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Kashmiri Groups United Against Indian Ceasefire
KARACHI (AFP) - Kashmiri group chief Syed Salahuddin on Friday said the Kashmiri movement was united against New Delhi's ceasefire offer and promised more attacks during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
The Hizbul Mujahideen leader said India's unprecedented offer was a "mockery" of efforts to end the 11-year Muslim insurgency, unless it was backed by tripartite talks including Pakistan.
"Definitely there are no differences among the mujahideen groups because yesterday a joint session of the United Jihad Council [a Kashmiri umbrella group] rejected this offer," he said.
He said any ceasefire offer would be meaningless unless India also cut its troop numbers in Kashmir back to pre-1989 levels, ended all operations against civilians and released Kashmiris from prison.
"This ceasefire offer is just a deception. It is a mockery," he said at a press conference in the southern port city of Karachi.
"Through this ceasefire, India is buying time to track down mujahideen hideouts and strengthen its intelligence network.
"What we need is a ceasefire which is meaningful. The Kashmir conflict will ultimately be resolved according to the wishes and the will of the people of Kashmir."
Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee announced the Ramadan ceasefire on Sunday but has faced strong opposition from his hardline Hindu allies, the Shiv Sena, in the ruling coalition.
On Thursday he said the initiative had sparked a debate within the movements fighting against Indian rule in the Muslim-dominated state, which has been divided between India and Pakistan since 1947.
"There are differences among them. They are discussing this and we like it," he said.
He said security would be tightened in Kashmir during Ramadan, due to start around the end of this month.
Salahuddin, flanked by mujahideen fighters at the headquarters of the Jamaat-i-Islami religious party, said the Hizbul would "definitely" attack Indian security forces during Ramadan.
"Our operations will continue," he said.
Another group, Lashker-e-Toiba, said Friday it had prepared a plan for attacks in Indian-administered Kashmir during Ramadan.
"Our chief, Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, has issued necessary instructions for attacks on Indian installations," the group said in a statement.
India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since 1947 over the Himalayan state, while the Muslim insurgency, and Indian response, in Indian-controlled Kashmir has claimed more than 30,000 lives since it began in 1989.
Pakistan has called Vajpayee's ceasefire offer, the first since the insurgency began, a "tactical move" in India's larger strategy to impose a military solution in Kashmir.
The Hizbul Mujahidden, the largest fighting outfit in Kashmir, withdrew a ceasefire in August after India refused to sit at the negotiating table with Pakistan.
New Delhi blames Islamabad for fomenting "terrorism" in Kashmir, a charge Pakistan denies.
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