Time to believe in police, para-military: Omar on AFSPA

 Pushing for partial withdrawal of controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today discounted suggestions that this will benefit terrorists, saying it is time to believe in the State police and paramilitary forces. Omar promised to restore sense of security in Kashmiri Pandits, who had migrated from the Kashmir Valley two decades ago, and asked the community to explore possibility of returning to the State. He welcomed the announcement of Tata group chairman Rattan Tata of campus recruitment and fostering entrepreneurship skills among the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Minister took a dig at moderate Hurriyat Conference for holding talks with Pakistan and not coming to New Delhi for dialogue with the Government of India. He, however, said that Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik's visit and his remarks on Babri Masjid issue have not contributed to the process of normalization of relations between India and Pakistan.

"First and foremost I never advocated lifting it (AFSPA) from areas close to the Line of Control or so. I have suggested that it could be lifted from areas like Srinagar and Jammu cities," He was asked about apprehensions that the areas, where the Armed Forces Special Powers Act will be withdrawn, would become a safe haven for terrorists. "On the one hand you say that you have faith in State police and CRPF and in the same breath you say that AFSPA should remain," he contended. The Chief Minister said the situation in the State had improved over the last 10 years and the level of violence had come down to five per cent of what it was in 2002. "I believe the CRPF and JK police have acquired the ability to deal with the situation in areas where we could dispense with any sort of Army involvement and these are the sort of areas from where we are asking for removal of AFSPA." "So if you don't need to operate, therefore, the need for AFSPA should also no longer exist as well," he said. On why there has been no progress on the AFSPA issue, he said, "We have not been successful but this does not mean that we should not try. We are trying and I know for sure that something positive will emerge."

The Chief Minister said that J&K required a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which should be allowed to probe in the state as well as in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. "...Because there are far too many questions which require answers and those won't be available in the Valley only. Take for example the instance of disappearances. How could you make an example or assumptions that all those people, who have disappeared have been killed by the security forces. "What about the people killed by the militants? What about those who went across (PoK) and died while trying to come back or infiltrate? What about those who went to training camps?" he asked. Omar said certain questions need to be answered. "What happens to youngsters who go to the training camps?

Asked about his party-National Conference -- not honouring its promise of autonomy in 1996 and now about repealing of AFSPA, Omar said, "just because something is difficult to achieve, should we stop talking about it.  "I don't see you ask this questions to the Mirwaiz or others who promises azaadi and doesn't deliver. Why don't you judge them by the same standards.  "It is my responsibility to the people to restore autonomy in the State and phase-wise removal of AFSPA and they are possible. They are not impossible. They are far more easy to achieve than dual currency or complete demilitarisation. We will continue to try for that," he said.