Who's he? Kashmiri Pandits ask on Hizbul chief's invite

AMRITSAR: Militant group Hizbul Mujahideen commander Zakir Rashid Bhat's invitation to Kashmiri Pandits to return to the Valley has evoked sharp criticism from various associations of the community. The Kashmiri Pandits were forced to migrate out of the Valley after being selectively targeted following the outbreak of Islamist militancy in the state.
Kashmiri Pandit Sabha, Amritsar, vice-president Rajesh Raina said there was a conspiracy behind Bhat's invitation."Who is he to invite us back? It seems to be a ploy to dilute the cause of the Kashmiri Pandits, who want to return to their motherland with dignity," he told TOI on Thursday.
Raina said they couldn't forget atrocities committed by Islamist militant groups on the Kashmiri Pandits. "We have been living in exile for the past 26 years. We can't forget how they (Islamist militants) used to make announcements threatening the Kashmir Pandits to migrate from the Valley leaving behind their women," he said.
Bhat, also known as 'Musa', had succeeded Hizbul Mujahideen's slain commander Burhan Wani. In his video post, he has extended invitation to the Kashmiri Pandits and reportedly had taken responsibility of their safety. Bhat also cited example of other Kashmiri Pandits who didn't leave the Valley following outbreak of militancy in the early 1990s. He claimed that Hizbul Mujahideen was being approached by some Sikh groups and had indicated at forming their armed group under its command.
President of the All India Kashmiri Samaj, New Delhi, Vijay Aima said, "Kashmir belongs to us. We don't need anyone's invitation to go back to our homeland." He said Bhat's video was just tactic to make its place in the international media and to pose himself a secular militant commander.
Mumbai-based chief of the Kashmiri Pandits Association S P Kachru said, "This is a showcase announcement intended for their own political correctness. The militants want to give a message that they have invited the Kashmiri Pandits but some leaders were not allowing them to return to the Valley." He said such an announcement could be beneficial for the militants but had no bearings on Kashmiri Pandits. "This kind of offer is not at all acceptable," Kachru added.