Intra - J&K dialogue begins at Kathmandu
*Dignified, peaceful solution of Kashmir sought

Kathmandu, Dec 13: Intra Jammu and Kashmir dialogue to seek dignified and peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue began here today.

Former diplomats and retired Generals of India and Pakistan including representatives of various groups and political parties from both sides have been participating in the conference here, sources said.

Prominent among those from Hurriyat Conference participating in the Conference were chairman Moulvi Omar Farooq, Prof Abdul Gani Butt, Sajjad Lone, representatives of Shabir Shah and JKLF, chairman Muslim Conference Sardar Atique Khan, former Prime Minister of PoK Barrister Sultan Mehmood, leader of opposition in PoK Assembly, Journalist Ved Bhasin, Mr Bakshi, Jammu University Vice Chancellor Prof Amitabh Mattoo, Raja Farooq Haider Khan and JKNPP chairman Prof Bhim Singh, sources added.

These leaders from Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) met here for the first time and favoured more frequent people-to-people contact to resolve the Kashmir issue.

Former Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, who along with moderate leader Abdul Gani Butt, attended the two-hour-long meeting said such form of interactions should increase and similar meetings should be held in Muzzaffarabad, Srinagar and Jammu.

The former Prime Minister of PoK Sultan Mahmud, Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference president Atiq Ahmed and chairman JK Liberation League Majid Malik represented the PoK side at the meeting, held on the sidelines of a conference on Kashmir being organised by a US-based think-tank Pugwash.

"This was a very good meeting and a good beginning as the new year is approaching. We hope that 2005 will usher in a new dawn of peace in south Asia," Farooq told

He said the meeting gave an opportunity to the leadership from both sides of Kashmir to express their views in finding a peaceful and amicable resolution to the Kashmir issue.

"All the participants were of the firm opinion that dialogue was the only way to resolve the Kashmir issue," the former Hurriyat chairman said.

"Both India and Pakistan should now ensure that no one is allowed to create hurdles or any kind of impediments in ensuring peaceful resolution to the Kashmir issue," he said.

The approach of New Delhi and Islamabad came in for a special praise as the Governments of both the countries had played a positive role in ensuring that the conference went off smoothly, he added.

Pro-Pakistan hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who has formed his own Hurriyat Conference, stayed away from the meet being held in the Himalayan kingdom.

Though Geelani has claimed that he had to undergo medical treatment, sources said that he had decided to keep away from the conference because of his hawkish stance.

Setting the records staight, Pugwash yesterday said that Geelani’s non-participation was his own decision and that neither Nepal nor Indian Government had stopped him.

Among others who attended the meet include Abdul Rasheed Shaheen (National Conference), Ghulam Rasool Dar (JKLF) and Ghulam Mohammed Baba (professor of political science in Kashmir university).

The conference is being held with a view to improve communication between the two countries under track II diplomacy.

Prof Bhim Singh advocated for the inclusion of genuine representatives of Gilgit-Baltistan regions to make the dialogue more purposeful, acceptable and meaningful in order to end violence and bloodshed. (AGENCIES)

F-16s won't affect dialogue: Pak

ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: Pakistan today accused India of being "paranoid" over its efforts to secure F-16 fighter aircraft and other weaponry from US but said this would not have any bearing on nuclear and conventional confidence building measure talks between the two neighbours beginning here tomorrow.

Pakistan is "disturbed" by the statements of Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh that the US sale of F-16s and other military equipment to Islamabad would effect the ongoing peace process, foreign office spokesman Masood Khan told reporters.

The two Indian ministers talked about F-16 "sounding paranoid deliberately" by saying that it will have an impact on the on going peace process, he said adding, "the premise is wrong."

"By saying that, they are misleading Indian public opinion and misinforming international community," he alleged, but said "we have assurance from highest level" to continue with the peace process.

He also said that the Indian objections would not have any effect on the official level talks on CBMs on the nuclear and conventional weapons beginning here tomorrow.

Talks on nuclear CBMs would be held between Dec 14-15 while parleys on conventional CBMs will be held on Dec 15-16. This is the first time that the two sides would be holding talks on conventional CBMs.

Joint Secretary of Indian External Affairs Ministry, Mira Shankar would be heading the Indian delegation. Her Pakistani counterpart Tariq Usman Haider would be leading his country’s delegation.

The two sides will discuss follow-up measures to an MoU reached in June to start hotline contacts between the Foreign Secretaries and other measures.

The Indian delegation would call on Pakistan Foreign Minister, Khurshid M Kasuri, Khan said.

Accusing the Indian leadership of lacking in "objectivity," Khan said India resorted to very ambitious weapons acquisition programme by buying the Israeli Phalcon Radars, Russian SUI-30 aircraft and submarines.

