Salahuddin changes stand, terms ceasefire a mockery

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, NOV. 24 After insisting two days ago that the Hizb-ul- Mujahideen had not rejected outright the ceasefire offer, its chief, Syed Salahuddin, today characterised the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee's announcement as ``a mockery'' and promised attacks on Indian security forces during Ramzan.

At a press conference in Karachi, Mr. Salahuddin denied any differences among militant groups over the announcement and referred to the resolution, adopted by the United Jehadi Council, an umbrella organisation of all militant groups based in Pakistan and operating in Kashmir, rejecting the offer.

``This ceasefire offer is just a deception. It is a mockery'', news agencies quoted him. He said no ceasefire would be meaningful unless India also cut down its troops in Kashmir to the pre-1989 level, ``ended all operations against civilians'' and released militants from prison.

``Through this ceasefire India is buying time to track down militant hideouts and strengthen its intelligence network. What we need is a ceasefire, which is meaningful. The Kashmir conflict will ultimately be resolved according to the wishes and the will of the people of Kashmir'', he said.

Meanwhile, even as the Pakistan-based militant outfits have been fuming against the Indian Government, senior All-Party Hurriyat Conference leader, Mr. Abdul Ghani Lone, who is camping here, has sent out clear signals that while Kashmiris appreciated the support from across the border, they would not like to take ``dictation'' from them.

Speaking at functions organised by several organisations in and around Islamabad in the last two days, Mr. Lone has made it clear that Kashmiris expected the militant organisations to listen to them and not the other way round.

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