|
|
|
|
LARGEST
CIRCULATED ENGLISH MONTHLY OF J&K
A News Magazine of Kashmiri Pandit Community |
| | Home | August 1st-31st, 1999 | |
 |
|
|
 |
VOL. 5, NO: 13-14 Part 2 of 2 Go Back to Part 1 of 2
Political Correspondent Mufti Mohammed Syed, the Veteran Congress leader of Kashmir resigned fromCongress on July 25 and announced the formation of a regional party, christened as J&K People’s Democratic Party. This was not an unexpected development, with intense factionalism plaguing the state Congress and Kashmir affairs being back in the hands of Ahmed Patel-Ghulam Nabi Azad duo. Both are pro-Dr Farooq Abdullah and want a marginalised role for Congress in the state, a line not acceptable to Mufti Syed. In the recent period, Congress was playing the main opposition role mainly due to the efforts of Mufti Syed and his daughter, Mehbooba Mufti. They maintained high political visibility. Any situation involving the people anywhere in the state, inevitably brought them to the political scene. Under their leadership the Congress was regaining its role as a democratic opposition in the local politics of Kashmir. Explaining his decision to resign from the Congress, Mufti Syed said that Congress does not have any forum where decisions could be taken. He described it as “a party of rootless people ”. While praising the Lahore visit of the Prime Minister Vajpayee, Mufti deplored “the lack of attention towards the problem inside”. Mufti pleaded for “unconditional” talks with separatists. He also criticised what he called Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s indifference to people’s miseries. “They think only in terms of the number of Lok Sabha seats,” Mufti added. Before resigning he had a lenghthy meeting with Mrs Sonia Gandhi. Earlier, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, while resigning from Congress had written an angry letter to the Congress President. She had asked her, “you want the land of Kashmir or also the people”. However, barring Mr Muzaffar Beg, no senior leader of any consequence has joined Mufti Syed. Mufti Mohammed Syed’s launching of the new party cannot be seen simply as a factional split in the Congress. It has far-reaching ramifications for politics of the state, besides National Conference, Congress and the Centre. With the only leader having a popular base deserting the Congress, its role in Kashmir is virtually finished. For National Conference, hitherto it did not have to contend with a serious regional party having the same agenda. Rapid erosion in the social base of NC caused by the total misgovernance and the murmers of emerging factionalism are creating a political vaccum, which is sought to be filled by Mufti Syed’s new regional party. From Centre’s view point healthy competitive politics between two popular regional parties offers better choice. Not only can it arrest the drift of alienated sections towards extraconstitutional outlets, but it can also act as the restraining influence on the illogical demands of the local politicians. Rajiv Gandhi - Farooq accord of 1987 left no democratic space for alienated sections - and the rest is history. Mufti Syed had rejoined Congress two years ago at the instance of Mr Narsimha Rao and Mr SB Chavan. He was asked to revamp the organisation by carrying all factions with him. However, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad never allowed him to function. A situation was created in which even the seven MLAs did not rally behind him and his daughter. When the PCC(I) was reconstituted, Mufti’s position was further weakened. He wanted to launch a regional party six months ago but was restrained by senior collegues. He could have further waited Azad’s interfernece but the Parliamentary elections were announced. AICC, influenced by Mr Azad had indicated that Dr Mehboob Beg and not Mufti Syed would be fielded in Anantnag. This was to finish him politically. Mufti Mohd Syed has been described as a habitual deserter, with personal animus against Sheikh family. It is also said that Mufti’s politics is driven by an ambition to become the chief minister. In 1977, 1984, 1990 Mufti Syed is alleged to have played a crucial role in destablising National Conference. He carried the Congress flag on his shoulders for years in the valley and fought virtually single-handedly against the mighty Sheikh Abdullah and his son Dr Farooq Abdullah. He had to pay a heavy price for the hostility. NC ensured that Mufti could never win an election. Mufti continued to battle for political existence. Many of his collegues in the Congress e.g. Messers Ashraf Khan, Abdul Ghani Lone, Ali Mohd Naik, Mohd Shafi etc had joined NC to enjoy the fruits of power. No politics survives on personal hostility. Mufti Syd’s persistent opposition to National Conference symoblised by the Abdullah has to be seen in the context of attempts by new rural elite to challenge the hegemony of urban based political leadership. During the last two decades upwardly mobile groups among the rural middle class have established complee deminance over administration, professions, and trade. It is not a coincidence that the main political rivals of NC i.e Ghani Lone, Shabir Shah, Prof Ghani, Syed Ali Shah Geelani represent the rural gentry. The other dissenters include either traditional anti-Abdullah elements like Mir Waiz Farooq or those urban groups not coopted by NC in power structure. In 1968, when the former chief minister, late Sadiq began the process of reconciliation with Sheikh Abdullah’s Plebscite Front, it was the rural faction of Congress led by Mir Qasim, Ghulam Rasool Kar, Abdul Ghani Lone and Mufti Syed which voiced serious opposition. Mrs Indira Gandhi overruled them. Syed Mir Qasim decided to shift to Centre. Ghani Lone joined NC government for some time but soon left it. He floated his own outfit ‘People’s Conference and tried to play anti-NC role. As this failed to enlarge his social base, he switched over to secessionist politics. It is interesting to note that when Mr Lone was a Congress Minister, he had called for abrogation of Article 370 and sat on dharna for party implementation of Hindi scheme. Mr Ghulam Rasool Kar’s politics has been simply dictated by personal expediency. Mufti Syed continues to battle against NC. In early eighties, when he had full backing of Mrs Indira Gandhi, he forged a social combination of Shias, Gujjars, Pandits and a section of rural Sunnies to challenge NC in the electoral arena. However, Mufti’s concern was not to voice the selecive discrimination against these groups or building Congress as a healthy secular opposition. His priority seemed destabilising of NC. So once Mufti thought that this social combination was not a winning combination, he fell back to challenging NC on a different agenda.. To counter NC, he is alleged to have patronised Qazi Nissar, the rabid preacher of communal hate against Kashmiri Hindus. Mufti’s pleas for unconditional talks” with separatists and nonemphasis on secular politics is an extension of this approach. Mufti Syed’s decision to float regional party has basically three objectives. One it wants to cash on alienation, created by NC misgovernance. Second, it wants to woo those separatists who intend to participate in democratic power-politics. Thirdly, it intends to cash the “isolationist psyche of Kashmiris”, to build its legitimacy as a popular regional party. Mufti Syed’s present political line has sinister implications for those Indians who want to see Kashmir as a part of secular nation-building exercise. Mufti’s approach strengthens the legitimacy of separatist and Muslim-subnationalist politics. This politics has also the potentiality of building an agenda whereby Mufti’s rivals can try to outmatch him. Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad’s recent statements in Srinagar strengthen these fears. He was trying to out herod the herod. Mr Azad lashed out at SoG and accused the state government for being responsible for human rights abuses. Congress - I Manifesto has also called for dialogue with separatists provided they shun violence. END CHINA’S SUPPORTIVE STANCE ON KARGIL Diplomatic Correspondent By virtue of their size, power, aspirations and geostrategic importanceIndia and China are bound to play adversorial role. Since late forties they have history of bitter relationship. Despite supporting China’s membership for UN and its annexation of Tibet, China has harmed Indian interests time and again. It has consistently backed Pakistan against India on all issues including Kashmir. China has grabbed our territory in the north-east and Ladakh, totalling nearly 40,000 square milies. It has also been backing the diferent secessionist groups questioning the sovereignity of India. China has sown distrust among India’s neighbour states. China’s supportance stance,even if not a shift on, Kargil has surprised many. The impact of Chinese neutrality played a decisive role in facilitating Clinton-Sharif deal. China emphatically maintained that there should be no outside intervention in bilateral affairs or internal disputes. It refused to lend support to Pak move to activate UN and its Security Council for discussion on Kargil. Chinese cautioned Nawaz Shrif against US intervention and laid stress on resolving conflicts through bilateral discussions. They feel India and Pakistan tensions would draw US into regional power play along its borders. President Jiang’s reference to “increase in unstable elements” threatening world peace is of particular significance in this context. Though China did not pass value judgements on branding Pakistan as an aggressor or asking for respect for LoC, yet they conveyed their non-approval of Pakistan’s Kargil action by executing Pak gang leader in Sinkiang, just before Sharif’s visit. Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan told the visiting Pakistan Foreign Minister, Sartaj Aziz, “the Kashmir issue is a complicated affair with a long history and should be, and could only be solved through peaceful means .. China hopes Pakisan and India will find an effective approach to bringing about a political solution to the Kashmir issue through negotiations and consutations.” Chinese leaders stress in general was “to exercise patience and resolve the crisis through peaceful and candid dialogue” and “seek a political solution by reviving Lahore process.” There was also a new semantic shift in China’s stand on Kashmir. Mr Zhu Rongi, the Chinese Prime Minister called Kashmir, “a historical problem involving territorial, religious, ethnic and other elements.” Earlier Chinese stand was that Kashmir was a problem left over by history. New stance could indicate recognition of the dangers of religious fundamentalism and ethenic separatism flowing out of the Kashmir dispute. The recent visit of Mr Jaswant Singh of China was also significant from India’s view. Both countreis reiterated statements that they were not threat to each other. Mr Jaswant Singh disowned statements of Mr Fernandes and Mr Vajpayee in 1998 which were not liked by the Chinese. To reassure Chinese he told them that the different voices emanating from India about China were “transitory occurances” and said “Pokhran chapter is behind us”. Later speaking to an elite gathering of Chinese ... and ex-diplomats Mr Jaswant Singh stressed the need for opposing “dollar imperialism”. Expressing concern at the developing countries, Mr Jaswant Singh said “India and China should cooperate in facing the difficult Urisation in the name of globalisation”. Chinese reciprocated by telling Mr Jaswant Singh that India and China must stand up with equal might against hegemonism and unipolority. The message was that in these circumstances China and India cannot afford to be mutual threats. China and India also agreed for a security dialogue and a Joint Working Group was formed to settled boundary differences. China’s role in Kargil has to be seen in the context of growing misturst in Sino-US relations, its concern over role of Pakistan and India’s emergence as a nuclear power in the neighbourhood. Sino-US discord: Chinese policymakers feel strategic partnership with US is over. They haveapprehensions of US led containment of China, particularly with Republicans ground.The Clinton administration’s decision to widen its security umbrella in Asia by providing Taiwan and Japan with Theatre Missile Defence Systems has made Chinese to have a second look at their security. This system is primarily directed against China and will give US the capability to intervene militarily