PM reviews J&K situation, Rajnath briefs him

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 15: In the wake of spurt in violence in the Kashmir valley and to arrive at a decision on month-long conditional ceasefire on the occasion of Ramzan which ends tomorrow with Eid festival, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held review of security situation in Jammu and Kashmir with Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Besides Rajnath Singh, the meeting reportedly was attended by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval.
The meeting held at the Prime Minister’s residence lasted about 40 minutes in which Rajnath was reported to have given detailed briefing to Modi on the situation prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir with particular reference to recent spurt in violence including attacks on security forces in the Valley.
Excelsior had today exclusively reported that Rajnath would meet Modi before taking a final call on whether to extend suspension of operations in Jammu and Kashmir beyond Eid festival or not.
Besides increase in violent incidents in the Valley, situation prevailing along Indo-Pak borders was also reviewed at the meeting, where two sides had committed themselves to peace but Pakistan continued to violate ceasefire.
There were enough indications that after today’s security review meeting by the Prime Minister and yesterday’s high-level review of Jammu and Kashmir situation by Rajnath Singh with top brass of Ministry of Home Affairs, CRPF and J&K officials, a decision might have been taken by the Government of India on whether to go ahead with condition ceasefire or withdraw it.
However, Rajnath Singh was likely to announce the decision anytime after the Eid celebrations tomorrow.
This was after a long time that the Prime Minister himself reviewed security situation in Jammu and Kashmir though Modi had visited all three regions of the State on May 19. However, he had confined his visit to inauguration and laying foundation stone of developmental projects and attending convocation of SKUAST-J. He hadn’t reviewed the security situation then.
According to sources, Rajnath Singh was keeping the Prime Minister briefed on Jammu and Kashmir situation including announcement on suspension of combat operations in the State during holy month of Ramzan.
Sources said some of the security and Intelligence agencies have favoured intensified operations against the militants after Eid festival. They wanted search and combat operations to start immediately after Eid to bring level of violence down, which has gone up during the ceasefire period especially in the past one week.
“The killing of Rising Kashmir Editor Shujaat Bukhari and his two PSOs, kidnapping and killing of Army jawan Aurnagzeb and snatching of weapons from para-military forces and police were the reasons cited by some of the security and Intelligence agencies in support of their argument to resume operations against the militants,” sources said.
However, there were some other security agencies, which were of the view that level of violence has deliberately been increased by the militants at the behest of Pakistan to sabotage ceasefire. They pointed out that Pakistan as well as its sponsored militants don’t want ceasefire in Kashmir as it gives message of return of peace in the Valley and that was the reason that they had intentionally increased the violent incidents especially during past few days.
Yesterday, Rajnath Singh had reviewed security situation in the Kashmir valley including increase in attacks and arrangements for upcoming annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji, which is begining on June 28 and will last till August 26. Top MHA officials, the Director General of CRPF and officers from Jammu and Kashmir had attended the meeting among others.
Rajnath had also visited Jammu and Kashmir on June 7 and 8 and himself reviewed security situation including situation post-conditional ceasefire with top officers of all security and Intelligence agencies, operating in the State to gather feedback of ceasefire impact.

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