June 21, 2002	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 9, 1423

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MUZAFFARABAD, June 20: Hizbul Mujahideen, a group of Kashmiri freedom fighters, on Thursday ruled out ceasefire with India, saying it did not consider the truce a “pre-requisite for negotiations to resolve the long-standing problem.”

The group reiterated its resolve to continue the armed struggle till the eviction of the occupation forces from Kashmir.

All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman Abdul Ghani Bhat had on Wednesday said in Srinagar that the alliance wanted to travel to Azad Kashmir to meet Mujahideen leaders and negotiate a peaceful resolution to the dispute with them.

“We will want a ceasefire to happen. Obviously if a forward movement is intended, we will have to give peace a chance,” Bhat had said. When contacted by Dawn, Hizbul Mujahideen Supreme Commander Syed Salahuddin said Mr Bhat had not consulted him before floating the proposal in Srinagar.

Mujahideen, said Mr Salahuddin, would warmly welcome the Hurriyat leaders if they were allowed to visit Azad Kashmir. But as far as the ceasefire was concerned, it would be worthless until India accepted the rights of the Kashmiris, he said.

Hizb had also made a truce offer to India in July 2000, but withdrew it within two weeks after India’s refusal to accept its demand, mainly the inclusion of Pakistan in talks on Kashmir.

He recalled that his group had made it clear in the past as well that “ceasefire for the sake of ceasefire” could not deliver unless supplemented by concrete measures for resolution of the core issue which was the root cause of tension in South Asian.