Geelani faction splits, 2 drop out

Days after the Hurriyat moderates emerged as Kashmir8217;s separatist voice for New Delhi and Islamabad, the first fissures have emerged in...

Days after the Hurriyat moderates emerged as Kashmir8217;s separatist voice for New Delhi and Islamabad, the first fissures have emerged in the hardline camp, signalling the sidelining of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, an ardent opponent of the peace talks.

Two major constituents of Geelani8217;s camp8212;National Front and People8217;s Conference PC8212;today announced their split from the Geelani camp, praised President Pervez Musharraf8217;s Kashmir policy and hinted that they may join the moderates led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

PC head Ghulam Mohammad Hubi, claimed that he is dumping Geelani8217;s 8216;8216;global agenda8217;8217; and rejecting his politics of portraying Kashmir as part of a pan-Islamic movement. 8216;8216;He Geelani has a bigger agenda. We respect his agenda but we can not shoulder it. We don8217;t have a global agenda.8217;8217;

However, for Khan, the reason to sever ties with hardline Hurriyat was the lack of a 8216;8216;culture of mutual consultations between constituents8217;8217;. 8216;8216;Though we respect him Geelani as a person, he as a chairman has disappointed us,8217;8217; he said.

The two leaders, however, left their options open for any future alignment with moderates. 8216;8216;The future course of action will be decided by the advisory committee of the National Front and the working committee of PC,8217;8217; Khan said.

This is the third split in Geelani8217;s faction in recent months. Earlier, Anjuman-i-Share Shian and Jammu and Kashmir People8217;s Movement broke away. Budgami joined the moderates. Differences between the two constituents and Geelani surfaced early this year, when Pakistan invited separatists to Islamabad and PoK. Khan and Hubbi, along with Agha Hassan Budgami, were in favour of the cross-LoC trip. But Geelani refused.

Obviously, the split will give a boost to the moderates. Khan today pushed for dialogue provided 8216;8216;it8217;s meaningful and result-oriented8217;8217;. Hubbi said: 8216;8216;There is no way other than the dialogue.8217;8217;

Bashaarat Masood

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More