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We’re fully prepared to deal with challenges: Bajwa

Army chief general Bipin Rawat Tuesday warned Pakistan that India will not hesitate to carry out “strong action against its inimical moves”, asserting that the army was “giving enemies along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir a befitting reply and inflicting heavy losses”.
In his address at the Delhi cantonment here on the occasion of army day, general Rawat also said that efforts were on to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border with China, adding army soldiers guarding the border will not allow any compromise on India’s interests.

Elaborating on the army’s modernisation plan, he said a major restructuring of the force is being initiated, besides induction of a range of missiles, tanks, and other weapons including M-777 and K9 howitzers.
Both M-777 howitzers and K9 Vajra, which were inducted last year, were showcased at the army day parade.
In his address, Rawat extensively talked about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and said India’s neighbour on the western border “continues to support militant groups operating in the state”.
“Our forces are giving a befitting reply to our enemies along the Line of Control. They are suffering heavy losses. I am warning our enemy (across the LoC) that we will not hesitate in carrying out strong action against any inimical action,” he said.
“We are ensuring moral dominance along the border in Jammu and Kashmir and we will continue to do so,” he assured.
He said the Indian army has ensured “heavy damage to militants in the state”.
“Youths in Jammu and Kashmir are being terrorised and forced to take up arms… We do not want that people in J&K are disturbed. Our neighbouring country has a hand in these activities. Militants are being trained and given arms by our neighbouring country,” the army chief said in an obvious reference to Pakistan.
Referring to the border with China, he said the armies of both India and China have issued new guidelines to their respective forces.
“Efforts are on to maintain peace and tranquillity along the (eastern) border. But we will keep reviewing the situation. Our soldiers will not allow any compromise in guarding the border in the eastern sector,” Rawat said, adding that the orders given by the government will be strictly followed.
On the northeast, he said the situation is peaceful in the region and the army is carrying out regular anti-insurgency operations.
He also urged army personnel and their families to be careful in using social media which he said is being used for radicalisation.
Referring to criticism of the army’s pyramid structure, the army chief said: “For us, the VIP is the soldier who faces the enemy along the LoC”.
Rawat also talked about coordination with the Navy and the Air force.
“We will achieve decisive victory along with the Navy and the Air Force in case of a war,” he said.
The army, he asserted, was carrying out major restructuring and modernisation of the army.
“The security challenge facing the country will become more complex in the coming years. We will have to keep enhancing our combat prowess so that we can defeat our adversaries. I assure that we will keep the trust reposed on us by the people of the country,” he said.
On the issue of disability pension, Rawat said he was focussing on removing disparities in disability pensions.
He also awarded 15 Sena Medals (including five posthumously) for individual acts of gallantry.

Bajwa’s remarks came during an interaction with the participants of 3rd National Security Workshop in Quetta, the capital of the restive Balochistan province

Pakistan’s military is fully prepared to deal with internal and external challenges, army chief general Qamar Javed Bajwa said Tuesday.
Bajwa’s remarks came during an interaction with the participants of 3rd National Security Workshop in Quetta, the capital of the restive Balochistan province.

“Our internal and external challenges demand a comprehensive national response and the army, in coordination with other institutions of the state, is fully engaged in enabling that response”, he said.
He reiterated that prosperity of Pakistan is linked with prosperity of Balochistan.

Kabul: The Taliban issued a statement Tuesday threatening to end contact with the US even as Washington’s peace envoy makes another round of the region in pursuit of a negotiated end to Afghanistan’s protracted conflict before a frustrated President Donald Trump makes good on his 2016 campaign promise to end America’s involvement.
Earlier in the day, the US Embassy in Kabul said Zalmay Khalilzad had arrived in Kabul following visits to India, the United Arab Emirates and China. Khalilzad was to meet President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and other political leaders to discuss the next steps in US efforts to get an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process started.

The Taliban have refused repeatedly to meet directly with representatives of the Kabul government. According to the insurgent statement, the US agreed in meetings in November on a two-point agenda: Withdrawal of foreign troops and guarantees that Afghanistan would not again be used as it was by al-Qaida to plot attacks on other countries.

The statement accused Washington of seeking to expand the agenda, presumably a reference to a US demand that the Taliban hold direct talks with the Afghan government.

