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‘Talks
won't be Kashmir-Centric’ NEW DELHI, July 11: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today declared in no unmistakable terms that the agenda of his summit talks with Pakistan President Gen Musharraf will not be Kashmir- centric and asserted that India will strongly raise the issue of Islamabad-supported cross-border terrorism. Speaking at the NDA meeting this evening, Mr Vajpayee said the recent statements made by Gen Musharraf on the Kashmir issue had caused doubts about his earlier claims that he was coming to India with an open and flexible mind. Mr Vajpayee said while Pakistan was insisting that Kashmir was the core issue at the talks, India would ensure that there is a composite dialogue on all bilateral issues. Other issues to figure at the Agra summit will include trade and commerce and cultural ties. The Prime Minister referred to the several confidence building measures taken by the Government including visa check posts on the LoC and International Border. He said India would express keenness on having a special trade relationship with Pakistan. Briefing newspersons after the meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence, NDA convenor George Fernandes said Home Minister L K Advani, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha and Commerce and Industry Minister Murasoli Maran would be part of the Prime Minister’s delegation to Agra even though the Pakistani side would not include their counterparts. Asked what would be the role of these Ministers at the talks, Mr Fernandes said even if their Pakistani counterparts did not come they would be there to advise the Prime Minister. Meanwhile, irked over the invitation to the Hurriyat, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) today decided to boycott the high tea, to be hosted by the Pakistan High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi on July 14 here in honour of President General Pervez Musharraf. NDA convener George Fernandes told newspersons that the Government had already conveyed its reservation through the Ministry of External Affairs to Islamabad on the issue of inviting the Hurriyat. By inviting the Hurriyat Pakistani leadership is trying to show that it considers Hurriyat the only representative of the people of Jammu and Kashmir ignoring the elected representatives and State Government. The NDA’s decision, he said, was not a boycott or a snub to Pakistan but was only a expression of displeasure. This will not be binding on other parties. He said none of the NDA constituents had received any invitation to the reception from the Pakistan High Commission. Mr Fernandes said the Indian Government had already conveyed to Pakistan its reservation about the invitation to the Hurriyat. But the Pakistan leadership had chosen to go ahead with their invitation This action of Pakistan amounted to recognising Hurriyat as the lone representative of Jammu and Kashmir people. Mr Fernandes said the decision of NDA could not be termed as a boycott but none of us will be present there. Their decision was not binding on other parties and they would also not appeal to any party to stay away from the get-together, he said. In reply to a question, he admitted that none of the NDA constituents, including the Bharatiya Janata Party, had received any invitation from the Pakistan High Commission so far. The Government, being the host, for the Pakistan President’s visit would fulfil its protocol duties, he said. Mr Fernandes said he did not feel that the NDA decision would overshadow the summit. There were issues of great magnitude on the agenda. "The decision is an expression of our unhappiness over the Pakistani decision to extend invitation to the Hurriyat. It is not a snub but we (NDA) are merely reacting to a situation," he said. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Foreign Secretary Chokila Iyer will not be attending the reception at the Pakistani High Commissioner’s residence here. Mr Jaswant Singh told the NDA meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence this evening that a protocol officer would represent the Ministry at the tea party in honour of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. The External Affairs Minister said neither the Foreign Secretary nor he would be going. The Minister said this as the NDA was deliberating the issue of the Hurriyat being invited for the tea party. The External Affairs Ministry had last week conveyed to Islamabad its reservations about the invitation to the Hurriyat Conference leaders. Earlier, ruling NDA convenor and former Defence Minister George Fernandes today regretted the "about turn" by Pakistan during the last one week, saying it had dented the optimism created after Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee invited Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf for talks. Vajpayee’s invitation and Pakistan’s immediate response to it and subsequent developments had "raised hopes of a fruitful meeting" and expectations that various contentious issues would be addressed, Fernandes said at a seminar `India-Pakistan summit: Towards peace in the sub-continent’. "Unfortunately, during the last one week, there has been certain about-turn," he said, adding "it is now difficult to sound optimistic". He said the recent utterances by leaders in Pakistan and the composition of the delegation that will accompany Musharraf indicates that Kashmir is the only issue to be discussed. "Nobody else than those associated with Kashmir is accompanying Gen Musharraf to India", he added. He said he did not blame Musharraf for this "because the agenda has inputs from various agencies in Pakistan." He said the "core of the problem" between India and Pakistan on Kashmir was the view in Pakistan that Kashmir, being a Muslim-majority State, should merge with it. India cannot agree to this, he added. Fernandes said if Musharraf comes up with a proposal to look at the "core of the problem from a different angle, there can be a different outcome" and added that "so far there was no such indication." Warning against raising hopes of any breakthrough from the summit, Fernandes said Vajpayee and Musharraf will be "dealing with issues that have defied rational debate for the last 50 years. A solution to these cannot be expected in a deliberations of five-hours." "Issues take own time to resolve," he added. He said the most likely outcome from the summit could be a new road-map for improving relations and resolving problems at another levels. "If it is done, it would be a great achievement," he said. Stating that Musharraf was apparently not finding it easy to deal with Jehadis, he said as preparations were on for the summit, people were being killed in Jammu and Kashmir and "there are people from the other side of the border (foreign mercenaries) who are here not for shaking hands but to kill." (Agencies) |
