news details |
|
|
| Center considering select roll back of AFSPA, parties look for icing on cake | | | ZAFAR CHOUDHARY
Jammu, June 29: As Manmohan Singh government readies up to renew channels of dialogue between New Delhi and Kashmiri separatists, the ground preparing is being seen with reconfiguration of security forces and selective rollback of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act –however, the big political question is that who gets the icing on the cake.
Downsizing of the troops and repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act was the ideas once toyed by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and then endorsed by the moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Omar Farooq. Gradually this proposal got across the board support in Kashmir.
Peoples Democratic Party was the first mainstream grouping championing the cause of troop reduction and repeal of harsh laws. The party went to the extent of taking an irreversible stand in February 2007 threatening the existence of PDP-Congress coalition government and the matter could be resolved only through intervention of the Prime Minister who ordered constitution of three committees to examine the demand.
The National Conference, a signatory to extension of all these controversial laws, has been traditionally opposed to downsizing of troops or repeal of stringent laws. However, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been indicating since earlier this year that he favours repeal of AFSPA. Omar in fact said with command that the controversial laws will go during his tenure.
Now since the Center government is realizing the urgent need of engaging in dialogue the discordant voices in Jammu and Kashmir, the selective rollback of Armed Forces Special Power Act and reconfiguration of security forces in some areas is being worked out as talking point. Since these issues are on the agenda of three different political formulations, the timing and strategy will determine who gets the maximum political mileage.
For the Mirwaiz Umar Farooq led Hurriyat Conference, the announcement for troop reduction and AFSPA roll back can be a condition for initiation of dialogue with New Delhi and for National Conference this can make beginning for securing the ground lost in Kashmir over past few months. The Peoples Democratic Party, which has been vigorously campaigning on these issues for nearly four years keep this initiative close to heart.
Reports say that the Centre is considering a proposal for phased withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Jammu and Kashmir. To begin with, Centre is likely to explore the possibility of phased withdrawal of the AFSPA in two districts of Kashmir - Srinagar and Budgam - and two in Jammu region - Jammu and Kathua - where incidents of violence has shown a marked decline, official sources said.
Recently the Peoples Democratic Party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, separately, held a series of meetings with the central leaders where they raised the issue of either amending the AFSPA, repealing it or taking it out of the state in a phased manner.
Agencies quoted sources in the Government saying that while the situation in militancy-hit state has improved to a large extent, a serious thought could be given to the state's demand. A meeting between Home and Defence Ministries officials may be held soon to elicit the views of the Army and Central para-military forces, which have been fighting militancy in Jammu and Kashmir for the past two decades, the sources said.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
