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| Sound reasons for India rejecting Ramzan ceasefire | | | Early TImes Reporter
Jammu |Sep 16
Armed with strong inputs about the game plan of Pakistan and terrorist outfits still assisted and sponsored by Pak establishment, the Unified Head Quarters in Jammu and Kashmir has expressed itself against Ramzan ceasefire, as demanded by some political parties in Kashmir, friendly to the militants and secessionists. General Officer Commanding in Chief Northern Command, Lt. Gen H S Pang told the visiting media persons at Command Head Quarters that there were between 1200 and 1500 militants active in Jammu and Kashmir, whereas another 4000 to 5000 ultras were receiving training in 52 camps across the border, out of them 20 to 30 in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and northern areas and the rest in Pakistan itself. On the heel of the release of a book entitled "The General and Jihad" by a think tank of Observer Research Foundation, about which this paper had editorially mentioned in detail in its September 16 issue, which amply blasts Pak President Parvez Musharraf's claim about his concerted efforts to contain the Islamic Jehadis in his country and speaks volumes about his duplicity of being an ally in the US led global war on terrorism, the inputs with the intelligence agencies of India's security forces about ISI's continuous abetment and patronage of the Islamic terrorists, particularly those operating against India, the government of India on the advise of highest echelons in the security forces have ruled out announcing ceasefire during Ramzan.
In this regard the hardening of attitude lately by Pak President Parvez Musharaf and his u turn from friendly postures to threats of reviving crude arm twisting methods to force India to settle the Kashmir dispute is also a pointer, by asserting that the Pakistan's official policy on Kashmir remained unchanged and that he officially favoured a UN sponsored plebiscite in J&K. Addressing the participants in PTV's weekly Q&A broadcast, Musharraf stated that there was no change in Pakistan's stated position that Kashmir was the core issue and Pakistan still wants a plebiscite according to the 1948 UN resolution for final settlement of Kashmir dispute. The General is reported by Pak media to have added that resolution of the Kashmir issue was a must for normalization of ties, particularly trade links with India.
The think tanks and political observers in India attribute this change of stance and hardening of attitude by General Parvez Musharraf, to have been prompted by his internal compulsions. The General who is cornered from all side, with the demands for restoring the civilian rule in the country and democratization of the government getting louder day by day, Musharraf would like to earn peace at least with the Islamic fundamentalists in Pakistan, who too had got estranged after the army crack down on Lal Masjid in Lahore. With the judiciary in Pakistan pitted against General Musharraf and the popularity graph of deposed Prime Minister Nawaz sharief gaining new height in the wake of his second exile, after his return and 4 hours stay in the country, coupled with the power sharing deal between the General and another former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto having not been clinched, due to the adamancy of President Parvez Musharraf to not shun his army uniform, while seeking reelections as President of the country, ahead of the fresh general election in the country scheduled only a few months from today. The President is also under threat of being censured by the Supreme Court of the country for disregarding the Apex Court's ruling that Nawaz Sharief and his brother have the inalienable right to live in their country, Pakistan, imploying by that placing any hindrance in the way of deposed Prime Minister's comeback to the country and his stay there can invoke judicial sanction. There is also the possibility of Pak Supreme Court debarring Parvez Musharraf to fight election for the post of President again, while holding an office of profit, as Chief of the country's army staff. In that case the only option left with Parvez Musharraf would be to declare emergency in the country and even impose marshal law, to perpetuate his rule. For this he will be desperately in need of support and help from some groups in the country, apart from the armed forces. The mullah-military nexus in Pakistan being traditionally a dominant force, the Islamic extremists can be the best bet for General Parvez Musharraf in any such eventuality. It is under this background that the latest change in the stance of Parvez Musharraf is to be read. India has to be obviously guided by this scenario in Pakistan, in formulating its policy towards that country as well as towards the militants sponsored by Pakistan.
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