December
Updates
10 December 1997
Farooq Lashes out Against OIC
Farooq Abdullah lashes out at the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) for what he called "raking up a well settled issue of Kashmir under the evil influence of Pakistan."
10 December 1997
OIC
ignoring Indian Muslims, says Farooq
The Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr.Farooq Abdullah,
Today criticised the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) for its attempt
to rake up the well settled Kashmir issue and said it has always ignored
the interests of Indian Muslims.
08 December 1997
Need to Tone up J&K Administration
The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary has called for improving quality of work and efficiency of the administration at all levels and said that senior officers must provide inspiring leadership in every Department for speedy redressal of grievances and accelerated developments.
08 December 1997
Iran Asks Hurriyat to Contest Polls
Iran is understood to have advised the separatist Jammu and Kashmir. All Party Hurriyat Conference to participate in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
07 December 1997
Kashmir Militants Join BJP
Five Kashmir militant leaders who had once picked up the gun in the Valley against Indian authorities, are now considering joining the Bharatiya Janata Party saying the party alone could safeguard the interests of Muslims.
06 December 1997
US Senators
Call to Declare Kashmiri Pundits Internally Displaced Persons
Two US Senators have urged National Human Rights Commission
Chairman Justice M N Venkatachaliah to declare the Kashmiri Pandit community
as "internally displaced people". Congressmen Frank Pallone and Sherrod
Brown, in a joint letter, also wanted the Commission to "advise and assist"
the government in creating conditions in the Kashmir valley for the Pandits's
return.
05 December 1997
Sheikh
Abdullah Was a Great Visionary: Gujral
Prime Minister I.K. Gujral today said a "blunder" had been committed
in not recognising a "great visionary and statesman" like Sheikh Abdullah
as a result of which the nation was now paying a heavy price. "Be it myopia,
political expediency or anything else. We have committed blunders in not
recognising some great people and Sheikh Abdullah was one of them."
02 December 1997
Farooq
Guest at Maharashtra Chief Minister's Birthday Bash
It might have been Manohar Joshi's birthday bash, but the day,
or rather evening, clearly belonged to Farooq Abdullah, who stole the show
in Bombay.
02 December 1997
Main
Harkat Communications Smashed
Indian security forces have smashed the main communication channel
of the Harkat-Ul-Ansar (HUA) in Kashmir valley where eight persons were
killed and nine securitymen wounded.
November Updates
23 November 1997
Foreign
Aid for Kashmir Power Plants
New hopes have surfaced in the power sector in Jammu & Kashmir
after the signing of memoranda of understanding with two foreign consortia.
21 November 1997
Arrangements
for Meraj-ul-Aalam
A high level meeting was held at Asar-e-Sharief Hazratbal to
finalise the arrangements for observing the Meraj-ul-Aalam.
20 November 1997
Art
and Peace in Kashmir
Kashmir was one of the first states in the country to hold art
camps but thanks to the political turmoil, the last one was held more than
eight months back, when the J&K department of Art and Culture held
a 10-day art camp at Pahalgam.
20 November 1997
J&K
NC leader, 6 militants among 9 killed in valley
Militants kidnapped National Conference leader Ghulam Rasool
Shah and shot him dead at Qazigund last evening. A Congress leader Shafiq
Ahmad Shabnam escaped unhurt when militants attacked his vehicle at Dalal
Mohalla in the city. Two suspected militants were later arrested for questioning.
19 November 1997
Thousands
of Kashmiris brainwashed by Pakistan: Srinagar Times Editor
Kashmir has survived eight years of violent turmoil and with
the civil government completing one year in power, there has been talk
of peace returning to the Valley. Omkar Razdon spoke to Gulam
Mohmmad Sofi, the renowed editor of Srinagar Times, the leading
Urdu language paper, on the Kashmir situation and the prospects of peace.
19 November 1997
Albright's
Visit Short but Substantive
For a little over two hours on 19 November, Ms. Albright and
Prime Minister I K Gujral held "broad-based" discussions on bilateral,
regional and international issues as part of the "strategic dialogue" launched
at the Gujral-Clinton meeting in New York on September 22.
