A known figure from India&rsquo;s terror history has come back into the spotlight during the investigation into the recent Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 civilians dead. 
National Investigation Agency (NIA) sources have revealed that Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, the chief of the banned terror group Al-Umar Mujahideen, may have indirectly aided the attack.
Zargar, who was one of the terrorists released in exchange for hostages during the 1999 Kandahar hijack, is currently based in Pakistan. According to officials, his supporters reportedly helped overground workers (OGWs) involved in planning and executing the Pahalgam terror attack.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-orders-civil-defence-drills-as-pakistan-tensions-military-action-pahalgam-terror-attack-9037598" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Air raid sirens, civilian training': India orders civil defence drills on May 7 as tensions with Pakistan rise: Govt sources</a>
<h2>Kandahar hijack connection</h2>
Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar was freed along with Maulana Masood Azhar and Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh in exchange for the passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-814 in 1999. Though now he is living in Pakistan, Zargar still maintains influence in Srinagar, his hometown. His supporters, as per NIA, may have played a role in supporting the recent terror activity in Pahalgam.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-based-hacker-group-targets-india-again-claims-military-data-theft-idsa-denies-breach-9037739" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'WE KNOW HOW YOU THINK': Pakistan-based hacker group targets India again, claims military data theft; IDSA denies breach</a>
<h2>Who is Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar?</h2>
Known also as &lsquo;Latram&rsquo;, Zargar is accused of several terror-related crimes including abductions and brutal killings of those who resisted militancy in Kashmir during the early 1990s.
In 2023, Indian authorities seized Zargar&rsquo;s property as part of the crackdown. The government has banned Al-Umar Mujahideen, and Zargar was officially designated a terrorist by the Union Home Ministry in March last year.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/22-pakistani-women-in-india-gave-birth-to-95-indian-children-families-now-over-500-9037171" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;Checking for active ties with Pakistan&rsquo;: 22 Pakistani women in India gave birth to 95 Indian children; population now over 500</a>
Following the Pahalgam attack, several banned outfits have come under NIA&rsquo;s radar. Many individuals, believed to be linked to these groups, have already been taken into custody. In a series of raids conducted on Thursday, 21 homes were searched in Srinagar. This included the ancestral house of Zargar.
These raids are part of an intensified drive by law enforcement against former militants, overground workers, and individuals charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in light of the Pahalgam terror attack.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/how-pakistan-got-the-nuclear-bomb-india-pahalgam-terror-attack-9007958" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Will go hungry, but get the bomb&rsquo;: How Pakistan got the nuclear bomb? A story of desperation, fear, and rivalry with India</a>

India news: National Investigation Agency (NIA) sources have revealed that Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, the chief of the banned terror group Al-Umar Mujahideen, may have indirectly aided the attack.

A known figure from India’s terror history has come back into the spotlight during the investigation into the recent Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 civilians dead. National Investigation Agency (NIA) sources have revealed that Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, the chief of the banned terror group Al-Umar Mujahideen, may have indirectly aided the attack. Zargar, who was one of the terrorists released in exchange for hostages during the 1999 Kandahar hijack, is currently based in Pakistan. According to officials, his supporters reportedly helped overground workers (OGWs) involved in planning and executing the Pahalgam terror attack. Also read: 'Air raid sirens, civilian training': India orders civil defence drills on May 7 as tensions with Pakistan rise: Govt sources Kandahar hijack connection Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar was freed along with Maulana Masood Azhar and Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh in exchange for the passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-814 in 1999. Though now he is living in Pakistan, Zargar still maintains influence in Srinagar, his hometown. His supporters, as per NIA, may have played a role in supporting the recent terror activity in Pahalgam. Also read: 'WE KNOW HOW YOU THINK': Pakistan-based hacker group targets India again, claims military data theft; IDSA denies breach Who is Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar? Known also as ‘Latram’, Zargar is accused of several terror-related crimes including abductions and brutal killings of those who resisted militancy in Kashmir during the early 1990s. In 2023, Indian authorities seized Zargar’s property as part of the crackdown. The government has banned Al-Umar Mujahideen, and Zargar was officially designated a terrorist by the Union Home Ministry in March last year. Also read: ‘Checking for active ties with Pakistan’: 22 Pakistani women in India gave birth to 95 Indian children; population now over 500 Following the Pahalgam attack, several banned outfits have come under NIA’s radar. Many individuals, believed to be linked to these groups, have already been taken into custody. In a series of raids conducted on Thursday, 21 homes were searched in Srinagar. This included the ancestral house of Zargar. These raids are part of an intensified drive by law enforcement against former militants, overground workers, and individuals charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in light of the Pahalgam terror attack. Also read: 'Will go hungry, but get the bomb’: How Pakistan got the nuclear bomb? A story of desperation, fear, and rivalry with India

