Hizb distances itself from Moosa's statement, signals rift

The Hizbul Mujahideen today distanced itself from the statement of its commander Zakir Moosa against the separatist leadership, signalling a rift in the militant outfit which has been fighting for Jammu and Kashmir's annexation to Pakistan since 1989.

"The outfit has neither got anything to do with the statement of Moosa nor the statement is acceptable to it," Hizbul Mujahideen spokesman Saleem Hashmi said in a statement from Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) Terming Moosa's remarks in an audio slideshow that surfaced in Kashmir's social media as his "personal opinion", Hashmi cautioned that any statement or step which will create confusion "can prove a death knell for our struggle".

In the 5.40-minute audio, Moosa had warned the separatist leaders not to meddle in their aim to establish a caliphate in Jammu and Kashmir along the lines of the rule established by ISIS in parts of Syria and Iraq.

Hashmi said the outfit was pondering over the statement of Moosa and will not "hesitate in taking any step or rendering any sacrifice" in the interest of the ongoing struggle.

Director General of Police S P Vaid had told

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)