Hizbul Mujahideen shifts Kashmir strategy with Pakistani recruits, ISI-backed separatist push
Synopsis
Hizbul Mujahideen's Kashmir revival plan has a telling detail: it now relies more on Pakistani recruits than local Kashmiris — a sign, officials say, that grassroots support has eroded. With ISI redirecting focus after Operation Sindoor sidelined JeM and LeT is tied up domestically, Hizbul's twin-track push of infiltration and separatist propaganda poses a threat that intelligence officials warn could be more corrosive than direct militant strikes.
Key Takeaways
Hizbul Mujahideen is now recruiting more Pakistani nationals than local Kashmiris, according to Intelligence Bureau officials.
Nearly 100 Hizbul Mujahideen militants are reportedly waiting at Pakistan-occupied Kashmir launch pads to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir .
A strategy meeting was held on 8 July to mark the death anniversary of Burhan Wani , covering recruitment and operations.
The ISI is pushing Hizbul Mujahideen to fill the operational vacuum left by JeM 's inactivity post Operation Sindoor and LeT 's domestic redeployment.
Outfit chief Syed Salahuddin has reportedly been directed to intensify separatist propaganda in the Valley alongside militant recruitment.
Officials warn the separatist revival push could prove more dangerous than direct terror strikes.
Hizbul Mujahideen, long projected as a home-grown militant outfit in Jammu and Kashmir, has sharply pivoted its strategy — moving away from local recruitment toward Pakistani nationals and reviving a separatist propaganda drive, according to Intelligence Bureau officials. The shift, flagged on 11 July, signals a calculated reset by the outfit under sustained pressure from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The Recruitment Shift
An Intelligence Bureau official confirmed that the composition of Hizbul Mujahideen's ranks has changed markedly, with Pakistani fighters now outnumbering local Kashmiri recruits. 'This clearly shows that the local Kashmiris no longer want to be part of this outfit; hence a decision to recruit Pakistanis in large numbers has been taken,' the official said. The outfit is headquartered in Muzaffarabad, in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), and has reportedly been under mounting pressure from the Pakistani establishment to regroup and resume operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Burhan Wani Meeting and What Was Discussed
On 8 July, members of the outfit convened a meeting to mark the death anniversary of slain commander Burhan Wani. Discussions reportedly covered recruitment targets, operational strategy, and infiltration planning. According to officials, nearly 100 Hizbul Mujahideen militants are currently waiting at launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, ready to attempt infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir.
Why ISI Is Pushing Hizbul Now
The renewed focus on Hizbul Mujahideen is partly a consequence of the operational setbacks faced by other Pakistan-backed groups. Post Operation Sindoor, the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has remained largely inactive, with its top leadership reportedly missing in action. Meanwhile, the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has been redirected by Pakistani authorities to counter domestic threats — specifically the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). 'The Pakistani establishment is engaging the Lashkar-e-Taiba in the various trouble-torn regions in Pakistan,' a second official said. With LeT occupied internally, the ISI is reportedly leaning on Hizbul Mujahideen to fill the operational vacuum in the Valley.
The Separatist Angle: A Deeper Threat
Officials caution that the more consequential element of Hizbul Mujahideen's revival plan may not be direct militant strikes but a deliberate effort to reignite separatist sentiment in Jammu and Kashmir. The outfit's top leadership, led by Syed Salahuddin, has reportedly been directed to intensify propaganda operations and identify individuals in the Union Territory who can reintroduce separatist narratives. Historically, separatism has served as a key radicalisation pipeline — with separatist leaders accused of encouraging stone-pelting and steering youth toward armed militancy. 'This move would be more dangerous when compared to actual terror strikes,' one official noted. This is not the first such attempt; Hizbul Mujahideen has a documented history of deploying propaganda as a force multiplier alongside armed operations.
Security Assessment and What Comes Next
Despite the outfit's heavy losses at the hands of Indian security forces since 2016, officials say the renewed push cannot be dismissed. Hizbul Mujahideen's revival strategy rests on two pillars: inducting Pakistani nationals as fighters and rebuilding a local separatist support base in the Valley. Indian security agencies are reportedly tracking both the infiltration threat from PoK launch pads and the propaganda networks being activated within Jammu and Kashmir. How effectively the outfit can translate ISI pressure into operational capacity on the ground will be the defining question in the months ahead.
Point of View
While a slow rebuild of separatist networks is harder to detect and dismantle. The ISI's play here is less about immediate violence and more about re-seeding the ideological conditions that made militancy viable in the first place — a longer game that Indian agencies will need to counter on political and social terrain, not just the security grid.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Hizbul Mujahideen now recruiting Pakistani nationals instead of local Kashmiris?
According to Intelligence Bureau officials, local Kashmiris have largely stopped joining the outfit, forcing Hizbul Mujahideen to turn to Pakistani recruits to rebuild its ranks. Officials say this reflects the erosion of the group's grassroots support in Jammu and Kashmir following sustained counter-terror operations since 2016.
What role is the ISI playing in Hizbul Mujahideen's revival?
Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is reportedly directing Hizbul Mujahideen to relaunch operations in Jammu and Kashmir. With Jaish-e-Mohammed weakened post Operation Sindoor and Lashkar-e-Taiba redeployed to counter domestic threats inside Pakistan, the ISI is leaning on Hizbul to fill the operational gap in the Valley.
How many Hizbul Mujahideen militants are ready to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir?
According to officials, nearly 100 Hizbul Mujahideen militants are reportedly waiting at launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), prepared to attempt infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir.
What is the separatist revival plan and why do officials consider it dangerous?
Hizbul Mujahideen's leadership, led by Syed Salahuddin, has reportedly been directed to identify individuals in Jammu and Kashmir who can reintroduce separatist narratives and intensify propaganda in the Valley. Officials say this is potentially more dangerous than direct militant strikes, as separatism has historically served as a key radicalisation pipeline driving youth toward armed militancy.
What happened at the Burhan Wani death anniversary meeting on 8 July?
On 8 July, Hizbul Mujahideen members held a meeting to commemorate the death anniversary of slain commander Burhan Wani at its Muzaffarabad headquarters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Discussions reportedly covered recruitment strategy, future operations, and infiltration planning into Jammu and Kashmir.
