Arun Joshi in The Hindustan Times, 16 November, 1998
There is a noticeable shift in Jamait-i-Islami's stand on Kashmir issue from a ... pro-Pakistan stance to the disowning of militancy ... The organisation ... is always seen (as) secessionist ... The pro-Pakistan militant outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen is ... seen as part of it. (What the) organisation is now trying to portray itself as pro-Kashmir ... with an undying faith in peace.
JIK's chief Mr. G.M. Butt pleaded for a soft approach- tripartite talks on Kashmir between India, Pakistan and the representatives of Kashmir and significantly voiced concern over the trends in militancy and sought to present his organisation ... as a political group having nothing to do with the violent face of secessionism ...
Jamait-i-Islami ideologues like Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who now heads the ... All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) is a loud voice in favour of militancy. For him the militants are "freedom fighters" and in their death "martyrs" to the "cause of Kashmir". He is still supportive of Kashmir going to Pakistan because of its "geographical, religious and sentimental closeness to Pakistan".
However, Mr. Butt at a press conference in Srinagar on Saturday made out three important points. First, Jamait-i- Islami is a political group. Second. it has no links with militancy. Third, the Jamait-i-Islami activists are targets of the "terror campaign" of security forces. He insisted on the return of Kashmiri migrants to their homes in the Valley ... Mr. Butt ... even went to the extent of disowning Hizb supremo Syed Salahuddin as an activist of the Jamait-i-Islami.
These assertions clearly reflect a soft approach ...
Observers read 2 contradictory messages - either there is a shift in the stand of Jamait-i-Islami to project itself as a victim of the "terror of the security forces", or there are inherent contradictions within its cadres and leadership that are now coming to the fore.
Aasha Khosa in The Indian Express, 25 November, 1998
Kashmir's secessionist movement has received a major setback with a rift between hard-liners and moderates in the Jamait-i-Islami over affiliation to pro-Pakistan insurgent groups coming into the open.
The year-old moderate leadership of the Jamaat has been trying to rid the party of the stigma of being the over ground apparatus of the ... Hizbul Mujahideen by disowning the link. Ghulam Mohammad Butt, Amir-e-Jamaat (President), has stressed on the "religio-political" character of the organisation and said it believed only in "democratic and righteous means" to achieve its goal.
Butt said the party had changed its stand on Kashmir going to Pakistan and now held that the issue be resolved through tripartite talks - among India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir. Butt also blames the "electoral malpractices in 1987" for the insurgency ... But the statement has evoked a sharp reaction from Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani, the high-profile All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman. Geelani, a Jamaat leader himself has made no bones about his proximity to the militants ... Jamaat does not exist in a vacuum. This (insurgency) movement has been supported by the Kashmiri nation of which the Jamaat is a part", he said. Political analysts feel Geelani stands isolated as a majority of the Jamait-i-Islami cadre blame him for plunging them into militancy. About 2000 party activists and sympathisers have died because of suspected links with militants.Ahsan Dar, a former "supreme commander" of Hizbul Mujahideen, had spilled the beans ... in, 1991 when he confessed that the HM was the armed wing of the Jamaat.
Later, Ahsan Dar was eased out of the militant group and the Jamaat took complete charge the largest pro-Pakistan militant organisation. This further lent credence to the security forces' belief that the Jamaat-I-Islami was the backbone of militancy in Kashmir. However, the tables were turned on the Jamaat with the rise in the counter-insurgency groups, which targeted the partymen. Its activists started migrating from villages. It ... sustained pressure from counter-insurgents which forces the Jamaat to dissociate itself from the militant groups. The shift in the Jamaat's stance is seen as a positive development ....
Shujaat Bukhari in The Hindu, 30 November, 1998
With the issuance of explanatory notice to the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, the differences in the Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI) in Kashmir have taken a new turn ... Knowledgeable sources in the Jamaat said that following open differences between Mr. Geelani and the JEI Ameer (Chief), Mr. Ghulam Mohammad Butt, on the party's dissociation from militancy, notice had been served on Mr. Geelani asking him to explain his position on his open revolt against the high command ... The same notice had been served on another JEI leader, Mr. Ashraf Sehrai ...While the latter has ... replied Mr. Geelani has so far chosen not to react.
... The meeting of the JEI's decision making body, General Council has been fixed for December 5 ... The Council has 25 members while the Majlis-e-Numayandagan (Electoral College) consists of 75 members, of whom some have fallen victims to gunmen ...
