Kashmir Militants Suspend Jihad to Help Flood Efforts

An alliance of pro-Pakistani militant groups fighting in Indian Kashmir announced Monday it was suspending jihadist activities to carry out rescue and relief work for flood victims.

The umbrella United Jihad Council (UJC) was formed in 1994 and is widely believed to have close links to Pakistan's military establishment.

Talking to AFP, Syed Salahuddin, the group's supreme commander accused the Indian government of not doing enough for ordinary flood victims in Kashmir.

"The Indian government is rescuing only tourists and their troops and the news about relief for the people of Kashmir by the Indian media is a pack of lies," he said.

He also blasted the Pakistani government for not caring about the flood victims in Kashmir and termed it "criminal negligence".

He said: "We have suspend all operations against Indian troops in Kashmir because we are working for the flood victims.

"I appeal to the U.N., International Red Cross and OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) to help the flood victims in Kashmir, our fighters will volunteer for them."

The UJC includes Al-Qaida and Taliban affiliated Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad militant groups, which are on U.S. and U.N. lists of terror organizations.

India and Pakistan claim Kashmir in full and have fought two of their three wars over its control.

Since 1989 fighting between Indian forces and rebels seeking independence or merger of the territory with Pakistan has killed tens of thousands, mostly civilians.

Floods and landslides from heavy monsoon rains that began in early September have now claimed almost 500 lives in Pakistan and India.

Pakistan, which has suffered a series of annual flood disasters since 2010, says as many as 2.4 million people have been affected.

The flood is currently passing through the country's central Punjab province and is expected to reach impoverished southern Sindh over the next day.