Militants regrouping in PoK to cross over to India

Militants have regrouped in large numbers in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK) and are crossing the Line of Control to sneak into the Indian side of the Himalayan region, local residents and political leaders have said. The militants have regrouped and launched jehadi activities in the Neelum valley on the Pakistani side of the LoC, local politician Arif Shahid said. Local residents and Shahid said the militants were not from PoK. "Jihadi activities have been restarted during the last few weeks," said Mr Shahid, the secretary general of the All Parties National Alliance. "Most of the activities are concentrated in the Neelum valley along the LoC," Mr Shahid told the BBC. Mr Shahid, who had visited the region with other APNA leaders, said the militants were based there in large numbers
and had set up camps in the area. "The men are not locals - they have long hair and beards. Most do not speak the local language," he said. Residents of Neelum valley backed Shahid's assertions. "We are scared... The armed men are moving around the area and are trying to cross the border," a local resident said. "We can make out from their appearances and languages they are not from any part of Kashmir," the resident said. Shahid said he believed that militants are planning to sabotage ongoing peace negotiations between India and Pakistan. "They have set up camps in the region and many are crossing the border... This is the start of another proxy war," he said. Following a meeting between the Pakistan Prime Minister, Mr Yousuf Raza Gilani, and his Indian counterpart, Dr Manmohan Singh, last month, the foreign ministers of the two countries
recently agreed to meet in Islamabad on July 15 to nudge the peace process forward. Shahid's comments were supported by Jammu and Kashmir National Liberation Front leader Shaukat Maqbool Bhat. "The fighters are there and they are regularly crossing into India," Mr Bhat said. "The local people are very scared - they believe the (militant) crossings are going to restart artillery exchanges between the Pakistani and Indian armies," Mr Bhat said. Indian and Pakistani troops regularly fought artillery duels and exchanged small arms fire till a ceasefire was put in place along the LoC in November 2003.

Manmohan highlights terror threat emanating from Pakistan

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has conveyed to U.S. President Barack Obama India’s serious concern over terror emanating from Pakistan and its lack of will to punish the perpetrators of 26/11 attacks.

On his part, Mr. Obama said the U.S. shares India’s concerns over Lashkar-e-Taiba and other terror outfits operating from Pakistan.

Dr. Singh said New Delhi wants convincing action against those behind the Mumbai attacks.

The Prime Minister, during his 45—minute meeting with Mr. Obama, also raised the issue of Indian investigators getting direct access to Mumbai attacks plotter David Headley.

Mr. Obama said the U.S. was working through legal processes for giving India access to Headley.

“He (Obama) was fully supportive of our request for provision of such access,” Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters.

Mr. Obama also promised to keep in mind India’s concerns over the end—use of the US military supplies to Pakistan after Singh voiced apprehensions in this regard.

The U.S. President said he favoured reduction of tensions between India and Pakistan but the Prime Minister made it clear that the “future of South Asia would be determined by the manner in which terrorism is tackled“.

During the meeting at the Blair House, Dr. Singh emphasised that Pakistan needed to take “convincing action” against those responsible for Mumbai attacks, she said.

Mr. Obama said the U.S. understood India’s concerns with regard to activities of Lashkar-e-Taiba and other terror groups from Pakistan and Afghanistan and that Washington was “engaging” Pakistan on these issues.

While talking about the menace of terrorism emanating from Pakistan, Dr. Singh referred to Headley, activities of LeT and its chief Hafiz Saeed and HuJI terrorist Ilyas Kashmiri, Ms. Rao said.

“Unfortunately, there is no will on part of Pakistan to punish those responsible for terrorist attacks in Mumbai,” Ms. Rao quoted the Prime Minister as telling Mr. Obama.

“This is where partnership of India and the U.S. could make the difference,” Dr. Singh told Mr. Obama.

To a question, Ms. Rao said the fate of Indo-Pak dialogue had no connection with the meeting between Dr. Singh and Mr. Obama.

She said the U.S. as also the entire world, was aware of India’s approach on dialogue with Pakistan. “The U.S. fully understands” India’s position on the dialogue.

India has suspended composite dialogue since the 26/11 attacks and has refused to resume it till Pakistan takes concrete and transparent action against those behind the terror strike.

Ms. Rao said there would be no meeting between Dr. Singh and Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani here during the Nuclear Security Summit but did not categorically rule out such a possibility in Bhutan during the upcoming SAARC Summit.

Sources said Dr. Singh told Mr. Obama about India’s scepticism on Pakistan army’s role and pressed the US to ensure that army’s influence diminished in Pakistan.

Mr. Obama said India has the goodwill and understanding in the US.

Noting that shared Dr. Singh’s vision for South Asia, Mr. Obama said he understands India’s interest in Afghanistan and recognises its role. He expressed support to India’s continued assistance programme in Afghanistan.

While talking about Indo-US counter-terrorism cooperation, Mr. Obama said the US was working through legal systems for provision of access to Headley. He said he was supportive of India’s request for provision of access.

On India’s concerns over misuse of US military supplies to Pakistan, Mr. Obama said the US was sensitive to these worries and would monitor the end use of the material given.

The US President referred to the Civil Nuclear Liability Bill and expressed hope that it would be passed by Parliament as expeditiously as possible.

The bill, whose passage is critical for implementation of the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear deal, has got caught in a political quagmire with opposition parties objecting to certain clauses in it, including the cap of Rs. 500 crore on compensation.

Chidambaram chairs meeting of Unified Command

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday chaired the meeting of the Unified Command to discuss the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Tight security arrangements have been made for the Home Minister’s visit in view of the State BJP’s plan to gherao him to protest his approval of the policy to allow surrender of militants mooted by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Barring a demonstration by over 100 workers led by BJP’s State legislative party leader Chaman Lal Gupta at Bikram Chowk, the law and order situation was peaceful in the city, police said.

The meeting being held at the Chief Minister’s residence was attended by Director general of Police Kuldeep Khuda besides chiefs of BSF and CRPF.

The agenda of the meeting includes review of the security situation, plans of modernisation of the police force and the surrender policy, officials said.

Contours of the “cross-border surrender policy” after taking into consideration militants in PoK camps, latest intelligence inputs, screening setup and modalities of surrender are expected to be discussed.

The Centre has said it was ready to “welcome” Kashmiris who had gone to PoK if they were ready to return after giving up militancy.

“The idea that any Indian who had crossed over to PoK and wishes to return India is certainly welcome,” Chidambaram has said.