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NEW DELHI, July 11: Former Prime Minister I K Gujral today criticised Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf for behaving in a very strange manner by dictating agenda for the Agra summit in an "aggressive mood" and said it had dampened his expectations of the outcome. "I have had held four summit level talks with Prime Ministers of Pakistan but here he (Musharraf) comes as if holding a pistol to our head to say talk it (Kashmir issue) or I go back," Gujral said while participating in a TV discussion "line of fire" conducted by noted journalist Karan Thapar. "He (Musharraf) is marching in...He is in very aggressive mood. He tailors his team accordingly. He does not want to talk commerce, trade or travel but only Kashmir," Gujral said in the discussion which will be telecast on "Sab TV" on Saturday. "What does he think? is it a defeated nation he is coming to or is it a friendly nation he is seeking," the former Prime Minister wondered. Stating that he was not happy with the signals coming from Pakistan, Gujral asked "were the statement, that have been coming from Islamabad on the eve of summit, necessary. What message does he want to give?" He expressed his doubts over the outcome of the summit and said "my initial reaction was extremely positive but now it is doubtful." Asked about his comment on the statement from Musharraf that "if India co-operates, we can change the history", the former Prime Minister said "I dont read much in this. What is history first. In which direction he wants to change it." Gujaral said this is not the way in which diplomatic talks between two sovereign nations are conducted. "He is very new to diplomacy. He is conducting a diplomatic talk for the first time. I hope somebody will brief him that this is not the way to conduct diplomatic talks between two sovereign nations." He said Musharraf should behave as a "President" of a country and step out of the shoes of an Army General. Appreciating the stand of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Gujral said "Vajpayee is conducting (the talks) himself in a remarkably good fashion and showing restraint." In a message to Musharraf, he said "please learn the merit of restraint failing which there could be no breakthrough in talks but only a breakdown." About unilateral decisions taken by Indian Governement like opening more visa points, Gujral said "when I started this unilateralism, the present ruling party was critical but circumstances have forced them (to change their perception) and rightly. The relation between people on both sides is extremely important and these gestures will be well taken by the people in Pakistan." The other participants in the panel discussions were former Foreign Minister K Natwar Singh and member of National Security Advisory Board K Subrahmanyam. (PTI) |
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Another attack in Banihal;
yatra delayed for 2 hours Excelsior Correspondent BANIHAL, July 11: Amarnath pilgrims convoy was again held up between Ramban and Ramsu for about two hours this afternoon due to fierce fighting between militants and army at Ambkoot, near Chambalwas, about half km away from the national highway in which two militants, a civilian, and an army jawan were killed. Another civilian and a soldier were seriously injured. In another incident here last night, four persons including three women were injured after troops repulsed a militants’ attack on their post at Chechal near Zanihal. Official sources said a group of militants were noticed at Ambkoot by a patrol party of army around 1340 hours when the convoy of Amarnath pilgrims was about to cross the national highway. The militants were heading towards the highway, reportedly with a view to attack the yatra convoy, when troops challenged them. Militants opened firing on army soldiers, who fired back. As the encounter started, authorities stopped yatra convoy, carrying about 2800 pilgrims, that was nearing Ramsu, only few kms away from the scene of gun-battle. A heavy exchange of firing continued between army and militants till 1900 hours today. Operation was also joined by Banihal police, CRPF and STF. Till late tonight when the reports last came in, two militants, one civilian, and an army jawans were killed in the operation. A jawan and a civilian were seriously injured. Other militants reportedly managed to escape as it started getting dark in the area. Slain militants have been identified as Abu Bakar and Abu Asaram, both of Lashkar-e-Toiba. Naik Bhajan Singh was killed in the firing while Havildar Adam Singh was injured. A civilian killed in the cross-firing has been identified as Mohd Rafiq son of Aziz Lone of Ambkoot while the injured civilian was identified as Mohi-ud-Din son of Mohd Akbar. His condition was also critical. Another civilian Abdul Gani Sohil son of Akbar Sohil of Ambkoot had a narrow escape in the firing. Initially, he was presumed as dead but he returned to his house safely this evening. Convoy of Amarnath pilgrims, which remained stranded between Ramsu and Ramban for about two hours, was cleared at 1540 hours after the threat of militants receded on national