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Pak says its tactical manoeuvring;
Hizb feels it's meaningless: Reuters

Pakistan's government and militant groups opposed to Indian rule in Kashmir on Monday attacked New Delhi's proposal of a cease-fire during the holy month of Ramadan as tactical manoeuvring.

Peace will come only when India ends its "repression" in its part of Kashmir and negotiates the future of the region with Pakistan and the Kashmiri leadership, Foreign Ministry spokesman Riaz Ahmed Khan said.

"Otherwise, short-term cease-fire offers, such as the one made on Sunday, could only be tactical and part of India's effort to impose a military solution," he told a news conference.

But the Pakistani government, while accusing India of manipulating a short cease-fire between the sides last August, said it would watch for signs India was serious about reaching peace.

"Pakistan will continue to closely watch the developments in Indian-occupied Kashmir and the intent and purpose of the Indian announcement," Khan said.

"The views of the Kashmiri leadership, especially the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, will be of importance as they are the main target and victims of Indian repression and machinations to stifle the Kashmiri struggle."

The APHC's response in India was lukewarm, calling a one-month cease-fire no solution.

India, which rules about 45 per cent of Kashmir, accuses Pakistan of arming and sending militants into the area. Islamabad denies the charge. The conflict has claimed more than 30,000 lives over the past decade.

Khan spoke after three pro-Pakistani groups had shown little interest in India's Sunday offer of a cease-fire during Ramadan, which starts late this month.

The Hizbul Mujahideen, the most important of groups fighting Indian rule, said it would match the gesture only if it was the start of a larger peace process in Kashmir.

Nuclear rivals India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir.

"This limited cease-fire in respect of Ramadan has no meaning or utility for the people until it is set up to initiate a meaningful dialogue for the ultimate resolution of the Kashmir conflict," Hizbul's supreme commander, Syed Salahuddin, told Reuters in Islamabad.

A brief cease-fire initiated by the Hizbul Mujahideen -- which accounts for more than half of some 3,000 militants active in Indian Kashmir -- ended in August after New Delhi turned down its demand to include Pakistan in peace talks.

The Al-Badar Mujahideen, a smaller group fighting in Kashmir, flatly rejected a cease-fire and said it was planning operations during the Muslim holy month.

"The announcement by India is one more attempt to misguide world opinion. Al Badar rejects the cease-fire and announces that our jihad (holy war) will continue until Indian forces withdraw from occupied Kashmir" the organisation told Reuters.

"We will enhance our actions and launch an operation named Gazwa-e-Badar in Ramadan to cope with this new conspiracy."

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