He said according to estimates, India plans to buy 95 billion dollars worth of weapons systems in the next 15 years. Contrary to major acquisitions by India, the 1.5 billion defence package offered by US to Pakistan was "modest," Khan said.

The US defence package however does not include F-16s and US is non-committal about providing them.

"We do not want to match gun for gun and missile to missile and air craft to aircraft with India," Khan said adding that all Pakistan wants was conventional deterrence with symmetrical balance.

"We must restore symmetry in conventional field that would contribute to stability in the region," he said. Elaborating on issues to be taken up in nuclear cbms talks, Khan said being two nuclear states, the two countries needed elaborate framework to avoid accidental, unauthorised launch of missiles. The aim of the talks is to reduce the risk of accidents and hotline contacts would help in this regard.

He, however said nothing much was expected from the conventional CBM talks as this was the first time the two sides discussed the issue. The talks would focus more on understanding each others positions, he said. (PTI)

Adopt joint strategy to prevent opium smuggling: India to Pak

NEW DELHI, Dec 13: Voicing serious concern over the bumper opium crop in Afghanistan, India today asked Pakistan to adopt a joint strategy to prevent its smuggling into and outside the South Asian region.

Observing that the record crop could boost heroin production along the border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Indian side felt that Islamabad should take immediate steps to check the flow of opium and its products.

These views were expressed at a two-day meeting of the chiefs of anti-narcotic divisions of India and Pakistan as part of the ongoing composite dialogue process between the two countries.

Both sides declared the resolve to fight the war against narcotics drugs and decided to explore co-operation in areas like information and intelligence sharing and mutual legal assistance.

"We have to fight the war against narcotic drugs together. It is a common cause, has no borders and has no political considerations," Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force Director General Maj Gen Nadeem Ahmed said after a half-an-hour meeting with Home Minister Shivraj Patil here.

Ahmed, who is heading a five-member Pakistani delegation, is holding talks with his Indian counterpart and Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau Swaraj Puri.

"Today’s talks are being held in a very cordial and congenial atmosphere and this time we expect to make progress on various issues which could be mutually beneficial," an Indian official said.

The poppy cultivated in Afghanistan and parts of North West Frontier Province of Pakistan is smuggled into India through Punjab, Jammu, Rajasthan and also through sea route to Mumbai.

New Delhi has also been alleging that part of the narcotics earning is being used by militant groups in Pakistan for funding militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

India is a transit point for the drug consignments which is later smuggled to South East Asian countries and Europe and New Delhi wants to put an effective check on it.

The agenda for the two-day parleys includes exchange of drafts of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two nations to device ways to combat the menace of heroin and other narcotic drugs, majority of which emanate from Afghanistan.

The Indian side included officials from Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, customs and BSF besides the top brass from NCB. Representatives from Pakistan’s rangers were also present at the talks.

Among others present at the meeting with Patil were Puri, Pakistan’s High Commissioner here Aziz Ahmed Khan and senior officials from both sides.

An Indian delegation from NCB had visited Pakistan in June this year for the first round of talks to check smuggling of narcotic drugs in the region. (PTI)

First batch of Haj pilgrims leaves for Jeddah

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 13: The first batch of 587 Haj pilgrims from Srinagar today left here by three special Indian Airlines for the pilgrimage. Minister for Finance and Planning Muzaffar Hussain Baig, Minister of State for Haj and Auqaf Sarfraz Ahmad Khan, State Haj Committee Convenor Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, IGP Kashmir Javeed Makhdoomi and Deputy Commissioner Badgam Bashir Ahmad and others were present at the airport.

Wishing them happy and smooth pilgrimage of Haj, Mr Baig appealed to the Hajis to pray for the success of peace initiatives for the restoration of normalcy in the state.

Expressing satisfaction over the elaborate arrangements made by the State Haj Committee for the smooth conduct of pilgrimage, Mr Baig said that the pilgrims had also expressed satisfaction over the arrangements.

He said it was due to the personal intervention of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed that quota for the Haj pilgrims of the state was increased.

Mr Ganai informed that the State Haj Committee had not only made arrangements for the pilgrim’s comfortable departure but also had ensured proper accomodation for them at Mecca as well as Madina.

He said the services of Mualims, Medicos and Khudams had been properly arranged. The Mumbia Mercantile Bank, Srinagar Branch, has opened a counter for facilitating foreign exchange in dollars as well as riyals to the pilgrims at the airport.

Among the pilgrims was Minister of State for Irrigation and Flood Control Syed Bashir Ahmad, leader of the opposition in State Assembly Abdul Rahim Rather and a 14-year-old boy Syed Nasr-ul-Ashraf Kashani.

BJP for re-organisation of J&K

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 13: Accusing coalition regime of neglecting Jammu and Ladakh regions in every sphere of life, the local unit of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has once again raised the demand of reorganisation of the State.

