‘Militant outfits change names, thrive in Pak’

The five Pakistani militant outfits, including Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), which were banned last year by President Pe...

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The five Pakistani militant outfits, including Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), which were banned last year by President Pervez Musharraf following mounting international pressure, are back in business with changed identities, a report said today.

After the initial crackdown following the January 12, 2002 ban, these five outfits are back in business with changed names and identities, Pakistan magazine Herald said in its latest issue quoting a report by Pakistani intelligence. Four of Pakistan’s top sectarian outfits have effectively regrouped and are operating their respective networks as openly as before though under different names, it said.

‘‘According to a report prepared by Pakistani intelligence earlier this year to assess the situation a year after the ban was enforced, the move has failed to check either the activities or the relentless funding of these terror outfits from all corners of the world,’’ it said.

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The military dominated government has been able to do little to stop the ‘‘relentless funding’’ from Saudi Arabia and other countries to the terror groups. JeM, which was formed by Maulana Masood Azhar after his release from an Indian prison, now operates as Khadam-e-Islam and its military training camps in Batrasi and Syed Ahmad Shaeed in Manshera and Balaskots are back in action, the report said.

Jaish’s finances are handled by five men from Lahore and Sheikhapura in Pakistan and the outfit has a network of donors from different countries, the report said. The report identifies the men who collect funds for the outfit.

Similarly, LeT is back in action with its leader Hafeez Muhammad Saeed busy touring Punjab Province to reorganise the group and recruit more jehadis.

‘‘The Lashkar donation boxes are also back in many cities, including the posh F-10 Markaz Market in Islamabad.’’ While Lashkar’s militant camps were shut down following Musharraf’s assurances to US President George W. Bush, Saeed continues to enjoy considerable support in military circles thanks to his friend and former ISI General Hameed Gul, it said.

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Azhar and Saeed were released after being under preventive detention for about 10 months.