Hurriyat has a reason to be happy

Many in the Hurriyat had felt that the Hizbul’s decision to call a ceasefire had undermined their own relevance and deflated their own dialogue with the Centre.

“We had said and reiterated that the Hizbul’s decision lacked vision and this decision was hasty. The boys (militants) had not consulted other groups fighting in Kashmir. Any decision relating to ceasefire has to be collective and not a an isolated one,” said a Hurriyat executive who did not want to be named.

This has also “proved us correct on another account,” said another senior Hurriyat leader. “That there can be no solution without the involvement of Pakistan…You cannot say Pakistan can be involved at a later stage. They are a key party.”

Sources said Hizb decision to call off ceasefire has more or less assuagedthe pride of Hurriyat leaders especially the accession lobby. Thesecessionist conglomerate had voiced resentment not only against Hizbbut also against Pakistan for not taking them into confidence about theceasefire decision.

The Hurriyat top brass was also upset over the Hizb decision to nominateFazal Qureshi as its point man — since Qureshi is a general council member –rather than somebody from the executive which is the highest decision-making body.

Even within the Hurriyat there were divergent voices. While the younger section of the leadership supported the ceasefire move, the older leadership, most of whom have been deeply involved in the militant movement, had opposed it.

The younger leadership had even started secret negotiations with senior separatist leader Shabir Ahmed Shah to woo him back intoHurriyat. Shah was approached twice in a week’s time first by Javid AhmedMir, vice-chairman, JKLF and youth president Awami Action Committee,Shaid-ul-Islam and second time by the a middle-rung Hurriyat leader G MBhat.