17 November 2004	Wednesday	04 Shawwal 1425

MUZAFFARABAD, Nov 16: An alliance of jihadi groups on Wednesday urged Kashmiris to 'welcome' Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh by staging a "crippling strike" during his visit to the region.

The United Jihad Council's chairman Syed Salahuddin in a statement issued here said: "We condemn the Indian prime minister's visit to Srinagar. We endorse the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference's call and urge the people of the state to observe a complete strike on Wednesday to demonstrate their abhorrence for the Indian occupation."

Dr Manmohan Singh is to start his first-ever visit to the occupied territory on Wednesday after assuming the office in May.

"There has been no change in the situation in (occupied) Kashmir despite the so-called peace initiatives. The state-sponsored terrorism let loose by the occupation forces has intensified," Mr Salahuddin said.

He accused Indian occupation forces of committing massacres and custodial killings and said that the occupation troops were also frequently using gang rapes as a weapon of war to crush the will of Kashmiris seeking freedom, the UJC chief said.

He also criticized the recent gang rape incident that occurred in Handwara town.

"Does Mr Singh have any moral justification to visit an area where his forces are unabatedly committing such ghastly and inhuman acts with impunity," Mr Salahuddin said.

Referring to the proposed reduction of Indian troops in occupied Kashmir, he said that the move was an "eyewash to befool the outside world ahead of the Indian prime minister's tour."

"It is absolutely an abortive attempt to hoodwink the international community and Islamabad," he said, but added that Kashmiris were aware of such tactics on part of India and would not fell prey to any propaganda.

He also said that India had over 750,000 troops in held Kashmir and withdrawal of 40,000 of them was like a straw on the camel's back.

"Let it be clear that Mujahideen and the people of Kashmir will continue their fight for a right that India and the international community had pledged to them more than five decades ago," the UJC chief said, referring to right to self determination enshrined in UN Security Council resolutions, dating back to 1948.