Tunnel Digging Stoped at IB

Tension has once more increasing informed the International Border (IB) at Chechwal in Samba sector when Pakistan not permitting the Border force (BSF) to hold out any work on the tunnel before border fencing fearing that it'd be exposed as security forces had detected that tunnel was leading toward Pakistan.

Official sources confirmed that job on any creating by removal of the tunnel by the BSF authorities between border fencing and 0 line has been stopped in anticipation of firing by the Pakistani Rangers.

The BSF had managed to dig earth before fencing and was nearing Zero Line once the Rangers objected to the work and needed it to be stopped. The Rangers told the BSF to prevent work or, otherwise, they might open firing.

Sources same the Rangers were afraid that the BSF would expose their game set up by creating by removal right up to the Zero Line, which might establish that the tunnel was originating from West Pakistan.

"Anticipating international embarrassment when the exposure of their set up of creating by removal underground tunnel into the Indian territory, the Rangers weren't left with no choice because the BSF was near reach to the Zero Line on the IB to determine that the tunnel had been mamma from West Pakistan side’’, they added.

The Rangers objected to the creating by removal work and got it stopped, sources same however additional that the BSF resolve to finish feat to Zero Line to show West Pakistan for constructing tunnel within the Indian territory.

According to sources, whereas the tunnel was twenty five feet beneath the world within the border fencing at village Chechwal, it had been concerning forty feet underground before the fencing. The West Pakistan authorities may need mamma the tunnel a lot of underground between Zero Line to frame fencing to confirm that the work wasn't detected by the BSF jawans manning the border space.

Sources same the tunnel would have its origin concerning two hundred feet within West Pakistan. it'd are mamma from close to a post of the Rangers. They additional that the Rangers were currently fearful of obtaining exposed and face embarrassment at the international level because it was established that the tunnel had been created by Pakistani authorities into the Indian territory for facilitating infiltration of militants and export narcotics.

The BSF had started creating by removal before border fencing to seek out out alignment of the tunnel and its origin when groups of geologic Survey of Asian nation (GSI) and BSF authorities had detected 540 meters underground tunnel within the Indian territory at forward village of Chechwal in Samba sector.

A farmer had detected the tunnel on Gregorian calendar month twenty seven whereas operating in his fields because the land had caved in at 3 straight points leading towards West Pakistan. The BSF and GSI groups later detected that the tunnel had been mamma 540 meters within the Indian territory resulting in village Chechwal. The exit purpose of the tunnel was additionally detected.

Few days back, the BSF had started creating by removal work before border fencing to seek out out any alignment of the tunnel.

India Pak to have new visa regime

India and Pakistan are likely to announce formally a new business visa regime to boost bilateral commerce at the next Secretary level talks.

Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and his Pakistani counterpart Makhdoom Mohammad Amin Fahim, during their meeting yesterday, expressed "joint wish" that business visa regime needs to be liberalised at the earliest.

"It was noted that a formal decision on this is expected at the forthcoming meeting of the Home Secretary of India and the Secretary of the Ministry of Interior of Pakistan," a joint statement released today said.

Although India has sought the date for the meeting after May 22, the schedule is yet to be finalised.

Giving impetus to people-to-people contact and trade ties with Pakistan, India yesterday opened a modern Integrated Check Post (ICP), equipped with a dedicated passenger terminal and sprawling cargo facility, built at cost of Rs 150 crore, at Attari.

As per the statement, Pakistan side stated that through a Cabinet decision in 2009, the flow of items is linked to provision of adequate infrastructure at the check post.

"...It (Pakistan) would take the case to the Cabinet on the basis of the additional capacity created through the new ICP," the statement said adding Pakistan will take necessary steps to remove extant restriction on items permitted through the land route.

The objective of ICP is to permit all items not in the ‘negative list’ to be traded across the land border at Attari-Wagah. The two ministers also expressed their wish that discussions may continue at the official level for possibilities of opening more land customs stations.

Except 1,209 items in the ‘Negative List’, Pakistan now allows import of all other Indian goods even as only 137 items are allowed through land route.

Singhpora Vailoo Tunnel to bring prosperity

Shrines Temples Bill

Pak continues to sponsor terrorists

Centre, State Govts working on a multi-pronged approach to combat terrorism

 Despite several confidence building measures (CBMs) between India and Pakistan at different levels, the latter continued to support and sponsor terrorism in the border State and the levels of terrorist violence is inextricably linked to the levels of successful infiltration from across the border.

