial numbers in Afghanistan. The Afridis are most dominant in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal ...

Shura Shura ( ar, شُورَىٰ, translit=shūrā, lit=consultation) can for example take the form of a council or a referendum. The Quran encourages Muslims to decide their affairs in consultation with each other. Shura is mentioned as a praisewor ...

." However, a report from earlier that month refers to Taj as only "a spokesman for the Mufti" *2015: led by

Major attacks

On 17 March 2016 Lashkar-e-Islam claimed responsibility for a bomb blast on a bus taking government employees from remote villages to Peshawar Secretariat. The attack claimed 16 lives and left 53 injured.

Recent focus on Lashkar-e-Islam

*In 2022, LeI sent death threats to Kashmiri pandits in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. *In 2008, LeI sends threatening letters to industrialists in Khyber Agency *In 2007, LeI clashes with Pakistani government troops in Khyber Agency

References

{{Reflist Terrorism in Pakistan Jihadist groups in Pakistan 2004 establishments in Pakistan Organizations established in 2004 Deobandi organisations

History

Leadership progression

Major attacks

Recent focus on Lashkar-e-Islam

See also

References