The anti terror joint mechanism does not apply to us: Hizb Chief to NDTV

MUMBAI:In an exclusive interview to NDTV from Muzaffarabad in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Syed Salauddin, the Chief of Kashmir's largest indigenous militant group, the Hizbul Mujahideen, has said the joint anti terror mechanism set up by Indian and Pakistan, does not apply to Hizbul Mujahideen and other terror groups that are "fighting for freedom in Kashmir and are not terrorists".

Quoting Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Syed Salauddin said, "Therefore, this (joint anti terror mechanism) does not apply to them-they have a different status", he said.

Salauddin also says the onus is on the Government of India, to announce a ceasefire, but that it needs to be long term. He said, "There is no sense in a Ramzan ceasefire. It means that for one month, there is no violence but for the rest of the 11 months, occupation forces will continue their killings and so will militants. So if the Indian Govt is sincere, then as a good gesture, they should withdraw their forces to the pre 1989 position and we will stop operations, I assure you.”