Our fight not for Kashmir, but Islam, says Hizb commander

Unveiling its pan-Islamic agenda, militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen on Thursday urged the youth of the Valley to shun Kashmiri nationalism, and fight for the implementation of Sharia and the supremacy of Islam.

In a 12-minute unverified video circulated widely on social networking sites, Zakir Bhat alias Zakir Musa asked stone-throwers to take a vow to fight for the enforcement of Sharia (Islamic law) “as nationalism and democracy are forbidden in Islam”.

“Don’t pick up stones for a nation or Kashmir. They (youth) should think before taking up stones in their hands that they are not doing it for nationalism or democracy. Neither are allowed in Islam. Our stones and weapons should not be to fight for Kashmir. It should be for the supremacy of Islam so that Sharia is enforced here,” the 22-year-old Hizb commander said in Urdu.

Bhat, who was an engineering student before joining militancy in 2013, urged his supporters to stop looking at the UN or the US for a solution to the Kashmir issue. Instead, he appealed to people to turn to Islam — a hint at the outfit’s change in stand.

Sporting a black cap, Bhat was seen with an automatic rifle resting on his right side with a logo of Hizbul Mujahideen in the inset. He asked the youth to inform militants about the movement of security forces in their neighbourhoods by posting information on social media.

Bhat, who took charge after his predecessor Burhan Wani was killed by security forces on July 8, 2016, again threatened Jammu and Kashmir policemen and informers, while warning them of an upcoming ‘war’ in the region.