Pahalgam terror attack linked to 1999 Kandahar hijack? Here's how

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday (March 2) attached the property of Pakistan-based terrorist Mushtaq Zargar in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Zargar is the chief of the Al-Umar Mujahideen terrorist outfit and has been active in Pakistan since his release in December 1999 during the IC-814 hijacking.&nbsp;

Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar, also known as Latram, has spent considerable time in Indian prison and was released during IC-814 incident along with Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar and Omar Sheikh. He currently lives in Pakistan. He was released in 1999 in exchange for the hostages of the Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 that was hijacked from Kathmandu in the neighbouring nation of Nepal.&nbsp;

“In a major offensive against terrorists operating from Pakistan soil, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached the Srinagar based property of Mushtaq Zargar @ Latram, the founder and chief commander of &nbsp;Al-Umar Mujahideen, who was released along with Masood Azhar, the notorious Jaish-e-Mohammed chief, in exchange for passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines flight 814 (IC-814) at Kandahar in 1999. Zargar was also involved in the kidnapping of former union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s daughter, Rubaiya Sayeed, in 1989,” said the NIA.&nbsp;

According to the agency, Zargar’s "two-marla house (Khasra No. 182) at Ganai Mohalla, Jamia Masjid, Nowhatta, Srinagar," has been attached under anti-terror law UAPA. The procedure was carried out by a team of the probe agency along with representatives of district administration and local police.&nbsp;

“Zargar is a ‘Designated Individual Terrorist’ under the UAPA, and has been operating from Pakistan ever since his release and has been funding terror activities in the valley,” the central agency said.&nbsp;

According to an official statement, Zargar was earlier associated with Jammu &amp; Kashmir Liberation Front and was responsible for several terror attacks in J&amp;K. He has also been involved in other heinous crimes, including murders. He also maintained association with other terror outfits such as Al-Qaeda and Jaish-e-Mohammad.&nbsp;

Zargar was designated a terrorist by the union government under the Fourth Schedule of UAPA. He was arrested was on May 15, 1992, and was released from jail on December 31, 1999.

&nbsp;

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday (March 2) attached the property of Pakistan-based terrorist Mushtaq Zargar in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday (March 2) attached the property of Pakistan-based terrorist Mushtaq Zargar in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Zargar is the chief of the Al-Umar Mujahideen terrorist outfit and has been active in Pakistan since his release in December 1999 during the IC-814 hijacking. Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar, also known as Latram, has spent considerable time in Indian prison and was released during IC-814 incident along with Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar and Omar Sheikh. He currently lives in Pakistan. He was released in 1999 in exchange for the hostages of the Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 that was hijacked from Kathmandu in the neighbouring nation of Nepal. “In a major offensive against terrorists operating from Pakistan soil, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached the Srinagar based property of Mushtaq Zargar @ Latram, the founder and chief commander of Al-Umar Mujahideen, who was released along with Masood Azhar, the notorious Jaish-e-Mohammed chief, in exchange for passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines flight 814 (IC-814) at Kandahar in 1999. Zargar was also involved in the kidnapping of former union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s daughter, Rubaiya Sayeed, in 1989,” said the NIA. According to the agency, Zargar’s "two-marla house (Khasra No. 182) at Ganai Mohalla, Jamia Masjid, Nowhatta, Srinagar," has been attached under anti-terror law UAPA. The procedure was carried out by a team of the probe agency along with representatives of district administration and local police. “Zargar is a ‘Designated Individual Terrorist’ under the UAPA, and has been operating from Pakistan ever since his release and has been funding terror activities in the valley,” the central agency said. According to an official statement, Zargar was earlier associated with Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front and was responsible for several terror attacks in J&K. He has also been involved in other heinous crimes, including murders. He also maintained association with other terror outfits such as Al-Qaeda and Jaish-e-Mohammad. Zargar was designated a terrorist by the union government under the Fourth Schedule of UAPA. He was arrested was on May 15, 1992, and was released from jail on December 31, 1999. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NIA attaches property of Pak-based terrorist Mushtaq Zargar in India

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Pahalgam terror attack linked to 1999 Kandahar hijack? Here's how

NIA attaches property of Pak-based terrorist Mushtaq Zargar in India