Lashkar asks warring Hurriyat factions to unite

Srinagar, Apr 12: The Pakistan-based banned militant outfit, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), has asked the warring separatist groups to unite and form a joint council to chalk out a common strategy for resolving the long-festering Kashmir issue.

''We appeal to the divided Kashmiri leadership is to give up their differences and come under one platform. If they don't get united at this crucial juncture, the future generations will never forgive them,'' LeT spokesman Dr Abdullah Ghaznavi said in a statement to the local media here.

''We advise both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference, the United Jehad Council and other separatist groups to form a joint council to devise a future strategy,'' he added.

The spokesman said the separatist leaders should realise their responsibilities and not allow any solution to be imposed on the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

He described the people as the basic party to the Kashmir issue, saying the problem could not be resolved without their inclusion.

The spokesman appealed to the people to stay away from all the elections in the state.

''We should be aware of those who for their personal gains put the interests of the people at stake. The people need to oppose the elections tooth and nail,'' he added.

UNI