highway. Convoy crossed the danger mark safely and reached base camp of Nunwan late tonight. This was for the third time during last about one week that yatra convoy had to be stopped for several hours due to militants’ attacks on the highway between Qazigund and Banihal. In the previous attack at Chambalwas on Friday, three army jawans were killed and five others were injured. A fidayeen was also killed in the gun-fighting. Meanwhile, at about 2000 hours last night, the militants opened firing on an army post near Chechal in Zanihal area of Banihal. Militants used heavy fire arms like rocket launchers and Universal Machine Gun (UMG) in the attack, which was equally replied by army. Exchange of firing continued for more than two hours. Troops repulsed the militants’ attack. Four civilians including three women were trapped in the exchange of firing and got injured. They were identified as Shakeela Begum wife of Ghulam Qadir Khan, Tahira Begum wife of Abdul Gaffar, Jawahara Begum and Mohd Iqbal Dar son of Ghulam Mohd Dar, all residents of Chechal. The injured, all of whom had sustained gun shots, were evacuated from the firing site and admitted to sub district hospital in Banihal. Condition of one of the woman was serious while three others were responding to treatment. After the attack, army and police personnel fanned out in a forest area, from where the militants had attacked their post, and continued searches till this morning. However, the militants remained untraced. Meanwhile, army, police and CRPF have further intensified patrolling all along the national highway between Banihal and Qazigund in view of increased threat perception to Amarnath pilgrims from Pakistan-backed militants especially during July 14-16 when leaders of the two countries will meet in Agra, the sources said. |
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Afghani, civilian killed; 2 surrender in Poonch Excelsior Correspondent POONCH, July 11: An Afghan mercenary and a civilian were killed while two fresh recruits surrendered before army in three separate incidents across this district overnight. According to official sources, an Afghan mercenary was washed away in Poonch river while crossing the river after infiltrating into this side from Mandi sector. Dead body of the foreign mercenary was recovered while floating in the river this morning. Body was fished out from the river near District Police Lines (DPL) this morning but couldn’t be identified immediately. Militant, however, looked like an Afghani. His weapons had also been washed away in the river, the sources said. A civilian Lal Hussain son of Feroz Din, a resident of Madana, Surankot was kidnapped by the militants from his house last night. Hussain was being taken to a forest area by the militants when he drowned in the river while crossing over. Militants reportedly survived. Body of the civilian was recovered from the river this morning. It was handed over to family members. Meanwhile, two fresh Kashmiri recruits, who were being forcibly taken to Pakistan for arms training by Lashkar militants, escaped from the captivity and surrendered before police in Surankot this morning. Recruits were identified by police as Manzoor Ahmed, 17, son of Gul Mohd, a resident of village Goon, Qazigund and Riaz Ahmed, 18, son of Abdul Rashid of Daralgoom, Kulgam in Anantnag district. Duo told Surankot police that they were being forced to trek from one mountain to another by three militants for last five days in Surankot. Last evening, they got an opportunity and escaped from the clutches of militants. They surrendered before police this morning after trekking several hilly areas throughout the last night to reach Surankot. |
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India to stick to Parliament's stand on Kashmir: Jaswant NEW DELHI, July 11: India today firmly reiterated that during the upcoming Indo-Pak summit New Delhi would stick to its position that the entire Jammu and Kashmir including Pak-occupied Kashmir is an integral part of the country. In an interview to Doordarshan, External Affairs and Defence Minister Jaswant Singh said there was no question of the Government diluting the 1994 Parliament resolution on the status of Jammu and Kashmir. Asked what would be India’s stand on the Kashmir issue during the July 15 Agra summit, he said: "On Jammu and Kashmir, Parliament has a stand. How can I be separate from it. I am a product of Parliament." He emphatically ruled out any three-way talks on the Kashmir issue involving Hurriyat. Regarding Pakistan High Commissioner’s invitation to Hurriyat to a reception in honour of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, Mr Singh said,"it is sad ... the Government has made its stand clear on the issue." "The President is coming at the invitation of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The purpose of his visit is to talk with the Prime Minister," he added. On the ‘no war pact’ proposed by Gen Musharraf in a recent interview, Mr Singh said this could be feasible only if it brought proxy war and cross border terrorism within its ambit as "all these are inter-related". He said the issue could be discussed when the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries meet after the summit. The Minister said India had never shied away from discussing Kashmir issue which had come up during talks since 1948. "Jammu and Kashmir is not the cause, but the result of a mindset ... One needs to seek a realistic solution." Commenting on Islamabad describing the series of confidence building measures announced by New Delhi in the run-up to the summit as "peripheral", Mr Singh said,"the steps are spontaneous and have been taken after due thought. People can never be peripheral." He denied that the invitation for talks had been extended to Gen Musharraf following external pressures, particularly United States. "Indian policies are not influenced by outside forces. This has been proved in the past three years," he said. Mr Singh said India always wanted good neighbourly relations with Pakistan for peace and development of the region. "Poverty is the greatest challenge facing the two countries." He said the Prime Minister’s commitment began with Lahore which came despite hurdles. "Pakistan must understand that the world moves on (despite hurdles)." About the agenda of the summit, he said both countries have a readymade agenda in the form of a composite dialogue. "Both the leaders could decide the specifics when they meet," he said. He hoped the proposed meeting of the DGMOs could come out with a mechanism for monitoring any agreements on de-escalating tension on the International Border, Line of Control (LoC) and Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) besides CMBs on the nuclear issue. (UNI) |