19 November 1997
Britain
Not to Mediate on Kashmir
The British MP of Indian origin, Mr. Keith Vaz, today ruled
out British mediation on the Kashmir issue, stressing that "it is purely
a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan".
18 November 1997
Albright
rejects Pakistani Demand for Mediation in Kashmir
The US Secretary of State, Ms. Madeleine Albright, today rejected
Pakistan's demand for mediation with India over the Kashmir issue and said
her country wanted the two neighbours to continue their dialogue process
to resolve their differences.
04 November 1997
OIC
Members Divided over Kashmir
Members of the Organization of Islamic Conference are divided
on how the Kashmir issue should be handled. Many OIC nations are indifferent
to the Kashmir impasse because of their ties with India.
04 November 1997
Sectarian
Violence in Pakistan
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been unable to get
a consensus on a law to ban sectarian outfits from maintaining private
militias. Up to 250 people have been killed in sectarian violence during
the first eight months of 1997.
03 November 1997
'Kashmiris
want to stay with India'
The people of Jammu and Kashmir desire to stay with India and
want peace in the entire state, says Mr Beersmans Paul, president of the
Belgian Association for Solidarity with Jammu and Kashmir, after a recent
visit to the state.
02 November 1997
Lashkar
e Toiba Chief of Punch-Rajouri Killed
Chief of Laskar-I-Toiba Abu Zabair, who was in charge of militant
activities in the border district of Poonch and Rajouri, was killed by
the army in Surankot area of Poonch last night.
October Updates
28 October 1997
FIU Spy
arrested with Mumbai, Delhi maps
Army have arrested a spy of Pakistan's Field Intelligence Unit
(FIU) who was trying to exfiltrate to Pakistan along with maps of vital
installations of two metropolises -- Mumbai and New Delhi from Thand Paani
area.
27 October 1997
Three
Kashmiri ISI Agents Arrested in Delhi
Three trained terrorists out to create bomb blasts in the Indian
capital during the festival of Diwali have been arrested by the police.
They have given details of how they were ordered to spread panic during
the festival
24 October 1997
Harkat
warns of violence if Punished
Pakistan-based Harkat-ul-Ansar, which the US administration
had designated as a "terrorist" organization earlier this month, has warned
that any government action against it may result in violence.
23 October 1997
Pakistan
Under Pressure to act against Harkat ul Ansar
Pakistani authorities,on the eve of the October 19-20 visit
of the US under Secretary of State, Mr Thomas Pickering, took the unprecedented
action of raiding a HuA office in Rawalpindi. There is a clear circumstantial
link to suggest that the Pakistani Government, which has been aware of
the activities of the Harkat for years, acted only to project itself in
a "favorable light" before the United States.
22 October 1997
Farooq
Urges United States to Outlaw All Terrorist Organisations
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today expressed
the hope that the USA would declare all other militant outfits as terrorist
organizations that were out to create trouble in the state.
22 October 1997
ISI
Assures Continued Support to Kashmir Extremist Groups at Lahore Conference
The ISI representatives at a Lahore conference categorically
stated that whatever might be the stand of the Pakistani Government vis-à-vis
India, there would be no scaling down of terrorist activity in India, particularly
the Kashmir valley.
22 October 1997
Muslim
Leaders Flay Pakistan For Interfering in India's Affairs
Three Muslim students organizations have criticized Pakistan
for interfering in India's internal affairs by fomenting violence in Kashmir
valley. These organizations staged a demonstration near the Pakistan High
Commission here today to lodge their protest against unprovoked firing
by Pakistan troops along the Line of Actual Control.
22 October 1997
Pakistan
is not Disturbed by Ban on Harkat-ul-Ansar
Pakistani foreign minister said he is not disturbed by the US
ban on the Harkat-ul-Ansar as the terrorists are operating out of the Indian
part of Kashmir.
20 October 1997
Shabir
Shah Admits Failings
The popular Kashmiri leader, Shabir Shah, admits that he has
failed to deliver and that people are disenchanted with his party, the
Peoples' League. He wants to throw up new ideas and form a party free of
internal squabbles.