Meanwhile, Khalilzad was expected in Pakistan following his meetings in the Afghan capital.

There were reports Tuesday that Pakistan had arrested Taliban leader Hafiz Mohibullah in Peshawar, in northwest Pakistan near the border with Afghanistan. Taliban officials, who confirmed the arrest, said he was later released. Mohibullah is a member of the Taliban political commission based in Pakistan. Previously he was head of the Taliban military commission overseeing operations in 18 norther and eastern provinces.

Srinagar: Nine persons arrested in Kashmir by police’s Special Operation Group (SOG) in November last year for alleged militant links are being handed over by police to National Investigation Agency (NIA) on the orders by a Srinagar court.

Apropos to a police statement, rebutting GNS report as “factually correct”, it clarified that some sleuths of NIA are already in Kashmir Valley and a court has ordered the custody of nine persons to NIA, sources said. While the nine persons are presently in “judicial custody”, it would be police that would be handing over them to NIA as jails are manned by the police itself.

As reported earlier, two persons identified as Tahir Ahmad Khan son of Ali Mohammad of Chandrigam Tral and Haris Mushtaq Khan son of Mushtaq Ahmad of Wathora Budgam were arrested by the SOG Srinagar near TRC on November 23, 2018.

On their disclosure, police sources said that seven more persons were arrested by respective police stations and handed over to SOG in a subsequent couple of days.

They include Abdul Ahad Mir son of Ghulam Mohammad of Khurhama, Kupwara, Asif Suhail Nadaf son of Latief Ahmad of Rainwari, Irfan Ahmad Seeru son of Mohammad Shaban of Nawa Kadal Srinagar, Wahid Abbas Bhat son of Mohammad Abbas of Rajouri Kadal, Srinagar, Ashiq Hussain son of Bashir Ahmad of Jamia Masjid Nowhatta, Haris Rashid Langoo son of Abdul Rashid of Malik Sahib Gojwara Srinagar and Arif Majeed Khan son of Abdul Majeed of Hawal Srinagar.

A police officer while confirming said nine persons are being handed to NIA sleuths on the orders of the court following an application by the NIA.

He said all these persons were working as over-ground workers (OGWs) of militant outfits and on their instances police recovered two pistols along with 14 rounds, three grenades, one bara bore single barrel rifle, one ISIS flag and one cutter.

He said that a case under FIR number 93/2018 under section 307 RPC, 7/28 Arms Act, 16-B-18 Unlawful Activities Act stands registered in police station Kotibagh, Srinagar. GNS regrets inadvertent overlooks but stands by the news report with the above-mentioned clarifications. (GNS)

Srinagar: The news item of GNS stating that “Police Hands over 9 persons arrested by SOG Srinagar to NIA” is not factually correct.

In this context it is clarified that the instant case FIR No 93/2018 was registered at Police Station Kothi Bagh under the relevant sections of law.

This case was subsequently taken over by NIA and all the arrested accused persons in this case are presently in Judicial Custody.

The media report of GNS stating that nine persons handed over by Srinagar Police to NIA is factually incorrect and thus stands rebutted.

Srinagar, Jan 15: People particularly commuters faced chilly conditions on Tuesday as day temperatures across the Kashmir Valley dropped while minimum temperature remained far below freezing point in the Valley.

A meteorological department official told GNS that Srinagar, the summer capital of the state, recorded a low of minus 5.8 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 5.7 degree Celsius, nearly a degree below normal for this time of the year.

The famous hill resort of Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 12.3 Degrees Celsius while it recorded day temperature of 3.8 degree Celsius.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ the 40-day harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.

‘Chillai-Kalan’ ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir.

The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).

Qazginund, the gateway town of Kashmir, saw a low of minus 7.2 degree Celsius and maximum of 7.6 while Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 7.2 degree Celsius and maximum of 5.6 degrees Celsius.

The MeT official said that the mercury at the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir settled at minus 10.0 degrees Celsius last night while it had a maximum of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir registered a low of minus 7.7 degree Celsius last night and a maximum of 2.5 degrees Celsius, the official said.

