Kashmir Freedom Front’s Bashir Ahmad Andrabi Becomes Latest to Renounce Hurriyat; Growing Trend Seen as Testament to Fading Separatism and Rising Constitutionalism in the Valley

||Black and White Digital News ||

||Parvinder Singh April 07,2025 ||

Srinagar : In a significant political development that underscores the changing landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, Bashir Ahmad Andrabi, Chairman of the Kashmir Freedom Front (KFF), has publicly disassociated himself and his organization from the separatist Hurriyat Conference and pledged unconditional allegiance to the Constitution of India.

The announcement, made through a signed public declaration and accessed by Kashmir Dot Com, comes on the same day as Union Home Minister Amit Shah lands in Srinagar for a high-profile visit. The coincidence is being viewed as both strategic and symbolic—marking what many political observers call the “beginning of the end” of organized separatism in Kashmir.

“No Ties With Hurriyat”: Andrabi’s Emphatic Rejection

Andrabi, son of the late Mohammad Amin Andrabi—a once-influential figure in separatist politics—categorically stated that neither he nor the KFF have any association with the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, be it the Geelani or Mirwaiz factions, or with any similar separatist entity.

“We strongly oppose the ideology of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, as it has failed to effectively address the aspirations and grievances of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Andrabi declared.

He further emphasized his commitment to national integrity, warning that any future misuse of his or his organization’s name for separatist purposes would lead to legal action.

“My organization and I are dedicated to upholding the Constitution of India. We do not affiliate with any group that works against the interests of India,” he affirmed.

Not an Isolated Incident: A Pattern Emerges

Andrabi’s move is the latest in a growing wave of public declarations by former separatist leaders who have disowned the ideology they once stood for. Just last week, Ghulam Nabi War, Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Tehreek-i-Istiqamat, issued a similar statement.

“I have long before implicitly severed my ties with separatist ideology, and today, I officially and explicitly sever my connections from either of the factions,” War told the press. He too warned of legal repercussions for the misuse of his name by any faction of the Hurriyat.

In a span of less than ten days, no fewer than four political entities have disassociated from separatist politics. These include the Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Political Movement (DPM) and the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement, both of which were once considered close to Hurriyat positions.

Home Minister’s Visit: Strategic Optics and Political Symbolism

The backdrop of Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit adds layers of meaning to Andrabi’s announcement. Shah, a key architect of the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, has consistently championed the vision of an integrated and peaceful Jammu and Kashmir under the Indian Constitution.

While in Srinagar, Shah is expected to review the security situation, inaugurate developmental projects, and possibly meet delegations from political and civil society groups. The government is likely to project this series of renunciations as a validation of its Kashmir policy.

“This is a significant victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a peaceful and united India,” Shah said last week, responding to earlier disavowals of separatism.

The Decline of Hurriyat: A Historical Perspective

Founded in 1993 as an umbrella platform for separatist politics, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference once wielded considerable influence in Kashmir. However, the group gradually fractured into moderate and hardline factions—most notably the Geelani faction (Hurriyat-G) and the Mirwaiz faction (Hurriyat-M).

The Hurriyat’s decline has been accelerated by multiple factors:

• Internal Fragmentation: Ideological differences and personal rivalries led to factionalism.

• Legal Pressure: Post-2017, the NIA intensified its crackdown on separatist financing, leading to arrests, raids, and frozen accounts.

• Public Disillusionment: Many in Kashmir, especially the youth, began seeing separatist politics as a failed model offering no tangible roadmap for peace or development.

• Death of Syed Ali Shah Geelani (2021): The passing of the most hardline separatist leader symbolized the sunset of an era.

Security Calculus and the National Integration Agenda

According to sources in the security establishment, these renunciations are not merely individual acts of political reinvention—they’re part of a broader and carefully monitored process. Former separatist leaders are being encouraged to embrace constitutional values in exchange for legal leniency, protection, and a chance to return to mainstream life.

Officials believe that this strategy, coupled with increasing development in the region and enhanced counter-insurgency capabilities, is shifting the balance in India’s favour.

“Separatist sentiment is no longer sustainable,” said a senior official involved in counter-terror strategy. “The narrative has changed. People want peace, jobs, roads, and dignity—not slogans.”

Public Sentiment and the Generational Shift:

What’s equally noteworthy is the public’s relatively muted reaction to these exits. Unlike the past, when separatist leaders commanded street power, today’s Valley appears more invested in employment schemes, education, tourism revival, and economic stability.

Younger Kashmiris, many of whom have grown up post-2010, seem more interested in coding bootcamps than curfews—more in AI startups than in hartals (shutdowns). This generational shift is one of the biggest indicators of the long-term decline of separatist relevance.

Separatism in Retreat, But Challenges Remain:

The increasing number of separatist leaders stepping away from the Hurriyat fold reflects a broader change in Kashmir’s political weather. Yet, while these moves signal ideological fatigue and a recalibration of priorities, it would be premature to declare the complete end of separatism.

Underground sympathies, sporadic violence, and international pressures continue to pose challenges. However, for now, the tide has visibly turned in favour of constitutional integration and political normalcy.

As Amit Shah touches down in Srinagar, his visit now stands framed not just by official engagements—but by the optics of a region slowly but steadily realigning with the national mainstream.