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Pak. recognises rebel APHC?

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Sept. 15. Hours after the election of Syed Ali Shah Geelani as chairman of the rebel faction of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) today, Pakistan virtually recognised his election and the breakaway group backing him.

Mr. Geelani's election was the lead story on the six-o clock evening bulletin of the Pakistan Television (PTV). Quoting Kashmir Media Service, it said that the Hurriyat executive committee and council members had unanimously elected him.

There was no reference to last week's development in which a majority of Hurriyat council members had "removed" Maulvi Abbas Ansari. The names of all those who were part of the rebel faction that elected Mr. Geelani were mentioned.

That Islamabad was likely to endorse the split and ouster of Mr. Ansari became clear when the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen last week welcomed the developments within the Hurriyat.

The Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman, Masood Khan, was cautious in his reaction and said "Pakistan was watching the situation". At the same time he sought to argue that the situation was being "sensationalised beyond normal". He said Pakistan recognised the APHC as the only true and legitimate representative of the Kashmiris and that its leadership was very mature.

Pakistan is unhappy with Mr. Ansari. He was perceived as a "moderate". Mr. Ansari's recent interview to The Hindu, in which he suggested that the Hurriyat was willing to talk to India first and then to Pakistan, perhaps proved to be the proverbial last straw.

In Pakistan's perception, Mr. Ansari had deviated from the policy of tripartite talks. Perhaps there was apprehension in some circles that the involvement of Hurriyat in direct talks with India could make Pakistan an irrelevant player at some stage. Though Pakistan might back Mr. Geelani's faction, its Kashmir strategists are fully conscious that serious damage has been done in the Valley.

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