The other day I came across this interview on Kashmir:

http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/KG17Df01.html

Arif Jamal appears to bring in more topics that he is actually able to discuss.

First, asking him a question to expand on the strategic importance of Swat as a corridor linking Pakistani Kashmir and Afghanistan is purely hypothetical. This is nothing new and won’t change anything for Kashmir Valley regardless of who controls SWAT valley. This is an attempt to sensationalise Kashmir and its position in global jihad today.

Secondly, Arif takes a different turn when he gives this reply: “”Kashmiris” from the Valley of Kashmir are mostly not interested in international jihad. Their jihad is aimed at liberating their state from India. The only Kashmiri group from the valley interested in global jihad is the Hizbul Mujahideen”.

In reply to a question on Obama’s AfPak policy, Arif replies thus: “Pakistan and India cannot resolve the Kashmir conflict without active involvement of America. Meanwhile, the jihad in Kashmir will keep giving birth to global jihadis”. In his second sentence here he contradicts what he said earlier that Kashmiris from Valley of Kashmir are not interested in international jihad. Moreover, Arif’s viewpoint on Hizbul Mujahideen is also away from reality:

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