| Sajjad Afghani | |
|---|---|
| Born | Muhammad Sajjad Khan Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan |
| Died | 1999 Bhalwal, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Burial place | Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Occupation | Militant |
| Years active | (1984–1996) |
| Organization | Harkat ul-Ansar |
| Known for | Militancy |
| Notable work | Soviet–Afghan War |
| Title | Commander |
| Movement | Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir |
| Opponents | |
| Family | Sudhan |
Muhammad Sajjad Khan (died 1999) was a Pakistani militant and Commander-in-Chief of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. He was known as Sajjad Afghani, due to his participation in the Soviet-Afghan War.
Early life
He was born in the village of Baibakh, Rawalakot, in the Poonch District of Azad Kashmir to an Sudhan family, who claim their ancestry from Afghanistan and moved to southern Poonch.
Soviet–Afghan War
Sajjad Afghani joined the militancy under the banner of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen in the 1980s. He was well trained and remained involved in the Soviet–Afghan War. He stayed in Afghanistan until 1989.
Commander in Chief
In 1991 he became Commander in Chief of Harkat Ul Ansar in Srinagar. In June 1994 he was arrested along with Molana Masood Azhar by the Indian Border Security Force. Lt. Gen. Arjun Ray, then Brigadier General Staff (BGS), described Afghani, a frail but visibly tough militant who had fought the Russians, as the "biggest catch" given his importance in militant circles.
Death
According to Indian sources, Sajjad Afghani was killed during an unsuccessful jailbreak from the high security Kot Bhalwal Jail in 1999. He is buried in Jammu Graveyard. His death led to the hijacking, by Harkat, of Indian Airlines Flight 814 in December, which led to the release of Maulana Masood Azhar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh (both Harkat members) and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar by the Indian Government. His body was also one of the initial demands of the hijackers.
References
- ^ "Burial in Jammu in 1999, police kills Afghani in 2011". The Kashmir Walla. 10 March 2011. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - "Sajjad Afghani | Shaheed-e-Kashmir | Rawalakot - Azad Kashmir", Sudhan Tribe History, 20 June 2018, retrieved 13 February 2019
- "Скачать sajjad afghani shaheed - смотреть онлайн". V-S.Mobi (in Russian). Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- "From a calm 'moulvi' to a dreaded militant". The Hindu. 17 October 2001. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- Anil K. Jaggia; Saurabh Shukla (2021) . IC 814 Hijacked: The Inside Story. Roli Books Private Limited. p. 138. ISBN 9788195124893.