19 October 1997
Hurriyat
Strike Flops
For the first time in many years, a general strike called by
the Hurriyat Conference in response to the scheduled visit of the Prime
Minister Mr. I K Gujral failed to evoke response in the Kashmir Valley.
17 October 1997
Harkat
not Terrorist, Claims Hurriyat
Hurriyat Conference, which says it is for Kashmir is openly
supporting a terrorist organisation, and that too one propped up by Pakistani
ISI and Saudi Wahabis. Harkat people killed foreign hostages abducted in
1995 and still supposed missing. Harkat has killed Kashmiris and destroyed
the shrine of Sheikh Nooruddin. But Hurriyat thinks otherwise.
15 October 1997
Farooq's
Plain Speaking
Dr. Farooq Abdullah has spoken out frankly on the problems and
prospects of Jammu and Kashmir. He is entitled to credit on quite a few
counts: Tribune Editorial
15 October 1997
Farooq
lashes out at Gujral
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Monday accused
the United Front government of 'not doing enough' to curb terrorism in
the state. The CM, who completed one year in office on October 9, said
the Centre should emphasise more on curbing global terrorism and less about
its seat in the UN Security Council.
12 October 1997
Gujral
lashes out at UK's mediation offer
"A third rate power" like Britain was being "presumptuous" in
saying that it had a historical responsibility to resolve the Kashmir issue,
considering that it had created it in the first place, Prime Minister I.
K. Gujral told a group of intellectuals in Cairo last evening.
11 October 1997
J&K
ultras' hand seen in string of explosions
Investigators of intelligence agencies of three States- Haryana,
Delhi and Uttar Pradesh -have found similarities in the Oct.1 bomb blasts
in north Delhi and in the blast in Frontier Mail at Ghaziabad and the 1991
bomb blast in Hapur.
9 October 1997
The US
officially bans Harkat-ul-Ansar among others
The US State Department on Wednesday officially notified 30
terrorist groups, including the Harkat-ul-Ansar, Hizbullah, LTTE, and several
West Asian outfits. New Delhi welcomed the US decision to ban Harkat, saying
is was a "recognition" of the realities on the ground.
5 October 1997
Indians
& Pakistanis reach out to each other
There is a growing movement between the peoples of the two nations
to reach out an understand each other. This is being done through music,
poetry, films and the sort of dialogue organised recently by the India
International Centre in New Delhi.
4 October 1997
Pak fomenting
trouble in J-K: German group
A German parliamentary group has accused Pakistan of being the
main fomenter of trouble in Kashmir, Afghanistan, and other Muslim-dominated
provinces of China and central Asia.
3 October 1997
Demolition
of Kargil Masjid by Pakistani firing
THE Kargil Masjid was demolished recently by Pakistani firing
but there was no response to this from the public in Pakistan.
September Updates
28 September 1997
Kashmiris
should wage a political struggle: Qayoom
In an interview the former PM of PoK talked about the failure
of Jihad in Kashmir and suggested Kashmiris to wage a political struggle.
The JeI responds to his remarks.
24 September 1997
Mirwaiz
Omar Farooq's US Trip Stalled By APHC Members
For the first time in recent years, there is no Kashmiri on
the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session trying
to embarrass India. All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Chairman Mirwaiz
Omar Farooq was forced to cancel his trip to New York, ironically, at the
behest of his own colleagues.
22 September 1997
Kashmiris
Support Indian Army Crackdown in Latnu
The Latnu operation in Beerwa tehsil of central Kashmir district
of Budgam in which the Army killed 16 militants, 14 of them foreigners,
was a "success because of the cooperation of locals." .
19 September 1997
13
Innocent Villagers Killed in BSF Mortar Fire
The worst-ever tragedy since the Farooq Abdullah government
took office 11 months ago occurred on the evening of 19 September, when
two mortar shells landed near the sole rice husking machine in the village.
The Border Security Force, an Indian para-military organisation,
is responsible for the deaths.
