Militant outfits reject JUI appeal

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 27. Major militant outfits based in Pakistan have rejected the appeal made by the Jamait Uelame Islam (JUI) led by Maulana Fazalur Rehman for a ceasefire to enable a successful summit meet between the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

The Lashkar-e-Taiba not only rejected the appeal but also questioned the Maulana's credentials in asking the militant outfits to cease fire. ``We are surprised in what capacity Maulana Fazalur Rehman is making such appeals to the mujahideen. We wonder at whose behest he is working,'' the Lashkar said in a statement.

The Hizbul Mujahideen, which had experimented with a unilateral ceasefire for two weeks in July last year, outrightly rejected the appeal and declared that `jehad' in Kashmir would continue.

Unlike the Lashkar, the Hizbul Mujahideen was restrained in its criticism and did not question the Maulana's motives. In a statement, the Hizbul chief, Syed Salahuddin, also Chairman of the United Jehadi Council (a conglomerate of about 14 militant outfits) urged the Maulana not to interfere in their activities.

In a polite but blunt message Syed Salahuddin said that the outfits were capable of taking decisions on their own and they did not need the counsel from the likes of the Maulana. Syed Salahuddin argued that peace accords in Vietnam and Afghanistan were concluded even as the war was on. ``We believe if India is sincere in finding a solution to the Kashmir conflict, it should proceed with its efforts even as the fighters are engaged in their activities.''

Within hours of the Maulana's announcement on Tuesday, there was a meeting of five religious groups at the residence of the Jamaat-e-Islami chief, Quazi Hussain Ahmed, but the appeal did not come up for discussion.

The appeal has created ripples among the Pakistani religious and militant outfits and has left some wondering if his faction was being used by a section of the Musharraf Government to gauge the reaction on the ground.

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Section  : International
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