Country Reports on Terrorism 2012

Embassy and ISAF headquarters in Kabul in September 2011, which killed 16 Afghans,
including at least six children.
In 2012, HQN’s attacks continued. Attacks included a June suicide bomb attack against Forward
Operating Base Salerno, which killed two U.S. soldiers and wounded more than 100; and a 12hour
siege of the Spozhmai Hotel in Kabul, which resulted in the death of at least 18 Afghans,
including 14 civilians. Despite HQN’s violent attacks, the group suffered a major setback in
August with the death of senior leader Badruddin Haqqani.
HQN has also been involved in numerous kidnappings in Afghanistan, including that of New
York Times reporter David Rohde in November 2008, who escaped in June 2009. HQN was also
behind the June 2009 kidnapping of Bowe Bergdahl, a soldier in the U.S. Army, who remained
in captivity throughout 2012.
Strength: HQN is believed to have several hundred core members, but it is estimated that the
organization is also able to draw upon a pool of upwards of 10,000 fighters with varying degrees
of affiliation. HQN also draws strength through cooperation with other terrorist organizations
operating in Afghanistan, including the Afghan Taliban, al-Qa’ida, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan,
the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Lashkar-e Jhangvi, and Jaish-e Mohammad.
Location/Area of Operation: HQN is active along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and across
much of southeastern Afghanistan. The group’s leadership maintains a power base in Miram
Shah, North Waziristan, Pakistan.
Funding and External Aid: In addition to the support it receives through its connections to
other terrorist organizations, HQN receives much of its funds from donors in Pakistan and the
Gulf, as well as through criminal activities such as kidnapping, extortion, smuggling, and other
licit and illicit business ventures.
HARAKAT-UL JIHAD ISLAMI
aka HUJI, Movement of Islamic Holy War; Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami; Harkat-al-Jihad-ul Islami;
Harkat-ul-Jehad-al-Islami; Harakat ul Jihad-e-Islami; Harakat-ul Jihad Islami
Description: Designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on August 6, 2010, Harakat-ul
Jihad Islami (HUJI) was founded in 1980 in Afghanistan to fight against the former Soviet
Union. Following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, the organization re-focused
its efforts on India. HUJI seeks the annexation of Indian Kashmir and expulsion of Coalition
Forces from Afghanistan. It also has supplied fighters for the Taliban in Afghanistan. In addition,
some factions of HUJI espouse a more global agenda and conduct attacks in Pakistan. HUJI is
composed of militant Pakistanis and veterans of the Soviet-Afghan war. HUJI has experienced a
number of internal splits and a portion of the group has aligned with al-Qa’ida (AQ) in recent
years, including training its members in AQ training camps. Mohammad Ilyas Kashmiri, one of
HUJI’s top leaders who also served as an AQ military commander and strategist, was killed on
June 3, 2011.
Activities: HUJI has been involved in a number of terrorist attacks in recent years. On March 2,
2006, a HUJI leader was behind the suicide bombing of the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan,
257