Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who is camping in New Delhi for the past many weeks essentially to escape the harsh winter back home — for health reasons as is being claimed — has been lately engaged in such pastime that reflects a major change in his outlook. Many Kashmir watchers have described it as a “from-inflexibility-to-malleability” kind of tale which has, by and large, gone unnoticed in the national media though.
He has been holding meetings and both open and closed-door talks with various key characters of Indian mainstream politics, members of the civil society, think-tank constituents and even some people believed to be close to the corridors of power, if not part of it, alongside his tryst or attempted one with the members of the diplomatic corps. [Latest reports say he has sought audience with senior diplomats from China, Iran and Japan]. He has also tried to strike a chord with the students’ community. All this is aimed at “wining the hearts and minds” of the Indian masses, to acquaint them with the “reality of Kashmir” and, at the same time, garner support of the international community, as was put by an aide.
More importantly, the octogenarian separatist leader’s pursuit has received unqualified support from an equally hitherto obstinate player of Kashmir’s jihadi politics, Syed Salahuddin, the “supreme commander” of frontline indigenous militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, and through him from the United Jihad Council, the Muzaffarabad-based alliance of various Islamic militant groups which he heads as well. “I, personally, and the jihadi leadership in general are quite happy and satisfied over his pursuit. The Hurriyat (Conference) leadership must go out of Jammu and Kashmir to plead the case in any forum and any institution or house,” the Hizb chief said.
Mr Geelani has also had a “cordial and productive” meeting with noted lawyer and Kashmir Committee convenor Ram Jethmalani in New Delhi last week which has surprised the separatist leader’s critics as he had not only distanced himself from such engagements the moderate leadership of the Hurriyat Conference and others in the separatist camp were involved in some time ago, but had also opposed them openly.