Srinagar: The pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) on November 1 rejected the appeal
made by Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Ghulam Nabi Azad to Kashmiri militants
to lay down arms and four militant groups decided to merge into a new outfit to help
ease international pressure on Pakistan.
In a statement in Srinagar, chief commander of HM Saif-ul-Islam said formation of a
government is no issue in Kashmir. The issue relates to self-determination and to
achieve that goal we will fight till the last."
Meanwhile, four militant outfits -- Islamic Front, Tehreek-e-Jehad, al-Burq and
Harkat-e-Jehad-Islami -- announced merger of the outfits and formation of 'Kashmir
Liberation Organisation.'
The step was taken to ease international pressure on Pakistan, which has been
accused of aiding and abetting militancy in Kashmir, a spokesman of the new outfit
said.
He said the decision was taken at a closed-door meeting of the leaders of the
outfits. The meeting was attended by Bilal Beig (Islamic Front), Wasim Beigh
(Tehreek-e-Jehad) Farooq Qureshi (al-Burq) and Muzaffar Kashmiri (Harket-e-Jehad-e-
Islami).
He said militant outfits including Hizbul Mujahideen, Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen, al-Umer
Mujahideen and Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen would change their names shortly, following
directions from Pakistan.
PTI
