The United Jihad Council, an amalgam of Kashmiri militant groups, on Saturday announced a ceasefire and decided to “stop all militant activity” to pave the way for “the success of the unarmed public movement”.

UJC chairman and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salah-ud-din asked the separatist leadership to come up with a single-point programme in their next rally. “They (the separatist leadership) should pass a resolution in favour of freedom,” Salah-ud-din told a local news agency. “The participation of lakhs of people in Muzaffarabad march, TRC (Tourist Reception Centre) march and Eidgah march has made it clear that people of Kashmir wouldn’t accept anything less than freedom and the leaders will have to respect this sentiment of the people,” he said.

Salah-ud-din said the Council had “unanimously decided that in view of the present unarmed people’s movement, no militant action will be conducted”. Maintaining that the “militant cadres have been warned not to exhibit their weapons”, he said the people should force New Delhi to open Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road for free flow of goods and people.

Referring to the recent pro-separatist statements from mainstream National Conference and People’s Democratic Party leaders, Salah-ud-din said the leadership should make efforts to bring them into the separatist fold.

The UJC chief asked the separatist leadership to remain steadfast and exhibited unity at all costs. “I request them to accommodate everyone, unite and carry forward the goal,” he said. “Till you (separatist leadership) are united, the people are with you. And if the leadership disintegrates at this critical juncture, nobody will be able to save you from public wrath,” Sala-ud-din told the leadership. He also asked them to “forget the past disagreements and join hands to push forth this unarmed people’s movement”.