Author:
Publication: The Hindu
Date: October 28, 2001
SRINAGAR, OCT. 27. Ms. Asiya Andrabi
is the only wanted woman leader in Kashmir. Just before the terrorist strikes
in the United States, police did not spare any effort to apprehend her
for alleged involvement in the much-publicised burqa (veil) campaign launched
by the Lashkar-e-Jabbar(LeJ).
A staunch pro-Pakistan leader of
the Dukhtaran-e- Millat (DeM or daughters of nation), Ms. Andrabi believes
that the armed struggle in Kashmir is not nationalistic, but part of the
Islamic movement worldwide. A bitter critic of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference,
she is all praise for the Taliban and the Al-Qaeda. The DeM, radical women's
group, had also been banned in 1990. Often referred to as a militant group,
none of its activists has taken to the gun. But it is a strong supporter
of militants. The Hindu Special Correspondent Shujaat Bukhari managed an
hour-long conversation with Ms. Andrabi under the shadow of police chasing
her. Here are the excerpts of the interview:
Question: Something about you and
your organisation?
Ms. Asiya Andrabi: In fact, I started
the movement in 1981 when I was a student of B.Sc. I came across a book
consisting writeups by newly-converts to Islam. I read an article by Maryam
Jameela who had converted to Islam from Christianity and my desire for
learning Islam started from that day. I changed my subjects and did B.A.(Hon.)
in Arabic. Initially, I founded the Dukhtaran-e- Fatima, which was later
on renamed the Dukhtaran-e-Millat in '90.
You have been vociferously pursuing
the teachings of Islam and want to implement the Islamic code of conduct
strictly, particularly among women. But there has been little success.
No, we always have not been strict
in the sense you refer to. >From 1981 to 1992, we took recourse to awareness
through preaching but, yes, in 1992 we sprinkled colour on women to enforce
the ``purdah'' but that too after a declaration by Islamic scholars. It
continued for two months. Those who adhered to it continue to do so, and
those who did it under fear discontinued it afterwards.
Islam in Kashmir is being practised
in a different way and not essentially like the Taliban do. Don't you think
it will not help you in influencing a larger chunk of people?
We are not bothered how many people
follow us. We want Islamic teachings to be followed strictly. If I would
have listened to people in the past, I would have been the most popular
leader of Kashmir.
You are a staunch supporter of Kashmir's
accession to Pakistan, but you have turned against the Government of Pakistan
on its support to the U.S.
We are for a united Muslim world,
that is why we want Kashmir to be part of Pakistan. We are not the puppets
of the Government of Pakistan nor are their paid agents. We are with the
people of Pakistan, who have publicly resented Gen. Musharraf's decision
to support the U.S. He has done wrong. We do not care for the Pakistan
Government.
What about the Hurriyat Conference?
Its place is in nowhere but in a
dustbin. It claims to be representatives of people, but Kashmiris have
rejected it. It does not exist anywhere and people have full faith in ``Mujahideen''.
What will be the impact of developments
in Afghanistan on Kashmir?
It will be positive. The people
of Pakistan, who have supported the Taliban, also support Kashmir militancy.
The U.S. will be defeated and they have admitted that they cannot get Osama
bin Laden. If the Taliban succeeds, it will give a fillip to militant activities
and if they lose, they will turn to Kashmir as well.
But don't you think that Kashmir
militancy will be hijacked if forces like the Taliban come?
No, it is not the question of Kashmiriat
or nationalism. We are part of Islamic movement worldwide. So any of our
brethren, including the Taliban, are welcome in Kashmir.
You supported the Lashkar-e-Jabbar
in its campaign on the ``purdah'' but it faded away.
The developments in Afghanistan
took everything. We support their campaign and it is basically our agenda.
The LeJ, many people believe does
not exist at all, who are they?
No, they exist. They are not sponsored
by Pakistan or anybody else, but may be the members of some other group.
An impression goes that Pakistan
will try to bargain with the U.S. on Kashmir.
We do not want ``azadi'' at the
cost of the people of Afghanistan even if we remain slaves for whole life.
The U.S. can never be a friend of any Muslim country as history speaks
for itself. That is why we are opposed to the U.S. intervention in Kashmir.
It has the arrogance of power and I hope Afghanistan will break that pride
of the U.S.
