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P Jayaram in New Delhi
The Minister of State for External Affairs, Omar Abdullah, said on Thursday that the government forces should be very careful while battling terrorists in Kashmir, as any breach of human rights would only boost Pakistan's propaganda.
"Pakistan receives a shot in the arm every time somebody from the security forces steps out of line, whether it is an incident of unprovoked firing or something else," Abdullah said.
Such incidents rouse resentment among the public against the government, and Pakistan takes advantage of that anger to fuel further the anti-India sentiments in Jammu and Kashmir.
While anti-government sentiments translate into support for opposition parties in other states, in Kashmir it triggers slogans for azadi (freedom), Abdullah said.
"You might be angry because you don't have electricity or water but then you decide, what the hell we haven't got anything from here, let's see what we can get from the other side (Pakistan)," he said.
He said there was no question of the Indian government again inviting the All-Party Hurriyat Conference, an umbrella organisation of separatist groups, for talks with KC Pant, the government's interlocutor on Kashmir.
"The invitation from the government to the Hurriyat stands. Whenever you are ready to engage us in a dialogue we are ready to talk to you. No matter how many people you may or may not represent. That is irrelevant to us," he said.
"We consider you as representative of a body of opinion in Jammu and Kashmir even if how much opinion you represent has not been tested," he said.
Though he has not visited Pakistan occupied Kashmir, he has been told by the people from there that it is 'about 15-20 years behind' Jammu and Kashmir in terms of economic development and opportunities.
"They call it azad (free) Kashmir. Where is the azadi? Political parties are not allowed to contest elections unless they sign allegiance to Pakistan," said Abdullah.
"He (Musharraf) chooses which general he wants to send as the leader, and yet the Hurriyat has the gall to say that Pakistan occupied Kashmir is azad (free)," said Omar.
"Forget Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Pakistan as a country is economically so far behind India now. So there is no point in indulging in comparison," he added.
"Here is a country (India) with $40 billion in foreign reserves, moving ahead in almost all aspects of development, and a country (Pakistan) that is struggling to meet its commitments to the IMF and the World Bank," said Omar.
About his new job in the external affairs ministry, he said he did not want to be 'pigeonholed as India's voice on Jammu and Kashmir'.
"I will be the last person to confine myself to this aspect of talking on Jammu and Kashmir. That is part and parcel of my job, but that is not the be-all and end-all of my job," he said.
Indo-Asian News Service
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