PA RLIA MENTA RY LIBRA RY DEPA RTMENT OF PA RLIA MENTA RY SERV ICES

RESEARCH NOTE

INFORMATION, ANALYSIS 2003–04 A ND A DV ICE FOR THE PA RL IA MENT No. 36, 16 February 2004

Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Threat to

Introduction is a French Some of the more infamous national currently under attacks for which the LeT has investigation by Australia and been held responsible include an for suspected involvement attack on a group of Israeli in terrorist activities. Following tourists, an attack on Delhi's Red allegations that he once trained Fort in December 2000 (which with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and at the time housed Indian army knew people in Australia linked barracks), and an attack on the to the group, Indian Parliament in December Government moved to proscribe 2001, allegedly with another the LeT by introducing the Kashmiri group, Jaish-e- Criminal Code Amendment Mohammed (also proscribed in (Hamas and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba) Australia). As recently as Bill 2003. This Bill was passed September 2003, LeT militants and assented to on 7 November were said to have been planning 2003. to bomb Delhi's US embassy.8 Although the LeT may rail The Attorney-General declared against those nations which that the Government had received The Region support in the ,9 advice that 'Lashkar-e-Taiba has links (Source: Centre for Defence Information – CDI) the LeT is not known to have ever with Australia, and therefore does pose Activities and Tactics specifically targeted Australian a threat to Australia and Australian interests. The LeT is, however, reported interests'.1 Although the Attorney- The LeT first came to prominence in to be active in post-war Iraq,10 where General did not elaborate on the nature fighting against the Soviet occupation of Australian troops are currently of the advice or the threat, the Indian during the 1980s, deployed. High Commissioner to Australia also reportedly with the assistance of the claimed India had intelligence reports CIA and 's Inter Services Membership and Leadership 2 Intelligence (ISI) service. The CIA is linking the LeT with Australia. The LeT's overall leader is generally 3 said to have withdrawn its support Background following the Soviet withdrawal, but the regarded to be university professor Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, one of the Translated literally as 'Army of the ISI is widely believed to have continued 4 LeT's original founders. Saeed's Pure/Righteous', Lashkar-e-Taiba relations with the LeT. resignation as leader shortly after the (pronounced TOY-BA) is a radical It was in Afghanistan that the LeT is LeT was banned by the US and Sunni Islamic group based in Pakistan thought to have forged links with what Pakistan, and his appointment of which primarily operates in the disputed 5 was to become al-Qaeda. The LeT is Maulana Abdul Wahid Kashmiri as his Jammu and Kashmir region. Founded in reported to have first entered the Jammu successor, was seen as an attempt to 1989, the LeT is said to be the militant and Kashmir region in 1993. It is said to create confusion, rather than as a wing of Markaz Dawa wal Irshad be 'one of the three largest and best- genuine change in leadership.11 (MDI), a Pakistan-based centre for trained groups fighting in Kashmir',6 religious instruction, established in and the most brutal—the murder of Whilst the LeT's exact strength is 1987. The LeT is reported to be a more than 100 people in a 24-hour unclear, it is estimated to comprise some leading member of the International period over 1–2 August 2000 in Jammu 300 mainly Pakistani and Afghan Islamic Front, which campaigns against and Kashmir was attributed to the LeT.7 members. , one of two the US and Israel. detained by the US at As well as allegedly conducting mass Guantanamo Bay, is also alleged by the The LeT's primary objective is to murders and suicide attacks, the LeT to have trained liberate Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir reportedly possesses a range of with the LeT.12 No further evidence for and make the region an Islamic state by weapons, including grenades and this allegation appears to be available. incorporating it into Pakistan. It is also mortars, with which it has also staged Funding and Support said to advocate action within and 'hit and run' style attacks. The LeT against countries with non-Islamic typically targets Indian civilians, It is claimed that the LeT maintains governments. politicians and the security forces, and links with Islamic militants in the has attacked police stations, airports, Philippines, the Middle East and border outposts and public transport. Chechnya, and that Osama bin Laden is one of the LeT's primary financiers.13 would be surprised if anybody Indian agencies have reportedly tracked associated with the LeT 'turned up' in Hca/national_security/counter- LeT operatives to Kuwait and Saudi Australia.22 /H Arabia,14 and a senior al-Qaeda figure, HEntities_e.asp#30H (13 February 2004). The executive director of the Australian , was found in a LeT 6. US Department of State, op. cit. Muslim Public Affairs Committee, Amir safehouse in March 2002. 7. International Policy Institute for Counter- Butler, has stated that the 'LeT have Terrorism (ICT), Hhttp://www.ict.org.il/ The LeT is thought to be funded by the never…expressed any animosity inter_ter/orgdet.cfm?orgid=81H same networks of commercial towards Australia…it is difficult to see (26 November 2003). enterprises that secretly fund the threat that a Kashmiri independence 8. 