Cutting across ideological differences, political parties and separatists in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday welcomed the unilateral three-day ceasefire announced by the United Jehad Council, saying the Centre should reciprocate the gesture. "It is a good move which should have come earlier," said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference. UJC chief Syed Salahuddin had announced the unilateral ceasefire from Oct 12 for Eid-ul-Fitr.
A strike to mark the death anniversaries of two senior separatist leaders affected normal life in Srinagar and some other parts of the Valley on Wednesday. Markets and educational institutions remained shut in Srinagar because of the strike, called by the moderate All Parties Hurriyat Conference, which is headed by Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq. A rally to commemorate the death anniversaries of the two separatist leaders is scheduled to be held in Srinagar later today.
Shabir Shah, senior separatist leader and chairman of the Democratic Freedom Party, on Monday laid down some conditions before the DFP joins a front representing all the moderate separatist parties in Kashmir. Shah was responding to the call for unity by Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq, chairman of the moderate All Parties Hurriyat Conference. Farooq had asked all separatist parties to unite under the aegis of a common banner.
"Holding of religious processions is linked with the belief and, therefore, the stand of the government on the issue is unrealistic and undemocratic," he said.
The Hurriyat leader, who is visiting Pakistan with a three-member delegation.
"The government of India should come up with its roadmap to Kashmir. We would welcome its proposals on the resolution of the long-standing dispute of Kashmir," the Hurriyat chief said.
There were no restrictions on the movement or assembly of people anywhere in the Valley.
Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under house arrest on Saturday morning.
The new civilian government in Pakistan has to take the Army on board before implementing its ideas on the Kashmir issue, Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has said.
I do not think that Delhi is doing enough to push the peace process as is being done by Pakistan.
The JKSM activists might have drawn inspiration from the mashaal (torch) rally of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front as part of its safar-e-azadi (journey to freedom).
An agreement to demilitarise Siachen alluded as Pakistan says it was for unilateral withdrawal of troops but declines to authenticate the positions on the higher reaches of the glacier held by Indian troops.
Curfew remained in force in the five districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian and Baramulla.
This will be the first interaction between Jammu and Kashmir's moderate separatist group and the United Progressive Alliance dispensation as part of the dialogue process.
The leaders returned after a fortnight-long visit to Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.\n
"But you have to be careful because the Indian government will never like a solution where it has to totally compromise on Kashmir," Hurriyat chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said.
The Hizbul Mujahideen chief said he could not back their peace moves or any future Kashmir solution unless hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was taken on board, local media reported.
Hurriyat's Mirwaiz said Mufti has exposed his game plan by rushing to New Delhi to sort out the matter.
The separatist camp have called for an 'Aazadi march' to district headquarters on Saturday as part of their protest schedule.
Clashes between protesters and law enforcing agencies were reported from Sopore, Anantnag, Rajpora, Shopian towns and Safakadal area of the city.
The team, comprising a specialist and two anesthetists, will fly to Srinagar by a special aircraft, official sources said.
Educational institutions, shops and business establishments remained closed across the Valley, while all kinds of transport remained off the roads due to the strike.
The body of Sehrai, 77, was handed over to his family on Wednesday evening and taken in a police escort to Kupwara in north Kashmir, at least 350 km from Jammu, where he would be buried at his ancestral graveyard in accordance with the COVID-19 guidelines.
"We have followed the proper method in applying for passports, but it seems the government is not interested in allowing the visit."
Officials said both the factions of the Hurriyat are likely to be banned under Section 3(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or the UAPA, under which "if the Central Government is of opinion that any association is, or has become, an unlawful association, it may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare such association to be unlawful."
Chairman of the moderate Hurriyat faction, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has proposed a new concept for resolving the Kashmir issue, United States of Kashmir, in which people would be able to move freely.
The joint separatist camp, including Hurriyat Conference factions led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik-led Jammu-Kashmir Liberation Front, has asked the people to march to Tral to pay tributes to Wani, who was killed in an encounter with security forces on this day last year.
Authorities imposed restrictions in several downtown localities early Saturday, as separatists called bandh against the beef ban hit life in Srinagar and elsewhere.
The DGP said the police have resolved not to spare the people behind the act. "It is the resolve of Jammu and Kashmir Police that we are not going to spare these rascals," he said.
The director general-level talks between border forces of India and Pakistan kicks off on Thursday days after parleys between their national security advisers were cancelled with the host nation set to flag the "most important" issue of ceasefire violations and cross-border infiltration.
The separatist groups had called for a march to Lal Chowk to protest civilian deaths during the unrest.
Talks between the two sides were last held in December, 2013, in Lahore.
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