Lashkar al-Zil

The Lashkar al-Zil (Urdu: لشکر الضل; the Shadow Army), also known as Jaish al-Usrah, or the Army of the Protective Shield,^[1] is a paramilitary organization linked to al-Qaeda and descended from the 055 Brigade.^[2] According to Syed Saleem Shahzad, it "comprises the Pakistani Taliban, 313 Brigade, the Afghan Taliban, Hezb-e-Islami Afghanistan and former Iraqi Republican Guards".^[3] Lashkar al-Zil has reportedly been led by Khalid Habib al Shami,^[2] Abdullah Said al Libi, and Ilyas Kashmiri.^[3][4]

Fighters of Lashkar al-Zil in Swat, Pakistan.

The Lashkar al-Zil has been involved in attacks in Afghanistan's eastern and southern provinces.^[5] News reports have linked it to several specific attacks, including the Camp Chapman attack^[3] and the Sudhnati suicide bombing.^[6]