The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Wednesday, April 18, 2001,
Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

M A I N N E W S

11 militants surrender
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 17
A group of 11 youths belonging to various militant organisations laid down their arms before senior officials of the Army and other security forces at the headquarters of Kilo Force at Shariefabad here today.

These militants, according to Army officials, belonged to various organisations, including the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, and were associated with militancy for several years. They belonged to various places in Baramula district of north Kashmir. A senior officer of the Army’s Kilo Force while expressing happiness over the event, recalled various initiatives taken by them to help the youth in carving out a bright future for themselves.

Those present on the occasion included Major Gen Nirbhay Sharma, GOC Kilo Force, Dr Ashok Bhan, IG police, Kashmir Range, Mr B.N. Chaturvedi, IG BSF, Baramula, and Mr G S Gill, IG, BSF, Srinagar range.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ashok Bhan, said the surrender of the 11 youths before the Army had been possible as the militants realised the futility of the gun.

APHC defers decision on talks
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 17
The All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) today deferred its decision on the Centre’s talks offer and decided to refer it to the working committee and the general council for a broader consensus.

Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat, Chairman of the APHC, said at the end of the five-hour-long meeting of the executive committee at the party’s Rajbagh headquarters today that the issue would be discussed by the 21-member working committee on Saturday followed by a general council meeting on Monday.

Hurriyat Chairman Abdul Gani Bhat holds talks with the representatives of the JKLF and People’s League to decide on the invitation extended by the Centre for holding talks with the 23-party conglomerate in Srinagar on Tuesday.
Hurriyat Chairman Abdul Gani Bhat holds talks with the representatives of the JKLF and People’s League to decide on the invitation extended by the Centre for holding talks with the 23-party conglomerate in Srinagar on Tuesday. — PTI photo

Except for senior Jamaat-e-Islami leader and former Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and JKLF leader Mohammad Yaseen Malik, all other five members attended the meeting. Syed Ali Shah Geelani was represented by Qazi Ahdullah of the Jamaat-e-Islami while the JKLF was represented by Mr Bashir Ahmad Bhat.

The APHC, a conglomerate of 23 organisations, wants tripartite talks involving India and Pakistan and representatives of Kashmir to solve the Kashmir issue. The APHC seeks to resolve the issue under the UN resolutions. Following the announcement of cessation of combat operations against militants by the Prime Minister, which commenced in the holy month of Ramzan on November 28 last, the Hurriyat Conference had constituted a five-member team to visit Pakistan for a dialogue with the leadership there. However, the visit could not be undertaken due to non-availability of passports to most of its leaders.

The APHC had asked the Jamaat-e-Islami to recall Syed Ali Shah Geelani from the executive committee and replace him with another leader. But the Jamaat-e-Islami turned down the request. Commenting on the issue, Prof Bhat said all differences within the APHC had been resolved.

The registered letter from Mr K.C. Pant, chief negotiator appointed by the Central Government, was received by post at the APHC headquarters here this afternoon while the meeting was on.

Military attaches welcome ceasefire
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 17
India’s initiative in Jammu & Kashmir got a seal of approval with the military attaches from 23 countries expressing satisfaction over the handling of militancy by the Indian security forces in the trouble-torn state.

The military attaches from the USA the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Bangladesh, Australia, Czech Republic, who returned after visiting various forward areas of Jammu and Kashmir and also the Line of Control (LoC), welcomed the ceasefire initiative and expressed the hope that such steps would go a long way in normalising the situation in the valley. UNI

Religious leaders back peace move

New Delhi, April 17
An all-religion meeting today fully endorsed Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s peace initiative in Kashmir and urged all groups, including militants to respond positively to the offer of talks to bring to an end miseries of the people in Jammu and Kashmir.

Leaders of various faiths met at the residence of former Chief Minister Syed Mir Qasim and prayed for peace and tranquillity in the troubled state that is facing militancy for the past 12 years. They felt that peace could be restored only through dialogue and not by the gun. UNI