Lashkar-e-Islam
highlights:
Key Members: Mufti Munir Shakir, Mangal Bagh, Zala Khan Afridi;
Operational Area: Pakistan, Afghanistan;
Size: 500;
Involved In: Bomb Attacks, Armed Attacks;
Connected With:
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP; “Taliban Movement of Pakistan”), alternatively referred to… [+]
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Connected Events:
- How Afghanistan’s terrorist groups are evolving under Taliban rule? Intelligence agencies worldwide are warning that Taliban rule in Afghanistan… [+]
- Lashkar-e-Islam terrorist group leader Mangal Bagh killed in Afghanistan Pakistan's Lashkar-e-Islam terrorist group head Mangal Bagh was killed in… [+]
- Afghan police forces arrested four terrorists including top commander in Pakistan Four Pakistani militants, including a key commander of the outlawed… [+]
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General Info:
Lashkar-e-Islam (also transliterated as Lashkar-e-Islami and Lashkar-i-Islam) is a militant organization active in and around Khyber Agency, Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Pakistan.
LeI was founded in 2004 by Mufti Munir Shakir. The most recent leader was Mangal Bagh. On March 12, 2015, Lashkar-e-Islam announced that it was joining Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan. Pakistan banned the organization in June 2008.
On April 17, 2008, Bagh claimed that LeI has over 180,000 volunteers in Khyber Agency.
On April 27, 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, 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 numerous militants had laid down their arms and surrendered to authorities.
On November 10, 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. 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 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, members of Lashkar-e-Islam are also allowed freedom of movement in the province and treatment in government run hospitals in Afghanistan.
Afghan intelligence agency, National Directorate of Security (NDS) wants them to fight against the Pakistani government.
The most deadly attack took place n March 17, 2016 when 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.
