The Mahmoona Zoya facility, linked to the terrorist organization Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), is situated near the Government Hospital in Kotli Bhutta, in the Head Marala area of Sialkot district, Punjab, Pakistan. Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, aided in establishing such terrorist launch facilities near government buildings close to the IB (International Border) and LoC (Line of Control) to conceal terrorist infrastructure.
In Punjab, Pakistan, several camps of terrorist organizations Jaish-e-Mohammad and HM were operated under the guise of Basic Health Units and Primary Health Centers, developed with ISI's support. These bases were used for infiltration by Hizbul terrorists into the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir. Senior commanders also provided training for terrorist activities and weapons operation here.
Terrorist Irfan Tanda Manages Mahmoona Zoya Camp
Mohammad Irfan Khan, also known as Irfan Tanda, commands the Hizbul Mujahideen's Mahmoona Zoya base. Irfan Tanda has executed numerous terrorist attacks in the Jammu region, especially Jammu City. A bombing at Maulana Azad Stadium, Jammu, on January 26, 1995, killed eight people and injured 50. The then-Governor Mr. K.V. Krishna Rao narrowly escaped that attack, which was orchestrated from this terrorist base.
Instructions to Terrorists Issued from This Base
Irfan Tanda led multiple infiltrations and handled weapons smuggling/transportation from this Hizbul base. Many key Hizbul commanders were actively associated with the Mahmoona Zoya terrorist base. This includes Atif al-Rahman al-Faizi, aka Abu Lala, and Maz Bhai, who spearheaded Hizbul terrorists' infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir.
Irfan Ghumman and another Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist also conducted their terrorist activities from this camp. He executed BAT (Border Action Team) operations against Indian security forces in the Jammu-Samba sector.
Structure of the Terrorist Base
The Mahmoona Zoya facility was a single-story concrete building with three rooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom. Quarters of the nearby hospital were used to accommodate HM terrorists.
Terrorists Infiltrated Indian Border from Here
This facility could house around 50 terrorists at one time, with typically 20-25 terrorists staying here to monitor infiltration and terrorist activities in India.
Hizbul Mujahideen is Internationally Sanctioned
In June 2017, the United States designated Hizbul Mujahideen chief and United Jihad Council (UJC) chairman, Syed Salahuddin, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). Both the US (August 2017) and the European Union (November 2005) have declared Hizbul Mujahideen a terrorist organization.
Despite these sanctions, Hizbul Mujahideen continued operating terrorist training and activities through facilities like Mahmoona Zoya, publicly, in Pakistan/PoJK. This organization raises funds for terrorist activities in India, aligned with the Pakistani government. In 2002, the Indian government declared Hizbul Mujahideen a banned organization under POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act).