anywhere in this region. Washington’s new policy is to gain access to places in South-East Asia in order to upgrade US Naval security and Air superriority without having to set up and operate new military bases per se. Chinese are also worried about growing US military presence and its interventionist role in Central Asia. A full elite US division, 82nd will be paradropped in Uzbek’s Ferghana valley in September, 1999 as part of NATO sponsored “partnership for peace” exercise. This division is part of US’s Rapid Deployment Force for immediate trouble shooting in any global hot spot. China feels that this initiative can turn Central Asia into yet another bridgehead for its containment. US’s action in Kosovo has demonstrted Washington as an aggressive and hegemonic superpower. Many senior Chinese officials fear that in the post Kosovo scenario, internationalisation of Kashmir could set a dangerous precendent for Tibet as well. Cox report on the Chinese stealing of classified US defence technology has affected credibility of China in US. Cox report tries to inculcate in the American mind the suspician that every Chinese student who comes to the American University Campus is a virtual spy, Chinese argue. Chinese have reacted very strongly to the bombing of its embassy in Belgrade. China immediately suspended all military cooperation, and stopped dialogue on non-proliferation, disarmament, international security and human rights with US. It banned US warships visiting Hongkong. Chinese policymakers believe US bombing was prelude to an atempt to trample Chinese sovereignity and an exercise to test China’s resolve. Chinese feel that US is likely to remain a superpower for the next seventy years. They believe that strategic partnership between India and Russia and China can checkmate US hegemonism in the Asia and the process towards multipolarity can be hastened. Concern over Pakistan’s role: For China Sinkiang region is of great economic and strategic importance. Itoccupies a large proportion of Chinese land mass. China’s nuclear test site is in Lop Nor and there is also considerable mineral wealth including Uranium in this province. Pakistan has been patronising Islamic fundamentalists to create trouble in Sinkiang. The Front organisation of Snikiang Muslims “Asian Muslims Human Rights Bureau” operates from Islamabad. Pakistan press reports regularly highlight how Sinkiang Muslims pursue their objectives of achieving separate homeland. Chinese are also not happy over Pakistan’s role in destablisaton of Central Asia. China has strong apprehensions that Pakistan is turning into an irresponsible nuclear state and giving undue leverage to US in this region. Chinese, reports say, had advised Pakistan not go for Chagai blasts in 1998. It wanted Pakistan to have its nuclear umbrella. Engaging India: After India became a nuclear state, Chinese were convinced that balance ofpower has changed asymmetry. With increased emphasis by BJP leaders that Indian nuclear programme was Chinese specific, Chinese decided to engage India to curb arms race. China has ambitions to become a super power in next two decades, so it wants to buy peace with India for concentrating on economic developments. China has fears that US may be goading India into a strategic alliance and striking a nuclear deal. M Albright on her visit to China has repeatedly queried about a secret deal over India’s signing of CTBT. Sha Zhukang, a top Chinese expert, speaking to an audience in Washington even advised US not to engage itself in discussions with India on what constituted a minimal nuclear deterrence and to stand by the tough Security Council resolution No. 1172, which demands complete nuclear and missle disarmament from India and Pakistan. Chinese even while remaining stridently critical of India’s nuclear and missile weaponisation programme have come to the conclusion that reverting to a hostile relationship with India would not serve their strategic and economic interests in Asia. India has to tread cautiously in its relations with China. In view of the growing ecnomic stakes, relations between US and China are not going to slide down much. Secondly China is not going to sacrifice its strategic ties with Pakistan, even while being critical of its role. China’s stand on Kashmir is not supportive of India but only “detached” and “nuanced”. Relations with India are not a priority for China. Normal relations with India is an incremental foreign policy aim, particularly in the context of India’s nuclear and missile weaponisation. It is imperative for India not to neglect strategic aspects of security vis-a-vis China, despite supportive Chinese gestures on Kargil END US SHIFT ON KARGIL - THE UNDERTONES Diplomatic Correspondent Very early in the Kargil war, Karl Inderfurth, US Assistant Secretary ofState stated that, “the Indians are not going to cede this territory. They have to depart, and they will depart either voluntarily or because the Indias will take them out,” Indian media described it as the first outspoken statement by US in the last fifty-two years. Washington also admitted involvement of mercenaries and the role of Pakistan army regulars. US President in his joing statement reiterated “the line of control in Kashmir be respected by both parties, in accordance with the 1972 Shimla accord.” American Government also issued a statement condemning cross-border terrorism. There is virtually euphoria among the Indians over US role in Kargil. They have started perceiving it as a paradigm shift in the US strategy in South Asia. Mr Jaswant Singh, Minister of external affairs has seen “strategic shift taking place towards India.” The union home minister, Mr LK Advani said Kargil was a turning point in Indo-US ties. He cited bus diplomacy and the statesmanship displayed by Mr Jaswant Singh for this change. Indian policy makers, perceiving shift in US attitude towards India argue that cold war certitudes which defined US relations with Pakistan and China are beginning to disappear. New concerns about an Asian balance and rise of religious terrorism in Pakistan have begun to impinge on US thinking. For explaining the theory of paradigm shift at economic level, India’s impressive economic performance as contrasted with Pakistan’s deepening economic crisis are also cited. It is stressed that US is perceiving Pakistan as a failed state. It is also argued that US has realised that economic sanctions against India cause direct export losses as well as the loss of clientele to its other business, hitting economic growth. Changing in polarities in the Afghan region are also mentioned for decline of Pakistan’s role in US foreign policy perceptions. For tapping Central Asian oil and gass reserves, US no longer looks to Pakistan as the favourite, it is rather a liability. US is trying to mend relations with Iran and is also pressurising Taliban regime to reach an agreement with the opposition alliance. Even Saudi-Iranian relations are improving. Pakistan’s role in this scenario gets gradually marginalised. There is also growing reputation criticism of Clinton’s appeasement policy towards China and bias against India. India becomes US’s new favourite. Reports are quoted the US shared sensitive intelligence data with India and acquiesced in India’s decision to make it public. Is there really a positive shift in America’s policy towards India? Why did US take so forthright a stand. US’s positive sand towards India was only Kargil specific, restricted to restoring status quo ante at LoC. Even on Kargil, though US and UN Military observers group (a US shadow group) were well aware of what was happening in Kargil for the last two years. It did not inform India unlike in 1987 when US gave full details to Pakistan about Operation Brasstacks and warned New Delhi against any escalating measure. Not only that US role in escalating Kargil has not been above board. A report carried by the prestigious news agency, ADNI is alarming. It says, quoting reports, that around the time Gen Mushraff was visiting Skardu, preparatory to the massive infiltration, a special US commando team was seen in Pakistan. “The team may well have been assisting the Pakistan Army assemble Pusto-speaking guerrilla fighters many of whom are known to be in the pay of CIA since the days of the war against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.This suspicion arises from the fact that the infiltrators used much the same tactics as did the CIA-trained Afghan fighters in the highlands of Afghanistans,” the report adds. Stephen Cohen, a US think-tank says that end of stalemate in Kargil was limited victory for India and limited for Pakistan, “Both sides won and lost”. US took no hostile or damaging steps against Pakistan. America forced a committment on India that it will not cross LOC. India soldiers suffered huge losses because of this. US may not have taken even a forthright stand on respect for LoC, but the aggression was too blatant. Also in the absence of minimalist position it could lose mediatory role. Even while not criticising Pakistan, it has gained positive leverage in India. This has dangerous implications, considering that despite end of cold war there has been persistent American diplomatic activism on Kashmir indicating consistency in US position. Second gain for America has been that it has pushed Kashmir to the centre stage with itself as the mediator. The joint statement of Clinton and Sharif was emphatic on this. It said, “he (Clinton) would take a personal interest in encouraging an expeditious resumption and intensification of those bilateral effors, once the sanctity of the Line of Control has been fully restored.” Prof Robert Wirsingh, a US think tank and a collaborator of Kashmir study Group report said with Kargil US has acquired the status of a mediator. “This (the Kargil conflict) will be dragged out with formal additional participant in Washington. You may not call it mediation but facilitation of mediators. Kargil has given gains that Siachen never acquired,” he adds. Karl Inderfurth made two significant statements in an interview to Washington Post in the aftermath of Kargil. He said that Vajpayee had said recently “we want to permanently resolve the Kashmir problem”. Inderfurth added, “we hope at appropriate time India will sign CTBT because India has determined it is in its national interest to do so”.-------------- Inder Malhotra, a leading political analyst says that US wants a quid pro quo for better relations most probably in nuclear field especialy in the form of signature on CTBT. US has been persuing its agenda on Kashmir and CTBT, irrespctive of Indian interests. It has sent Joan Rohlfing, senior advisor for national security to US energy secretary on a six month deputation to its embassy in Delhi with effect from September 1. She has been working on non-proliferation issues for the last twelve years. She will be supporting Ambassador Celeste on non-proliferation issues and her first step on non-proliferation is to get India sign CTBT. She comes to India, a month before the important Vieanna Conference on CTBT. The indications from US are that its second step after CTBT would be to force India and Pakistan to reach a settlement on Kashmir in accordance with Shimla accord and UN resolutions. This is US’s real gameplan while playing a supportive stance on Kargil. For Indian policy-makers it is important to bear in mind that US will not allow Pakistan to collapse or even come under the shadow of a military dominant India. Thus any US mediatory role will likely seek to safeguard Pakistani interests vis-a-vis India. For the sake of India it is not going to armtwist it to accept a Kashmir settlement on Indian terms. Despite its blatant aggression, US administration showed its readiness to bail out Pakistan economy by offering it the IMF loan and make extra political effort to lift US sanctions against India END KARGIL - FROM PEACE TO WAR By S.M. Pandit Kargil district which is the centre stage for Pakistani misadventure fallson otherside of Zojila pass in Ladakh region. I first visited it in 1985. Unlike Kashmir’s lush green forests, Kargil has sky touching naked mountains and deserted area still having natural beauty. The district has majority of Shia population with Sunni majority in Drass block and Budhist in Zanaskar sub-division. Majority of the population is back ward, conservative and innocent but loyal to the nation from core of their heart. Pakistan is looked as a hostile nation and populace have always stood by Indian