M A I N   N E W S

Three Pak troops killed
Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 21
Indian and Pakistan troops have exchanged artillery and mortar fire in Dras and Kargil sectors.

Defence Ministry sources said the Pakistani troops resorted to heavy mortar and artillery fire at 4 p.m. yesterday which continued till 6 a.m. today. There was no casualty on “our side”, the sources said.

According to the sources, the Indian troops retaliated with long-range guns and caused extensive damage to the Pakistani side.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani forces resorted to mortar shelling from across R.S. Pora sector today. As many as 80 mortar shells were fired at Sangrala village and the adjoining areas. Since some of mortar shells exploded in open spaces there was no damage “on our side except houses which suffered minor damage.”

The Pakistani troops also fired scores of rounds from small arms and heavy calibre weapons from across Samba, Arnia and Biranagar. In the Indian retaliatory fire, several Pakistani bunkers were destroyed, resulting in the death of three Pakistani soldiers.

The sources said since the level of firing and shelling from across the border had come down during the past five days “we treat it as a normal border scene.”

However, the police authorities said the rate of infiltration had come down but “it has not ended.”

As the level of border firing has come down, migrants are getting ready to return to their border villages. Report said some migrant families had sent one or two members to spend a night at their ancestral villages and “feel the pulse in the area” before others could go back.

However, many are not yet ready to return. They have cited the example of migrant from Pallanwala. They said during the past two years some migrants from Pallanwala in Akhnoor had gone back, but the moment they opened the locks of their houses the area was rocked by mortar shell explosions, forcing them to return to the camps.

Trilok Singh of R.S. Pora said, “We will wait for another week and if there is no heavy shelling and firing, we may go back.” 

End infiltration, have talks; George tells Musharraf
Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 21
India will resume dialogue with Pakistan for the resolution of bilateral problems if General Pervez Musharraf translated his commitment to end infiltration “permanently” into action.

This was stated by the Union Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, at a news conference here today after visiting forward areas.

Mr Fernandes, accompanied by the Corps Commander, Lt-Gen J.B.S. Yadava, said General Musharraf had promised to end infiltration permanently and “we will test it on the ground.” Once “we are satisfied that ingress has been ended permanently, we will resume talks.”

The Defence Minister said infiltration, as of now, had been stopped. “It has ended though there may be some undetected ingress.” He said once it was found that ingress had finally and permanently ended, then alone Indo-Pak talks “can begin”.

He said there were still 3,000 militants active in Jammu and Kashmir. They had crossed into the state under the fire cover provided by the Pakistani troops.

Asked whether the process of de-escalation would be started after infiltration had ended, the minister said, “We have to wait and see if it has finally been stopped.” He added, “Till then there was no question of withdrawing our troops from the border.”

He made it clear that the fight against the terrorists operating in the state would continue as long as it was necessary.

Mr Fernandes said India had taken concrete steps to defuse the situation. He explained that withdrawal of naval forces, opening of the air space with Pakistan and appointment of a new High Commissioner in Islamabad were some of these steps. He said, “We are awaiting Pakistan’s positive response to these gestures and steps.”

He made it clear that the situation on the border was still volatile. “There is no change in the border situation. Troops are in action position,” he said.

Asked whether the Government of India would accept the Hurriyat Conference proposal which included withdrawal of troops from the border, Mr Fernandes said, “We are for a dialogue with the Hurriyat Conference but there should be no conditions.”

He said the government had invited the Hurriyat leaders for talks and in this connection the government’s chief negotiator, Mr K.C. Pant, had been sent to Srinagar last year but the Hurriyat leaders boycotted his trip.

Of late, the government had “taken strong steps against the 23-member separatist conglomerate and its former chief, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, is in jail.”

If the Hurriyat “wants to have a dialogue with the government, we would welcome it but its leaders should not impose conditions.”