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| Mirwaiz purposes, Salahuddin, Geelani dispose | | Musharraf's Four-Point Formula | | Neha
JAMMU, Jan 7: The self-styled freedom fighters in Kashmir and Muzaffarabad are fighting among themselves, with one of them even threatening a direct action against one of them. The case in point is the suggestion of APHC-M chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq that there is no harm in considering former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf's four-point Kashmir "solution" and the rabid opposition to the suggestion of Muzaffarabad-based Kashmiri terrorist and chairman of United Jihad Council (UJC) and "supreme commander" of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) Syed Salahuddin and Tehrik-e-Hurriyat (TeH) chief Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
That the Kashmiri separatists were not one as far as attitude towards the Musharraf's formula is not something new. They have been expressing themselves differently ever since Musharraf came out with his pernicious formula that envisaged division of the State into five zones, demilitarization, self-governance, joint-control and joint-mechanism and irrelevant borders and Line of Control. However, it was only after December 29, 2012 that the controversy assumed an alarming proportion, with Geelani threatening a direct action against Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, of course, without naming him.
It was on December 29 that Mirwaiz addressed a press conference in Srinagar and suggested that it would not be wrong to consider the Musharraf's formula. "Over the years many prospective solutions, formulas and suggestions have come forward vis-a-vis Kashmir issue and its solution. There is no harm in discussing these but the condition is that people of Kashmir are taken on board. The four point formula as put forward by former Pakistan President General Parvez Musharraf can also guide us and this too can be discussed. If we have to find a solution of the problem, we have to look for all the options and Musharraf's formula is one of them. There is no harm in debating, discussing it. Then final solution should be decided by the people," Mirwaiz said. There was no reference to Jammu and Ladakh and it was expected.
On January 5, both Salahuddin and Geelani tore into Mirwaiz and announced their vehement opposition to the suggestion as made by APHC-M chairman. Addressing a press conference at the press club, Muzaffarabad, after the conclusion of a rally organized to mark "Right to Self Determination Day", the UJC chairman said: "Musharraf retreated on Kashmir under international pressure by presenting 4-point formula without any guarantee from anywhere and, in fact, he created confusion in Kashmir as well as discord among the Kashmiri leadership, triggering roadmaps from every other leader. We have suffered at the hands of our own people. The trans-Kashmir travel or trade of 'potatoes and onion', internal autonomy or division of Kashmir could not be the substitute for freedom. We are not antipathetic to intra-Kashmir trade or travel but attaching as much importance to it as can put the basic issue on the backburner. It is a naked betrayal with the unprecedented sacrifices offered by the Kashmiris. Musharraf 'backstabbed' Kashmiri militants," he was quoted as saying. Again, there was no reference to Jammu and Ladakh and it too was expected.
Not lagging behind, Geelani also snubbed Mirwaiz and urged separatist outfits not to "advocate Musharraf's four-point formula or any other readymade solution" to the "Kashmir problem". Without referring to any particular separatist outfit and separatist leader, Geelani said: "We don't want confrontation with anyone, but we won't tolerate anyone working against Kashmir cause and advocating Musharraf's formula or any other readymade solutions. We will openly come against such elements. They talk about economic packages, four-point formula, self-rule and opening of routes. Let us tell them that they are derailing from the real cause". Actually, Geelani addressed a seminar on the theme "Dignified, Democratic, Lasting solution of Kashmir Issue -- Self Determination" over phone from New Delhi. Geelani not only registered his emphatic opposition to the Musharraf's four-point formula, but he also administered a threat that "if they 'don't mend their ways, his conglomerate would be left with no other option other than 'confronting' them." As was expected, Geelani also, like Mirwaiz and Salahuddin, did not even once talked about Jammu and Ladakh.
The issue is not the people of Jammu and Ladakh, as they are quite capable of puncturing the separatists' balloon as well as frustrating the evil designs of those demanding autonomy and self-rule, promoting their nationalist agenda and defending the territorial integrity and sovereignty of India. The issue is the intense infighting within the separatist camp - infighting to the extent that militants are administering warnings to the effect that if they fail to mend their ways, they will be confronted. It is really shocking and disturbing that New Delhi has failed to exploit this infighting and integrate the State fully with New Delhi by removing from the Indian statute book Article 370, which has only served to promote separatism and communalism in Kashmir, enabled Kashmiri leadership to exploit the people of Jammu and Ladakh and render all the institutions, without any exception, ineffective and unreal for all practical purposes. When will New Delhi act? |
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