Militant Leader Warns Attacks on The Rise in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jan 24: The chief commander of the pro-Pakistan militant group Hizbul Mujahideen and head of the Muzaffarabad based militant alliance UJC, Syed Salah-ud-Din Tuesday warned of increase in militant attacks in Indian administered Kashmir.

“The attacks in Kashmir will be increased. Kashmir will be freed soon,” Salahuddin told a local news gathering agency KNS in a tele-statement.

He said, “In 2008, 2009 and 2010, tens of thousands of people came out on streets demanding freedom. During that time, we (UJC) decided to halt its actions in inhibited places so that Indian troops won’t get an excuse to fire on unarmed protesters”.

The UJC chief said the Kashmir freedom struggle has entered the decisive phase and militants will increase their activities. “We have to carry attacks in streets of Kashmir. Our infrastructure is intact and we can carry attacks wherever we like,” he warned.

On recent attacks in civilian areas, he said, “We are not involved in such attacks. As per our strategy, we don’t carry out attacks in areas, where civilians will suffer. Our policy is to carry attacks against Indian targets like Army and intelligence.”

Salah-ud-Din appealed people to boycott the forthcoming municipal polls in Kashmir. “These elections can have negative impact on freedom movement,” he said.

On talks with India, he said, “India should accept historical facts. It should also accept Kashmir as a dispute and take concrete measures to resolve the Kashmir dispute. If it continues its rigid stand and continues to violate human rights of people, talks in such a scenario can prove futile”.