Terrorism Tainted Lashkar-e-Taiba Continues As A Major Player in Kashmir Earthquake Relief Effort

By Victor Comras

Numerous press and other reports from Kashmir indicate that Lashkar-e-Taiba, and its successor organization, the Jamaat-ul-Dawa charity have become major players in relief and reconstruction efforts for earthquake torn Kashmir. Both entities were founded, and are run by, Hafiz Sayeed. Lashkar-e-Taiba has been designated by the US Treasury and the UN Al Qaeda and Taliban Sanctions Committee as an al Qaeda support organization. Neither Treasury nor the UN have yet got around to designating Hafiz Sayeed or Jamaat-ul-Dawa.

During the first days after the earthquake priority had to be given to moving relief and assistance quickly to quake victims. American and European soldiers and civilians worked side by side with Taiba members in this effort. But this situation is beginning to change as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jamaat-ul-Dawa, along with other Jihadi groups in Kashmir increasingly turn their efforts again toward �jihad� and radical Islamic indoctrination and recruitment. Despite US and allied country contributions and efforts to win hearts and minds, Jamaat-ul-Dawa appears to be winning the highest praise and allegiance from local inhabitants. Ostensibly outlawed by the Pakistan government, Dawa has remained very active in the Kashmir region. The organization maintains well established social and humanitarian civilian support structures and is using them quite effectively to channel both assistance and their radical message. Their social centers, employment centers, madrassas and orphanages are reportedly again being used as Jihadi recruitment centers. And the Indian government is again complaining of a sharp rise in cross border terrorist incidents. Lashkar-e-Taiba�s was recently blamed for last month�s bombings in New Delhi.

Jamaat-ul Dawa reportedly has the best organized and disciplined setup in several areas of Kashmir including Muzaffarabad and Bagh. By one account they run a network in Muzaffarabad of some �350 of its jihadis members connected with wireless phones; 16 ambulances and mobile X-ray machines/operation theatres; kitchens to feed 3,000 people daily; motorboats to rescue people from inaccessible areas; an orthopedic unit under the supervision of Dr. Amir Aziz (who was arrested after the 9/11 for treating bin Laden and later acquitted by the Supreme Court).�

Jamaat-ul Dawa claims to be straining its financial resources to provide funding for its numerous earthquake related projects. But, the organization has also been successful in raising needed additional funds from outside sources. These funds reportedly come from local solicitation throughout Pakistan and in the Gulf and other Islamic countries. International organizations such as ICRC, WHO, UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, Khalsa Aid, and Singapore Relief Agency are also reportedly working with Dawa. Jamaat leaders claim to have canvassed every town in Pakistan for funds to rebuild houses and mosques. They also have sought and received considerable aid from other countries. Dawa's Director told one interviewer that his organization had received aid from Singapore, Indonesia and Turkey. Indonesian and Turkish doctors are also working as volunteers at several Jamaat sponsored hospitals and clinics.

The situation in Kashmir once again demonstrates the dilemma we face in dealing with active, but terrorism tainted, Islamic charities when they constitute an important part of humanitarian crisis relief efforts. This problem arises regularly as with the Southeast Asia Tsunami crisis and in places like Somalia, Sudan, Lebanon and Gaza where terrorist groups have established and maintain essential local humanitarian and social support structures. Dismantling these groups and building new structures to replace them still remains a remote option. Yet efforts are necessary to contain these groups and to restrict them from using their resources for terrorism related activities. The first step is to hold the leaders of these international charities responsible for their actions when they allow their charities and charitable structures to be used for the promotion of terrorism. Why is it that Hafiz Sayeed has not been designated? Holding these leaders responsible, and penalizing them, might be an even more important and effective tool then seeking to close down the charities they run. Another step is put increased pressure on their major contributors, including governments and other deep pocket donors that continue to draw false distinctions between their support for non tolerant extremist theology and funding terrorism itself. These steps alone could accomplish much in rationalizing an irrational situation.

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