J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

J&K talks a slow process
New Delhi, May 18
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who has taken the initiative in opening the doors for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir tangle, is aware that the process will be a long one because of the complexities of the situation.

Shabir Shah, 6 party activists arrested
Srinagar, May 18
Chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) Shabir Shah was arrested along with his six party members in Pulwama town of south Kashmir this afternoon.

Poll results will silence critics: CM
Jammu, May 18
While appreciating the American stand on the Kashmir issue, the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has said the US Government has understand the ground reality and the sentiments of the people of India by announcing that it has no plan to negotiate between New Delhi and Islamabad on the issue.

Uri residents see peace
Want ceasefire extended
Uri, May 18
About six months of unilateral ceasefire may have brought little solace to people in other parts of Kashmir, but residents here are at peace as the guns have fallen silent along the borders. They pray for continuation of the ceasefire.

J&K talks a slow process
T. R. Ramachandran
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 18
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who has taken the initiative in opening the doors for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir tangle, is aware that the process will be a long one because of the complexities of the situation.

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman K.C. Pant as the chief negotiator has the unenviable task of meeting a wide cross-section of people, including the Kashmiri militant outfits and evolving an acceptable formula.

Even as doubts have been raised about the efficacy of Mr Pant’s role as the Union Government’s key and only interlocutor, authoritative sources say that there are bound to be impediments in any such endeavour. “It (the talks getting off the ground) is necessarily a slow process and nobody at any level in the government is expecting results overnight,” the sources emphasised.

Meanwhile, the visit of Union Home Minister L.K. Advani and Union External Affairs and Defence Minister Jaswant Singh to Srinagar tomorrow for a first hand assessment of the ground situation in J and K assumes importance.

The two leaders will be briefed extensively and provided an audio-visual presentation at the meeting of the unified command which will facilitate in reworking the strategy in dealing with the machination of the militants, if required.

While Mr Advani will acquaint himself with the internal security parameters in J and K, Mr Jaswant Singh will specifically equip himself with the prevailing situation, both from the defence and diplomatic spheres.

The unilateral ceasefire announced by the Vajpayee government for the first time in November coinciding with the holy month of Ramzan and extended twice thereafter till the end of this month is expected to be extended further to facilitate Mr Pant’s efforts in getting the leaden footed negotiations on track.

It is only after the return of Mr Advani and Mr Jaswant Singh from Srinagar that the Cabinet Committee on Security will take fresh stock of the developments and take additional measures to deal with the terrorist menace aided and abetted by Pakistan.

The meeting at the unified command in Srinagar will help the Union Government crystallise its stand on whether it should return to its pro-active policy in neutralising the stepped-up violence by the militants.

Though the Army brass supports Mr Vajpayee’s peace initiative, there is a growing disenchantment among the middle and lower rungs of the security forces. They feel the peace initiative has dragged on interminably long which has enabled the militants to regroup and recharge themselves, thus nullifying the advantage that the security forces had gained over these secessionist elements.

Meanwhile, in an interesting development, American interns attached to US Congressmen are arriving here on May 23 in what is described as an “awareness tour” to this country. And a delegation of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference is coming here on Monday, well in advance for an interface with the interns about the situation in J and K. The group of American interns is scheduled to visit Srinagar.

Shabir Shah, 6 party activists arrested
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 18
Chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) Shabir Shah was arrested along with his six party members in Pulwama town of south Kashmir this afternoon.

The arrest was made to prevent him from holding a rally after Friday prayers in the town. A DFP spokesman said that Shah and his colleagues were beaten up and injured. They were in the police lock up till the last reports came in. Condemning the assault and arrest, DFP spokesman described this as “nervousness” of the state government as the same had come at a time when the Centre was finding out ways to solve the Kashmir problem through peaceful means.

Meanwhile, Dukhtaran-e-Millat, the underground separatist women’s outfit, has flayed Shabir Shah for his peace clamour. Dukhtaran chief, Mrs Asiya Andrabi addressing a press conference here today, dubbed Shah a traitor, who hobnobbed with the Centre. She has urged Jehadi groups to beware of designs of such persons and take action if necessary.

