Jammu, December 11
When Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabir Ahmed Shah today declared that Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf's four-point formula for the settlement of the Kashmir issue needed to be discussed with representatives of the people, it lent further evidence to the growing polarisation among political parties in the state over the proposal.

Mr Shah said, “I do not reject General Musharraf's formula, but its relevance has to be tested when it is discussed by India and Pakistan with representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir”, adding that it was a party to the dispute.

Mr Shah clarified that when the formula would be debated at a tripartite meeting, “We will submit our proposals and the one accepted to the three parties can result in a peaceful settlement of the dispute”.

Contrary to Mr Shah's reaction, General Musharraf's recent proposal had received support from not only the biggest separatist conglomerate,the APHC, but mainstream political parties like the PDP and the National Conference.

Despite its autonomy roadmap on Kashmir, the National Conference leadership had supported the Pakistan president’s formula.

In the midst of growing political polarisation, the JKLF, led by Mr Mohd Yasin Malik, and Peoples Conference chief Sajjad Lone, known to be in favour of ‘azadi’, had supported the formula half-heartedly, with Mr Lone saying it was a bold step.

The state unit of the BJP had rejected the formula on the grounds that it would amount to the reversal of integration of the state with the Union of India.

According to state BJP president Ashok Khajuria, General Musharraf's formula, which included demilitarisation and joint management, was unacceptable.

“The BJP leadership no longer finds itself in a minority because Tehrik Hurriyat Conference chief Syed Ali Shah Geelani has dubbed General Musharraf's formula a negation of freedom struggle”, he said.

Mr Geelani had told mediapersons recently, “The freedom struggle in Kashmir is based on certain principles. It will continue to run, with or withour Pakistan, with or without Musharraf. It is an indigenous movement and we do not take dictation from anybody for choosing its course.”

The Congress was reticent over the formula and New Delhi’s stand on the matter was made loud and clear when defence minister A.K. Antony, during his visit to forward areas in Poonch and Jammu yesterday said, “General Musharraf’s proposal did not have any importance as he had given such proposals a number of times earlier”.

Mr Antony said,”Only verbal statements are not going to solve problems and there should be some concrete proposals in writing”.

Notwithstanding the polarisation over the formula, General Musharraf’s proposal was a matter of debate in public and political circles.

The PDP leadership continued to shout loud in favour of self-rule, which seemed to be its only agenda to upset the applecart of political rivals, especially the National Conference.

Srinagar, December 11
Four people, including a self-styled commander and militant of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), were killed and a woman was injured, while a militant hideout was busted in Jammu and Kashmir over night.

An official spokesman said troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir launched a joint operation at Sofigund Tral village of Pulwama district early this morning. However, the militants opened fire when the security forces were sealing the area. Two militants were killed in the retaliatory fire.

The slain militants were later identified as Mohammad Shafi, an HM commander and an “A” category militant, involved in several militancy related incidents, and “B” category Ghulam Hassan Sheikh, alias Nadeem, alias Zafar. Two AK rifles, five magazines, two grenades and a knife were recovered from them. An unidentified body was recovered at the Agling crossing, while the body of a woman was fished out from the Jhelum in the downtown city today, the spokesman added.

Militants shot at and wounded a woman, Maimuna, wife of late Farooq Ahmad Wani, at Magam in Badgam district. She was later hospitalised.

The security forces busted a hideout at Dull Khakadhri in Doda district and recovered five blankets, 50 kg of rice, 40 kg of wheat flour and 4 kg of dry fruit. However, no one was arrested. — UNI