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Advani unveils 3-pronged strategy for Kashmir

The government of Jammu and Kashmir, in order to bring back normalcy in the state, has embarked upon a three-pronged strategy, Home Minister L K Advani told the Rajya Sabha today.

Making a statement on the calling attention motion moved by Ghulam Nabi Azad (Cong) along with eight other members, Advani said the strategy includes proactively tackling with the help of security forces, the cross-border terrorism, that has been unleashed by Pakistan-sponsored terrorist outfits, besides accelerating economic development as also redressing the genuine grievances of the people and initiating a dialogue within the constitutional framework, with sections of the society, specially misguided youths.

Advani said, "With the proactive approach adopted by our security forces against terrorists, between 1998 and April 2000, near-normalcy has returned to the state. He said due to the Kargil incursions, Pak-supported terrorist outfits were able to take advantage of the depleted security grid, to push in armed foreign infiltrators in considerable numbers. This phase also saw the introduction of suicide squads, intensification of attacks on security forces, upgradation of weapons/hardware of the terrorists, efforts to garner local support as also to provide a jehadi flavour to the ongoing terrorism in the state. The terrorists were keen on causing incidents that would attract instant media attention, their aim being to focus world attention on Kashmir."

The home minister informed that the government took a number of steps in the post-Kargil phase, which included strengthening of the counter terrorist grid, strengthening and modernisation of the J and K police, strengthening and expansion of village defence committees, launching of pinpointed counter-terrorist operations based upon actionable intelligence, strengthening of security cover for areas inhabited by minorities including Sikhs, dividing the counter-terrorist grid into integrated sectors for synergised operations and checking infiltration through improved border management.

He revealed that these steps resulted in the killing of around 950 terrorists from August 1999 to April 2000. To further sharpen the anti-terrorist posture in J and K, an inter-ministerial group has also been set up to review, revise and supplement the 1998 action plan in operation to tackle militancy in the state.

Advani said as part of its efforts to redress the grievances of the people and accelerate economic development, the central government has been providing special financial support over and above the normal central plan assistance to the state of J and K. In order to cover the resource gap and for ensuring speedy implementation of projects, the plan size has been enlarged which will be largely funded by the central government.

He said a standing committee under the chairmanship of the cabinet secretary has also been set up. To further ameliorate the sufferings of those affected by terrorism, the central government continues to reimburse expenditure incurred by the state government in making ex-gratia payments to the next of kin of those killed in terrorist incidents. Reimbursement is also being made to the state government for relief provided to the Kashmiri migrants and persons displaced by cross-border firing/shelling.

The home minister informed that the central government has contributed to the corpus of the rehabilitation council, set up by the state government, for widows and orphans. Special funds have also been allocated by the Planning Commission to the state government for the reconstruction of roads, bridges and school buildings damaged in the decade-old terrorism. Funds have also been made available for providing relief to those who have taken loans up to Rs 50,000 from a public sector bank in trade, tourism and smallscale sectors. In consultation with the state government, a policy for rehabilitation of surrendered militants is already under implementation.

He said the government remains committed to initiating a dialogue with the alienated sections of society, especially misguided youths, within the constitutional framework.

UNI

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