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Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 25: The Unified Headquarters (UHQ) meeting today held high level review of security situation on the borders, increase in infiltration along the Line of Control (LoC) and militancy and over three and a half month long unrest in the Kashmir Valley, which has taken the lives of nearly 90 civilians and left thousands of others including many para-military and police personnel injured.
Chaired by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, the UHQ meeting at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, top Commanders of the Army and senior officers of BSF, CRPF, police, civil administration and Central and State agencies.
This was the first meeting of the UHQ since current unrest broke out on July 8 in the aftermath of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. The only UHQ chaired by Mehbooba in her capacity as the Chief Minister was on May 12, a little over a month after she took command of the State on April 4.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Unified Headquarters observed that there has been increase in infiltration from the LoC, which could increase the level of militancy in the State especially the Kashmir valley, which was main target of militant outfits like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen etc.
“The infiltration has gone up and so is the militancy, which could further increase during the winter,’’ sources said, adding the top brass of multiple security agencies briefed the Chief Minister about security situation on the LoC, borders and Kashmir unrest.
They were of the view that even now there were large number of militants camping across Kupwara, Baramulla and Poonch districts waiting for infiltration but troops have not allowed them to succeed. After initial rounds of infiltration, troops were trying to plug all the routes to stop intrusions as Pakistan was trying to push more and more militants into the Indian territory before onset of winter, which will close the passes.
Sources said tensions prevailing along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu region also came up for high level review at the Unified Headquarters meeting and the officers gave their assessment of the situation.
The Unified Headquarters was of the view that there was nothing to worry about escalating tensions on the borders as Army and BSF were giving befitting reply to Pakistan. However, the meeting was concerned about loss of lives, injuries and perishing of cattle in Pakistani firing and called for all out efforts to avoid civilian casualties.
The Chief Minister, sources said, formally approved the proposal for payment of Rs 30,000 per killed cattle either under SDRF or under the Chief Minister’s Fund.
On Kashmir unrest, sources said the Unified Headquarters highlighted that resentment was increasing among the people with every passing day over continued calls of shutdown and many organizations have come forward for opening their businesses under protection.
“The common man wants normalcy to be restored. We have to give protection to the people in cities and towns to resume their life normally, ‘’ sources said, adding the meeting observed that during the current month, the unrest has subsided to quite an extent and near normal conditions were reported from some towns and villages.
The Chief Minister is reported to have called upon para-military CRPF and police to exercise restraint against the peaceful protesters.
Various other security related issues including handover/takeover of land from Army also figured in the meeting, sources said.
In her address to the meeting, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti called for immediate de-escalation of the “alarming” situation along the borders to end miseries of people.
“Ways and means shall have to be explored immediately to bring an end to the sufferings of the hapless people subjected to immense miseries over the past few months because of the continuous cross-border shelling and escalation of violence in the State and the region,” she said at the meeting.
She said the “hostile” and “alarming” situation along the borders and LoC should keep reminding both India and Pakistan of the inevitability of sitting across the table to find a just and pragmatic solution of all the contentious issues.
Mehbooba, who also condemned today’s terror attack on police training academy in Pakistan’s Quetta, said the vicious cycle of death and destruction confronting the region must end at the earliest.
“Whatever (be) the reasons for hardening of stances and attempts by the vested interests to subvert the peace process, there is, however, no substitute to the reconciliatory policy as was done in 2003,” she said.
Serious efforts should be made at the political and civil society levels to revive the peace and reconciliation process for the larger good of the people sandwiched in a gory situation, she said.
Condoling the death of a six-year old boy in cross-border firing in R S Pura sector of Jammu yesterday, Mehbooba said, “My heart goes out to the families who lost their loved ones in the fresh violence, both along the borders and at the Police Academy in Quetta, in which they had no role to play.”
She said the senseless violence is the common enemy of the people in both India and Pakistan as the scourge of bloodshed has devoured their lives.
She reiterated her government’s stand that only coordinated political effort at the highest levels in New Delhi and Islamabad will eliminate the menace of violence and usher the region into an era of peace and prosperity.
Making a fervent appeal for peace on the borders, Mehbooba said the cross-border shelling has seen a humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region with people fleeing their homes and scurrying for safety of their lives.
“This disquieting scenario has to end to facilitate the people live peacefully in their homes and hearths,” she said while noting that people in Jammu and Kashmir have always been the worst sufferers in such hostile situations.
She recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent statement wherein he called on Pakistan to jointly wage a war against poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and infant mortality.
