Author:
Publication: The Navhind
Times, Panaji, Goa
Date: August 28, 2000
The President of the
Belgian Association for Solidarity with Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Beersmans
Paul, has accused Pakistan of being primarily responsible for the disaster
in Jammu and Kashmir, stating violence was blocking the way for peaceful
and negotiated settlement of the Kashmir issue.
In his report on his
four-week visit to Jammu and Kashmir in July, Mr. Paul, said primary
concern of Kashmiris is neither nuclear tests nor autonomy, but the return
of peace and normalization of situation.
A copy of his report
was submitted to the UN sub commission on promotion and protection of human
rights, which met here a few days back.
The Kashmiris are against
the interference of Pakistan and the foreign militants as they were destroying
their cause. Pakistan should stop sending money, ammunition and weapons
to the troubled state, the report said.
During his stay in the
valley, Mr. Paul met Mr. Shabir Shah, Mr. Yasin Malik,
Mohammed Azam Inqulabi, Mr. Firdous Syed, Prof. S D Soz, Mr.
G M Shah, Governor, Mr. Girish Saxena and leaders of the Ladakh Buddist
Association.
He said the commonmen
were not impressed by the Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah's autonomy
resolution. They feel that autonomy to the state would not help finding
a lasting solution to the problem. The people want a negotiated settlement
between India and Pakistan and the people of the state, he added.
Mr. Paul said that
many Kashmir separatist leaders feel that military confrontation has rendered
the two countries economically bankrupt. They favoured tripartite
talks to find lasting solution to the problem.
He criticised the Farooq
Abdullah government, charging it with rampant corruption after the elections
and installation of the Farooq Abdullah government, many Kashmiris expected
that problems would end soon. But now they feel that fruits of the
political process have not reached them as yet, as there is too much corruption
in the state, he said.
Adding that while leaders
of the Ladakh region demand Union territory, Syed Ali Shah Geelani of the
Hurriyat Conference said that his party was not fighting for autonomy or
internal division, but "complete freedom."
Mr. Shabir Shah
opposed partition of the state, stating it would lead to bloodshed.
He even stated his party is not against negotiations with India, but it
should be meaningful.
Mr. Javid Mir said,
"Pakistan supports the Kashmiris politically and diplomatically and there
are foreign mercenaries, 'but still it is our movement. We are ready
for talks, but not under the Indian Constitution."
Meanwhile Pakistani troops
resorted to heavy mortar shelling and firing from across the line of control
in Pallanwala and Noushera sectors in Jammu division since yesterday without
causing any casualty on Indian side, a defence spokesman said today.
He said while heavy mortar
shelling continued in Pallanwala sector, moderate to heavy shelling was
also reported in Noushera since last night. However, no loss of life
or damage was reported from Indian side so far.
Indian troops have been
giving adequate response to silence Pakistani guns, he said.
Reports from Srinagar,
said that Pakistani troops also resorted to shelling in some areas of Uri,
Keran and Tetwal sectors in Baramulla and Kupawara districts in the valley.
Indian troops were giving
matching reply and there was no casualty on our side.
Reports of light arms
intermittent firing have also been received along international border
in R.S.Pura, Samba and Akhnoor sectors since yesterday.
Five Lashker-e-Toiba
militants were arrested and a big haul of arms and ammunition was made
from several insurgent hide-outs in the Kashmir valley since last night,
a government spokesman said today.
A soldier was wounded
when militants ambushed a security patrol at Khiram near Bijbehara in Anantnag
district of south Kashmir last night.
Lashker militant Mushtaq
Ahmad code Bilal Razak was arrested along with two AK 56 rifles, three
hand grenades, and AK silencer and some magazines and ammunition at Chewdara
in Beerwah area of Badgam district in central Kashmir today.
A cache of arms and explosives
including a pistol, eight disposable rocket launchers, five flame throwers,
three 107-mm rockets, 39 mortar shells, 114 grenades, nine improvised explosive
devices and 21 gelatine sticks were seized by the army from a militant
hide-out in Naugam sector of north Kashmir last evening.
Jammu police nabbed a
militant along with a pistol and two swords from Gujjar Nagar area today,
the spokesman said.
Police recovered a Chinese
pistol, a revolver, three grenades, three kg of explosives and 12 bundles
of copper wire during checking of vehicles at Karfali Mohalla and Parimpora
in Srinagar last night. A truck and an auto-rickshaw were seized
and the drivers arrested.