Third
party intervention in J&K rejected NEW DELHI, Nov 12 : India today firmly asked Pakistan to immediately close down 30 terrorists training camps and hand over 32 underworld operators of Indian origin sheltered in that country and proposed four concrete steps for dismantling the terrorist infrastructure existing there In the resumed second phase of composite Indo-Pak dialogue on terrorism and drug trafficking here, New Delhi asserted that Pakistan’s relentless but futile pursuit of destabilising India through state-sponsored terrorism would not succeed. Taking a tough line, India told Pakistan that it should deny use of its territory or other facilities to fundamentalist and militant organis- ations which have been propagating the cult of religious violence, training militants and raising funds for ‘jehad’ (holy war). Briefing newspersons on the dialgoue, held at the Home Ministry level of the two countries after a decade, Home Secretary B P Singh said we have made it clear to Pakistan that its proxy war will not succeed under any circumstances, and that it would be best (for Islamabad) to renounce this path and, instead, seek mutually beneficial cooperation. New Delhi also firmly asked Islamabad to immediately close down more than 30 training camps for terrorists functioning in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and hand over 32 underworld operators of Indian origin currently sheltered in that country. While asking Islamabad to abandon the policy of state-sponsored terrorism against India, New Delhi said Pakistan should stop indoctri- nating, recruiting, training, arming, financing and infiltrating militants for purposes of terrorist violence in this country. Singh said, however, both sides agreed to set up a mechanism for regular meetings and exchange of operational information between the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Investigation Agency of Pakistan for expeditious assistance to each other for combating various types of crimes including counterfeiting of currency and cyber crimes. India handed over to Pakistan Incontrovertible and irrefutable evidence that it had consistently used terrorism as an instrument of state policy against India. We drew Pakistan’s attention to these facts, and also presented overwhelming evidence of its involvement, and that of its official agencies, in terrorism in Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab as also elsewhere in India, he said. Singh said Pakistan delegation tried to deny Islamabad’s involvement in state sponsorship of terrorism in India on the alibi that it is only giving moral support to the so-called freedom struggle in Kashmir. Sternly rejecting Islamabad’s stand, the Home Secretary told the Pakistani side that terrorism anywhere cannot and should not be justified by any civilised society on the basis of such definitional quibbles. India and Pakistan have a long history of freedom struggle. A terrorist is a terrorist and can under no definition be called a freedom fighter, he asserted. An insipid joint statement issued after the talks said the discussions were held in a frank and cordial atmosphere. The two sides stated their respective position. It was agreed to continue discu- ssions during the next round of the dialogue process, which, Singh said, would be held in Islamabad soon. New Delhi made it abundantly clear to Pakistan that J and K is an integral part of India and is not a disputed territory as claimed by Islamabad. Successive democratic elec- tions in J and K to ascertain the popular will as well as install democratically elected Govern- ments bear testimony to this fact, the Home Secretary said. India categorically rejected Pakistan’s suggestion for invol- vement of United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) or some other international observers along the borders in J and K to verify New Delhi’s charges regarding Pakistan’s involvement in terrorism. India is firmly opposed to any third party involvement in such matters and the Simla Agreement clearly provides that all differences between the two countries should be resolved bilaterally, he said. New Delhi also turned down Pakistan's allegation that India was taking advantage of sectarian violence though its roots lay elsewhere. Singh said even the people and media in Pakistan attribute the growth of sectarian strife in Pakistan to its own patronage to nurseries of terrorism like Markaz-Dawa-Wal-Irshad (MDI), Hizbul Mujahideen and Harqat-ul-Mujahideen which have become breeding grounds for home grown militias that have turned Pakistan cities into battle fields. New Delhi also underlines the fact that the menace of terrorism has assumed serious proportions through its nexus with narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. Pakistan is a major source of supply and transit route for illicit drugs including heroin, he said, adding there was agreement on both sides to further strenthen existing bilateral cooperation between the Narcontrol Bureau of India and Anti-Narcotic Force of Pakistan for combating drug trafficking. Singh said the Pakistani pretence that Islamabad was only providing moral support to terrorists in J and K was exposed by the fact that as many as 243 Pakistani and 48 residents of PoK belonging to various fundamentalist and terrorist organisations have been killed by Indian