Kashmiri separatists' delegation meets Pak PM

NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Kashmiri separatists, including the Hurriyat Conference, tonight met Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and understood to have discussed President Pervez Musharraf’s recent Kashmir proposal.

The dinner meeting with Mr Aziz, who arrived here this afternoon on a two-day India visit, discussed the General’s Kashmir formula and measures to unify all the conflicting separatist groups, sources said.

The Pakistan Prime Minister is understood to have explained the modalities of the proposal to the separatists, they added.

Mr Aziz, who is in New Delhi in the capacity of the outgoing SAARC chairman, is also reported to have conveyed Gen Musharraf’s message to the secessionist groups to set aside their differences in the larger interest of the "Kashmir cause".

The meeting was attended by moderate Hurriyat leaders Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat, Bilal Lone, Maulana Abbas Ansari, hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Peoples League leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz, Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabir Shah and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front’s Yaseen Malik.

At the discussions, Mr Aziz was assisted by Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar, High Commissioner Aziz Ahmed Khan and senior Pakistani officials.

The meeting, held at Pakistan house, the official residence of High Commissioner Aziz Ahmed Khan, is likely to be reconvened tomorrow morning before Mr Aziz calls on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Pakistan has been making efforts to unite the warring separatist groups in Kashmir.

The Pakistan High Commission had issued a joint invitation to all the eight separatist leaders for the meeting.

However, Mr Geelani was reportedly reluctant to meet Mr Aziz as part of the delegation and had sought a separate appointment with the Pakistan Prime Minister.

On November 20, the Pakistan President said the immediate inclusion of the Hurriyat Conference in the dialogue with India was a must if the issue was to be settled amicably and peacefully.

As part of these "intense" efforts, senior Pakistani officials, including Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri and Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar, have been meeting the separatists during their visits to India.

In September, the Mirwaiz met Gen Musharraf in Amsterdam.

The meeting with Mr Aziz assumes significance in the backdrop of the heightened rhetoric by Islamabad on New Delhi’s rejection of the General’s proposal to resolve the vexed issue.

Gen Musharraf had recently suggested that Jammu and Kashmir should be divided into seven regions and each given an option to join either Pakistan or India, or remain separate under UN supervision.

On November 17, during his maiden visit to the State, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh rejected the proposal outright, saying redrawing of international borders and another division of the country on religious lines was not acceptable to India. (UNI)

Fencing sophisticated: Australian Army Chief

SRINAGAR, Nov 23: The fencing work along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir is a "sophisticated system" aimed at curbing infiltration, Australian Army Chief Lt Gen Peter F Leahy said here today.

"It (fencing) is a sophisticated system aimed at curbing infiltration. It is a magnificient piece of engineering and the work done into it is quite immense," Leahy told reporters here after visiting the forward areas.

Lt Gen Leahy said he also witnessed the functioning of troops along the LoC which is quite professional.

Describing the reduction of troops in Jammu and Kashmir as positive, he said reduction of troops from any place reflects the improvement in the security situation.

Referring to Army’s operation Sadhbhawna, he said the Indian Army was doing a good job by giving civic, social and economic support to the people besides taking measures to combat the insurgency in the State.

Asked about the areas of defence cooperation between India and his country, the Australian General said there is a National Defence College in Australia and in India as well. The two colleges exchange students on regular basis.

"The fact that three of my predecessors graduated from the Indian Defence College speaks for the cooperation between the two sides," he said.

On the purpose of his visit, he said we are trying to learn from each other’s experience. We face a common threat of terror and we look at ways of combatting it together.

The visiting General was accompanied by Northern Command Chief Lt Gen Hari Prasad, who described Leahy’s visit as "very useful".

He said the Australian General was briefed at Northern Command headquarters at Udhampur yesterday while the General Officer Commanding of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps of the Army briefed him this morning about the forces’ activities in the northern region especially Jammu and Kashmir.

Describing his visit to the State as part of the larger visit to the Indian Army areas, he said his impression about one of the largest forces in the world has been positive. (PTI)

New Army doctrine to fight terrorism in coming years

NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Already fighting insurgency for over two decades now, the Indian army now believes that terrorism has the potential of triggering major conflicts in the South Asian region and has put in place strategies to contend with fighting on two fronts in case of a war.

