Hizb lays conditions for truce in J

Srinagar, Aug 18 (UNI) The Hizbul Mujahideen, the single largest indigenous militant group operating in Jammu and Kashmir, has laid down conditions for announcing a ceasefire in the strife-torn state, and expressed its readiness to help in the ongoing peace process.

In an interview with a local news agency, Kashmir News Service, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin said ceasefire should not be a condition for holding a dialogue.

''If India were serious about finding an amicable and lasting solution to the Kashmir issue, then it should refrain from laying any such condition,'' he added.

Salahuddin said an armed struggle and a dialogue process could go together and such experiments have been tried successfully in Afghanistan and Vietnam.

However, he said if the world community insisted on truce, then India should take some steps, which would help in confidence building. ''India should bring troops in Jammu and Kashmir to the 1989 position, release detainees, stop all military operations and acknowledge there are three parties to the dispute...Then there is no problem in ceasefire,'' the Hizb chief said.

Salahuddin also heads the United Jehad Council (UJC), the Muzaffarabad-based umbrella organisation of several militant groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir.

It was on July 25, 2000, that the Hizbul Mujahideen had declared a unilateral ceasefire for three months, but called off the truce on August 8, 2000, following India's refusal to include Pakistan in any trilateral talks over the Kashmir issue as proposed by the outfit.

He said the Hizb would continue with its armed struggle and not refrain from its political and diplomatic role as well so that no one could go for a ''sell-out or de-track the movement''.

However, Salahuddin said the Hizb would be more than happy to help in the ongoing peace process. ''We understand when a bullet is fired either by an Indian soldier or by a militant, it is the Kashmiri who suffers. It is his house, school, building which is razed down. We understand agony and suffering of Kashmiris, but this does not mean that we will give up our right and leave the struggle,'' he added.

Salahuddin said if the dialogue process helped in finding any solution to the Kashmir issue, the Hizb would be at the forefront in supporting it.

He said Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had risked his credibility by floating ideas of self-governance, de-militrisation and joint management.

''But, India's approach towards these proposals has been non-serious and negative. In such a situation, what is the use of dialogue and ceasefire,'' he added.

Asked if the Hizb would take a cue from the Palestinian group, Hamas, and participate in the election process, he said there was a vast difference between Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir.

''Hamas operated in a free country and participated in elections in accordance with its own constitution. We too are ready to take part in elections, but these should be held under the United Nations or an impartial judicial commission and not Indian constitution.

Then, the world will see with whom the people of Jammu and Kashmir are and who are their leaders,'' Salahuddin said.

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