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Abdullah, Advani give usual spiel on 'return of normalcy'

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Saudi-born terrorist Osama bin Laden has a major role in instigating cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir although Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence is the "real motivator," state chief minister Dr Farooq Abdullah confirmed today.

Dr Abdullah made this assertion during a press conference after a high-level meeting chaired by the Union Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani in which the situation in J&K was reviewed. While the state was represented by its chief minister, finance minister and senior officials, the central team included the home minister, the defence minister, the finance minister, the planning commission deputy chairman and concerned officials including some from the Army and para-military forces.

The chief minister pointed out that while the stepped-up attacks by militants on Army installations was a matter of concern these should not be "glorified" by the media.

According to defence ministry sources, bin Laden has promised seven thousand dollars to mujahedeen who lay down their lives trying to "liberate" the state "from Indian occupation." They said that he made the announcement of the cash award soon after declaring a jehad against India a month ago. Consequently, militants had begun ''suicidal'' attacks on army installations in the state and this was a "worrisome matter."

Dr Abdullah's assertion that infiltration from across the border was continuing was supported by Advani who pointed out that "in a way, the Kargil war is still on and India cannot afford to be off guard." The Union home minister said that 1999 would be notable because it was the year Pakistan-sponsored terrorism started to wane. Independence day celebrations this year had been celebrated all over the state and this was indicative of the fact that the militants were under tremendous pressure from the Indian security forces.

Dr Abdullah did not agree that some of the army installations attacked by the militants had been under heavy security. He revealed that when the militants attacked the Badamibagh complex it had only two jawans guarding it. "Too much need not be made out of misleading reports that Badamibagh was heavily guarded by our security forces," he said.

Later, speaking to rediff.com, Dr Abdullah praised the security forces, including the Army, and said they were performing a commendable job under trying circumstances. "We have given the message to Pakistan and the terrorists supported by Islamabad that terrorism will be suppressed with an iron hand. I am fully confident that with the help of the central government, the terrorists will be repulsed."

On the question of autonomy for his state, he said "I have made up my mind to get autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir and I will get it." He, however, maintained that the autonomy question had not figured in today's high-level meeting but soon officials of the central and the state government would be meeting over the issue.

Ministry of home affairs sources maintained that during today's meeting, Dr Abdullah complained to the Union home minister that there was little coordination between the Army and the paramilitary forces deployed in the sensitive border state. ''The right hand does not know what the left hand is doing," the chief minister was quoted as telling the central leaders.

The high-level meeting was divided into two sessions --- the first devoted to discussing security matters and the second the economic demands of the state.

According to Advani, a significant pointer to the improvement in the J&K situation was the recovery of tourism in the state. He pointed out that the volume of the tourist traffic in the state was approximately 1,20,000 annually and it was set to rise further. "You can see that given the facts, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is rapidly returning to normalcy," Advani said.

He claimed "some measure of success" in unearthing ISI modules in the state had been achieved and a comprehensive strategy has been chalked out to contain and deter the Pakistan-sponsored militants.

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