The Hindu : National : Andrabi released, criticises Musharraf

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 11, 2006

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National

Andrabi released, criticises Musharraf

Shujaat Bukhari

"The only solution to the Kashmir problem is to give people the right to self-determination'' "He [Musharraf] does not have a line of action. He has shown ultimate flexibility on Kashmir and he has a dangerous game plan."

Asiya Andrabi

SRINAGAR: Asiya Andrabi, chief of right wing women's organisation Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DeM), on Monday denounced Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's "complete U-turn" on his Government's official stand vis-a-vis Kashmir and said "nothing short of right to self-determination" was acceptable to the Kashmiris.

Ms. Andrabi who was released on Sunday after a three-month detention, said the Pakistan Government in consultation with some Kashmiri leaders and with the "blessings" of the United States was "preparing for a sell-out over Kashmir," which "will not be allowed at all." Stating that this was a "critical juncture in the freedom movement of Kashmir," she said, "only Syed Ali Geelani [the hard-line Hurriyat leader] represents the wishes of the Kashmiri people." Coming down heavily on moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, she said: "He does not represent the Kashmiris. He is the leader of a particular sect. He cannot talk on our behalf.''

Dismissing Gen. Musharraf's new proposals, whether self-rule or demilitarisation, she said: "He does not have a line of action. He has shown ultimate flexibility on Kashmir and he has a dangerous game plan for Muslim UMMAH [community]." Ms. Andrabi said, "if he succeeds in his plans it will be very harmful but we will defeat his plans with the help of the people."

Terming him a "ruthless dictator," she said, "the people of Pakistan do not support his policies."

Rejecting self-rule as a solution, the DeM chief said: "The only solution to the Kashmir problem is to give people the right to self-determination. Our struggle is based on the two-nation theory and we do not have any reservations about it."

Ms. Andrabi said that on the return of Mr. Geelani, who has gone to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj, all like-minded separatists would sit and formulate a "joint strategy" to counter these "hollow theories such as self-rule." She said it was a vague concept.

The Dukhtaran chief also announced that the campaign against obscenity in Kashmir would be carried forward.

"The cable channels are playing a big role in polluting the atmosphere,'' she said.

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