'A Major Anti-terrorist Intelligence 15 23 Operation', Jane's Intelligence Digest – al-Qaeda, and whilst the exact amount group poses to Australian security'. Intelligence Pointers, 5 September 2003. of funding available to the LeT is Similarly, Clive Williams, a terrorism 9. The Sydney Morning Herald, unknown, it is said to have raised £2 expert from the Australian National 31 October 2003, p. 6. million in the UK in 2001 alone.16 University, says whilst the LeT may be 10. Courcy's Intelligence Review, 4 December 2003. Pakistani media reports suggest the LeT fundraising in Australia, its focus is on invests in legitimate businesses and India and it does not pose any real threat 11. JTIC, op. cit. assets such as real estate, in order to to Australia.24 He says the LeT 'would 12. 'Capture of Australian by Northern 17 Alliance', media release, Attorney- supplement its income. be unlikely to be interested itself in General (Australia), 12 December 2001. terrorist activities in Australia'.25 Current Status 13. JTIC, op. cit. and Public Safety and Conclusion Emergency Preparedness Canada, op. cit. Although still widely referred to as 14. India Today International, 8 December Lashkar-e-Taiba, the group actually re- There appears to be little argument that 2003, p. 15. organised and renamed itself in early the LeT is a violent extremist group, 15. JTIC, op. cit. 2002 shortly before being banned by the implicated in various attacks, but it is 16. India Today International, op. cit. Pakistani Government, possibly in an not clear in what sense the LeT poses a 17. cited in B. Raman, 3 May 2003, attempt to circumvent the ban. It is now threat to Australia and its interests. Hhttp://www.saag.org/papers7/paper678. officially known as Jamaat-ad Dawa Australia indeed seems to be an unlikely htmlH (13 February 2004). ('Party of Preachers'). location from which to wage a Kashmiri 18. The UN only bans those entities it is separatist battle. satisfied have links with al-Qaeda and/or Although it has been an offence in the . As Australia's current Australia since March 2002 to fund or It is possible that the LeT is acting on proscription powers only enable the resource the LeT, its recent proscription behalf of or in concert with al-Qaeda, as proscription of entities already banned by the UN, a separate piece of legislation makes it an offence to also train with, do many Islamic extremist groups, and was required to proscribe the LeT. recruit for, belong to or otherwise although links with al-Qaeda might well 19. BBC News online, 26 August 2003, support the LeT. The LeT is also banned justify banning the LeT in Australia, Hhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3 in Canada, the UK, the US, Pakistan and even the Government acknowledges that 181925.stmH (28 November 2003). the EU, but has not been banned by the the LeT's real target appears to be India. 20. Attorney-General's Department (Aust.), UN.18 Hhttp://nationalsecurity.ag.gov.au/www/ The proscription of the LeT reflects the nationalsecurityHome.nsf/0/F8712E5375 It is claimed that until 11 September Government's understandable and long- 1DBCA9CA256DDA00824828?OpenDo 2001, the US effectively ignored the held desire to be able to proscribe cumentH (28 November 2003). LeT and its activities, and that it was entities independently from the UN 21. The Sydney Morning Herald, op. cit. largely due to India's insistence that the process. However, it could be said that 22. ibid. LeT had conducted a series of attacks the availability of such a power carries 23. Scoop, 17 November 2003, Hhttp://wwwH against Indian civilians, that the US with it the responsibility of justifying its H.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0311/S0 began pressuring the Pakistani use. Proscription is designed to outlaw 0122.htmH (28 November 2003). Government to act. According to entities deemed a threat to a nation's 24. ABC Radio Australia, op. cit. reports, 'that pressure intensified after national security, but it could be argued 25. The Australian, 5 November 2003, p. 13. the December 2001 attack on the Indian that despite mounting media speculation Parliament'.19 over Brigitte's activities, the Government has never adequately According to the Australian Nigel Brew articulated the threat posed by the LeT Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Government, 'the LeT is assessed to be to Australia, or the need to proscribe it. Information and Research preparing, planning, and fostering the Services conduct of terrorist acts … with the Views expressed in this Research Note are intention of coercing, or influencing by 1. House of Representatives, Debates, those of the author and do not necessarily intimidation the Government and people 4 November 2003, p. 21910. reflect those of the Information and of India'.20 Whilst this might be true, 2. ABC Radio Australia, 7 November 2003 Research Services and are not to be Hhttp://www.abc.net.au/ra/asiapac/program attributed to the Department of the any implication that it also applies to s/s984882.htmH (16 December 2003). Parliamentary Library. Research Notes Australia is not widely supported. 3. Sourced primarily from 'Lashkar-e- provide concise analytical briefings on Tayyiba', Jane's Terrorism & Insurgency issues of interest to Senators and Australian academic, Dr Samina Centre (JTIC), Hhttp://jtic.janes.comH Members. As such they may not canvass Yasmeen, has stated that although there (5 November 2003) and US Department of all of the key issues. Advice on legislation is the potential for the LeT to establish State, Patterns of Global Terrorism 2002, or legal policy issues contained in this itself in Australia, there is no evidence p. 113. paper is provided for use in parliamentary 21 debate and for related parliamentary that it has so far done so. Similarly, 4. e.g.: JTIC. purposes. This paper is not professional Bashir Malik, former president of the 5. Public Safety and Emergency legal opinion. Pakistan Community Association of Preparedness Canada, Hhttp://www.sgc.gc.H © Commonwealth of Australia Australia, is reported as saying that he ISSN 1328-8016