This has been stated in the latest annual report of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India that has been released recently. "The levels of terrorist violence and encounters in the hinterland of J&K are inextricably linked to the levels of successful infiltration from across the border", says the report.

However, the report further elaborates that Security Forces (SFs) maintained better domination along the Line of Control (LoC) and with the result the levels of infiltration had come down considerably. "This had a direct bearing on the situation in the Valley and levels of incidents of terrorist violence had declined from 488 in year 2010 to 340 in 2011".

The Government of India in tandem with the State Government, has adopted a multi-pronged approach to contain cross border infiltration, which, inter-alia includes strengthening of border management and multi-tiered and multi-modal deployment along the International Border/ Line of Control and near the ever changing infiltration routes, construction of border fencing.

"Several measure have been initiated from better weaponry, improved technology for security forces, improved intelligence and operational coordination; and synergizing intelligence flow to check infiltration and pro-active action against terrorists within the State", the report says.

The Government has also adopted various counter terrorism strategies to neutralize the efforts and capabilities of militants to disturb peace in the State. The Government has also encouraged policies to mainstream the youth and discourage the local youth from joining militancy.

Dwelling further, the reports states that the security situation is being continuously monitored and reviewed by the Chief Minister in the Unified Headquarter/ Command with senior representatives of the State Government, Army, Central Armed Police Force and other security agencies. "The MHA also closely and continuously monitors the security situation in tandem with the State Government and the Ministry of Defence", the report says.

The focus of Government has been to proactively take suitable measures by all the SFs to reduce infiltration of terrorist from across the border; and to identify, locate and apprehend the terrorists who may have crossed over; as also their local associates.

Appreciating efforts of the State Government in conducting Panchayat elections, the MHA report says, "the 17 phase Panchayat elections, which were conducted after nearly two decades were landmark elections and overall, the elections were peaceful".

In 2011, there was a perceptible decline in the number of terrorist incidents and civilian and SFs casualties compared to the last year. The year witnessed a 30% decrease in the number of terrorist incidents and 34% and 52% decrease in civilian and SFs fatalities respectively to the year 2010. Since the inception of militancy in J&K, 13,846 civilians and 4807 Security Forces (SF) personnel have lost their lives. The number of security forces killed declined from 69 in 2010 to 33 in 2011 whileas the number of terrorist killed declined from 232 in 2010 to 100 in 2011. One hundred terrorists were also neutralized during the year 2011.

To address the growing concerns along the Indo-China border in the State, the MHA reports says, "the situation arising out of poor road connectivity which has hampered the operational capability of the border guarding forces, deployed along the border, the Government had decided to undertake phase-wise construction of roads in border areas in Jammu and Kashmir".

To support the State Government in its initiatives, the Central Government has been making available Central Armed Police Forces and helping to strengthen the State Police and reimbursing expenditure being incurred on a variety of security related measures. These inter-alia, expenditure on carriage of Constabulary, material supplies, rent of accommodation, honorarium to Special Police Officers, Civic Action Programme, air-lift charges, raising cost of India Reserve Battalions, transport, boarding and lodging, alternate accommodation for Security Forces, etc.

"The total amount reimbursed from 1989 till date under the SRE expenditure is nearly Rs 3500 crores. During the current financial year a sum of Rs 200 crores has been reimbursed to J&K Government till December, 2011", the report says.

As part of relief measures for victims of militancy under PM's package, a sum of Rs 100 crore has been released to the State Government from the budget head, Security Related Expenditure (Relief & Rehabilitation) in three installments to settle 2000 militancy related pending compassionate appointment case by way of providing cash compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the next-of-kins (NoKs) of the civilians killed in militancy related violence. On request of the State Government, the Government of India has further approved the extension of this scheme.

The Scheme of 'Mordernisation of State Police Force (MPF) is being implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs for capacity building of the State Police Forces, especially for meeting the emerging challenges to internal security in the form of terrorism. "Jammu and Kashmir and eight North Eastern States have been categorized as 'A' category states, which shall receive 100% Central funding for this purpose respectively", the report says.

Free eye checkup camp on March 14

Multilingual Mushaira Conducted

Pak scientist freed from Ajmer jail

After spending over 14 months in jail, 80-year-old ailing Pakistani scientist Mohammed Khalil Chisti was today released on bail from Ajmer jail in a two-decade-old murder case and said he wanted to return to his homeland soon.

