Already fragile and struggling to show its presence in Kashmir Valley, the indigenous militant outfit, Hizbul Mujahidin (HM) has suffered a major setback with the arrest of militant commander, Mohammad Ahsan Dar. Police arrested Dar, also the chief coordinator of various militant outfits including the dreaded LeT, when he was trying to sneak into his native village Sumbal in Baramulla district. DIG, North Kashmir, AG Mir described the arrest of the militant commander as a major achievement that would break the back of militant outfit struggling to make a comeback in Valley. Dar is believed to have organized various attacks on security forces within the state and also in some parts of the country.

Mohammad Ahsan Dar formed the Hizbul Mujahideen in early 1990s as a pro-Pakistan outfit, advocating the merger of Kashmir with Pakistan. He roped in Kashmiri youth into the militant outfit and widened its network to most parts of Kashmir and some areas of Jammu region including Doda, Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtawar and Baderwah. Enjoying full support from Pakistan for leading from the front, Ahsan Dar managed to strengthen the roots of the HM in Kashmir Valley.

The militant outfit strives for the achievement of pro-Islam culture in Kashmir in the interest of Pakistan. And to achieve the Islamization in Kashmir, HM is closely linked to Jamat Islami preaching Islam in the Valley; the association with Jamat helped the outfit attain popularity in due course of time. Most of the cadres of Hizbul Mujihideen are in fact, drawn from Jamat.

The outfit's strength increased to more than 10,000 cadres after Abdul Majid Dar heading Tahreek-e-Jihad-e-Islami merged in 1991. There were around 700 militants of Hizbul Mujahideen fighting in the Valley in mid-1990s. However, the Ikhwans (militants turned pro-government gunmen) were responsible for killing many HM members reducing the overall strength of outfit.

Following his replacement in early 1992, Ahsan Dar left the HM and launched his own outfit, Muslim Mujahideen. Dar was kidnapped by the Hizb and lost his influence and so also did his outfit. Another faction led by Nasir-ul-Islam known as Jamait-ul-Mujahideen also lost its recognition after Nasir was killed.

Comprised of local youth, HM managed to have influence in most parts of Kashmir and some parts of Jammu region but with the decline in its numbers and popularity, it lost its influence to a great extent. Also, the LeT, known to carry out most of the suicidal attacks, emerged steadily in the Kashmir Valley and parts of Jammu region outperforming the HM.

Until 2000, the HM actually had some impact on the ground and showed its presence by carrying out attacks on security forces across the Valley. In July, 2008, that the outfit once again came into the limelight, when it claimed the responsibility of an IED blast at Baramulla-Srinagar highway that killed nine Army troops near Narbal. Barring this major attack, however, the HM had failed miserably to show its presence in a major way since 2000 with its members continuing to get killed or arrested. Frustrated due to the increasing losses suffered over past years and fearing for their survival, many HM members surrendered before the police and unlike the early 1990s, youth refused to join militant groups.

During past two years especially, the Hizb has suffered major losses in Kashmir Valley and also in some areas of Jammu region as its members were either arrested or killed during encounters. In September last year, security forces killed two HM militants, divisional commander, Mohammed Shafi alias Nasir-ul-Islam alias Delta One and district commander, Javed Iqbal alias Umar Gazi, at Ghat village in Doda district of Jammu region. In October 2008, two HM militants, Manzoor Ahmad Wani alias Tariq and Manzoor Ahmad Lone alias Kashif alias Doctor, were arrested from Natipora in Srinagar. Abdul Majeed Dar alias Bhambar Khan, a released Pakistan-trained militant of the HM, was arrested from Chogal in the Kupwara district in the same evening.

Ahsan Dar, a resident of Sriwarpora Pattan Sumbal has remained a close associate of top ranking militant commanders including Syed Salahuddin, Maqbool Illahi, General Abdullah and Ashraf Dar. He first infiltrated across the Line of Control (LoC) in 1984 and again in 1988 and returned to the Valley in the same year after receiving arms training. He was arrested in 1988 but managed to escape from hospital. He again crossed the LoC in 1989 and returned to lay the foundation of the Hizbul Mujahideen and become the chief commander. Dar was again arrested in 1993 and released in 1999 after serving his detention. He rejoined the militancy and returned to Pakistan, this time, also managing to carry his family across the LoC.

The arrest of the HM commander is viewed as a major setback to the outfit and it will further demoralize the weakened HM cadres. Meanwhile, the arrest has raised the morale of security forces to further intensify operations against the militants operating in the Valley