J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Indian team refuses to accept jawan’s body
JAMMU, Aug 30 — An Indian team led by Col N.S. Duggal, refused to accept a body that the Pakistani team had claimed was of an Indian Infantry soldier reportedly killed in border conflict in Nowshehra in Rajouri four day ago.

Pak army directly training militants
SRINAGAR, Aug 30 — Displayed in a corner of the captured arms museum at Headquarters 15 Corps are training notes seized from militants in the strife-torn state. And what their contents indicate is something not be taken lightly.

Geelani has his way in Majlis-e-Shoura
JAMMU, Aug 30 — For the time being the tussle between the moderates headed by Mr G.M. Bhat, and the hawks led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani has been pushed under the carpet. The Majlis-e-Shoura (Supreme Council) of Jamaat-e-Islami has neither reprimanded nor recalled Mr Geelani from the All Party Hurriyat Conference.

6 J&K ultras killed
SRINAGAR, Aug 30 — Eight persons, six of them militants were killed while security forces averted two major tragedies and nabbed two militants in the state during the past 24 hours.

Specify agenda, Islamic Front asks Hurriyat
SRINAGAR, Aug 30 — Apparently doubting the Hurriyat Conference’s agenda, a militant outfit has asked the conglomerate of several separatist organisations to specify its programme for resolution of the Kashmir issue.

Computerised treasury inaugurated
JAMMU, Aug 30 — The Finance Minister, Mr A.R. Rather, inaugurated the computerised working system at the Saddar treasury here yesterday.

Indian team refuses to accept jawan’s body
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 30 — An Indian team led by Col N.S. Duggal, refused to accept a body that the Pakistani team had claimed was of an Indian Infantry soldier reportedly killed in border conflict in Nowshehra in Rajouri four day ago.

The Indian team did not carry the body as there was no evidence to prove that the body was that of the Indian soldier.

Col Duggal explained to the Pak team, headed by Mohd. Salim of Pak Rangers, that the height of the Indian soldier killed was 166 cms and he had two moles, one on the right thigh and the other on the upper arm. An examination of the body revealed that there were no moles and the length of the body brought by Pak team was 174 cms.

The Indian team also protested against the decomposition of the body. Against this the bodies of the two Pakistani soldiers, which were handed over to the Pak team at octroi post in R.S. Pora sector today, were embalmed and wrapped in Pakistani flags.

The bodies were handed over to the Pak team with respect.

Col Duggal said the body, brought to the zero line, was not that of Lance Naik Gopa Das of 8 Sikh Light Infantry and hence the Indian soldiers brought the Indian flag and not the body which lay on the zero line till mediapersons along with the Indian team left the area.

Dr Sajid of Pakistan Army Medical Corps examined the two bodies and was satisfied and accepted the bodies willingly. In reply to the protest lodged by the Indian team Pak Army officer Mohd. Salim said the Indian troops had not taken care of the body of their soldier. “We found it lying at Pele Post in Sialkot sector and brought it to the border,” he said.

However, Col Duggal said “we had shown respect to the bodies of the enemy troops but Pakistani side was trying to take us for a ride.”

“When asked why the Pak side could not preserve the body as the Indian side had done, Mohd. Salim said,” We found the body yesterday and we had no time to take it to the mortuary or embalm it”.

Pak army directly training militants
From Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Aug 30 — Displayed in a corner of the captured arms museum at Headquarters 15 Corps are training notes seized from militants in the strife-torn state. And what their contents indicate is something not be taken lightly.

Written in local languages, including Urdu, Persian and Pushto along with diagrams, graphics and illustrations, these notes speak of a high level of training being imparted to them. There are illustrations of various weapons complete with their components fully labelled along with the weapons’ characteristics, method of handling and cleaning.

The notes reveal that the militants are also imparted training in communication, fieldcraft and ambush, besides making IEDs. One of the diagrams and its accompanying notes show how to ambush a convoy while it negotiates a bridge. Another diagram shows how to lay landmines and to make various types of IEDs. The accompanying notes run into scores of pages. Besides these, the notes reveal instructions on how to use hand-held radiosets and communication equipment.

One of the captured notebooks also contains illustrations of rank insignias worn by Indian Army officers, while another contained notes on first aid.

The fact that these notes are hand written indicates that a section of the militants are educated. It is well-known that in the post-Kargil scenario, the Pakistani army is openly involved in training, aiding and abetting terrorism. Reports say that Pakistani formations have taken direct control and the training includes artillery fire control and long range weapons firing training given at its Tilla Range.

