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Ceasefire extension: Central team takes
stock of J&K situation

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday that he was not opposed to extension of the ceasefire, which was first announced in November last year and later extended till May end.

A top ministerial team from the Centre on Saturday took stock of the ground situation in J&K on the eve of the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which is to make the final decision on the matter.

Home Minister L K Advani chaired the special meeting of the unified command in Srinagar, which was attended by Union Defence Minister Jaswant Singh, Governor G C Saxena, Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, top army, police and intelligence officials, at the Centaur Lake View Hotel.

Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, state's director general of police, Srinagar-based heads of various paramilitary outfits and intelligence officials stated their assessment of the overall situation in the state.

"The central team wanted to know whether it was feasible to extend the ceasefire," said a senior state official. The central team would place its report for discussion before the CCS, which will meet early next week.

Later, the chief minister told waiting newspersons, "I am not opposed to extension of the ceasefire. The final decision will be taken by the Centre."

Home Minister L K Advani said, "It would not be possible for me to speculate upon the decision of the CCS. The inputs received by us today would enable the central government to ensure that both our objectives of peace and security are addressed."

"Today's meeting was very significant because the peace process started by the government last year is already six months old. The three hour long meeting enabled all participants to speak freely, give their assessment of the situation and also voice misgivings, if any," he added.

The home minister was all praise for the security forces and said that it was a matter 'of immense delight for all of us to learn about the good work being done by the army in the border areas, which has endeared them to the people and earned their respect. The security forces do not condone excesses whenever these are brought to their notice'.

Replying to a question on Pakistan's opposition to border fencing in Jammu area Union Defence Minister Jaswant Singh told newspersons, "Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on what is happening within Indian borders."

"The fencing," Jaswant Singh said, "will continue."

Troops and specially trained commandos had laid a siege around the entire hotel complex on the bank of the Dal lake and top police officials supervised the security arrangements for the meeting.

The Kashmir Cease-Fire: The Complete Coverage

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