Militants angered by Pakistani crackdown

Some militants accuse the Pakistani army of betrayal

By Owen Bennett-Jones BBC correspondent in Islamabad

It was perhaps inevitable that the Pakistani president's decision to block the passage of Kashmiri militants across the Line of Control would anger many of the militant groups.

Kashmiris are not satisfied with this defensive approach - Kashmiris want a proper and offensive role

Rashid Turabi, Jamaat Islami

So far, most have held back from directly confronting General Musharraf himself but they are making their opposition to his policy quite plain.

The Pakistan-Afghanistan Defence Committee - established following General Musharraf's decision to align Pakistan with the US after the 11 September attacks - brings together most of the main Islamic parties and Pakistani-based militant groups.

It also brings some sympathetic mainstream politicians and senior retired army officers.

Initially, it provided a platform for those who were opposed to the American bombing of Afghanistan.

But now, it is focusing on Kashmir.

Leading Islamic radicals, like Rashid Turabi, head of Jamaat Islami in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, complain that the block on the Line of Control is causing considerable concern in militant circles.

"Kashmiris are not satisfied with this defensive approach - Kashmiris want a proper and offensive role"

Betrayal accusations

The militants feel especially angry because they believe the Pakistani army has broken its word.

Opposition to Musharraf's policy is being made clear

A spokesman for Jamaat-i-Dawa - the new name of the banned organisation Lashkar-i-Toiba - says that when the US was bombing Afghanistan and tens of thousands of Islamic radicals took to the streets, the army asked the militants to steer clear of the issue and to concentrate on Kashmir.

They agreed - only to find that now the army is preventing them from going to fight in Kashmir too.

Some mainstream politicians, like Sheikh Rashid, who served in the cabinet of Nawaz Sharif, are expressing sympathy with the Kashmiri militants.

He says Islamic groups across the country "feel depressed" and hard done by.

'No stopping Kashmiris'

Some retired army officers, like General Aslam Beg - who was army chief about 15 years ago - take much the same line.

	Enlarge map

He argues that the Kashmir struggle will continue, even if Pakistan's logistical support is scaled back.

"At the moment [it] is going on as before and in spite of all the checks, all the restrictions that have been imposed on the so-called jihadi groups operating from the Pakistani soil... You cannot stop the people of Kashmir going across the border."

Hamid Ghul, former chief of Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI, goes further.

He says if the militants do become independent of Pakistan, then they might benefit.

"Pakistan will have no control on them. Even communication has been lost. So if that is the case, then these people in desperation, they will carry out acts which could push the two countries into war.

"Because, after all, what does it take to carry out a raid at a military camp or a headquarters?

"It takes a couple of determined people, a few hand grenades and a couple of Kalashnikovs and if that continues, then what next? What are political leadership of the countries going to do?"

Much depends on the true nature of the insurgency.

Some say a permanent sealing of the Line of Control would significantly weaken the anti-Indian campaign.

Others in Pakistan argue, or perhaps just hope, that even without Pakistan's direct help, the militants will be able to sustain a strong enough challenge to keep the Kashmir dispute alive.