Srinagar, Kashimir, Asharq Al-Awsat- Attempts by the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaz Umer Farooq to broker a ceasefire in Kashmir have suffered a setback as he flies to New York City to brief Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on the latest developments in the province, especially regarding talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The chairman of the United Jihad Council, an umbrella group representing different Islamic militant parties, and supreme commander of Hizbul Mujahedeen, Syed Salahuddin, rejected on Sunday a call for a ceasefire.
“Some men appear to be addicted to lengthy and ultimately fruitless talks with India to maintain a high profile in the media; they are deluding themselves” Salahuddin said in a statement to the local media.
The UCJ chief ruled out any lull in the violence unless New Delhi accepted earlier conditions set by the militants.
His comments come at Umer prepares to meet Musharraf on Saturday as the latter attends the 60 th UN General Assembly in New York. Farooq has credited the Pakistani leader for the success of the talks with India.
A Hurriyat spokesperson said its head was also scheduled to take part in a meeting on the Organization of the Islamic Conference Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir on 19 th September followed by the annual meeting of Foreign Ministers from OIC countries on 23 rd September.
Leaders of two other separatist groups, Muhammad Yasin Malik, of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front and Shabir Ahmed Shah, of the Democratic Freedom Party plans to attend the meetings.