"Army may have to contend with low intensity conflict with or after the occurence of a conventional war", says the just-released new army doctrine which feels that terrorism would be a threat to grapple with in "years to come".

Observing that terrorism was sprouting its seeds world wide and that there was a danger of ultra fundamentalists acquiring nuclear and biological weapons, the doctrine released by the army headquarters here visualises that in future countries would have to come together to fight this menace.

Quick and frequent rotation of troops and asking commanders to break free from set patterns, stereotyped plans and rigid responses, the doctrine lays down that it had become a matter of utmost importance that field commanders come up with innovative and imaginative plans to deal with terrorist threats.

The doctrine says well-coordinated operations needed to be conducted to first check infiltration right at the border and then to deprive any freedom of action to insurgents in the hinterland.

"Whenever an obstacle line fence is created, it should be backed by surveillance equipment and troops to physically guard it and keep it as an effective deterrent.

The doctrine says that to give the thrust and drive to any counter-insurgency operation, it was a must to build up intelligence at all levels ranging from satellite watch on their bases to ground level intelligence in populated areas.

"Jungle bashing by large bodies of forces in the absence of intelligence is the least effective method of operating in such conditions", the doctrine observes.

Noting that operations in the hinterland involving urban, rural and forest areas would prove more challenging, the doctrine lays down that in populated rural and urban areas, forces would be required to carry out controlled surgical operations, for which specialised training has to be imparted.

However, for forest areas, the doctrine lays down that based on specific inputs, the forces would carry out more robust operations to stamp out militant camps and hideouts.

It also advocates taking on the militants and terrorists through their own methods, by forming small hit and run teams which should be backed by specific intelligence.

It says that in years to come the forces fighting militancy should be equipped with more sophisticated firepower, detection tools and night vision capabilities to overwhelm small or large terrorist groups.

The highlight of the new doctrine on anti-insurgency operations is on its laying down firm human right guidelines for carrying out such operations and bringing home to troops that the militants they are fighting are their own countrymen.

For the first time, the doctrine favours use of helicopters in these operations. (PTI)

SOG cop arrested for working as HM militant
*More mobile phones seized

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Nov 23: A police constable of Special Operations Group (SOG) has been arrested by Doda police following "enough evidence" that he was working as an "area commander" of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit and providing vital information to the ultras about movement of the security forces. Two Cellone mobile telephone numbers, which he had arranged for the Hizbul militants, have been recovered while two others were being searched.

Police said Sher Mohd son of Mohd Azeem Shan, a resident of Dungal Gurumul, Doda, Incharge of SOG police post Bhartund, Neel Top in Doda district, was arrested as interrogation of an arrested militant Mohd Younis revealed that the constable was working for the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit for last two and a half years.

Sher Mohd was posted in Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police (JKAP) 6th battalion and was presently attached with the SOG.

Initially Sher Mohd denied his links with the militants. However, during sustained interrogations by security forces and police, he broke down and narrated his connections with the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.

On his disclosures, police raided a hideout of the militants and recovered another Cellone mobile telephone number 9419168159 while two other mobile telephone numbers 9419169078 and 9419168389, which were also in possession of two Hizbul "commanders" remained untraced. The mobile phones were being used by the Hizbul commander for last three to four months. However, the militants were not present in the hideout when the raid was carried out in the hideout.

With the recovery of another mobile telephone from the possession of militants, a total of two mobile phones have so far been seized by Doda police, which were being used by the militants as a source of communication not only within Jammu and Kashmir but also outside the State and the country.

Earlier, a Cellone mobile phone number 9419168196 was recovered by police from the possession of Mohd Younis, a resident of Batote and a "commander" of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. From the clues gathered from this mobile number, police had arrested over 15 overground workers of militants besides two top militants including Hablal-3 and Ghulam Qadir, a Government official

In addition, several contacts and hideouts of the militants were also exposed from the information gathered from the mobile telephone numbers, police said.