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Budgam contractor, 6
militants among 10 killed Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, July 11: Militants today gunned down National Conference Lok Sabha member Abdur Rasheed Shaheen’s brother at his home-town of Pattan, on Srinagar-Baramulla road. In other militancy-related incidents, security forces eliminated six militants while as militants left three more civilians killed and several others wounded in Kashmir. Informed sources in north Kashmir told EXCELSIOR that the senior NC leader Abdur Rasheed Shaheen’s brother Nazir Ahmed Sofi was reading a newspaper at a fellow shopkeeper’s retail outlet when a gunman fired pistol shots on him at 11.15 a.m today. Nazir was running a watch repairing shop at the main market. Even as he sustained gunshot wounds in his thigh, he ran away to take shelter in the neighbour Mohammad Ramzan Ganai’s house. But the hitman chased him and fired two more shots on his head. He collapsed and died on spot. With no political involvement or threat perception, Nazir was living as an unprotected person. NC’s Lok Sabha member from Baramulla-Kupwara, A R Shaheen, received the bad news at the death anniversary function of Begum Sheikh Abdullah. He rushed to his hometown and participated in the funeral. In central Kashmir district of Budgam, militants struck in broad daylight at Beerwah market and shot dead the most prominant contractor of the district, Haji Abdur Rasheed Shah alias Rasheed Zanigami. Resident of Zanigam, Beerwah, 48-year-old Rasheed was at his brother’s shop when a gunman fired upon him. He died on spot. Militants had kidnapped the millionaire businessman twice in early 1990s but set him free unharmed as he used to pay heavy amounts for his life. After feeling insecure, he was often staying at a house in Srinagar but his works and business of dry fruit was spread all over upper Budgam. Official sources said that militants hurled a hand grenade towards a Police party at Victory Crossing in Khanyar locality of downtown at 12.10 p.m when the ruling NC was organising a function in honour of late Begum Abdullah, on occasion of her first death anniversary, at the nearby Miskeen Bagh. It exploded at the crowded place, killing a woman, Noora wife of late Ghulam Mohammad Kumhar, resident of Aqalmir, on spot. Four civilians, one BSF official and ASI Abdur Rasheed of Police Station Nowhatta sustained injuries. Reports from Tral said that people and Police recovered the dead body of a civilian, Abdul Gani Bhat S/o Ghulam Mohammad Bhat of Monghama near Awantipora. A large number of people assembled and alleged that Bhat had been picked up by troops of BSF 124 Bn two days ago, alongwith his brother Fateh Mohammad Bhat. While as Fateh Bhat was released after interrogation, his shopkeeper brother’s dead body was spotted in a paddy field near Awantipore this morning. Residents described Abdul Gani Bhat as an innocent civilian and alleged that he had been killed "in custody". People staged protest demonstrations and demanded action against Bhat’s killers. When a group of angry people blocked the road at Nowdal, a BSF party opened fire to disperse them. Two civilians, Bilal Ahmed and Ishrat Banoo, sustained injuries. People shouted slogans against security forces. While as the Police bulletin remained silent over Bhat’s killing, officials claimed that he had been killed by unidentified militants. At Magam township in Budgam district, militants lobbed a hand grenade towards a vehicle of security forces. It missed the intended target and exploded in front of Naib Tehsildar’s office, causing splinter injuries to seven civilians. Four of them were identified as Mohammad Rafeeq Khanday, Salim Maqsood, Zahoor Ahmed and Mohammad Ashraf. Six militants killed Reports from Kupwara said that troops of 1/4 GR had laid an ambush in Rangnaar forest area, near Chowkibal. Two persons, namely Akram Khan and Liaqat Khan, sons of Sabir Khan, walked into the ambush at twilight. As troops challenged them, they opened fire and tried to escape. However, troops retaliated and killed both of them on spot. Officials described them as guides of a group of Jaish-e-Mohammad militants. Militants of the group managed to escape. However, residents described the duo as civilians. At the nearby locality of Meelyal, troops of 1/4 GR engaged a group of militants in an encounter. Two militants of Jaish-e-Mohammad got killed. They were identified as Fayaz Ahmed Sheikh S/O Ghulam Rasool Sheikh of Kunan Poshpora and Nisar Ahmed Lone S/o Lassi Lone of Panzgam. Two AK-56 rifles, one wireless set and nine grenades were recovered from their possession. Officials claimed that Fayaz Ahmed Sheikh was involved in snatching six Police rifles from Hanjipora. Reports available from Budgam said that on a tip off, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 34 Bn and SOG Budgam raided a hideout at Danseer village, near Beerwah today. During the fierce gunbattle, one soldier of RR 34, namely Gajinder Singh, sustained injuries. Troops retaliated the fire, killing a Pakistani militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba on spot. He was identified as Manzoor alias Abu Talaha of Pakistan. Three residential housed were destroyed in the encounter. Reports from Anantnag said that an encounter took place between militants