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Kashmir : Mirwaiz meets Pakistan-based terrorists

	January 29, 2007

Days after he called for an end to the armed struggle by terrorist elements in the Kashmir valley, Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq met top leaders of terrorist groups, the Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Al-Umar in Islamabad last week during his visit, extended by three days. Observers say that the meetings between the Mirwaiz and leaders of the terrorist groups may be linked with a looming Pakistan Army-sponsored split between pro and anti-dialogue jehad commanders.



A spokesperson of the Awami Action Party (AAP) of the Mirwaiz said the Hurriyat leader met senior militant commanders and they exchanged ideas on Kashmir. Among the persons the Mirwaiz met were the top leaders of the Lashkar-e-Taiba.



Mirwaiz Farooq had an extended meeting with Mushtaq Zargar, one of the three terrorists released during the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814. Zargar’s Al-Umar, which drew much of its cadre from Mirwaiz Farooq’s strongholds in old-city Srinagar, was once the sword-arm of the AAC. However, under attack from both Indian forces and rival jihadi groups like the Hizb, it was decimated by 1993.



Zargar reportedly persuaded three mid-level Lashkar and Jaish commanders to accompany him to visit the Mirwaiz, most likely with the endorsement of Pakistan’s covert service, the Inter-Services Intelligence. “The ISI is signaling to the Hizb and Lashkar that they must fall in line,” the source said, “or face the consequences.”



Lashkar leaders have become increasingly critical of General Musharraf’s overall agenda. Earlier this month, the Lashkar’s parent political organisation, the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, organised a conference to critique a new Women’s Protection Act promoted by the General. According to the Jamaat, the “floodgates of vulgarity and licentiousness opened by the Act would drown the womenfolk, sisters and daughters of the faithful.”



Mirwaiz Farooq, on his part, has long sought to demonstrate that he has some leverage with terrorist groups - but with little success. The APHC chairman’s recent assertion that the armed struggle “had not achieved anything other than creating more graveyards” incensed the Hizb and other terrorist groups fighting in Jammu and Kashmir.





Militants reject Mirwaiz’ call



Pakistan-based militant groups have rejected Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s call to give up armed struggle to pave the way for a negotiated settlement of the Kashmir issue. A statement issued by the United Jihad Council in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir capital, Muzaffrabad, said the ground realities have not changed.



In another move, the Mirwaiz and the Government of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have formed two working groups to facilitate the peace process. The working groups would try to increase cooperation between the people living on both sides of the line of control.



Observers say that Mirwaiz’s call for ending the armed struggle is expected to ease tensions in the Valley despite the fact that the hardliners have opposed his stand.





Only dialogue can solve the Kashmir issue : Governor



In his address on the eve of Republic Day, State Governor Lt. General S.K. Sinha said dialogue alone can solve the Kashmir problem and herald lasting peace in the sub-continent. He noted with satisfaction the progress registered in the Indo-Pak peace process and the flexibility shown by both sides. The Governor said that there was universal acceptability of India’s stand on Jammu and Kashmir. He said the United Nations Secretary General and the Pakistan President had accepted that plebiscite in Kashmir was no longer feasible.



Gen. Pervez Musharraf too was trying to be practical by accepting that UN resolutions on Kashmir were irrelevant. He had given up the claim over Kashmir and was not insisting on it being a core issue to be resolved first before holding talks on other issues.



Gen. Sinha described joint management, control or supervision impracticable in Kashmir as it impinges on sovereignty. He, however, said a joint mechanism to promote trade, tourism and cultural exchanges besides environment control, disaster management could certainly be considered.



On demilitarisation, Gen. Sinha reiterated that it could be considered only after cessation of cross-border terrorism and violence.





PDP for cross LoC mechanism



The People’s Democratic Party, a constituent of the ruling coalition in Jammu and Kashmir, has called for the creation of a cross LoC institutional mechanism for cooperation in areas like trade, tourism, culture, environment, education and disaster management. A statement issued by the party on Jan. 21 said legislators from both sides of the LoC should be involved in consolidating confidence building measures. The party suggested a meeting of legislators from across the line of control to further the peace progress.



Speaking in Jammu on Jan. 27, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti asked Pakistan President Musharraf to set an example by first practising his own proposal of self-rule in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. She said, Musharraf should guarantee self-rule to the people of PoK, as those on the Indian side already enjoy a lot of democratic rights.



Mehbooba Mufti said an atmosphere has been created for making the borders irrelevant as Pakistan for the first accepted that plebiscite was not practicable. Such thinking, she said, might enable unification of Jammu and Kashmir without changing the boundaries.