security forces in the last few years. Besides, 91 Pakistani and 34 PoK residents are in Indian jails in connection with terrorist crimes, he said. Further, recoveries of over 47,000 sophisticated fire arms and over 30,000 Kg of high explosives from Pakistan-trained militants on the International borders and elsewhere in India indicated Pakistan’s involvement in sponsoring terrorist activities in India, he said. Singh said lionisation in Pakistan of mercenaries killed in J and K by orgnisations like Lashkar-e-Toiba and Al-Badr is also proof of Islamabad’s involvement. India handed over a list of 32 top-ranking terrorists, drug lords, fugitives and underworld operators from India who were being sheltered in Pakistan. Another list of 14 terrorist training camps in Pakistan including in areas like Gujjarkhan, Jhang, Jhelum, Manshera, Peshawar Rahimyar Khan, Shakragarh and Quetta and 16 in PoK including in capital Muzaffarabad was also given to the Pakistani team.(PTI) |
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Jamaat
activist killed in Shopian Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Nov 12 : While as unidentified gunmen have eliminated an elderly activist of the pro-Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami in Shopian area of south Kashmir, security forces have recovered huge quantities of arms and ammunition from different parts of Valley. Troops of Sub Area Command have recovered two weapons from the orchard of a resident of Soura, who happens to be the relative of the State Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah. Reports from Shopian said that a group of unidentified gunmen, suspected to be pro-Government militants, appeared at the residence of a 65-year-old activist of Jamaat-e-Islami and shot him dead at his village Shahlatoo. Having retired as a Village Level Worker, he had become an activist of Jamaat. He was identified as Ghulam Rasool Malik son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Malik. A similar group of gunmen was alleged to have extorted money from the proprietor of a filling station at Kadalbal, Pampore, Official sources said that troops of Sub Area Command in the capital city launched a operation in the orchard of one Ali Sheikh at Soura on Wednesday and recovered one Universal Machine Gun and an RPG. Sheikh is said to be a distant relative of the Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. Highly-placed official sources told EXCELSIOR that Dr Abdullah had taken a serious note of the weapons surfacing from the premises of one of his relatives and he has asked the security forces and Police to take ''proper action without any hesitation'' in the matter. ''Law should take its own course'', Dr Abdullah is learnt to have remarked. Sources said that security forces conducted search operation at Rewand Nullah in Baramulla district and recovered 30 anti-personnel mines, 2 anti-tank mines, 2 107-mm rockets, 564 rounds of sniper rifle and 2100 AK-56 rounds. Four rockets and 4 rocket-boosters were seized by CIK's Intelligence Field Unit at Tohi Bahak, Kupwara. Security forces also recovered two AK-56 rifles, one disposable rocket-launcher, two RPG rockets and ten hand grenades from Anderbug, Lolab. J&K Police claimed to have apprehended Imtiaz Ahmed Kangan of Kathi Darwaza, Rainawari, and described him as a militant of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. One hand grenade and 10 rounds of ammunition were claimed recovered from him. Official sources said that Pakistani and Indian border troops today exchanged artillery and LMG fire in Keran, Karnah and Machhil sectors. However, there was no damage. Clock ticking towards U.S airstrike against Iraq DUBAI, Nov 12 : The United States and Britain were tonight virtually on the brink of a military strike against Iraq having rushed more troops and weaponary in the Gulf while pulling out diplomatic staff across the countries in the region even as defiant Baghdad urged United Nations to prevent an agression. Apart from U.S and Britain several countries including Germany have urged their nationals to pull out of Baghdad as the clouds of war hovered over the region. U.N has already evacuated its staff including its weapon inspectors. The troops buildup in the Gulf comes despite strong opposition from Russia and China. The United States moved in B-52 bombers and Sleath fighters which will fly to U.S bases in Louisiana, North Dakota and New Mexico to the Indian Ocean Island of Diego Garica. Egypt, Syria and six Gulf countries were, meanwhile, making last ditch efforts to avert a possible strike against Iraq urging Baghdad to abide to U.N resolutions. In a blunt statement, these countries said Baghdad will be solely responsible for any military action if it failed to heed U.N demands over arms inspection. Meanwhile, Russia and China, permanent members of Security Council, expressed anguish over pulling of U.S arm inspectors from Iraq without consulting the council members. The U.S has already assembled a formadiable naval armada in the Gulf comprising Nimitz class nuclear powered carrier. Last week, the Pentagon desptached Uss Anzio a guided missile cruiser from mediterrean to join the Gulf build up. The Americans also despatched another carrier battle group headed by USs enterprise to the region. The British forces in the Gulf include 23 frigates Hms Grafton and Hms sutherland With the royal airforce strike force of motely collection of Tonadoes and Jaguars based in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Meanwhile, the united states made it clear the u.N Secretary-General Kofi Annan had no role to play in the present Gulf crisis. The ball is in Iraq’s court to come back into compliance U.S representative Peter Burleigh said. The crisis was precipitated when Iraq ended cooperating with the un weapons inspection team which has been scouring the country for the last eight years for mass destruction weapons without much success. Iraq said the team was only delaying certification on Iraq’s disarmament, which is a must for lifting sanctions, under pressure from the United States.(PTI) War clouds hover over Gulf