16 September 1997
Shabir
Shah meets Saraf
The chairman of the J&K Peoples' League had a meeting with
International Democratic Party leader R P Saraf to attempt a reconciliation
with the APHC. But Saraf refused to agree to the reconciliation move.
10 September 1997
PoK
activists demand release of leaders
Activists from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) here have threatened
to go on an indefinite hunger strike from next week demanding the release
of six prominent leaders of Gilgit and Baltistan, allegedly held by the
Pakistani Army clandestinely and without any charges.
9 September 1997
APHC
fears giving up `struggle,' says Farooq
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah has said that
leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) had realised the
futility of the separatist campaign but did not give it up for fear of
their lives.
8 September 1997
Farooq
announces amnesty for Hurriyat leaders
Announcing amnesty for the Hurriyat leaders while addressing
National Conference Workers rally to commemorate the 15th death
anniversary of the party founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah at Hazratbal,
Dr. Abdullah said that he was willing to "forgive" them. He reiterated
that both Pakistan and Hurriyat leadership know that "nothing is going
to change in Kashmir", implying that its accession to India was final and
irrevocable.
5 September 1997
Two
Indian soldiers gunned down on Kashmir border
Two Indian soldiers were killed and two others injured in renewed
cross-border artillery firing by Pakistani troops in Kashmir, a Defense
Ministry spokesman said on Friday.
1 September 1997
Deliberation
of NC office-bearers/workers meeting
As scheduled a meeting of the Zonal Presidents, Block Presidents
of NC was held at party headquarter Nawai Subah complex on Sept. 1, 1997.
1 September 1997
Shifting
of Army camp out of Bagh-e-Mehtab leaves the people insecure.
The army camp at Bagh-e-Mehtab, Distt. Badgam had been shifted
to Dooniwari. This development had created sharp resentment among the residents
of Bagh-e-Mahtab and managed to have the army resume patrolling their area.
August Updates
30 August 1997
JKSF meets
in POK
The Jammu & Kashmir Solidarity Forum, an oufit floated by
Pakistan-based seccessionist oufits, held a meeting in Pakistan Occupied
Kashmir to draw up plans for a 24 October protest demonstration. The demonstration
would take the form of a 'human chain' from the United Nationas Military
Observers Group offices, Muzzafarbad, to their offices in Srinagar.
29 August 1997
Firing
at LoC
News reports relating the the series of firings by Pakistan
across the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir state during end August
1997.
28 August 1997
J&K
panchayat polls deferred
The panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir have been deferred
until the revision of voters lists in the State. Earlier. the Government
had announced that these elections would be held in October this year.
28 August 1997
Plan
to assassinate Farooq unearthed
The security agencies have come across a grand plan of targeting
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. The informed sources
said that a suicide squad is being set up on the pattern of human bomb
that was used in the assassination of Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh
two years ago.
28 August 1997
JKLF's
Mallik statement at UNHCR
JKLF's Mallik (Fai's assistant) statement which has been publicized
in Pakistani press (unhrc972)and the response by Autar Tikou (unhrc971)
to the Chairman.
22 August 1997
Cinema
Theatres to Re-Open in Srinagar
Cinema theatres are all set to re-open in Srinagar, the city
of 800,000 entertainment-starved residents.
20 August 1997
Farooq,
Advani warn Centre on Kashmir
Bharatiya Janata Party president L. K.Advani and Chief Minister
of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah today warned the Central Government
that peace talks with Pakistan should not be at the cost surrender of Kashmir.
19 August 1997
Terrorism
too is a violation of human rights
By Claire Galez
"Visiting Kashmir after a long break, one notices obvious signs
that the society is in the process of recovering after these very trying
eight years. In sharp contrast with 1994, the first scenes one enjoys of
the Kashmir Valley, right out of the Srinagar airport, are children playing
and laughing, men and women attending to their daily occupations or sitting
and chatting on their doorstep...