"I am happy to be out of the jail. I believe in god and thank him. My wish is to see my family members in Pakistan as soon as possible," Chisti, who was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Monday, said as his brother Jamil Chisti and cousin Aaiyad Anwar-ul-Haq along with others gave him a warm welcome on stepping out of Ajmer central jail.

Speaking in English, Chisti said, "I would also thank President Asif Ali Zardari for making efforts for me and for visiting Ajmer".

Chisti was granted bail on humanitarian grounds a day after his case was discussed between the authorities of the two countries during Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to India. Activists in India and Pakistan have been demanding Chisti’s release.

After furnishing a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and two securities of 50,000 each in a fast track court, his brothers went to the jail where he was released after completion of formalities.

Dressed in a white Pathani suit and a skull cap and holding a ‘bidi’ in hand, a relieved Chisti said he was eagerly waiting to go back home.

When asked about the case of Indian convict Sarabjit Singh, who is on death row in Pakistan and is lodged in a jail there for 22 years, Chisti said he did not know about him but asserted that "every human being should get justice".

While granting bail, the apex court had directed Chisti not to leave the country without prior permission from the court.

An ailing Chisti had been lodged in the jail hospital.

A microbiologist by profession, Chisti had come to visit his sick mother in Ajmer in 1992 when he got embroiled in a dispute and, in the ensuing melee, one of his neighbours was shot dead while his nephew got injured. 

Born in Ajmer to a prosperous family of caretakers of the shrine of sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, Chisti was studying in Pakistan at the time of partition in 1947 and chose to stay back in that country.

"This is the blessing of Khawaja Garibnawaz," said Jamil Chisti on his release

The apex court bench comprising justices P Sathasivam and J Chelameswar considered his old age and the fact that he has been in India since 1992, after the murder case was lodged against him, and granted the bail.

Reacting to his release, the BJP hoped that Pakistan would reciprocate the gesture and free Sarabjit Singh.

"Obviously, we all stand in India with the aspiration that there is a reciprocity that Pakistan must follow on this," BJP leader Arun Jaitley said.

700 Cr NRHM are Plundered in Jammu and Kashmir

SIT seizes bank records in JKCA scam

Over Rs 96 lakh goods traded across LoC

Goods worth over Rs Rs 96 lakh was traded across the Line of Control (LoC) at Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing point here, officials said.

As many as 27 trucks rolled out from Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) at Ranger here to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), they said, adding these trucks carried bags of chilli and banana worth Rs 79,14,065.

From PoK, four trucks carrying bags of potato and herbs crossed to this side worth Rs 16,91,388.

The officials from both the side monitored the transportation of these goods at Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing point twice during the day from 1300 hrs to 1330 hrs and 1630 hrs to 1700 hrs, they said. 

Same Day Speed Post

Pak national nabbed on LoC

Army today apprehended a Pakistani national on the Line of Control (LoC) at Salhutri in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district while a mysterious blast took place in a dustbin at City Chowk area of Poonch this morning but there were no casualties or major damage.

Official sources said troops of 39 Rashtriya Rifles intercepted and apprehended a Pakistani national as soon as he crossed into this side from the LoC at forward village of Salhutri in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district this morning.

The Pakistani national disclosed his identity as Mohammad Sharief, 26, son of Choudhary Ban Mohammad, a resident of village Troti, Abbaspur in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

An identity card of Pakistan Government and Rs 2500 in Pakistani currency were recovered from his possession.

Army troops quizzed the Pakistani national during which he disclosed that he had crossed over to this side inadvertently.

In the evening, Army handed over the youth to local police for sustained questioning.

Meanwhile, a mysterious blast took place in a dustbin kept on roadside at crowded City Chowk area of Poonch town at about 9.30 am today creating panic in the area.

SSP Poonch Ashkoor Wani denied that it was a blast.

He said some kind of gas might have led to fire in the dustbin. Investigations were on to find out nature of the gasses or whatever material led to fire in the dustbin, he added.

However, the mysterious blast triggered panic in the area as a school bus was crossing City Chowk at that time. A scooter parked in vicinity of the dustbin suffered damage but there were no casualties or injuries to the passers-by.

"As the area was crowded one, there would have been casualties in case an explosive device had gone off in the dustbin'', sources said, adding only the dustbin caught fire after a sound.

