The Muslim Janbaz Force (MJF) was formed in 1980 in Srinagar by Firdous Ahmed Baba alias Babbar Badr. The MJF is supposed to be the military wing of the People’s Democratic Front (earlier known as People’s League) led by senior Kashmir leader, Shabir Ahmed Shah.
The outfit earned prominence in the world media when two Swedish engineers were abducted by the militants at the Uri Hydel Project area in 1991. The outfit also claimed responsibility of kidnapping Shabnam Lone, daughter of Abdul Gani Lone of People’s Conference, along with her friend, in January 1991.
The main objective of the MJF is to wage armed movement against the Indian state to achieve secession of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
As far the organisational hierarchy of the MJF goes, it is headed by an amir who is supported by a commander-in-chief, deputy chief, finance chief, military advisor and commanders. The first amir of the outfit was Babbar Badr. But due to differences with Shabbir Shah, Babbar Badr left the outfit. Badr was one among the four outfit leaders who was invited by the Government of India to hold dialogues on the Kashmir issue. Other important leaders of the MJF were: Mohammad Iqbal Kotwal, commander-in-chief; Mastrat Rafiqie, deputy chief; Bashir Ahmed Shah, finance chief; and Yonus Tak, military advisor. The MJF had also appointed Mohammad Usman as its amir in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK). He was also, temporarily, chairman of the United Jihad Council (UJC).
In the initial years of its formation, the MJF was believed to have strength of around 100 militants. However, the figure has been contested and contradicted by many. Majority of the militants in the MJF were local Kashmiris. Some of the militants were believed to have been recruited from PoJK.
The MJF has its headquarters in Muzaffarabad which used to be headed by Mohammad Usman, amir of PoJK. Training was imparted to its cadres near Afghanistan border. The MJF was highly active in the Kashmir Valley and Rajouri, Poonch and Doda districts of Jammu till 1997.
Besides its close association with the ISI, the MJF is a member of the UJC. The MJF was also suspected to be coordinating with various militant groups in J&K and rest of India.
The major source of funding for the MJF comes from the ISI. The ISI had deputed Col Assad to arrange funding and arms supply. This assignment of the ISI was carried out with the help of Abdul Hamid Wani who had earlier visited Pakistan along with Mohammad Akbar Lone, a lecturer.
With the arrest/killing of its cadres and release of Shabbir Shah who opted for a political dialogue, the organisation has not come to notice for carrying out military activities in the last few years.