Hurriyat: Its History, Role, and Relevance

GS III-SECURITY

Introduction

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), commonly known as Hurriyat, is a political alliance of separatist organizations in Jammu and Kashmir. Since its formation in 1993, it has played a key role in the separatist movement, advocating for self-determination and challenging India’s sovereignty over Kashmir. Over the years, Hurriyat has witnessed internal divisions, ideological shifts, and changing relevance in the Kashmir conflict.

1. Birth of the Hurriyat

• Formation:
  • Established on July 31, 1993, as a coalition of separatist groups.
  • Comprised parties advocating either independence for J&K or merger with Pakistan.
  • Emerged after the 1987 J&K Assembly elections, which were widely alleged to have been rigged.
• Predecessor Organizations:
  • Tehreek-i-Hurriyat Kashmir (THK) was an earlier separatist political platform, but it lacked influence.
  • Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, leader of J&K Awami Action Committee (J&KAAC), played a major role in uniting separatist factions.
• Key Members of the First Hurriyat Leadership:
  • Syed Ali Shah Geelani (Jamaat-e-Islami)
  • Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (Awami Action Committee)
  • Sheikh Abdul Aziz (People’s League)
  • Moulvi Abbas Ansari (Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen)
  • Prof Abdul Gani Bhat (Muslim Conference)
  • Yasin Malik (Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front – JKLF)
  • Abdul Gani Lone (People’s Conference)
• Organizational Structure:
  • Executive Council: Seven key members.
  • Working Committee: 21 members.
  • General Council: Over 23 members, including traders’ bodies, employee unions, and social organizations.
  • Observer status in Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

2. The Battle Within: Factionalism and Splits

Hurriyat has faced internal conflicts due to ideological differences, leading to multiple splits:

2003 Split:

• Reason: Differences over engaging in dialogue with New Delhi and the role of militancy.
• Geelani Faction (Hardline):
  • Rejected any talks unless India accepted J&K as a disputed territory.
  • Continued to support a Pakistan-aligned stance and militancy.
• Mirwaiz Faction (Moderate):
  • Advocated negotiations with India.
  • Supported Pakistan’s four-point formula, which proposed suzerainty and a joint mechanism for J&K.

2002 Proxy Candidate Controversy:

• Abdul Gani Lone’s party, People’s Conference, fielded proxy candidates in the J&K Assembly elections.
• Geelani opposed this move and demanded the party’s removal from Hurriyat.
• This dispute triggered the official split in 2003.

Further Fragmentation (2014):

• Four leaders left the Mirwaiz faction, further weakening the coalition.

3. The Hurriyat Constitution & Objectives

The APHC Constitution defines its goals as:

1. Right to Self-Determination:
   • Peaceful struggle for a UN-backed plebiscite, including the right to independence.
2. Negotiated Settlement:
   • Tripartite talks between India, Pakistan, and the people of J&K.
3. International Advocacy:
   • Presenting the Kashmir issue as an “occupation” by India to global forums.

4. Role and Relevance of Hurriyat

Influence on Kashmir Politics:

• Hurriyat has represented separatist sentiments for decades.
• It remains politically significant despite low electoral participation.

Relations with Pro-India Political Parties:

• Even mainstream J&K parties, such as:
  • National Conference (NC): Demands greater autonomy (1953 status).
  • People’s Democratic Party (PDP): Advocates self-rule and a joint Indo-Pak mechanism.
• Their agendas overlap with Hurriyat’s demands, indicating its relevance.

Pakistan’s Role:

• Pakistan considers Hurriyat as the legitimate representative of Kashmiri aspirations.
• Historically, Pakistani leaders have met Hurriyat leaders before high-level India-Pakistan talks.

5. Pakistan-Hurriyat Engagement Timeline

• 1995: Pakistani President Farooq Leghari meets Hurriyat leaders in New Delhi.
• 2001: Gen. Pervez Musharraf meets Hurriyat before the Agra Summit.
• 2005: Musharraf again meets separatists during a New Delhi visit.
• 2007: Pakistan PM Shaukat Aziz meets Hurriyat leaders.
• 2011: Pakistan FM Hina Rabbani Khar meets Geelani & Mirwaiz factions.
• 2013: Sartaj Aziz (Pak NSA) holds discussions with separatists.

New Delhi’s Response:

• Since August 2014, India has banned Hurriyat-Pakistan meetings.
• India maintains that Hurriyat is not a legitimate stakeholder in Indo-Pak dialogues.

6. Challenges to Hurriyat’s Influence

Decline in Popular Support

• Post-2019 abrogation of Article 370, Hurriyat has weakened.
• Security crackdowns have led to the arrest of key leaders.
• Younger Kashmiris increasingly reject Hurriyat’s leadership.

Loss of Pakistani Patronage

• Pakistan has shifted its focus to terror outfits like LeT & JeM, sidelining Hurriyat.
• The failure of Musharraf’s Four-Point Formula reduced Hurriyat’s diplomatic importance.

Corruption Allegations

• Some Hurriyat leaders have been accused of misusing funds meant for separatist activities.
• NIA investigations have exposed financial links between Hurriyat and Pakistan-based terror networks.

7. Conclusion: Future of Hurriyat

Hurriyat’s influence has significantly declined in recent years due to:

• Abrogation of Article 370 (2019).
• Increased security clampdowns on separatist activities.
• Loss of legitimacy among Kashmiris, especially the youth.
• Pakistan’s shift in strategy, favoring armed militancy over political separatism.

Despite this, the political aspirations Hurriyat represents continue to exist, and any resolution to the Kashmir issue must take these sentiments into account. The diplomatic engagement of separatist factions may still play a role in future peace processes between India and Pakistan.