A resolution in this regard was also passed unanimously during the two day State Executive Committee meeting of the party.

Addressing a press conference, state president BJP, Dr Nirmal Singh said, it is the fundamental belief of his party that the only solution to the problems facing the "grossly ignored and politically marginalised" Jammu and Ladakh regions lies in the re-organisation of the State.

"It is also the view of the BJP that the Hurriyat Conference, National Conference and the PDP subscribe to an ideology which is retrograde and based on the concept of exclusiveness and hence, the BJP would like to warn the Central government against any move that takes the anti-national forces into confidence and that any truce over the State concluded over the heads of the people of Jammu and Ladakh will prove counterproductive", he stated while quoting the resolution passed by the executive meet.

The party demanded inclusion of the people of these two regions in any dialogue that may be held over the issues facing the State as they constitute the most vital factors in the State’s political situation.

BJP termed Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh’s economic package as ‘fraud’ committed on the people of the State. "There is absolutely nothing in the package for the long suffering border migrants, refugees from West Pakistan and PoK and displaced Kashmiri Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims, Government employees and the educated unemployed youth and for the welfare of the SCs and STs clearly shows that the Congress is out to once again hoodwink the innocent people by making false statements that the PM’s package when given effect to, would mitigate the hardships of the people", he stated.

Cautioning people against, what he called, gameplan of the Congress to politicise the issue of Chief Ministership, Dr Singh said that this issue was again raised only to exploit sentiments of the people for the forthcoming local bodies elections. "How a party which has refused to establish the promised regional council and implement the Wazir Commission report, could get the office of the Chief Minister for Jammu region", he asked, but added. "BJP has no doubt that the already beguilled and humiliated people of Jammu region will not trust the unscrupulous Congress in the forthcoming local bodies elections".

Demanding action against PCC chief Peerzada Mohammed Sayed on infamous fake surrender episode, Dr Singh alleged that Congress workers were motivating the frustrated unemployed Kashmiri youth to pose themselves as militants and then surrender before the Army to fleece the public exchequer. The Party did not rule the possibility of posing Congress workers as fake militants to get Government jobs and other financial benefits.

Natwar to visit Pak in Feb

ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: Observing that the composite dialogue process with India was moving ahead, Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri has said that his Indian counterpart K Natwar Singh would be in Islamabad in February, on a visit that would help in improving bilateral ties.

"Natwar Singh will visit Pakistan in February next year at the invitation of the Pakistani Government," Kasuri told media at Haveli Lakha in Pakistan’s Punjab province yesterday.

The visit would help to improve relations between the two countries, he said, adding that the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan was moving ahead.

He termed the just-concluded visit by President Pervez Musharraf to Latin America, the US and Europe as "highly successful", while asserting that Pakistan’s Foreign Policy was heading in the right direction.

Musharraf held result-oriented talks with President George W Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and French leaders during which Afghanistan and Kashmir were also discussed during the talks, Kasuri was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s Daily News. (PTI)

Pak asks India not to insist on passports

ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: Pakistan today asked India to drop insistence on use of Indian passports by its passengers to travel on Muzaffarabad-Srinagar route.

Since Line of Control (LoC) is a temporary border, we cannot give it a permanent status by permitting use of passports by Indian passengers, Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan told a press briefing in Islamabad.

Officials from India and Pakistan had last week concluded their talks on commencement of a bus service on Muzaffarabad-Srinagar route without any agreement on the dates for the start of such a service after New Delhi pressed for use of passports by travellers. They had however agreed to continue the talks in future on mutually convenient dates.

Spokesman Khan, however, did not agree with a questioner that the talks had collapsed. Talks not yielding results should not be seen as a fiasco, he stressed, adding if experts fail to reach an agreement, the issue will be dealt with at the level of Foreign Ministers. (UNI)

Talks on Sir Creek today

ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: Top defence officials of India and Pakistan would hold talks here tomorrow to discuss modalities to conduct joint survey of pillars at Sir Creek area of the Gujarat coast over which the two sides have differences.

Brig. Girish Kumar, Deputy Surveyor General of India would hold talks with Maj Gen Jamilur Rehman Afridi, Surveyor General of Pakistan at the Defence Ministry here, officials said.

The two sides will discuss various modalities regarding the joint survey of the boundary pillars laid in the Sir Creek area in the past. Sir Creek has been part of the composite dialogue process but the two countries have not made any headway so far.

During the last Foreign Ministers meeting in September it has been decided that the two sides would conduct joint survey of the boundary pillars in the horizontal segment (blue dotted line) of the international boundary in the Sir Creek area.

The two sides would conduct survey of pillar erected to demarcate between Sindh and Kutch in 1924.

India argues that the centre of the navigable channel of Sir Creek should be the boundary line while Pakistan’s position is that the eastern bank of Sir Creek should be the line of demarcation.

