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| PMO studying a package of measures for J&K | | Mufti Sayeed keen to get face-saving device | |
NEW DELHI, MAR 23: With Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, esprit de corps of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP), appearing keen on maintaing his personal relationship with the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) was on Friday reported to be working out a formula, or mechanism, which would not make the Kashmiri leader leave the negotiating table empty-handed.
In plain language, since Mufti Sayeed has allowed a change in his earlier stand on the future of the Indian troops in Kashmir, and since he appeared keen on being equipped with some face-saving device, the Prime Minister's Office is not averse to the idea of providing "healing touch" to the man (Mufti Sayeed) who as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir created history of sorts by introducing "healing touch" policy in the militancy-hit border State.
According to official information, the Centre--the PMO, to be precise--is considering some steps towards reducing the Army's presence in Kashmir, after a fall in violence and as a gesture towards the region's people and politicians. Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, has been under pressure from the PDP's guiding force and former Union Home Minister, Mufti Mohamed Sayeed, who threatened to bring down the Congress-led coalition government in J&K if some of the roughly five lakh troops were not withdrawn.
During his three-year tenure as the J&K Chief Minister, the PDP leader, Mufti Sayeed, was never found in support of the separatist parties' demand for the withdrawal of troops from Kashmir. It was, significantly, after the Congress Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, was put in place that Mufti Sayeed chose to reiterate the demand for demilitarization in Kashmir.
During his meeting with the Prime Minister in New Delhi on Thursday (March 22), Mufti Sayeed was confronted with several questions on the prevailing law and order situation, on the modus operandi of the jihadi elements, and on the presence of an unspecified number of foreign militants in some parts of the State. The Mufti was reported to have told Manmohan Singh that the level of violence in Kashmir had fallen since India and Pakistan launched a peace process in 2004, and therefore some troops should go back.
An official involved in the high-level talks said on Friday that a package of measures was on the table. He said that an agreement was likely. The official, who is among those mediating between the PMO and Mufti Syeed, said that the Prime Minister was likely to offer to pull troops out of areas which have been free of militant violence in the last five years and replace them with police.
Also under consideration is a review of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, a controversial law which gives the Army sweeping powers to arrest suspects without charge and also gives soldiers substantial immunity from prosecution. If all goes well in the coming weeks and months, the Centre may also order the Army to vacate schools, colleges and other government buildings which they have been using as bases.
A source close to Mufti Sayeed said: "Something concrete is expected in a day or two". The withdrawal of troops from Muslim-majority Kashmir has long been a demand of Kashmiri politicians. The Indian Army, however, says it is too early to withdraw troops and that this would play into the hands of militants who, it says, are backed by Pakistan. |
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