JAMMU, July 27 — What has been the Government response to the ceasefire declared by the Hizbul Mujahideen? What would be the Government’s response to it in the near future?
These two questions are being discussed not only in mainstream political organisations but also among the separatist camps. The first to respond to the ceasefire announcement has been the police and the Army. Both of these forces have announced that operations against the activists of Hizbul Mujahideen have been suspended. Since the police has complete details about the activists and supporters of the Hizbul Mujahideen security forces have been asked not to engage them in encounters or arresting them unless they create any law and order problem.
Though some Hurriyat Conference leaders treat the decision of the police and the Army to suspend operations against the Hizbul Mujahideen activists and supporters as part of “compulsion”, it has, at the same time, created an impression in the State that the Government was not inclined to ignore Hizbul leaders and activists as had been the case when groups of militants who gave up the gun were left high and dry, forcing some of them to rejoin militancy and others were eliminated by the rebels.
Sources close to Abdul Majid Dar, Chief Commander, Hizbul Mujahideen, who took the most daring step in announcing the unilateral ceasefire, said “we are waiting for the Government to initiate a dialogue with the separatists” for resolving the Kashmir turmoil peacefully.
The Hizbul Mujahideen activists prefer political response to the offer of ceasefire. They are not prepared to remain content with Indian political leaders welcoming the ceasefire announcement.
According to a senior Hurriyat Conference leader, who wished to remain unidentified, the Government of India “has no other alternative but to hold talks with separatists and even with Pakistan.” While explaining his contention he said that India had made it known that Delhi would resume talks only-after militants announced ceasefire. “Now that the most powerful militant outfit has announced ceasefire it is mandatory on the part of India to hold talks with Kashmiri rebels and Pakistan,” he said adding that this has been the wish of the US Government and other developed nations.
The Hurriyat Conference leader dropped a broad hint that the conglomerate of 25 religious and political organisation was watching the situation minutely. The Hurriyat Conference could modify its stand on the ceasefire. During the yesterday’s meeting of the executive committee of the Hurriyat Conference the organisation had dissociated itself from the Hizb stand on the plea that the ceasefire decision was a hasty step and the Hizbul Mujahideen had not taken into account the political development and India’s political gameplan.
When asked whether the Hurriyat stand on the Hizb ceasefire order was dictated by agencies across the border the Hurriyat leader said “wait for another week. We are monitoring the developments not only in Jammu and Kashmir but in Pakistan also.”
Hurriyat leaders and other separatist groups are fully aware of the impact of Hizb ceasefire on the security scenario in Kashmir provided the Government of India took initiative on resuming talks with Pakistan and the Kashmiri separatists for settling the Kashmir issue.
However, official sources are of the opinion that the Government cannot put all its eggs in the Hizbul Mujahideen basket. It has to reckon with the activities of other dreaded pro-Pak militant outfits and with the machinations of Pak agencies engaged in pushing into Jammu and Kashmir more groups of guerrillas for kicking up subversive violence.
These sources said the Government will have to take calculated steps so that the ceasefire may not turn a trap for India in the sense that New Delhi would be forced by the US Government to resume talks with Islamabad after the guns have fallen silent, a condition placed by the Government of India for holding tripartite talks. As such the ceasefire offer has enhanced peoples’ interest in the events that may emerge in the next one month.
