Masood Azhar: Difference between revisions

In early 1994, Azhar travelled to [[Srinagar]] under a fake identity, to ease tensions between Harkat-ul-Ansar's feuding factions of [[Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami]] and [[Harkat-ul-Mujahideen]].<ref name=kashmirherald/> India arrested him in February from [[Khanabal]] near Anantnag and imprisoned him for his terrorist activities with the groups.<ref name=latimes/><ref name="kashmirherald" /> On being arrested, he said "Soldiers of [[Islam]] have come from 12 countries to liberate Kashmir. We will answer your [[carbine]]s with [[rocket launcher]]s" <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19940515-specter-of-subversion-looms-over-india-as-pakistan-sponsored-arms-mercenaries-and-funds-from-muslim-world-pour-in-to-destabilise-kashmir-809140-1994-05-15|title=Specter of subversion looms over India as Pakistan sponsored arms, mercenaries and funds from Muslim world pour in to destabilise Kashmir|first=Shekhar Gupta Rahul|last=Pathak|date=15 May 1994|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-05-02}}</ref> He was imprisoned at the [[Badami Bagh|Badami Bagh Cantonment]] in [[Srinagar]], [[Tihar Jail]] in Delhi, and lastly the Kot Balwal Jail in [[Jammu]] (from where he would eventually be released).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sachdeva |first1=Sujata Dutta |title=Networking in Tihar: How it works|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/networking-in-tihar-how-it-works/articleshow/1197888.cms |website=[[The Times of India]] |language=en |date=17 February 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=‘Still remember the day Masood Azhar was released,’ recalls former jailor |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/still-remember-the-day-masood-azhar-was-released-recalls-former-jailor/story-Tnbe4lODLSa0JGxLbWkSXL.html |website=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=en |date=1 May 2019}}</ref>

In July, 1995, six [[1995 kidnapping of western tourists in Jammu and Kashmir|foreign tourists were kidnapped]] in Jammu and Kashmir. The kidnappers, referring to themselves as [[Al-Faran]] (a pseudonym of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen),<ref>{{cite web |title=Al Faran |url=https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Al+Faran |website=[[TheFreeDictionary.com]]|publisher=[[WordNet]], [[Princeton University]]}}</ref> included the release of Masood Azhar among their demands.<ref name=kashmirherald/> One of the hostages managed to escape whilst another was found in a decapitated state in August.<ref name="latimes" /> The others were never seen or heard from since 1995.<ref>