Information gathered by police during interrogation of Sher Mohd revealed that a Hizbul Mujahideen "divisional commander" Abdul Hameed alias Jamshed Marker son of Ghulam Hassan Kanzi R/o Bhagwa, Doda was using Cellone mobile number 9419168389 while Hizbul "deputy commander" Noor Din alias Maulvi son of Abdul Gani R/o Neel Top was using mobile telephone number 9419169078.

Both these mobile telephone numbers now have been disconnected.

Police said Sher Mohd has used his influence and managed four mobile telephone numbers for the Hizbul Mujahideen cadre from the local people.

Sher Mohd also used to leak "crucial information" regarding movement of security forces and police to the militants, leading to several attacks on their convoys. At the same time, to maintain his position, he managed some fake encounters killing innocent youths and described them as the militants.

Sources said a case has been prepared for detention of Sher Mohd, Ghulam Qadir, a Government official and Mohd Younis, a Hizbul militant from Batote for detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA). Orders to this effect are likely to be issued shortly, the sources said.

A case against the militants was registered at Doda police station in First Information Report (FIR) No. 157 under Sections 212, 120-B, 121, 122 and 123 RPC, 30 Police Act and 7/12 Indian Arms Act at Doda police station.

Sources said the civilians, who had sold their mobile telephone numbers to Sher Mohd charging higher rates, are being kept as witnesses in the case.

Meanwhile, troops of 10 Rashtriya Rifles and Operations Group, Doda tonight gunned down a top Hizbul militant Talib Hussain Keen son of Ghulam Qadir Keen ar Kathni Dhar in Gandoh area of Doda district.

One AK-47 rifle, three magazines, 90 rounds and a wireless set were recovered from the slain militant.

Security forces didn’t suffer any casualties in the operation.

Dr Nagendra appointed SKUAST Jammu VC

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 23: Dr Nagendra Sharma, Director National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal (Harayana) has been appointed as Vice-Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology, Jammu (SKUAST).

Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha in his capacity as Chancellor of SKUAST, has issued orders in this regard and the appointment of Dr Sharma will be for a period of five years or untill he attains the age of 65 years, which ever is earlier, from the date he takes over the new assignment.

Dr Sharma succeeds, Prof H U Khan whose tenure expired on October 19 this year.

A search committee comprising Dr Mangala Rai, Secretary and Director General ICAR, Mr B R Kundal Principal Secretary J&K Government, Jalil Ahmed Khan had earlier been constituted to recommend a suitable person and able administrator for the appointment of new VC.

Born on Sept 5, 1943, Dr Sharma a post-graduate in Veterinary Sciences , a Ph.D in Poultry Sciences from Rohilkhand University, was awarded Doctor of Sciences (DS) from France in 1984. He is credited with over 200 publications in journals of repute. Having 30 years experience in teaching , research , production, processing of milk, meat, poultry and fish products, he has guided 15 Master’s and Doctoral scholars.

Dr Nagendra is a recipient of KU Patel Memorial award 1973, Gits Award, 1966, Malika Trivedi IAAVR Award (1999) and Lifetime Achievement Award for Veterinary Profession in 2002 for outstanding research and professional contributions. He has been on the editorial board of the international journal of Meat Science, Indian Journal of Food Sciences & Technology and Indian Journal of Animal Sciences. He has worked as chairman , Perspective Planning and Expenditure Finance Committee at various institutes. Dr Sharma has widely travelled France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, UK, USA and several other countries to participate in various programmes of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry for food production. He has remained inter alia, director and VC, National Dairy Research Institute ( Deemed University), Director Central Institute for Research on Goats, Director and VC, IVRI and Project Coordinator.

‘Hurriyat not representative body’

MIRPUR (Pak-Occupied Kashmir), Nov 23 : A cross-section of people here favour talks on the Kashmir issue with their brethren from the other side of the Line of Control (LoC) and say the Hurriyat Conference is not a representative body.

Several intellectuals, politicians and separatist leaders, whom the Indian media team spoke to here, also welcomed the first-ever visit by Indian scribes as part of the delegation of the South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA).

Some of them also made a strong plea for starting of a bus service between Rajouri and this town of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir at the earliest to enable people on both sides of the LoC meet.

