Farooq hopeful of positive response from militants

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV. 24. While defending the Centre's ceasefire offer in Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, today said that militants were bent on ``provoking the security forces'' by killing innocent people in the State. Still, he was hopeful that the ceasefire offer would evoke ``some positive response'' from the militant organisations.

``But our vigil on the border is not going to relax. The security forces will go after the militants. They want to provoke us to tell the world that we are not sincere in implementing the ceasefire,'' Dr. Abdullah told reporters after meeting the Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, here.

Referring to the recent killings and attacks at Banihal, Kishtwar and Surankote, Dr. Abdullah said the security forces would get the militants responsible.

On possibility of talks with the militant groups, he said: ``We will talk to our people. We have received certain signals, and these are positive signs. You wait and see.'' The Chief Minister said that he had been fully briefed by the Prime Minister before the ceasefire declaration was made on Sunday.

``I am in total agreement with the Centre on it,'' he added.

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