However, people deserted the spot for sometime and panic gripped the area.

Additional SP Poonch Yougal Manhas and DySP (Operations), Poonch Javed Iqbal rushed to the spot along with police and cordoned off area.

Sources said the forensic experts have seized relevant material from the dustbin to find out the nature of mysterious blast.

Normalcy was restored in Poonch town after sometime, police said.

J&K gets Rs 6600 cr plan

Zardari visit reflects maturity

Voicing hope that President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit would mark the start of a "sustained" process to resolve all issues between India and Pakistan, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said it would be a "forward movement" if the Pakistani leader comes to J&K. Omar said the fact Pakistan has not harped on "Kashmir first" reflected the "maturity in our relations"."J&K issue has long threatened our relation. The fact that it hasn’t been talked about that much does not mean it is not an important issue. But it hasn’t hijacked the dialogue," he told reporters.

Omar said though he had not expected too much from the visit, there "is now a possibility that we can have a sustained engagement process" with the ultimate aim of resolving all issues.

On Zardari visiting Kashmir, the J-K Chief Minister said, "I think it is long overdue. I would like to be able to visit Mirpur and Muzaffarabad and I think for President Zardari to be able to come to J&K would also be forward movement."

Omar also recalled that Zardari had said, when they last met in Pakistan before he became President, that he would visit Kashmir when he comes to India the next time.

In a lighter vein, Omar said that he had bet him a rupee that he won’t be able to keep his word.

Earlier, Omar had tweeted: "Kashmir is off the menu today; no gushtabas :-)", referring to the lunch hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the Pakistani guests.

While welcoming the PM’s visit to Pakistan, he said there has to be a right occasion. "It is not going to make for very appealing visuals if we have the Prime Minister in Pakistan on one side and Hafiz Sayeed addressing a rally on the other side of the TV screen".

MARCH 2011 Jammu News 

No change in Pak intentions

Asserting that terror infrastructure across the border is intact and militants are operating there, a senior police officer today said there is no change in the intention of Pakistan to continue terrorism in the State.

"There are different figures of different agencies as far as terrorist camps, launching pads and militants (operating across the border) is concerned. But launching pads are there, militants and their training camps are still there", Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda told reporters here. "The intention in the capability of our neighbouring country (Pakistan) to continue terrorism in our State—that continues", he said.

As far as infiltration is concerned, he said the reports are that there is no change in the intention—whether it is training camps or launching pads.

"Therefore, we have to keep up the vigilance. The way there has been improvement in the border management, I am confident that their designs would not succeed", the DGP said.

Expressing happiness over the situation, he said "this year militancy-related incidents have decreased. In the first three months of 2012, 26 militancy-related incidents took place as compared to 48 last year, showing a 45 percent overall decrease".

Khoda said there was 47 percent dip in militancy during first three months of 2011, as compared to the same period in 2010. 

Civilian killings this year have decreased by 50 percent and there was no killing of security force or police personnel this year as compared to last year’s figure of three jawans, the DGP said.

Referring to the cross-border infiltration, he said "there is no report of successful infiltration with us in the entire State. That is also a big achievement. There is increased vigilance along the border".

Khoda further said the performance of three of months this year has been better than the last year and the previous year. "There is the best synergy between police, army and other security force agencies. This example you can never see in the rest of the country", he added.

"Due to this synergy, we have achieved these results and also people have given full cooperation to us in restoration of normalcy and peace whether it is law and order or militancy", he said.

To another question about the number of militants operating in J&K, he said "our figures suggest they are in the range of 85-90".

Regarding a question about apprehension of "hot summer" this year, the DGP said "the point is that we have to be alert. However, the number of militants was much higher than last year. We ensured that militancy level decreases from last year and that effort continues".

"The presence of militants is decreasing in the State due to better operational capabilities of the forces and we are sure that we will be able to ensure peace in the summer", Khoda said. Answering a question about stone-pelters being brought under the ambit of youth clubs set up by Police, the DGP said "we do not discriminate for sports activities. The focus is on youth.

"We have got positive results in those areas where we have set up youth clubs. Those areas witnessed peace. We will open more youth clubs and the focus this time would be those areas, which were not attended to last year including that of Jammu, he said. 

Jammu Kashmir Travel Advisories

Jail for Ladens family

A Pakistani court jailed former Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s three widows and two daughters for 45 days after finding them guilty of illegally staying in the country, their lawyers said today.

