Firings and deaths cast shadow on J-K ceasefire

Firings and deaths cast shadow on J-K ceasefire
Express News Service

MUMBAI, FEBRUARY 17: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today said the results of the ceasefire in Kashmir ‘‘had not been as expected’’ and rebutted reports appearing in a section of the media that he was in favour of extending the ceasefire.

The PM asserted that militancy and ceasefire cannot go hand in hand in the Valley. ‘‘We declared a ceasefire on the eve of Ramzan with a view to provide the much-needed respite to the people of the Valley but there has been no response from the militants to our appeal as violence has only gone up. The result of the ceasefire has not been as expected,’’ he remarked.

Vajpayee said with the declaration of the ceasefire, Pakistan should have built up pressure on militant organisations so that they refrained from killing innocent persons. Unfortunately, this did not happen. ‘‘Prima facie, we feel Pakistan has failed in its task to contain the militants. We still feel that Pakistan can take a lead in that direction and create an atmosphere that is conducive for talks for restoring peace,’’ he said.

Vajpayee recalled that he himself had taken the initiative by undertaking the historic Lahore bus visit.

He announced that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) will meet tomorrow in New Delhi to take a collective decision on whether or not to extend the ceasefire. Vajpayee, who was here to attend the international naval fleet review, told reporters ‘‘since the deadline expires on February 26, a special meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security has been convened in New Delhi tomorrow. A collective decision will be taken, taking into consideration the law and order situation in the Valley’’.

On the killing of innocent Sikhs, Vajpayee said since a judicial probe has been ordered into the incident, his government hoped they won’t migrate to other states. ‘‘These were unfortunate incidents. We hope they don’t act in haste,’’ he remarked.