India rejects talks with United Jihad
NEW DELHI, March 17 (UPI) -- India has rejected the idea of any talks with Pakistan-based separatist outfit United Jihad council.
The chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad, said the Indian government will not participate in any dialogue with United Jihad Council chief Syed Salahuddin, who is spearheading terrorism in the state from his base in Pakistan.
"The center (federal) and the state governments are ready for talks with separatist Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani," Azad said. Geelani refused to participate in a round-table meeting on Kashmir called by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in February.
Azad said he was hopeful that Geelani would participate in the second round-table conference organized by Singh, to be held in Srinagar in May.
"(The) government would order cease-fire by the security forces only after militants laid arms," Azad told the provincial assembly. He said terrorists should accept the change in attitude of Pakistani President Gen Pervez Musharraf, abjure violence and participate in the talks.
Azad said initially there were apprehensions among a section of hard-liners that the prime minister, in view of the recent visit by U.S. President George W. Bush, had convened the round-table conference.
"These apprehensions have been removed as the second round-table conference is being organized. The first such conference had no connection with Bush's visit," he said.
Overall incidences of human rights violations have reduced considerably over the past few years, Azad said, due to controlled operations and other measures undertaken by the government.
The Indian federal government is currently engaged in dialogue with separatist leaders, trying to find a peaceful and long-lasting solution to the decades-old Kashmir dispute.
The chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad, said the Indian government will not participate in any dialogue with United Jihad Council chief Syed Salahuddin, who is spearheading terrorism in the state from his base in Pakistan.
"The center (federal) and the state governments are ready for talks with separatist Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani," Azad said. Geelani refused to participate in a round-table meeting on Kashmir called by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in February.
Azad said he was hopeful that Geelani would participate in the second round-table conference organized by Singh, to be held in Srinagar in May.
"(The) government would order cease-fire by the security forces only after militants laid arms," Azad told the provincial assembly. He said terrorists should accept the change in attitude of Pakistani President Gen Pervez Musharraf, abjure violence and participate in the talks.
Azad said initially there were apprehensions among a section of hard-liners that the prime minister, in view of the recent visit by U.S. President George W. Bush, had convened the round-table conference.
"These apprehensions have been removed as the second round-table conference is being organized. The first such conference had no connection with Bush's visit," he said.
Overall incidences of human rights violations have reduced considerably over the past few years, Azad said, due to controlled operations and other measures undertaken by the government.
The Indian federal government is currently engaged in dialogue with separatist leaders, trying to find a peaceful and long-lasting solution to the decades-old Kashmir dispute.
posted by Marko at 3/17/2006 09:06:00 AM
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