forces and take pride in being Indians. People talk about troublent experiences of wars with fear and the victory of Indian forces with pride and describe how Pakistan was pushed back from Hathimatha, which they identiy a hill lock in vicinity of Kargil town, a strategic position over looking Kargil town and national highway. They talk about a revered AGA (clergyman) who issued Fatwa (orders) to his followers to give all out support to Indian forces during Indo-Pak war to frustrate the nefarious designs of Pakistan. People obliged their religious Guru by providing all possible help to India forces in the hostile terrain. This nationalist gesture of the AGA was reciprocated by Indian army as he enjoyed hospitality of Indian army till his death in late 80’s and army people visited him regularly for blessing and guidance. There is usually no talk about plebescite or refrandum as in Kashmir and to the best of my knowledge the fundamentalists like Jamat-Islami have no strong base in the district. When militancy sprouted in Kashmir in 1989-90, militants failed to establish a foot hold in Kargil. The militant friendly Kashmiri Muslims, including government employees, tried their best to indoctrinate them and exploit their religious feelings but in vain. The rumours were floated that Islam is in peril in Kashmir. The local population was being misinformed by the vested interests about snatching of religious freedom by Jagmohan and Co. that resulted in people’s rebellion against Indian establishment in favour of Azadi and Pakistan. One Aga asked me if the mosques were open and if the people allowed to offer Nimaz in Kashmir? Such was the level of indoctrination. He was surprised to hear from me that the mosques were being used by these very people as political platforms and Pro-Azadi slogan’s were being raised from mosque loud speakers round the clock. The Kashmiri Muslims also organised corner meetings but the local response eluded them, however, connivance of some minisicule elements cannot be ruled out. Though there were no militancy related incidents in Kargil and there was peace still it did not remain unaffected. In October 1990, I along with 4 other friends boarded a taxi from Jammu to Sonamarg to avoid night stay in Kashmir as same was unsafe. But surprisingly, taxi driver refused on onward journey to Sonamarg and dropped us at Tourist Reception Centre Srinagar against our wishes. The arrival of Kashmiri Pandits to this place was an unusual event and was not out of danger as it was also hub of militancy. We mustered courage and fortunately could arrange a taxi to Sonamarg. On reaching Sonamarg, we boarded trucks for journey to Kargil heaving a sigh of relief little knowing that we may have to go through a night”-marish experience. On reaching TCP (Traffic Check Post) Drass at 9:00 PM, the traffic was stopped against usual practice. Usually traffic was allowed on forward journey once crossing Zojila. So we were left with no option but to stay in trucks. Unfortunately, due to some misunderstanting, we were mistaken as terrorists by our truck drivers who called in army to our surprise. Within no time army reached targetting their weapons. We established our identity with identity cards and escaped army fury but were not allowed to stay in trucks. Ignorant of the ground realities, we decided to proceed to Drass town which was 2 kms away from TCP to stay in some hotel. On the road, we saw unusual calm and contrary to our experience no hotlier responded to our knocks. Then we reached police station Drass for help and police force rushed out putting their fingers on the triggers. On listening to our stroy, they expressed surprise on our survival and stated that shoot at sight orders were in force from 8 PM onwards but declined to comment about the reasons. They arranged our stay in the Dak Bungalow and next day we boarded a bus for Kargil only to go through unprecedented checking enroute. We came to know that a big group of teenagers who had returned after military training in Pak and were trapped in Gund, Sonamarg in Sep-Oct 1999 had reporedly first tried the Mushkoh pass. Observers feel that Mushkoh may have been used by the terrorists for infiltration afterwards also for its topographical advantage before the recent full scale intrusion. Pakistan couldn’t digest India friendly approach during Indo-Pak wars and non cooperation in militancy that the civilian population became target of Pak army. The champions of Muslims did not spare even mosques, hospitals and religious schools. Peaceful Kargil was pushed into turmoil END BEFORE AND AFTER KARGIL By Sumer Koul The Prime Minister said the other day that “we have learnt a lesson fromKagil,” that we won’t let “such a situation arise again,” that “the supreme sacrifice of our soldiers will not be allowed to go waste.” Ringing words these. But do they ring true? Only time can tell. As of now the restraint with which we combated the invasion and the magnanimity with which we allowed the enemy to go home( and lay mines in the vacated areas) do not encourage optimism. Nor does history. The lesson from Kargil is a lesson we should have learnt in 1947 when Pakistan first invaded us. Then as now, at the sacrifice of hundreds of our soldiers, we had them on the run and by all accounts, would have reclaimed the entire state if only we hadn’t rushed to a fraudulent court of justice called the United Nations. This was to prove the mother of all our blunders vis-a-vis this congenitally hostile neighbour. That we learnt nothing from that war was proved when Pakistan did an encore in 1965, and again six years later. On both occasions and especially in 1971 when we had them completely on their knees, we did not drive home the advantage on the political plane. Instead, we returned to them on a platter large areas including strategic points in Kashmir (along with more than 90,000 prisoners of war) and all in return for two predictably dubious agreements, first at Tashkent and then at Simla. These blunders were made by the Congress governments, but the underlying infirmities in resolve and vision seem to afflict the entire political spectrum. The non-Congress governments did nothing to repair the damage and, in fact, it was under one such regime that Pakistan unleashed the so-called proxy war in Kasmir, a war which has gone on for ten years and taken a toll of 18,000 Indian lives. And now Kargil. Even as our Prime Minister was sincerely bear-hugging a visibly reluctant Nawaz Sharif at Wagah and we were applauding the “historic breakthrough”, Pakistan was invading Kargil! The ink had not dried on the Lahore declaration when Sharif threatened to exercise “some other option”. The belligerent statement should have dented our unilateral euphoria but it didn’t. While our politics ignored the intimidation, MEA put benign construction on it, dismisssing the threat as merely aimed at “some fringe elements in Pakistan.” Not only did Pakistan actually thrust a war on us, it also decided when to stop the fighting. That the latter decision had much to do with the lack of overt support from its patrons abroad, particulary President Clinton, is undeniable. But in our desire to celebrate this as a triumph of our diplomacy, we must not underrate the decisive role played by the raw courage, deep commitment and victories of our soldiers. Four hundred young lives snuffed out. Scores disabled for life. At the end of the day we have to ask ourselves: All this sacrifice for what? To throw out the invader and recapture our land, yes - but is that all there should be to it? Even when a bandit enters your house, you don’t merely throw him out; you want to ensure that he is punished for his crime. Why should it be different if the bandit is a country and a habitual offender, as Pakistan is? In other words, the pertinent question is not whether we have learnt a lesson from Kargil but whether we have taught a lesson to Pakistan. There is little evidence that we have. On the very day it began the withdrawal and we stopped “air action and use of certain weapons so as not to impede the withdrawal” - in other words, gave them safe passage - Pakistan continued heavy shelling from across the LoC, felling more of our men. It has since stepped up terrorist killings in the state, attacking even our army camps. According to an official spokesman, “ISI and Pakistan army have lined up 2,000 terrorists to be smuggled into J&K as a follow-up to the Kargil intrusion.” We let them off the hook in Kargil and they are back at their bloody deeds in Kashmir. Throughout the war we did and said things which were utterly uncalled for and added up to confirming Pakistan’s (and the world’s perception of India as a sponge state. Pakistan invades us and we publicly debate whether it is the government or army or ISI or foreign mercenaries who are behind the invasion. Our deep-set reluctance to call a spade a spade makes us describe the blatant aggression variously as intrusion, incursion, war-like, near-war. It is a planned invasion and occupation and Pakistan army’s involvement is abundantly clear but we still call them infiltrators and intruders. Pakistan’s “perfidy” notwithstanding, we let their foreign minister come over for talks. Then we say ‘no talks till the aggression is vacated’, and yet we receive another Pakistani emissary and send our own there - secretly. As the Indian army gets into action, Pakistan talks of a bigger war and of using nuclear weapons, but our leaders are at pains to say ‘no, no we do not want a bigger war.’ Given the facts, the world would have thought it would have been the other way round! Pakistan says the LoC is not defined. Any other country would have seized on this and gone on to destroy their bases and camps in PoK, which in any case we claim as our territory. Instead, we rush to produce the maps signed at Simla! They shoot down our plane and kill the captured pilot in cold blood. All we do is to tell Pakistan that murdering a PoW is against the Geneva convention - and an official spokesman actually “appreciates the gesture” of Pakistan returning the body! A young lieutenant and five jawans are fiendishly tortured to death. We are content merely to call it “a barbaric act”. On our part, we wrap their dead in their flag and bury them “with all respects.” Yes we are not like them; we are a civilised people. But there is nothing called a civilised war. It is a matter of killing the enemy before he kills you, of avenging the killing of your comrades, of punishing those who attack your country. More than ever before the people of India have genuinely grieved with the families of the martyrs. Going by the innumerable surveys, they are angry and fed up. They ask that we hit Pakistan so hard that it gives up its devilish designs. The government’s reluctance to retalitate in full measure and the Opposition’s petty and election-oriented politicking altogether put the Indian people and army on one wave length and the political and bureaucratic establishements on quite another. Given the way we have handled the aftermath of India-Pakistan wars, one sometimes wonders if we deserve the magnificiant army we have. Every great performance of our jawans and young officers has been considerably nullified by poor performance at the political and diplomatic levels. Is this because “our govenments have been timid,” as former army chief VN Sharma says, or is it “the victim syndrome” at play, as security analyst Brhma Chellaney says? It is both and something more: an egregious mindset that seeks good-boy certificates from the West, particularly from the US. This mindset has to go. We must do things only and entirely in the interests of the country, as our army does, and not be obessed with international opinion. The time to get into the right gear is now. Even while maintaining high vigil on the border, we must turn our guns on the terroristts in the state. There should be no pussy-footing about this. Unfortunately but typically our response to post-Kargil terrorism has been weak-kneed and reactive - rather than pre-emptive and punitively retaliatory. We must eliminate them (and their local collaborators), not by employing minimum force as hitherto, but decisively by whatever means necessary. We must also prepare to deal with a soon-to-emerge concerted western “advice” to respond to Sharif’s calls for talks. Let us make no mistake. He wants talks as a facade to impress the world even as ISI and the military-mullah complex enlarge and intensify their machinations against us. If history is