“As of now, it looks like another snow spell of stronger intensity is expected around 19-23rd with a peak on January 22,” Director meteorological department Sonam Lotus said. (GNS)

Srinagar, Jan 15: Amid hectic political activity for realignment of political forces in Kashmir ahead of forthcoming Lok Sabha and assembly elections, efforts are on to revive the third front in Jammu and Kashmir state.
Sources while disclosing this to Kashmir News Service (KNS) revealed that former minister and senior PDP leader Mohammad Dilawar Mir is holding hectic consultations with the leaders who were part of erstwhile G M Shah led ANC-Congress coalition government in 1984.
The PDP leader Dilawar Mir has held extensive consultations with the likes of President Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) Hakim Mohammad Yaseen a former minister, President Democratic Party Nationalist (DPN) Ghulam Hassan Mir another former minister and CPI (M) Secretary M Y Tarigami at least thrice during the last one month.
The stepped-up activities for the formation of third front by PDP leader Mohammad Dilawar Mir could trigger yet another fresh wave of dissidence within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the idea of formation of a third front could lead to defection of some senior leaders from both PDP and National Conference to proposed third front keeping in view their earlier association with the erstwhile G M Shah led ANC-Congress coalition government in 1984.
A top leader involved in the formation of the proposed third front on conditions of anonymity confirmed to Kashmir News Service (KNS) that PDP leader Dilawar Mir held several rounds of consultations for the formation of third front during last one month.”
It is in place to mention here that at least seven legislators including three ministers of Mehbooba led PDP-BJP coalition government have recently quitted PDP and joined Peoples Conference and National Conference immediately after the imposition of Governor’s rule in the state. (KNS)

Srinagar, January 15: Hurriyat Conference (G) convened an extraordinary meeting of its Majlis-e-Shoora, presided over by its chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, at his Hyderpora residence. According to a statement issued, the meeting took stock of the current situation with reference to the ongoing movement for right to self-determination.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the amalgam including Bilal Siqiqui, Mohammad Yousf Naqash, Khawaja Firdous, Hameed Elahi, Molvi Bashir Irfani, Syed Mohammad Shafi, Yasmeen Raja, Arshid Aziz, Gh. Mohammad Nagoo, Shaheen Iqbal, Devinder Singh Behal, Masooda, Mohammad Maqbool Magami and Mubashir Iqbal. It termed Kashmir issue as ‘a long pending political and humanitarian issue’ to be settled by exercising free and fair plebiscite.

Hailing the statement of British Parliamentarian to help solve the Kashmir issue if voted to power, participants said that “this once again vindicates our stand and proves beyond doubt the disputed nature of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, which India continues to deny for the last 7 decades.”

In his presidential address, Geelani termed Kashmir issue “a globally accepted dispute where in the people’s right to self-determination is not only acknowledged but confirmed by more than a dozen resolutions, but persistent denial of our basic rights has turned this beautiful piece of land in a hell where every day killings, crackdowns, arrests, nocturnal raids and bulldozing residences has became a routine.”

“People have been forced to live a harassed and threatened life, with continuous psychological stress,” he said, adding that people are left at the mercy of forces, with vast and widespread intelligence network, who continuously peep into their private affairs without any moral or ethical ground.

Geelani said that common people especially pro-freedom political workers are slapped with numberless PSA and even the release orders from their own judicial houses are not honoured “Many countries have economic interests in India, which is the reason that despite knowing and confirming the barbaric and brute face of India they keep mum, which encourages its meanness and beastliness,’ he said.

He stressed upon the nation in general and youth in particular to strengthen bond with faith and seek guidance from Allah Almighty, be united and steadfast on achieving goal and “we will In Shah Allah get rid of this unnatural and forced occupation.”

Reiterating his appeal for boycott, Geelani said that “those elected by our votes, in the name of basic needs like Sadak, Bijli and Pani, act as local faces of the brutality and inhumanness of Delhi rulers. How can a conscious nation authorize anybody for his death and destruction, killing and maiming?”