as Iraq DUBAI, Nov 12: United States and Britain today edged closer towards unleashing a military strike against Iraq by ordering a major build-up of troops and weapons in the Gulf even as a defiant Baghdad urged United Nations to prevent American aggression for its break with UN arms inspectors. Scores of US warplanes and more than 3,000 American troops converged on the Gulf as Iraqi President Saddam Hussein showed no sign of ending his defiance of UN arms inspections despite a security council appeal. US President Bill Clinton warned that Washington was ready to act if Iraqi President Saddam Hussein did not back down on his October 31 decision to halt cooperation with the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) in charge of dismantling Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction. We continue to hope, indeed pray, that Saddam will comply, but we must be prepared to act if he does not, Clinton said last night after issuing a warning that it could launch air strikes at any time. British Premier Tony Blair warned through BBC radio, the next step is action, if he (Saddam) is not prepared to come back into compliance with his word... He has carried on fabricating evidence, telling lies about his programme, attempting to prevent the inspectors on their work... We cannot allow such a situation to happen. Iraq retorted saying the country was ready to defend itself and would not be caught off guard. US wants to maintain an element of surprise.... But there will be none as Iraq is prepared to face up to any eventuality, The country’s official Daily Al-Qadissiya declared. The Iraqi Cabinet also denounced the US threats saying the possibility of an American-Zionist strike that the US has threatened against our people and our homeland was without any mandate or security council resolution. Meanwhile, Iraq’s ruling Bath party today called on Arab’s to wage a Jihad (holy war) against the United States and be inspired by the spirit of the mother of all battles, Baghdad’s description of the 1991 Gulf war. The party’s mouthpiece Ath-Thawra warned that UN Secretary General Kofi Anan and the Security Council would be held responsible for whatever happens to Iraq if it failed to prevent an attack in the latest standoff. It said despite our (Iraq’s) reservation as regards the Security Council... The UN Chief is capable of preventing a new US aggression..... And has the right to intervene and play a positive role to defuse the tension. Annan, who has cut short his North Africa tour to meet with the Security Council in New York, has urged Iraq to resume cooperation with the UN inspectors but has so far shown no intention to travel to Baghdad. The Secretary General had made an 11th hour trip to Baghdad in February and clinched a deal on arms inspection preventing a US and British military action against Iraq. Meanwhile, the United Nations today completed the evacuation of more than 250 staff including the whole of UNSCOM, from Baghdad as a precautionary measure leaving only 50 UN humanitarian aid staff on the ground. (PTI) BAC chief assaulted by
women Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Nov 12: Migrants from border areas continued their agitation at Tehsil Headquarters of Hiranagar after dissolving Border Action Committee by expelling its chief Nanak Chand and floating parallel Migrants Action Committee to spearhead the agitation. Reports received here said not even a single family returned to their villages in forward areas even after an agreement reached with the Government by Nanak Chand led Action Committee. The agreement was reached yesterday in the presence of Medical Education Minister Dr Mustafa Kamal and Minister for Sheep Husbandry Mr Surjit Singh Slathia. However, over 500 migrant families, who were camping at the Tehsil Headquarters for last over 15 days, outrightly rejected the agreement and charged the Border Action Committee with selling out their agitation before the Government. The migrants defied the call given by the Action Committee to return to their homes and kept staying at the Tehsil Headquarters. The migrants including some women also assaulted Mr Nanak Chand when he tried to persuade them to return. The migrants asked Mr Nanak Chand to return Rs one lakh which had been collected as donations for migrants. The migrants, majority of whom belong to forward villages of Londi, Chichwal, Sade Chak and Khwarha, held a meeting at Tehsil Headquarters this morning and unanimously announced expulsion of Nanak Chand and dissolved the Border Action Committee. They announced formation of parallel Migrants Action Committee. Eleven members have been nominated to the Committee, whose head will be announced tomorrow after consultations with the migrants’ representatives. The new Action Committee announced will take the ongoing agitation to logical conclusion and the migrants won’t return to their houses till their all demands were conceded by the Government in writing. The migrants were demanding their re-settlement at village Sherpur, a comparatively safer area in Hiranagar, compensation for the failure of three successive crops due to Pakistan firing and relief for the families of those killed or injured in Pakistan firing. Working at Tehsil Headquarters has been completely paralysed for last over a fortnight as migrants have occupied the entire tehsil complex. Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kathua today visited Hiranagar and sought migrants’ co-operation in defusing the ongoing crisis. Migrants today staged dharna at Tehsil office and held a demonstration in support of their demands. They were shouting slogans against the Government and Pakistan for continued firing. BJP MLA from Hiranagar Mr Prem Lal has extended full support to the newly formed committee and said the agitation will continue till all demands of the migrants were conceded by the Government. He charged two Cabinet Ministers including Mr Mustafa Kamal and Mr Surjit Singh Slathia with misleading the migrants. Reports said Pakistani troops continued firing on the International Border in Hiranagar, Samba, RS Pura and Kanachak sub sectors. The Border Security Force (BSF) returned the firing. There was no report of any casualty in the exchange of firing. Gen Malik expresses concern
over NEW DELHI, Nov 12 : Taliban’s emergence in Afghanist an and its near control of that country is a cause of concern, Army Chief V P Malik said today. "If this experiment, conceived and supported by Pakistan succeeds the spread of fundamentalism accompan-ied by violence may soon spread across South, West and Central Asia," Gen Malik said while addressing senior officers attending the National Defence College (NDC) here. Touching upon the regional security environment, the Army Chief emphasised that adequate mutual confidence building measures at military level with China were in place. India also had good relations with other neighbours like Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Maldives, he said. "As far as Pakistan is concerned the Pakistani military remains Indo centric,’ the Army Chief observed. Pakistan’s proxy war policy is dangerous not only for India but for the entire region and if militancy grows too high, both the initiator and the affected nation are tempted to use conventional war means, Gen Malik said. The Army Chief, however, exp-ressed hope that the ongoing and future talks with Pakistan would improve bilateral relations. Expanding on non conventional ‘security’ threats the Army Chief said that security can no longer be visualised in narrow military terms. International terrorism, drug trafficking, ethnic conflicts, religious fundamentalism, migration, environ- ment pollution - all impinge upon the overall security of a nation. He also explained the changing nature of war where wars no longer can be taken to the logical conclusion of military victories as was in the past since these would be conducted to achieve political success rather than a military victory. Highlighting the revolution in military affairs he brought out that technology is the engine of change. Surveillance, long range precision and that capability combined with a wide range of delivery systems are emerging as the key factor in future warfare. Manoeuvre and tactical mobility along with high-tech communication and control systems are essential ingredients of future warfare. In fighting proxy wars in low intensity conflicts too there is scope for grater use of technology in different forms. In counter insurgency, however, he said ‘human touch is equally important and military pressure alone cannot resolve matters unless there is matching thrust on socio political and socio economic issues. He explained that while looking at threats and challenges no country can make financial allocations for defence which were open ended. Gen Malik said financial constraints dictate to us to carry out cost benefit analysis and then prioritise our requirements. He mentioned that there is further scope to cut down manpower alongwith qualitative improvement in force and management. Pointing out that self reliance in criticial technologies is a sine quo non for any nation of substance, Gen Malik said " greater dependence on own defence research and development, Public Sector Undertakings, ordnance factory board and private sector is imperative." "We must have quality soldiers with right doctrines, organisation, realistic training and apt weapon systems to cope with the moderisation challengers" said Gen Malik. ‘ Warfare should be learnt as a science and practised as an art’ he said. Human Resource Development should be emphasised with indigenous, proven moral and traditional values as inculcated and practiced in our regimental systems and ‘ chetwodian’ethos." He said that our medernisation and force capability could be based on maintaining decisive technological edge over our adversaries. Essential ingredients would be force