and security forces at Sagam Boneteng in Kokernag area. One militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba, namely Nazakat Ahmed Khan of Khadiwara, Kokernag, got killed. Sopore tense over alleged rape Reports from Sopore said that the apple-rich town and district headquarters of Baramulla remained tense in the wake of allegations of a rape on two women. While as shops remained closed in the twin towns, people alleged that troops of RR 15 Bn had committed rape on two young women during a nocturnal cordon-and-search operation. They shouted slogans against the armed forces and alleged that a contingent from Rampur camp swooped on Marbel (Shiva)village late last night and committed rape on Sayeeda Bano wife of Mohammad Ramzan Lone and Fareeda wife of Bashir Ahmed Rishi. Students of Degree College participated in the protest demonstration and resorted to stone-pelting on Sopore Police Station. However, official sources claimed that the allegation proved baseless during the medical examination of the two women, who were unconscious for some time. A spokesman of Kilo Force claimed that the allegation was motivated and unfounded. He claimed that all women and children had been placed together at a spot and there was no possibility of even molestation. Senior Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, rushed to Sopore and addressed the gathering on protest. |
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Five others still at large Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 11: Crime Branch today arrested a Director of United Fiscal Corporation Ltd —Javed Ahmed Magrey by conducting a raid at a hotel in Patnitop and seized two cars and some secret documents involving transactions worth over Rs 1.57 crore. The sources said that a special Central Cell recently constituted by IG Crime and Railways Mr Masud Choudhary, headed by Superintendent of Police- Mr A K Atri, raided a hotel at Patnitop and nabbed one of the directors of the company—Javed Ahmed Magrey who was evading arrest since long. His associates including a few other directors of the company managed to escape when the police arrived. The Crime Branch also seized Maruti Car No. 8922/JK02M belonging to Magrey and an Esteem Car bearing No. 5323/ JK02H—belonging to Ravinder Pandita, also a director of the said company. The raiding party seized some secret documents of assets and transactions and recoveries made from Kishtwar division of this company in district Doda. Crime Branch had come into action after a number of people from different parts of Jammu approached the agency alleging that Batote police had connived with accused and felicitated the release of all accused even after arresting them. Other accused in the finance company scam have been identified by Crime Branch as B K Kalsar, presently settled in Chandigarh, Bal Krishan Bhat, settled in New Delhi, Gopal Krishan Bhat, Ravi Pandita and Sanjeev Khajuria. All of them were absconding, the sources said, adding a manhunt has been launched by a special team of Crime Branch to apprehend them. Three of them had been bailed out after their arrest by Batote police. They were not traceable now, they added. Magray had huge assets worth several crores, which he had raised with the money deposited by local people in the finance company, the sources said, adding the Crime Branch have initiated steps to get the property seized to compensate with depositors. Further investigations in the case were going on and more arrests were expected shortly. Crime Branch sources here said they have confirmed reports that Batote police, which had initially been investigating the case, had acted in a manner which helped the financiers and not the depositors. As a mere eye wash, Batote police had set up a committee of local people to co-ordinate among financiers and depositors and get latter’s invested money back. However, the committee miserably failed to make any headway. Sources said the Crime Branch have taken all possible steps to ensure that depositors get back atleast some part of their amount. Sources said that the Crime Branch sleuths simultaneously raided the houses of Ravinder Pandita and Bal Krishan Bhat. The police parties were conducting series of raids at their suspected hideouts. A case FIR No. 9/2001 under Section 420/120-B/406 RPC stands registered against them. The documents carry the signatures of Ravinder Pandita and Magrey and transactions worth over Rs 1.57 crore have proved against them. Sources said the money through their companies United Fiscal Corporation Ltd. and Endowment Plantation Limited had been collected mostly from district Doda. It is estimated that innocent investors have been duped of their money worth over Rs 10 crores by directors of these shady finance companies. |
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Separatist camp is in
total disarray; NC Govt is incidental beneficiary From Ahmed Ali Fayaz SRINAGAR, July 11: After selling dreams to the people of Kashmir for eight long years, the major separatist alliance, Hurriyat Conference, has reached the dead end of its own course of rhetoric. While refusing to take notice of a sympathiser’s chastening lyricism — yeh nadaan ghir gaye sajde mein jab waqte qayyam aaya — Hurriyat bigwigs have demonstrated abject bankruptcy vis-a-vis the new Kashmir-related developments in the sub-continent. Erring at the outset, Hurriyat made it a point of its unaccomplished ego that it would listen to none until it was granted permission for a passage to Pakistan. As it witnessed Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee announcing a unilateral cease-fire and Home Minister L K Advani saying that India would talk to none but "our own people", Hurriyat began to dictate terms to the Government of India. It even proved childish, for several months, in selecting its team for a Pakistan visit. Inclusion of the die-hard Pakistan loyalist Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s name in the list emerged as another controversy. Thanks to the unilateral cease-fire, the militant