not to repeat itself yet again, we should agree to talks on three conditions: they must pay war reparations; they must hand over for trial those who committed the destardly torture on our captured soldiers; and they must at once cease and desist in Kashmir (and elsewhere in India). Only when we secure these conditions can we claim not to have let the sacrifice of our soldiers go waste END PAKISTAN'S REAL INTENSIONS BEHIND SUCH AN ADVENTURE By Yoginder Kandhari IN the haze of victory in the Kargil that has enveloped us, not many haveyet analysed India's response. It would be incorrect to term Pakistani intrusion in Kargil sector a total fiasco. Pak leadership both political and military, would have taken limited sustainability of such an intrusion into account while planning the Kargil operation. Pak aim, therefore, would not have been to solely annex territory but obviously have larger politico-military objectives. On political plane, the objectives possibly were, firstly to bring Kashmir issue back into sharp international focus, secondly, to expand area of conflict to Ladakh region which thus far had remained untouched and lastly, to silence Nawaz Sharif's domestic critics and Islamic fundamentalists. For any operation to be successful, it is imperative that there has to be a goal congruence at political and military levels. This principle obviously would have been followed by the military planners. However, the operation offered the military leadershiip certain strategic spin offs like tying down of additional Indian Army formation in thus, thus restricting their alternate strategic operations, pushing in more battle hardened trained and militants in the state of J&K and, attempting a subtle psychological warfare against Indian security forces by engineering tething acts of sabotage in their rear. Pakistan has partially achieved its aims. That in no way is a mean achievement. Now let us examine the India's response to the Kargil incursions by the Pakis. Firstly, our whole intelligence network miserably failed to gain any information about this military adventure by the Pakistan. This intelligence failure has multidimensional aspects. It is not limited to gathering of information, there also has been a huge failure in proper assessment of threat in Kargil sector by the highest in the military hierarchy. Intelligence activity is not limited only to collections of hard, information. The most important aspect of this sphere is balanced assessement of options available to the enemy commanders given the available strengths and constraints. In this our military leaders failed to pick up the enemy intentions from loud and clear battle indicators. Firstly, it is no secret that Kargil sector had been considerably thinned of troops by us during intial stages of militancy in J&K in 1991-92 leaving just a brigade to look after the heights of Kargil stretched over about 150 kms. A full division strength of troops, less a brigade, was moved from the sector to Kupwara for anti-infiltration duties. Did it not occur to the military generals then that it amounted to exposing our rear to unchecked intrusions/ infiltration and adventures like the present one by the Pakis? Secondaly, Kargil sector has two important military aspects to it. One, it is flanked by Siachin a permanent battle field between the two countries and two, a strategically important highway passes through it which had regularly been interdicted for last three to four years by the Pakistani artillery. These inputs should have been enough for our military planners to focus some more tactical attention to this area. Instead we procrastinated and paid a heavy price in terms of loss of about 400 gallant soldiers. Reports about purchase of cement from Kargil town by Pakistani intruders for construction of defences in our area and visits to Kargil by them add insult to injury. One wonders where were those highly paid, Jet flying and high profile intelligence seleuths when all this enemy activity was going on in our territory for, almost a year. Many heads have to roll if we have to arrest the increasing trend of criminal negligence to national security. Even militarily we failed to carryout our basic tactical routine in an LC environment. It is just not acceptable to shift blame to non-availability of latest surveillance equipment for we could easily have detected this intrusion much before first weak of May and had we been professionally honest with accepted practice of long range patrols especially during winter months. Just removing a brigade commander and a unit commander would not be enough. Every one up the chain has to accept a portion of blame since LC management continues to be joint responsibility of commanders at all levels. How can one otherwise explain that Northern Army. Commander's assessment in third week of May, about intruders strength being just 150-200 when two thousand plus were already positioned in our territory. The failure of intelligence to forewarn the military commanders of an impending hostile move by enemy puts a fresh spanner into our war moblisation planning. Basically, all moblisation planning is based on the premise that two to three weeks of advance warning about enemy intentions would be given by the intelligence agencies to the defence forces. Obviously, military planners will now have to look outside the realms of sand model discussions for there is no guarantee that even satellites can fully be depended upon especially since even US could be fooled by our own men during Pokhran-II. This shows human brain cannot be replaced by any artificial intelligence gadget. Kargil intrusion also caught us off guard as regards our actual execution of defense plans. Build up for our counter offensive took too long than would actually be permitted in a fluid operational time frame. Our response was a nervous one. A mountain division, thickly involved in counter insurgency operations, was moved to Kargil leaving a large security void in the valley. As militant activities in the valley increase consequent to this pull out, Director General of Rashtriya Rifles was summoned to the Valley to take charge of counter insurgency operations and local corps commanders were spared for border management. There has been a talk about counter insurgency grid deployment by Rashtriya Rifles in order to relieve Army for their conventional role for too long now but without actual implementation obviously. Knee jerk reactions as we witnessed in our military respose recently indicate not enough thought was given at the highest levels to such an eventuality. One could see artillery build up for our counter offensive taking place till as late as mid June. Obviously, a massive artillery effort was put in Kargil. One wonders if such a luxury would have been available in case complete Indo-Pak border had been activated. This necessiates fresh appraisal of our tactical plans and consequent equipment requirement. Shortage and inadequecy of basic war like equipment in armed forces too has been exposed by the Kargil operations. Here the blame lies mainly with our narrow visioned political leaders. Defence perspective planning has sadly been missing from our political monitors. It surely cannot be given due attention if we have political leaders like Mr Mulayam Singh at the helm of defence establishment. Such leaders other than favouring a far from their own state or from their own caste can do precious little in casting a durable defence policy. Arming defence forces is not an overnight process. It requires foresight and years of planning to keep armed forces technologically abreast. Typical facet of Indian defence planning is that GSQRs (General Staff Quality Requirements) get obsolete by the time an equipment is introduced into the service. However, Kargil episode did also expose our weak under belly in this respect. We were found wanting in basic war like equipment like LMGS, radio sets etc. Surely, this shortage has not been created by our political leaders. Army has been living on austerity of critical equipment for last about three decades. Commanders have been wary of declaring units unfit for war on account of critical deficiencies in war like equipment lest their own professional carriers would suffer. In such an organisation environment excellent results at best appear dreams only. Kargil intrusions have put paid to our claims of waning insurgency in the state of J&K and return of near normalcy. Pakistan by one clever manoeuver has pumped in a life booster to the proxy war in the state. Firstly, it has extended its area of influence to hithertofore untouched Ladakh region thus projecting entire state of J&K a disputed area. Secondly, by drawing security forces attention to Kargil, it has sent in additional 2000 militants out of which, it is estimated, 500 odd have been sent in with specific instructions to take on the security forces and their camps. Hence, for the first time we see daring attacks on security forces camps, at times lasting for upto an hour. Even the militant engagements since Kargil operation have seen a qualitative change. Their engagements have graduated from stand off ones and avoidance of direct contact to pitched engagements. Recent militant attacks have shown signs of mature military accumen thus protending a protracted combat for own securty forces. All these daring actions by militants are likely to be a psychological tonic for local Kashmiris to resist the Indian state further. Pakistans Kargil intrusion has increased manifold , Indian security forces protracted involvement in exacting internal security duties. In fact, Pakistan is fighting Indian army at psychological plane in order to render it weaker for any conventional engagement. With Kargil hights now likely to house a division plus permanently, Indian Army's commitment in the Valley has tremendously increased thus restricting our strategic options else-where. This one has been a major gain for Pakistan. Not withstanding Indian political leaderships statements to the contrary, Pakistan has been able to bring focus back on Kashmir internationally. Whole Kargil operation thus requires a fresh appraisal by our defence thinkers, in order to evolve suitable responses for the future END PAK INTRUSION IN KARGIL WHAT CAUSED THE ‘SHIFT’ IN US POLICY? By M.M. Khajooria LONG time back, when I was a probationer in the Central Police TrainingCollege, Mt. Abu (since renamed as SVBP National Police Academy and shifted to Hyderabad), the veteran diplomat, Girja Shankar Bajpayee delivered a brilliant discourse on Indian for-eign policy its underlying philosophy, contours and dynamics to a spell-bound group of IPS probationers sitting erect stiflly in highly startched Khakhi. It was a great experience to listen to him. The end of his speech was greeted by a thunderous applause. And then began the question answer session. I stood up and asked “Sir, what does, in your opinion dictate the foreign policy of a country”? He looked at me for a while, as if making up his mind and said. “For this question I will give you an undiplomatic answer. Yes, the foreign policy of a country is dictated by her National Vested Interest and nothing else. Rest are elements of icing on the cake.” That day I learnt the unvarnished and undi-luted truth, the touch stone on which foreign policy initiative and response should be tested and comprehended. Since the very inception of the ‘Kashmir issue’, the United States has been partial towards Pakistan. In its perception Pakistan was a better bet in enabling her to complete the encirclement of the USSR. More over, even when Islamic Ummah adopted Kashmir and fundamentalists started playing games of subversion and sabotage in Kashmir, the US was unmoved. It con-tinued to treat Kashmir problem as ‘Pakistan specific’ despite clear indications of ‘Afghan connection’ and pan-Islamic funda-mentalist dimensions that not only bracketed Kashmir and Afgha-nistan together for the purpose of determining strategy of take over a part of enforcing Nizam-i-Mustapha world-over. The Islamic fundamentalists recognise no national boundries and believe in the indivisibility of the Ummah. And history is witness to bloody wars between the Muslim and Christian fundamentalists. The pan-Islamic fundamentalist made no secret about their taking on the ‘Christians’ after the communists were humbled. Despite all this, the USA in its single minded commitment to drive the Soviets from Afghanistan, recklessly poured money and military hardware through a regime in Pakistan