SUMMARY

The one-sided conflict between Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) and civilians has two dimensions. First, LI militants engaged in activities such as kidnapping for ransom (and killing the victims if the ransom was not paid) and executing individuals whose actions were deemed "indecent". The second dimension of the conflict is related to the state-based conflict against the government. In order to force LI militants to abandon their fortified hideouts, government forces resorted to mortar barrages. LI retaliated by bombing civilians settlements that were thought to be occupied by people that gave information to the government forces about LI militants whereabouts.

Lashkar-e-Islam first became active as a one-sided actor in UCDP data in 2012, when the one-sided violence resulted in over 25 civilian deaths. The threshold was reached in late August that year when 7 civilians had been killed by mortar bombs.