By Sarwar Kashani, IANS
Srinagar : The Pakistan-based United Jehad Council (UJC), an umbrella group of Kashmiri guerrillas, has for the first time in 18 years called a unilateral ceasefire in this violence scarred state. While some welcome the breather for Eid, others warn it could just be a ploy to regroup.
The development Monday, when the Hizbul Mujahideen faxed a statement to media outlets that the jehadi leadership and the militants who are active are ordered to observe a total ceasefire for three days, took everyone by surprise.
The declaration that there would be no violence on Oct 12, 13, 14, when the subcontinent celebrates Eid, was no doubt a welcome development. But it came with its own worries.
“Terrorist groups have been hugely marginalized on this side of the Line of Control (LoC). A majority of them have been eliminated,” said Abdul Hafiz, a former deputy inspector general of police in Jammu and Kashmir.
“They continue enjoying the unswerving backing of the Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Who knows it may be a move by the ISI to buy time and re-organise militant presence in Kashmir,” he warned.
“ISI’s intentions have always been wicked and untrustworthy.”
This is for the second time in a month that UJC supremo, Syed Sallahuddin, who is a hardliner by ideology and practice, has shown some flexibility in silencing the guns he triggers from Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Before Ramadan began on Sep 6, the UJC had said in a statement it would consider a ceasefire if an offer comes from responsible quarters in New Delhi.
This sort of conciliatory attitude is surprising as well as indicative of the introspection that the militant leadership is said to be undertaking.
The changing situation in their den – Pakistan – and the growing pressure on jehadi groups in that country is one of the main reasons for this flexibility. In fact, Sallahuddin in his September ceasefire offer had candidly said that Pakistan had tightened the noose around militants.
Observers feel that President Pervez Musharraf, who was re-elected for a second term last week but awaits a court order to seal it, has increased pressure on the already desperate religious fanatics in Pakistan. This also reflects on the militants in Kashmir.
“Whatever happens in Pakistan, politically as well as militarily, has a direct bearing on Kashmiri militant groups,” said a political science professor in the university here, requesting anonymity.
“There are certain features of this apparent militant flexibility. It definitely shows that they are by and large gasping for breath.”
Added Altaf Khan, who was a member of a militant group and is now a practicing lawyer in the Jammu and Kashmir capital: “Militants no longer receive directions from the ruling establishment in Islamabad. It is only too well known that as of now there is no love lost between the Musharraf administration and the radicals.”
He said Pakistan was already chasing jehadi groups away from its soil and with Musharraf’s re-emergence certain, the reins are expected to get tighter.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, head of the moderate faction of the separatist Huyrriyat Conference, welcomed the ceasefire offer as a very positive move.
“Such an initiative should have come about much earlier,” the Mirwaiz told IANS.
“Now that the UJC has gone ahead, India must come up with an appropriate response to it so that the ground is paved for the two-way ceasefire to end the bloodshed.”
Ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti echoed the sentiment: “People here will have some breather and now it is the responsibility of the New Delhi to reciprocate.”
For the moment, at least Kashmiris can look forward to a peaceful Eid. And hope that it lasts.