The 313 Brigade is al Qaeda's military arm in Pakistan. [1]
Its members include the Taliban and allied jihadist groups, such as
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, Lashkar-e-Taiba,
Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Jundallah. [2]
Its name is derived from the 313 companions who fought with the Prophet
Mohammed in the Battle of Badr. [3]
The group has been associated with multiple assassination attempts
against Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Gilani. [4]
It has also allegedly conducted several attacks on Pakistani military
buildings, particularly an assault and siege of the military
headquarters in Rawalpindi in December 2009. [5]
313 has been known to recruit senior Pakistani military and
intelligence personnel. [6]
Other related attacks include an assault on a naval base in Karachi,
the assassination of General Faisal Alvi - after he threatened to
expose high-ranking government employees' ties to the Taliban - and a
suicide attack against government and security operations in Khost,
Afghanistan. [7]
Ilyas Kashmiri was the Brigade's highest-profile leader. [8]
Kashmiri was also the leader of Lashkar-e-Zil and affiliated with
Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami. [9]
After Kashmiri's reported death, Shah Sahib became the new leader of
the Brigade. [10]
The group had an online presence as of July 2010. [11]
Leadership
Ilyas Kashmiri (Unknown to August 2011): Kashmiri was the first leader of 313 brigade. Kashmiri was also the leader of Lashkar-e-Zil and affiliated with Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami.[12]
Shah Sahib (August 2011 to Unknown): After Kashmiri's reported death, Shah Sahib became 313's leader.[13]
Ideology & Goals
313 Brigade is ideologically more aligned with Al-Qaeda than Kashmiri groups. While there have been no official pronouncements on what the goals of the group are, it has sought to attack US and Pakistani state assets in concert with Al-Qaeda's leadership.
Designated/Listed
The group's leader, Ilyas Kashmiri, was designated as a terrorist by the U.S. in 2010. [14] Kashmiri was also added to the United Nations' 1267 Committee designated terrorists list. [15]
Resources
After Kashmiri's 2010 designation as a terrorist, the US could pursue freezing his personal bank accounts. [16]
Major Attacks
2003: The Brigade claimed responsibility for an unsuccessful attempted assassination of President Musharraf. (unknown).[17]
2008: The group has been associated with the assassination of General Faisal Alvi, after he threatened to expose high-ranking government employees' ties to the Taliban. (1 death).[18]
2009: The 313 Brigade has allegedly conducted several attacks on Pakistani military buildings, particularly an assault and siege of the military headquarters in Rawalpindi in December 2009. (17 deaths).[19]
2009: The Brigade appears to have conducted a multi-pronged suicide attack against government and security installations in Khost, Afghanistan. (unknown).[20]
2011: The Brigade has been associated with an attack on a Karachi naval base similar in style to the Rawalpindi. Several hostages were taken. (14 deaths (4 of which were terrorists)).[21]
Relationships with Other Groups
313 Brigade is an active affiliate of Al-Qaeda. It has members from the Taliban and allied jihadist groups, such as
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, Lashkar-e-Taiba,
Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Jundallah. [22]