The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Monday, December 25, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

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Pak militants reject Hurriyat initiative

ISLAMABAD, Dec 24 (PTI) — In a rebuff to Hurriyat Conference’s initiative to talk to Pakistan militants for entering into peaceful negotiations on Kashmir, the Muttahida Jehad Council (MJC), a conglomerate of militant outfits, today refused to abandon their armed struggle “at any cost”, media reports said here.

According to the Daily Nawa-i-Waqt, the MJC has told Hurriyat leaders that the militants will not lay down arms and that talks with India on any formula in this context was impossible.

The council has asked the groups in its fold not to accept any formula of the Hurriyat Conference individually, the paper said.

Hinting that violence by militants would continue, the council asked the Hurriyat leaders to convey to India that “if it is sincere in finding a solution to the Kashmir problem, it ought to initiate talks amidst violence”.

It urged the militants to continue with the attacks unabated “as the council will not compromise”.

The decision of the council comes after a suggestion by Hurriyat Conference leaders asking the MJC to propose a formula under which talks could move ahead.

At its executive committee meeting on Thursday, the Hurriyat Conference unanimously decided to send a delegation to Pakistan on January 15 to initiate a dialogue with the leadership of militants and other leaders there to carry forward the peace moves “initiated by India and Pakistan.”

Hurriyat Chairman Abdul Gani Bhat had indicated that “if they (militants) listen, which I am sure they will, and see reason in what we say I trust the ice will break.”

Talks with ultras possible: Advani

NEW DELHI, Dec 24 (PTI) — Home Minister L.K. Advani today indicated the possibility of talks with militant organisations like Hizbul Mujahideen and did not rule out dialogue with Pakistan after an “assessment” of its behaviour during the extended ceasefire peace initiative in Jammu and Kashmir.

“That possibility is there,” he said when asked about the chances of the Centre starting a dialogue with militant groups in the state in the wake of its bold peace measures.

The minister said the situation with regard to the ceasefire would be reviewed after the Republic Day when the extension is set to end.

On the possibility of talks with militant groups, Mr Advani said “I would like to emphasise that dialogue with our people in Jammu and Kashmir would naturally have to include all sections like the ruling National Conference, the main Opposition Congress, BJP and Leftists and representatives from Jammu and Ladakh.

“And if militant organisations like the Hizbul Mujahideen are prepared to lay down arms and become part of the dialogue, they are also welcome,” the Home Minister said.

Mr Advani said “the Hurriyat Conference must realise this. They have been issuing statements as if they are the sole representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir”.

He maintained that resumption of the stalled dialogue with Pakistan was contingent upon Islamabad stopping the support and assistance it has been giving to cross-border terrorism in India.

Asked whether this ruled out talks with Pakistan in the immediate future, he said, “We don’t say that.”

The ceasefire initiative, he said, has been taken in a manner to allow the government to make an assessment of situation on the ground especially with regard to Pakistan’s behaviour.

5 Ikhwan men among 13 killed
No mediatory role: Hurriyat
Tribune News Service and PTI

SRINAGAR, Dec 24 — Thirteen persons including five counter-insurgents, three militants and a ruling National Conference (NC) activist, were killed and four others wounded in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening, an official spokesman said here today.

Five counter-insurgents, associated with the Ikhwan outfit, were killed when the car in which they were travelling was ambushed by militants in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district in South Kashmir last evening. Those killed included commander Abdul Rashid and special police officer Shahnawaz. The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen has claimed the responsibility of the attack, a local news agency reported here.

Reports said militants ambushed a Maruti car carrying the five Ikhwanis at about 4.15 pm yesterday. All occupants of the car died on the spot. The Ikhwanis were returning from Anantnag after attending a meeting of the outfit there, the reports said. One civilian was also injured in the shooting, the police said.

Unidentified militants shot at and injured an activist of the ruling National Conference, Mohammad Ashraf Ganai at Wakarhama, Pahalgam in Anantnag district, last evening.

In another incident one civilian, Mohammad Yaqoob, was injured in an IED explosion near Daleer post in Karnah sector of Kupwara district in north Kashmir last night.

Militants shot dead Manzoor Ahmad Sheikh, a shopkeeper at Tujjar Sharief, Sopore in Baramula district north of here.

Ghulam Mohammad Naikoo was killed by unidentified militants after being kidnapped from his house at Aishmuqam in Anantnag district last night.

An unidentified militant was killed and Special Police Officer Mohammad Faizan wounded in an exchange of fire at Khaniter Top in Poonch district early today, he said.

Militants ambushed a police patrol in the Kishtwar area of Doda district, killing an SPO and two civilians, he said.

Two militants were killed in a gunfight with police at Hiranagar in Kathua district last evening, he said.

Meanwhile, the Hurriyat Conference today denied playing any “mediatory role” between India and Pakistan in resolving the Kashmir issue but said it wanted to apply the “keys with a purpose of unlocking the doors of goodwill and understanding.”

“I do not agree to the role of mediator. We are a party to a dispute and no party to a dispute can pass for a mediator. We would, however, as the principal party choose to apply keys with the purpose to unlocking the doors of goodwill and understanding,” Hurriyat Chairman Abdul Gani Bhat said over the telephone.

On the conflicting signals emerging from the camp of the Hizbul Mujahideen where a self-styled commander of the outfit demanded annexation of Kashmir with Pakistan, Mr Bhat said: “Everybody is onto himself. We should have a large heart in India and Pakistan because we are undertaking a stupendous task of easing out tension.”

The Hurriyat Chairman, however, felt very encouraged with the recent developments, India announcing extension of ceasefire and Pakistan deciding to withdraw its troops from the Line of Control (LoC).