LARGEST CIRCULATED ENGLISH FORTNIGHLY OF J&K
April 1st--May 31st, 2001
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Advani mooted
ceasefire proposal for J-K
By Harish Gupta NEW DELHI, Nov 30: Contrary to reports, the unilateral ceasefire proposal in Jammu and Kashmir by Indian security forces during the month of Ramzan was first mooted by Union Home Minister LK Advani in October last. Advani,
who also heads the Department of Kashmir Affairs told Prime Minister Atal
Behari Vajpayee that the second peace initiative was worth risking in view
of the suggestions received from various sections of the Valley and outside. He
also informed the Prime Minister that Gandhian and former MP Nirmala Deshpande
had come to him with Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) MLA of Jammu
and Kashmir Yousuf Tarigami. They
felt that if the Indian government declared unilateral ceasefire in the
Valley during the month of Ramzan, it would send right signals, he said. Nirmala
Desphande also informed Advani that before making such a proposal, she
had discussed the same with several groups in the Valley. They also felt
that sincerity of the Indian government will be further strengthened if
this initiative was taken. It
was in this back-drop that Advani took up the issue with Vajpayee. It is
learnt that Vajpayee decided to call a meeting of the Cabinet Committee
on Security (CCS) for a detailed discussion. J&K
Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah specially flew in here to attend a quiet
meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security. The
Army expressed certain reservations on the unilateral ceasefire. However,
after two rounds of talks at various levels in the government, it was decided
that the government must go ahead with the second initiative, after last
year's Lahore peace process. The
Cabinet Committee on Security's resolution was cleverly worded. It said
the forces will not take any initiative in the Valley to fight militancy
during Ramzan. But they will not hesitate in retaliating. When
contacted, Deshpande confirmed that she visited Advani along with the CPM
MLA and the initiative was expected to bring desired results. Advani
confirmed that Desphande had come to him with the proposal and the second
peace initiative was taken by the government after detailed discussions
at the CCS. Islamabad
had missed the opportunity given in February 1999. "This is the second
one," Advani said. He
told journalists yesterday that, "Militants can do what they want in Kashmir
but now I am addressing Pakistan. What Pakistan can do now is to immediately
stop infiltration by militants and their training camps as also the supply
of weaponry and explosives like RDX to them."
(Source:
Indian
Express)
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