that was headed by a dictator Zia-ul-Haq known as “the Mullah in Khaki”. The USA turned a blind eye to the diversion of money and weapons meant for Afghanistan to J&K for stoking the ‘proxy war’ and utilising the training facil-ities in Afghanistan by the Kashmiri terrorists. She did not object to the allocaton of critical role to Pakistan Jamiat-i-Islami in promoting Jehad in Afghanistan by the Pak ISI. It was only after Najib was tricked into abdication Zia-ul-Haq perished in an air crash and the Afghan groups began to jump at each others throat that the mist cleared some what and the US policy planners recognised in Hikmatyar less of a crusader and more of a narcotic peddler. The horrors of narco-terrorism in which the core agency Pak ISI was an active participant and benificiary and the repercussion back home compelled them to alter course. Hikmatyar was discarded. However, the remedy engineered in the formation of Taliban under the stewardship of Moulana Fazal-ul-Reman of the Jamiat-ul-Ulmai-Pakistan proved worst than the disease. The Taliban soon left no one in doubt that they were the worst fundamentalists, obscurantnists and fanatics. The last nail in the coffin of the US policy was hammered in by the friend turned foe, Osma Bin Laden, the Saudi billionare. The bombing of American embassies in Africa and the American counter attack from which Osma, a guest of the Taliban in Afghanistan survived along with his four wives and fifteen children left the Pentagon and the CIA red-faced. The Taliban refused even to discuss the extra-dition of their ‘guest’, who they said was innocent. The world-wide activities and direct assault on the American interests by pan-Islamic fundamentalists thus forced the USA to review its policy in the global conext. In the pan-Islamic strategic planning, the JEHAD in Kashmir was to be launched only after the grip in Afghanistan had been firmed up. They were unhappy with the precipitation in Kashmir premature and even accused JKLF, the pioneers in unleashing militancy in Kashmir in 1988 as “acting at the behest of India”. It was some-time in August-September, 98 that the ISI,-Taliban axis started working on Taliban intervention in Kashmir. About that time, Bin Laden was also busy working on participation in Kashmir by his men. The only route from Afghanistan to Kashmir lay through the so-called northern areas, a part of J&K state forceably occupied by Pakistan. It was inaccessable to the outside world. But these advatanges, the strategists felt, were more than offset by two forbidding considerations. Firstly, there was no scope of local help or sympathy for the extremists Sunni Taliban from a predomi-nently Shia population. In fact, there were apprehensions of sabotage by “Indan Shia agents”. Secondly, the US would be hos-tile to any intervention by the Taliban. The option was there-fore discarded. I had written about this in an article titled “Are the Afghan Taliban Comming?” in the daily Kashmir Times (4, Nov. 98). I had, however warned:- “Realisticaly speaking, the Pan-Islamic fundamentalists be they the Taliban, Bin Laden or other mercenaries of Arabic or Afghan origion, have very little choice but to persist with smuggling their goons across LOAC. Unfortunately, the Indian government has failed to come up with appropriate preventive and detective mechanism”. Till the “gouri” was test fired, Pakistan government was avoiding any open contact with fundamentalist organisations. It left the dirty work to the ISI. But to everyone’s surprise a high level delegation led by the Pakistan Information Minister, Mushahid Hussain and including the governor of Punjab and atleast four ministers of the Punjab government openly visited the headquar-ters of the notorious Dawat-al-Irshad in Murdike, which indoc-trinates, trains and equips terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Toyba, presently active in J&K. The Lashker has since been declared a terrorist organisation by the USA. Mushahid Hussain expressed total agreement with the concept of Jehad being taught in the Dawat and showered praise on the contribution being made by them to the sacred cause of the Islamic Ummah”. Hafiz Saeed, the chief of the Markiz boasted of the victories of Lashkar-e-Toiba in Kashmir and declared “As soon as the Jehad in Kashmir is cmplet-ed, his organisation will launch a Jehad in India, where 20 crore Muslims were living as second class citizens”. “It will be naive to dismiss the intent to launch Jehad in whole of India for which ground is alreayd being laid, as mere rehotoric. In any case informa-tion of an impending Pak-Islamic Fundamentalists intrusion via Notheren areas was in abundance and the Indain intelligence agencies just could not have missed it. That the American knew can safely be persumed. As for India is concerned, former spl secretary RAW, Balchanderan was perhaps right when he wrote, “The probem may not have been so much as absence of intelligence as inadequate stategic assessment”. The bits of intelligence that flowed were not put together to form the larger picture that would expose enemy strategic plan. The rest if history. The Pak incursion through her own troops with a smattering of ‘Mujahideen’ made headway in Drass-Kargil-Batalik-Turtuk sector and occupied some very strategically important heights. Though late to respond, Indian army and airforce hit with ferocity, Pakistan had lest expected. They were particularly taken aback by the involvement of Indian Air Force. Armies soon confronted each other all along Indo-Pak borders as Indians Army began to write a new glorious chapter in the military history. The world ‘police man’ had, if nothing else reason to justify his role as such and react to a possible all out confrontation between two nuclear powers. And react it did, in a manner that Pakistan had not anticipated. The USA disapproved of the armed intrusion violating the Line of Actual Control drawn as part of the 1972 Shimla agreement between India and Pakistan and demanded that the intruders return to their side of the LOAC. She refused to go along with a string of lies doled out by Pakistan from its non-involvement in an “indi-ginous” Mujahideen war of independence to allegations of atroci-ties by Indian troops. She appriciated the restraint shown by India in not crossing the LOAC, even though it cost the Indian army precious human lives. Similarly, they were also praise for the Indian Air Force resisting the temptation to hit across despite extreme provoation of torture of a piolt after capture to the extent of causing his death through inhuman and brutal means. Indians once again demonstrated complete solidarity in the face of external aggression and our jawans and officers exhibted unsurpassed valour, highest sense of duty and heights of patri-otism, untouched any where by any one lese. They recaptured peak after peak taking unthinkable risks and making unparalleled sacrifices. They died as heroes and martyres and inflicted heavy casualties on the well entrenched, better equipped and well stocked enemy. The world including USA watched with awe and admiration. The Indian Republic had come of age. But the ‘shift’ in US policy has to be viewed in the context of her own national vested interest in seeing the Pan-Islamic funda-mentalists, who were calling the shots in the Kargil conflict, defeated. Thier success would severly endanger American vital iterests and encourage them to further extend their influence in “religiously sensitive areas” around the globe. Even China, a long time friend of Pakistan and no friend of India, refused to go along with Pakistan on Kargil for fear of escalation of Islamic fundamentalist uprising in her own Muslim majority back yard. Same was the case with Russia, who after a bitter experience in Chechaniya was anxiously watching fundamentalist forays into erstwhile Soviet republics in Central Asia especially those bordering Aghanistan. The recent developments in Dagistan hase proved them right. The assessment of the European community was the same as that of the USA. Thus the misadventure in Kargil at the behest of her Pan-Islamic fundamentalist left Pakistan isolated and friendless. She had to bow before the world opinion in the diplomatic circles and superior battle worthyness of the Indian Army in the field and agree to withdraw the intruders even though clinging to the myth that her army and citizens were not involved. The change in American perceptions in respect of India, her mounting commercial interests in this country and recognition of her long term problems with an economically and militarily growing China out to benefit from economic globalisation and liberalisation without imbibing democratic values and system does open, as they say a ‘window of opportunity” in improving Indo-American relations in variety of fields, for mutual benefit. But let us remember that the ‘shift’ in our favour in Kargil conflict does not mark the dissolution of Pak-America friendship or even a dilution of the crucial role that American long term policy envisage for her in central and South Asia. The opposition from fundamentalist groups and parties in Pakistan and threats to his life have, infact reasserted Nawaz Sharifs position as a ‘modern’ political figure’ in American mind. His position has further been strengthened by his ability to carry his party and the Pak army along. But then we need not relate the positive movement towards better Indo-American relations to Pak-American relations. There is a vast area of mutual benefit in which Pakis-tan is no factor. What is really necessary is that we tread the path of improving relations between the two countries with dire care and caution from a position of equality. There is certainly no need to bend backwards as foreign minister Jaswant Singh has recently done by saying that India policy post cold war was un realistic as far as America was concerned END RELATION BETWEEN PAK LEFT AND FUNDAMENTALISTS By Mubashir Hasan It is most unfortunate that the governments of India and Pakistan and theMujahideen in the Indian occupied Kashmir, by their policies and actions, have brought about a situation that doesnot serve the interests of a billion plus people. It forebodes ill for the two countries, the entire region and perhaps for Asia and the world. It is obvious that each of the three parties are convinced that the actions taken by them were politically that the actions taken by them were politically and militarily correct. Why should not the Mujahideen have occupied strategic points in the Kargil and Drass area? Obviously they had the full support of the people and they were in a position to throw out whatever Indian troops charged with the defence of that part of the sector were there. To the Mujahideen it was an opportunity they could not afford to miss. They have successfully caused immense problems for the Indian Army and in a way humiliated it. That is what their struggle is all about. It is worth recalling that not too many years ago, an Indian Colonel, Chibber by name, had the occasion to discover that a certain high altitude area, lying beyond the point up to which the Line of Control had been demcarcated, was approachable from the Indian side and that the area was not guarded by the Pakistan Army. The Indian military command rejected Chibber’s request that he occupy the area. Years later, Lieutenant General Chibber, the General in command, moved in the area he had wanted to occupy for Indian since he was a Col. When some Pakistani mountaineers saw Indian troops where they had not been seen before, the Pakistan Army woke up and mounted the operation and the struggle started which is known as fight for the Siachen glacier. Compared to what Chibber did in Siachen, the Mujahideen’s occupation of some heights in the Kargil area is a minuscule action. One is glad that the Pakistan Army did not think it proper to violate the Line of Control and occupy strategic heights which it must have coveted for the defence of Azad Kashmir. On their part the Mujahideen, who seem to have full support of the people of the area, were militarily correct in their action. *** Just as Pakistan had felt the need to mount a bit action to repel the Indians from certain heights on the Siachen glacier, so have the Indians in the present situation. Apparently, they were taken unawares by the Mujahideen. However, in order to redeem their lapse, they should not have called the Air Force and helicopter gunships for assistance--quite unchivalrous for the fifth largest Army in the world pitted against a few hundred guerilla fighters. This amounts to escalation for which the responsibility lies with the Indian political command. But what could the political command say when the Army General tells it that the job cannot be done with infantry and artillery and that the Mujahideen are much too well entrenched? So the Indians brought out the Air Force and helicopter gunships. In the proceedings, according to them, their jets strayed across the Line of Control. So what could the Pakistanis do except shoot down the Indian jets. The Pakistani Prime Minister says that the Indians had been forewarned of the eventuality. Unfortunately, for the one billion people of the subcontinent, the net result of the Indians, Pakistanis and the Mujahideen acting “correctly”, in their own wisdom, is that the subcontinent stands on the brink of a disaster. Their so-called actions at this point of time and place can wreak havoc on the teeming humanity. There should only be one goal before the armiers and the Mujahideen, namely, that nothing should be done that can possibly be a hindrance in the peace negotiations. Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Vajpayee should proceed with their agenda a peace without discontinuity. Courtesy: The Dawn END KARGIL AT A GLANCE May 12: Daily Excelsior reports intrusion of 200 Pakistani militants.May 13: Army confirms death of 17 Indian soldiers and 10 Pak militants. May 14: Shelling continues as Defence Minister visits Ladakh and asks people not to worry on Kargil issue. May 16: While satellite pictures confirm intrusion of 300 ultras, Defence Minister says that infiltrators will be pushed back in 48 hrs. May 18: Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah visits Kargil, Drass to review situation as government claims to have evicted mercenaries from 5 positions in Kargil. Meanwhile, Teherk-e-Jihad-Islami (TJI) confirms death of its 70 members in Kargil. May 21: Prime Minister asserts to prevent Pak sponsored infiltration. May 25: Vajpayee asks Sharief that India won’t allow infiltration in Kargil and does not rule out air strikes as army claims death of the infilitrators. May 26: India launches air strikes in Kargil sector as UN, UK, US and China appeal for exercising restraint. May 27: Vajpayee briefs president as tension hightenes in wake of Pak gunning down MIG-21 May 28: IAF chopper shot down by Pak infilitators killing 4 personel while Vajpayee-Sharief hold talks. May 29: GoC-in-C Northern Command Lt Gen HM Khanna, describes Kargil situation near war like and confirms support of Taliban to intruders as troops are put on high alert as Pak army moves close to the borders. Vapayee rejects Sharief’s appeal to stop air raids as recovery of identity card confirms presence of Pak army regulars. May 30: PM rejects UN offer to depute envoy to India as air strikes continue. Sqd. Leader Ajay Ahuja, who was reportedly killed by Pak army after capturing him alive was cremated. May 31: India accepts deputation of Pak foreign minister as India presses into service Mirag-2000 in Kargil operations. June 1: George offers safe passage to infiltrators as intense fighting continues. June 2: Vajpayee rules out full scale war with Pakistan as government asks intruders to voluntarily move back. Hong-Kong based weekly confirms that Pak PM was in full knowledge of Kargil intrusions. June 3: Govt back tracks from safe passage as Flt. Lt. Nachiketa is released by Pak authorities amidst high drama. June 4: Clinton asks Pak to respect LoC as India rejects Pak claim on LoC demarcation while fighting continues. June 5: President KR Narayanan first time reacts to Pak stupidity and says that Pak is hoodwinking the world on question of LoC. India gets proof of Pak army participation as it recovered 3 bodies of Pak army personnel and documents confirming its participation. June 6: Indian army hands over bodies of 3 jawans to Pak as air strikes resume after a days gap. June 9: Pak hands over 6 bodies of army personnel including Lt. Kalia to Indian authorities. The army personnel were tortured to death after capturing them alive. June 12: Aziz-Jaswant talks fail as Aziz struck to its stand on LoC demarcation and his any assurance fails short of calling back intruders. June 13: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visits Kargil addresses army and civilians and Pak continues shelling and targets DCoffice complex, the venue of Prime Ministers meeting with civilians which was already changed by authorities. Sharief again phones Vajpayee requesting stopping of air strikes. June 14: Prime Minister Vajpayee makes it clear that operation Vijay will not stop till last intruder is pushed back as India recpatures 2 key postions in Kargil. Fernandes asks infiltrators either surrender or get killed. June 15: Clinton asks Sharief to vacate Kargil sector and praises Vajpayee for demonstrating restraint. June 16: India appreciates US stand on Kargil as army is set to gain control of strategic Marpola post. Pakistan deflected US President call to withdraw intrusion as Aziz says it did not hold command on infiltrators. June 17: Indian troops kill 15 Pak army men, recover i-cards, pay books as major assault is launched to recapture Tiger hills. Army Chief visits Jammu and reviews situation. June 18: Indian troops hit a Pak camp near LoC in PoK which was coordinating infiltrator’s operations in Kargil. India declares that it holds right to target any base in PoK helping intruders. Mr Vajpayee writes to Clinton on Kargil situation. June 20: India achieves a major diplomatic victory as G-8 leaders condemn Pakistan for violation of LoC. Vajpayee rules out any talks with Pak untill intruders are evicted. Indian troops achieve yet another major success as they recapture “Point 5140” and clear Tololing ridge. June 21: The Indian government strongly criticised Nawaz Sharief’s remarks of “Kargil like fronts” and said that they will be waiting blody nose. Army was closing on Tiger hills and other 2 strategic points as Indian forces kill 22 intruders. German demonishes Pak for its direct involvement in Kargil intrusion. June 22: Indian forces smashed an intruders’ logistic camps in Muntho Dalo and killed 5 army men. UK supported Indian stand on Kargil as Blair asks Nawaz Sharief to use restraint. June 23: Army re-captures ‘Point 5203”. Arms recovered from Pak intruders exhibited at Delhi. Army Chief Gen Malik, Defence Minister George Fernandes and PM’s Principal Secretary today hinted that government may decide of crossing LoC at appropriate time. June 24: 28 Pak intruders were killed in Batalik and Drass sector while Pak army has reportedly taken control of Gilgit for clandestine offensive. George Fernandes asserted that intrusion will be cleared by September. June 25: PM ruled out any dialogue till Pak respects LoC. India was gearing up for final show down in Tiger hills. June 26: PM asserted that decision to cross LoC will be taken at appropriate time as Indian tolerance was reaching thresh-hold. Army destroyed many camps and bunkers of intruders and killed 20 intruders, 5 Indian including a Capt. also sacrificed their lives in the operation. June 27: India expands air force opertaions and kills 17 Pak intruders as US Assistant of State Gibson Lampher briefed Indian authorities about outcome of US teams discussion with Pak authorities. 500 Bin Landen’s body-guards are reportedly fighting in Kargil. June 28: 15 Pak soldiers killed as their attempt to capture a ridge line in Saichen was foiled by Indian troops. Indian government confirms visit of former Foreign Secretary Pakistan Niaz Naik but PM rules out any secret deal with Pakistan at “all party meet” which was convened to discuss Kargil situation. Farooq Abdullah opposes crossing LoC. June 29: Troops recapture “Black Rock” and “Point 4700” and kill 45 Pak intruders. 21 Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives in the operation. Washington states that US and China were working to defuse Kargil crisis. June 30: Troops recaptured 4 strategic positions killing 50 infiltrators. 26 Indian soldirs including 3 officers sacrificed their lives in the operation. Advani visited Kargil to boost the morale of troops. Pakistan army spokesman asserted that Pak army will not withdraw from strategic positions come what may. July 1: Ladakh scouts recapture key position in Batalik as 6 Indian and 7 Pak soldiers die in Kargil skrimshes. LK Advani announces that centre will bear the expenses of Kargil refugees. July 3: 23 Indian and 21 Pak soldiers were killed as India launches final assualt to recapture Tiger Hills. July 4: Troops recapture Tiger Hills. President describes it “the moments of pride”. PM Vajpayee turns down Clintons invitation to visit US as US rules out mediation on Kargil. July 5: India achieves a diplomatic win. In a joint statement of Sharief-Clinton, Sharief agrees to pull out from Kargil, respect LoC and Shimla agreement and restart the process of Lahore declaration. July 6: Indian soldiers recapture 3 more strategic points-Khalubar, Point 4812 and Dog Hills killing 55 Pak soldiers, 5 Indians also lost their lives.Pak observes black day in protest over government decision to pull out. Nawaz Sharief calls on UK PM Tony Blair who asks Nawaz to pull out from Kargil. July 7: 15 Pak soldiers killed as Jubar and 3 other strategic points-4812, 4927, 4268 fall to Indian troops. PM rules out any 3rd party mediation or compromise on military operation in the Chief Ministers meeting convened to discuss Kargil. July 8: 92 Pak troops killed as Indian soldiers recapture 3 more points including 5287 and 4927. 38 Indian soldiers also sacrificed their lives. Lt Gen Krishan Pal says that there are no signs of withdrawal but the signs of reinforcement from Pak side. July 9: Pak makes veiled appeal to Mujahideens to withdraw from Kargil as Indian troops clear entire Batalik and as per agreement reached between Director Generals of Military Operations of India and Pakistan. In the Drass sector 108 Pak soldiers, 23 Indian lost their lives in the operation. Indian troops discover graves dumping Pak soldiers. July 10: Fierce war to capture Mushkoh heights as PM says that intrusion has been turned back. The umbrella of 15 militant groups ‘United Jihad Council’ dismisses reports of pull out. July 11: Pak forces and infiltrators start withdrawal from Kargil. National Security Advisor to PM Mr Brijesh Mishra says that with drawal will be completed in 7 days. July 12: IAF suspends air strikes as shelling still continues in Batalik and Drass sectors. 12 Pak soldier and 7 Indian jawans were killed. July 13: As guns fall silent on Kaksar, Mushkoh, G.O.I. refuses to accept ceasefire. July 14: While India asked intruders to vacate till the dead line of 16th July morning, Pak insisted that there was no such dead line. Indian troops are moving close to LoC in Batalik and Drass sectors. July 15: India extends pullout dead line by two days as Indian troops reach LoC at 3 places. Finance minister rules out imposition of Kargil tax. July 16: Kargil war ends as last intruder withdraws. The war is over but the crisis is not yet over. Indian forces have reported reached the LoC. But, the exchange of fire still continues and Pakistani army is targetting army as well as Civilian locations and esclation of situation cannot be ruled out. According to Major General (General Staff) Northern Command Mr PPS Bindra, 487 Indian army personnels-25 officers, 19 JCOs and 443 other ranks-sacrificed their lives while 1190-71 officers, 75 JCOs, 10 44 other ranks-were injured in the Kargil operations. NEWS BRIEF ‘HARBAH” CELEBRATED KS Correspondent JAMMU, July 25: “HARBAH” (Ashad Dwadashi) was celebrated with religiousfervour at Swami Pushkar Sewa Ashram Chinore (Jammu). A Maha Yagya was performed and large number of community brethren attended the Ashram END BHAGWAN GOPINATH JYANTI CELEBRATED KS Correspondent JAMMU, July 25: The 101st birth anniversary of Bhagwan Gopinath wascelebrated at his Ashram at Bohri (Jammu). Thousands of devotees thronged the ashram and took part in functions and Havan organised by the Gopnath Trust. The Mahajayanti was also celebrated at Pamposh Enclave New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Jyoti Puram (Reasi) and Baroda END NC FINALISES LIST KS Correspondent SRINAGAR, July 26: National Conference has finalised the list of itscandidates for coming Lok Sabha elections. Mr Omar Abdullah has again been given mandate from Srinagar constituency. Messers Ali Mohd Naik, RS Chib and Ram Paul are candidates for Anantnag, Udhampur