J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Steps for ceasefire in Ramzan
JAMMU, Nov 15 — There are indications that both the dominant militant outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen, and the Government of India have renewed their efforts for a round of talks to resolve the 12-year-long turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir. 

Hazare to develop 3 J & K villages
JAMMU, Nov 15 — A renowned social worker from Maharashtra, Anna Hazare, is these days in the troubled state of Jammu and Kashmir to identify villages which he could, with the help of NGOs, develop into model hamlets.

Steps for ceasefire in Ramzan
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Nov 15 — There are indications that both the dominant militant outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen, and the Government of India have renewed their efforts for a round of talks to resolve the 12-year-long turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir.

Informed sources say Hizbul Mujahideen chief commander Abdul Majid Dar is likely to meet Hizb chief Syed Salahuddin in Dubai in this regard. Dar had been invited to Pakistan occupied Kashmir for discussion with Syed Salahuddin and other separatist leaders. He is said to have declined the invitation and instead conveyed his desire to meet Syed Salahuddin in Dubai or at any other place in the Gulf.

The sources said after announcing unilateral ceasefire in July last Dar had earned the displeasure of Pakistani authorities and other agencies engaged in encouraging terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. Initially Dar’s ceasefire announcement was endorsed by Syed Salahuddin. Bucking under the pressure of the Pakistani authorities Syed Salahuddin dissociated himself from the ceasefire announcement. And the proposed peace talks did not take place.

According to these sources, guns in the state could be silenced by engaging Hizbul Mujahideen in talks and security forces have a free hand in dealing with foreign mercenaries dominating Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jash-e-Mohammad. Indications are that the two leaders — Salahuddin and Dar — may again try for a peaceful settlement because since July last Hizbul Mujahideen had lost more than 100 activists including half a dozen top leaders in encounters with security forces.

Both sides are preparing ground for ceasefire during Ramzan, the month of fasting for Muslims. The government may reciprocate the initiative.

However, informed sources said the Army authorities in Kashmir have opposed the ceasefire plan. Since security forces have launched an offensive against the militants the ceasefire move may prove counter-productive. They have conveyed to the government that it was not possible to distinguish Hizb activists from those owing allegiance to other rebel outfits. This will give time to foreign mercenaries to consolidate their position.

Hazare to develop 3 J & K villages
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Nov 15 — A renowned social worker from Maharashtra, Anna Hazare, is these days in the troubled state of Jammu and Kashmir to identify villages which he could, with the help of NGOs, develop into model hamlets.

Anna Hazare has succeeded in converting backward hamlets into model villages in four states — Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Jammu and Kashmir would be the fifth state which would be covered under Anna’s reform programme.

The eminent social worker said that he had received support from the state government and some NGOs for selecting three villages — two in the Kashmir valley and one in Jammu — for being developed into model villages.

He said he would start the work when the people of these villages volunteer to cooperate with him. He said that his idea of developing hamlets into model villages had been inspired by Swami Vivekanand.

He said that once the villages were identified he would, with the help of NGOs, campaign for drip irrigation, ban on felling of trees and cattle grazing in forests and family planning and alcoholism. Thirty representatives from various NGOs had met him in Jammu in the past two days and they were ready to assist him in his programme.

The Maharashtra-Kashmir Friendship Society had persuaded him to visit Jammu and Kashmir and extend his social programme to this state. He stated that since community labour was part of the programme of village development, it would keep the youth gainfully employed.

He said he was optimistic that once the three villages were developed into model centres, it would encourage neighbouring hamlets to follow suit.