According to sources, the Kashmiri militants undergo training for three to four months, while the foreign mercenaries are trained for a period of five months. The training has two aspects. The first includes weapon handling, conducting raids and ambush, and the second is motivational training which consists of religious fundamentalism, anti-India rhetoric and jehad to protect Islam. Communication training is imparted to selected persons.

More significant is the training imparted to foreign mercenaries, which includes subjects like handling explosives, using sniper rifles and high-tech communication equipment, besides sabotage, assassination and urban warfare.

Language ability and taking command of terrorist groups also figures in the training schedule. Instruction is imparted by the ISI to various terrorist groups and Taliban elements as well as youths from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Yemen and Saudi Arabia in camps across the LoC.

Foreign mercenaries operating on Indian soil, according to sources, come from as many as 15 African and Asian countries. They are said to have, at times, a criminal background and are trained in their own countries with refresher courses or special training in Pakistan.

According to information, available here, about 50 per cent of cadres of Hizbul Mujahideen, the largest mercenary outfit in Kashmir, are foreign mercenaries. The Jehad-e-Islami, an Afghan fundamentalist outfit, has a foreign content of 70 per cent, while Lashkar-e-Toiba, another fundamentalist organisation raised recently in association with Markaz-ul-Irshad, has 90 per cent foreigners. Similarly, other known pro-Pakistan outfits such as the Al Badr, Jesh-al-Mohammadi and Al Barq have a foreign content of 95 per cent, 70 per cent and 40 per cent respectively, while the recently raised Al Jehad has been formed by a merger of the Muslim Janbaz Force and the local Kashmir Jehad Force.

The total strength of these factions, according to intelligence estimates is about 1,900. Further, intelligence reports indicate that about 2,400 to 2,750 mercenaries are at present receiving training in various camps, while another 2,000 to 2,250 are waiting across the LoC to be pushed into India. The major points of infiltration are opposite Muzaffarabad, Kanzalwan, Machhal, Lipa Valley, Tangdhar, Gulmarg, Uri and Keran.

Till early this month, 2,065 foreign mercenaries had been killed in the Valley. Of them 1,535 were Pakistanis, 475 Afghans, 30 Bangladeshis and the rest were from Sudan, Iran, Myanmar, Chechnya, Kazakistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Albania, Somalia and Yemen.

Sources say that with the local insurgency being hijacked by the ISI for the purpose of waging a proxy war, monetary gain is the sole reason for the foreign mercenaries to make their way to the valley.

Pakistan reportedly has an annual narco-trade of Rs 10,750 crore ($ 2.5 billion), out of which the ISI spends Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,000 crore on sustaining the militancy and proxy war in Kashmir. A local terrorist is paid Rs 3,000 to Rs 25,000 per month, while foreign mercenaries are paid Rs 2 lakh on infiltration in addition to Rs 3,000 to Rs 25,000 per month.

Also, “high risk operations” fetch them another Rs10,000 to Rs 50,000 while killing Army officers gets them additional amounts up to Rs 50,000, depending upon the rank of the killed officer.

Geelani has his way in Majlis-e-Shoura
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Aug 30 — For the time being the tussle between the moderates headed by Mr G.M. Bhat, and the hawks led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani has been pushed under the carpet. The Majlis-e-Shoura (Supreme Council) of Jamaat-e-Islami has neither reprimanded nor recalled Mr Geelani from the All Party Hurriyat Conference.

The three-day meeting of the Majlis ended at Srinagar yesterday on an amicable note between the two factions. Mr Geelani was not only allowed to represent the Jamaat-e-Islami in the Hurriyat Conference but he was also not reprimanded for his outburst against the party’s Amir (chief) Mr Bhat.

It was for the first time in Jamaat-e-Islami’s history that a senior leader dared to challenge the decisions and authority of party’s Amir. Mr Geelani equated Mr G.M. Bhat’s stand on Kashmir with that of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah.

On the first day of the meeting Syed Ali Shah Geelani was asked to explain his press statements in which he had cast aspersions on the party chief. Mr Geelani not only stuck to his stand but also criticised the party leadership for favouring talks and condemning the ongoing jehad.

When the tempers ran high between the two sides Syed Ali Shah Geelani walked out of the meeting along with his staunch supporter Ashraf Sehrai.

Several Jamaat leaders later called on Mr Geelani at his residence and persuaded him to attend the meeting of the Majlis on the third day.