multipliers, all weather surveillance at strategic and tactical level, rapid deployment of forces, enhancing night fighting capability, command, control, communication and intelligence with secure and reliable communications and accurate and long range power delivery. While giving an overview of the world geopoliical environment, Gen. Malik highlighted the gradual formation of a multi polar world where relations are going to be issue based and driven by functional national interests. Economic interest of nations and people would become predominant. In this environment international relations and national attention would shift markedly towards economics and trade issue on one side and challenges to human development on the other. This, he said, ‘does not mean that any nation is prepared to compromise on its security or give up its efforts to become powerful. But it does indicate that the likelihood of nuclear and high intensity, conventional all out wars has reduced.(UNI) Middle-aged man
killed Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 12: Unidentified militants killed a middle-aged man near his house at village Gursai in Poonch district last night. The victim has been identified as Haji Fazal Allahi son of Faiz Hussain, a resident of Gursai. A police spokesman said unidentified persons entered into the house of Haji Fazal Allahi last mid-night and asked him to accompany them. The armed people whisked away the Haji to a distance of about half km and killed him. Militants escaped from the spot leaving behind the victim’s dead body, which was recovered by local people and police this morning. The body has been shifted to a local hospital. The spokesman said a police and security forces party has been rushed to the spot which was camping in the village. Searches have been launched in Gursai and adjoining areas but no arrest has been made so far. Police said it was being ascertained whether the killing was an act of militants or some other gangsters. Local police was investigating the case. Report of the post-mortem was also awaited. Meanwhile, the spokesman said, shops and other establishments owned by the majority community remained closed in Kishtwar town today in protest against authorities’ failure to ascertain the whereabouts of one Manzoor Hussain son of Anwar Sheikh, a resident of Huller in Kishtwar tehsil of Doda district. Local people also assembled in front of Jamia Masjid in Kishtwar and marched in a procession demanding that authorities trace Manzoor Hus-sain, who had been missing for the last over 10 days. The processionists dispersed peacefully but threatened to intensify their agitation if the accused wasn’t traced immediately. Police officers assured the demonstrators that all out efforts were being made to ascertain whereabouts of the youth. One arrested, others
abscond Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 12: Border Police have unearthed a gang engaged in mixing and black-marketing of diesel and petrol by seizing a petrol tanker and arresting an alleged associate of smugglers. Other accused involved in the racket were absconding. SSP Border Dr Kamal Saini said an Akhnoor police station party intercepted a petrol tanker No. 6521 JK02C at a naka laid at Akhnoor town and signalled it to stop. The tanker operator accelerated the speed and tried to escape from the naka. However, the alert police party thwarted the operator’s attempt and seized the tanker. Driver of the tanker who disclosed his identity as Pawan Singh son of Raghubir Singh was immediately taken into custody by the police. Mr Saini said the tanker was carrying diesel in its one portion and petrol in the other and was on way to Rajouri district where the diesel and petrol had to be mixed and then sold in the black-market. The tanker was being taken to Rajouri district without any permission or requisite documents, he added. The SSP said the documents showed that tanker belonged to one Sudhir Gupta of Jammu, who hadn’t been traced so far. A police party from Akhnoor police station led by the Station House Officer (SHO) has been dispatched to Jammu to trace and apprehend other persons involved in smuggling, mixing and black-marketing of diesel and petrol, thus cheating the consumers. The tanker has been seized by the police and kept in Akhnoor police station where a case against tanker operator, owner and other persons involved in the scandal has been registered under different Sections for further investigations. Police said the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and other concerned agencies have been informed about mixing of diesel and petrol and urged to initiate action in the matter to check any further mixing of the two items. NEW DELHI, Nov 12: As India takes on Pakistan waging a proxy war in Kashmir, it appears to be fighting shy of joining the battle on the propaganda front, especially in cyberspace. There is only one site presenting the country’s political viewpoint and presence of the army in the Valley, against a plethora of blatantly Pak-sponsored anti-Indian versions set at further heating the 50-year old dispute. After its site was hacked by Pakistani supporters on October 13, the 15 Corps Srinagar has launched the same information on a Delhi based media related research group’s web address. Earlier, too, the company univall was maintaining the official