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United Jihad Council denies Al Qaeda presence in Kashmir

By IANS

Srinagar : United Jihad Council (UJC), based in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Saturday denied the existence of the Al Qaeda terror group in the Kashmir Valley and described the release of a video CD as "a deep-rooted conspiracy against the ongoing freedom struggle in Kashmir".

The UJC, in a statement to the local media, said: "Al Qaeda doesn't exist in Kashmir and the CD circulated here yesterday is nothing but deception as there is no role and relevance of the outfit in Kashmir."

"For the past 18 years various militant groups have been carrying out a steely armed campaign in Kashmir by carrying out coordinated and effective attacks under the support of the UJC," Syed Sadaqat Hussain, the chief spokesman of the guerrilla combine said.

Hussain alleged that the CD was circulated by Indian authorities to "create dissension among separatist groups".

A video CD sent to the offices of a local news agency Friday, apparently on behalf of Al Qaeda, declared holy war on India and named half-a-dozen local leaders on a hit-list.