Ball in India's court, says Salahuddin

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, FEB. 25. The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen today offered to cease fire in Kashmir if India was prepared to accept the proposition of the pro-Pakistan Kashmiri leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, for resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

In a press statement here, the Hizb chief, Syed Salahuddin, said ``the ball is in India's court. If the Indian Government is ready to accept the formula suggested by Mr. Geelani, we are prepared to cease fire.''

In his statement on Saturday, Mr. Geelani had said that if India was sincere in resolving the Kashmir dispute, the Government should move a resolution in Parliament acknowledging Kashmir as a disputed territory and commit itself for a solution on the basis of ``historical background.''

Syed Salahuddin has supported Mr. Geelani for two reasons. Both of them swear by the ideology of the Jamaat-e- Islami in Pakistan. More important, Mr. Geelani has advocated what the Hizb has been demanding, particularly since it called off its shortlived ceasefire in the second week of August last year.

``If India accepts the proposals by Ali Geelani and takes concrete steps for implementation, then the Mujahideen would be ready to stop their armed activities. Mr. Geelani's proposals are advisable and timely,'' the Hizb chief said.

The Harkat-ul-Mujahideen described Mr. Geelani's statement as beyond its understanding and said withdrawal of the Indian troops from Kashmir was the only solution. The Harkat secretary, Information, Mr. Amiruddin Mughal, said the Mujahideen would not stop operations unless the Indian troops quit Kashmir.

SPO killed

SRINAGAR, FEB. 25. A Special Police Officer (SPO) was killed and five others injured in a militant attack at Arkhai Mohalla in Doda district of Jammu region late on Saturday night while elsewhere in the State, two people were killed and another injured since Saturday evening.

Militants attacked a police station at Handwara in north Kashmir with automatic weapons and grenades. Police guards retaliated, but no casualties were reported. The ultras also fired at a security force camp in Anantnag district.

- UNI

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