The Hindu : Hizb expels Majid Dar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 05, 2002

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Hizb expels Majid Dar

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD May 4. Dissensions in the Hizbul Mujahideen, one of the largest outfits engaged in military operations in Kashmir, came to fore today with the decision of the organisation to expel three ``senior commanders,'' including Majid Dar.

An extraordinary meeting of the Hizbul held under the chairmanship of Syed Salahuddin at Muzaffarabad, capital of Pak occupied Kashmir (PoK), took the decision to remove Majid Dar, Zafar Abdul Fata and Asad Yazdani, for ``anti-organisation activities'' and ``disobedience.''

There had been speculation about a rift between Syed Salahuddin and Majid Dar for several months now. Mr. Dar took observers by surprise when he declared a unilateral ceasefire in July 2000 to give peace a chance in Jammu and Kashmir. It was only a day later that the `supreme commander', Syed Salahuddin, endorsed the shortlived ceasefire. Significantly, the announcement terminating the fortnight long ceasefire was made by the Hizbul chief at a press conference in Islamabad on August 8, 2000.

Ever since, there have been reports of serious differences between the two leaders. The Hizb kept denying the reports but the suspicions got strengthened when the Hizb decided a few months ago to replace Mr. Dar as the ``commander'' in charge of Kashmir with Saiful Islam.

At the time of appointment of Mr. Islam as the new chief of Kashmir operations, the Hizb had directed Mr. Dar and a few of his key associates to return to the `base camp' (Muzaffarabad?). It appears from today's expulsion that Mr. Dar did not pay heed to the advice.

There is little information on the differences between the two sides. One possibility is that while Mr. Dar is in favour of giving peace and negotiations with the Indian Government a chance, Syed Salahuddin is opposed to any talks without the involvement of Pakistan as a party to the ``Kashmir dispute''.One would have to wait and watch what impact the latest development would have on the Kashmir situation

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