Hizb conning India with peace call

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New Delhi: In CNN-IBN's special series, India's War on Terror, we focus on the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.

After a six-year-lull, the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen has been recently sending out vibes that it's ready to talk to the Centre. But CNN-IBN's Special Investigation Team (SIT) and www.orbat.com have found that Hizb-ul-Mujahideen is actually expanding base.

The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen has kept up terror attacks in Kashmir, since the failure of peace talks in 2000. But now Amir-i-jihad, or chief commander of the Hizb, Sayed Salahuddin, has again expressed willingness for talks with New Delhi.

"It would send a very positive signal to the rest of the state and also perhaps some of the other separatist organisations, if we hold talks with the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen," says Omar Abdullah, Leader National Conference

Says Hurriyat Leader, Fazl Haq Qureshi, "Ceasefire is now paramount for everybody, certainly for the sub-continent as a whole and I feel for India it will be a good move.The Government of India should not be reluctant or hesitant to go for such a ceasefire. But Salahuddin should be forthright in his offer and he should be very clear about his ideas what he means by the ceasefire."

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is also pushing for a Ramzan ceasefire. But are the Salahuddin's overtures sincere?

CNN-IBN's SIT has this list of over a 100 satellite phone conversations between Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operatives in India and Pakistan, intercepted by intelligence agencies. It seems the Hizb is actually expanding its terror operations.

Intelligence agencies have not revealed the exact contents of the intercepted telephone conversations, but sources within the agencies confirm that a fresh Hizb infiltration is being planned.

Sayed Salahuddin reportedly aims to send 250 Hizbul operatives into Kashmir before winter sets in. Large quantities of Kalashnikovs and grenade and rocket launchers are also expected. The intercepts reveal that a 1,000 porters have been commissioned for the job.

The SIT also has intelligence reports about the Hizb's exact strength in different parts of Kashmir, which include Kupwara and Baramula in the north, Pulwama and Anantnag south of Srinagar and Poonch and Udhampur just beyond the Kashmir Valley.

With more than 1,700 armed and a 1,000 unarmed Mujahideen, Sayed Salahuddin can clearly strike at will.

The number of armed and unarmed Mujahideen in various areas of Jammu and Kashmir:

Kupwara: Armed: 145 Unarmed: 89

Baramulla: Armed: 244, Unarmed: 147

Pulwama: Armed: 186, Unarmed: 132

Anatnag: Armed: 233, Unarmed: 148

Poonch: Armed: 124, Unarmed: 60

Udhampur: Armed: 179, Unarmed: 94

If intelligence reports are to be believed, there seems to be a sustained pattern in the way Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operates and this may be yet another attempt to buy time only to launch fresh attacks yet again.

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