SikhSpectrum.com Quarterly Issue No.30, November 2007
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Plays Politics In the Name of Religion
Jasbir Sarai
Ramadan is a period of fasting, reflection, devotion, generosity and sacrifice observed by Muslims around the world. In the Quran, Muslims are commanded to fast so that they may become pious. This piety and devotion is especially felt during Ramadan. For the Jehadi’s in Pakistan this pious month is often converted into a political opportunity to gain brownie points in support of their unholy agenda. The United Jehad Council (UJC) has, on October, 10, 2007 declared a unilateral ceasefire for three days preceding Eid-Ul-Fitr. The Chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, and the president of the PDP, Mahbooba Mufti, have welcomed the initiative. Mahbooba Mufti stated that “A ceasefire will bring respite to the people, and now it is the duty of the central government to give a positive response so that a happy message is given to the people of the state on the occasion of Eid”.
Whether this initiative by the Hizb is pious or sanctimonious is open for analysis in the wake of the politics of ceasefire that the organisation has been playing in the last few years. The first major initiative towards ceasefire was taken by the Vajpayee led government in November, 2000. The government, on 19, November, 2000 announced suspension of operations against militants in J&K during the holy month of Ramadan. This initiative witnessed outright rejection by the UJC even as Hartak-ul-Mujahideen threatened massive attacks on Indian army camps during the period. Just hours after the ceasefire came into force, at least 14 people, including four soldiers, were killed while over a dozen security personnel were wounded seriously in the valley in a series of blasts and encounters. On December, 22, even as the ceasefire by the Indian troops continued a group of militants from the Lashkar-e-Toiba stormed the Red Fort to register their opposition to the initiative.
Despite grave provocation by the militants the government extended the ceasefire in February, 2001, and in April, the same year Mr KC Pant was appointed as a negotiator. At the outset Mr Pant declared his willingness to hold talks with all segments including separatist groups and militants. However, this initiative by the government was also perceived as a sign of weakness and the Kashmiri leadership missed the opportunity to hold meaningful and progressive talks. One positive fall out was that the ideological and political disparity between the leaders of various groups came to the fore and it became obvious that the diverse perceptions would make negotiation a very tedious and complex exercise., as it has proved to be over the years. By May, 2001, the centre had lost its patience and the ceasefire was broken since the terrorists had hindered the process of restoration of peace in the region.
The politics of cease fire during Ramadan were dramatised by the Hizb, once again in September, 2006 when it offered conditional ceasefire provided the Indian government agreed to scale down troop presence, stop human rights violations and release all political prisoners. Without doubt these are preposterous demands made with a clear understanding that they would be rejected by the government. Their sole aim was to igniting passions of simple and innocent people and in the process gaining political mileage.
The drama that has unfolded this year is no better. On October, 10, Hizb put up the proposal for a three day cease fire with the express hope of its further extension under pressure, both domestic and international. Its overall strategy is to gain time to regroup since its cadres are presently under intense pressure from the security forces and have also lost popular support. The security forces fully understand the intention behind this initiative and are not ready to allow this pause, a point that was clarified in mid September with an unanimous opinion during a meeting of the Unified Command of which the chief minister of J&K is the chairman. At this stage when the valley is witnessing a unique era of peace due to the decimation of terrorist ranks, a let down of the pressure would amount to committing strategic hara-kiri.
It is also a question of ‘once bitten twice shy’, successive efforts over the years by the Indian government to convince the militants to shun violence have been perceived as a sign of weakness and have been exploited as such. Unilateral efforts towards ceasefire have led to an avoidable loss of life and have set the clock back in counter terrorist operations. The government is very rightly alive to the deceit and duplicity that these forces are capable of generating in concert with their masters across the border and should not fall prey to their unholy machinations.
Ramadan is supposed to be a time of giving and giving up, a time to feel closer to humanity. It is a time of deep prayers and reflections. It is not a time for playing third rate politics that lead to high strung passions and spread fear and hatred instead of peace and brotherhood. They Hizb must also reflect upon the reasons that led to their repeated denial to similar initiatives taken by the government in the true spirit of brotherhood in the years gone by. The organisation must also clarify as to how the last three days of Ramadan become more pious than the rest of the month to merit a ceasefire. Why did they nor come up with the initiative earlier and give the government enough time to consider a response. Obviously they timed the initiative in a manner that helps them inflame passions as was the objective in 2006. The Kashmiri leadership also needs to control their euphoria when it comes to talking peace and lend their support to initiatives that augur well for their people and not those which reek of opportunistic politics. The Hizb would be best advised to allow the region to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr in a manner that reflects the best teaching and traditions of Islam.
