Muzaffarabad (Pakistan) (AFP)

Growing calls for jihad resonate in Pakistan to stand up against the Indian neighbor in disputed Kashmir, putting pressure on the government fighting to rule the armed militia on its soil while facing Delhi.

Last week, hundreds of people gathered in Pakistan's Kashmir capital of Muzaffarabad to demand armed retaliation for India's decision to revoke the autonomy of the party under its Muslim-majority control.

In mosques and markets in Muzaffarabad, calls for jihad are growing, even as analysts warn that any terrorist violence could undermine the diplomatic support sought by Pakistan to challenge the New Delhi decision.

"If India does not put an end to the oppression, God willing we will find guns," Tariq Ismail told AFP at the rally organized by the group Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, designated as a terrorist by the United States.

In Muzaffarabad, residents even believe that India's decision would push a new generation of Pakistani youth toward radicalism, years after the bloody insurgency of the 1980s in Indian Kashmir, which left tens of thousands dead.

"I have six children, and I will send them for jihad, God willing," said Muhammad Amjad, a 47-year-old former insurgent.

Bilouri Begum, 41, lost her husband, cousin and nephew in previous wars. "I raised my sons, God willing, I will send them (for jihad) and I will go with them too," she told AFP, her eyes filled with tears.

This feeling is not limited to the most extremist fringes of the population.

The powerful Pakistani army has long regarded Kashmir as the central issue of tense relations with the Indian neighbor and enemy. A large part of the Pakistanis expect her to act.

- Faucet that leaks -

Tensions in Kashmir, divided between India and Pakistan during the independence of 1947, have already pushed the two nuclear-armed neighbors to two wars interspersed with countless skirmishes over the Control Line (LOC). ), the de facto border between the two countries.

Washington and New Delhi have long accused Pakistan of fueling insurgency in Indian Kashmir and arming jihadist groups.

According to security analyst Amir Rana, India expects "the slightest opportunity" to take advantage of Pakistan's difficulties with its terrorist groups. Any attack "will have serious implications for Pakistan," he said.

A suicide bombing claimed by Pakistani rebels in Indian Kashmir almost triggered another war earlier this year, resulting in air strikes between the two countries.

A new attack would undermine Islamabad's moral authority over these groups and hinder efforts to get the economy back on track. Pakistan is hoping for a new bailout from the International Monetary Fund and is desperate to avoid being blacklisted by a terrorist financing watchdog.

"Any jihadist activity in Kashmir will cause enormous damage to Pakistan, both diplomatically and economically," said analyst Khalid Ahmed. According to him, the jihadists are not under total control of the government, "they have never been."

Myra MacDonald, an expert on jihadist groups in Kashmir, likened Islamabad's hold on the rebels to "opening and closing a leaky faucet". "Whatever Pakistan does, there will always be running water."

Referring to the bombing of Mumbai (India) in 2008 by Pakistani rebels from Lashkar-e-Taiba that killed more than 160 people, she recalls that "the jihadist groups were agitated and needed a spectacular attack to meet their demands. supporters ".

"Similar to big business, these groups need to advertise their brand from time to time in order to raise money and support," said Myra MacDonald. And according to her, "this risk will persist until they are completely dismantled".

sq-wb-ga-st / lab / rock

© 2019 AFP