The pro-Azadi faction is upset because if the Hurriyat follows Pakistan's suggestion, there will be no chance of gaining an independent status for Kashmir. The UN Resolution offers only two options: either live with India or opt for Pakistan. The fighters for `Azad Kashmir' are vehemently opposing any such move by the APHC which forces them to depart from their consistent stand on the Kashmir issue.

Highly placed sources told The Indian Express that a section of APHC leaders had recently met a senior Pakistan diplomat in New Delhi who conveyed his country's preference to the Hurriyat leaders. It is said that Pakistan and its supporters believe that the time is ripe for putting pressure on India for extending the right for self-determination to Kashmiris and not confuse the issue by demanding freedom.

The plebiscite as suggested in the UN Resolution goes in favour of Pakistan because the Muslim population of Kashmir has an age-old affinity towards the neighbouring Muslim country. Hurriyat president Syed Ali Shah Geelani and veteran secessionist leader and president of J&K People's Conference, Abdul Gani Lone, when contacted said that no country or force can dictate any terms to them. ``It is our fight and supporting countries will only support our stand,'' said two leaders.

Geelani, commenting on Hurriyat leaders' meeting with the Pak diplomat, said, ``It is the Indian press and Intelligence Bureau which circulate these kinds of rumours''.

Sources, however said that the contentious issue has led to a sharp division in the APHC executive body and the pro-Pak lobby is struggling hard to convince the pro-Azadi faction, which has emerged with a majority of five to two in the seven-member executive. Geelani and Lone are in the minority of two pressing for the demand of Kashmir's accession to Pakistan. But this unfavourable situation has not perturbed Geelani as he (and Lone) enjoy financial and moral support from Pakistan.

It is learnt that other executive members, Yasin Malik (JKLF), Mir Waiz Moulvi Mohd Umar Farooq (J&K Awami Action Committee), Maulana Abbas Ansari (J&K Ittehad-Ul-Muslimeen), Prof Abdul Gani (J&K Muslim Conference) are avid supporters of freedom for Kashmir. The seventh member of the Committee, Shabir Shah has distanced himself from APHC and is running his independent outfit and even he is not in favour of kashmir submitting its sovereignty to Pakistan.

In recent parleys with the members, Geelani has tried to impress upon the members that Kashmir's future lies with Pak alone and Azadi is an unattainable objective. Since Geelani and Lone's soft corner for Pakistan is no secret, members belonging to other factions are not willing to buy that logic. Geelani, however, maintained that there are no differences among the members as far as the basic stand is concerned. ``We demand that people should be given their basic rights. But India has constantly been denying it,'' said Geelani.

It is not for the first time that this conglomeration of secessionist parties has faced such a storm. APHC's constitution could not be finalised for about an year as there was serious difference of opinion about what should be the objective of the party: azadi or accession to Pakistan. Since the matter could not be resolved, the constitution stops short of taking any definite stand and just resolves its fight for right for self-determination which also includes ``right to Independence''. The Hurriyat chief says that the final decision has been left with the people of Kashmir and that Hurriyat will accept their verdict.