All fingers crossed as ceasefire begins in J-K

Describing the cease-fire as a “second opportunity” for Pakistan since last year’s Lahore peace process, Union Home Minister L K Advani today asked Islamabad to seize it by stopping terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Militants can do what they want in Kashmir but now I am addressing Pakistan. Islamabad may say that the so-called freedom fighters are responsible for the situation in the state. What Pakistan can do now is to immediately stop infiltration by militants and their training in camps as also supply of weaponry and explosives like RDX to them,” Advani added, speaking to reporters in New Delhi.

A Defence spokesman said in Jammu though there would be no combat operations by the troops during Ramzan, they would continue road opening operations, area dominance patrol and other people-friendly missions like Sadbhavna during the period.

Sources said security forces and the police had stopped combat operations in the morning without waiting for the deadline. They pointed out that barring the killing of two militants by Rashtriya Rifles (RR) in Surankote (Poonch) about half an hour before the cease-fire came into force, there was no incident in any part of the state.

The encounter between the militants and the troops happened after the former opened fire on a party carrying rations from one RR post to another in the area. A woman was also injured during the exchange of fire between the two sides, sources said. Two AK 56 rifles, along with ammunition, and nine hand-grenades were seized from the site of the encounter.

Similarly, except for the firing of a few shells by Pakistani troops in the morning, there were no reports of firing all along the LoC and IB during the day. Significantly, the guns which fell silent, had been pounding heavy mortar shells at various places along the LoC during the past two days.

Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has expressed the hope that the cease-fire would help in ending violence in the state and create an atmosphere conducive for bringing India and Pakistan closer in the coming days. Conveying his good wishes to the people on the holy month of Ramzan, he asked them to pray for success of the Prime Minister’s peace initiative.

Farooq also asked the youth who have taken to the gun to shun the path of violence and help in restoring peace which the people were yearning for. The cease-fire can be extended beyond the holy month of Ramzan, he said, adding the Prime Minister’s bold initiative has demonstrated that India always believed in peace and can go to any possible extent to promote such conditions.

Minister of State for Home Mushtaq Ahmed Lone said the security forces and the police have been asked not to go on the offensive but intensify patrolling and maintain high vigil in their respective areas during the cease-fire period. “In fact, the security forces shall take extra care to prevent militants from doing any harm to civilians during the period,” he added.