The Hindu : Expelled Hizb chief not to float new outfit

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 13, 2002

Other States

Other States - Jammu & Kashmir

Expelled Hizb chief not to float new outfit

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR MAY 12 . Hectic behind-the-scenes efforts are on to bring the Hizb-ul Mujahideen flock together even as discontent among its cadres is brewing. The once most powerful militant organisation in Kashmir is passing through a crisis.

Knowledgeable sources told The Hindu that renewed efforts for a "patch-up'' between the warring groups were on. Notwithstanding a hard-hitting posture adopted by the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir-based command council in showing the way to the "indisciplined'' commanders, the response from this side has not been much aggressive. "At least two or three hardcore separatists have jumped into the process to sort out the differences,'' sources said and added that both sides were being asked to observe restraint in their war through the media. Despite the fact that at least three commanders in North and South Kashmir rallied behind the expelled chief commander, Abdul Majid Dar, and Zafar Abdul Fateh and Assad Yazdani, there is still no indication of a major revolt at the level of the "armed boys''.

The statement by Mr. Dar, the first after his expulsion, gives further credence to reports of a "truce''. It said: "I will neither shun militancy nor float any organisation''.

Mr. Dar has called for unity among his cadres and asked them to keep away from confrontation to carry the movement forward. Though he called the Hizb supreme commander, Syed Salahuddin's decision unjust, he stated that his group was part and parcel of the Hizb and enjoyed massive support in Kashmir and outside.

He regretted over being branded an Indian agent. He also referred to a "long chat'' he had with Mr. Salahuddin in a conducive atmosphere a few days before the decision. His expulsion had created chaos and confusion among the Hizb ranks on both sides of Kashmir.

"Allegations (of being an Indian agent) against us are baseless, concocted and derogatory,'' he said. He would come out with the real situation as and when the need arose. However, he said, "spilling blood is neither our hobby nor profession. But continuing armed struggle till the resolution of the Kashmir issue is a compulsion''.

Mr. Dar's statement has surprised political observers. "It has a reconciliatory tone aimed at avoiding confrontation at the moment,'' says Tahir Mohiuddin, editor of the mass circulated Urdu weekly Chattan. "He has tried to shift the blame on the leadership across the border''.

Observers see a political ploy in Mr. Dar's handling of the situation though he is reported to be under pressure to give shape to his own Hizb (which his supporters believe will be "the real one''). But given the statement from PoK branding his group as "Indian agents'', he is not ready to take any chances of seeing himself as another Kukka Parray of Kashmir. (Parray aligned himself with the Army and took a strong stand against separatists). Sources revealed that a suggestion of declaring his own command council here has also been put on hold as he wanted the present confusion to end.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

Stories in this Section

Expelled Hizb chief not to float new outfit