From November 14, the warring factions started joining issues with Mr. Butt declaring at a press conference that the Jamaat had nothing to do with militancy, saying what he was saying had the approval of general council as also the Majlis-e-Numayandagan (electoral college), of course, with two Jamaat veterans Moulana Ghulam Ahmed Ahrar and Hakim Ghulam Nabi on his side. He later was more specific saying that Mr. Geelani, who happens to be the chairman of political bureau of the JEI was consulted on the issue. This was followed by Mr. Geelani's statement denying that he was ever consulted ...
Observers in Srinagar believe that the ongoing onslaught on the Jamaat activists must have prompted Mr. Butt to "clarify his party's position" as it has been considered to be one of the staunch supporters of militancy with its many activists in the front ranking militant organisation, the Hizbul Mujahideen. But Butt sought to clarify that the JEI was committed to democratic ways in carrying out its political and religious mission. "We have lost 2000 activists who fell victims to unknown assassins," said Mr. Butt. The Jamaat being the only cadre based political group in Kashmir has its members identified everywhere.
... APHC is the conglomerate of over 23 political organisation. Geelani represents Jamaat-e-Islami in the Hurriyat ... However, ... Mr. Geelani is likely to continue with the power he is enjoying in the Hurriyat.
B.K. Karkra on Farooq Abdullah's Suggestion for LOC as Border
Chief Minister of J&K Farooq Abdullah, has suggested on more than one occasion that India and Pakistan should settle for the Kashmir Line of Control (LOC) as their border. The suggestion ... does not deserve to be dismissed out of hand, as (it) is rooted in the ground reality. The Kashmir problem, for whatever reason, has reached the stage where only the give-and-take principle can resolve it. ... It is perhaps time not to involve history or international law in the solution of the Kashmir tangle ... The issue has to be tackled on the basis of the situational reality as on today. We have three clear options: one, the status quo which would mean letting the blood bath in the Valley and on the borders to continue indefinitely; Two, the military solution which, in the context of the recent nuclearisation of the Sub-continent, may involve untold misfortune for India and ... Pakistan; Three (division) in the spirit of give and take, broadly, along the LOC.
The last option is clearly the most viable one – though by no means easy to work out in the existing environment. Some heavy mental blocks need to be pushed out of the way ... The political leadership of the two countries will have to show some courage in this regard and work painstakingly to build public opinion in favour of an amicable solution, in the larger interest of the Sub-continent.
Government Statement On Refugees of J&K
The Kashmiri migrants under the aegis of different associations have been raising various demands including the demand to demarcate a safe zone in the Valley for their settlement ... The State Government (has) appointed a Committee of Ministers to examine the entire issue of rehabilitation ... and to make proposals regarding their resettlement.
The majority of the Kashmiri migrants ... are living in Jammu and Delhi. Their permanent rehabilitation outside the Valley is not envisaged, as it is expected that they would return to their native places once conditions reasonably conducive for their return are created. Measures to ensure that their difficulties and hardships are mitigated while they are outside the Valley are being implemented and the needy families are provided with reasonable amount of sustenance and support in the Camps at Jammu, accommodation and other amenities are being provided free of cost.
(Source: LSUQ No. 392 dated 1.12.1998 by M. Sirpotdar and A.G. Geeti)
Reported Desecration of Graveyards in Srinagar Shahabuddin's Letter to J&K CM, 10 October, 1998
The Indian Express has reported today that thousands of graves in 10 graveyards outside Srinagar near village Theed have been desecrated by the City Forests National Park of the State Government for the development of Sher-e-Kashmir International Golf Course, in violation of the status quo order of the J&K High Court.
The Development threatens the campus of the Shrine of Syed Mir Azam, a descendant of Shah Hamdan. Such desecration will create a bad precedent for all our graveyards throughout the country. I request you to stop the desecration of graveyards for promotion of sports.
CM's Reply, 23 November, 1998
... I am happy to reassure you that neither the Shrine of Syed Mir Azam Sahib nor the graveyards. of village Theed have been desecrated ... The fact is that during the construction of the golf course neither the shrine nor the graveyards were touched. I am enclosing a copy of the state by the villagers of the area which testifies to this.
There is also a video recording of the villagers offering prayers at the shrine.
(Source: Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, J&K's Letter No. CMS/ PS/IGC/98/179 dated 23 November, 1998 to S. Shahabuddin)