Pronouncing jihad as the only way to liberate Kashmir from “Indian occupation,'' the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), along with several other Kashmiri militant organisations, on Tuesday warned Pakistan of a greater tragedy than its 1971 dismemberment if the government lulled itself into considering India and the U.S. as friends.
A declaration, rejecting India-Pakistan talks and calling for jihad instead, was adopted by leaders of these organisations at the ‘Defence of Pakistan Conference,' organised in Kotli – a district along the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK). Among those party to the declaration were Hizb-ul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin and LeT commander Abdul Wahid Kashmiri.
With acute power and water shortage facing much of the country, the speakers used this issue that touches every citizen of Pakistan to buttress their case for “liberating” Kashmir from India. “This conference firmly believes that liberation of Kashmir can counter India's water terrorism.''
Describing the talks between India and Pakistan as a “hoax,'' the Hizb chief – who also leads the United Jihad Council, an alliance of Kashmiri militant groups based in Muzaffarabad – said the Indian side always bought time under the guise of dialogue. “India has fenced the LoC and is strengthening its military prowess in Kashmir to suppress Kashmiris,'' he said.
For his part, the LeT leader said mujahideen in all parts of the world – be it Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine or Kashmir – were well justified in fighting invaders and oppressors, suggesting that it was a religious obligation. “The secret of success and freedom from the oppressor lies in jihad and not at the negotiating tables,'' he said; promising the LeT's support for the Kashmiris till freedom was theirs.
Instead of begging for dialogue, Pakistan should expose India's “ugly” face before the international community and resolve the problems of Kashmiris, who have declined India's offer of surrender and rehabilitation, the declaration said.
Other organisations which participated in the conference and endorsed the declaration included the Tehreek-ul Mujahideen, Al-Badar Mujahideen, Harkat-ul Mujahideen (HuM), Hizb-e-Islami Jammu Kashmir, Jamiat-ul Mujahideen, Muslim Janbaz Force and the Al Jihad Force. Three of them – the HuM, JeM and the LeT are on the U.S. State Department's list of proscribed outfits.
