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Kashmir : More troops to be cut |
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The Chief of the Army Staff, Gen. N.C. Vij, has said that there would be further de-induction of troops in Jammu and Kashmir shortly as part of the Centre’s policy to normalise relations with Pakistan. A number of battalions had already been taken out of the state after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s announcement early last month. Talking to reporters in Jammu on January 6, Gen. Vij said : “The conditions in Jammu and Kashmir are returning to near-normality levels and we propose to further reduce troops in the State. AT the same time all steps would be taken to keep the security situation well under control.”
Asked whether there was a possibility of reduction of troops from the Line of Control, the Army Chief said : “Our divisional commanders will take appropriate decision at the right time by keeping in mind the interests of the country and the security of the people of the state. There is no need to worry in this regard.”
According to him, the security situation in the state was showing an improvement, and this was reflected in the decrease of infiltration and the reduction in the number of militancy-related incidents.
Joint exercise with Pakistan ruled out
General Vij ruled out joint exercise on the LoC with Pakistan for the time being. He, however, disclosed that China had favourably responded to India’s suggestion of starting joint exercises on countering terrorism.
The Army Chief said during his visit to China and during the ongoing talks between Delhi and Beijing, China indicated that it wanted friendship with India.
Answering a question on alleged excesses by security forces, Gen. Vij said any security personnel found committing any mistake or excesses would face punishment, but wanted people and other agencies not to weaken the soldiers by taking up false allegations of human rights violations.
Talks with J & K groups soon
Official sources in New Delhi say that the Centre will soon commence political level dialogue with various groups in Jammu and Kashmir. Home Minister Shivraj Patil will talk to various groups and a time-table for the talks is being worked out. This was reportedly decided at a meeting taken by the Home Minister and attended by senior officials and the Centre’s interlocutor on Jammu and Kashmir N.N. Vohra. The groups with whom the dialogue at the political level will be held include mainstream political parties and social groups representing different communities. Separatist groups including the Hurriyat Conference will also be welcome for the talks. Sources say the Centre has already extended an invitation for talks to the Hurriyat and the ball is now in its court.
Tourist boom in the Valley
There has been a quantum jump in tourist arrivals in Jammu and Kashmir. From 27,000 tourists a few years back, the number has gone upto to nearly 4,00,000. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed said 2004 has been a turn-around year so far as tourism is concerned. He said tourists are coming in large numbers as the general situation in the state has improved.
For the coming summer, every square inch of space in Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Pahalgam has already been fully booked. The huge tourist rush has taken even the State Government by surprise. With hotels fully booked, it is planning to put up tents to accommodate the tourists in the coming summer. The security forces which had occupied some of the hotels during the years of militancy are being requested to vacate them to make way for the tourists.
According to reports, tour operators are overjoyed. They are making huge bookings while state government officials are on their toes to provide the infrastructure for incoming tourists. “From April 15 to June 15, you cannot find space in J & K. It is totally packed now with advance bookings,” said Aftab, a tour operator.
The Government is keeping its fingers crossed for other spin-offs. The state was once an economy dependent heavily on tourism until it became a playground for militancy. Europeans still have reservations about the Valley, but they comprise only 9 per cent of the total. “Travel advisories of some European countries prevent them from venturing into Kashmir, but Malaysians and Taiwanese have been more adventurous,” said Latif, another tour operator.
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