UJC refutes ceasefire statement

Srinagar, Nov 30 (UNI) The Muzaffarabad-based United Jehad Council (UJC), an umbrella organisation of several militant groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir, has refuted its offer of ceasefire, saying the statement was presented in a ''wrong manner''.

In a statement to the local media, a spokesman of the militant conglomerate Syed Saddaqat Hussain said the contents of the recent interview of UJC chief Syed Salahuddin were presented wrongly and these have created a lot of confusion.

''Syed Salahuddin never offered truce. The UJC does not believe in ceasefire for the sake of it,'' he added.

According to the spokesman, Salahuddin, when asked about his response if India offered ceasefire, said in such a case New Delhi would have to agree to certain conditions.

The conditions included accepting Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory and its trilateral dimension; reducing armed forces to pre-1989 position and withdrawing extra troops; releasing all prisoners unconditionally and stopping all military operations and the human rights violations, he added.

About Salahuddin's unity formula for the two warring factions of the Hurriyat Conference, Hussain said the UJC chief had asked ''pro-freedom'' leaders to accept basic principles such as right to self determination; no solution under Indian constitution and complete withdrawal of Indian troops from Jammu and Kashmir.

Salahuddin also stressed that any mechanism of dialogue adopted should not negate the trilateral dimension of the Kashmir issue. the spokesman added.

UNI AG YA VV1709