Even though Mr Bhat has a majority in the Majlis he did not go for a showdown with Mr Geelani for fear of a vertical split in the organisation. Party sources said under the peace formula Ashraf Sehrai has been installed as deputy Amir allowing Mr Geelani to have his man in the apex body. In return Ghulam Qadir Lone has been installed as the deputy leader of political bureau which is headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

Mr Bhat’s line runs counter to Mr Geelani’s. The former favours peace and instant stop to the gun culture but the latter supports jehad till India agrees to hold tripartite talks. This stand has been endorsed by the Hurriyat Conference.

When Mr Geelani learnt that moves were afoot to recall him from the Hurriyat Conference he informed the members of the Majlis-e-Shoura that he had suggested to Mr Bhat to accept the membership of the Hurriyat Conference. But Mr Bhat had turned down the suggestion for he did not want to enter into any political controversy.

Mr Bhat, a religious preacher, has realised that Jamaat-e-Islami activists were getting killed in operations launched by security forces. The continued turmoil has neither allowed the Jamaat-e-Islami to expand its network nor membership in Kashmir. Hence it has opted for peace.

Mr Geelani is the most trusted Jamaat leader of Pakistan. The three-day meeting of the Majlis has seemingly indicated that the Geelani faction has won its battle against the moderates. There are indications that the Jamait-e-Islami may follow a tough policy on Kashmir in the future.

6 J&K ultras killed

SRINAGAR, Aug 30 (UNI) — Eight persons, six of them militants were killed while security forces averted two major tragedies and nabbed two militants in the state during the past 24 hours.

An official spokesman said militants fired a rocket towards a security force camp at Thanamandi in the wee hours today. However, it fell in the premises of Jamia Masjid, damaging flood lights. No one was hurt.

He said security forces averted a major tragedy when they detected and defused an explosive device near Model School, Kralpora, in Kupwara district early this morning.

Another powerful improvised explosive device planted by militants beneath a bridge at Bhimber Gali also was defused by the forces last evening.

He said in a cross firing incident at Baripora, Handwara in North Kashmir two persons Ghulam Mohammad Bhat and Mast Abdia were injured. Bhat later died in the hospital, he said.

Security forces killed two militants each at Mawa village and Chakatro village while one militant each was gunned down at Halmatpora, Kupwara, and Chilyarian last evening. Some arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.

Specify agenda, Islamic Front asks Hurriyat

SRINAGAR, Aug 30 (PTI) — Apparently doubting the Hurriyat Conference’s agenda, a militant outfit has asked the conglomerate of several separatist organisations to specify its programme for resolution of the Kashmir issue.

In a statement issued here, the Islamic Front asked the Hurriyat to “explain its policies and programmes framed for achieving the goal of freedom for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

“People would like to know the solution in the mind of Hurriyat leaders for resolving the Kashmir issue,” said the Front statement issued to local press here last evening after a meeting under the chairmanship of its supreme commander Tariq Balouch.

The militant outfit also asked the Hurriyat leaders to surrender security cover provided to them by the government, saying that “it is an irony that Hurriyat leaders are seeking security from those very people whom they condemn day in and day out for alleged custodial killings and other human rights violations.”

“The Islamic Front will target the security guards of the Hurriyat leaders. If Hurriyat leaders fall prey to the bullets of the Front, the responsibility will lie with the Hurriyat,” the statement said.

Computerised treasury inaugurated
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 30 — The Finance Minister, Mr A.R. Rather, inaugurated the computerised working system at the Saddar treasury here yesterday.

The Principal Secretary, Finance, Mr Jalil Ahmed Khan, Director, Accounts and Treasuries, Mr M.A. Lalla and senior divisional functionaries of the Accounts and Treasuries Department were present.

The minister went round the computerised counters. He was apprised of the functioning of the latest system.

Thirteen treasuries in the state had been identified for the first phase of computerisation, about 600 functionaries of the Accounts and Treasuries Department had already been trained in computerisation. The Saddar treasury, here was the first treasury to switch over to the computerised system.

Speaking on the occasion, the Finance Minister exhorted the functionaries to speed up the computerisation programme so that the efficiency of the organisation was further improved.

The minister highlighted the measures taken to increase the revenue and improving the overall financial health of the state. He said considerable increase had been effected in the sales tax collections. In the first quarter of the current financial year the collection increased by 56 per cent as compared to the corresponding period last year. Likewise appreciable increase had been registered in the revenue collection by the Excise Department, he added.