Islamabad: Hard-line Jamiat-Ulema Islam chief Fazlur Rahman's recent visit to India has generated a huge stir within the six-party alliance and has angered Pakistan-based militant outfits operating in Jammu and Kashmir.

Before leaving Pakistan, the JUI-F chief had assured the Mutahidda Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) leaders that he would not speak against the alliance's policy towards Kashmir, sources in the MMA said. But, his controversial statements on the line of control (LoC) and his "close to opposition" attitude towards the struggle in Kashmir had created a stir in all circles in Pakistan.

Sources told the daily 'Dawn' that JUI-F had decided to send its delegation to India when leader of Jammat-i-Islami party Qazi Husain Ahmad and others in the MMA had refused to welcome a Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind delegation led by Asad Madni that wanted to visit Pakistan as part of an "Ulema diplomacy" to initiate dialogue between the two countries.

During his visit to India last week, Rehman had held talks with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee besides meeting with top RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) and VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) leaders.

PTI