18 August 1997
Book on
Kashmir hostage crisis
The police, security negligence and high-profile "foreign intervention"
have been blamed for the hostage crisis in Jammu and Kashmir which has
entered its third year, according to a book "Jackals of the Himalayas:
The Kashmir Hostages Mystery" written by S.P.Sinha.
17 August 1997
JKLF accuses
Hurriyat of Plagiarism
An article titled "The Best Golden Jubilee Gift" written by
Amanullah Khan has now been E-mailed by "All Parties Hurriet Conferencewhereas
the article is in fact written by Mr Amanullah Khan, Chairman JKLF.
15 August 1997
Autonomy
will not sever J&K from nation: Farooq
Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has asserted that granting of
autonomy to the state would not weaken its ties with rest of the country
and said his government would take up the matter with the Centre soon after
two committees set up for the purpose submitted their reports.
14 August 1997
J&K
accession to India is a historic reality: Farooq
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah said the
state's accession with the Indian Union was a historic reality, which no
power on earth could undo.
July Updates
29 July 1997
Commandos:
Beating militancy at its own game
Deep in the Kashmir Valley, unconventional warfare is the name
of the game in the battle against Pakistan-trained militants. And the principal
proponents of this type of warfare are the Indian Army's paratroopers,
reports Indian Express.
20 July 1997
Infiltration
in J&K has come down: Dar
Indian minister of state for home
Maqbool Dar on Sunday said infiltration and "ex-filtration" have come
down in Jammu and Kashmir during the past few months due to the heightened
vigil by security forces at borders with Pakistan. Mr Dar said movement
of people from the state across the border had "almost come to a nil."
18 July 1997
Pak Sceptical
about termination of UN Mission in J&K
Pakistan has described as "speculative" press reports
on the possibility of terminating the UN military observers group (UNMOGIP)
functioning in Jammu and Kashmir.'
15 July 1997
Two Members
of JKLF killed by Pro-Pak Hizbul Mujahideen
Two Members of JKLF has been killed
by Hizbul Mujahideen ( Pro Pakistani Group ) an official armed wing of
Jammat-a-Islami Jammu Kahsmir at Nelum Valley Muzafferabad , Azad Jammu
Kashmir ( Pakistan Controlled Area ).
15 July 1997
Hartal
and rally mar J&K "martyrs day"
A Sombre occasion on Sunday to
remember the Kashmiris who had laid down their lives while protesting against
autocratic rule in 1931 turned into a high point in the ongoing battle
for supremacy among various political groups in the Valley.
15 July 1997
Abdul Gani
Lone Accused in Money Laundering Case
The special task force of Jammu
and Kashmir police has claimed to have unearthed a racket of Hawala and
Benami transactions involving a top Hurriyat leader, Abdul Gani Lone.
June Updates
28 June 1997
ISI 'introduced'
Hostages' wives to the Harkat The wives of four
Western hostages abducted from Pahalgam, say it was none other than former
Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto who arranged their meetings with
the top leadership of the Harkat-ul-Ansar (HUA), believed to be the parent
body of Al-Faran, the group which had abducted their husbands on July 5,
1995.
7 June 1997
Azad Kashmir
Government to go to International Court
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir cabinet has decided that a
committee be constituted to look into the possibility of raising the long-standing
Kashmir issue before the International Court of Justice.
03 June 1997
Gujral Govt.
for More Autonomy to Kashmir
Indian Environment Minister Prof Saifuddin Soz
today reiterated the United Front government`s commitment to grant more
autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir. "It is in the common minimum programme of
the United Front," according to the Minister.
May Updates
13 May 1997
Lashkar-e-Toiba
Militants killed
Lashkar-e-Toiba", a Pakistan-based
militant outfit comprising non-Kashmiris, lost five of their fighters in
north Kashmir on Monday when they were trapped by the Indian Army
7 May 1997
All Western
Hostages Killed says Harkat militant
All the four Weestern tourists
being held hostage by the Harkat ul Ansar had been killed by their abductors
in December 1995, discloses an arrested Harkat-ul-Ansar militants.
