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May 25, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Pro-Pakistan rumblings
again NEWS ANALYSIS
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Kashmiri leaders welcome
invitation Kheer Bhawani mela from May
30 Naik assures
relief to drought-hit
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Pro-Pakistan rumblings
again Jammu, May 24 This incident took place at Idgah in Srinagar on Monday where a massive crowd had gathered to pay homage to the Kashmir Mirwaiz, Moulvi Farooq, who was killed on May 21, 1990. His son, Moulvi Umar Farooq, and Chairman APHC, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, were present and addressed the congregation. Close to the venue was another function to pay tributes to two activists of Hizbul Mujahideen. In both functions militants threatened separatist leaders in case they tried to strike a deal with the government. Even in the procession pro-Pak and pro-Azadi slogans were raised, senior separatist leaders had to intervene to keep the two groups away from any armed conflict. The separatists were conveyed a clear and loud message when groups of youth along with militants shouted “Hurriyat mein rehna hein Pakistan kehna hain” (If you have to remain in Hurriyat Conference, you have to chant Pakistan). Another group shouted “Lashkar ke mujahido aage bado, ham tumharey saath hein” ( activists of Lashkar-e-Toiba march ahead we are with you). Lashkar-e-Toiba has been floated by Pakistan to secure Kashmir’s merger with Pakistan. The tussle between pro-Azadi and pro-Pak forces seems to have widened the differences among senior separatist leaders, especially those heading the 23-member Hurriyat Conference conglomerate. The pro-Azadi groups have blamed senior APHC leader and Jamait-e-Islami hardliner, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, for having infiltrated his musclemen and guntoting youths in the procession in Srinagar on Monday to create an impression that valley’s people were for Kashmir’s merger with Pakistan. In support of their contention they referred to the brief speeches the militants made at the congregation where they announced that Mr Geelani was the only true leader and all others should follow him. A group of militants had named Mr Abdul Gani Lone, another senior APHC leader, and had warned him on dire consequences if he continued to criticise foreign mercenaries and other rebels. Anti-Lone activists have started dubbing Mr Lone as a supporter of Azadi for Kashmir on the plea that he married his son, Sajjad Lone, with the daughter of JKLF supremo, Mr Amanullah Khan whose one-point programme is to secure independence for undivided Jammu and Kashmir. This stand has brought him in conflict with Islamabad. The pro-Azadi forces have questioned Sheikh Aziz Ahmed, chief of Peoples’ League, when he repeatedly sang plans in support of Kashmir’s merger with Pakistan. The Sheikh spent over a fortnight in Pakistan. He had gone there to attend the wedding of his brother. He also met Gen Pervez Musharraf. The JKLF leaders in Srinagar criticised Sheikh Aziz’s utterances. He had no mandate either from the APHC or from the people of Kashmir. Indications are that with foreign mercenaries dominating the show in Kashmir, the pro-Pak sentiment has shrunk. It is only due to the scare caused by these foreign mercenaries that people find no other alternative but to speak in favour of Pakistan. Bigger number of intellectuals and political leaders have started settling down on the restoration of greater autonomy. This stance is being regarded as a via media for the restoration of peace in the state. The tussle is not only between pro-Pak and pro-Azadi forces but also among sections of Hizbul Mujahideen. While one section continues to be in favour of negotiated settlement of the Kashmir issue, the other wants to liberate the valley with the power of the gun. Hizbul Mujahideen has, in fact, come under pressure from agencies across the border and have started displaying ardent pro-Pak sentiments. |
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NEWS ANALYSIS Jammu, May 24 While reviewing the security scenario in the state, Mr Advani was frank enough to elicit views on the continuation of the ceasefire from senior functionaries of the Army, BSF, IB and police. Those from the BSF, the IB and the state police vehemently opposed any further extension to the ceasefire on the plea that during the six months of non-initiation of combat operations the rate of killings of civilians and security personnel had increased along with the increase in the bases of foreign mercenaries. Informed sources said despite support for further extension to the ceasefire from the senior Army functionaries and by the Ministry of External Affairs, the Union Home Minister supported the views of the
IB, BSF, police authorities and that of the Chief Minister, who is said to have informed Mr Advani that the unilateral ceasefire had proved counter productive because his government had to face embarrassment when people protested over the largescale killings of political activists and innocent civilians. And when the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met in Delhi on Wednesday, the BJP-led NDA government had already yielded to the pressure mounted by hardliners in the Sangh Parivar, besides the Shiv Sena, it supported what is called Mr Advani’s proactive policy on Kashmir. By withdrawing the ceasefire, the government has decided to adopt a three-pronged strategy on Kashmir. First, negotiations and operations will run simultaneously. Negotiations with political and separatist groups within the state for which Mr
K.C. Pant will continue to be the government’s chief negotiator. Secondly, New Delhi has decided to marginalise the APHC by inviting Pakistan’s chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, to India for talks. Thirdly, operations against the militants will be intensified so as to smash rebel hideouts and force foreign mercenaries to flee from towns and Srinagar. In retrospect, one can say the six-month ceasefire enabled India to score a diplomatic victory over Pakistan. Nothing beyond this, because the non-initiation of combat operations had registered a stepup in militancy related violence. While the graph of killings of civilians and security personnel had gone up, that of the elimination of militants had gone down. Since the militants remained on the offensive and rebel outfits and other separatist groups, which matter, did not respond positively to the Prime Minister’s peace initiative, people in various parts of the state were again in the grip of the scare caused by militant strikes. As fear mounted and an impression went round that the hands of the security forces had been tied by the ceasefire, people started taking to the streets chanting pro-Pak and pro-foreign mercenaries slogans. No doubt patrolling and specific operations were carried out in various areas of the state which resulted in the elimination of over 350 militants during the past over five months, militants managed to set up fortified hideouts. Senior BSF and state police officers are happy over the decision of the government to withdraw the ceasefire. So are leaders from the BJP, the National Conference and the Congress. However, leaders of the state unit of the BJP said the government should not have invited General Musharraf to Delhi for talks unless Pakistan stopped moral and material assistance to the militants, the condition which Delhi had set six months ago. The APHC leaders prefer to conceal their embarrassment by Delhi’s “indifferent” attitude towards them and have supported Delhi’s invitation to General Musharraf for talks. The APHC Chairman, Prof Abdul Gani
