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Abdul Majid Dar, a former Jammu and Kashmir-based chief commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, and two senior leaders of the Pakistan-based militant outfit have been expelled from the group.
Quoting Salim Hashim, a Muzaffarrabad-based spokesman of the Hizb, a Srinagar-based news agency said that the command council of the outfit made the decision at a meeting in the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The meeting was chaired by the Hizb's supreme commander Syed Salahuddin.
The two other leaders expelled are Zafar Abdul Fateh and Asad Yazdani.
Late last year, Dar and his supporters were replaced by a new team of militant leaders, who are seen as being pro-Pakistan by Indian observers.
At that time, Moin-ul-Islam had replaced Dar.
Some officials in New Delhi believe that Dar's exit could lead to realignments within the Pakistan-based militant outfit as Dar's supporters within the Hizb are likely to stand by him and his search for a negotiated settlement to the Kashmir problem.
The removal of Dar, who commanded the biggest militant outfit in the Kashmir valley for over two years, comes in the wake of reports that he met A S Daulat, former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief and Officer on Special Duty in the Prime Minister's Office, earlier this week.
A S Daulat was in Kashmir for a week, meeting separatists and urging them to participate in the forthcoming state assembly elections slated for October.
Reports say that Islam was told to announce the removal of Dar by Mushtaq Zargar, who was released in exchange for the passengers of Indian Airlines flight IC 814, when the two leaders met in Kupwara this week.
Significantly, Islam has already retracted his offer of a truce, announced in a newspaper article early this week.
The flip-flop, Indian officials believe, came after Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Hizb's Pak-based leadership prevailed on him.
Officials believe Islam has been warned against advocating a lenient view on the Kashmir issue.
"Today, the Hizb is the most legitimate face of Kashmir's armed struggle, especially after the international ban on the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed."
"If it goes in for a ceasefire, it would have severe repercussions for foreign militants in the valley and the ISI's agenda," a senior intelligence agency official said.
While officials in New Delhi would not confirm Daulat's meeting with Dar, they said Dar's removal from the Hizb was 'insignificant' because he has 'anyway been sidelined' by its Pak-based leadership for almost a year now.
Abdul Majid Dar shot into the limelight after he announced a ceasefire in July 2000, which heightened hopes of peace in Kashmir.
However, the Hizb's Pak-based leadership scuttled the offer accusing India of not giving into its demands, including tripartite talks involving Pakistan.
Dar is considered to be the most liberal face of the armed movement in the valley.
A resident of Sopore, he has always advocated a negotiated solution to the Kashmir dispute.
India believes Dar could be encouraged to bring about a larger demand for peaceful negotiations.
In fact, intelligence agencies believe that if Dar comes out of the militant fold, others might follow him and join the mainstream.
Their assessment is that a large number of Hizb cadres from within the valley are tired of the armed struggle and their life in hiding.
"They would be ready to join the mainstream if they are assured of some sort of amnesty and a rehabilitation package," a senior intelligence official said.
RELATED INTERVIEW We will support any serious attempt to solve the Kashmir issue: Dar
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