Sadia Zaheer

Running Head: Crime and Terrorism Crime and Terrorism [name of the writer] [name of the institution ] [name of the Professor] [Course] . Compare and Contrast Crime and Terrorism Organization: The selected organization is Harkat Ul Mujahideen (HUM) based in Pakistan and the disputed territory of Kashmir. This was formed by a splinter group in 1980 of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI), a Pakistani group formed to fight the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The web site of Harkat Ul Mujahideen states that five people were responsible for establishing d Harkat Ul Mujahideen in 1985. By the end of the Soviet Afghan war in 1989-90 the group went into Kashmir through militants under the leadership of Sajjad Afghani. In 1993 the group amalgamated with Harkat ul Jehad al Islami to form Harkat ul Ansar subsequently, India arrested three key members of Harkat ul Ansar: in Novemebr 1993 Nasrullah Mansur Langaryal, former chief of the Harkat ul Mujahideen, and in February 1994 Maulana Masood Azhar, General Secretary of HUM and Sajjad Afghani (Sajjad Sajid). In retaliation, the group kidnapped several people in an effort to barter with the Indian government. These attempts were not successful however. The group then linked with the Kashmiri group of Al Faran which kidnapped five Western tourists in July 1995. One of the kidnapped was Hans Christian Ostrø, who was executed in August 1995 and the other four victims reportedly were killed in December 1995. In 1997, the United States listed Harkat ul Ansar as a terrorist organization and the faction of Harkat ul Mujahideen re emerged. In 1999 the group initiated a jail break during which Sajjad Afghani was killed and the group hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814 in December. This successfully resulted in the successful negotiated liberation of Maulana Masood Azhar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar. However, Maulana Masood Azhar split away from Harkat Ul Mujahideen to form a more radical group by the name of Jaish e Mohammad. Since this event the group has not committed any major terrorist activity. The organization was listed as banned organization after the September 11 attacks in 2001. Harkat Ul Mujahideen is known to have thousands of armed supporters in the Pakistan side of occupied kashmir as well as in the Indian occupied side of it. In addition, the supporters of Harkat Ul Mujahideen are also present in the Doda region of India. The supporters are known to have assault rifles, light and heavy machine guns, rocket launchers, explosives and mortars. Some of former militants have defected to Jaish e Mohammad along with Maulana Masood Azhar. Headquarters or bases of the group are assumed to be in Muzaffarabad in Kashmir, as well as in Rawalpindi Pakistan. In addition most other towns in Pakistan have bases. Main source of recruits are from the conflict zone of Kashmir and activities are also restricted to the disputed territory of Kashmir. However in 2005, the organization was also banned from operating in the United Kingdom with membership carrying a sentence of 10 years in prison. Planning Counterterrorist Strategy Study of the web site of Harkat Ul Mujahideen shows that the group is focused on the liberation of Kashmir and is willing to sacrifice further lives and take any steps necessary to do so. The group is also fixated on Jewish crimes or injustices, along with other factions of muslims that are not supporting the cause of the liberation of Kashmir. Counter terrorism is difficult because the group is dedicated and willing to sacrifice lives. But what makes it a good target to neutralize is the fact that subsequent ot the hijacking, there have not been any major terrorism incident directly linked to Harkat Ul Mujahideen. Motivations of terrorists and violent criminals In the overall perspective, both terrorists and criminals share similar motivations, while criminals commit crimes to achieve personal or selfish motives, mostly terrorist organizations attract recruits with lofty ambitions. They are tempted towards fighting for their countries liberation, freedom of the oppressed etc. in the case of their being muslims, they are also attracted and motivated to achieve death in “jihad” which is a holy war that grants instant heaven. Cultural, Socioeconomic, Political Factors Behind Terrorists Most terrorist groups listed are trying to achieve some political goal, either the liberation from occupation, with main conflict zones being Afghanistan, Palestine, Kashmir, etc. most of the groups listed are striving for the liberation of these countries from foreign occupation and control. Seen from a neutral point of view such a motive is a genuine one and can be the reason why these groups have local support and ample supply of recruits. However, criminals usually commit crimes for base motives like pleasure, profit, etc. there are less political factors in crime as compared to terrorism and more of socioeconomic factors influencing crime. Conclusion: All in all terrorist can be assumed to be loftier criminals as they apparently have better motivating factors like liberation of their country, defeating a real or perceived enemy, driving out the occupying force. Mainly terrorists seem to be criminals with a cause as they commit the crimes with the objective to moving closer to their desired goal of freedom or death as a martyr.   Reference Author Unknown, (April 2009) Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Author unknown, link accessed June 23 2009. http://www.harkatulmujahideen.org/