Prof Nazir Anjum, a Political Science lecturer in a degree college here, said the Hurriyat Conference represented "only a small section of (Kashmiri) Muslims" and was confined only to certain pockets of the Valley.

"Its writ runs only in certain areas of the Valley", he said.

Another prominent educationist Sheikh Mirza sought talks between Kashmiris from different sides of the LoC.

Describing the Hurriyat as "not a representative authority of the Kashmiris" to hold such an intra-Kashmiri dialogue, he said the talks should also include leaders of the National Conference as well as the Congress Party.

Syed Toqeer, secretary (Information) and spokesman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front led by Amanullah Khan, complained of the "high-handedness" of the Pakistani authorities.

Sticking to the Party line, he, however, said his organisation stood for "complete independence" of Kashmir, both from India and Pakistan.

Mirpur Bar Association president Riyaz Inquilabi, J&K Liberation League chief and former Chief Justice of PoK High Court Abdul Majid Malik and JKLF (Yasin Faction) Aftab Ahmed also made a strong plea for a dialogue between the Kashmiris from both sides of the LoC.

They sought initiation of steps by India and Pakistan to enhance people-to-people contacts and interaction among Kashmiris. (PTI)

Two BSF, JKAP soldiers killed

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Nov 23: Militants have killed two soldiers and left four more wounded in two separate incidents of violence in Kashmir valley since last evening. Meanwhile, residents of Kokernag area resorted to heavy stone-pelting on the local Police Station in the wake of Police refusing to file an FIR against the paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF).

Informed sources in north Kashmir told the EXCELSIOR that around midnight last, residents of Yaribugh, Dangiwacha, in Rafiabad belt of Baramulla, observed the movement of some strangers. As the residents suspected that the strangers were burglars, they raised an alarm to seek the help of a nearby unit of JKAP 12th Bn. Policemen rushed to the spot to capture the "burglars". However, they turned out to be militants. The militants opened gunfire, killing constable Shehzad Ahmed of Rajouri. Two Policemen, namely constable Dilpazeer of Rajouri and head constable Ghulam Hassan of Kupwara, sustained injuries in the shootout.

After the militants disappeared, the injured Policemen were evacuated and rushed to hospital. Doctors described them out of danger.

Meanwhile, gunshots were heard in Kunzar area of Tangmarg in Baramulla district late this evening. Unconfirmed reports said that an unidentified counter-insurgent was gunned down by the militants, who all managed to escape.

Sources said that militants ambushed a patrol party of BSF 80 Bn at Zalangam on Kokernag-Daksum road in Anantnag district today. Troops retaliated but the militants escaped, while killing a soldier and causing injuries to two more soldiers. They were rushed to a hospital for treatment.

Sources said that immediately after suffering the damage, troops swooped on Zalangam village. They ransacked several houses and resorted to mass beating of the civilians. They were complaining that the residents had spotted the militants but they chose not to inform the security forces. Sources said that the BSF soldiers also intercepted a couple of passenger buses, dragged out the commuters and roughed up a number of them. Later, the residents and the commuters formed a procession and complained the matter to Police Station Kokernag.

When Police refused to register the complaint, angry residents resorted to stone-pelting on the Police Station. Authorities confirmed the over-reaction from the BSF as well as stone-pelting on the Police station by the demonstrators. They, however, insisted that nobody had got injured in the twin incidents.

Ambika Soni given WB, TN

NEW DELHI, Nov 23: AICC general secretary Ambika Soni has been given additional charge of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Andaman and Nicobar islands in a temporary re-allocation of work by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Soni currently looks after Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh besides Congress president’s office, Working Committee and Central Election Committee.

Former Kerala Chief Minister and CWC member A K Antony has been asked to take charge of Karnataka affairs, a party press release said.

General Secretary Margaret Alva, incharge of Maharashtra, Goa, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Lakshadweep, has been given additional charge of Chhattisgarh.

The temporary minor re-allocation of work was carried out as general secretary Vilasrao Deshmukh took over as Maharashtra Chief Minister and general secretary Salman Khurshid was appointed president of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee.