April Updates
20 April 1997
Pakistan
Blasted at Human Rights Meet
PAKISTAN suffered a serious setback
at the latest United Nations Human Rights commission (UNHRC) meet at Geneva,
when it came under a scathing attack from several NGO's for aiding and
abetting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
07 April 1997
UN Chief
Says Kashmir cannot be core issue in Indo-Pakistan talks
Annan's stance is a rejection of
Pakistan's position that Kashmir should be the "core issue" of any dialogue
between India and Pakistan and that it should be resolved first before
progress is made in other areas.
April 1997
US Congressman
draws attention to massacre of Kashmiri Pundits by terrorists
US Congressman, Frank Pallone,
says the killing of seven members of a Kashmiri Pundit family on 21 March
1997 was carried out by Pakistani supported terrorists.
February
Updates
15 February 1997
Benazir
attributes defeat to hawkish policy on Kashmir
Benazir Suggests that Common Pakistanis are Not Interested in Kashmir and Are Not Ready To Face a War - that is, die - For the Cause of Kashmir. Can She then Say Why She Urged So Many
Kashmiri Youths To Give Up Their Lives?
17 February 1997
Farooq
Says February 1997 Pakistani Elections First Where Kashmir was not an Issue
Is the Enthusiasm for Coming to Kashmir's
Cause Suddenly Waning in Pakistan Now That Fewer Kashmiris are Left to
be Killed at the Bidding of Pakistani Agencies?
18 February 1997
US has
Power to Stop Pakistan Terrorism, says Farooq
J&K Chief Minister was reacting to
Mr. Wisner's comments in a public lecture claiming that the US sought no
role on the Kashmir issue plaguing Indo-Pakistani relations. Mr. Wisner
said that the US only 'advocated peace and reconciliation in the region'.
21 February 1997
Many
Muslim families had been forced to leave their homes in the Valley in recent
weeks
An Anguished Editorial in the newspaper,
The Hindustan Times, talks about how Muslims are being forced to leave
the Valley without the glare of Publicity.
24 February 1997
Hurriyat
Asks Pakistan to Vacate all of J&K to facilitate Plebiscite
Hurriyat Tries To Fool J&K By Taking
a Kashmiri Viewpoint Knowing Fully Well That Pakistan Could have Ensured
Plebiscite 50 years Ago if it had Wanted
March Updates
3 March 1997
India Says
Pakistan-China Deal on Kashmir Illegal
India Again Raises the Fundamental Question
of J&K Territory Ceded Illegally to China by Pakistan. If Pakistan
Feels So Deeply about J&K, how could it Give Away Territory That Belong
to the Peoples of J&K?
9 March 1997
US has
no role in Kashmir dispute, says Kissinger
Cold War Genius Tries to Appease Indian
Intelligentsia by Pretending that the US sees No Role for Itself in Kashmir.
9 March 1997
Hashim
Qureshi Plans to Return to India Soon
JKLF Hero, Hashim Qureshi Says he Wants
to Return to India - and Live in Prison?
13 March 1997
Kashmiri
Media Condemns Ban by Militants
The media continues to be hounded, muzzled and suppressed in
Kashmir by agents and mercenaries from outside.
14 March 1997
Protests
in Kashmir burn Clinton's effigy
Demonstrators today burnt the effigy
of the U.S. President, Mr.. Bill Clinton, in protest against the blasphemy
of Prophet Mohammed by the US Supreme Court, Proving that the Peoples of
J&K would Not Tolerate Any Insult to The Prophet
16 March 1997
TV Journalist
among three killed in Kashmir
Hounds of Hell Assassinate another Kashmiri
brother and Journalist.
21 March 1997
Azam Inquilabi
willing to settle for greater autonomy
Azam Inquilabi, one of the leading intellectuals
of the Kashmiri Freedom Movement and chief of the Mahaze Azadi, says he
supports the restoration of greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir.
22 March 1997
Seven Hindus
Killed in Kashmir; Muslims Protest Murder
Gunmen suspected of being Muslim rebels
burst into homes of Hindu villagers in northern India, took away seven
men and killed them. Local Muslims mourned the killings and expressed their
outrage against Pakistan.
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