ISLAMABAD, June 9: Two rival factions of the pro-independence Jammu-Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) headed by Amanullah Khan and Mohammad Yasin Malik have decided to reunite, a coordination committee working out modalities for the union said on Thursday. Both Mr Khan, who lives in Pakistan, and Mr Malik, now here as a member of a visiting nine-man delegation of resistance leaders from Indian-held Kashmir, signed a unity document on Wednesday, said a statement of the coordination committee headed by Dr Farooq Haider, a prominent JKLF figure who has worked with both the factions.

Mr Khan confirmed to Dawn that the reunification decision had been taken and said further talks to achieve the objective and the future shape of the organisation would be held in the next couple of days.

There was no immediate indication about who will head a reunified JKLF, which was established by Mr Khan and his colleagues in England in 1977 to seek a reunification of the divided Jammu and Kashmir as an independent state and which spearheaded an armed resistance in the Indian-held Kashmir for some time since 1988.

But while several other militant groups also came to the fore, the JKLF suffered a severe setback in 1995 when differences erupted between Mr Khan and Mr Malik, who was then president of the organisation in the Indian-held Kashmir.

While Mr Khan, based in Pakistan, retained his position as JKLF chairman, Mr Malik became chairman of his group, with both factions having followers and branches on both sides of the Line of Control.

Both the groups subsequently gave up militancy, opting for a peaceful pursuit of their idea of an independent Kashmir, which has gained in popularity in recent years, particularly in the Indian-held Kashmir

Efforts for a reconciliation failed to materialise until Mr Malik arrived in Azad Kashmir on June 2 with the Kashmiri leaders’ delegation by the newly introduced Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service.

The coordination committee statement said that after his arrival in Muzaffarabad, Mr Malik adopted “a very respectful attitude” even publicly towards Mr Khan, who in turn reciprocated by meeting the estranged colleague several times.

It said both leaders suggested a reunification of their factions in speeches at a reception given in honour of Mr Malik at Dr Haider’s home in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.