came overground and, within days, the entire Valley’s atmosphere sounded pro-Pakistan. Everywhere, there were slogans like "Pakistan se rishta kya, la illaha illa-la" and "aiwa aiwa lashkar-e-toiba". As Geelani emerged a hero and his Hurriyat colleagues found themselves at the receiving end of militants’ threats, they began eulogising Pakistan, the benefactor. While returning to New Delhi from his personal visit of Pakistan, leader of the Hurriyat moderates, Abdul Gani Lone, sought to clarify that he had lashed out on Shiv Sainiks and not the "Mujahideen". In an interview, in Pakistan, Lone had unambiguously assailed the "extremist elements in both countries (India and Pakistan)" and charged them with sabotaging Vajpayee’s peace initiative. His explanation spoke volumes that the Hurriyat’s camp of moderates was demoralised. Hurriyat functionaries made a great deal of labour to pacify Geelani and get him back into the fold And, when Vajpayee made a turnaround — divorcing his "own people", withdrawing cease-fire and inviting the Pakistan military ruler — Hurriyat looked unnerved as it found itself being relegated to the oblivion. Exposed to the worst ever infighting, the Hurriyat reduced its ego to demanding a berth in an at home being organised in General Pervez Musharraf’s honour at the residence of Pakistan High Commissioner. Shuttling of the separatist stalwarts between Srinagar and New Delhi and their activity in the Union Capital is still being viewed here as "begging for an invitation". Even before the Hurriyat executive would decide whether or not to accept Pakistan’s invitation for a cup of tea, JKLF chief Yaseen Malik described it as "an insult to Kashmir’s freedom struggle". Announcing boycott to the tea party, JKLF has an argument: If the Hurriyat has been rejecting everything but a process of tripartite talks (so as to install Pakistan as a party to the Kashmir dispute), why Pakistan should not stress even on Hurriyat’s informal involvement with the new political initiative. It has evidently apprehensions that, in the process of boosting its trade with India, Pakistan would ultimately ditch the Kashmiris. With the Hurriyat freezing its political activity and "movement of resistance" in Jammu & Kashmir, Government of India has adopted a two-pronged strategy of winning the war from within and without. On diplomatic front, India now has credentials of a peace-loving state that is "responsible and amenable to reason". Even before the Agra summit, Vajpayee has announced several confidence building measures — including an indication that India would like Srinagar-Rawalpindi road to open. But, at the real battlefront, security forces have been tasked to turn the tables fast. SOG’s and armed forces’ operations have increased ten-fold. Fidayeen (suicidal) attacks have dipped to a naught. Three hundred militants have been eliminated in the last five weeks. That, in real terms, is cutting Pakistan’s as well as the Hurriyat’s bargaining power on Kashmir as, like any people on earth, Kashmiris are always with the mightier. For first six years of insurgency, they were equally hurt and humiliated by security forces as well as militants. But, invariably the clamour was against the soldier. The reason was one: That the State seemed to be weaker and the militant emerged as mightier. Now that the ground realities are changing fast, mainstream political parties have set out a flurry of activity throughout the State. The ruling National Conference (NC) leaders, who remain hidden during cease-fire, are now seen organising rallies in distant, militant-infested localities. Even during Dr Farooq Abdullah’s month-long vacation, his son Omar Abdullah and about a dozen of the Cabinet members are estimated to have organised over one hundred visits, rallies and inaugurations in the Valley. NC Government is an incidental beneficiary of the improvement in situation. Resignations of its activists through paid advertisements in local newspapers have dwindled. In third week of May, a Minister in a central Kashmir segment told EXCELSIOR that militants had eliminated 25 of his key functionaries, including Block and Halqa presidents. He said that elections were "dead impossible" in his constituency as only one Block president and three other main organisers were alive and none of them was ready to come forward. Today, the same Minister said that there was "50% improvement" in his constituency and a number of his party functionaries were making arrangements for some political rallies. Yet another post-ceasefire development is that Hurriyat’s mainstream promoter, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, has suddenly forgotten his friends in the separatist camp and left them to fend for themselves with reference to New Delhi. According to Mufti, Hurriyat missed the bus by not responding to Vajpayee’s initiative positively and refusing to talk to the Centre’s Kashmir interlocutor, K C Pant. Even Shabir Shah of the separatist Democratic Freedom Party, who received Pant at his Srinagar residence and had a meeting with him, has similar opinion. Even Dukhtaran-e-Millat’s firebrand supremo, Asiya Andrabi, admits in a paid newspaper advertisement that Kashmir’s "anti-India movement" was today at its lowest ebb. According to her, a many separatist leaders’ "dictations" are flowing from New Delhi and the entire separatist political camp is in disarray. (To be continued) |