The survey of pillars was expected to be completed before the two sides begin talks on Sir Creek under the second round of the composite dialogue process.

The second round of the composite dialogue to discuss Kashmir and seven other issues would be formally kicked off by the Foreign Secretary level talks to be held here on Dec 27 and 28. (PTI)

Terrorism declines in Kashmir: Vij

BHOPAL, Dec 13: Army chief General Nirmal Chandra Vij today said terrorist activities had declined in Kashmir following the troop withdrawal.

"Such incidents can however not be erased totally", Gen Vij said in an informal chat with newspersons during a brief visit here.

On the action being taken against the Army officials charged with fake surrenders, he said the matter was being investigated and strict action would be taken against erring officials.

Gen Vij said the Indian Army had the best human rights record in the world.

Earlier he participated at a function of the Sudarshan Chakra Core Commanders and inaugurated a nature park and sports centre of the Core. (UNI)

Advani to talk to ‘Tulsi’: Naidu

NEW DELHI, Dec 13: BJP president L K Advani will talk to "Tulsi" Smriti Irani regarding her demand for resignation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, former party chief Venkaiah Naidu said here today as he asserted the "new-comer" had no right to make such a statement.

"She is going to meet Advani. He will talk to her (on her controversial statement which was withdrawn within hours yesterday), Naidu told reporters here.

Rubbishing the demand of the small-screen star-turned-politician, Naidu said she had "no proper understanding" about her "jurisdiction".

"She is a new-comer. She is not aware of the party constitution or what her jurisdiction is," he said, adding "we have told her that it is not within her jurisdiction and that’s why she has unconditionally withdrawn her demand."

Asserting that she "has no right" to demand Modi’s resignation, Naidu said it is a non-issue now as the Gujarat riots is an old matter and the people of the State have already given their verdict after it.

"The question of Modi’s resignation does not arise. His is a popular Government and its performance is being praised by people," Naidu said.

However, in what seemed like ruling out any disciplinary action against her, Naidu said Irani’s demand might have been the result of her "innocence".

"It might be due to her innocence. She may not know the rules and principles governing the party. However what she did was wrong," the former BJP president said. (PTI)

3 held for robbing train passengers

NEW DELHI, Dec 13: The Railway Protection Force has arrested three persons who used to allegedly drug and later rob train passengers.

The three were apprehended by the RPF personnel while they were allegedly offering biscuits laced with drugs to a train passenger in the booking hall at the Ludhiana railway station on Saturday, according to a Northern Railway release.

Upon interrogation, they reportedly confessed to their involvement in similar incidents of robbing passengers after drugging them either at the railway station or inside the train.

The accused allegedly used to travel with victims in the trains, build a rapport with them in the course of the journey, treat them to biscuits laced with drugs and later decamp with their belongings.

Three railway tickets, 46 Alovran tablets, a wrapper of Ativan tablets and one open packet of cream biscuits were recovered from their possession.

A case under the Railway Act has been registered against the three accused, the release said. (PTI)

Army says situation improving in J&K

SRINAGAR: Asserting that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir was improving, Army today said the security forces were fighting a battle for restoration of peace in the state and the recent increase in militant attacks would not deter them from continuing the mission.

"All the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir are fighting battle for restoration of peace in the state. There are some elements especially the mercenaries who are hell bent upon destroying the peace," General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based 15 Corps of the Army, Lt Gen Nirbhay Sharma told reporters here.

He was speaking to reporters after flagging off a group of 30 local children on an educational tour of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur as part of Army’s effort to win hearts and minds of the people of the state.

To a question, the Army Commander said the situation in the state was improving day-by-day and recent spurt in militant violence would not deter the security forces from continuing the peace mission.

On the status of cross-border infiltration, the General said due to the modern surveillance methods and fencing erected along the LoC, the phenomenon of militants sneaking into the valley had come down to near zero. He said the reduction of troops from Kashmir was a well-thought out decision of the Government and the process would continue based on continuous assessment of the ground situation in the state.

He, however, refused to give any details on the number of troops de-inducted in the first two phases so far or those to be moved out of the state tomorrow.

Earlier, addressing the group of children, Gen Sharma said the tour will expose these young impressionable minds to the world outside the valley, providing opportunities for interaction with people to increase awareness and understanding and thereby enabling them to identify more closely with their fellow countrymen.

Brimming with enthusiasm, the children said the tour would be a great learning experience, enabling them to savour the common cultural bond which the people of Kashmir share with rest of the country. Comprising 20 boys and ten girls, the children have been drawn from various schools in Sopore, Kupwara, Mansbal, Pattan, Baramulla, Bandipora and Kangan and were accompanied by two teachers.

The education tour would last 20 days during which they will be visiting various places of interest and entertainment and interacting with important dignatires in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, he said. (PTI)
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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