In a significant development ahead of the Indo-Pak summit, hardcore religious party JamatUlema-e-Islam of Pakistan (JUI) today appealed to militant groups to announce an indefinite ceasefire to enable India andPakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue.
"Guns should fall silent" for sometime in Kashmir in order to facilitate India and Pakistan to address the"legitimate concerns" of all parties to the dispute at the Agra summit, JUI Chief Moulana Fazlur Rehman toldreporters in Islamabad today.
Moulana Rehman, who recently organised one of the biggest international Deoband religious conferences inPeshawar, also appealed to India to declare a ceasefire to create an atmosphere of peace in Kashmir ahead ofthe summit.
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"We call upon the Indian Government and the Mujahideen groups to observe ceasefire to give negotiations andpeace a chance," he said.
He appreciated Hurriyat Conference's decision to call off all strikes.
JUI's appeal could have a significant impact on the Pakistan-based militant groups like HizbulMujahideen, Harkat ul-Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Al Badar which owe allegiance to militant Islamic Deoband school of thought.
Militant groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba follow Alhadi school of Islamic jihad.
