Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front

The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), founded by Amanullah Khan and Maqbool Bhat, is a Kashmiri nationalist organization founded in Birmingham, England on May 29, 1977. From then until 1994 it was an active terrorist organization with branches in several cities and towns of the UK, and in several other countries of Europe, USA and Middle East. In 1982 branches were established in Azad Kashmir and in 1987 in Jammu & Kashmir.

The JKLF claims that they are not Islamist, but are nationalist, and opposes the emergence of the territories into either Pakistan or India but rather wants the region of Kashmir to separate from the two countries and become independent. The UNHCR report claims that JKLF seeks independence of Jammu and Kashmir state from both India and Pakistan,. It had received weapons and training from its branches in Azad Kashmir and also from Pakistan military

Splits and reunification

The JKLF split into two factions after the group based in Indian-administered Kashmir led by Yasin Malik publicly renounced violence in 1995. Their counterparts in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, led by Amanullah Khan refused to do so, thereby precipitating a split in the party.