While Deshmukh was incharge of Karnataka, Khurshid looked after Chattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, West Bengal, A and N islands. (PTI)

Bank employees salary hiked

MUMBAI, Nov 23: Bank employees would get a 13.25 per cent hike in their salary aggregating Rs 2,200 crore under an agreement signed here today between nine unions and Indian Banks Association (IBA) wrapping up wage negotiations spanning two years.

Under the settlement, bank managments more flexibility to deploy human resources.

The settlement was signed between IBA and nine unions under the banner of United Forum of Bank Unions representing over 10 lakh employees including over two lakh officers of nationalised banks, IBA chairman and CMD of Bank of Baroda P S Shenoy told PTI here tonight.

"This agreement is for a period of five years upto 2007 involving 13.25 per cent rise in wages for both officers and award staff," he said.

The crucial issues of staff mobility and deployment of technology have been settled with the unions, he said, adding banks would now have flexibility to implement it plans and deploy surplus staff from urban branches to rural areas.

An employee’s union official, however said staff could be transferred to other districts only if there were vacancies in districts where they were posted.

Even if they are transferred to other districts it would not be more than a distance of 100 km from headquarters, he said, adding the tranferred employee would have to be brought back within three years.

Wage benefits for officers were about Rs 900 crore and that for clerical and other staff were over Rs 1,200 crore, the Union official added. (PTI)

6000 Bangladeshi infiltrators arrested

KOLKATA, Nov 23: The BSF today said that nearly 6,000 Bangladeshis, who had illegally crossed over to India, have been arrested from different states including West Bengal, Maharashtra and Delhi between January and October this year.

"These Bangladeshi infiltrators who have spread out to different states were nabbed and handed over to the BSF South Bengal area," Additional DIG, BSF, South Bengal A K Aggrawal told newsmen here.

Apart from West Bengal, Maharashtra and Delhi, Bangladeshi infiltrators were also arrested from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh, Orissa and Tamil Nadu.

Last year over 9,000 Bangladeshi nationals were caught, he said, adding that apart from South Bengal, some more Bangladeshi infiltrators were handed over to the North Bengal area of the BSF.

The BSF DIG presented two Bangladeshis who were arrested from Maharashtra. The two, identified as Sajeda Bibi and Amjad Ali, admitted that they were residents of Bangladesh and had illegally entered the country.

Accusing Bangladesh authorities including BDR of turning a blind eye to infiltration from its soil, Aggrawal said though BDR kept on denying it at every meeting with BSF thousands of Bangladeshi infiltrators were caught every year for illegally entering India.

The Bangladesh authorities also refused to take back their own citizens. "Whenever the BSF approaches BDR to take back their people, their stock reply is that they will verify and return which they never do," the BSF DIG said.

Refuting reports in Bangladesh media about the BSF reinforcements on the West Bengal’s border with Bangladesh, Aggrawal said on the contrary two BSF battalions were taken out from the South Bengal frontier and deployed in Manipur. Currently 17 BSF battalions were manning the South Bengal frontier.

"Such reports are false, baseless and concocted," he said.

The matter, he said, would be taken up strongly with the Bangladesh Government.

To a question on reinforcement by the BDR, Aggrawal said, "we have noticed that BDR personnel are digging trenches in two or three places. But we know their capabilities."

To another question, he said that unlike BDR, no red alert has been sounded by the BSF along the Indo-Bangla border.

He said a BSF-BDR flag meeting is likely to be held tomorrow at hilly area in North Bengal. (PTI)

Manmohan speaks to Aziz

NEW DELHI, Nov 23: In a significant gesture, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on telephone this evening and welcomed him on his visit to India along with his wife.

Dr Singh said he was looking forward to his meeting with Mr Aziz tomorrow and conveyed his greetings to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

An official statement here said Dr Singh told Mr Aziz that the world had "lived through times where what was simply unaccepatble in international relations has become a norm."

Dr Singh said "who could say some 20 years ago that the Berlin wall would be a thing of the past."

He said his "hope and prayer" was that "we can set in motion a similar process in this sub-continent. I earnestly and sincerely will work to that end."

