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Afghanistan/South Asia

Militant Groups Ban Return of Kashmiri Hindus

2005-07-23

Four separatist groups said yesterday they would not allow minority Hindu Pandits who had left the region some 16 years ago to return to Kashmir. Kashmir’s moderate separatist leaders and officials said this month they were making plans to help thousands of Kashmiri Pandits to return due to a peace process between India and Pakistan. Kashmir has moderate separatist leaders? People want to move back? Separatist leaders want to help them? "Maw, I been thinkin'! Mebbe we oughta move back to Poonch!" "Y'mean back where they cut Grampaw's head off?" "Yup. Them moderate separatist leaders say they'll he'p us!" "Back where they cut my nose an' ears off, y'mean?" "Yup. Sure would be nice to be able to visit Rajouri again!" "Back to where they dropped you on your head?" "Yup. C'mon, honey! Loosen my straps an' I'll he'p you pack!" “They (Hindus) deserted the majority community during the time of crisis and indulged in anti-movement activities,” said a joint statement by the four organizations — Al-Nasireen, Al-Arifeen, Save Kashmir Movement and Farzandan-e-Millat. “They will not be allowed to return unless they apologize and offer penance for their acts,” said the statement faxed to media organizations. Statements like that kinda take your breath away, don't they? The four groups have claimed a series of attacks across the region over the past few years. Authorities say more than 200,000 Pandits fled Kashmir in 1989 due to a rise in the killings of Hindus and attacks on their homes by militants at the start of the rebellion. More than 45,000 people have been killed in the revolt in Jammu and Kashmir, mainly Hindu India’s only Muslim-majority state.

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Afghanistan/South Asia

Militant groups criticise India-Pakistan agreement

2005-04-19

Several Kashmiri militant groups on Monday accused Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf of abandoning the cause of the Kashmiri people by conceding too much during weekend talks with Indian leaders in New Delhi. "President Musharraf has sold out Kashmir for trade and tourism," said a statement signed by a spokesman of the four militant groups and faxed to The Associated Press in Srinagar. "And we ain't gonna stand for it!" The comment referred to a joint statement issued earlier on Monday by President Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the end of the Pakistani president's visit to India. In the statement, both countries agreed to ease restrictions along their heavily militarised border and promote more trade and tourism in Kashmir. "This is the first time in Pakistan's history that a head of state has given in to India," the militant statement said, adding, "We will not give up jihad until Kashmir becomes free." "... and we run it!" The militant groups signatories to the statement are: Al-Nasireen (The Helpers), Save Kashmir Movement, Al-Arifeen (The Pious) and Farzandan-e-Millat (Sons of the Community). Separately, people in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday welcomed the announcement of more bus and transport links for trade across the heavily militarised Line of Control (LoC). These aren't the groups we see in our periodic Kashmir Korpse Kounts. Presumably, identifying themselves as Hizbul or Jaish would be a little too obvious for the locals. I'd guess they already have a pretty good idea who they really are, though.

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Afghanistan/South Asia

Lions of Islam renew threat against Kashmir bus

2005-04-14

SRINAGAR: Separatist Militants in Jammu and Kashmir renewed their threat on Wednesday against people planning to ride the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus to Azad Jammu and Kashmir. "People planning to ride the second Kashmir bus are warned to not put themselves in danger," said a faxed statement signed by four militant groups. "Arrrr! Ain't nobody ridin' that damned infidel bus!" The second trip of the fortnightly bus service is scheduled for April 21. However, militants oppose the move and have warned people against travelling on the bus between Srinagar in India and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan. The faxed statement from the militant groups also contained a list of 28 passengers who plan to board the bus on its second trip. "We have attached the list of new applicants so they do not take this warning lightly," said the statement. "We know where you live!" The militant signatories to the statement are Al-Nasireen (The Helpers), Save Kashmir Movement, Al-Arifeen (The Pious) and Farzandan-e-Millat (Sons of the Community). The first two groups have launched deadly attacks in the past, but little is known about the other two groups.

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Afghanistan/South Asia

Four injured in blast on trans-Kashmir bus route: report

2005-04-08

SRINAGAR, India - Four people, including a policemen, were wounded on Thursday by a powerful blast that occurred along the route of the first inter-Kashmir bus minutes after the vehicle had passed, a report said. The improvised explosive device blew up in a closed shop barely 10 minutes after the bus had crossed the main market of Pattan, 27 kilometres from Srinagar, the Press Trust of India said, citing official sources. These guys remind me of the Indians attacking the canoe containing Hawkeye in Last of the Mohicans. The first Indian mis-times his jump and falls into the water astern of the canoe. This doesn't deter the other Indians, who each jump in turn and fall further astern, one at a time ... Four militant outfits which had earlier threatened passengers against taking the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus, claimed responsibility for the attack. A caller introducing himself as Samir Abdullah, spokesman of the four outfits al-Nasireen, al-Arifeen, Save Kashmir Movement and Farzandan-e-Millat telephoned news organisations saying their members hurled a grenade and followed it by firing on the bus, PTI said. Several shots were also heard after the explosion, the sources said, adding that the firing was probably by security personnel dotting the highway to foil plans by militants to target the vehicle. *Bang* "Owwwww ... curses, foiled again!" Elsewhere, gunfire was reported minutes after the bus crossed Singpora, 17 kilometres outside Srinagar, Kashmir's summer capital. Police initially said the bus had come under attack from a shoulder-fired grenade and automatic rifle fire but later said the gunfire may have been a result of "accidental firing" by an armed constable guarding the route to the border. None of the 24 passengers was hurt.

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Afghanistan/South Asia

Militants again warn Kashmir bus passengers

2005-04-03

Four militant groups on Saturday issued new death threats to people planning to travel on the buses that will soon resume service between both Kashmirs. The bus route, set to start open April 7, will connect Srinagar and Muzaffarabad. "We once again warn those people who are riding the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus that they should desist from it because they have no right to mock the blood of the martyrs and should not play with their own lives for the sake of frolic," said a statement signed by the commanders of the four militant groups and faxed to The Associated Press' Srinagar office. The militant groups that signed the statement are Al-Nasireen (The Helpers), the Save Kashmir Movement, Al-Arifeen (The Pious) and Farzandan-e-Millat (Sons of the Community). The first two groups are major militant movements, while the others are little known. The groups had issued a similar warning three days earlier. There was no way to independently verify the authenticity of the fax.

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