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SRINAGAR (India held-Kashmir): Amid global expectations of an amiable solution to the volatile issue of Kashmir, India has of-late stepped-up its’ operations of state terrorism in the forcibly occupied part of the Himalayan region, killing at least 25 persons with several missing just in the past five days, February-16 when Pakistan and India set off a new course to solve disputes via a process of dialogue in a bid ‘to establish a stable peace’ in South Asia.

As the global press reviews five people were put to death in IHK on the day, Monday last when a JS-level interaction took place in Islamabad between the two nuclear neighbors. It was followed by two causalities the next day and seven on the 18th, the day a FS-level interaction between India and Pakistan took place, airing to the world, a roadmap of perceptible amity.

Indian Atrocities

The atrocities by Indian troops on innocent Kashmiris continued, even after that as another eight persons including women and children were killed by the Indian army with yet 3 more on Friday, Feb-20.

During this period most of the deaths took place either in custodial carnage or in acts of unabated violence. The plight of people in IHK, which persists with swelling intensity, was also reported with almost 45 arrests of the freedom-seekers including the apex leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat [liberation] Conference, APHC. All of them were put in cage for raising voice for their birth right of self-determination to decide their destiny in a free environ.

Anti-Muslim Crusade

The craze of New Delhi to keep the people of IHK in bondage was also marked by acts of anti-Muslim acts in the Muslim majority State as it cordoned off mosques at several places, during the week-end and even on this Friday to keep the people away from performing Jumma [Friday] prayers.

Most of the mosques were either locked, by force, or were camouflaged by well-equipped Indian troops. This action b Indians left no option for most of the Muslims to offer their prayers, under open skies.

Protests

However, protest rallies with strikes at diverse place took place to express anger against India’s non-stop state terrorism and with a resolve to continue the indigenous struggle against the tyrannical rule, backed by acts of repression.

This resist against the Indian occupation of this part of the state, which began back in 1989, has by now taken almost 90 thousand lives with a large number of Kashmiris still missing, the majority of whom is considered to have been placed in far-off prisons in different localities of India, said a report by a human rights’ organization.

The two arch rivals, India and Pakistan have also fought two wars on account of the Kashmir dispute, which remains unresolved despites categorical resolutions of the United Nations with a pledge of plebiscite in the disputed terrain.

'Kashmir on top of Pak-India Talks'

Meanwhile a report from London says that Pakistan's Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan has told BBC that Kashmir is on the top of Pak-India talks and no change has taken place on the Kashmir issue.

He said that peace and security, confidence building measures and Kashmir are issues which will be discussed between the Foreign Secretaries. "If you see the sequence of this dialogue, it is Kashmir, peace and security which will be discussed first of all."

Masood Khan said the President never deviated from its stand, nor did the Pakistan government do so. He said, at Agra, too, the President raised the Kashmir issue. When President met the Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee here in Islamabad last month, the basic issue was Kashmir.

Both the governments are committed to talks and will make them meaningful and conclusive, he added.

LoC Fencing

To a question about LoC fencing by India he said the government's stand on this issue is very clear.

Pakistan has conveyed its apprehensions and reservations to India and also kept the United Nations informed in this regard. When Kashmir issue comes under discussion, all these aspects including the construction of fence will come up for discussion.

Indian Cabinet mulls Pakistan Peace Talks Timetable

Meanwhile, a report from New Delhi says that the Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee called a meeting of his security cabinet Friday to discuss a proposed time-table for reopening talks with Pakistan over disputed Kashmir, officials here said India Foreign Secretary Shashank and his deputy Arun Singh, who participated in the talks this week in Islamabad, briefed Vajpayee and other cabinet members.

Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, Defence Minister George Fernandes and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra were among those present in the meeting.

Perspective

India and Pakistan agreed Wednesday to open talks on Kashmir in May or June and in their three days of discussions both agreed to wait until after the Indian elections expected in April to launch the talks. They also decided the two foreign secretaries would hold a second meeting in August to review progress.

Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Indian PM Vajpayee agreed last month to start the dialogue process during their meeting on the sidelines of the SAARC Summit in Islamabad.

Vajpayee discusses Security

Another report says that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee called a high-level security meeting on Friday to discuss the Indian cricket team's upcoming tour of Pakistan.

The Cabinet Committee on Security was to discuss a report prepared by an Cricket Board delegation that visited Pakistan to assess security arrangements at proposed match venues, a television news channel said.

A spokesman for Vajpayee confirmed the meeting to the media, but declined to disclose its agenda. India is to play three Tests and five one-day Internationals in March and April.