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Sunday,
May 20, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Central forces against truce
extension Farooq hails Central
package PoK leaders back Shabir on
response |
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Central forces against truce extension Jammu, May 19 Senior functionaries of the state police, the BSF and the CRPF, according to highly placed sources, are opposed to any further extension to the ceasefire. However, senior Army functionaries, not only in Jammu and Kashmir, but also in Delhi, are said to be in favour of continuation of the present arrangement. Those against extending the ceasefire argue that non-initiation of combat operations have allowed militants, especially foreign mercenaries, an ample opportunity to fortify their bases and extend their area of operation in various parts of the state. They have, in their reports, conveyed to the Centre that during the past six months foreign mercenaries have established bases in Srinagar city and other towns. They have also stated that casualties among security forces, especially the state police, has been high during the ceasefire period. It has been explained that since the security forces are under strict instructions not to violate the ceasefire orders, the militants have been able to create scare among the people, forcing many separatists to reject the offer for talks. However, senior Army functionaries advocate the need for extending the ceasefire on the ground that it has come as a respite to the troops deployed on the LoC. Pakistan has responded to the ceasefire by ordering its troops to observe restraint at the LoC. With the result, not more than 1700 rounds were fired by the Pakistan troops during the past two months against about 10 lakh rounds per month during the pre-ceasefire period. Similarly, has there been no incident of mortar shelling either at the LoC or the International Border since December last. Informed sources said the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, while briefing Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani and Defence Minister Jaswant Singh, during their daylong trip to Srinagar today to review the security scenario, emphasised the need for additional measures for checking infiltration from across Pakistan and occupied Kashmir. He is said to have told the Union Ministers that if foreign mercenaries are allowed to sneak into Jammu and Kashmir, there will be little chance for restoration of peace. Dr Farooq also wanted the two Union Ministers to convey to the Prime Minister that the security scenario must be reviewed before he takes a decision on extending the ceasefire. Reports revealed that the Chief Minister was told about the political and diplomatic gains India had secured after the enforcement of the ceasefire. According to these reports, the Union Ministers were told that the situation continued to be uneasy but it was neither alarming nor grim. A majority of people in several hundred border villages from Kargil to Uri and Uri to Rajouri and Akhnoor to Kathua were for continuation of ceasefire because it had restricted Pakistani firing and shelling. In addition, groups of militants continued to be eliminated in one area or the other. Though the rate of elimination of militants had declined since November last, when the ceasefire was enforced, the peace process initiated by the Prime Minister had caused a lot of confusion among the separatists and some militant outfits. It was because of the peace initiative that separatist camps were witnessing dissension though some mainstream political parties, including the National Conference, the Congress and the BJP, in the state favoured hard measures for tackling the militancy. Indications are that the Prime Minister, who faces stiff opposition from the Sangh Parivar, may opt for further extension of the ceasefire which has forced Pakistan to be on the defensive. Those who support the peace initiative argue that the process needs to be experimented for another six months and the security forces should be directed to carry out operations only on the basis of specific information without causing inconvenience to the people. |
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Farooq hails Central
package Jammu, May 19 Speaking at a seminar organised on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) here by the Chamber of Commerce and Industries in collaboration with SIDCs and the Union Ministry of Industries, Dr Abdullah said the long-awaited central package would help in promoting the small-scale industry in general and the agro-based industry, in particular, to compete in the world market. He said products like shawls, pashmina, textiles, dry fruits and woodwork would have a good demand in the world market. Dr Abdullah said the Centre had been requested to set up a mega thermal plant in Kathua in addition to the ongoing hyrdro electric projects. The Union Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Mr Omar Abdullah, in his key note address said that the state had a great potential for opening up of new industrial units. Referring to the activities of the WTO in boosting industrial growth, Mr Omar Abdullah said fruit processing technology in Jammu and Kashmir had been adjudged as the best and the Centre was initiating measures for development of food processing units. Soon after the seminar, two memoranda of understandings (MoUs) were signed between the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade and the universities of Jammu and Kashmir. The purpose of the MoU was to upgrade the skills of the entrepreneurs in the region. The MoUs were signed by Prof R.R. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, Jammu University, Prof Abdul Wahid, Vice-Chancellor, Kashmir University and Prof K. Dharamarajan, Director-General, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, in the presence of the Chief Minister and the Union Minister of State for Commerce, besides the senior functionaries of the state government and the Chamber of Commerce and Industries. |
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PoK leaders back Shabir on response Srinagar, May 19 Mr Shah told mediapersons he had written to leaders of different Kashmiri organisations, besides individuals across the globe, seeking their advice on the latest developments on the Centre’s offer for talks and subsequent exchange of letters between his party and government negotiator K.C. Pant. He said almost every leader was in favour of peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue but had expressed doubt about the sincerity of Indian leaders. “We told these leaders about Mr Pant’s response to our letter in which he (Pant) accepted that Pakistan will have to be included in the talks for finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue and that Kashmir is not a law and order problem. These leaders supported our move,’’ Mr Shah said. The DFP Chairman said Mr Khan had assured him the support of the people of PoK and Kashmiris living in Pakistan, but said “everything depends on how India reacts to our sincere efforts towards achieving the goal of peace in the subcontinent.’’ Mr Shah said he was also in touch with former ISI chief Hamid Gul, Air Marshal (Retd) Asgar Khan, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief Amanullah Khan, PoK Prime Minister Barrister Sultan Mahmood, Mr Dikander Hayat Khan and Peoples League chief Farooq Rehmani, among others. He said Mr Amanullah Khan was also in favour of peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue. Asked how much time he needed to respond to Mr Pant’s talks offer, Mr Shah said he would hold a meeting of leaders of his party’s district units on May 26. Later, a two-day seminar would be held in which leaders of different organisations and individuals would be invited to express their views on Mr Pant’s reply to his letter. After ascertaining the views of various groups the party might take another couple of days to decide on Mr Pant’s offer, he explained.
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