In practice, that means they will serve 14 days in prison because they have been in detention since March 3. Bin Laden’s family members will eventually be deported to their home countries, the lawyers said.

‘They (bin Laden’s relatives) were sentenced to 45 days imprisonment and fined 10,000 rupees ($110) each. The money was paid on the spot,’ Aamir Khalil, one of the lawyers, said.

‘The Secretary of the Interior has been instructed to make arrangements for their deportation after that.’

The relatives are being detained in a heavily-guarded three-storey house in a residential neighbourhood of the capital Islamabad. Few have access to the family, and legal proceedings took place at the house because of security concerns.

‘They are doing fine,’ Khalil told reporters when asked about the relatives’ condition.

Analysts had said Pakistan may have preferred a lengthy prison sentence for the family to prevent them from discussing details of their time in Pakistan.

Once outside Pakistan, bin Laden’s relatives could reveal details about how the world’s most wanted man was able to hide in US ally Pakistan for years, possibly assisted by elements of the country’s powerful military and spy agency.

‘The Pakistan military and intelligence are confident that the facts are already known to America, most of (them) anyway,’ said Talat Masood, a retired general and political analyst.

Pakistan’s government and military have said they had no links to bin Laden.

Any revelations about ties to bin Laden could embarrass Islamabad and infuriate Washington, which staged a decade-long hunt for bin Laden after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

Bin Laden was shot and killed in May last year by US special forces who stormed his house in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad, about a two-hour drive from the capital Islamabad.

Yemen-born Amal Al-Sadeh, the youngest widow, and her four children were among the 16 people detained by Pakistani authorities after the raid, which also included two other wives from Saudi Arabia

All flights from Srinagar airport cancelled

Snowfall in Kashmir highway closed

Valley records lowest temp in 17 years

Pak keen to change trade policies

Pakistan today said its decision to normalize trade ties with India reflects a desire to move away from the policies of the past 40 years but should not be taken as any dilution of its stand on "core issues" like Kashmir."We believe that the establishment of normal trade relations with India will be mutually beneficial for both countries. Significantly it also illustrates the priority that we attach to Pakistan's economic development," Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar told a news conference at the Foreign Office.

Her comments came a day after the cabinet introduced a negative list regime for trade with India and for doing away with the negative list of 1,209 items by the end of the year."This decision, however, should in no way be construed as any dilution of our principled stance on the core issues that have bedeviled Pakistan-India relations for the last 60 years, and notably the issue of Jammu and Kashmir," she said in her opening remarks.Pakistan, she said, will continue to "seek the peaceful resolution of all issues with India" and continue to insist on "meaningful progress in the dialogue process on all issues simultaneously".Khar made it clear that the Pakistan government was willing to try new means to engage with India that amounted to a shift from the policies of the past four decades.

She pointed out that Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah had bequeathed to the people "normal trade relations" with India at the time of the country's creation in 1947, and that these arrangements had continued till 1965, when the two countries fought a war.

Since the earlier policies for engagement with India had not produced results despite been in place for 40 years, this new track should be given some time, she argued."If from 1965 to now, we feel that we have done a great job in being able to achieve our objectives within Kashmir and within the foreign policy domain, then clearly we would not be encouraged to change the way we do business with our neighbors," she said in response to a question on whether Pakistan should normalise trade relations with India despite lack of progress in resolving the Kashmir issue.

"But I think there's a good case to be made in normalization of trade ties and all other ties and pursuing what you consider to be your core interests within this relationship," she added.The move by the Pakistani cabinet will allow traders to import about 6,000 products from India and pave the way for giving India Most Favored Nation-status by the beginning of next year.Khar said there was "complete consensus" in the cabinet on the issue of normalizing trade relations with India and the proposal was not opposed even by a single member.She further pointed out to a questioner that the cabinet was the "final authority and body" for defining the national interests of Pakistan.

In response to a question about India's alleged lack of interest in engaging on the Kashmir issue, Khar said: "There is no retreat by India. India is exceptionally keen to pursue dialogue to be result-oriented"."I think there is keenness on both sides for the dialogue process to be result-oriented"The current Pakistan People's Party-led government has been able to build "a degree of trust with our Indian counterparts" and this is a prerequisite to "pursue our goals and to be able to solve all the disputed issues between India and Pakistan," Khar said.

