Pakistan's President Draws Ire Form Kashmiri Islamic Militants

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari who has described
Kashmiri Islamic militants as "terrorists" (Photo: AFP)

Kashmir Separatist Fury Over Pakistan President's
'Terrorist' Tag -- AFP

SRINAGAR, India (AFP) — Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari's description of Islamic militants in Kashmir as "terrorists" has been greeted with dismay and anger by separatist groups in the disputed region.

"Ridiculous and inconsistent," was the verdict of hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani on Zardari's shock categorisation of the two-decade old Kashmiri insurgency against Indian rule.

"Kashmiris are not terrorists. They are freedom fighters," Geelani said.

Since 1989, more than 43,000 people have been killed in the armed struggle in Indian Kashmir which has always enjoyed Pakistan's implicit backing

Zardari came out with the "terrorist" tag in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal -- apparently the first time that any Pakistani leader has referred to the Islamic militants in Indian Kashmir in such a way.

He also said that India had never been a threat to his country.

Both views appeared to run counter to those of Pakistan's powerful military, which has regarded its nuclear-armed neighbour as an existential threat since the creation of the two countries after independence in 1947.

Read more ....

Update: Pakistan 'clarifies' Kashmir view -- BBC

My Comment: Talk about stirring the hornet's nest