J&K House debate on PoK
SRINAGAR, Oct 13 — The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today started a discussion on a resolution that occupied Kashmir be liberated and united with the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Education system in disarray: minister
SRINAGAR, Oct 13 — The education system in Jammu and Kashmir was in "a disarray from top to bottom" in the absence of adequate financial assistance to improve the condition of government schools.

Will Pak army launch another Kargil?
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Oct 13 — Will military rule in Pakistan trigger another anti-India Operation in Kashmir?

This is a question being debated in public circles in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening, when Pakistan Army Chief, Gen. Parvez Musharraf, dismissed the Nawaz Sharif Government and seized control of the country. Three anti-India operations had been launched by Pakistan in previous spells of rule.

After Gen. Ayub Khan who took over the reigns of the country in 1958 was the author of Operation Gibralter in Kashmir in 1965 sending infiltrators into Kashmir for kicking up subversive violence.

The infiltrators were yet to strike when they were spotted and Indian troops launched operation flushout which ultimately triggered a major armed conflict between Pakistan and India. The conflict ended with the help of the Soviet intervention, which was followed by the Tashkent Agreement.

Gen. Yahya Khan assumed power from Gen Ayub Khan in 1969 and declared Martial Law in Pakistan. He later launched Operation Al Fatah in Kashmir in which a group of Kashmiri youth was won over by Pakistani agencies and given arms to carry out subversive activities. A police crackdown on this group resulted in an early end to operation Al Fatah.

Under the rule of Gen. Zia-ul-Haq Operation Topac was launched in Jammu and Kashmir in 1988. Under this operation disgruntled Kashmiri youth were assisted in crossing over to Pakistan occupied Kashmir where they were given arms training. After receiving training they were sent back to the valley for indulging in terrorist activities.

Operation Topac was an improvement on Operation Gilbralter. Knowledgeable people have confirmed reports that some Chinese experts had suggested to Gen. Ayub Khan that for any successful operations against the Indian agencies in Kashmir the assistance and cooperation of the local youth was a must. Gen. Khan is said to have ignored the Chinese suggestions thinking that his infiltrators backed by Pakistan troops on the border could liberate Kashmir while Gen Ayub Khan failed Zia's Operation Topac continues to create problems for India even 11 years later.

In the light of these developments political leaders and other intellectuals are discussing whether Gen Parvez Musharraf will continue to back to Operation Topac or launch a new operation to force "India out of Kashmir."

Since reports have confirmed that Gen Musharraf had given the green light for the Kargil operations the overthrow of an elected Government is being treated here as a shift from doves to hawks. Past experience and events bear testimony to the fact that the military rulers in Pakistan have adopted a hawkish attitude against India to win public support at home.

The majority of Kashmiris are seen discussing the latest development in Pakistan with keener interest than the formation of the new Cabinet in Delhi under the Prime Ministership of Mr Vajpayee. Most people in the valley remained awake throughout the night to listen to the first broadcast and telecast to the nation by Gen Musharraf.

The general opinion in Kashmir is that the new military rulers may not risk their future by confronting India militarily at a time when the economic and political situation in Pakistan itself was in flux. Gen Musharraf has himself admitted that the economy in Pakistan was on the verge of collapse and hence he may not venture to buy trouble from India what with world opinion favouring early restoration of democratic rule in Pakistan.

Though reports from across the border do not indicate any fresh misadventure in Kashmir, the security forces have been directed to be on the alert and foil a mischief from across the LoC. At least one thing is clear though. Gen Musharraf will not allow any let up in the shape and size of Operation Topac. Infiltration from across the border will continue and militancy related violence is unlikely to slow down on its own.

5 militants escape from police lockup

JAMMU, Oct 13 (PTI) — Four Pakistani and one Afghan militant escaped from police lockup in Ramgarh in Jammu division early this morning after killing a special police officer (SPO) and critically injuring a Head Constable, police sources said here.

The five militants, who have been identified as Mohammad Hafiz, Mohammad Ismail, Mohammad Rafiq and Mohammad Rashid — all Pakistanis — and Mehmood Khan of Afghanistan, escaped after breaking the locks around 2.30 a.m.

The militants, while escaping shot dead SPO Rishi Kumar and seriously injured a Head Constable, Mahesh Kumar, and took away a self-loading rifle (SLR) from the spot, sources said.

They said the five had been lodged in the Ramgarh police lockup, 40 km from here, for the past two weeks.

Police and paramilitary troops launched a hunt to nab the militants, sources said.

Meanwhile, a report from Srinagar said three BSF personnel were injured when militants attacked their picket with a grenade at Sopore in Baramula district of Jammu and Kashmir, where four persons, including a militant, were killed since last evening, official sources said today.

