NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR, 17 November 2004 — The Indian Army will start reducing the number of troops in revolt-hit Kashmir today to coincide with a visit to the state by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, officials said yesterday.
“This decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security” yesterday,” a government official said.
The first contingent of troops will be redeployed from military barracks outside the main city, Srinagar, the official said.
Among those at the Cabinet Committee meeting were Home Minister Shivraj Patil, External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, National Security Adviser J.N. Dixit and Army Chief N.C. Vij.
The army has not said how many troops would be removed from Kashmir as consultations among various security agencies continue.
Military experts estimate that India has about 250,000 troops in Kashmir.
Manmohan renewed his offer to talk to all Kashmiri groups and organizations to resolve the long-festering Kashmir dispute as long as they eschewed violence.
“We are ready to discuss with anybody” ways to resolve the conflict in the state, Manmohan told reporters after the Cabinet session.
Manmohan’s announcement last week that New Delhi would pull out some of its troops from Indian Kashmir was seen as breathing new life into a flagging peace process with Pakistan over the disputed Himalayan region.
Kashmir state Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed hailed the announcement of the troop withdrawal as a “big step” by the premier toward restoring normality.
“The situation has improved so much we can reduce the troops in Kashmir. It is a big step taken by the prime minister. It will make a huge difference to the atmosphere in the state,” Sayeed told the television network Aaj Tak.
Meanwhile, despite unprecedented security arrangements on the eve of Manmohan’s visit here, separatist violence claimed a dozen lives as the militants sped up activities to register their presence.
A day before the premier’s much awaited visit to the Kashmir, militants killed six persons including two counterinsurgents in central Budgam district.
Police said two pro-India militants had come to visit their relatives on Eid in Kawoosa village near Magam in central Budgam district, when a group of heavily armed militants struck at the house.
The militants made an attempt to abduct the two counterinsurgents after forcing their entry in the house. But after failing their attempt, they opened fire with automatic weapons killing six persons including the two counterinsurgents. Two women were also among the dead.
The militants escaped under the cover of darkness. Security forces and police rushed to the spot immediately and combed the area but they failed to find any clues. None of the groups has yet claimed the responsibility. The incident occurred a day before the premier is scheduled to arrive here on a two-day visit. Authorities have beefed up security in Kashmir.
An overwhelming security has been thrown around Srinagar, the capital city, with virtually all entry and exit points being manned by heavily armed troops belonging to Indian paramilitary, local police and even the elite Rashtriya Rifles (RR) soldiers.
Barbed wires have been laid in the middle of the road to obstruct all vehicular movement around the cricket stadium ringed by majestic Chinars, the venue of prime minister’s public meeting.
“We have made tight security arrangements in the entire capital city. Traffic has been diverted on other routes for security reasons,” said a police officer.
It must be recalled that the premier has described the troops’ reduction decision as ‘a thoroughly considered one’.
“This is being done to move the peace process with Pakistan forward as the ground situation has been showing signs of improvement in Kashmir,” Manmohan said. He has, however, made it clear that in case the ground situation deteriorated, the decision would be reviewed.
“We want to put an end to this chapter of violence in Kashmir. That is my goal,” the premier told journalists.
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has already made it clear that there was no point in their meeting with the prime minister during his stay in the state as two rounds of talks had already been held with Indian government. “And now after the two rounds we would like to visit Pakistan to talk to the leadership on the other side,” Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, chairman of the moderate faction of APHC, said.
In another development, militants ambushed a patrol party of the Indian paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), near Kachidoora village, south Pulwama district, in which one soldier killed instantly, while others received injuries.
