Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 21: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval today held first high level review of security situation in Jammu and Kashmir with Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and top brass of Army, police, para-military forces and Intelligence agencies in Kashmir in separate meetings during his two days visit to the State.
Doval’s meeting to Kashmir came just about a month ahead of his proposed talks with Pakistani counterpart Sartaj Aziz, which were scheduled to be held in August in New Delhi. The talks between the two NSAs were agreed upon in a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharief in Russian city of Ufa on July 10.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Doval reviewed all aspects of security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in his meetings with the Governor, the Chief Minister and heads of various security agencies including the Army.
Sources said the Centre was deeply concerned about hoisting of Islamic State (IS) and Pakistan flags in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir, increase in number of local youth joining militancy, radicalization of the youth, activities of Pakistan Army and militants along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border and militant activities in the hinterland.
Apart from this, Doval also wanted to take an overall view on the situation from the Governor and the Chief Minister to set his agenda for talks with Pakistan’s NSA, which would be first high level contact between the two hostile neighbours. Modi and Sharief in their meeting at Ufa had agreed upon the meeting between two NSAs in New Delhi in August followed by meeting between Director Generals of BSF and Rangers in September. It was also agreed upon that Modi will visit Pakistan to attend SAARC summit next year.
Doval’s one-to-one meeting with the Chief Minister at his residence in Srinagar, the summer capital of the State, lasted about an hour from 11.30 am while he met the Governor at the Raj Bhawan for an almost equal duration in the afternoon.
Though the talks were agreed upon in August, the two countries were yet to decide the dates.
There have been a series of ceasefire violations along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan which has resorted to mortar shelling of Indian areas over the past few days killing and injuring civilians and security personnel. India has responded in effective manner. Significantly, the resumption of shelling from Pakistan side came within few days after the two Prime Ministers announced resumption of talks between the two countries.
Sources said the NSA obtained in detail the view point of the Governor and the Chief Minister regarding external dimensions in addition to the security scenario.
“Doval had detailed discussions in separate meetings with the Governor and the Chief Minister to ascertain their view on all aspects of the situation. All dimensions were discussed. The NSA was likely to brief the Prime Minister about the situation after his return to New Delhi and firm up the Indian view point during talks with Pakistan,” sources said.
The NSA had separate meeting with three top police officials including Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra Kumar, IG CID AG Mir and IGP Kashmir Javed Jeelani, which was confined to security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir especially the radicalization of youth, increase in number of local youth joining militancy this year, frequent raising of IS and Pakistan flags, incidents of stone pelting and steps required to maintain law and order and keep check on militancy.
The police and CID officers gave detailed briefing to the NSA on security situation in the hinterland and steps being taken by the police to maintain law and order situation and prevent civilian casualties by the militants. They reportedly told the NSA that all security agencies have adopted Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), which was being strictly adhered to.
“The situation prevailing on the LoC and IB including ceasefire violations by Pakistan and infiltration attempts by the militants also came up for high level review in the meetings the NSA had with top security officials,” sources said.
Doval will continue his schedule of meetings till tomorrow afternoon before flying back to New Delhi from Srinagar, sources added.
This is first visit of the NSA to Jammu and Kashmir after PDP-BJP coalition Government came to power in Jammu and Kashmir on March 1. Doval is key security strategist of the country and was chosen for the job by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he takeover at the Centre.
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