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India rejects tripartite talks
PM reviews J&K situation
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Jan 15 — India today categorically rejected “the very notion of tripartite talks” involving Islamabad and the Hurriyat Conference on the Kashmir issue and reiterated that cessation of cross-border terrorism for creating an appropriate environment for the resumption of a comprehensive dialogue “is an obvious requirement”.

The Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad, Mr V.K. Nambiar has conveyed to the Chief Executive of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf that “India wished that the composite dialogue process be resumed at an early date”, a spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs told newspersons confirming a meeting between the two today morning.

But “the cessation of cross-border terrorism in order to create an appropriate environment was an obvious requirement”, Mr Nambiar told General Musharraf.

In response to another question on Pakistan Foreign Ministry’s statement of January 12 this year about a All Party Hurriyat Conference delegation going to Pakistan for preparing the ground for a tripartite process of negotiations, the spokesman said: We would like to make it clear that “there is no question of a tripartite process and India rejects the very notion of tripartite talks”.

The High Commissioner’s call was part of the process of his calls on Pakistani dignitaries, the spokesman said.

During the meeting, Mr Nambiar conveyed India’s desire to establish a relationship of trust and confidence, put in place a stable structure of cooperation and address all outstanding issues between the two countries, the spokesman said.

The High Commissioner also conveyed that it was for this purpose that India had taken the initiative for establishing the composite dialogue process.

Mr Nambiar’s meeting, coming five months after he tookover, assumes significances in the context of stepped up activities on the Kashmir front. Mr Nambiar’s predecessor, Mr G. Parthasarthy had made a farewell call on the General before his return home.

The spokesman’s remarks came after a two-hour high-level meeting presided by the Prime Minister,Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee which reviewed the overall situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Asked whether New Delhi’s rejection of a tripartite talks also figured during the High Commissioner’s meeting with General Musharraf, the spokesman said: I do not have the full details. I am not in a position to go into the question now”.

On whether the Pakistan’s military ruler had responded to New Delhi’s position on the issues of the resumption of stalled dialogue process and rejection of tripartite talks, the spokesman said “that is for Pakistan side to say”.

The sources said General Musharraf expressed regrets over the threat made by Pakistan-based militant outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba to Mr Vajpayee.

However, he chose to remain silent when Mr Nambiar conveyed that India would like Pakistan to rein in militant outfits, they said.

The sources said various issues, including the commencement of direct talks between the two countries to discuss issues relating to Kashmir came up during the meeting.

A brief statement issued by the Pakistan government after the meeting said General Musharraf stressed the need for an early resumption of dialogue to settle the Kashmir dispute.

“The commencement of the dialogue would bring about an improvement in the prevailing environment,” the statement said.

The sources said Mr Nambiar informed General Musharraf that India would agree for constructive dialogue with Pakistan if Islamabad reaffirmed its faith in the Simla and Lahore Accords that envisaged the settlement of all issues through dialogue and peaceful means.

The High Commissioner told the Pakistani ruler that halt to cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir could set a broad platform for productive dialogue between the two countries, the sources said.

The sources said General Musharraf reiterated Pakistan’s stand that the stalled dialogue should resume before the restoration of normalcy in the state.

R-Day militant plan foiled
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Jan 15 — Three foreign militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed in an encounter with the police and security forces in Baramula yesterday. With this, the police claims to have foiled three major plans of militants to disrupt Republic-Day celebrations in the Kashmir valley during the past one week.

Elsewhere, at least three persons, including the son of a ruling National Conference block president, were killed and four others injured in separate incidents across the Kashmir valley since yesterday.

According to the police, three foreign militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba killed at Binner near Baramula yesterday were identified as Abdullah Qamar, Commander of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Abu Al-Hasham of PoK and Zabiullah, alias Abu Saria, from Gujranwala, Pakistan. Three police constables and a lance naik of the Army were injured in the encounter. The recoveries include three AK 47 rifles, 10 AK magazines with 120 rounds of ammunition, eight grenades and other assorted ammunition.

The encounter took place when a patrol party of the SOG of police and Army was fired upon by militants hiding at Binner, 4 km from Baramula. The patrol party reached the area on the receipt of “specific information that the militants were hatching a plan to disrupt the January 26 function in Baramula”, a police spokesman said.

“Documents recovered from the possession of slain militants indicated their plans to target the venue of Republic-Day as well as names of persons who were to be killed”, a police spokesman stated here today. He said that the list included the name of Abdul Majid Mir, brother of NC MLA, Mohammad Dilawar Mir. Abdul Majid Mir was shot dead by unidentified militants near his house at Rohama on Friday last.

Unidentified militants shot dead two persons, including Fayaz Ahmad Sheikh, son of a block president of the ruling National Conference, Ghulam Rasool Sheikh, of Bothu at Bandipora last evening. The police said Fayaz Sheikh died on the spot, while his driver Mohammad Aslam succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to the hospital.

Three civilians were injured when militants hurled a grenade towards a security picket at Nowhatta here this afternoon. The grenade missed the target and exploded on the road, causing injuries to three civilians, reports said.

Militants shot at and injured Wali Mohammad, a former militant at Singhpora, Pattan, late last night in Baramula district.

The body of Mohammad Yusuf Mir was recovered from near Darigam village in Budgam district last night. The deceased was a resident of Bugroo village. 

Ceasefire step ‘insufficient’
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Jan 15 — The All-Party Hurriyat Conference has said the ceasefire announced by the Prime Minister will not mean much unless it leads to a process for meaningful resolution of the Kashmir problem.

Hurriyat spokesman Abdul Rashid Banday told TNS here today that the organisation was hopeful of getting passports as per indication about government’s thinking on the issue.

The Hurriyat, he said, feels that dialogue and peace should be pursued aggressively. “However, the government has not moved a step forward since the announcement of ceasefire,” the spokesman said, adding that , “the Hurriyat views it as a positive but insufficient step,” Mr Banday said.

The Hurriyat, which had planned to send its team to Pakistan on January 15, said it would take a decision on fresh dates after hearing from the government on the passports issue.

About the possibility of continued violence in the valley casting a shadow on the Hurriyat’s proposed trip to Pakistan, he said things would move forward by starting a dialogue. “It can be exploratory in the first stage. It would at least allow the team to know the apprehensions on the other side and allay them, if possible,” he said.

Reacting to statements of militant leaders from Pakistan, including Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, who has questioned the utility of Hurriyat delegation’s visit to Pakistan, the spokesman said the Hizbul chief had stressed actual changes in India’s official policy.

Hurriyat leaders were hoping for a early decision on the passports issue after the return of the Prime Minister from the foreign tour. However, the focus yesterday shifted to the abortive attempt made on the life of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. While two top Hurriyat leaders Abdul Ghani Lone and Syed Ali Shah Geelani were in the Capital yesterday, Mr Lone has already left for Srinagar.

Meanwhile, the Congress today criticised the BJP government’s approach on Kashmir terming it as “messy, confusing and directionless.”

A meeting of the party’s committee on Jammu and Kashmir has been convened to discuss the recent developments concerning the state. 

Indian envoy meets Musharraf

ISLAMABAD, Jan 15 (PTI) — The Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mr Vijay Nambiar today held a significant meeting with military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf amidst stepped up activities on the Kashmir front and is understood to have made it clear that the resumption of talks between two countries was not possible without an end to the cross-border terrorism.

The meeting, described as a courtesy call, was the first since Mr Nambiar took up his assignment last August.

Sources said the two had a “free and frank” exchange of views on the “stated positions” of the two countries on various issues including the resumption of bilateral talks.