NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Onkar Singh in New Delhi
Minister of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah on Monday said that violence in Jammu and Kashmir would to go up in the coming weeks.
However, Defence and External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh had recently said that the Afghan militants had gone back to Kabul to defend their country against a possible attack by the United States
"Since President Musharaff has annoyed terrorist outfits by allowing US planes to fly over Pakistan, he must do something to calm them. He may encourage them to step up violence in the valley," Abdullah told rediff.com.
When asked if he had any intelligence inputs, which indicated that the terrorists would step up violence in the state, Abdullah said, "I have not seen the intelligence input. But I am sure that they are there."
"The Centre and state administration are fully geared to deal with terrorist threats," he said.
"You cannot provide security cover to all the people in the valley. The terrorists may be able to strike soft targets. But that will not deter us from fighting terrorism."
When asked if America was turning a blind eye to terrorism in Kashmir, the minister said that it would not be correct to give this impression to the people of India.
"We have an authoritative statement from Secretary of State Collin Powell that the Americans have taken note of terrorist activities in the valley. The fight against terrorism will have to be fought at all places," he said.
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
