Govt halts security ops in J&K during month of Ramzan
CONDITIONAL Move on Mehbooba request; will retaliate if attacked
NEW DELHI: Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir will halt counter-insurgency operations during the Islamic holy month of Ramzan in the first such suspension in the troubled state for more than 17 years, the Centre said on Wednesday, accepting a demand made by chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.
“Decision taken to help the peace loving Muslims observe Ramzan in a peaceful environment,” Union home minister Rajnath Singh tweeted, clarifying that security forces reserve the right to retaliate if they are attacked or if it is essential to protect the lives of civilians.
Singh said the decision had been communicated to Mehbooba who, in a Twitter post, said she “wholeheartedly” welcomed the ceasefire and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singh. She added that this month is a “harbinger of peace and such a decision will go a long way in creating a peaceful and amicable environ-
› ■ It will go a long way in healing wounds of people who have been suffering for 3 decades... MEHBOOBA MUFTI,
J&K chief minister
› If the militants don’t respond in kind they will stand exposed as the true enemies of the people OMAR ABDULLAH, National Conference leader
ment” for a sustained dialogue.
Pakistan-based Lashkar-eTaiba (LeT) militant group outrightly rejected the truce offer.
“We are in favour of negotiations but the talks of negotiations in presence of armed occupational forces in the region are lies,” a LeT spokesman said.
Soon after the Centre’s announcement, a gunfight broke out between forces and militants in Shopian district of the Valley.
›
Any concession from the Centre will provide space to Mehbooba to show that the Centre listens to her as she had made a demand in this regard.
ARUN CHAUDHARY, former chief, Sashastra Seema Bal
NEWDELHI: A central declaration of a halt on operations against militants in Jammu and Kashmir will provide a respite to chief Mehbooba Mufti and give her space to mount an effort to win back constituents who have turned hostile because of her alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) , experts say.
It would help if Pakistan too dissuades militant groups based on its soil from launching strikes against targets in Kashmir, they added.
“The cadre and leaders of Mehbooba’s Peoples Democratic Party seem to be under tremendous pressure from their electorate in the Valley due to the alliance with BJP. Any concession from the Centre will provide space to Mehbooba to show that the Centre listens to her as she had made a demand in this regard,” said former Sashastra Seema Bal chief Arun Chaudhary, who dealt with Kashmir for over a decade while serving in the Intelligence Bureau. “The halt on operations during Ramzan will not change anything on the ground as security forces, if attacked, will continue to retaliate and therefore it should be seen more in terms of optics.”
Chaudhary added that even in 2000, when a ceasefire was announced by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, it was a political call taken in consultation with the Farooq Abdullah, who was Jammu and Kashmir’s chief minister at the time. And it didn’t turn out well, he added.
“The earlier ceasefire allowed militants to move freely without any fear from the security forces and they managed to carry out an attack on the Srinagar airport. The government will have to ensure that during the present halt on operations, there should be an added emphasis on keeping a tight watch on movement of militants,” said Chaudhary.
AS Dulat, former chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), and PM Vajpayee’s pointsman on Kashmir, said the government’s decision was welcome.
“I consider it a much needed positive step and I sincerely hope that Pakistan too endorses the announcement on halt on operation,” said Dulat.
Former northern army commander Lieutenant General DS Hooda (retd) said anything that contributed to a reduction in violence was welcome. “I hope the rules of engagement for the security forces are clearly laid down so that they do not find themselves disadvantaged,” he said.
Hooda added that the suspension of operations couldn’t be an end in itself but part of a larger process of confidence building. “Only then will we see the real dividends,” he said.