Srinagar, Jan 15: Peoples Democratic party (PDP) president and former chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday pitched for a dialogue with militant leadership, saying it is they who are holding guns and can stop this culture.
As per Kashmir News Service (KNS) correspondent, Mehbooba while talking to reporters after meeting several delegations in Anantnag said, “A dialogue should be held with the militant leadership at apt time. At this juncture, dialogue with them is not possible but should be held with them (militant leadership) like Pakistan and separatists.”
She added that “the local youth joining militancy are son of this soil and are the assets, therefore we want them to save from getting killed. Talks must be held with militant leadership as it is they who are holding the guns and can stop this culture.”
Mehbooba while reacting to a question said that her father Late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed had formed PDP with an aim to find a way to the resolution of Kashmir in which Pakistan, India, separatists could sit and find a way.
Lashing out at National Conference (NC) over its promise of constituting truth and reconciliation committee, Mehbooba said, “NC had promised certain things that include autonomy and others but failed to fulfill it on ground. It is good if truth and reconciliation committee will be constituted.”
She also said that during her tenure as CM, encounters took place but in NC’s tenure fake encounters were reported in Machil where three persons had lost their lives.
“I went to Machil and met the bereaved families but Omar as CM failed to do so. We went to Shopian after the killing of Asiya and Nelofar but Omar didn’t visit the bereaved family,” she said, adding that there is no operation-all-out as has been told by Governor Satya Pal Malik. (KNS)

Jammu: In a bid to build bridges between Raj Bhawan and Hurriyat Conference, J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik Tuesday reached out to the separatist leaders urging them to apprise him directly of the cases of “atrocity and injustice” to common people that they may come across.

Malik made the offer with an appeal that the Hurriyat Conference leaders should not treat him as “an alien”.

“I have a message for Hurriyat that they should not consider me as an alien,” Governor Malik told PTI in an interview.

“As far as Hurriyat is concerned, I have respect for them, even though their ideology is different from mine. They have a different ideology and I have a different one,” the governor added.

Promising to treat Hurriyat leaders’ complaints with due urgency, the governor said, “If they (Hurriyat) feel there is any atrocity (by troops or police), they can contact me on phone or send a person to me.”

“I will treat them (and their complaints) the way I am treating the rest of the people,” said the governor, maintaining that he has opened up the Raj Bhawan for all.
In his first-ever statement aimed at building bridges between Hurriyat leaders and the Raj Bhawan, Malik also expressed hope that “at some level, there will be talks too” with them at some time.

Explaining that he has always been hearing out the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Malik said, “I take all calls including those from common people of the state. My mobiles and WhatsApp have never been silent. All those complaints which come to me on WhatsApp, I have tried to address them.”

The governor even attended a few calls from general public during the interview itself.
Malik said he even often sends officials from Raj Bhawan to collect the complaints of aggrieved individuals, even if they may not be so pressing or urgent.

Malik emphasised that in his dealings, his opinion is based not merely on official briefings but on narratives of the common people as well.

“I have met all political leaders and keep meeting them regularly,” he said, adding he has also met several delegations of common people and youth groups, “opening himself to them and hearing them out”.

“There is a need to establish contact with them and work according to their aspirations so that they understand that theCentre is not against them, he added.

Malik said during his short tenure in the office, he has received and resolved thousands of complaints and grievances and has given directions to his advisors to address them as soon as possible.

The grievance cell of Jammu and Kashmir administration has resolved over 40,000 of the complaints registered so far by it.

Since the imposition of the Governor’s rule in the state on June 20, the grievance cell has received 41,716 complaints, of which 40,457 have been dealt with, officials said.

These complaints have been forwarded to the quarters concerned for timely resolution, they said, adding that 877 complaints were “under process”.

The three advisors to the governor have been regularly meeting and hearing the grievances both in Srinagar and Jammu, they said. (PTI)

SRINAGAR, JAN 15 : Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat has said that the forces will not hesitate to take strong action to deal with terror activities along the western border (Pakistan).

On the occasion of the Army Day, Rawat said, “The country along India’s western border is providing support to terror groups and the Indian Army is dealing with them effectively.”

On militancy in Kashmir, Rawat said “the men had caused heavy losses to the militants with the help of other security agencies”.

Along with others, the Army also provided better security during the Amarnath Yatra and the Panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

Asserting that the Army was determined to crush terrorism, Gen Rawat said the condition of the militants in Kashmir was “hopeless”.

“The result is that the militants have now been threatening teenagers to take to arms in Kashmir. We don’t want that militants continuously keep threatening the people of Kashmir.” (PTK)