US embassy argued against issuing visa to Kashmiri leader

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Dec 17 (PTI) The US embassy in India
recommended against issuing visa to an anti-Pakistan Kashmiri
leader, heading a counter-insurgent group accused of human
rights violations, in the interest of "remaining balanced" on
the Kashmir issue particularly after the denial of visa to
hardline Hurriyat leader Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani.
According to a secret American cable of 2007 made
public by WikiLeaks, the embassy strongly argued against
issuing a visa to Kashmiri leader Usman Abdul Majid, militant
turned counter insurgent who was also a minister in Mufti
Mohammad Saeed's government.
"Usman Abdul Majid is a leader of the pro-GOI
(government of India) Ikhwan-ul-Musilmeen paramilitary group,
which... is notorious for its use of torture, extra-judicial
killing, rape, and extortion of Kashmiri civilians suspected
of harbouring or facilitating terrorists," says the cable
dated June 4, 2007 and marked secret.
Majid was invited by the US Institute of Peace (USIP)
-- a Washington-based think-tank to attend events beginning
June 7.
"In the interest of remaining balanced in our approach
to the Kashmir issue following Embassy New Delhi's denial of
Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani's visa request, Post recommends
denying this visa application as well," recommended the US
Embassy in India.
Majid was elected as an MLA to the state legislature
in 2002.
"Kashmiri paramilitary leader and J&K state MLA Usman
Abdul Majid applied for a US visa on May 22nd in order to
attend functions held by the United States Institute of Peace
starting on June 7th in Washington, DC," it said.
The cable said Majid is a leader of the pro-GOI
Ikhawan-ul-Musilmeen paramilitary group, which was formed by
security forces to combat terrorism in the Kashmir Valley.
"The group is made up of terrorists who have surrendered
to the Indian government and agreed to fight against their
former brethren," the cable said.
"Ikhawan has a reputation in the Valley for committing
brutal human rights abuses -- including extra-judicial
killings of suspected terrorists and their family members, as
well as torturing, killing, raping, and extorting Kashmiri
civilians suspected of harbouring or facilitating terrorists,"
it said.
"In light of our rejection of the Geelani visa, we
will not be able to maintain our record of neutrality in the
Kashmir dispute if we grant this visa," it said.
The cable noted that Majid won election easily in the
Baramullah district of Kashmir, but added that this was likely
because the district has had a minute voter turnout as
terrorist groups continue to enforce a boycott of elections.
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