PoK refugees organize protest rally

The refugees of 1947, 1965 and 1971 from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) areas today organized a large protest rally against the Government at Mubarak Mandi here today.

A large number of displaced families from Mirpur, Bhimber, Deva, Batala, Manawar, Poonch, Kotli, Bagh and Muzaffrabad assembled under the banner of PoK Refugees Front (1947, 65,71) at Mubarak Mandi complex here today and held a strong protest demonstration.

Under the leadership of Front president Capt Yudhvir Singh and general secretary Rashpal Singh Chib, these refugees including men and women, carrying banners and placards in their hands were shouting slogans against the Government. They criticized the Government for ignoring them for the last many decades.

The Front leaders also addressed the gathering and flayed Government of its anti-refugee stance. Mr Chib in his address demanded that the left over refugee families of 1947 and 1971 be registered and justice be provided to them. He also demanded ownership rights of properties (houses/ land) be given to the refugees as they are facing lot of hardships. The refugees placed in the border areas of Jammu region are unable to get rent and other claims from security forces/ army etc. as they do not have the ownership rights of the land being used by the forces. These families are facing lot of hardships.

Mr Chib pointed out that during 2000, the Centre had sanctioned ` 5 crore in favour of refugees. Out of this money, funds to the tune of ` 4 crore were disbursed. The remaining money should also be disbursed among the refugees. He urged the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Revenue and Relief Minister Raman Bhalla to provide justice to the refugees. After staging daylong protest dharna, the refugees dispersed peacefully at around 3.30 pm.

KPs protest Indo Pak dialogue

A protest demonstration was staged by Joint Forum of Kashmiri Pandit organizations in front of Press Club here today to protest against the recently held Indo Pak dialogue. The demonstration was led by senior KP leader and president, All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference, (ASKPC) A N Vaishnavi.

The protestors displaying pla-cards and banners raised slogans denouncing the Indo-Pak talks as sham. They said that these talks would prove counter productive and would only encourage Pakistan and secessionist elements in the State.

The Joint Forum leaders who addressed the demonstration included Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo of PK, Rakesh Kaul of Kashmir Samiti Delhi (KSD), H L Chatta, general secretary, ASKPC, R K Raina, senior vice president, ASKPC, D N Kissu, chairman Non Camp and Virender Raina its spokesperson and women leaders Mohni Koul and Phoola Kaul.

They lambasted the Union Government and said that the manner in which the secessionist elements were facilitated to meet the Pakistan Foreign Minister is shameful. This smacks of a deep rooted conspiracy to undermine the position of the Indian nation and harm its vital national interests. The complicity of Pakistan in arranging meeting with these elements who are bent upon to break India has been established and as such the Government of India should have taken strong and appropriate measures, they added.

Instead it seems that the meeting was facilitated by the Government and was held in full glare of the media.

They said it has shaken the nation and created doubts regarding the sincerity and credibility of the Government in context of Kashmir issue. The manner and conduct of the Government gives rise to fears and suspicions that there may be a sell out being worked out at the cost of the nationalist forces in the State.

They said that time and again, the nationalist forces in the country including the Kashmiri Pandits have made it clear that there is no constituency in the country for negotiating or experimenting over the territory and sovereignty of India in J&K. The KPs have asked the Government of India to initiate a comprehensive dialogue process with the representatives of the community that would ultimately lead to the establishment of a separate homeland for seven lakh KPs in Valley, the added.

Jethmalani at dinner

Jethmalani's tongue in cheek

Former Union Minister and BJP MP Ram Jethmalani almost rocked a dinner hosted by Pakistan High Commissioner Shahid Malik here Wednesday night in honour of his foreign minister Hina Rabani Khar here for talks with counterpart S M Krishna.

The "feel good" factor that Khar and Krishna laboured in their two-and-a-half hour talks to sustain optimism for continuing the talks was almost overturned by the acerbic Jethmalani.

Just when everybody had finished the meals, he took the mike and praised former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. Not stopping at that, he then went on to attack China in the presence of Chinese ambassador Zhang Yan. He said China was an enemy of both countries and asked them to join and defeat the Beijing hegemony.

An embarrased High Commissioner Malik took mike from Jethmanali to clarify that these views were not shared by Pakistan. The Indian government too scrambled. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao were seen rushing to Chinese Ambassador’s table to clam his nerves and apologise for the remarks. Zhang was seated with the US charge d’ affairs Peter Burleigh.

