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Kashmir : Marked improvement in situation |
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The latest annual report of the Ministry of Defence says that there has been a marked improvement in the situation in Jammu and Kashmir compared to previous years. The assessment says that this has led to the development of an opportunity to move decisively towards the resolution of the conflict in the state. The report said that the ceasefire on the border with Pakistan was holding with a few minor aberrations. It notes that there were a stepped up infiltration attempts during the summer months last year, but after that there has been a discernible drop in infiltration.
The annual report, however, notes that the infrastructure for terrorism in Pakistan has not been dismantled.
Yasin Malik to embark on freedom march
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation front chief, Yasin Malik has said that he will embark on an Azadi yatra (Freedom March) in June to urge the Governments of India and Pakistan to involve the people of Kashmir in the ongoing peace process. Announcing this in Srinagar on April 12, Yasin Malik said the March would begin in the Kashmir valley and pass through villages and towns of Jammu and Ladakh. He said that he would also launch a campaign against elections. Byelections for three Assembly seats from the valley are to be held on April 24.
In a significant success, security forces shot dead the chief of the breakaway group of Jaish-e-Mohammed, Talabani, and anther person in an encounter in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on April 11. He was killed after a six-day chase by a unit of the Rashtriya Rifles in the Pir Panjal ranges in South Kashmir. The Army had used airborne surveillance to trace the movement of the militants.
Farooq Abdullah slams Sonia Gandhi over Mehbooba Mufti activities
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah has criticised Congress president Sonia Gandhi for remaining silent on ‘anti-national’ and ‘pro-Pakistan’ activities of People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti. It may be recalled that Mehbooba Mufti has been raising the issue of what she calls Kashmir’s “conditional” accession to India, and equating terrorists with martyrs, and holding a green handkerchief (symbol of Pakistan), during her election meetings.
Speaking in Jammu, Farooq Abdullah said, “My party was often labeled as Pakistani, but today I want to ask the Congress why they are silent when their close allies are behaving in such a fashion.” He further said, “For how long you will (Congress) show a green stick to people in Kashmir and make fools out of them.”
Abdullah said Mehbooba has started a new trend during her election meetings. “She is an MP and has been in constant touch with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to convince her not to field Congress candidates against PDP in three Assembly segments in Kashmir, yet she says accession of Kashmir with India is conditional. I ask Gandhi to please wake up and see for yourself what she is aiming at”, Abdullah said.
Tackling Naxalites : Unified command mooted
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has suggested setting up of a joint unified command in areas badly hit by Left-wing terrorism. Addressing a meeting of Chief Ministers of six states, severely hit by Naxalism, in New Delhi on April 13, he said, “It would not be exaggeration to say that the problem of Naxalism is the single biggest internal security challenge ever faced by our country.”
Dr Singh said the police action was needed to be backed by liberal surrender and rehabilitation policy.
He favoured setting up of dedicated anti-Naxal wings under capable officers on the pattern of grey hounds of Andhra Pradesh.
Expressing serious concern over the growing military might of Naxalites, their use of modern equipment, trained persons, large-scale assaults, coordination and alleged external links, the Prime Minister talked about a pro-active approach to deal with the menace.
In this context, he said there should be measures for protecting policemen from undue harassment for actions taken against Naxalites. However, he also added that an effective police response did not mean that we needed to brutalise the Indian state.
The meeting was attended among others by the Chief Ministers of Orissa, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Union Ministers of Home, Tribal Affairs and Panchayati Raj, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, National Security Adviser and senior government officials from the Centre and state governments.
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