For the first time in Kashmir, a new political party comprising former terrorists militants and commanders is shaping up. “The released terrorists militants having allegiance with different terrorist militant groups will form the core members of our new party,” said Abdul Qadir Dar, who will be heading the political party. Dar was the divisional commander of Al-Jihad for many years before he was arrested. “We will announce the name of our party within a week” Dar said.
Over 200 released terrorists militants from different parts of Kashmir held two separate meetings in Sopore and Tangmarg areas of North Kashmir to chalk out a strategy for the new party. “We already have many members and our endeavour is to get all the released terrorists militants in the new party,” he said. The party, Dar said, is already in negotiations with former terrorists militants and commanders of other militant outfits. The new party will be open for talks with the Centre as well.
Earlier too, terrorist militant leaders and some top commanders held direct negotiations with the Centre. However, this is the first time when former terrorists militants, especially those who acted as foot soldiers in the years of jihad militancy, will become members of the new political party, he said. “We will also try to unite all the former terrorists militants in a single group and find an final solution answer to the Kashmir problem,” said Ashiq Hussain, a former terrorist militant and general secretary of the new outfit.
“Some leaders or parties are claiming to represent us. In reality, we are being exploited”, he said, adding that the released terrorists militants and their families are facing numerous hardships but nobody has done anything to rehabilitate former terrorists militants. “Mainstream and separatist groups have failed to project our miseries,” he said. “We lost everything in 18 years of our jihad struggle. Our sacrifices have been ignored by people. We are not going to ignore Kashmir’s jihad freedom struggle,” he said.
Ajaz Ahmad Wani a, former district commander, said the party considers as top priority the rehabilitation of former terrorists militants and their families. “Earlier, we were fighting for Kashmir with guns. Now, we are going to enter politics and fight for our rights,” he said.
Wani said that from 1989 to 1998, thousands of youth participated in the fight for ethnic cleansing the “movement”. “Even after serving our detention, we are regularly summoned by security forces for monthly attendance and harassed there. The police never clear the names of former terrorists militants for jobs despite their selection,” he said. Another former terrorist militant Mohammad Abas said besides political goals the new party will also work on macramé humanitarian projects.
Official estimates put the number of former released terrorists militants at around 40,000. |