Islamabad fires again from Hizbul8217;s shoulder

SRINAGAR, AUG 23: In what is clearly a signal from Islamabad to the international community, Hizbul's Pak-based chief Syed Salahuddin's to...

SRINAGAR, AUG 23: In what is clearly a signal from Islamabad to the international community, Hizbul8217;s Pak-based chief Syed Salahuddin8217;s today said he would would make an offer 8220;bigger than the ceasefire8221; if New Delhi accepted its condition of Pak involvement in a tripartite dialogue. And that it had Pak8217;s full support in this.

Aware that India has said no to a three-way dialogue, observers say that Salahuddin8217;s statement is meant to create an impression 8212; especially in international circles 8212; that keeping Pakistan out would, in effect, mean stalling the peace process.

Only yesterday, Hizbul8217;s commander in Srinagar Abdul Majeed Dar had also said that there would be a ceasefire within two months if India accepted its condition of bringing Pakistan to the negotiating table.

Incidentally, Salahuddin claimed today that Dar had been misquoted and that all he had said was that the situation would be clear in two months.

In Srinagar, the barrage of clarifications by Dar was also forced by FarooqAbdullah8217;s recent statements that the the dialogue between Hizbul and theGovernment was still going on secretly. 8220;Dar and his group were being viewed with suspicion regarding secret talks, if any, with New Delhi. That8217;s why Dar has reacted stronlgy by denying any behind-the-scene contactwith the Centre,8221; a local editor said seeking anonymity.

8220;In a way, it is also aimed to negate the recent reports in Pakistani Press of a growing split between Salahudin and Dar, speculation that was gaining ground in the Valley as well.8221;

8220;The Hizbul point man in the previous dialogue process Fazal Haq Qureshiwas Dar8217;s choice and the way he was asked to shut up by Salahuddin had alsoturned the relations between the two commanders bitter. But it seemsthere is an effort to plug the chances of a split within Hizbul,8221; a seniorHome department official told The Indian Express. 8220;It8217;s nothing surprising because even our intelligence officers who were involved in the first phase to work out the modalities of the ceasefire are against encourgaing a split within the Hizbul. For they believe it will harm the peace process more than anything else,8221; he said.

Muzamil Jaleel

Muzamil Jaleel is a Deputy Editor at The Indian Express and is widely recognized as one of India’s most authoritative voices on Jammu & Kashmir, national security, and internal affairs. With a career spanning over 30 years, he has provided definitive on-the-ground reportage from the heart of the Kashmir conflict, bearing witness to historic political transitions and constitutional shifts. Expertise and Investigative Depth Muzamil’s work is characterized by a rare combination of ground-level immersion and high-level constitutional analysis. His expertise includes: Conflict & Geopolitics: Decades of reporting on the evolution of the Kashmir conflict, the Indo-Pak peace process, and the socio-political dynamics of the Himalayan region. Constitutional Law: Deep-dive analysis of Article 370 and Article 35A, providing clarity on the legal and demographic implications of their abrogation in 2019. Human Rights & Accountability: A relentless investigator of state and non-state actors, uncovering systemic abuses including fake encounters and the custodial death of political workers. International War Reporting: Beyond South Asia, he provided on-the-spot coverage of the final, decisive phase of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009. Landmark Exposés & Impact Muzamil’s reporting has repeatedly forced institutional accountability and shaped national discourse: The Kashmir Sex Scandal (2006): His investigative series exposed a high-profile exploitation nexus involving top politicians, bureaucrats, and police officers, leading to the sacking and arrest of several senior officials. Fake Encounters: His reports blew the lid off cases where innocent civilians were passed off as "foreign terrorists" by security forces for gallantry awards. SIMI Investigations: He conducted a massive deep-dive into the arrests of SIMI members, using public records to show how innocuous religious gatherings were often labeled as incriminating activities by investigative agencies. The Amarnath Land Row: Provided critical context to the 2008 agitation that polarized the region and altered its political trajectory. Over the years, Muzamil has also covered 2002 Gujarat riots, Bhuj earthquake, assembly elections in Bihar for Indian Express. He has also reported the peace process in Northern Ireland, war in Sri Lanka and national elections in Pakistan for the paper. Awards and Fellowships His "Journalism of Courage" has been honored with the industry's most prestigious accolades: Four Ramnath Goenka Awards: Recognized for J&K Reportage (2007), On-the-Spot Reporting (2009), and Reporting on Politics and Government (2012, 2017). Kurt Schork Award: From Columbia University for international journalism. Sanskriti Award: For excellence in Indian journalism and literature. IFJ Tolerance Prize: For his empathetic and nuanced reporting in South Asia. International Fellowships: Served as a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley and worked with The Guardian, The Observer, and The Times in London. He has also received Chevening fellowship and a fellowship at the Institute of Social Studies, Hague, Netherlands. Professional Presence Current Location: New Delhi (formerly Bureau Chief, Srinagar). Education: Master’s in Journalism from Kashmir University. Social Media: Follow him for field insights and rigorous analysis on X (Twitter) @MuzamilJALEEL. ... Read More