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Show maturity: Shah to Hurriyat conference SRINAGAR, July 11: Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah today asked Hurriyat Conference leaders to show "seriousness and maturity" and wait for the outcome of the Agra summit before indulging in any "childish" act. "Both India and Pakistan will have to involve the principal party to the issue in the talks, sooner or later, for finding a solution to Kashmir issue and Hurriyat leaders should not act in haste but wait for the outcome of the Vajpayee-Musharraf summit," Shah said. People and their leaders should show "seriousness and maturity and not indulge in childish acts which downgrade Kashmiris", Shah, who heads the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, told his party workers here. "It is useless to take hasty steps which are doomed to fail," he said. "What is needed is formulation of a united policy to welcome the outcome of the summit if it is meaningful and effective for resolution of Kashmir issue," Shah said. If any agreement was signed against wishes and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, then "we have to intensify our peaceful struggle," he said. Shah accused both India and Pakistan of neglecting Kashmir issue. "Releasing prisoners and setting up of check posts to facilitate travel are welcome steps but the tragedy is that the two countries are not paying attention to the core issue of Kashmir." Shah said the need of the hour is to take certain measures before the summit takes off. Measures like withdrawal of Disturbed Areas Act and Armed Forces (J and K) Special Powers Act should be taken to build confidence among the people, he said. Shah said the summit was a good beginning but added "we should not hope for any miracle". He said militants took up arms when peaceful methods failed to yield results. "If the Kashmir issue is resolved as per wishes and aspirations of the people, the militants will respond positively." (PTI) |
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Police makes headway in
couple’s murder Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 12: Police intensified investigations in Trikuta Nagar’s double murder today by detaining a woman property dealer, who was allegedly giving threatening calls to deceased Dr Uttam Chand Gupta and his wife Kamala Devi Gupta, parents of PGI Medical Superintendent Dr Anil Gupta. Admitting that the woman has been picked-up by police this morning and whisked away to an unknown place for sustained interrogation, a senior police officer told EXCELSIOR that her questioning could give vital clues to police. He, however, declined to disclose the identity of woman saying this could hamper police investigations. He said the sketch of two persons, who had come to couple’s house on Sunday afternoon reportedly to take first floor of the house on rent, prepared by police with the help of a servant of couple’s son-in-law slightly resembled with woman property dealer’s brother. The woman’s brother, whose identity too has been kept secret by the police, was not traced in his house and was reportedly absconding. Police throughout the day today carried out raids at different places to apprehend the absconding person but he remained untraced. The police officer said this woman property dealer was reported to have sent the tenants to Dr UC Gupta’s house. "Sustained questioning of the woman was on till late tonight and a lead was expected to emerge during her disclosures", he said but declined to say that woman’s arrest was a breakthrough in the case. "Arrest was made on the basis of suspicion. Arrest of woman’s brother could be more useful. We are behind him and are hopeful to get him shortly", he added. According to him, the woman property dealer first sent tenants to Dr Gupta’s house, who were ousted by the couple due to some differences. After ouster of the tenants, a theft was reported in the house and then suddenly the old couple started receiving threatening calls. "All these were not co-incidents but definitely have something to do with barbaric killing of Dr Anil Gupta’s parents", he said. He maintained that all leaders were being clubbed together. A battery of senior police officers were working round-the-clock to work out the most sensational and mysterious murder in the history of Jammu, he said describing the case as ‘a challenge for police’ and hoped that police will come upto expectations. Police sources said that another aspect, which was being investigated by police, pertained to some documents of a private finance company one of whose Director was related to the couple. The Finance Company proprietors had deserted Jammu last year duping the investors worth several crores of rupees. However, they said, not much headway has been made on this aspect of investigations. "The fact that only one almirah was open and assailants made no attempt to steal golden ornaments indicated that some documents might have been removed from the almirah", they said. Since the couple, who used to live all alone in the house, are now dead the family members couldn’t confirm that whether some documents had been stolen from the house or not, they added. Investigations continued and police was hopeful of reaching to some sort of conclusion by tomorrow evening. |
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Qureshi lists agenda to end mistrust between India, Pak NEW DELHI, July 11: Hashim Qureshi — one of the founders of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) — today presented a ten-point agenda, including freezing of the Kashmir issue for two decades, to end rivalry and mistrust between India and Pakistan. In an open letter to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan’s President Gen Pervez Musharraf, Qureshi, who is lodged in Srinagar jail to face trial in a 1971 hijacking case, said that India and Pakistan should give a "maximum quantum of autonomy" to the entire Kashmir region with both countries controlling only defence, foreign affairs and communications. "We Kashmiris have to take a decision whether we have to remain silent spectators in the ongoing fighting and turn the State into another Afghanistan," he said in his letter released from Srinagar jail where he was sent after surrendering last December. The Kashmir issue has become a damocles sword hanging over the heads of over 1.3 billion people of the Indian sub-continent. On both sides precious resources are diverted to stockpiling arms and preparation of war machines. The Kashmiris should come out of a syndrome of sentimentalism and realise that "without ideological and intellectual guidance it would be difficult to achieve" the goal. He urged