Ceasefire -- Act Four begins, Govt searches for a script

Ceasefire -- Act Four begins, Govt searches for a script
SANKARSHAN THAKUR

New Delhi, February 21: The question of further extending the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir resolved, the Atal Behari Vajpayee government tonight found itself staring at a bigger poser: How to make it count?

Despite across-the-board political sanction to the extension, skepticism is running high on what the extension can achieve beyond scoring a diplomatic point against Pakistan.

Government and Opposition leaders alike are concerned about continuing violence; they are seeking sterner measures to contain militant groups. The Hurriyat, irate over the recent Hygam firing and its fallout, wants security forces reined in. The Pakistani leadership and groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed continue their intransigence, the latter daring the government and security forces each day.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) formally approved another ceasefire extension this evening after Prime Minister Vajpayee secured political endorsement at an all-party meeting called earlier in the day. Vajpayee will make a detailed statement on the extension in Parliament tomorrow. The statement will explain the motives behind the extension but also send a warning to Pakistan-based terrorist outfits that if they persist with violence, they will invite ``strong action.''

The extension -- a month's minimum -- is being seen as precious time bought in which a precarious balance will have to be struck: containing militancy without annoying the Hurriyat any further.

In its desperate search for breakthroughs that at least bear the appearance of forward movement, New Delhi's focus is turning on the Hurriyat again. Sources said one move could be to put the Hurriyat's Pakistan visit on the fast track. The Hurriyat has been demanding that they be allowed to go to Pakistan to talk to Kashmiri militant leaders there but the visit was put on hold because of a dispute over the composition of the delegation. ``But efforts could be intensified now to sort that out and send Hurriyat leaders across,'' sources said, adding: ``Another suggestion the government is looking at seriously is beginning fresh consultations with all political parties in Jammu and Kashmir on what is to be done.''

Readiness to send the Hurriyat delegation to Pakistan, the government thinks, will also bring down frayed tempers in the separatist body and restore communication lines. Unprepared even to react to a third extension of the ceasefire today, Hurriyat chairman Abdul Ghani Bhat told The Indian Express from Srinagar: ``There is no meaning to ceasefire until there is blood flowing, no meaning unless there are concrete political initiatives to back it.'' Asked what the concrete initiatives could be, Bhat said, ``For a start, let us go to Pakistan, then we can carry the talks forward.''

Both Vajpayee and Home Minister L K Advani agreed with Opposition leaders today that the ceasefire was not an end in itself. ``The ceasefire is the beginning of the effort for lasting peace and public opinion should be better informed about its gains but the government is not letting militancy go unchallenged,'' Vajpayee said.