Kashmir militants 'will fight on'

Islamic militants fighting Indian control over Kashmir vowed today they would not halt their insurgency despite an agreement between India and Pakistan to start peace talks that will include their bitter dispute over the divided Himalayan territory.

The breakthrough talks were announced yesterday after a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan’s military ruler, President General Pervez Musharraf.

The two nuclear-armed neighbours are to begin a comprehensive dialogue in February aimed at overcoming a half-century of poisoned relations.

The Jaish-e-Mohammed, one of the deadliest militant groups fighting in Indian Kashmir, said the talks over the region – divided between India and Pakistan but claimed by both – should include a place at the table for Kashmiris.

The strategy of the “mujahedeen,” or holy warriors, “will be that they will continue their operations against Indian forces so that they are beaten and forced to flee Kashmir,” Omar Naqashbandi, a Jaish official, said.

“Mujahedeen will continue their activities with vigour until Kashmir is freed.”

The militants are fighting to bring the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir under Pakistani rule, or to carve out an independent Kashmiri state.

Naqashbandi dismissed Musharraf’s pledge that Pakistan would not allow territory under its control, including its portion of Kashmir, to be used for terrorism.

“This will have no effect on mujahedeen,” Naqashbandi said. “They have their camps and complete setups in forests in occupied Kashmir. They buy weapons and other things there. They are very strong there.”

More than 65,000 people have died since 1989 in the conflict over Kashmir. In exchange for Pakistan’s pledge not to allow its territory to used as a haven for terrorism, Vajpayee dropped demands for an end to cross-border infiltration before holding talks.