Hardline stance shows al-Qaeda's efforts yielding fruitful results, says Pakistan Taliban commander
Former Hizbul Mujaheedin commander Zakir Musa, who has vowed to turn the armed resistance in Kashmir towards enforcing Islamic rule by rejecting nationalism, has received support from Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and Pakistan Taliban.
In its latest issue of Nawai Afghan Jihad, AQIS has helmed Musa for distancing the armed conflict from Pakistan influenced terrorist groups and directing the jihad towards establishing Islamic rule instead. Musa also released his third audio statement on Monday reiterating his 'shariat ya shahadat' (Islamic rule or martyrdom) message and rejected claims of joining or taking instructions from Pakistan-based terrorist leaders.
The monthly Urdu magazine of AQIS, headed by Indian-born chief Asim Umar, released its latest issue with a commentary highlighting the recent developments in Kashmir and Musa's statements against the separatist political movement.
"The separatist resistance leadership which leads the movement by unfurling Pakistani flag instead of Islamic flag has boycotted Zakir Musa's activities from news, pamphlets and social media, after receiving orders from Pakistan.'' The article adds that the Kashmiri "Mujaheed" brother has said: "This fight is for establishing shariah, it is not the fight of any terrorist group or Pakistan which itself is a non-Islamic state. He said we love Pakistan because it was created in the name of Islam, but it is no more ruled as per Islamic laws and we are very unhappy with this.''
The ideological rift in Kashmir conflict was also applauded by Pakistan Taliban. Commander Haji Mansoor Mehsood released a statement crediting the 'shariat or shahadat' announcement by Musa and freeing the Kashmir jihad from the shackles of Pakistan influenced agencies and its "central perfidious leadership". He said that the change in Kashmir shows that "al-Qaeda leadership and Asim Umar's hard work and thinking about Kashmir is going in right direction and showing its impact and fruitful results."
In his latest audio message, Musa thanked al-Qaeda for its support to his call of shariah in its magazine and said that Kashmiris should not get confused on his quitting Hizbul but keep the focus on uniting against Indian forces. "All brothers fighting here believe in shariat or martyrdom. We will establish darul Islam in Kashmir.'' He, however, claimed that he was not joining any other militant group but will continue to support the movement.
The 27-year-old Kashmiri local, who took the mantle of Hizbul's leadership following Burhan Wani's encounter, caused a stir last week by making a call that the armed resistance in Kashmir including stone pelting should be for 'Islamic shariah only and not nationalism'. In the subsequent audio messages, Musa threatened to "cut the throats of Hurriyat leaders and hang them in Lal Chowk if they don't stop their anti-Islam and anti-Mujahideen campaign". As the Hizbul leadership distanced itself from his statements calling them unacceptable, Musa quit the role of commanding the militant group.
Analysis
The All Party Hurriyat Conference leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik released a joint statement on recent controversies asking "all political and terrorist organisations to follow freedom struggle with vision and wisdom." On one hand, they are hatching conspiracies and on the other are employing all their repressive measures and military might to sabotage the movement. However, all political and terrorist factions have decided to face all these and remain united. "We won't allow them to create rifts among resistance camp or divide leadership and nation," the statement said.
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