“India and Pakistan, both nuclear powers, are big countries. If they can display flexibility in their stand on the Kashmir issue, why cannot we,” chairman of People’s Conference Sajjad Gani Lone said at a gathering here on the first death anniversary of his father Abdul Gani Lone.

Referring to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s fresh peace initiatives, Lone said the “world order has changed... A peace wave has begun and we have to understand it.”

“We have to know our standing on the diplomatic front and adjust accordingly,” he said cautioning the Hurriyat leadership not to “miss the (peace) bus now.”

Sajjad also called on people to control their anti-US and anti-west sentiment saying “we have to be careful of the consequences of these utterances. Sentimental statements may be pleasing for the time being but it could harm the Kashmir cause, he added.

“We have to see whether we are advocating the cause of the people of the state properly or not ... Whether we are harming the feelings of the people by our acts,” he said.

Observing that there was a strong undercurrent in favour of independence, Lone said the people of the state would demand it on their own even if the Hurriyat or his party did not seek it.

Thousands of people assembled at the Sher-e-Kashmir park here despite a heavy downpour to pay homage to the founder of the People’s Conference, who was shot dead by militants in Srinagar last year.

Sajjad said “I reiterate my father’s words... that Kashmir is neither the ‘jugular vein nor is it the integral part of any one. Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris and only they would decide its future.”

Party leaders, including district presidents from Kashmir and Jammu Provincial president, paid tributes to the senior Lone.

This is for the first time in recent years that a separatist political party has been allowed to hold a rally. Since chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed assumed power last November, political activities, including those by separatists, have started picking up in the valley. PTI

Professor Bhat said he would complete his extended term of one year in July this year when the elections for the new chairman would be held.

He said since he had completed two terms as chairman in July last year, he could not contest for the post for the third term as per the constitution of the amalgam.

Professor Bhat was given one year extension in July last year as three out of the seven executive council members — Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammad Yaseen Malik and Sheikh Abdul Aziz — were in jails.

In the 23-party amalgam, only seven executive council members are eligible to contest the elections and vote for the chairman's post.

Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq was the first chairman for two successive terms, followed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

Meanwhile, expressing confidence that talks between India and Pakistan would commence in the near future, Professor Bhat said the people of Jammu and Kashmir could not be ignored while arriving at a final resolution of the Kashmir issue.

“I am confident that talks will happen between India and Pakistan in the near future and there should be no two opinions on this,'' he said.

When asked about the participation of the people of the state in the talks between the two nuclear powers on Kashmir, Professor Bhat said the sacrifices made by the people could not be ignored by either side.

“The representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir have to be present during the talks... sooner or later,'' he said, adding that the voice of the people had to be there which would be good for the restoration of lasting peace in the subcontinent.

He said it was because of the Kashmir issue that the relations between the two neighbours, which share history, geography, music and other things, had not improved even after 53 years of their independence. UNI

Talking to a deputation of the Hindu Welfare Kashmir Forum here last evening, the Chief Minister assured them that he would also take up this issue with various chief ministers who were coming here for the chief ministers' conclave.

He said efforts would be made to provide them jobs in the state government, besides organising a special recruitment drive in police.

Another deputation from Zewan, led by Mr G.M. Bawan asked the Chief Minister to open a school, a health centre and a playfield in the locality.

The Chief Minister assured them that their demands would be examined.

Responding to the demands of a deputation of unemployed doctors, Mr Sayeed said the state government was formulating a policy for tackling the problem.

Among the other deputations that met the Chief Minister and apprised him of their problems, one was from the Nowgam area of Srinagar which demanded employment to one member each of the families whose entire land had been acquired for the construction of the rail project as promised by the Railway Minister.

The Chief Minister assured them of appropriate follow-up action on their demands. UNI

An official spokesman told UNI that the Kashmir Divisional Commissioner had directed Additional District Magistrate (Kupwara) Sharief Uddin to inquire into the death of Ashraf after he was arrested by security forces.

The inquiry officer has been directed to submit his report within 10 days, he said.

Shops and business establishments in the Kupwara town and other adjoining areas, meanwhile, remained closed and traffic was off the road.

Work in government offices and educational institutions was also affected due to the strike that entered the third day today.

Protesters demanded immediate arrest of the Army officer allegedly involved in Ashraf’s death. Demanding a judicial probe into the matter, the demonstrators alleged that Ashraf was picked up by security forces from his house last week.

They further alleged that he was tortured to death by the security forces which later blasted his body. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti has also condemned the custodial death of Ashraf. Expressing shock over the incident, she said: “We condemn killings of innocent people by the militants and security forces.” UNI

“We have been asked to be alert and avoid flying over some specific places over the Pir Panjal range in view of reports that militants want to target copters,” the sources told PTI here.

As per telephone intercepts, cadres of militant outfits, particularly Al-Badr, Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), operating in the Pir Panjal range have been asked by their Pak-based commanders to target copters, the sources said, adding that 19 such messages have been intercepted.

There are also intelligence reports that Al-Badr and HuM outfits have procured some shoulder-fired Stringer missiles, while the LeT has armed itself with pilotless vehicles, the sources said.

Nearly 20 to 30 special sorties are being undertaken by copters in the mountainous belts of Doda, Poonch, Rajouri and Udhampur each day for carrying troops and other necessary items.

Meanwhile, the Army has beefed up security around 13 helipads at high altitudes in Doda, Rajouri and Poonch districts in Jammu division, the sources said. PTI 

“We are caught between Pakistani and Afghan militants and security forces, both of whom intrude into our houses at any time,” 92-year-old Lala Begum, who lost six members of her family in Tuesday’s massacre, says.

“Militants intrude into our houses freely, eat food and even then kill us as we are Gujjars,” says Lala Begum, tears rolling down her wrinkled cheeks. She goes on to complain that security forces don’t treat them any better.

“Security forces come, ask for militants and put us into the list of suspects,” she says.

While they are ‘suspects’ for the Army, militants kill them labelling them as informers, Mr Nisar Ahmed (name changed) says. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner A.K. Dewadi said security measures had been taken to build confidence among the people living in the area. PTI

Legislative Assembly Speaker Tara Chand, Minister for Finance, Planning, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Muzaffar Hussain Baig and other ministers, besides senior officers of various executing agencies were also present.

It was decided that the legislature complex, coming up adjacent to the High Court building, would be annexed with Civil Secretariat offices.

It was decided that a suitable and conveniently located place would be identified for the construction of a new legislature complex. Among the options is the reconstruction of the complex at the present Shergarhi Darbargarh location and shifting of the two Houses to the SKICC with the acquisition of the Centaur Hotel as MLAs’ Hostel. UNI