J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Hurriyat to meet intellectuals before talks
Srinagar, January 16
As the All-Party Hurriyat Conference gears up for the scheduled meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani next week, its leaders have reaffirmed that the talks were aimed at “resolving the Kashmir issue to restore peace and stability in south Asia.”

Jammu rail track vulnerable to attack by militants
Jammu, January 16
The delay in accepting suggestions on strengthening the security grid around the Jammu railway station and the 100-km track up to Pathankot has left the vital area vulnerable to the armed attacks by militants.

Philanthropist dead
Jammu, January 16
Mr R.C. Gupta, who was the first chartered accountant of Jammu, died here today following a brief illness.

• Homoeopathic board constituted

Hurriyat to meet intellectuals before talks
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 16
As the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) gears up for the scheduled meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani next week, its leaders have reaffirmed that the talks were aimed at “resolving the Kashmir issue to restore peace and stability in south Asia.” The Hurriyat has called a meeting of intellectuals and distinguished persons for consultations at the party office here tomorrow as a prelude to the Delhi meeting.

Earlier, appointment of interlocutors like K.C. Pant, Ram Jethmalani and N.N. Vohra did not succeed in bringing the Hurriyat to the negotiating table. Several separatist leaders and mainstream politicians held negotiations with the Centre’s interlocutors but the APHC had only informal meeting with the Kashmir committee led by Ram Jethmalani.

“It seems to be a sincere effort by the government to resolve the Kashmir issue,” said Fazl-ul Haq Qureshi, one of the five-members of the APHC designated to hold negotiations with Mr Advani in Delhi on January 22.

In an exclusive to The Tribune here today, Mr Qureshi said it was clear effort since the level of talks had been raised to that of the Deputy Prime Minister and the APHC standing for a “meaningful dialogue”. Mr Qureshi, leader of the Peoples Political Front, a constituent of the Hurriyat, had acted as a mediator between the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Centre’s representative, Home Secretary, Kamal Pande in 2000.

He said it was a challenging look adding that there was a need to “explore the possibilities of a viable solution to the Kashmir problem.”

Referring to the threat by the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen, Mr Qureshi held that they would “also understand the spirit of our dialogue and come out with their support to it”. He added that the mission of both the militant and political organisations was to “resolve the Kashmir issue”. “We endorse their stand as well”, he said adding that such groups were being misled by vested interests. “We respect their struggle and we hope that with the passage of time they will also contribute to the process”. The exercise was not for any package or “petty gains” but for the “resolution of the Kashmir issue”, he said.

Mr Qureshi pointed out that the aim of entering into dialogue was “to address the basic Kashmir dispute” in its historic perspective. It was possible in view of the atmosphere created between India and Pakistan following the SAARC summit and announcement of various confidence-building measures by the two neighbours. “Therefore it is necessary to have an open-minded debate to give direction to the Indo-Pak steps to resolve the Kashmir issue and restore peace in the region”, he said. Reiterating the APHC stand on tripartite talks, Mr Qureshi said there was also a need for a shift in India’s “traditional stand” on the issue to resolve it through solid and composite dialogue”. The Hurriyat, he said, was clear in its perception that “without Pakistan there is no solution possible”.

JAMMU: Asking India and Pakistan to carry forward the peace initiative, the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front said the people of the state should be part of any decision to resolve the issue, according to a PTI report.

“We want the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and the Pakistan President, General Pervez Musharraf, to continue the peace process, but it should not be that they move forward on Jammu and Kashmir without taking its people into confidence in the decision making,” JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik said, addressing the first-ever public meeting of party workers in the Bhagat Kabir temple complex at Bashi Nagar here.

“Jammu and Kashmir is not a border issue or that of sheep or cattle, but of those 1.20 crore people who live there. Hence the people of the state have to be consulted and taken into confidence on reaching any solution,” he said.

Jammu rail track vulnerable to attack by militants
Our Correspondent

Jammu, January 16
The delay in accepting suggestions on strengthening the security grid around the Jammu railway station and the 100-km track up to Pathankot has left the vital area vulnerable to the armed attacks by militants.

The state authorities had suggested to the Ministry of Railways, soon after three attacks by militants on the railway station that at least an eight-foot-high concrete wall should be raised around the entire open space in front of the main platform.

The security agencies had explained to Railway Ministry officials that the existing barbed wire fence was simply meant to check the entry of cattle. The agencies had reiterated the demand when senior Railway Ministry functionaries visited Jammu after the militants attack on the station in which nine persons, including two militants were killed, on January 2.

There has also been a demand for installing flood lights on the 100-km Jammu-Pathankot railway track, which being close to the border, was vulnerable to the militant attacks.

The demand for constructing shelters for security personnel, guarding the track, is yet to be conceded.

Whenever the security personnel, including the ex-servicemen, face weather-related problems they seek shelter in villages, leaving the track unguarded.

During the recent meeting officials of the crime branch and the Railway and the GRP with the Railway Ministry functionaries it was disclosed that the two militants, who attacked the station with guns and grenades on January 2, had sneaked into the main station from the open area.

Another demand for shifting the main oil station too, has not been accepted. Security experts had suggested that the oil depot should be shifted because any attack by militants on the oil tanks could endanger the lives of the passengers as 25,000 people arrive and leave from the Jammu railway station per day.

Philanthropist dead
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 16
Mr R.C. Gupta, who was the first chartered accountant of Jammu, died here today following a brief illness.

He was 89.

A well-known philanthropist of the city, Mr Gupta was associated with several organisations, including the Ramakrishna Sewa Ashram, SOS Children Home and the Red Cross. He was a life member of the Sher-i-Kashmir Medical Institute, Srinagar.

Mr Gupta had also been adviser to Maharaja Hari Singh and later to Dr Karan Singh.

He is survived by his wife, a son and three daughters.

Homoeopathic board constituted
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 16
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted a board for the homoeopathic system of medicine with Dr B.R. Dubb as its president.

Dr VDS Jamwal has been appointed Registrar of the board. The other members are Dr A. Mir, Dr G.N. Wani, Dr Feroz, Dr Yaqoob Gul (all from Kashmir) and Dr Ashok Vaid, Dr Sunil Tikoo, Dr Deepa Gupta, Dr Arun Kumar, Dr Vijayinder Jamwal and Dr Nawkiran Kapoor (from the Jammu division).