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"Clouds of war are on the horizon"
Supreme
commander of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Syed Salahuddin evokes both fear and
sympathy in Kashmir. India Today Special Correspondent Ramesh
Vinayak caught up with the 55 year old on his mobile phone for
an interview-his first to an Indian publication since the cease-fire fiasco.
Excerpts:
 Q.
The Hizb has resumed violent operations. Doesn't that run counter to the
perception in Kashmir that militancy has reached a point where dialogue
is the only way out?
A.
Even we wish that the gun's role be over. But India is not letting that
happen. It doesn't accept the ground realities. Before 1990, Kashmir never
knew the gun culture. I have fought elections thrice in Kashmir. That
was the time when we tried to get our rights peacefully. But we were crushed.
Our violent struggle is a quest for peace. There will be no let up in
our target-oriented operations. Their intensity and spread will increase
till India gives up its intransigence.
Q. Is
there still any meeting ground between the Hizb and Delhi?
A.
It's possible to create one even where none exists. Our contention (for
a tripartite dialogue) is realistic. For 53 years, both India and Pakistan
have tried bilateral talks. You had the Tashkent Agreement, Simla Agreement
and Lahore Declaration. But nothing worked. All three parties must sit
across the table for a breakthrough.
Q. But
with India's aversion to tripartite talks, what is the way forward?
A. India
is being stubborn. The political future of 1.2 crore Kashmiris on 84,000
sq m of Kashmir is in Pakistan's control. Once it acknowledges Kashmir's
disputed status, our response will be positive.
Q. Will
Hizb talk to Delhi if Pakistan is kept out at the first stage?
A.
Well, the modalities can be worked out. Let India and Pakistan start.
They can involve Kashmiris later. Alternatively, Kashmiris and Delhi can
start the dialogue. It doesn't matter. But there must be an assurance
that the three will meet during the decisive phase of the dialogue.
Q. Even
the US wants the Hizb to talk with Delhi without Pakistan's involvement.
A. We
have no objection to sitting with Delhi. Let there be guarantees from
the US that bind India to involve Pakistan at the second or third stage
of the dialogue. The guarantees have to come first, because for so long
India has made promises but never kept them.
Q. The
gun is not taking you any closer to the solution.
A.
There is no military solution. But we have no option except armed struggle.
The issue remains as it is. Even India's military minds are now veering
round to the view that a political solution is the only way out.
Q. Do
you expect any movement on Kashmir in the UN Assembly in New York?
A.
India can't run down Pakistan by labelling the mujahid freedom struggle
in Kashmir a terrorist movement. We expect Pakistan to raise Kashmir in
New York. Even India should because the peace of the two countries is
in danger. The clouds of another war between India and Pakistan are on
the horizon. World leaders should prevail upon the two countries to decide
on a formula to settle the Kashmir issue in accordance with the people's
wishes.
Q. Hizb
commander in Kashmir Abdul Majeed Dar hinted at a second truce soon. You
denied it. Are the two of you drifting apart?
A.
Definitely not. We have a central command council. I am its chairman and
Dar is its member. Only the council takes policy decisions. Dar continues
to be our most trusted field commander in Kashmir.
Q. Do
you approve of Dar's overtures to give a political face to Hizb?
A.
It's not Dar's idea alone. It's the council's decision that besides armed
struggle, the Hizb should also launch itself in political and diplomatic
activities which are weak at the moment.
Q. Would
you allow Dar to come overground to launch a political front?
A.
No. The Hizb will have a political role but as a mujahid.
For
Full Text Of The Interview Click
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The
Government should encash at least a part of its stake in LIC and GIC before
its too late, suggests INDIA TODAY associate Editor V. Shankar Aiyar
in 
