M A I N   N E W S

Rashid parts ways with Shabir
JKDFP leader ready to meet Pant

Srinagar, May 18
Hakeem Abdul Rashid, who had refused to be part of a three-member team nominated by JKDFP leader Shabir Shah to hand over a letter to the Centre’s interlocutor K.C. Pant earlier this month, today resigned from the party and joined the Jammu and Kashmir Muslim League, a constituent of the Hurriyat Conference.

Mr Rashid, JKDFP publicity secretary, told mediapersons here that he had “revolted” against Mr Shah on the “call of his conscience” following the latter’s “inclination” to enter into bilateral talks with New Delhi on the Kashmir issue.

“No decision was taken at the meeting to depute a team to New Delhi for handing over the letter to Mr Pant as it amounted to entering into bilateral talks with New Delhi,” Mr Rashid said, adding he had refused to be part of the team for the same reason.

He said the letter could have been sent to Mr Pant through post or courier service as was decided at the apex body’s meeting. “Had Home Minister L.K. Advani or Defence Minsiter Jaswant Singh extended invitation for talks, the response would have been different,” he added.

NEW DELHI: Dispelling doubts over his participation in dialogue over Kashmir, senior seccessionist leader Shabir Shah on Friday asserted that Kashmiri leaders around the world favoured dialogue and he would like to meet the government’s interlocutor K. C. Pant during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir.

Welcoming reports that Mr Pant would be visiting the valley, Mr Shah told PTI over phone from Srinagar “...Pant is our guest and I would love to play host to him. There would be some talks on Kashmir and he will also get the feel of the situation.”

However, he suggested that Mr Pant should meet him at his residence. “Agar woh aaye aur mere ghar aana chhahe to mujhe bahut khushi hogi (if he (Pant) visits the valley and likes to come to my house, I will be very happy,” Mr Shah said in reply to a question.

When asked does his statement mean that it is his way of inviting Mr Pant to start talks on Kashmir, Mr Shah replied “sure, sure”.

“I have not imposed any conditions, I can meet Pant anywhere in the country but I would like him to visit the valley first so that he has a feel of the situation,” Mr Shah said.

“Whether I go first and meet him or he comes first to the valley is not a condition at all,” Mr Shah, who was termed by London-based Amnesty International as “prisoner of conscience”, maintained. PTI

7 Lashkar militants shot
Tribune News Service And Agencies

Jammu, May 18
Troops foiled a major plan to blow up vital installations in Poonch district, eliminating seven hardcore militants today.

Official reports said the group that had crossed into the Poonch belt with weapons and explosives was eliminated within hours of the intrusion.

The reports said while five militants were killed at the Poonch border, two more were gunned down in Mendhar area of the same district. Seven assault rifles and a large quantity of ammunition were recovered from the slain rebels. According to the reports, five militants were spotted while crossing the LoC in Poonch. The troops allowed them to walk into the Indian territory. Once they were less than a furlong in the Indian territory, the troops opened fire, killing all five on the spot. Two more were eliminated in the neighbouring Mendhar.

The seven rebels belonged to the Laskhar-e-Toiba that has been assigned the task of kicking up subversive violence in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri. Yesterday, six Lashkar militants were killed in Poonch and Rajouri.