Indian ceasefire plan just tactical -- Pak

Indian ceasefire plan just tactical -- Pak
REUTERS

ISLAMABAD, NOV 20: Pakistan's Government and militant groups attacked New Delhi's proposal of a ceasefire during the holy month of Ramzan as tactical manoeuvring.

Peace will come only when India ends its ``repression'' in its part of Kashmir and negotiates the future of the region with Pakistan and the Kashmiri leadership, Foreign Ministry spokesman Riaz Ahmed Khan said.

``Otherwise, short-term ceasefire offers, such as the one made yesterday, could only be tactical and part of India's effort to impose a military solution,'' he told a news conference.

But the Pakistani Government, while accusing India of manipulating a short ceasefire between the sides last August, said it would watch for signs India was serious about reaching peace.

``Pakistan will continue to closely watch the developments in the Indian-occupied Kashmir and the intent and purpose of the Indian announcement,'' Khan said.

``The views of the Kashmiri leadership, especially the APHC (All Parties Hurriyat Conference), will be of importance as they are the main target and victims of Indian repression and machinations to stifle the Kashmiri struggle.''

The APHC's response in India was lukewarm, calling a one-month ceasefire no solution.

Khan spoke after three pro-Pakistani groups had shown little interest in India's Sunday offer of a ceasefire during Ramzan, which starts late this month.

The Hizbul Mujahideen said it would match the gesture only if it was the start of a larger peace process in Kashmir. ``This limited ceasefire in respect of Ramzan has no meaning or utility for the people until it is set up to initiate a meaningful dialogue for the ultimate resolution of the Kashmir conflict,'' Hizbul's supreme commander, Syed Salahuddin, said in Islamabad.

Al-Badar Mujahideen, a smaller group, flatly rejected a ceasefire and said it was planning operations during the Muslim holy month.

``The announcement by India is one more attempt to misguide world opinion. Al-Badar rejects the ceasefire and announces that our jihad (holy war) will continue until Indian forces withdraw from occupied Kashmir,'' the organisation said. ``We will enhance our actions and launch an operation named Gazwa-E-Badar in Ramadan to cope with this new conspiracy.''

Lashkar-e-Taiba, another militant group, denounced the Indian announcement as a ``mere eye-wash'' and vowed to continue its armed struggle. ``This is typical Indian politics based on fraud. If it is serious about a ceasefire, it should withdraw its troops from Kashmir and cease all military operations there,'' the group said.