“It is high time that both the countries come together without any further delay and start a final war against violence, terrorism and the social and economic deprivation plaguing the region,” she said.
An official handout said:-
The Chief Minister said whatever the reasons for hardening of stances and attempts by the vested interests to subvert the peace process, there is, however, no substitute to the reconciliatory policy as was done in 2003.
“With a decisive mandate at his back Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has the opportunity to revive the process of reconciliation in the sub-continent and emerge as a man of peace in the region,” she said and added that the prevailing challenging situation along the borders in Jammu and Kashmir necessitates the urgency of reviving the composite dialogue process, sooner the better.
Mehbooba said the significant reconciliatory measures taken between 2002 and 2005 in and around Jammu and Kashmir, both on internal and external fronts, had not only helped improve the security scenario in the region, but within the State as well.
“The ceasefire of 2003, had not only given the much-needed relief to the people living along the borders, but it had, as well, provided the broader umbrella for the peace process to flourish,” she said and added that the ceasefire brought, after decades of tension and destruction, relief and normalcy into the lives of people residing in the State’s forward areas from Kathua to Kargil and “at the same time it also made historic initiatives like opening up of LoC for bus service possible in J&K.”
“After over decades of agony, we had started seeing a ray of hope in the peace process between 2002 and 2005, which, unfortunately, is under severe threat today,” she said and expressed the hope that the dark shadows of pessimism cast over the peace process will not jeopardize the region’s security and stability as any such scenario would have disastrous and colossal consequences for the people living in the region.
“We in Jammu & Kashmir understand better what the ordeal of violence is, as it has been our fate to live through and survive its frightening hazards,” Mehbooba said and added that for the people of Jammu & Kashmir, suffering more than two decades of turmoil, has been a long, dark experience, bloody at times and frustrating at almost every step.
“For the people of Jammu & Kashmir peace along the borders and within the mainland is of immense significance and I hope the political leadership of the two countries treats it with the same spirit,” she said and called for political dialogue within the State for the resolution of the internal dimensions of the problem.
The Chief Minister urged upon the security agencies to conduct their operations keeping in view the safety of the people. She stressed the need for following a humane approach while dealing with law-and-order situations on ground.
While asking the security agencies to exercise maximum restraint, she asked them to avoid any civilian casualties and damage to private and public property.
Expressing shock over recent reports of various school buildings being gutted in mysterious fire incidents, the Chief Minister said that it is a loss to the entire society. She asked the police to investigate these fire incidents and maintain vigil to prevent such unfortunate events.
Mehbooba instructed the security forces that rather than static deployment, focus should be on area security. She urged the police and security forces to hand-hold the misadvised youth who have joined militancy or are indulging in violence, with compassion, and help them bring back to the mainstream through persuasive influence. She also directed that training and skill development programmes should be organized for such youth by way of sustainable livelihood support.
With regard to situation along the borders, the Chief Minister directed Divisional Commissi-oner and IGP Jammu to ensure safety and security of the life and property of the border residents. The Chief Minister called for enhanced vigil and asked the administration to provide shelter and all basic facilities to the people displaced at the time
Underlining the need for ameliorating the sufferings of the people, Mehbooba said that the civil administration, with active support of police and other agencies, should try to resolve problems of common masses. She also asked them that in view of the fruit harvesting season, the concerned authorities should ensure safe transportation arrangements for the horticulture produce to markets in and outside the state.
Underlining the need for ameliorating the sufferings of the people, Mehbooba said that the civil administration should try to resolve problems of common masses. She also asked them that in view of the fruit harvesting season, the concerned authorities should ensure safe transportation arrangements for the horticulture produce to markets in and outside the state.
The Chief Minister directed the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir to restart work on important developmental projects like National Highway, fly-over, repairing and maintenance of roads and other projects which were affected due to the turmoil.
Chief Secretary, B R Sharma, Financial Commissioner Planning and Principal Secretary to CM, B B Vyas, GoC-in-C, Northern Command, Lt Gen D S Hooda, Director General of Police, K Rajendra Kumar, Spl DGP Law & Order, Dr S P Vaid, GoC XV Corps, Lt Gen S K Dua, Corps Commanders, Principal Secretary, Home, R K Goyal, Joint Director, IB, Divisional Commissioners, Jammu /Kashmir, IGsP, Kashmir/Jammu Zone, IGP CID and other senior officers of CRPF, BSF and police also attended the meeting.
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