An intricate web of covert operations, involving the CIA, ISI, and British intelligence, has surfaced, shedding light on how global intelligence agencies orchestrated activities in India’s Kashmir Valley during the turbulent decades of the 1980s and 1990s. The revelations, supported by detailed accounts, unravel a series of events that highlight the extent of foreign influence in India’s internal security matters.

The Backdrop: Jihad in Afghanistan

The 1980s marked a significant chapter in global geopolitics, with the United States and Pakistan jointly running a massive jihad campaign in Afghanistan against the Soviet Union. To counter the Soviet presence, Pakistan, with financial aid from the US, created several terror outfits. One such group, Harkat-ul-Ansar, emerged as a key player. Among its operatives was Masood Azhar, a cleric assigned to radicalize Afghan fighters brought to Pakistan.

Under Azhar’s leadership, these individuals underwent rigorous training in madrassas across Quetta and Peshawar. These fighters were then deployed to Afghanistan, where they engaged in direct combat against Soviet forces, contributing to the Soviet withdrawal in 1988 following the Geneva Accord.

The Shift to Kashmir

With Afghanistan freed from Soviet influence, Pakistan’s strategic focus shifted towards Kashmir. By the early 1990s, terrorist groups like Harkat-ul-Ansar were redirected to the Valley to intensify the ongoing jihad campaign. The infiltration marked a sharp increase in terrorism in Kashmir, with groups assuming new identities to suit their objectives.

Masood Azhar’s role became even more critical during this transition. Having worked closely with the CIA and ISI in the 1980s, his expertise in radicalization and organizational skills were leveraged to fuel unrest in Kashmir.

India Responds: Intelligence Bureau Takes Charge

As terrorism escalated in the Valley, India’s Intelligence Bureau (IB) ramped up its operations. Recognizing the need to tackle the problem independently, the IB recommended barring foreign nationals, particularly Westerners, from entering Kashmir. The Indian government implemented these recommendations, much to the frustration of the US and Britain, who sought intelligence on Kashmir to assist Pakistan.

Denied direct access, the US and Britain devised alternative strategies. Collaborating with Pakistan, they turned to Masood Azhar as a key asset to infiltrate India.

The Intriguing Entry of Masood Azhar

In an elaborate plan, British intelligence forged a fake Portuguese passport for Masood Azhar. He traveled from Pakistan to Dubai, then to Dhaka, and finally landed in Delhi. At the Delhi airport, Indian immigration authorities registered his arrival but flagged his suspicious credentials, alerting the IB. This initiated a meticulous surveillance operation.

Azhar’s movements were tracked as he stayed at the Ashoka Hotel in Delhi before traveling by car to Srinagar. There, he met Harkat-ul-Ansar operatives and visited Shopian and Anantnag, holding clandestine meetings. During one such meeting in Anantnag, military intelligence, acting on IB’s inputs, conducted a raid and arrested him. This significant breakthrough confirmed Azhar’s involvement with Harkat-ul-Ansar and his role in orchestrating terror activities.

Interrogations and Revelations

Azhar was interrogated in Jammu’s Kot Bhalwal Jail by officers from IB, RAW, and military intelligence. Throughout the process, he confidently asserted that he would eventually be released, revealing his belief in assurances given by the CIA and ISI before his mission. His confidence stemmed from the knowledge that his capture was part of a larger strategy.

Enter Al-Faran: A New Front

By 1995, as tourism in Kashmir saw a gradual revival, the CIA activated a new front organization, Al-Faran, ostensibly linked to Harkat-ul-Ansar. The group’s mission was to abduct Western tourists in Kashmir, a move designed to pressure the Indian government into releasing Masood Azhar. However, the operation’s true intent went deeper.

The abducted individuals, presented as tourists, were low-grade intelligence officers from the US and Britain. Disguised as tourists, they were tasked with intelligence gathering in Kashmir under the pretext of sightseeing. Al-Faran’s instructions were clear: kidnap and eliminate these operatives. This served dual purposes—gathering intelligence while providing plausible deniability for the CIA and British intelligence.

A Chilling End

The operation saw Al-Faran abduct several Western “tourists,” who were later executed. These individuals were expendable assets, with their deaths framed as casualties of terrorism. This allowed the CIA and Britain to distance themselves from the operation while achieving their objectives of intelligence gathering and eliminating underperforming operatives.

The Aftermath

Following these events, Al-Faran disappeared, later rebranding as a charitable trust. Indian intelligence agencies, including IB and RAW, pieced together the operation, exposing the extent of foreign involvement in Kashmir’s unrest. The revelations underscored how global intelligence agencies exploited the Valley’s volatile environment for their strategic interests.

Conclusion: Lessons for India

The case of Masood Azhar and Al-Faran highlights the lengths to which foreign intelligence agencies can go to infiltrate and influence a region. It also underscores the need for India to remain vigilant against such covert operations. Today, remnants of these networks continue to operate in Kashmir, raising questions about their affiliations and objectives.

As India continues to grapple with the complexities of terrorism and foreign interference, this case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of robust intelligence and strategic foresight.