Author: B L Kak
Publication: The Daily Excelsior
Date: April 2, 2002
URL: http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/02apr01/news.htm#5
Pakistani ISI's blue-eyed boy, Syed
Salahuddin, has ordered the dreaded Hizbul Mujahideen cadre in Kashmir
to join hands with like-minded groups to prevent "all freedom-loving people"
from participating in the Assembly elections due in September-October next.
Pakistan-based Salahuddin's directive
surfaced after the crucial meeting of the 15-party United Jihad Council
(UJC) in Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Radio
intercepts have made it abundantly clear that the UJC, which is, to all
intents and purposes a key alliance of Pakistan-based militant groups,
wants "all freedom-loving people" of Kashmir to rise as one- man and abort
Indian Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee's call urging all sections
of the Kashmir to take part in a "free and fair poll"
One of the intercepts quoted Salahuddin
as informing the Hizbul Mujahideen in particular and "freedom-loving people"
in general about the "vital" decision taken at the meeting of the United
Jihad Council: "Fidayeen ko hidayat dee gayee hai ki voh Bharati kutoon
kaa safaaya karey, khaaskar un ifraad kaa jo Kashmiri mujahideen ko election
mein shaamil honay kay liyey majboor kareingay (suicide squads have been
instructed to liquidate Indian dogs, particularly those individuals who
are going to force Kashmiri fighters to participate in the elections)".
Another radio intercept contained
a stern warning for leaders of Kashmir's All- Party Hurriyat Conference
(APHC): "Agar kisee bhi Hurriyat leader nay Hindustani hukoomat kay huq
mein koyee bhi kadam uthaaya, tab hamaray mujahideen AK-47 aur IED kaa
sahee istamal karaingay (If any leader of the Hurriyat Conference is found
taking any step to help the Indian Government, then our mujahideen will
make use of AK-47 and IED against him.
The UJC leader, Salahuddin's message,
while alleging that thousands of Kashmiris have been killed by Indian forces
since 1988 for their fight to "win freedom from India", also warned the
Hurriyat leaders: "As these sacrifices were made not to bring one or the
other group into power in the elections, fidayeen (suicide squads) already
available in various parts of Kashmir will not tolerate any conspiracy
against the freedom-loving Kashmiris".
Equally significant is the signal
from Muzaffarabad for militants and subversives in Kashmir during the proposed
visit to the Valley by the Prime Minister, Mr Vajpayee, and other Indian
leaders. Apparently, the signal, which has favoured "a total shutdown and
anti-India stir" during Mr Vajpayee's visit to Srinagar, is the outcome
of Mr Vajpayee's recent announcement in the Rajya Sabha that he would "soon"
visit Kashmir for wide-ranging consultations with various sections to work
out poll strategy. Mr Vajpayee, in fact, has urged separatist organisations
to join the election fray.
The United Jihad Council, which
has already made it clear that any decision taken by Srinagar-based Hurriyat
Conferene "shall have to be referred" to it (UJC) for approval or otherwise,
has yet another guideline for militant groups in Kashmir. Any election
under the Indian constitution will only legitimize New Delhi's control.
The United Jihad Council will not permit this to happen as, according to
Salahuddin, jihad against "Indian occupation forces' will suffer a setback
by the participation of Kashmiri people in the elections.
Significance is also attached to
the message dashed off to Kashmir by UK- based Jammu and Kashmir National
Independence Alliance, calling for "total boycott of the coming elections".
The emergence on the scene of the JKNIA (Jammu and Kashmir National Independence
Alliance) followed the merger of seven UK-based Kashmir groups including
the JKLF and JKNLF.
