New Delhi, January 3
Pakistan’s efforts to obtain a favourable resolution from European Union on the Kashmir issue have come a cropper so far and the 27-nation body’s Parliament is likely to pass a harsh resolution against Islamabad later this month.

To rub salt in Pakistan’s wounds, the EU is angered over Islamabad’s vilification campaign against Baroness Emma Nicholson whose draft report was released on November 23. Islamabad had dubbed the draft report as anti-Pakistan and anti-Kashmir and attempted to malign Ms Nicholson as an Indian agent.

Pakistani senior diplomats, particularly Islamabad’s High Commissioner in London Ms Maleeha Lodhi, has launched a massive campaign against the draft report ever since it was released. A report received by the Government of India through diplomatic channels quotes one senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the EU as having said: "If we agree to the changes suggested by Pakistan, the resolution will look like a press release by Pakistan."

What has angered the EU members most is the Pakistani attempt to arm-twist some of the Liberal Democrat MPs (of the UK) and MEPs (Member of EU Parliament) on the issue of amendments by threatening them with possible withdrawal of support from their Muslim electorate. Ms Lodhi had asked community leaders (Muslim MPs in the UK and other Muslim British political leaders) to approach Imams of various mosques in the UK to educate the worshippers about the negative implications on Nicholson's report after Friday prayers.

Majority of the Imams had refused to play ball and the Pakistani move was a non-starter. The Imams refused to be seen as the errant boys of Islamabad. The Imams’ argument was that as leaders of the Muslim community they would rather prefer to be seen as law-abiding citizens of Britain and not 'branded' as agents of Pakistan.

Knowledgeable officials here believe that Pakistani diplomats have privately given up all hopes of any favourable amendments to the draft report. The EU diplomats say that the Pakistani campaign against the report hasn't gone beyond just saying that the report is anti-Pakistan. An Indian official said the 10-page EU report was a statement of facts and Pakistan simply wanted these facts to be deleted.

The recent draft report by the European Union (EU) on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, that endorses India's stand on the issue, has come under flak from Pakistan, which claims that the report is one-sided and flawed, ignoring the fact that the study was carried out by an independent international body.

The EU has been studying the situation in both parts of Jammu and Kashmir for a considerable period now and the recent 10-page report titled 'Kashmir: Present Situation and Future Prospects' by EU's Committee on Foreign Affairs, is among the authentic studies on the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir by an international body.

The EU report has asked Pakistan to take more effective measures to curb cross-LoC movement of militants and disfavoured demilitarisation in Jammu and Kashmir till there is "genuine action to neutralise threat of Pak-based terrorists in the state". The report has also slammed Pakistan for a lack of meaningful and representative democracy in parts of Jammu and Kashmir illegally occupied by it while drawing a contrast with the situation prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir.

The draft report, which exposes Pakistan's claims on Kashmir so far, has attracted sharp reaction from Islamabad, which has dubbed it as "unwarranted criticism of the country in contrast to the unquestioning endorsement of the Indian standpoint".

The draft report deplores "all too frequent incidents of terror and violence perpetrated by armed militant groups based in Pakistan" and maintains that Pakistan's public commitments to curb infiltration across the LoC by "militants operating out of the territory under its control is welcome.'' However, "it (Pakistan) must take much stronger and more effective measures to do so," according to the report prepared by Baronness Nicholson of Winterbourne.

It also says that "meaningful demilitarisation can only take place alongside genuine action to neutralise the threat of infiltration of Jammu and Kashmir by militant outfits operating out of Pakistan."

The report urges Pakistan to "revisit its concept of democratic accountability, minority and women's rights in PoK, which as elsewhere are key to improving conditions for the people and tackling the menace of terrorism."

It has criticized Pakistan for the continuing absence of Kashmiri representation in the Pakistan National Assembly. It highlights that PoK is governed through Islamabad-based Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and that Pakistani officials dominate the Kashmir Council besides which the Chief Secretary, the Inspector-General of Police, the Accountant-General and the Finance Secretary are all from Pakistan.

The report has praised the unique status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, granting it greater autonomy than other states in the Union. The EU was also pleased with the recent moves to strengthen democracy as evidenced by the 75 per cent turnout in recent local elections in the state.

When the report is presented to EU Parliament later this month, Islamabad is likely to be censured for its role in destroying peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

Srinagar, January 3
The police resorted to a baton charge and fired teargas shells to disperse a mob protesting against the execution of ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein at many places across the Kashmir valley today.

About 100-200 activists of pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) gathered at the historic Lal Chowk here and started raising anti-US and anti-Bush slogans. The angry protesters also burnt US President George W. Bush’s effigy.