Shah is in touch with official interlocutor for talks with Kashmiri groups, Mr K.C. Pant and is toying with the idea of holding dialogue on the latter’s invitation. Mr Pant has already replied to Shah’s letter seeking clarifications and the same is not being liked by extremist militant groups who have warned all separatist groups and want them to stay away from New Delhi’s peace moves.

Poll results will silence critics: CM
M. L. Kak
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 18
While appreciating the American stand on the Kashmir issue, the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has said the US Government has understand the ground reality and the sentiments of the people of India by announcing that it has no plan to negotiate between New Delhi and Islamabad on the issue.

Dr Farooq told mediapersons after inaugurating a seminar on WTO-related issues here today that India was against interference or third-party mediation on Kashmir. He said the issue had to be settled between India and Pakistan.

To a question, the Chief Minister said the peace process initiated by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, would continue.

He said “when the peace process was initiated we knew that our enemy will try to derail it, which are not going to allow”. He said the peace process “had allowed India to win goodwill in the world and our security forces have achieved a series of successes by eliminating large groups of rebels”.

The Chief Minister said those opposed to peace would be taught a lesson by the people yearning for peace. He said the Assembly elections were not far and the people would give a befitting response to those trying to disrupt the peace process.

To another question, he said he would not be able to say anything on extension of ceasefire. This was for the Prime Minister to decide and he hoped Mr Vajpayee would study the pros and cons of the situation. “Whatever decision is taken, I will support that”, he said.

He said the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, and the Defence Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, were scheduled to visit Srinagar tomorrow to review the security scenario and “I will brief the team on the issue of extension of the ceasefire”.

Dr Farooq ridiculed the demand for Assembly elections under Governor’s rule. He said when the Assembly poll was held in 1996 the state was under Centre rule but his detractors were able to win the elections. He said under his regime elections would be free and fair as had been the panchayat poll recently.

Asked whether he was serious in ordering Assembly poll ahead of schedule, he said “one year is not a long time”, he had asked his partymen and other political leaders to get ready for the poll.

He said Mr K.C. Pant, government’s chief negotiator, had moved in the right direction and hoped that talks and an economic package would go together.

Uri residents see peace
Want ceasefire extended
Ehsan Fazili
Tribune News Service

Uri, May 18
About six months of unilateral ceasefire may have brought little solace to people in other parts of Kashmir, but residents here are at peace as the guns have fallen silent along the borders. They pray for continuation of the ceasefire.

“It is a benefit for the civilian population”, said an official here. The civilians could devote more time to their fields in the winter months and spring. “Much work has been done in the fields and developmental works are on”, a local resident told TNS here.

“Ab shanti hi shanti hai”, said Mohammad Sain, a small shopowner. Over the past two or three years the area close to the Line of Control saw continued firing and shelling from across the border.

Mohammad Sain and Lal Deen lament over the “apathetic” attitude of the government. “The benefits do not reach the people at the grassroot level”, said Mohammad Sain. “Barish to paharon pay hoti hai, lekin neechay kuchch nahin pohunchta,” he said. Relief and compensation from the government reaches only to “politically influential” families, most locals allege.

The residents of villages around this border township, including Kamalkote, Batakote, Sultandhaki and vicinities of Hajee Peer, have been affected most by the firing from across the border. The past six months have been calm and there is no threat to the life and property of the civilian population.

Several residential houses have been damaged in the shelling over the years while several have been killed or rendered handicapped. Many have fallen a victim to landmine blasts along the borders.

The area, about 100 km northwest of Srinagar, is different from the rest of the valley in many respects. The people here “enthusiastically” participated in the recently held panchayat elections that took place after a gap of 23 years. “Many candidates received threats from militants”, said a government employee.

Although local youths can be seen playing volleyball with Army and security personnel in the town, the residents are not allowed to move around freely. Those in Salamabad and Kamalkote on the Uri-Lalpur road have to undergo security checks at various points while moving out of the town.

“There is every possibility of the militants attempting to create trouble”, said a local police official, adding that the security checks were necessary in the border area.

Amid all this, the residents yearn for the extention of the unilateral ceasefire which has silenced the guns along the borders. They eagerly wait for the government decision on the issue.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had announced the cessation of combat operations against the militants in Jammu and Kashmir which commenced from November 28 last year with the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan.