Srinagar, July 10
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who arrived here today to review the current political and security situation in the state, said the Centre was ready to talk to anyone, including the Hurriyat Conference, and discuss all issues at the convenience of both sides.

He, however, refused to disclose if an invitation for talks was extended to the moderate Hurriyat Conference, led by Mirwaiz Omar Farooq.

“We have said it repeatedly and I say it here again that the Government of India is ready to talk to anyone and discuss all issues at the convenience of both sides,” he told reporters here.

Soon after his arrival, Mr Patil left for the holy Amarnath cave to pay obeisance at the shrine and take stock of arrangements for pilgrims.

Later, Mr Patil chaired a Unified Command meeting where the current security situation in Jammu and Kashmir was discussed.

He ruled out any link between those who attacked the disputed Ramjanmabhoomi site at Ayodhya on July 5 and militant groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir.

“There is no evidence as of now which would suggest any link between the Ayodhya attackers and the Kashmiri militant groups,’’ he said.

The minister, however, said the investigating team had got some vital clues about the attackers.

Meanwhile, fresh differences surfaced between the Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Lieut-Gen S.K. Sinha (retd), and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed over the conduct of the two-month-long Amarnath pilgrimage.

Well-placed sources said Mr Sayeed chose to stay away from the security review meeting that was chaired by Mr Patil.

Earlier in the morning, Minister of State for Tourism Renuka Chowdhary flew to the cave and paid obeisance at the shrine. Impressed by the flow of pilgrim tourists, she announced that the Government of India would develop the Amarnath sector. — UNI

Jammu, July 10
Foiling militants’ bid to disrupt the Amarnath pilgrimage, Army troops today recovered a 20-kg improvised explosive device (IED) along the Jammu Srinagar national highway in Ramban area, 150-km from here, official sources said.

Troops detected the IED, planted on the right side of the highway at Baghara, at around 1045 an minutes before a convoy of pilgrims, beaded towards Pahalgam, was to pass by, they said.

The IED, which had an attached detonator, was later defused by the bomb disposal squad, they added. — PTI

Srinagar, July 10
While Italy has withdrawn advisory to its people against visiting Jammu and Kashmir, the British Government is expected to lift the adverse advisory soon, as the state was a “safer destination” for tourists. The Union Tourism Ministry has also planned to take up a new publicity campaign for Jammu and Kashmir to attract both domestic and international tourists.

Stating this here today, the union Minister of State for Tourism, Ms Renuka Chowdhary, said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir had improved to a great extent, adding that it was as safe as New York and Bangkok. There was a substantial increase in the number of tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the valley, over the past three years, she claimed. The Government of India had during the World Trade fair in Spain last September campaigned for withdrawing adverse travel advisories, following which Italy had withdrawn it. A group of British journalists had been sent to Jammu and Kashmir, who have also submitted their report and it was expected that the UK would soon withdraw the advisory, Ms Chowdhary said.

Talking to mediapersons here today at the end of her three-day visit to the valley, Ms Chowdhary announced a series of measures to boost tourism in Kashmir. She assured full Central assistance to help boost tourism in the trouble-torn state.

The Union Minister announced that funds were allocated for the improvement of four sectors, Tawi river front and Shivkhour in the Jammu region, Jhelum river front and the Amarnath Yatra sector in the Kashmir division. She said the Amarnath sector would be developed with special assistance by the Government of India.

Ms Chowdhary said the Centre was waiting for a nod from the state government to hold a car rally from Srinagar to Ladakh in September or October this year. There would also be Kashmir festival in five metro cities in September this year with special thrust on Kashmiri cuisine, Wazawan, and handicrafts.

Srinagar, July 10
Three militants, including one from the banned Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), were among seven persons killed in Jammu and Kashmir overnight, an official spokesman said today.

Security forces laid an ambush at Makhdoom Mohalla Tral in south Kashmir district of Pulwama early this morning after two Jaish militants were spotted there.

As the security forces were sealing the area, militants attacked them with automatic weapons. The forces effectively returned the fire and in the ensuing gunbattle, one militant, identified as Ishfaq Ahmad, a resident of Khashabad in Pakistan, was killed.

An AK-47 rifle, three magazines and 38 rounds were seized from the encounter site.

The spokesman said militants shot dead one Bilal Ahmad Dar at Chadoora in the centrial Kashmir district of Budgam last night.

In another incident, security forces killed one militant at Sarkuli, Kalaroos in the frontier Kupwara district. An AK-47 rifle, five magazines and 42 rounds were seized from the slain ultra.

He said a militant of the Hizbul Mujahideen was killed in a gunfight with the joint party of the security forces and the state police at Chanderni Dhar, Dessa in the Doda district.

One AK rifle, two magazines, 11 rounds and one hand grenade were seized from the slain militant. A civilian was also wounded in the encounter.

Militants shot at and critically wounded Mohammad Sultan Bhat, a resident of Putukhah Muqam, at Sopore in the border district of Baramulla last night.

Militants triggered an improvised explosive device (IED) at Wader Patti in Handwara when security forces were on patrol. Two jawans and three civilians were wounded.

The police yesterday recovered the body of a ten-year-old girl from the Wullar Lake near Larwalipora, Bandipora in Baramulla official sources said, adding that Mushtaq Ahmad Dar of Halpora died due to floods at Soaf Shali, Kokarnag in south Kashmir.

In a road accident, a truck hit a scooterist, Ramez Iqbal of Checki Manigam near the KP Road in Anantnag. He died on the spot. — UNI