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Kashmir : President visits forward areas, says border violations to be dealt with strongly

	May 26, 2008

President Pratibha Patil, who is on a five-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, has said that border violations would be strongly dealt with by the Army. She was addressing troops at a Sainik Sammelan in Baramulla after visiting a bunker located at 9600 ft. altitude and interacting with Army officers and jawans. The President said the progress of the nation depended on the safety of its borders. She said the hard work and courage of troops has been instrumental in making the Indian Army one of the greatest armies in the world.



Lauding the efforts of the Army in maintaining the sanctity of the border, the President said : “Your courage has set a benchmark for other citizens to follow.” She said the government is trying to provide all facilities to the armed forces so that they are able to discharge their duties effectively.



President Patil said the Indian Army has contributed immen¬sely in making India a ‘super power.’



The Army Chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor said, the love and sym¬pathy the President had for the soldiers had made her visit to the area one of the most difficult places close to the Line of Control. He said the Army has hopes that the Government will give the right deal to the forces under the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations.



On Saturday, May 24, President Patil visited Gulmarg.



A general strike called by separatists to protest against her visit and the arrival of a Pakistan band Junoon, affected normal life in Srinagar and other major towns in the valley on May 24.



In Gulmarg, President Patil said Gulmarg is a beautiful place and she would like to come there again. She also attended a musical concert and interacted with the people.





Kashmir issue ripe for resolution : Bush



Taking note of what he called major and significant develop¬ments in Indo-Pakistan ties, US President Bush has said that th Kashmir issue is ripe for resolution. Pakistani officials quoted him as saying this during a meeting on May 18 with Pakis¬tan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in the Middle East in Egypt. A Pakistani official said after the Bush-Gilani talks that the American Pre¬sident appreciated the dialogue process between India and Pakis¬tan and said that he had no doubt in his mind that Kashmir was “ripe for solution.,”







Jawan dies in truce violation



On the eve of the talks between the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan in Islamabad, Pakistani troops opened fire on Indian positions on May 19, resulting in the death of a soldier in the Mendhar sector of Poonch on the Line of Control. Naik Jayashwar of Gorkha Rifles was the first casualty in three viola¬tions of the ceasefire by Pakistani troops in the last ten days.



Later, India lodged a protest with Pakistan at a Flag meet¬ing with Pakistani security officials.





Reserve battalions move close to LoC



Following the spurt in militancy and ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in Jammu and Kashmir, sources say that the Army has moved reserve battalions closer to the Line of Control. The sources said recent developments - the infiltration bid on May 9, the Samba attack on May 11, ceasefire violations in Tanghdhar and Poonch - forced the Army to redeploy reserve troops close to the Line of Control.





Azad for bullet-for-bullet approach



Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has advo¬cated a bullet-for-bullet approach to combat terrorism. Speaking at a function organised by the Hind Samachar Group of Newspapers in Jalandhar on May 18, he said, “We may have talks with the neighbouring country, but as far as terrorism goes, there can be no tolerance and they should be dealt with a stern hand.”



Azad said terrorists wanted to divide the country on the basis of religion by targeting places of worship. He said polit¬ical parties should not politicise the issue of terrorism. He said the Governments of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir should unitedly fight the scourge.





Mirwaiz for meeting of Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan in Srinagar



The chairman of he moderate faction of the Hurriyat Confer¬ence, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has said that all sections of society should be taken into confidence while resolving the Kashmir issue. Addressing the delegates session of one of the Hurriyat constituents, the National People’s Party, in Srinagar, on May 18, the Mirwaiz said that Jammu and Kashmir is a single entity and all its constituents should be taken into confidence.



Addressing another function at Martyrs Graveyard in Old Srinagar, the Mirwaiz proposed that the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan meet in Srinagar to kickstart the composite dia¬logue process on the resolution of the Kashmir issue. He said subsequent meetings could be held at Muzaffarabad, New Delhi and Islamabad. The Mirwaiz said the Hurriyat appreciates the dia¬logue process between India and Pakistan, but there is need for including the representatives of the Kashmiri people in the re¬sult-oriented dialogue.





Soz for talks with Hurriyat



State Congress chief Saiffudin Soz has said that the time is ripe for talks with the Hurriyat. In a newspaper interview, he said, “the process of dialogue is on. Anyone who wants to talk to the Prime Minister is welcome to talk and can talk, includ¬ing the Hurriyat. Doors for talks are open.”





Omar Abdullah for Truth Commission



National Conference chief Omar Abdullah has said that a Truth and Reconciliation Commission should be set up in Jammu and Kashmir on the lines of South Africa to probe post-1989 happenings in the state. In his blog on the official website of the party, he said, “perhaps the time has come for Jammu and Kashmir to be given a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This TRC should be tasked with uncovering all that happened from 1989 onwards, whether at the hands of militants or the security forces.”



For the success of such a commission, Omar Abdullah said Pakistan and India should allow it to travel to both sides of the divided state to ascertain the truth about the disappearances which have taken place since the eruption of militancy in the state.





Amarnath Yatra put off to June 18



The Jammu and Kashmir Government has deferred the official start of the Amarnath pilgrimage as it wants to steer clear of any controversy over early melting of the Shiva Lingam. The two-month yatra will now officially start on June 18. Authorities have banned any movement of pilgrims to the cave shrine ahead of that day. Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Mehboob Iqbal said, this has been done on the recommendation of the Amarnath Shrine Board.



Heavy security will be in place for the Amarnath Yatra. Around 10,000 security men drawn from various agencies will be deployed to ensure the safety of pilgrims.