Militant Group in Kashmir Declares Cease-Fire, Seeks Talks With India

A pro-Pakistani militant group in Kashmir on Monday declared a cease-fire for three months, saying it was ready to hold peace talks with the Indian government.

Abdul Majid Dar, chief commander of the Hizbul Moujahedeen group, gave the Indian government one week to end what he called a crackdown on militants in Kashmir.

“If there is no positive response from the Indian government, we will resume fighting the Indian forces,” Dar told reporters in Srinagar, the summer capital of India’s Jammu and Kashmir state.

The Indian government welcomed the militant group’s decision. “Any move which points toward peace is welcome. The government, however, will be watching the situation closely and make its assessment later,” said Swagat Ghosh, an Interior Ministry spokesman.

Dar’s unilateral cease-fire announcement came as a surprise since the Hizbul Moujahedeen has been in the forefront of fighting the Indian security forces in Indian-controlled Kashmir since the outbreak of insurgency in 1990.

More than a dozen groups are fighting the secessionist war in Kashmir, most seeking independence or union with Pakistan.

At least one other insurgent group, the Umar Moujahedeen, indicated reservations about the cease-fire, saying it will not allow anyone to nullify the sacrifices made by the Kashmiri people fighting for an independent Kashmir.

India has so far offered to hold talks with the militants in Kashmir only within the framework of the Indian Constitution, implying that it would not accept any demand for secession from India.

India accuses Pakistan of training and arming militants in Kashmir, a charge Pakistan denies.

India and Pakistan have fought two wars over control of Kashmir since they won independence from Britain in 1947. India governs two-thirds of it and Pakistan most of the rest. China also holds a portion.