Monday, May 06, 2002
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By Shujaat Bukhari
Differences within the leadership of the Hizbul Mujahideen here and the base camp of Muzaffarabad had surfaced way back in July 2000 when Abdul Majid Dar had surprised the world by announcing a unilateral ceasefire and started negotiations with the Government. Syed Salahuddin was left with no option but to accept the decision and support it. However, he aborted the attempt by putting conditions which were not acceptable to India. This finally led to the calling off of the ceasefire after 12 days. Though both the factions did not allow the differences to come to the fore, the resentment among the rank and file started brewing. Mr. Dar's initiative was seen as having been taken at the behest of New Delhi and the feelers across the borders also led to suspicion not only among the separatists but also the public. At one point of time, rumours were afloat that the Hizb led by Mr. Dar was ready to consider participating in elections. Mr. Dar and his two associates had off and on indicated the militants' desire for adopting peaceful means. Last year, when Syed Salahuddin discharged Mr. Dar of his responsibilities as operations chief and effected a reshuffle at the level of commanders, it was seen as the beginning of a split in the organisation. It was expected that the Hizb members might revolt against the Muzaffarabad-based leadership and join the ranks with Mr. Dar but that did not happen sending a strong signal that the militants and other commanders were loyal to Mr. Salahuddin. Even as reports of a changed thinking among the Hizb militants was reported several times, for want of credibility among the masses, they continued to be Pakistan-patronised flock. "They know the fate of the Ikhwanis (surrendered militants) who are being hated by the people for their support to the Government and anti-people actions'' says an analyst. Joining hands with Delhi without any substantive gains on political front is seen as an act of "treason'' on part of separatists here. Notwithstanding the pro-jehad feelings among the ranks of the Hizb militants in Kashmir, one of the ousted commanders, Zafar Abdul Fateh, said in a statement that the Hizb was not the fiefdom of any individual or commander but represented the Kashmiri people. The group belongs to those who sacrificed their children for the movement under this banner. "They (people), and not any individual or commander, have the right to take any decision,'' Fateh told a local news agency CNS adding "we are among those people''. He also took the leadership to task and said that "those sitting across the border are not the real and genuine representatives of the group as they are unaware of the situation here. Therefore, the decision would be taken by those engaged in the struggle for several years and sharing the people's travails and turbulations. Therefore, we leave the decision to the people and the Mujahideen''. Observers here say that it looks like any indication that the Dar faction may formally announce to float a parallel outfit in the coming days claiming to be the "real" Hizbul Mujahideen.
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