NEW DELHI, Aug 7 — A split in the Hizbul Mujahideen appears imminent with its chief commander in Jammu and Kashmir Majid Dar crossing swords with his Muzaffarabad-based supremo Syed Salahuddin for adopting a flexible attitude rather than mouthing Islamabad’s hardline approach.

Dar, who stunned the policy makers by announcing a unilateral ceasefire for 90 days in a bid to find a negotiated settlement to the protracted Kashmir tangle, is veering round to the view that Salahuddin’s extreme stand of forcing trilateral talks can jeopardise the exercise which is yet to get off the starting block.

There is an element of circumspection among those handed down the brief to hold discussions with the Hizbul Mujahideen especially as the dominant Kashmiri militant outfit has threatened to revoke the July 24 ceasefire at 5.30 PM tomorrow if Pakistan is not made a party to the talks.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has ruled out Pakistan’s involvement in the talks and clarified that when he alluded to “insaniyat” he drew pointed attention to the Constitution which portrayed a humane dimension in resolving seemingly intractable issues.

Significantly, the 12-point charter of demands submitted by the Hizbul Mujahideen to the central negotiating team headed by the Special Secretary in the Home Ministry, Mr M.B. Kaushal, sidesteps Muzaffarabad’s sole pre-condition of involving Islamabad in the talks.

It is because of the differing perceptions and diverse approach of Salahuddin in PoK and Dar in Srinagar that the interlocutors of the Home Ministry feel that a parting of ways between these two commanders of the militant outfit cannot be ruled out. It is the fervent hope of the negotiators from the Home Ministry that the Indian commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen will stay on course and ignore the ultimatum of Salahuddin in Muzaffarabad.

There are indications that those representing the Hizbul Mujahideen are keen to evolve the ground rules for the negotiations that has raised hopes among the weary and fatigued militants who have waged a Jehad for a decade with no light even remotely visible at the end of the tunnel.

The dozen demands put forward by the Hizbul Mujahideen are as follows:

* Withdrawal of Kashmir valley and other parts of Jammu and Kashmir from “disturbed areas” category;

* Special powers granted to the forces in Jammu and Kashmir be withdrawn;

* Crackdown against the civilian population and subjecting them to harsh treatment by the security forces be stopped;

* Bunkers from all civilian areas be removed;

* Political parties be allowed to pursue their activities;