The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Friday, July 28, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

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Centre cautious of Hizbul call
From Girja Shankar Kaura
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, July 27 — The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is taking a cautious approach to the call from the militant organisation Hizbul Mujahideen for a unilateral ceasefire, specially keeping in view previous experiences and also the approach of the Jammu and Kashmir Government.

While there still has not been any official contact with the militant leaders of Hizbul Mujahideen, the government has adopted a wait and watch policy. It will take a step forward only after verifying the statements and if there is any motive behind it.

Sources in the government said keeping in view the past experiences, specially the Kargil episode, which was viewed as a betrayal of trust after Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee took the initiative to start the Lahore process, it was not ready to take any chances now. Any lowering of guard could again create a situation of concern for national security, which the government did not want.

Besides the government was also not wanting to bypass the state government and would only take steps after involving it in the process. Apparently, the Centre was in close touch with the state government and was monitoring the situation.

There was, however, optimism at the Centre as it could bargain with other militant organisations also. This announcement of the unilateral ceasefire by the Hizbul was being viewed as important as it was the only organisation operating in Jammu and Kashmir with home-grown militants.

About a dozen militant organisations were at present operating in the valley of which Hizbul was one of the most important. The other militant organisations are Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Al Badr, JKLF, Al Jehad and Al Umar. Most of them were being operated by mercenaries and not Kashmiri militants.

Government officials were not ready to give their reactions to the announcement as yet. Sources said an official reaction to the announcement from Hizbul could be coming in the next few days.

Earlier, reacting to the announcement the government had said: “Any move towards peace is welcome. The government however, will be watching the situation closely and make its assessments later”.

Reports also said the government had also realised that the situation in the state could not be solved only with the deployment of forces. Talks with militant organisations would be necessary to bring peace in the state.

It had already established contact with the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and was not ready to send out wrong signals to its leaders by reacting openly to the announcement. APHC leaders were being considered important by the government for any peace initiative in the state and at present would not like to bypass them.

Incidentally, after the announcement from Hizbul, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, had also convened a meeting of the “unified command”. He wanted to get the reactions from the state as well as military officials part of the “unified command” to the announcement.

He had earlier welcomed the announcement from Hizbul leaders and said it would be a step forward in establishing peace.

There were also reports that the announcement had come as it was no longer in favour with the Pakistan’s ISI. Intelligence reports said Hizbul had not been able to complete the tasks given to it and was not being favoured by operatives across the border.

The reports said the focus of the ISI was now on the organisation floated by Maulana Masood Azhar. However, the feeling here was that with Hizbul wanting to come to the negotiating table, the task of bringing around other organisations with home-grown militants would become easier.

Also, it would be possible to alienate mercenary-based organisations operating in Jammu and Kashmir.

Hizbul threatens to revoke ceasefire

ISLAMABAD, July 27 (PTI) — Militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen today threatened to revoke its unilaterally declared ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir if India insisted on holding talks within the framework of its Constitution.

Hizbul supremo leader Syed Salahuddin in a statement here said Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s statement that the government was willing to talk to anybody within the framework of the Constitution “is unacceptable to us.”

The outfit “will revoke the ceasefire declaration and India will be responsible for its consequences,” said Salahuddin, who was dismissed from the chairmanship of an alliance of 14 Pakistan-based militant organisations.

Mr Vajpayee while welcoming the ceasefire announcement said the government was willing to talk to anybody within the framework of the Constitution.

“If India shows traditional stubbornness, Hizbul Mujahideen will be justified in reviewing its ceasefire announcement,” he said.

He said the unilateral ceasefire was not made for peace but was aimed at finding a solution to the Kashmir issue “in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiris.”

Salahuddin said India should initiate purposeful dialogue with Pakistan and Kashmiri leadership to resolve the problem.