Jethmalani even blushed the 34-year-old foreign minister of Pakistan, calling her charming lady. He said he had secured invitation for the dinner after looking at pictures of Khar in the morning newspapers.

Meanwhile, Khar's visit to the dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisty in Ajmer on Thursday before flying back to her country ran into difficulty. Her helicopter ride to Ajmer got  delayed due to monsoon clouds around Jaipur.

Her special Pakistan Air Force plane had earlier landed at Jaipur and waiting at the airport was an Indian Air Force helicopter to take her to Ajmer. She, however, could make it in the afternoon. She offered a "Chadar' at the dargah and paid obeisance at Aastana Sharif. In the morning, she also visited the dargah of famous Sufi saint Nizamuddin

Separatists meet Hina

Ageing hardline Kashmir separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was quite blunt in telling visiting young Pakistan foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar that he disapproves of her country’s exploring alternative settlement and short-cuts on Kashmir dispute, deviating from the traditional stand of "right to self-determination."

She made it clear that Pakistan has no interest to return to former president Pervez Musahrraf’s four-point formula or any other recipe that is seen as undesirable by the Kashmiri separatist leadership. She said Pakistan will not override sentiments and aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Geelani also told her at the Pakistan High Commission here in a 90-minute interaction that Pakistan’s internal situation was a source of concern for him as well as Kashmiris back home and wanted to know what steps its government is taking to stop frequent attacks on its cities and people.

Two delegations, one led by Geelani and another by a seven-member team of moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq met Khar separately.

Chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference said dialogue and bullets cannot go hand-in-hand. He said onus for progress on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir squarely lies with New Delhi, as it has to show some accommodation in Kashmir. 

Talking to reporters, after his group met Pakistan Foreign Minister, he said that Kashmir was not a bilateral issue, but concerned people of Kashmir. He also called for inclusion of voice and aspirations of people in the discourse.

Reminding  that his faction was never against talks as they had held meetings with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and earlier L. K. Advani, when he was deputy prime minister, Mirwaiz said "we backed out when we saw nothing was moving ahead."  He asked India to come out of Mumbai syndrome and talk on other matters substantively. Admitting that issue of Kashmir was complex and difficult, but said the progress on the issue was necessary for peace.

FAI'S ARREST: Mirwaiz told reporters that his delegation shared its concern with the Pakistani foreign minister over the arrest of Kashmiri American Council's chief Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai in Washington last week dubbing him as an ISI agent.

He said such acts are "shrinking constituency of peace" while everyone is interested in a peaceful solution of the Kashmir dispute.

Geelani told the Pakistani minister that he was not against dialogue but history has shown that India uses the instrument of dialogue only to "hoodwink" the world opinion and impose a more restrictive regime in Kashmir.

"We are given no space even to breathe. I was under house arrest for over past 10 days. Even orders of judiciary are openly flaunted. India’s attitude becomes harsher under the garb of dialogue with Pakistan," he told reporters after his meeting.

Though he accepted Pakistan’s support to Kashmir cause and its ramifications on the country, Geelani said he advised the Pakistani minister not to take any hasty step. "Any solution in haste and a compromise will not be acceptable to us," he said, pointing out that Kashmir is not just a border dispute but it concerns the people.

He called for inclusion of genuine Kashmiri leadership to make dialogue "purposeful" and "meaningful." He said the Pakistan foreign minister agreed that for the credibility of the dialogue process to make it result-oriented the Kashmiri leadership should also be involved in the process.

Geelani also asked Pakistan to attend its domestic problems in Baluchistan, Karachi and the issue of Taliban, who are frequently attacking its cities and people. He said Pakistan’s internal situation was a source of concern for him as well as Kashmiris back home. 

He also touched the raw nerve of Pakistan, saying his right to self determination involves not only Hindus and Budhists in Jammu and Kashmir but also the areas of Gilgit, Baltistan and Muzaffarabad as well, whom Pakistan calls Azad Kashmir.

Expressing concern at the internal situation of Pakistan, he told Pakistani government to gurantee and work towards protecting life and property of people in Baluchistan. "Only your development works of words are not enough," he said. He also had a piece of advice on targeting killing in Karachi. "Why you are not confiscating arms and ammunition in that city?" he asked the Pak minister. He also said while the acts of Taliban were unacceptable as per human and Islamic values, Islamabad should settle the issue through dialogue and reconciliation.