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Musharraf met jehadis, says Pakistan daily

Musharraf met jehadis, says Pakistan daily

Author: PTI
Publication: The Times of India
Date: July 14, 2001
 
Notwithstanding the official denial here, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had an unpublicised meeting with militant groups last week during which they reposed their confidence in his decision to hold talks with Indian leaders and agreed to join a ceasefire if the summit achieves a "positive breakthrough."

The assurance by representatives of the jehadi outfits fighting in Kashmir was handed over to Mr Musharraf at a meeting between him and representatives of the United Jehadi Council (UJC) last week, The Nation newspaper report said here on Friday.

UJC, a conglomerate of 14 Pakistan-based jehadi groups, is led by Hizb-ul Mujahideen leader Sayed Salauddin. Besides Hizb, it includes Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and 12 other minor militant groups committed to Deoband school of Islamic theology. Lashkar-e-Toiba, which is also active in Kashmir and has opposed the Indo-Pak summit is not part of the UJC and decided to step up attacks during Mr Musharraf's three-day India visit.

Quoting sources, the report said it would be considered as a major breakthrough, if India accepts Kashmir as a disputed territory.

"Mr Musharraf was also assured that jehadi organisations would accept ceasefire in the valley if India accepted Kashmir as a disputed territory and agreed to respect the wishes of Kashmiri people," the Nation daily said, adding, they urged him to press for the inclusion of the Hurriyat Conference in a tripartite dialogue.

According to the report, Hizb spokesman Saleem Hashmi declined to confirm the meeting. Hashmi told the paper that jihadi groups believed India was forced to hold talks with Pakistan due to "years of armed struggle" by mujahideen groups.

The meeting and its details were not made public by either side. The meeting also assumes significance as Lashkar, which is considered to be "extreme" among the militant groups, had criticised Mr Musharraf for not consulting the militant groups and the families of militants who were killed in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Ilyas Kashmiri, the "chief commander" of the Harkat-al-Jehad-e-Islami, has said "all Indian cities, including New Delhi are on mujahideen's target and mujahideen will soon target New Delhi." (PTI)
 


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