site armyinkasmir.Com, says Brig Chopra, in charge of the web operations. Cetaceans clicking on army in Kashmir.com can now access the Indian presentation at the old address as well as at Univall’s address - univall.com, says Brig Chopra adding it has been done to keep hackers at bay. However, regular Browser, S Vinod, says that access to the site is very slow and erratic. According to him it is very difficult to down load the information through dial-up system, where the response reads denied or done showing a blank page. Another it expert R Venugopal also says it’s not easily accessible in Delhi and that the Government should run the site in a more professional way and upgrade information more speedily. There are as many as 70 sites on the beleaguered state —most of them said to be sponsored by Pakistan’s Government, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), and their external supporters and some Kasmiri militant organisations. While the war of words has resulted in further internationalising the Kashmir issue, only a handful of sites by Kashmiris themselves speak of the ‘paradise on earth’ and its tourism potentials with exquisite pictures. A senior defence official, requesting anonymity, says that Government should take proper measures to contain the situation when more and more sites are involved in the campaign war against India. While IT experts maintain that a counter is necessary to present the Indian viewpoint, media experts don’t seem to be worried as much. Veteran journalist Arun Shourie says the propaganda war promoted by Pakistan is not credible. It is for the sake of campaign. And no body will believe. It is sad and bad. The war of words in cyber space is worsening day by day. These jungle of rumours aired without any control will only destroy the credibility of information, says veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar, noting Government should ignore it. (PTI) Leopards skin seized at Bani, smugglers escape Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Nov 12: The Wild Protection Force has seized a sufficient quantity of leopards’ skin from a forest area of Bani tehsil in this district. Smugglers of the skin managed to give a slip to the guards of Protection Force. Official sources said the guards noticed two persons moving mysteriously in the forest area of Bani carrying three-four large bags last evening. The guards challenged the smugglers who fled away leaving behind the bags. The guards opened up the bags and found a large quantity of leopards’ skin. The officers and squads of Wild Protection Force rushed to the spot immediately after getting a report and brought the skin to their office. Sources said the skin seized belonged to atleast three leopards and was being smuggled to New Delhi. It appeared that skin had been brought from Pangi area of Doda district where gangs of skin smugglers were stated to be active, they said, adding a special team has been constituted by the Protection Force for further investigations in the racket. The skin was very costly and its cost was estimated in lakhs. Exact cost of the skin was being verified. Meanwhile, Bani police said that they were not informed about the recovery of skin by the Wild Protection Force. Police said they came to know of skin’s seizure from their own sources. "Had police been informed timely about the recovery of skin, we would have traced and even apprehended the smugglers, who had escaped from the spot", police sources said. Police have also registered a separate case in this connection and started investigations. Searches were also being conducted to trace the alleged smugglers. Killing of Dr
Wani condemned Holland, Nov 10: The Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Liberation Party (JKDLP) has strongly condemned the dastardly assassination of Dr. Ghulam Qadir Wani, in his home in Bandipora, Kashmir. His murder is yet one more proof of a deep -rooted conspiracy of our enemies to liquidate the ideologues of the freedom movement so that Kashmiris are coerced into abandoning the cause for which they have made tremendous sacrifices during past decades, the JKDLP chairman, Mr Hashim Qureshi said in an e-mail to EXCELSIOR. He said that the murder of Dr. Wani, a pioneer among the Kashmiri ideologues, and the foremost in the vanguard of freedom struggle, is not an isolated event. It is in line with the murder of a number of other outstanding Kashmiri intellectuals and ideologues among whom are included stalwarts like Molvi Farooq, Dr. Guroo, Qazi Nisar, Mir Mustafa, Maulana Masudi, Maqbul Malik, Abdus Sattar Ranjoor, H.N. Wanchoo, Lassa Koul and others. His assassination is another moment of deep introspection for the people of Kashmir. They should have no difficulty in understanding that a welcome call given to the "guest mujahideen", mercenaries and the Taliban militiamen by some leaders is nothing but to invite the destruction of our motherland and liquidation of the leading lights of our struggle. It should be remembered that those who promote or spread violence, will be consumed by violence, sooner or later. Kashmir has always suffered at the hands of outsiders who have engineered their destruction in the guise of sympathizers or co-religionists, the JKDLP said. Mr Qureshi said that Kashmiris have to learn a lesson from their past history. The motive of the