J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

11 militants killed
Srinagar, September 14
Eleven militants and three security personnel were among 16 persons killed while five militants were nabbed in Jammu and Kashmir overnight. An official spokesman said a BSF jawan was killed and two others were wounded when a landmine planted by militants exploded at Chansar Kulgam in South Kashmir last evening.

Army on Friday displaying large cache of deadly weapons recovered from 18 Pakistani intruders killed in the Kupwara sector of north Kashmir on Thursday. — PTI photo

Separatists in grip of fear
Jammu, September 14
“If the US Government mounts pressure on Islamabad, Pakistan may not be in a position to sustain crossborder terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. This is the common refrain in various public and separatist circles in the Kashmir valley. This very fear has forced many in Kashmir to hold back their “excitement” over the terrorist strikes against key US installations.

11 militants killed

Srinagar, September 14
Eleven militants and three security personnel were among 16 persons killed while five militants were nabbed in Jammu and Kashmir overnight.

An official spokesman said a BSF jawan was killed and two others were wounded when a landmine planted by militants exploded at Chansar Kulgam in South Kashmir last evening.

Two ultras were killed when an explosive device they were reportedly planting at Achabal in Anantnag district went off.

An encounter took place between militants and the security forces at Nowshera Gurez in which an ultra was killed. One AK rifle, a magazine and 13 rounds were seized.

At least four persons were injured in a firing incident at Kherpora last evening.

Troops captured five militants and also seized some arms and ammunition across the valley overnight.

A powerful improvised explosive device (IED) went off at Sopore early today. UNI

Separatists in grip of fear
M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 14
“If the US Government mounts pressure on Islamabad, Pakistan may not be in a position to sustain crossborder terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. This is the common refrain in various public and separatist circles in the Kashmir valley. This very fear has forced many in Kashmir to hold back their “excitement” over the terrorist strikes against key US installations.

However, the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has been in the forefront of those who have criticised the terrorist strike in strong words, but with a rider. The APHC Chairman, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, has said that “I condemn the strikes in letter and spirit”, but the US Government should have addressed the issues that “have bred terrorism” in many parts of the world.

He referred to the Palestinian and the Kashmir issues and said “if these problems are resolved to the satisfaction of the people of the two areas, it could generate a peace and violence-free world.”

Prof Bhat is one among many Kashmiri leaders who fear that American retaliation can further endanger world peace. He has said “the American Government should not punish those not involved in the strikes.” He favoured a thorough probe so that the culprits and their supporters could be punished.

Dr Farooq Abdullah, Chief Minister, condemning the terrorist strikes in America, said that these acts were against “humanity, human values and democracy.” He said “it is time for the US Government to act on Indian reports and use suitable political methods to get terrorist breeding centres in Pakistan and Afghanistan closed immediately.

The most suitable political measures, according to the National Conference leadership, would be to impose economic and military sanctions against Pakistan.

An interview with a cross-section of the people in Kashmir has revealed that separatists, militants and their supporters are in the grip of fear. It is the result of two factors. First, they have fears that Islamabad may ultimately succumb to American pressure and stop aiding militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

Second, they envisage a situation in which Delhi and Washington may get closer than the two have been hitherto, despite mild pro-India bias in the American foreign policy during the past three years.

When terrorists carried out their deadly strikes in America on Tuesday, the separatists had, at their closed-door meetings, said “the Setan has been hit hard.” But gradually this feeling has been replaced by concern, not over what happened in the USA, but, over the global support the US Government has received in its resolve to declare war against those breeding terrorists.

A large section of people in the state and those representing mainstream political organisations, who have been a votary for peace and end to bloodshed, hope that effective American intervention will be able to stop the bloodbath that has been taking place in Jammu and Kashmir for the past 12 years. During this period over 50,000 people have been killed, over four lakh rendered homeless and over 10,000 have become orphans.

Events during the past 12 years have indicated that unless infiltration of militants and foreign mercenaries from across the border is not stopped, militancy-related violence will not end in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian security forces have tried their best to halt the ingress but because of the tough border terrain they have not succeeded. 

Kashmiri Pandits remember martyrs
Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 14
While people all over the world held prayer meetings to mourn the death of those killed in terrorist attacks on the key targets in the USA, several organisations of Kashmiri Pandits today observed martyrs day to pay tributes to those members of the community who were gunned down by the militants in Kashmir while defending India’s integrity.

Panun Kashmir observed the day as the day of “our identity.” Chairman of Panun Kashmir, Dr Ajay Chrungoo, Prof M.K. Teng, adviser of the organisation, and others dwelt at length on Kashmir crisis, at an impressive function.

They said the rise of Pak-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and other areas of India had posed new political and military challenges to the Himalayan frontier. The Pandit organisation’s leaders expressed concern over the move of the separatist forces in carrying out ethnic cleansing in Jammu and Kashmir.

They were critical of the central and the state governments for their failure to perceive dangers lurking behind the shootouts and grenade attacks being carried out by militants in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country. They said the green are of Islamic fundamentalism was firmly establishing its bases within India and its neighbouring countries. The tragedy was that the Government of India was treating these developments as mere law and order problem.

The agitated leaders said by refusing to treat migrants from Kashmir as internally displaced people and by rejecting the Panun Kashmir demand for carving out a homeland for Hindus within the Kashmir valley the Government of India had fallen prey to a baseless campaign launched by some pro-Pak forces and the National Conference that vivisection of the state would weaken India’s integrity and unity.

A demand was made to introduce some measures which would ensure a fair degree of freedom of the displaced community from economic distress, penury, pain, and political subjugation. A two minute silence was observed in memory of those who lost their lives at the hands of terrorists.

Dr Ajay Chrungoo, Mr Kuldeep Raina and Mr Shailendra Aima referred to the recent terrorist strike in the USA and said it had forced the US Government to take a serious note of the growth of global terrorism.