APHC adopts two-pronged strategy

By Shujaat Bukhari

JAMMU, DEC. 12. Following sharp differences over the ``proposed'' dialogue with the Government of India, the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) executive is likely to meet this weekend to discuss the Kashmir issue. The Pakistan-based United Jehad Council (UJC) is, however, meeting only after Eid.

Even as the APHC leadership has consistently said that there are no differences within the conglomerate on handling the ceasefire or any other issue, in the past week divisions have come to the fore. A senior leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami and Hurriyat executive member, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, said that unless India accepted Kashmir as disputed territory, no talks could be held. He also rejected the idea of the Hurriyat leaders going to Pakistan saying it would not serve any purpose. ``Why should we talk to Pakistan on behalf of India, they are already supporting us?'' But a majority of the APHC leaders have sought permission to visit Pakistan to hold talks with the Government there and the militants.

Since the statement of another Hurriyat leader, Mr. Abdul Gani Lone, on the role of foreign militants generated much heat leading to fist-fights between his supporters and other constituents, the Hurriyat leadership is finding it difficult to cope with the situation. Mr. Geelani has also questioned the leaders camping in Delhi.

To sort out the issues and to build a consensus, the Hurriyat has adopted a two-pronged strategy. First, it will start a ``campaign to remove confusion'' from December 15, third Friday of Ramzan observed as Martyr's Day by the forum. All APHC members were directed to tell the people that the Hurriyat was committed to its constitution and backtracking from it was out of the question, said a spokesman. This is being seen as a damage- control exercise to quell the anti-Hurriyat feelings which have crept in following the Hurriyat leaders' visit to New Delhi.

Second, the APHC executive is meeting in Srinagar this weekend to discuss its future course of action. The Hurriyat chairman, Prof. Abdul Gani Bhat, who returned to the State capital on Monday told The Hindu over phone that the visit to Delhi was an ``assessment tour as the developments were taking a fast shape''. They did not interact with any government official, he said adding that the Hurriyat was a democratic institution where all decisions were taken based on a consensus. He denied a division in the grouping and said some expressed apprehension and some did not. However, he said Mr. Geelani's views on the proposed Pakistan visit were not substantive. He parried questions on the role of foreign militants and said ``since much has been said we will take it up in the meeting''.

Call for phased talks

Sources say the United Jehad Council, apex body of militant outfits, will meet immediately after the Eid and take a decision. ``If only Pakistan agrees to phased negotiations whereby India first talks to the APHC and then Pakistan enters (the scene) it could be a success,'' a UJC member told The Hindu. Pakistan was a party to the dispute and must declare that phased negotiation was acceptable to it, he said. The UJC chief, Syed Salahuddin, has also said that the militant organisations will not withdraw their demand for inclusion of Pakistan in the talks. The Kashmir-based Hizb-ul- Mujahideen spokesman, Mr. Mujahid Masood, has also stressed upon three basic conditions for talks - India should accept Kashmir as a dispute, include Pakistan in talks and release all the prisoners. In an article in the weekly Chattan, he indicated a long-drawn battle against India, which may include the Hizb's plan to float its own political outfit, clearly distancing itself from the Jamat-e-Islami or the Hurriyat.

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