and Jammu constituencies respectively. Mr Mohd Shafi Uri and Aga Sayed Hussain may be the candidates for Baramulla and Ladakh constituencies respectively END CONG (I) IMPOSED TOUTS: FAROOQ KS Correspondent JAMMU, July 15: Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah charged Congress (I) forencouraging political instability and always imposing “touts” on Kashmiri masses. Addressing a function, organised to pay tributes to Bakshi Ghulam Mohd, he said that Congress (I) ruled centre instead of ensuring political stability imposed touts on masses. Paying tributes to Bakshi, he desribed him as an able administrator END CONGRESS BLAMES BJP FOR KARGIL INTRUSION KS Correspondent JAMMU, July 15: Congress launched today scathing attack on BJP led Centralgovernment, holding it responsible for Kargil intrusion and said that Kargil will be a poll plank for the Congress. Addressing a convention, the Congress leaders, held responsible government for present tension on LoC and international border. They said that the government was caught unaware when infilitators including Pak army regulars occupied a huge area of Indian soil END KARGIL TAX A MEDIA CREATION: SINHA KS Correspondent NEW DELHI, July 16: Union Finance Minister Mr Yashwant Sinha has made itclear that their is no proposal under government to improse Kargil tax and described it just a media creation END BSF KILLS ARMY JAWANS, INQUIRY ORDERED KS Correspondent DELHI, July 19: The government has ordered a high level inquiry into thekilling of 3 Indian army personnel including a captain, who were shot dead reportedly by BSF in Pallanwala sector due to mistaken identity and lack of coordination. It was earlier reported that the 3 army personnel were killed in the firing across the border. However, later it was established that they were shot dead by BSF personnel, as they were mistaken as intruders as reportedly army had not informed about the patrolling END “POINT 13620” PROVES COSTLIER KS Correspondent KARGIL, July 18: Army sources have described handing over “Point 13620” toPakistan in earlier years by policy makers as a great blunder as the point over looks strategic Srinagar-Leh national highway and was used by Pak army to note important locations in and around Kargil. The part was captured by India in 1965-66 twice but was returned to Pakistan on negotiating table. However, Indian troops again recaptured it in 1971 war and is still held by India END POSTAL BALLOT KS Correspondent NEW DELHI, July 20: The Union government has today approved the promulgationof an ordinance to enable Kashmiri migrants and other such people to cast their vote through post in coming Lok Sabha elections END UNABATED MASSACRES KS Correspondent JAMMU, July 20: Militants struck again meticulously and eliminated 15 peopleof VDC families at Lehota Thatri and 4 GREF employees at Sheedra in Mandi (Poonch). The unspecified number of militants armed with sophisticated weapons attacked the village in dead of night and massacred 15 people including 5 VDC members. The militants didn’t spare women or children. The dead include wife and four sons (all VDC members) of Dina Nath, and 4 minor daughters of another VDC member Sh Panna Lal. The VDC members reliated but in vain. Surprisingly, government has not described the incident as a massacre but an encounter while the militants entered the houses of the victims and shot them dead in cold blood. In yet another incident, militants struck at a GREF camp at Sheedra in Mandi area and liquidated. 4 GREF employees and injured 1 another. The militants reportedly gunned down the employees after confirming that they belonged to minority community. Meanwhile, army claimed to have liquidated 5 militants responsible for the killing of GREF employees. Mr Lal Krishen Advani, Home Minister and Farooq Abdullah visited carnage site at Lohita and announced that government will frame out a comprehensive strategy to fight internal subversion. Mr Advani also visited GMC Jammu and inquired about the welfare of injured victims END DEHLVI DEMANDS BAN ON HURRIYAT KS Correspondent JAMMU, July 21: Chairman of Anjuman Minja-e-Rasool, Moulana Syed AkhterHussain Dehlvi has demanded ban on Hurriyat Conference and exhorted Kashmiri Muslims to make Amarnath yatra a success. Addressing a press conference, he advocated peaceful co-existance among Hindus and Muslims in confirmation with our rich traditional heritage. He denounced killings by militants and congratulated Indian army for victory in Kargil. He said that J&K is integral part of India and no power on earth can annex an inch from it. Mr Dahlvi emphasised for immediate ban on Hurriyat Conference END GOVT TO PURCHASE NEW HELICOPTER KS Correspondent JAMMU, July 23: The State government is planning to purchase a newhelicopter as the old helicopter was damaged beyond repair during a crash landing in Sonmarg area. The helicopter made crash landing while it developed a snag while rescuing heli-sking team and made crash landing. The helicopter has been damaged beyond repair as the repair may involve more funds than the cost of the new one. The government had purchased the helicopter on pretext of immediate “security operations”, however, it is alleged that it is being used more for political trips than security operations END STATE JANATA DAL SPLITS KS Correspondent JAMMU, July 23: Vertical split of Janata Dal at national level today castits shadow on the state unit as larger section of the state unit headed by Mr Mohd Maqbool Dar, the state president, toed the line of of national president Sharad Yadav to allign with National Democratic Alliance (NDA). While senior Janata Dal leader Mr Danraj Barogtra along with two other activists were expelled from the party for following the path of Dave Gowda. Mr Maqbool Dar, accused Dave Gowda for earlier splits and harming party interests in the state of J&K by joining hands with National Conference END PACKAGE TO IMPROVE DD, AIR SERVICE KS Correspondent DELHI, July 27: The Union Cabinet today approved a package of Rs 430 croreto improve Doordarshan and All India Radio Services in J&K to counter Pak propaganda. This was disclosed to media by Information and Broadcasting Minister Mr Pramod Mahajan. He said that DD will set up high power transmitters at Nowshera, Tithwal, Kupwara, Gurez, Samba, Turez besides mobile LPT’s at twelve places and new VLPT’s at 60 places. AIR will set up nine relay transmitters and upgrade three existing transmitters END ENEMY TROOPS FIRE 6308 TIMES IN 4 YEARS KARGIL, July 27: During past nine years Pakistan has been continouslyattacking our installation and civilian population. The Pak army reportedly fired 6,308 times at Indian troops deployed along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir from January 1996 END LADEN SHIFTS HIDEOUT DUBAI, July 27: As per news paper reports, the dreaded militant Osama BinLaden has abondoned his Jalalabad hideout for some other safer place for fear of an eminent US attack. US is reportedly pressurising Talibans to either handover Laden to them for the trial or face the military attack END AUTHORITY FOR KASHMIRI MIGRANTS KS Correspondent SRINAGAR, July 27: The State government plans to constitute an empoweredauthority for coordinating functioning of various agencies involved in improving facilities at migrant camps. The Revenue Minister and Advisor to CM minority affair will be the chairman and vice chairman of the proposed committee respectively. The meeting which was chaired by Farooq Abdullah was attended by Revenue Minister Ali Mohd Naik, Chief Secretary Ashok Jaitly, Minority Affair Advisor Mr Satish Raina, among others. The meting took stock of medical and educational facilities in the migrant camps. Taking stock of the return issue, Farooq Abdullah said that Kashmir was incomplete without Pandits and all of us have to face situation together. He said that government has already taken up the issue of rehabilitation with the centre END ROUSING WELCOME TO RR KS Correspondent JAMMU, July 29: Rousing welcome was given to Rashtriya Rifles on theirreturn from Kargil at Kishtwar. Hundreds of people of both the communities qued up to welcome Kargil heroes waving tricolour, cheering and showering flower petals on them. The people have heaved a sigh of relief as militancy activities had increased with replacement of CRPF to RR END SINDHU DARSHAN CONCLUDES KS Correspondent LEH, July 29: The Leh witnessed fervour and patriotism as thousands ofpeople thronged the banks of river Sindhu during 2 day Sindhu Darshan Abhiyan which concluded today. This years Sindhu Darshan Abhiyan was dedicated to Kargil martyrs and was attended by Home Minister LK Advani, Defence Minister George Fernades, Chief Minister J&K Farooq Abdullah among others. Home Minister unfurled the national flag and Farooq and Fernandes released the books. Rich tributes were paid to Kargil martyrs and Defence Minister announced installation of a war memroial at Shey village in memory of Kargil martyrs. Defence Minister lauded the role of Ladakh scouts and announced that according regimental status to Ladhak scouts was under consideration. Sh Advani said that India achieved objective of pushing away intruders and Pakistan suffered diplomatic as well as political defeat. Farooq Abdullah cautioned people against sinister designs of Pak and said that Pakistan will never succeed in annexing Kashmir. The All India convenor of Sindhu Abhiyan spoke about religious and historical importance of the Sindhu river. Famous Kathak dancer, Sonal Man Singh and reputed Bhajan singer, Anoop Jalota enthralled the audience with their performances END CORRUPTION IN RELIEF ORGANISATION KS Correspondent JAMMU, July 31: Notwithstanding almost complete reshuffle in the relieforganisation ostensibly to check corruption, the corruption allegedly continues in the organisation unabatedly. What is more astnoishing is that the corruption reportedly continues under the nose of Relief Commissioner and in the name of Relief Commissioner. The victims allege that the financial crunch in the state has given liverage to relief officials to bargain more and more for early payment of exgratia. Recently, some amount was received by relief commissioner for disbursement among the claimants of exgratia and a hefty ratio of 5% is being reportedly charged from the hapless migrants. Only the cheques are made in name of those who have made advance payments. Earlier also about 2% to 3% was being reportedly charged from exgratia payees but it has been increased alarmingly END GAUTAM KOUL HAILED KS Correspondent JAMMU: Kashmiri Hindu Fire Sufferers Forum has hailed Director General ITBPSh Gautam Koul for drawing attention of Central government about the payment of rents for the properties of migrants being occupied or hired by various state and Central government agencies. The forum also resolved to request the concerned ministry for taking immediate action in this regard. Meanwhile, a delegation of the forum under the leadership of Sh BN Koul and Sh PN Tufchi left for New Delhi to have meeting with Union Home Minister to discuss various problems relating to Kashmiri Hindu Fire Sufferers and demand exgratia to KP fire sufferers at the pattern of Charar-e-Sharief victims. The forum has recently received a order in which exgratia has been sanctioned in favour of some fire sufferers of Anantnag district. The victims can see the list from forum office or relief commissioners office END J.N. KOUL AWARDED KS Correspondent NEW DELHI: Sh JN Koul the President of All India Kashmiri Samaj and SOSchildren’s village of India, has been confered with many awards for his distinguished services in various fields particularly for promotion of National integration and communal harmony. Secular India Harmony Award 1998 was presented to Sh JN Koul on 12th June, 1999 by Prime Minister of India Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee in recognition of his services for national integration and communal harmony. Dada Bhai Nauroji New Millenium Award, instituted in the memory of Dadha Bhai Nauroji, who was the founder president of Indian National Congress, was confered on Sh Koul on 30th June, 1999 for his life time excellence and achievements. The 7th Rajiv Gandhi National Award will be presented to Mr Koul on 29th August, 1999, the birth anniversary of late Rajiv Gandhi, in the Jawahir Bhawan Auditorium. The award will be presented by Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the award, Dr Shanker Dayal Sharma, former President, and Sonia Gandhi will be the chief