Ijaz met Hizbul Mujahideen chief over Kashmir ceasefire issue

Islamabad, Dec 3 (ANI): Chief of Hizbul Mujahideen (HuM) Syed Salahuddin revealed that Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz, who is allegedly involved in the Memo Gate scandal, had tried to convince him to continue ceasefire in held Kashmir.

The Nation quoted Salahuddin, as saying that Ijaz, backed by the US, met him twice in 2000 in Islamabad and Muzaffarabad immediately after the decision was made to end a ceasefire in Held Valley.

Salahuddin recalled that former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) official Khalid Khwaja accompanied Ijaz during their first meeting in Islamabad, adding that the second meeting was held in Muzaffarabad in which Ijaz's mother was also present.

The militant leader insisted that he clearly refused the advice and told Ijaz that India was not sincere and that it was using delaying tactics. Extending the ceasefire in these circumstances would be harmful, he added.

Salahuddin further said that Ijaz never met him again after he asked him not to contact him on the matter.

He said that Ijaz tried to lure him by helping him to get financial support over the same issue if he withdrew the decision of ending the ceasefire, but Salahuddin rejected his offer saying that the international community would provide the aid after Held Kashmir gets independence from India. (ANI)