Author: Excelsior Special Correspondent
Publication: Daily Excelsior
Date: June 26, 2006
URL: http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/06june26/news.htm#5
The recent escalation in the militant activities
and the affects on tourism sector and Amarnath Yatra were discussed at length
during the State Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister
Ghulam Nabi Azad at Srinagar late yesterday evening.
Informed sources told the EXCELSIOR that while
referring to the steps initiated by the administration in defeating the designs
of the saboteurs, Mr Azad told his Cabinet colleagues that the intelligence
reports suggested that Pakistan and its agencies were definitely behind the
recent militant activities to flare-up the tension in the Valley.
The Chief Minister, the sources said, while
quoting inputs of central intelligence agencies, told the Cabinet that it
was apprehended that there could be further escalation in the terrorist activities,
as desperate attempts were being made to create communal tension and unrest
within various sections of the Society. The targeted attacks on tourists from
Gujarat, West Bengal and Rajasthan and an attempt to kill a spiritual Saint
in Sopore were aimed at to create communal tension.
Mr Azad, however, was optimistic that the
designs engineered from across the border will be defeated, as intelligence
agencies have further been strengthened and security forces kept abreast of
the situation to tackle it.
It may be mentioned here that Union Home Secretary,
V K Duggal too had recently hinted towards Pakistan hand behind spurt of militant
activities in the State.
Duggal, who addressed the Editors' Conference
in Srinagar on June 23, blamed Pakistan for exporting terror by keeping the
terrorist camps intact and functional in its territory. The Home Secretary
also shared the intelligence inputs with Mr Azad during the one-to-one meeting
that day.
Earlier on June 21, concerned at the continued
increase of violence in Jammu and Kashmir, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan,
who had made a surprise visit to the Valley, asked all the security agencies
to ensure synergy among themselves with one point agenda of defeating the
militant designs and make concerted efforts to counter terror groups, who
were out to flare-up the violence.
Army Chief Gen J J Singh, who too was in the
Valley that day, referred to the increase in infiltration and termed it a
" big challenge". The General who talked to reporters at Titwal,
mentioned about the presence of 1,500 militants in the Valley and Army's determination
to take on them.
Considering the escalation in militant activities
and visits of high dignitaries to the Valley last week, it was in the back-drop
of intelligence inputs that Mr Azad briefed the Cabinet about measures being
taken to meet the situation, the sources added.
