The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister has been pitching for the removal of AFSPA from those areas where normalcy has returned.
With differences persisting at the highest levels of government on the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from certain parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met the Prime Minister and other top leaders here Monday to press his case for the law’s withdrawal from three districts in his state.
Later, Mr. Abdullah met Congress president Sonia Gandhi in a one-on-one, and also the two seniormost ministers in the Union Cabinet – Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Mr. Chidambaram, who met Mr. Abdullah for an hour, supports the chief minister’s proposal. Speaking to reporters later, Mr. Abdullah expressed confidence that AFSPA could be partially withdrawn while addressing the concerns of the armed forces.
However, Defence Minister A.K. Antony, whom he met on Sunday, sounded a note of caution, terming it as a “very, very sensitive” issue on which any decision would require a “mature and cool” handling. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here, Mr. Antony said he had “very frank and fruitful” discussions with the Chief Minister but that these remained inconclusive.
Maintaining that there was no politics involved in his demand, Mr. Abdullah said, “I have been talking about the partial rollback of AFSPA right from the day I became chief minister.”
The Army has opposed lifting the law from any region of the state, saying the time was not ripe for it as Pakistan’s proxy presence was still very much there. An Army slide presentation to Mr. Abdullah in Srinagar last week said only “Pakistan, ISI, terrorists and separatists” want AFSPA repealed.
Though the controversial slides – and the fact that the Army leaked other details of its presentation on AFSPA – to build public opinion in favour of the law have raised eyebrows in the highest political circles here, the chief minister on Monday played down the sharp differences which exist between himself and the Army brass. “I believe there is ample opportunity to address both the concerns of the armed forces while still allowing us to go ahead with the position that we have taken, which is keeping with what the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) recommended almost a year ago,” Mr. Abdullah told reporters after meeting the Home Minister.
Asked what assurance he received from the Prime Minister and the Union Ministers, Mr. Abdullah said it was not proper for him to say anything on their behalf. “I have made our point of view very clear. They, I think, were very receptive, to what we had to say. As I say, this is an ongoing process, this will continue.”
The Chief Minister said the State government was talking about withdrawal of the AFSPA from the areas where armed forces were not operating now.
Keywords: AFSPA controversy, Kashmir crisis, Omar Abdullah government
the removal of AFSPA from the peaceful three districts to be done at the earliest.. the reasons are....1. mr. omar is recommending these three districts only because he is confident of that districts. 2. if AFSPA removed from there., it will give way for other districts citizens and they too will like to lead a peaceful life and there will be reduction in violence...3. the citizens of JK will develop some good hopes on our army., and our army will get some reputation from them..4. AFSPA can be instituted at any time, when its necessary.. 5. effective patrolling of the Indo-Pak border will reduce insurgency...
If a state can not provide security to its people then it is meaningless. You can not keep country united only on the name of India. Either do your duty or make them free to decide their fortune. You are killing your own people on the name of Pakistan.
There is a simple solution if we have the will for it. A basic counter-terrorism measure is to stop the physical ingress of terrorists, something that we have not done so far. Hence we should create a fully sanitised defence system along the lines of the erstwhile Berlin Wall comprising mines, IEDs, trip grenades, artillery, mortar and machine gun tasks, plus top level intelligence, along the LOC. Starting from Kathua, this defence system should cover Samba, Ranbirsinghpura, Chhamb-Jaurian, Poonch, Dras, Kargil and up to Point NJ 9842. Beyond this is not necessary as the LOC climbs 19000 feet to the Siachen Glacier from here, crosses it and ends at the Karakoram Pass. The villages that lie within this defence system should be relocated in depth so that they can lead a normal peaceful life instead of being under tension all the time. The AFSP Act should then be removed totally from J&K, the army recalled to barracks, and the defence system be taken over by our para military forces.
It is very sensitive as Mr. A.K. Antony said. And there should not be removal of AFSPA as it is for the security of the people residing there. Mr. Abdullah should leave his political interest and should behave like an Indian citizen.
Its been a long time that the kashmir is in turmoil. AFSPA was launched in valley a long before when condition was out of control but as the condition started getting fine its misuse got started. From last so many years it has been observed that so many shamefull acts were done by the security forces. Now its time that these acts should be removed step by step firstly starting from few areas and we should hope for the day when it would get revoked from the whole valley..... Only saying kashmir an integeral part of india is useless untill we people are not gona win hearts and minds of our kashmiri people.
There are two sides to the same coin. How can you lift AFSPA just on the basis that the Army has been doing fake encounters in the region? Hasn't the army always come to the rescue of people in times of emergency? I understand that J&K is a very sensitive issue and shall never cease to be. It is best understood by the people who stay there. The army was clear cut in stating the four forces it fears. Won't the Army be called again if the lifting of AFSPA gives rise to counter-nationalist forces in the state? Shall Mr.Abdullah take responsibility for his actions? Abdullah is a political person: it is the people of J&K which shall suffer the wrath of such shallow decisions.
AFSPA would be lifted as said by CM.
AFSPA has been made controversial for nothing. Demand for removal of this law mere from three districts where the presence of army is negligible is not some thing that can worst the situation in the state and it is not understood what makes the army General think that if AFSPA is removed that would lead to the independence of Kashmir. These are exaggerated statements and all the parties should desist from such statements.
Though it seems a very positive step I don't think removing AFSPA from certain areas of J&K will make any difference.It will only be fruitful if it is removed from whole J&K because from last 20 years it is a proved fact that most of the times army has performed fake encounters. As such i don't think army will ever agree to leave this state because the enjoy the illegal promotions given to them after making fake encounters.By just mentioning that Pakistan's proxy presence was still very much here it is just lie,they record such statements just to make decision of revocation of AFSPA wrong.
An Army slide presentation to Mr. Abdullah in Srinagar last week said only "Pakistan, ISI, terrorists and separatists" want AFSPA repealed. Omar Abdullah - what role he is playing helping these anti-national elements. For him his self / party interest is more important than national interest unless he himself is one of those as described by the Army slide presentation. Many times he has changed his colours and words so as to suit his objectives. He cannot be trusted. Government must side with Army and say firmly a no to Omar Abdullah.
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