guest. The award includes citation and cash amount of Rs 2.5 lakh END GILL REVIEWS ARRANGEMENTS KS Correspondent SRINAGAR, July 31: Chief Election Commissioner Dr MS Gill reviewed pollarrangement in Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Gil who was on a visit to Valley took stock of security as well as other preprations in a high level official meeting attended by Chief Secretary, Ashok Jaitly, DGP Gurbachan Jagat, Chief Electoral officer and others. Addressing a press conference at end of his 4 day tour, he called upon all political parties to enter into a hard and tough battle in J&K State. He said that poll boycott call by separatist outfits was not headache of election commission. Mr Gill wanted J&K people to send their genuine representatives to the parliament who can “echo their voices in the countries highest institution”. Mr Singh described Peoples Democratic Party’s apprehension about poll rigging by NC as “routine apprehensions” and said that the commission will look into specific complaints to ensure that there was no misuse of official machinery Mr Gill expressed satisfaction on security arrangements END MAJOR AIMA’S MARTYRDOM KS Correspondent JAMMU: Major Sushil Aima laid down his life after eliminating 3 hardcoremilitants in hand to hand fight in an encounter in thick forests near Mandi, Poonch. A total of 5 recently intruded militants were killed in the encounter. Major Aima of 17 Rashtriya Rifles was given task of eliminating a group of reportedly 10 foreign militants in Kopra forests. The troops tracked militants at about 10.00 hours and militants lobbed a grenade on forces injuring two in an attempt to escape. The valiant officer surprised the militants in a face to face encounter killing two before he was shot in chest by the covering militants. Displaying bravery of rarest of rare, Mr Aima eliminated another militant before sacrificing his life for sanitising his homeland, the native state. The love for his soil and hate for militants inspired 32 year old Kashmiri Pandit army officer to volunteer his services to elite Rashtriya Rifles. Commanding officer of 17 RR Col LM Chamola said that “daring officer always grabed opportunity to nab the militants and possessed burning desire to get rid of every single intruder from his motherland”. General officer commanding of delta force, lauded the bravery with which the major gave his supreme sacrifice for motherland. Hate for terrorists and urge to neutralise them is reflected in his last audio communique to his 4 year old daughter “Beta, when I destroy the bad man (terrorists) troubling us, I will come back to you with loads of toys”. Major Aima had currently settled at Gurgaon (Haryana) and his body was flown to Delhi which was received by the senior Army officers and members of the breaved family. Notwithstanding the extra vigil on the borders, the intrusion of terrorists continues with impunity as may as 17 recently intruded foreign militants were eliminated in just two days in border districts of Poonch and Kupwara END BJP THREAT TO DEMOCRACY-ARJUN KS Correspondent JAMMU, Aug 2: Former Union Minister and close confident of Mrs Sonia Gandhi,Mr Arjun Singh expressed surprise over the mysterious silence of Central government on Kargil intrusion and described such behaviour of BJP government a threat to democratic institutions. Mr Singh was addressing a function organised by the Intellectual Forum of Dogra Sadar Sabha. Mr Singh said that it was accountability of government to inform masses about Kargil intrusion. He contested the government claimof diplomatic win and said that Ameica still considers J&K a disputed territory privately. He described Mufti Sayeed’s demand of talks with militants illogical as it was difficult to talk beyond the constitution END FASHION SHOW ORGANISED FOR WAR HEROES KS Correspondent JAMMU, Aug 2: The National Institute of Fashion Design organised a fashionshow at Abhinav Theatre dedicated to Kargil heroes to raise funds for the army welfare. Top models of natinoal and international repute participated in the function and more than Rs 10 lakhs were collected from the audience towards Army Central Welfare Fund END PURI PRESENTS AUTONOMY REPORT TO PM KS Correspondent JAMMU, Aug 3: Former Chairman of Regional Autonomy Committee Mr Balraj Puripresented a copy of his regional autonomy report to Prime Minister Atal Bhari Vajpayee at Delhi. Mr Puri also discussed post Kargil scenario in J&K and suggested the involvement of international human rights organisations regarding spurt in killings of innocents. PM reportedly assured Puri that his suggestions will be considered and long term problems will be considered by the new government. It may be recalled that the State government uncermoniously ousted Mr Puri and submitted its own report dumping Mr Puri’s report in the dust bin. The development generated a controversy. Meanwhile, Mr Riyaz Punjabi, recently took over as Chairman of the Regional Autonomy Committee to suggest the implementation of the Regional Autonomy Committee report which has suggested the division of the state into regions almost on religious basis END PAK STUDYING US FORMULA KS Correspondent ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is seriously considering the US formula to solve Kashmirproblem which suggests retention of Gilgit and Ladakh by Pakistan and India and self rule to other parts with pourous border for five years. After 5 years, the separate assemblies of 2 parts of Kashmir shall be authorised to decide future of Himalayan state END SAI BABA MANDIR DONATE FOR ARMY KS Correspondent JAMMU: The Sai Baba Mandir devotees Tirth Nagar Sector-A Talab Tillo Bohrilauded the role of Armed Forces, in flushing out the Pakistan Army and armed intruders from the Indian side of Line of Control (LoC). Sai devotees paid rich tributes to Kargil martyrs, who laid their lives for the defence of their motherland. Sai devotees also contributed Rs 5500 towards the PM Kargil War Widows Fund END LETTERS KS THE VOICE OF COMMUNITY Sir,Many many thanks for sending me ‘The Most Esteemed English Fortnightly Kashmir Sentinel’ dated June 16th 99-31st July 1999. I hope that the same shall be sent to me in future too with regularity. I shall be also sending you my offerings for running the above esteemed paper, as this is the only voice of the Kashmiri Pandit community, who live in excile since 1990 or before. Almost all the important articles appearing in the aforesaid fortnightly have been read by me very carefully and, applied my full mind while going through the contents of some of the most important issues i.e. interview with Sh Bral Puri, Genocide or not, Tribute to Dr S.P. Mukerjee, Resolutions passed at the conventon of the Kashmiri Pandit community held at Shitalnath Srinagar on July 10211,82 and etc. In my personal view, I would request all leaders and office bears of “Panun Kashmir-Foundation” to high light the role of late Pandit Shiv Naryan Fotedar, which he played throughout his life in solving the suffering of our Kashmiri Pandit community. After his death no body has spoken a word about him. After all Kashmiri in general and Kashmiri Pandit in particular owe much to him. Really his death has caused a great loss to our helpless community. We have to salute him all. Our problem is not a battle of words. We have to fight for getting our painful problems solved at all the fronts. --B.P. Jagmohan Kaul Near Shiva Temple Prem Nagar, New Plots Jammu END ML AIMA - THE TRUE NATIONALIST Sir,Some people never die. This is true of Sh M.L. Aima who met me for the first time many years back at Poonch when he was transferred to TT School, Poonch. Afterwards he left government job and was engaged in social and educational reconstruction by starting Jagriti Niketan School at Jammu. In 1973 I came to Jammu and saw him off and on but I came into close contact with him when I worked as President of Rashtriya Bhasha Prachar Samiti, Jammu. I found him a thorough gentleman with humanism. His love for the country was perhaps unparalleled. He hleped me and so many persons who in difficulty sought his advice and help. He believed and acted according to the dictum:- “Self-reverence, self knowledge, self-control, these three alone lead life to sovereign power.” --K.L. Bhalla 386, Rehari Colony, Jammu END BIASED NHRC VERDICT Sir,Reference Anupam Gupta article ‘Attack on KPs’ (K.S. 16th June to 31st July) in the context of the verdict of NHRC. I venture to say that the exercise of the commission has biased the cause of the community in every respects. The entire Pandit community was swept off upto March 90 with a few hundred staying back after compromising with their destiny. I too was one of them upto 5th July 90, dreaming the tide of militancy to retreat within a few months. During that period, killing of Pandits and rape of ladies besides unhuman practices of death by drowning, hanging and strangulation made the hearts bleed. The properties of Pandits to put to torch had become the order of the day. The butchers were asked through print media to sell beef openly on shops in markets. One day while strolling outside my house, I heard the alarming threatening on a loud speaker fitted on a mosque:- “Eliminate the Kafir (KP), there and then by thursting a dagger into his or her belly or chest and clear the ground for Nizam-e-Mustaffa”. Soon after this a Pandits police officer in the vicinity was shot dead in broad daylight just in presence of his wife and children aged 12 and 16. I was scared and leaving behind my home and hearth besides all belongings hired an autorickshaw to board a bus for Jammu. There are hundreds of examples of families leaving the Valley barefooted to catch conveyance on the national highway during night to save the honour of their womenfolk. Heart weeps, eyes shed blood and hair-stand on end while listening to woeful tales of young ladies, unmarried girls and old parents. However, I was not physically eliminated but mental torture and financial loss had almost made me physically crippled. I lost everything and reached Jammu with a bag of clothes. There I was registered as a migrant and not a refugee although I had come to seek refuge after leaving behind everything to save acting soul in shocked body. Moreoever, being a retired government servent relief cash as well as kind was denied. I could neither beg nor steal and as a matter of fact had to borrow till I came out of the shock and returned to normalcy. A citizen of India is guaranteed rights of life and property. If both the rights are massacred by enemy agents at gun points:- Is it not the genocide? If not, what then? I, rather, every K.P. in excile asks the NHRC as to what then it is. --N.N. Mujoo Panchkula END INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEEDS TO ACT Sir,I want to draw attention of President Bill Clinton of US and leaders of Britain, Germany and other powers of European countries. Kashmiri Hindus who are now in the 10th year of exile is mainly due to Pak Islamic terrorists. Our community had to sacrifice hundreds and thousands of men, women and children to protect the honour and dignity. Pak terrorists and their paid agents in Kashmir let loose a reign of terror on the peaceful Hindus since Jan 1990 for to establish of a theocratic state. These anti-India forces not only resorted to the brutal drama of genocide and ethnic cleansing against our community but they also committed grevious and henious crimes against our community which even blackest pages of history will feel shy to narrate and ugliest crimes which now international community realised at last when Pakistan attacked on Kargil side of Kashmir. After launching their ethnic cleansing campaign engineered by Pak and Pan Islamic forces, the entire population of KP were driven out of their homeland for professing a separate faith. Their properties, lands, professions and livelihood were occupied by the Muslim fundamentalists. By process of Islamisation it resulted murder of thousands of Hindus, mass rape, kidnappings, loot of hundreds of temples of worship. Recent intrusion of Kargil is an eye opener for international community and to Human Rights Agencies as well. It is thus clear that the Kashmir movement neither was and nor is a freedom struggle at all but only genocide perpetrated on the ethnic minority. So we look to US, England, Germany, France, Japan, China, etc to be firm against Pan Islamic forces. --Omkar Nath Moza, Jammu END THOSE WHO LEFT US
Go Back to Part 1 of 2 |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