the Premier to release all political prisoners lodged in various jails and said a more liberal system of travel should be evolved by both countries to enable the people on either side of the Line of Control to meet their relatives and friends without any hurdle. To achieve durable peace in the State, Qureshi said that all armed foreign nationals should leave the Valley forthwith. For achieving this goal the two sides should evolve a mechanism. This should be followed by cessation of support to militant activities. Qureshi said that people who had been driven out of their homes on either side of the LoC should be resettled. The two countries should constitute a high-powered committee, comprising political and economic experts, which should be given a mandate for finding a peaceful and lasting solution to the Kashmir issue. Endorsement of any permanent solution by the legislatures of the two parts of Kashmir was necessary. He hoped all his proposals would be seriously considered by the two Governments. (UNI) |
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MUZZAFARABAD (PoK), July 11: Even before a word has been uttered in the summit meeting between the leaders of India and Pakistan this weekend, Kashmir militant groups have shot it down in flames calling the talks a "fraud". Mujahideen groups have vowed to press on with their Jehad (holy war) regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s talks between Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. "It is our Jihad that forced the Indian Govenment to come to the negotiating table and we will not reduce the intensity of our struggle until Indian forces quit their occupation of Kashmir," Hizbul Mujahideen spokesman Salim Hashmi said. Militants said nothing would change in Kashmir unless the Kashmiris were involved in the talks. Militant leaders called the talks a "fraud" engineered by Vajpayee to buy time for his tired forces. They vowed to intensify their attacks on Indian military base in the Valley. "These talks are a fraud and a move by Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee to buy time for his fatigued Army," said Yahya Mujahid, spokesman for Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba. "It is impossible (to stop the insurgency). We will, Inshallah (god willing), step up our operations against Indian forces in coming days," he said. "We have come so far, we will achieve what god has ordained for us. The solution to the Kashmir problem is the same as was done in Afghanistan against Russian forces, meaning the total withdrawal of the Indian Army," Mujahid said. Pakistan-based Harkatul Mujahideen said the proposed Agra summit was an "exercise in futility" without the participation of the Kashmiri leadership. Spokesman Ammar Mehdi said Musharraf should not have accepted Vajpayee’s invitation unless the Mujahideen and the Hurriyat Conference, the main Kashmiri separatist political alliance, were allowed seats at the negotiating table. "We regret Pakistan has agreed to talk on Kashmir without Hurriyat leaders and the Mujahideen," he said. "The summit is a historic one and I am optimistic that the first step will turn out to be a leap towards a better future," said Hurriyat chairman Abdul Gani Bhat. "But I am confident that India-Pakistan talks over Kashmir will not progress without the involvement of the Hurriyat. If you take us into confidence you will get results," he said. (AFP) |
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Army chief reviews J&K situation Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 11: Chief of the Army Staff, Gen S Padmanabhan today reviewed the overall security situation of the State with top Army officers on his arrival at Nagrota cantonment today. Gen Padmanabhan carried out operational review with the senior Army officers and was apprised about the prevailing situation on International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in Jammu region, a Defence spokesman said here this evening. Later, Army Chief addressed all officers in Station and lauded the efforts out in by the Army to bring back normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. He appreciated the success achieved in various operations so that militants were not allowed to terrorise the local population, the spokesman said. Gen Padmanabhan also apprised the officers about the steps being taken to modernise the Army through application of Information Technology and induction of series of new weapons and equipment, the spokesman added. |
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India won't shy away from discussing Kashmir NEW DELHI, July 11: India today said it would not shy away from discussing Kashmir with Pakistan at the Agra summit but insisted that it wanted "a broad and comprehensive dialogue that will set the tone for future relationship." "Our discussions with Pakistan would be based on the composite dialogue that covers all outstanding issues including Kashmir. We are looking forward to building a stable relationship with Pakistan that addresses future relationship between the two countries," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Nirupama Rao said. "We have never shied away from discussing any issue but it is upto the two leaders to discuss what they decide. The agenda would consist of all issues relevant to the relationship. The real focus of the meeting will be on the discussions between the two leaders." The two leaders would have a composite dialogue and trade and economic issues would also be part of it, including the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status. Replying to a question she said India’s stand had been outlined by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in his invitation letter to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf which talked of building a stable relationship. To another question she said Pakistan had not yet responded officially to the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) announced by India. (UNI) |
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