The landmine blast last week in the Valley which killed five Ikhwan commanders underscored their vulnerability. But they don't plan to give up the fight against pro-Pakistan terrorists and wily politicians. ``It concerns our survival,'' says Liyaqat, leader of the south Kashmir's counter-insurgency movement after returning from the funeral of the Ikhwan commanders on Sunday. Sensing the emerging threat, Liyaqat offered to forge unity among all surrendered militant groups who are fighting insurgency alongside the security forces.

Thefront-ranking pro-Pakistan group, Hizbul Mujahideen, has since claimed responsibility for the killings and said it was to avenge the killings of 350 of its cadres by the Ikhwan. One more injured Ikhwan commander, Hamid Ganai, on Thursday succumbed to his injuries while two others are battling for their lives in the hospital.

The killings sparked off a spontaneous hartal in Hajin and Safapor, strongholds of Ikhwan-ul-Muslimoon, headed by the charismatic Kukka Parrey. Fear of further attacks gripped the area, where till recently all militants and their overground activists had vanished under the growing popularity of Ikhwan counter-insurgent group. Parrey, founder of Kashmir's first-ever counter-insurgent group and now a legislator, was reported to be in a state of shock. He had lost five of his most trusted fighters including his once personal bodyguard and nephew Manzoor-ul-Haq Parrey, nicknamed Wafadar Khan. Capt Tikoo, spokesperson of the counter-insurgents told The Indian Express that the incidenthad given a fresh cause to their group to fight militancy. He claimed a major programme will be announced by the group soon. Liyaqat, however, spewed his bitterness against the politicians, who he felt, had betrayed them and the ``cause of India in Kashmir''. ``After the elected government came into being, we found ourselves pitted against two adversaries -- pro-Pakistan militants and politicians -- who did everything to dampen our morale.'' He confessed that the counter-insurgents were feeling highly demoralised and were working only for survival.

The counter-insurgent leaders alleged the Government had aided Pakistani elements in their slanderous campaign against the counter-insurgents. ``We were not given any backup support and instead accused of all the excesses and extortions,'' Tikoo says.

Accusing the Bhartiya Janata Party Government of being no different from others in pursuing a totally incoherent Kashmir policy, Liyaqat said: ``Nationalists were being sidelined and taken for granted whileelements trying to indulge in double-speak on Kashmir's relation with the rest of the country were being appeased''.

Liyaqat himself had joined the BJP before the general elections. He confessed that counter-insurgents were not actively getting involved in countering militancy as was evident from the recent bandh in Anantnag in response to the call of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference after five years. Though the counter-insurgents are putting up a brave front, fighting militants is no easy task. Since most of them find that their experiments with political parties have not taken them anywhere, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up the morale of their cadres. Every militant attack targeted at the renegades is a psychological blow to them.

No wonder, then, that Sunday's landmine blast has led to several desertions from counter-insurgent camps. ``I can not prevent it,'' says Liyaqat. He says three of his men had recently defected to the Hizbul Mujahideen. ``Militants harassed the father of oneof them and we were in no position to offer security to the family.''

Liyaqat blasted the Centre for its complacency on Kashmir and allowing ``Kashmir to become the hub of all anti-India activity and Islamic society.'' He alleged while Pakistan was spending huge sums on ``buying intellectuals in Kashmir, the Indian Government was just a mute witness to the hijacking of the Kashmiri mind by pro-Pakistan waves''. In an angry moment Liyaqat prophesied that if the policies were not changed ``there will not be a single person to speak for India after 10 years''.

The disappointment and disillusionment creeping into the camps of the counter-insurgents are not good news for the fight against militancy. Because their involvement gave a new direction to the battle against terrorism.