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Salahuddin not taken into confidence on ceasefire offer: Geelani

Former Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani has disclosed that Hizbul Mujahideen leader Abdul Majid Dar had announced the ceasefire without taking into confidence his Pakistan-based chief Syed Salahuddin.

Revealing that there were differences within the Hizbul Mujahideen, he said that 'Salahuddin later endorsed the ceasefire in the interest of the organisation'.

Geelani said Dar had contacted him over phone before announcing the ceasefire and he (Geelani) had told him that 'announcement of ceasefire was equivalent to defeat'.

He had suggested that Dar delay the announcement till the Jamaat-e-Islami organisational polls (held on July 31) and get in touch with fellow militant outfits before announcing the ceasefire. " I told Dar to meet me and another top Jamaat leader Ashraf Sehrai personally before making the announcement."

On Dar's latest statement that talks with the Centre will be resumed after two months, the Jamaat-e-Islami leader said dialogue could prove fruitful only if all parties were involved. "Pakistan is a basic party to the dispute and it cannot be ignored."

Geelani said, "Hurriyat Conference cannot accept any solution within the Indian Constitution as 80,000 people have laid down their lives for freedom and not for autonomy".

Geelani said Hurriyat had a "very flexible stand" on peace talks but asserted that the dialogue should be meaningful, result-oriented and aimed at finding a permanent solution to the Kashmir problem.

Hurriyat was opposed to converting the Line of Control (LoC) into a permanent border or holding elections for transfer of power, he told a rally at Jamia Masjid here last night.

"The solution to the problem lies in tripartite talks involving India, Pakistan and genuine representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

Geelani said peace could be established only when 'we are allowed to exercise our right to self-determination'.

PTI

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