As the protesters tried to break the cordon and take out a procession, the police stopped them, leading to clashes.

The police then resorted to a baton charge and fired teargas shells to disperse the mob.

Outraged at the hanging, hundreds of demonstrators blocked the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road for almost four hours at Mujgund in Pattan area of Baramula district.

A mob of 3,000 gathered near Shalimar Mughal Gardens on the city outskirts to protest against the execution.

The protesters were on roads at both places for several hours before the police dispersed them by using batons and teargas.

Reports of protests were received from other parts of the Kashmir valley as well.

A complete shutdown was observed in Sumbal and Dangerpora areas. — UNI

Jammu, January 3
Police has registered an FIR against senior separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani for allegedly making a secessionist speech here during Eid-ul-Azha.

The FIR has been lodged in the city police station under section 124 A (sedition) of Ranbir Panel against the chairman of the Hurriyat hardline faction for the making provocative statements in an attempt to "fan communal sentiments", police said today.

The Shiv Sena state unit had filed a separate FIR at Residency police post (also under section 124 A) against Geelani for making the speech at Shahidi Chowk on Monday, its president Anand Sharma said.

Shiv Sena and Vishwa Hindu Parishad yesterday staged protest demanding Geelani's arrest under the National Security Act for allegedly fanning communal sentiments.

The Janata Party state unit held a protest and demanded Geelani's arrest of Geelani for his "anti-national" statements and its president Som Nath Dabgotra termed his speech a conspiracy to try and "strengthen the separatist apparatus".

Party workers shouted anti-Geelani and anti-Hurriyat slogans. — PTI

Srinagar, January 3
CRPF will replace BSF in the hinterland of the Kashmir valley for counter-insurgency operations by March.

As many as 10 new units of the CRPF would be deployed in the valley by March replacing BSF units, CRPF sources said here today.

With the induction of these units, the total number of CRPF units in Jammu and Kashmir would go up to 72. While 14 units are deployed in Jammu region, the remaining are posted in Kashmir valley.

The new units to be inducted will mostly comprise personnel recruited over the past couple of years, the sources said.

While two units have completed their training, other units are expected to complete their initiation into the force by the end of the next month.

The CRPF has already replaced BSF in Srinagar but three units of BSF - two at Raj Bhawan and one at Srinagar airport - will stay put, they said.

The BSF, which conducted anti-militancy operations in Kashmir valley for nearly 13 years from 1991, was replaced in the city by CRPF in 2004. The BSF troops have since been moved to their primary duty of guarding the Line of Control and international border.

Besides handling the counter-insurgency operations, CRPF has been guarding the vital installations in Kashmir valley and providing personal security to VVIPS in the state and static guard at their residences as well. — PTI

Jammu, January 3
Launching of the first local train within the Kashmir valley is bound to be delayed as the railways has suspended the unique operation to drive the coaches there by road for two months because of snow and landslides on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.

Railway engineer Shiv Ram revealed here today that carrying of the coaches to the valley would resume in February end when the weather permits.

The coach that was on its way to the valley has been stopped by the traffic police mid-way. It has been jacked outside the railway station at Udhampur.

The internal rail in the valley was scheduled to be inaugurated next month, but only one of the eight coaches has successfully been carted there so far. All the eight coaches might be put on the track not before May as it involves a road journey of about 10 days for a coach to reach there. A coach is pulled by a high-powered truck.

A private transport company has been given the contract for skillfully driving the coaches 300 kms away to the valley from here.

Nearly 100-km patch between Ramban and Qazigund on the highway has become a trouble spot because of the landslides that are triggered every now and then. Snow on both sides of the Jawahar Tunnel has made the road slippery. Though the highway has been opened for one-way traffic in the Ramban sector, it was considered next to impossible to cart the coaches as the exercise would completely paralyse vehicular movement on the road.

The Railway Ministry had fixed the target of completing the work in February. However, the engineers connected with carrying these coaches say that they were not in a position to fight the nature.

A 120-km-long track between Qazigund to Baramulla is being laid by IRCON for the internal rail in the valley. Work on the first 40 kms has been completed. The entire network was expected to be commissioned in phases by the year end.

Initially, a proposal was there to fly these coaches to the valley. But the idea was abandoned as an outside airway transporter quoted a very high amount of money for the job, sources said.

CRPF jawan found dead

Srinagar, January 3
A Central Reserve Police Force jawan was found dead under mysterious circumstances inside a camp in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir today, official sources said.

The body of constable Narayan Reddy, posted with 5th Battalion, CRPF, was found inside a bathroom of the cap in Anantnag district the sources said.

The cause of his death is being ascertained. — PTI