mercenaries in liquidating the intellectuals and ideologues is to create a situation in which Kashmiris become helpless and succumb to intimidation. Kashmiris must put a question to themselves whether these mercenaries are their saviours or destroyers? A nation that depends on others, particularly the mercenaries, must know that all that they do is helping themselves pass from slavery to slavery and not from slavery to freedom. JKDLP appealed to the people of Kashmir to reject the mercenaries, reject the leadership that persuades them to welcome the mercenaries, and their sponsors, and thus save their intellectual community to guide them in their struggle. It appeals to them to shun violence and fratricide and think of positive but non-violent ways of achieving their objectives.This will be the best tribute they can pay to their martyrs and their ideologues like Dr. Ghulam Qadir Wani. Mr Qureshi said that Dr. Ghulam Qadir Wani was one of the pioneers of armed struggle in Kashmir. He recalled when he had met him for the first time in Washington towards the end of 1992 in the chamber of Mr. Ghulam Nabi Fai. "I argued with him against the taking up of the gun by our militants but he did not agree with me just because at that point of time, he was under the influence of Pakistani agencies. Prior to his visit to Washington, he had issued a press statement in Srinagar against me for preaching non-violence.The same Dr. Ghulam Qadir Wani wrote to me in March 1995 saying that I was right in what I had told him in 1992. He has since returned to Srinagar," Mr Qureshi recalled. The letter was written by Dr Wani to Mr Qureshi on March 13, 1995 from Muzaffarabad (PoK). Excerpts from the letter: "Dear Brother Hashim Qureshi Sahib: Hope you are fine along with your family members. With the growth of experience, I find the increasing truth and weight in your words. I have come to the conclusion that mere bookish knowledge is not enough: real importance rests with the experiences gained in the field of action. Here, a weekly Jamaat-e-Islami paper called Zindagi of Lahore published an interview with Amanullah Khan. The interviewer, Mr. Najmul Hasan Arif is the same journalist who has written a lot against Yasin Malik and Shabbir Ahmad Shah describing them illiterates and immature. He also wrote many things against Kashmir's freedom. Now he has brought out an interview with Amanullah Khan only to counter Azam Inquilabi. Amanullah Khan has gone down to such depths of levity that he has called an old friend and a highly dedicated activist of freedom movement and an able leader, Muhammad Azam Inquilabi as a 'mental case'. In the course of four years, he has changed a number of parties.If by joining JKLF and APHC, Amanullah Khan has not become an accessionist, how come that Azam Inquilabi becomes an accessionist by joining Tehreek-e-Hurriyat-e-Kashmir? You must have a look at this interview in order to understand to what extent shamelessness and levity one can fall. Today, I am reminded of each word you had spoken and each assertion is vindicated by circumstances. You may send a copy of this letter to Shakeel Sahib and to Shabbir Sahib. In the public meeting of March 11 at Muzaffarabad (held in connection with late Khurshid), I made a strong protest against and I exposed Amanullah Khan. Kindly let me know your reaction. In conclusion, I am sorry that I always differed with you but after having gone through the experience I find you were right. Yours sincerely: Ghulam Qadir Wani" Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov. 12 : Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah yesterday underwent a minor surgery following recurrent infection at Apollo Hospital in New Delhi. The doctors attending on the Chief Minister said this evening that Dr Abdullah is fast recovering. Dr Sunil Koul of the hospital, when contacted on phone, said it was a very minor surgery and Dr Abdullah will be discharged in a day or two. KOCHI, Nov 12: The naval version of the short range surface-to-air missile ‘Trishul’, which can destroy enemy ships and sea-skimming anti-ship missiles, was today test fired successfully for the second time in five months taking the country closer to its induction by year 2000. The missle, having a range of nine km and a quick reaction of 2.5 seconds, was fired from the Indian Navy’s off shore establishment ‘INS Dronacharya’ here against an electronically simulated target. Initial analysis from the test firing was very encouraging, Project Director, A J Kapoor told PTI. Dr A Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Controller (Research and Development), at Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Delhi told PTI immediately after the test firing that today’s flight of Trishul was important from the Navy’s point of view since the current series of tests would culminate in the formal induction of the weapon system by the year 2000. The naval version of the Trishul was test fired for the first time from INS Dronacharya here in June this year. In its sea skimming role, Trishul could fly just above the waves to destroy enemy missiles. The totally indigenous Trishul is being developed in three versions- for Army Navy and Airforce. The current tests proved that the missile is among the best of the internationally available missiles of similar type, Dr Pillai said. (PTI) |