Reciprocating warmly to Dr Singh’s call, Mr Aziz conveyed to him President Musharraf’s "warm regards" and said "I know having you here at the helm of affairs is a source of strength to all of us." (UNI)

Hurriyat still a divided house Pak unity efforts dashed

NEW DELHI, Nov 24: In what came as a severe blow to Pakistan’s attempts to unify warring Kashmiri groups, separatist leaders dropped their plans to meet Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz together and instead met him separately for closed-door discussions on the Kashmir issue.

Their separate meetings late last night with Mr Aziz came as a last-minute change in their original schedule to hold talks with the visiting Prime Minister as part of a joint delegation.

At the discussions, which spanned for over five hours, unity among the conflicting groups in the larger interest of the Kashmir cause and the inclusion of the basic party — Kashmiri people — in the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan, were raised.

The meeting was attended by moderate Hurriyat leaders Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat, Bilal Lone, Maulana Abbas Ansari, hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabir Ahmed Shah and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front leader Yaseen Malik.

They drove into Pakistan house, venue of the meeting, one after the other but finally met Mr Aziz for separate discussions, followed by a joint dinner meeting.

Mr Aziz, who arrived here yesterday afternoon on a two-day India visit, conveyed Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf’s message to the separatists to set aside their differences.

The Mirwaiz told reporters, "Pakistan as a nation wants us to unite but it is an internal issue which will be resolved by the separatist leadership itself."

Expressing similar views, Mr Geelani, who was the last to leave the Pakistan house, official residence of the Pakistani High Commissioner, said the differences among the groups will eventually be resolved internally.

"The Hurriyat had split due to internal differences on the issue of fielding proxy candidates in the 2002 Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and the other faction’s decision to hold a dialogue with the then NDA Government."

Mr Malik and Mr Shah, who were the first to leave the meeting, had also voiced similar views on the issue.

Islamabad has been making concerted attempts to forge unity among the conflicting groups.

Apart of these "intense" efforts, senior Pakistani officials, including Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri and Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar, have been meeting the separatists during their visits to India.

In September, the Mirwaiz met Gen Musharraf in Amsterdam.

On November 20, the Pakistan President said the immediate inclusion of the Hurriyat Conference in the dialogue with India was a must if the issue was to be settled amicably and peacefully.

About the other issues raised at the discussions, the Mirwaiz said the inclusion of Kashmiri people in the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan was also taken up during the meeting.

"We conveyed the sentiments of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to the Pakistani leadership and urged them to include their leadership in the composite dialogue," he said.

He said the only way to carry the dialogue process forward and establishing lasting peace in the State was through including the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

Mr Geelani said the vexed-issue should be resolved as per the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

"Kashmir is a political issue and it should be a resolved accordingly."

He said peace would only be established in the State when India and Pakistan addressed the problems of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Aziz assured the delegation that he would convey their opinion to President Pervez Musharraf, Mr Geelani said.

Mr Shah said,"we all pressed upon the Pakistani leadership to include the basic party — Kashmiri people — in resolution of the problem."

"People of Kashmir should be made part of talks which should be tripartite. The dialogue will only succeed if the Kashmiri people are included."

Mr Malik said: "Our main goal is the resolution of the Kashmir issue although we may be treading different paths.

"We have conveyed this to the leadership of both India and Pakistan. But if they fail to heed what we say, we will be forced to start a non-violent campaign against them."

At the discussions, Mr Aziz was assisted by Mr Khokhar, High Commissioner Aziz Ahmed Khan and several senior Pakistani officials. (UNI)

Violence has to stop, Kashmiri leaders tell Aziz

NEW DELHI, Nov 24: Kashmiri leaders today conveyed to visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz the urgent need to end violence in the state and work to ameliorate the enormous suffering of the people.

"I told Mr Aziz that violence has to end...It is our people who are dying. It may be a territorial battlefield for the two countries but it is our lives that are on line," National Conference leader and former Union Minister Omar Abdullah told reporters after coming out of a working lunch arranged for the visiting Pakistan PM here.

People’s Democratic Party chairperson Mehbooba Mufti, who also attended the lunch, said she had also raised similar concerns.

"I only got a minute to speak to Mr Aziz and I told him that while we understand Kashmir is a contentious issue and will take time to resolve, the people are undergoing great problems and both countries should take steps to ameliorate their suffering," she said. (UNI)

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