The Hizbul Mujahideen has distanced itself from the statement of its commander Zakir Musa, who had threatened to kill Hurriyat leaders for calling Kashmir’s separatist movement political and not religious. Calling Hurriyat leaders “hypocrites, infidels, followers of evil”, the militant had warned to chop off their heads “if they create hurdles in the path of making Kashmir an Islamic State”. In an emailed statement to Srinagar-based news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS), Hizbul Mujahideen spokesman Saleem Hashmi said that the “militant organisation does not subscribe to the statement”. It reflects the personal opinion of Zakir Musa. The clip surfaced after Hurriyat leaders recently sought to downplay the growing influence of ISIS ideology in the Valley.

Source: Hindustan Times May 13, 2017 09:10 UTC