An alliance of Kashmiri separatist group wants to respect ceasefire and open peace talks with India, senior Hurriyat leader Abdul Ghani Lone has said. He told the associated press in an interview this week that separatists should do as the political wing does and agree to open talks with India. "We are trying to reach a consensus with Mujahedeen (holy worriors). They should not act as an independent force, but follow the political leadership," said Lone, who was in Pakistan to attend the wedding of his son to the daughter of JKLF leader Amanullah Khan. Rebel groups, represented by the United Jehad Council, are headquartered in Pakistan and have outrightly rejected the ceasefire offer. They have also vowed to step up their attacks against Indian troops in Kahsmir. Lone was critical of the disjointed response to India's month-long ceasefire offer from the political and military wings of the secessionist movement. The political and military wings gave conflicting statement with the Hurriyat Conference priasing it as a beginning and the rebels dismissing it outright as a propaganda ploy by New Delhi.
Bureau Report