Separatist groups fear that categorising Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin as “a global terrorist” may “drift militancy in a different direction in Kashmir as the decision has the potential to shrink space for pro-dialogue groups, too.”
In an interview to The Hindu , Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed apprehensions that the U.S.’ move has “far alarming ramifications” internally in Kashmir.
“Indigenous militant outfits here never linked up with global terror and worked around the Kashmir issue. My fear is that militancy can drift in a different direction as any wrong branding of forces will pave way for those forces who completely reject the international system. Unfortunately, the U.S. decision will be responsible for this.”
Committed to dialogue
Condemning the U.S. stand on Salahuddin, who also heads the United Jehad Council (UJC) that comprises around 13 militant outfits and is based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the Mirwaiz said the Hurriyat commitment to dialogue and its position on seeking U.S. intervention “will stay the same.”
“However, I fear the new U.S. position may shrink space for those canvassing for dialogue processes in the J&K,” he added.
The Mirwaiz said hostility between India and Pakistan, and Srinagar and New Delhi had “reached a new level.”
“The militaristic position taken by India on the Kashmir issue pushes south Asia to the brink of a nuclear war. In this situation, the U.S. has to take more pragmatic decisions.”
