The People's United Liberation Front (PULF) is an Islamic terrorist group fighting to establish an independent Islamic state in northeastern India for the region's Muslims, many of them migrants from Bangladesh. Northeastern India is made up of seven small ethnically-diverse states (known as the "Seven Sisters") and is characterized by armed insurgencies, ethnic tensions, and faltering economies. <P><br />Allegedly with arms and training supplied by the Naga separatist National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), the PULF was formed in 1995 and is currently supported by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI). The ISI is attempting to unite militant Muslim groups in India, including the PULF, under the All Muslim United Liberation Forum of Assam, a unit of the larger United Liberation Front of Seven Sisters organization, to improve the efficiency of the Islamic separatist cause. <P> <br />The primary targets of the PULF are individuals representing the Indian government, Indian security forces, and other non-Muslims in the area. Kidnappings and armed attacks are the group's most common tactics. <br />

In June 2006, another Muslim militant group, the Islamic National Front, announced its merger with the PULF, increasing the PULF's membership and tactical capabilities. Members of the PULF remain active and continue to pose a security threat in the region.  Furthermore, sustained support by the ISI and increased coordination with other militant groups can be expected to increase this threat.

As the civil wars in Central America have come to an end throughout the 1990s and the region has entered a period of recovery, the presence of violent guerilla groups has decreased. Also, Costa Rica is no longer needed as a neutral staging area for fighters of foreign civil wars. It is therefore extremely likely that the People's Vanguard Organization and its member groups are largely inactive.

Communist Party of India-Maoist -- Successor
Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) -- Ally (Suspected)
Maoist Communist Center (MCC) -- Ally