'Kashmiri youth in Pakistan keen to return'

About 2000 Kashmiri youths in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are very keen to return to India and join the national mainstream, according to Border Security Force Inspector-General Appasaheb Alur.

Talking to reporters in Srinagar on Friday, Alur said the BSF had apprehended a Pakistani-trained militant Gulzar Ahmad in the downtown area recently.

Gulzar, who along with 60 other boys had gone to Pakistan in 1991 for receiving arms training, returned via Nepal.

Gulzar later told the BSF during questioning that about 2000 Kashmiri youths at present in different camps in Pakistan and POK are very keen to return back.

These Kashmiri youths are fed up in Pakistan and want to join their families and lead a honourable life here, Gulzar told the BSF.

Gulzar also told the BSF that Kashmiris do not want to cross the border due to fear of being arrested or killed by security forces near the Line of Actual Control. Hence, he said that most Kashmiris are now returning to India via Nepal.

Gulzar also revealed how he managed to escape from the camp and reach Nepal from where he came to India.

"If given a chance, Kashmiri boys in Pakistan and POK would like to return back and join the national mainstream," he said.

Talking about the overall situation across the valley, Alur said the Republic Day, Id-ul-Fitr celebrations, and the visit of Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda wen off peacefully without any incident, which indicates that the law and order situation has improved considerably.

He said there is now less number of encounters between militants and security forces. This may be because the militants do not want direct confrontation with forces as they know they would get killed.

He said the Border Security Forces had carried out many successful operations and arrested about 65 militants including self-styled chief of 'Hizbullah' and deputy publicity chief of outlawed Hizbul Mujahideen in the valley in the past one month.

The BSF could also rescue two girls who were being abducted by militants last week.

About foreign militants, Alur said their number is less and they are not striking against the security forces.

The BSF inspector-general said there are reports that some foreign militants are waiting to infiltrate into this side of the border once the closed passes are open. But the BSF will frustrate all their attempts to sneak into this side, he added.

He said there is visible change in the mood of the local people now as they now refuse shelter to militants.

Local people give information to the forces about the militants and their arms dumps in the valley.

About surrendered militants, Alur said the BSF is raising one battalion to counter insurgency activists.

He said more than 400 surrendered militants have already been screened and medically examined. They would be given nine months training at the training centre and deployed within Jammu and Kashmir only.