|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 29 December 2002 |
 |
|
 |
World |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Indian government plans talks with Kashmiris JAMMU, India, Saturday (Reuters) Indian Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani said on Friday the government plans to hold talks with the new Kashmiri government and separatist groups on ways to bring peace to the troubled region. A new coalition government assumed power in Jammu and Kashmir last month, saying it favoured talks with the separatists who boycotted last month's elections. Kashmir's largest separatist alliance, the All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference, did not participate in the poll, saying the elections were not a substitute for a plebiscite to determine the future of the Kashmiri people in line with U.N. resolutions of 1948 and 1949. "The dialogue will be held with the elected representatives of Jammu and Kashmir for restoration of peace in the state," Advani told reporters in Jammu, the state's winter capital. "The talks would not remain confined to elected representatives only and could be held with those also who could not either participate in the elections or get elected," he added without saying when the talks would be held. The Hurriyat has in the past refused to meet with the Indian government unless Pakistan was included in the dialogue. India says Pakistan foments the rebellion in Kashmir by arming and sending militants to fight New Delhi's rule in the state, where at least 35,000 people have died in 13 years of rebellion. Separatists peg the number closer to 80,000. Pakistan, an Islamic country, denies the charge and says it provides only moral and diplomatic support to what it calls a Kashmiri freedom struggle. "Pakistan has reactivated its training camps which it had temporarily closed. The recent spurt in violence...shows the intentions of Pakistan," Advani said. "Infiltration is continuing and the alarming thing is that the component of foreign militants of late has considerably increased and three-fourths are foreign militants." The Press Trust of India quoted Defence Minister George Fernandes as saying about 3,000 Pakistan-backed militants were operating in Indian territory. "The assessment by our army is that there are about 3,000 Pakistani-sponsored terrorists on Indian soil and an equal number are waiting to cross over into India," the news agency quoted Fernandes as saying. Violence has continued unabated in Indian Kashmir despite the new government's pledge to bring a "healing touch" to the region. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
