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JaMMu & KasHMiR

n June 12, vehicle headed by Mushtaq Ahmed
borne militants Zargar. He was one
fired upon a of the three militants who was
security patrol released along with JeM chief
Oat KP Chowk in Maulana Masood Azhar in
south Kashmir’s Anantnag town exchange for over 150
killing five CRPF personnel and hostages of the Indian Airlines
injuring three others, among Flight 814 in December 1999.
them J&K Police personnel However, officials believe that
including a police inspector the attack was a handiwork of
Arshad Ahmad Khan. This was Jaish-e-Mohammed.
first such major attack on the Jammu and Kashmir Gover-
security forces after the Pul- nor Satya Pal Malik also claimed
wama bombing which killed 40 that the Fidayeen attack on the
CRPF personnel. CRPF party was carried out at
In retaliation the forces the behest of Pakistan.
killed a militant and recovered “We had conducted elec-
an AK-47 from his possession. tions in the state in a peaceful
The attack took authorities by manner. This did not go down
surprise as militants struck Forces come under well with the militant handlers
in Anantnag town, the place based in Pakistan,” Malik said
least affected by the otherwise attack yet again on the sidelines of a convoca-
rampant militancy across South tion ceremony of a private
Kashmir. So, this has meant, Why Anantnag attack is a bad news for chances university at Sher-i-Kashmir In-
militants have taken over the of India-Pakistan dialogue, explores riyaz wani ternational Conference Centre
town too which goes on to show, (SKICC) in Srinagar. “Whenever
militancy is only expanding its there is peace in the Valley Paki-
footprint in the Valley. not have primarily forced when they sat across the dinner stan tries to disrupt it”.
But more significantly, India’s boycott of Pakistan in table. This, despite the fact that There is thus little that has
Anantnag attack took place a Bishkek, but it may have only Pakistan Prime Minister Imran changed in and over Kashmir.
day before the Prime Minister reinforced India’s tough stance Khan had in a recent letter to The militancy in Kashmir is un-
Narendra Modi was due to towards the neighbour. the PM sought to initiate the likely to be eliminated anytime
leave for Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan In his meeting with the dialogue, now that the general soon perpetuating the violence
to attend Shanghai Coop- Chinese president Xi Jinping, election was over in India. For- in the state with an occasional
eration Organization, where the PM Modi reiterated India’s eign Minister Shah Mehmood dramatic attack or two. And this,
a pull-aside between him and stand that Pakistan should take Qureshi had also written a in turn, will hinder any dialogue
the Pakistan Prime Minister concrete action against terror separate letter to his Indian between India and Pakistan or
Imran Khan was expected to before talks can resume. counterpart. disrupt an ongoing one.
take place. But the killing of five “Pakistan needs to create an But the still strong militancy “Redlines and conditionali-
security personnel altered the atmosphere free of terror, but at in the Valley and the occasional ties for dialogue by either of the
context of the SCO summit. The this stage we do not see it hap- sensational attacks hardly two countries will ensure no
PM Modi had already decided pening. We expect Islamabad to shows any signs that the envi- dialogue,” says Gowher Geelani,
not to use Pakistan’s airspace for take concrete action” to resume ronment for talks between the a political commentator. “And
his travel to Bishkek. And at the talks, foreign secretary Vijay neighbours will be conducive an endlessly deferred dialogue
summit itself, the PM avoided Gokhale quoted the Prime Min- for talks — at least in the fore- between the neighbours is not
any meeting with his Pakistan ister as telling President Xi. seeable future. in the interest of peace and
counterpart. The two prime ministers The attack at Anantnag was prosperity in the region”.
The Anantnag attack may didn’t talk to each other even owned by Al-Umar Mujahedeen letters@tehelka.com

tehelka / 30 june 2019 22 www.tehelka.com