Bhat, said the withdrawal of the ceasefire had no meaning for him and the organisation as “it existed only on paper”. He said security operations continued and there were series of excesses by security personnel during the “so-called ceasefire”. The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, and his party colleagues treat the CCS decision as a triumph for the National Conference. In fact, Dr Abdullah had conveyed to Mr Advani and Mr Jaswant Singh in plain terms that talks with APHC leaders would lead India nowhere. He had suggested to the central leaders that if talks had to begin they should be held with Islamabad. Except for the people living in the border villages, a majority of the Kashmiris and those in the Jammu region feel happy over the decision of CCS to hold direct talks with General Musharraf. Those living in the border villages fear that they may once again get disturbed by the roar of Pak gunners. During the past over five months, Pak firing on the Indian border villages and posts had become a thing of the past. With the withdrawal of the ceasefire, there are apprehensions that the Pak guns may roar again. But, according to Defence Ministry circles, troops have been kept on maximum alert on the LoC and the IB for meeting any threat from across the border. Kashmir experts do not expect immediate change in the ground realities when foreign mercenaries are no mood to give in. Already
Lashkar-i-Toiba has warned General Musharraf against the acceptance of the Indian invitation for talks. The Lashkar wants nothing short of Kashmir’s incorporation with Pakistan. If not anything else, the six-month ceasefire has caused dissensions in the APHC conglomerate. The APHC is almost split between
pro-Azadi and pro-Pak forces. Confusion on similar lines has gripped Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. |
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Kashmiri leaders welcome
invitation Srinagar, May 24 Professor Abdul Ghani Bhat disclosed that an executive committee meeting of the APHC would be held here shortly “to take stock of the situation following Mr Vajpayee’s invitation to General Musharraf.” Senior APHC leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani said that there was “no remedy except that stated in UN resolutions.” “If India comes forward for implementation of the UN resolutions, then whatever be the decision of the majority of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, we will accept it”, Geelani said. Welcoming the Prime Minister’s invitation to General Musharraf, the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) chief, Mr Shabir Shah, claimed that the credit goes to his party which had responded to the talks offer by the Centre’s chief negotiator, Mr K.C. Pant. Now, the Kashmiris would not be ignored as one lakh lives had been “sacrificed” for pressing the issue. He said a ground had to be made for tripartite talks. He said that a meeting between Pakistan and Indian leaders was necessary to finalise the modalities for the representation of Kashmiris in the talks. |
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Kheer Bhawani mela from May
30 Srinagar, May 24 The Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr Abdul Qayoom, on Tuesday visited Kheer Bhawani and reviewed arrangements for the ensuing festival to be attended by a large number of Kashmiri Pandits. The minister was accompanied by the Advisor to Chief Minister on Minority Affairs, Prof Satish Raina, the MLC Mr B.L. Bhat, and the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Mr Vipul Pathak. The minister was informed by the Director, Food and Supplies, that adequate stocks of foodgrains, sugar and kerosene had been made for the pilgrims. The SDM, Ganderbal, said 1,000 blankets would be provided by the JKTDC for the convenience of pilgrims and 30 tents were being pitched during the mela. The Dharmarth Trust was also providing 400 blankets. A medical camp would be held by the Medical College here during the mela. The minister directed the authorities concerned that a standby power generator be arranged. Professor Raina and Mr Bhat said they had already brought to the notice of the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, the need for renovation and repairs of the shrine complex. Mr Bhat announced Rs 1 lakh out of his constituency development fund for this purpose. |
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Naik assures
relief to drought-hit Jammu, May 24 Stating this at a news conference the Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr S.Y. Naik, said here today that a Central team had already visited various drought-hit areas in the state. The report had been received by his ministry. It would be submitted to the Union Cabinet for approval. He said that 30,000 kisan credit cards had been so far issued in Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Naik said the government had converged all its programmes into a single macro-management scheme and suggested to the state to give top priority to the watershed management scheme. He urged private entrepreneurs to avail of the 20 per cent subsidy provided by the Central Government for promoting new technology post-harvest management, cold storage chains and other projects. He said Jammu and Kashmir had a potential for promoting floriculture. The Centre had provided Rs 50 lakh subsidy on Rs 2 crore project for promotion of this sector which required on-farm and mobile cold storages. He advised the farmers to seek benefit from the marketing information network which has been created across the country and this would help the farmers to reduce the size of post-harvest losses. He said that in this connection computers had been provided to the Department of Agriculture in Jammu. |
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