The jawans manning the picket near Jamia Masjid in Sopore, 55 km from here, were injured last night when militants hurled a grenade at them.

So far no militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack.

A militant was killed by the security forces during search operations at Duniwar village in Baramula district last night.

The body of Bashir Ahmad Sofi, a counter-insurgent, was recovered from the Pattan area of the district today, the spokesman said. Sofi was believed to have been killed by militants after kidnapping him.

Militants also shot dead surrendered militant Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Khurroo, who was associated with the security forces, at his Sonawani-Handwara residence in Kupwara today.

A body bearing bullet wounds was found in the same district, official sources said.

Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Lone alias Umar, a Pakistan-trained militant of the Al-Burq group, and another militant were nabbed by the security forces during a raid at the Nawabazar Buchwara-Dalgate area of Srinagar last night.

Security forces smashed militant hideouts at Rangwar in Baramula, Pabat-Hafradha in Kupwara and Potha-Galadhar in Doda district yesterday, the spokesman said.

J&K House debate on PoK
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Oct 13 — The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today started a discussion on a resolution that occupied Kashmir be liberated and united with the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Speaker, Mr Abdul Ahad Vakil, put off till tomorrow the discussion on the resolution moved by Mr Ashok Khajuria of the BJP. At least 13 assembly members spoke in favour and against the resolution that was tabled after a one-hour break following question hour.

There was no zero hour to enable members of the 87-member House to watch the oath taking ceremony of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and his Council of Ministers.

Before the discussion on the resolution was suspended till tomorrow, the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Pyare Lal Handoo, intervening on the resolution, said before discussing the sensitive issue of the liberation of PoK in the assembly there was need to look into the background which led to the demarcation of the LoC.

In this connection, he referred to the recent speeches made by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, which were significant.

Objecting to the intervention of Mr Sadiq Ali, NC MLA, the Speaker Mr Abdul Ahad Vakil, said the issue was sensitive and would create more bitterness in relations between the two countries. He also referred to the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir which enabled the House to have discussion on the whole area of Jammu and Kashmir that existed on August 15, 1947. At another point, the Speaker stated that the "subject is bitter" and urged the members to "be calm and have sweet presentations".

While moving the resolution, Mr Ashok Khajuria of the BJP referring to the division of the state in 1947 took exception to the delay in the rehabilitation of refugees in various parts of the state. He also questioned as to why there was an allocation of 25 seats in the state assembly for representatives from the "part of Kashmir" now in the occupation of Pakistan. He said it was not a political issue, but the question of unity and "reunion" of parts of India.

Supporting the resolution, Mr Shiv Charan Gupta of the BJP said while there was an allocation of 25 seats for representatives from that part of the territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India could not afford to leave it. Mr Harsh Dev Singh, the lone member of the Panthers Party, supporting the resolution referred to various sections of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir envisaging the House of 111 members.

The ruling National Conference members, including Abdul Majid Mir, Sadiq Ali, Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy, Jagjeevan Lal, Mohammad Abdullah Mujahid Mohammad Syed Aakhoon and Mubarak Gul also spoke on the resolution and sought a peaceful resolution of the issue through bilateral talks. They expressed concern about the killings in the valley.

Education system in disarray: minister
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Oct 13 — The education system in Jammu and Kashmir was in "a disarray from top to bottom" in the absence of adequate financial assistance to improve the condition of government schools.

This was stated by Mr Pyare Lal Handoo, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, during a discussion on a resolution moved in the Legislative Assembly today. The resolution was moved by Mr Som Nath of the BSP.

Admitting that the education system in the State was in a disarray, the minister said there was need to overcome the financial constraints that the State was facing.

Replying to a question, Minister for School Education, Mohammad Sahrief Tariq said efforts were on to introduce same syllabi in all private and government educational institutions so as to enable students of the government schools to compete with other students. He regretted that many schools in distant areas across the state were closed on various accounts. He said District Deputy Commissioners had been directed to formulate a list of such institutions. But so far the requisite data was not available.

He stated that the panchayat elections would help a lot in this direction as panches and sarpanches could be involved in the smooth functioning of these schools.

Giving details of the government schools, he said the state had 10,483 primary schools, 3,104 middle schools, 1114 high schools, 237 higher secondary schools and 1746 private institutions.

Mr Som Nath of the BSP said teachers in government schools prefer to send their wards to private educational institutions. He added that the government schools had failed in providing adequate teaching facilities to attract more students.

Mr Ashok Sharma of the Congress sought a proper survey of the closed schools.