Jehad Without End

Pakistani officials may be optimistic about the outcome of the US president’s visit and on improving ties with India, but for thousands of young followers of the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Lashkar-e-Toiba, the Clinton trip changes little in their jehad in Kashmir.

Javed Jabbar, advisor to Gen Pervez Musharraf on national affairs, waxed content on Clinton’s visit: "It’s a major breakthrough for us even though a number of forces were active to prevent his visit. Not only did he visit us, he also held frank and fruitful talks with the general". Asked whether Pakistan will do anything to use its influence over Kashmiri militant groups, he said: "We’ll take all steps possible but, for its part, India should stop its 7,00,000 soldiers in Kashmir from killing innocent people. As for us, we’re ready for talks. The ball is now in the Indian court."

A view Syed Salahuddin, supreme commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, differs with. Calling Clinton’s visit a dismal failure, he said: "We didn’t start our struggle on the advice of Clinton or the US government. If someone thinks we’ll end it on their beckoning, it would be a fallacy. If India wants peace it must implement the UN resolutions."

Leaders of the fighting groups in the United Jehad Council (comprising all the main Kashmiri groups), meeting after Clinton’s visit, concluded that the US wouldn’t come to the rescue of Kashmiris. "We have to fight our own battle; the events of the last 52 years have shown how undependable the US is," declared Hafiz Saeed, leader of the Lashkar-e-Toiba. The Kashmiri groups so far do not see any shift in the Pakistan government’s policy towards them, but aren’t ruling out a change. The Pakistan government has taken measures that have forced certain groups to tone down their activities. In the two or three months prior to Clinton’s visit, Maulana Masood Azhar (who was released on the demand of the hijackers of IC 814) had been detained while his newly formed party, Habsh-e-Mohammad, could not take off because of unrelenting pressure from the government. The maulana had formed this group solely for jehad in Kashmir and over 5,000 people had taken oath at the launch of the party.

Currently, the biggest task before the government is to control the activities at the madrasas. "We told religious parties that the government has no plan for any crackdown on these institutions but will not tolerate any terrorist activities," says federal interior minister Lt Gen (rtd) Moinuddin Haider. The Pakistan government’s already initiated plans for deweaponisation and indications are the operation to recover weapons may also cover certain madrasas.

Warning against any such crackdown, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of the pro-Taliban religious group, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (jui), said: "I hope they don’t touch the jehadi forces and their institutions. If they do, they’ll face strong resistance. We aren’t terrorists, we’re merely fighting those who have deprived millions of Kashmiris of their freedom," he said in Karachi. With the highest number of madrasas in Pakistan, the jui supports the Taliban movement in Afghanistan. "Over 70,000 people were martyred in Kashmir. We won’t allow their sacrifices to go waste," Rehman declared.

Dr Monis Aamir, a columnist on world affairs, believes it’s in Pakistan’s interest to talk to the militant groups. "President Clinton gave us two options - that a pro-mujahideen policy meant serious security repercussions and to review our present policy on Kashmir and engage in dialogue," Aamir told Outlook. He, however, admitted that a hard stance could involve some risk. "They can react and create new fronts for Gen Musharraf."

Prof Shamim Akhtar, a former head of international relations and a noted political commentator, disagrees. "The general should not face much resistance from the militant groups. During the Kargil crisis, he had used his influence effectively. They had listened to him. I don’t think they will be creating problems for him, particularly since it is in the national interest."

The jehadi forces though have their own agenda. It’ll be a big task for any government to stop them. "How can you stop someone who wants to give his life in the name of jehad? They’re indoctrinated," says B.M. Kutty, an activist of the Pakistan-India Forum.

The question now is whether India will agree to talk to Pakistan. "We weren’t surprised when Clinton said he didn’t want to mediate. Our offer is there. But what if the other party shows rigidity in their stand?" asks Jabbar. A good question.