MESSAGE BOARD
NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Hizbul threatens to revoke 'ceasefire' declaration

The militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen Thursday threatened to revoke its unilateral ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir if India insisted on holding talks within the framework of its Constitution.

Hizbul supreme leader Syed Salahuddin, in a statement in Islamabad, said Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's statement that the government was willing to talk to anybody within the framework of the Constitution "is unacceptable to us."

The outfit "will revoke the ceasefire declaration if India tried to use traditional tactics of ifs and buts and India will be responsible for its consequences," Salahuddin, who was dismissed from the chairmanship of an alliance of 14 Pakistan-based militant outfits Wednesday for endorsing the ceasfire, said. The United Jehad Council also suspended the Hizbul from the alliance.

Vajpayee, while welcoming the ceasefire announcement, had said last Tuesday that the government was willing to talk to anybody within the framework of the Constitution.

"If India shows traditional stubbornness, Hizbul Mujahideen will be justified in reviewing its ceasefire announcement," the supremo said.

He said the Hizbul has not made unilateral ceasefire announcement for peace but it was aimed at finding a solution to the Kashmir issue "in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiris."

Salahuddin said India should initiate purposeful dialogue with Pakistan and the Kashmiri leadership to resolve the problem.

PTI

Tell us what you think of this report