UJC dissolved temporarily, militant leaders disappear: Report

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan-based conglomerate of militant groups active in Kashmir, headed by Syed Salahuddin, has "temporarily" dissolved itself with its leaders going underground in the wake of the crackdown on Jamaat-ud-Dawa and other banned terrorist outfits, a media report said today.

The United Jehad Council (UJC) -- which comprises Hizbul Mujahideen of Salahuddin, Harkat-ul-Ansar, Jamiat-ul- Mujahideen, Al-Jihad, Al-Barq, Ikhwan-ul-Mussalmin and Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen -- has closed its offices, removed all signboards and asked its leaders to stay quiet while temporarily dissolving the coalition, the report said.

"Following the Mumbai attacks and the subsequent tension between Pakistan and India, the United Jihad Council has decided to remain silent," an unnamed commander of one of the militant groups in the UJC told 'The News' daily.

He said the current Pakistani leadership is pursuing the policy adopted by ex-President Pervez Musharraf and "statements on Kashmir issued so far by President Asif Zardari had made it clear that the present Pakistan government would extend no support" to them.

"In the current situation, the UJC is maintaining complete silence and has no contact with any Pakistani organisation or institution," he said and claimed that groups banned in Pakistan, including the Lashker-e-Toiba blamed for the Mumbai attacks, had "never worked with the UJC, nor maintained with it any direct or indirect contact".

However, the militant commander threatened to continue their activities.