We are Pakistanis, says Geelani

SRINAGAR: Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Monday demanded the merger of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan, as leaders of the moderate Hurriyat faction spoke about independence and a dialogue over the state, triggering a leadership and ideological clash in the Muslim-dominated valley. 

Tens of thousands of Muslim Kashmiris marched towards a United Nations office here amid heavy security arrangements, demanding UN intervention to solve the more than 60-year-old Kashmir dispute. 

Demonstrators shouting "We Want Freedom", " Aiy zaalimo, aiy kaafiro , Kashmir hamara chhod do " (Tyrants and oppressors, leave our Kashmir), as they marched past police barricades near the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) office in the summer capital Srinagar. 

Addressing the mammoth gathering at the Tourist Reception Centre here, Geelani said there was "no solution to the Kashmir issue other than merger with Pakistan". 

"We are Pakistanis and Pakistan is us because we are tied with the country through Islam," he roared, as the crowd cheered and chanted along with him: " Hum Pakistani hain , Pakistan hamara hai " (We are Pakistanis, Pakistan is ours). 

Much to the "ugly surprise" of the moderate Hurriyat leaders, who were sharing the stage with him, Geelani said the leadership issue of the Kashmiri separatist movement was "solved today". 

"Do you have faith in my leadership? I will be faithful to you till my death and will carry everyone along," he said, as the crowd applauded him shouting in unison " zaroor " (certainly). 

Moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in his speech earlier called for a trilateral dialogue over Jammu and Kashmir, whose ownership is disputed by India and Pakistan who claim the region in full but rule in parts. 

"We ask India to start a dialogue over Kashmir, open the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road for trade and release all Kashmiris in Indian jails," he said. Muzaffarabad is the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. 

Pro-independence leader Yasin Malik said that Kashmiris want "complete freedom" - implying from both India and Pakistan. 

" Is paar bhi lenge azadi, us paar bhi lenge azadi " (we will free both Kashmirs) was Malik's slogan, as the crowd also cheered him. 

However, Geelani countered their remarks saying all these issues would be solved once Kashmiris get their right to self-determination and merge with Pakistan. 

The two factions of the Hurriyat Conference had been at loggerheads but got united when the Kashmir Valley saw protests against the transfer of government land to the Amarnath shrine management two months ago.