The Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), founded in 1964, is the oldest, best armed and best organized separatist organization and in Kashmir. It spearheaded the movement for the independence of Kashmir. The JKLF and its student wing, the Jammu & Kashmir Student Liberation Front (JKSLF), have been involved in kidnappings and killings over the last two years and were banned in April 1990. The JKLF targets Indian officials, Muslims perceived to be insufficiently sympathetic to independence of Kashmir, suspected informers and civil servants. For further information on executions, kidnappings, assaults and threats by the JKLF or its youth wing, please refer to the Asia Watch report Kashmir Under Siege (May 1991), the 13 April 1990 issue of The Washington Post and the 7 July 1990 issue of The Xinhua General Overseas News Service.
The press has mentioned a few JKLF leaders. Ashfaq Majid Wani, the JKLF army commander considered a top ideologue and strategist, was killed during a clash with Indian troops in March 1990 (The New York Times 31 March 1990; Reuters 30 March 1990). Yasmin Malik, another JKLF military commander, was arrested in Srinagar in August 1990 (Reuters 7 Aug. 1990). In April 1990, Amanullah Khan, the leader of the Pakistan-based JKLF, ordered, while he was in the United States, the execution of three kidnapped persons in Kashmir. The Indian government is seeking the extradition of Khan from the United States for allegedly directing the activities of "terrorist elements" in Kashmir (The Independent 20 April 1990; The Washington Post 13 April 1990). Follow-up information on the extradition of Khan is currently unavailable to the IRBDC.
Little information on the activities of the JKLF in 1991 is currently available to the IRBDC. In April 1991, a breakaway faction of the JKSLF kidnapped the daughter of a prominent Kashmiri politician (Reuters 1 April 1991). In recent months, the JKLF has complained that Pakistan's Intelligence agencies are pouring weapons and money into pro-Pakistan Islamic factions in Kashmir (The Washington Post 22 Sept. 1991).
For further information, please refer to the attached documents.

Asia Watch. May 1991. Human Rights in India: Kashmir Under Siege. New York: Human Rights Watch.

The Independent. 20 April 1990. Tony Allen-Mills. "Indian Troops Massed on Pakistan Border."

The New York Times. 31 March 1990. Sanjoy Hazarika. "Liberation Leader and 10 Others Slain in Kashmir."
Reuters. 1 April 1991. "Swedish Engineer Kidnapped in Kashmir."
_____. 7 August 1990. Yusuf Jameel. "Indian Security Forces Kill 11 Civilians, Police Say."
_____. 30 March 1990. Yusuf Jameel. "Top Kashmiri Militants Killed in Gunbattle."

The Washington Post. 22 September 1991. Steve Coll. "Kashmiri Radicals Step Up Campaign Against India."
_____. 13 April 1990. Steve Coll. "Indian Troops, Separatist Violence Aggravate Kashmir Crisis."

The Xinhua General Overseas News Service. 7 July 1990. "Two Militants' Release Demanded in Exchange for Son of Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar, India."

Asia Watch. May 1991. Human Rights in India: Kashmir Under Siege. New York: Human Rights Watch.

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 4 December 1990. "Kashmir Liberation Front Flushing Out Fake Militant Outfits."
The Independent. 20 April 1990. Tony Allen-Mills. "Indian Troops Massed on Pakistan Border."

The New York Times. 31 March 1990. Sanjoy Hazarika. "Liberation Leader and 10 Others Slain in Kashmir."
Reuters. 1 April 1991. "Swedish Engineer Kidnapped in Kashmir."
_____. 7 August 1990. Yusuf Jameel. "Indian Security Forces Kill 11 Civilians, Police Say."
_____. 30 March 1990. Yusuf Jameel. "Top Kashmiri Militants Killed in Gunbattle."

The Washington Post. 22 September 1991. Steve Coll. "Kashmiri Radicals Step Up Campaign Against India."
_____. 13 April 1990. Steve Coll. "Indian Troops, Separatist Violence Aggravate Kashmir Crisis."

The Xinhua General Overseas News Service. 7 July 1990. "Two Militants' Release Demanded in Exchange for Son of Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar, India."