Dukhtaran-e-Milat, the Kashmir separatist group of women, has supported the militant group which carried out acid attacks to force Islamic dress code in Kashmir earlier this month.

Dukhtaran has become the first group to support the violent campaign which has been opposed by major militant and separatist political groups. "We are indebted to those courageous men who have started a campaign for veil in Kashmir," a Dukhtaran press release quoted its chief Aasiya Andrabi on Tuesday adding that "...and made us realise once again that we are Muslims."

Andrabi's campaign to motivate Kashmiri women to wear veils has failed miserably since 1989 when armed insurgeny broke out across the state. Her group even used to sprinkle coloured water at women without veil. Since this month's acid attack, women in Srinagar and other towns have started wearing veils. More and more women are buying veils and cloaks to meet the September 1 deadline.

"It is a matter of pride and great satisfaction that more than 80 per cent Kashmiri Muslim women have adopted Islamic dress code," said Andrabi referring to the latest veil campaign. "Let us take a pledge that as long as souls are in our bodies we will strictly follow Islamic dress code," she said.

The Dukhtaran chief even called upon the Muslims of the state to go for a social boycott against those who do not adopt the Islamic way of life.

Earlier this month, members of previously unknown Lashkar-e-Jabbar sprayed corrosives on two Muslim women who were not wearing veils, accusing them of being immodestly dressed. The victims were treated in hospital and discharged. The group has set September 1 as deadline for the women to follow Islamic dress code or face dire consequences.

Dukhtaran-e-Milat, the Kashmir separatist group of women, has supported the militant group which carried out acid attacks to force Islamic dress code in Kashmir earlier this month.

Dukhtaran has become the first group to support the violent campaign which has been opposed by major militant and separatist political groups. "We are indebted to those courageous men who have started a campaign for veil in Kashmir," a Dukhtaran press release quoted its chief Aasiya Andrabi on Tuesday adding that "...and made us realise once again that we are Muslims."

Andrabi's campaign to motivate Kashmiri women to wear veils has failed miserably since 1989 when armed insurgeny broke out across the state. Her group even used to sprinkle coloured water at women without veil. Since this month's acid attack, women in Srinagar and other towns have started wearing veils. More and more women are buying veils and cloaks to meet the September 1 deadline.

"It is a matter of pride and great satisfaction that more than 80 per cent Kashmiri Muslim women have adopted Islamic dress code," said Andrabi referring to the latest veil campaign. "Let us take a pledge that as long as souls are in our bodies we will strictly follow Islamic dress code," she said.

The Dukhtaran chief even called upon the Muslims of the state to go for a social boycott against those who do not adopt the Islamic way of life.

Earlier this month, members of previously unknown Lashkar-e-Jabbar sprayed corrosives on two Muslim women who were not wearing veils, accusing them of being immodestly dressed. The victims were treated in hospital and discharged. The group has set September 1 as deadline for the women to follow Islamic dress code or face dire consequences.