Pak. bid to damage peace will be defeated: Jaswant

NEW DELHI, NOV. 29. The External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, today said India resolved to defeat all attempts by Pakistan to damage prospects of peace in Jammu and Kashmir even as security forces defused an improvised explosive device (IED) and averted a tragedy in Srinagar as militants continued to ignore the ceasefire offer. And, the Army Chief, General S. Padmanabhan, said the security forces would ``reciprocate militant attacks during the ceasefire period''.

Speaking during question hour in the Lok Sabha, Mr. Singh said the Government was continuing efforts to normalise the situation in the State, and to hold talks with all those prepared for dialogue ``in keeping with the strong desire of the people of Kashmir for peace''. As part of these efforts, the Government announced a unilateral ceasefire and instructed security forces not to launch operations against militants during Ramzan.

`Army not vulnerable'

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters after the 99th passing out parade of the National Defence Academy in Pune, the Army Chief said the security forces would retaliate if militants carried out attacks during the ceasefire in the State.

Clarifying that the Army would not undertake any operations that would create problems for the State's people, he said the killing of four jawans in a mine blast yesterday should not be considered the ``outcome'' of the ceasefire declaration as militants carried out such attacks to hamper peace.

Regarding reported construction of roads by the Chinese on the Indian side of Line of Actual Control, Gen. Padmanabhan said there was a problem in perception about the LAC between the two countries. ``We have brought this matter to their notice,'' he said.

Tragedy averted

In Srinagar, security forces averted a major tragedy when they detected and defused an improvised explosive device (IED) in the high-security tourist reception centre while elsewhere in the State, three people, including a foreign mercenary, were killed in militancy-related incidents.

Official sources said the two-kg IED, tied to a grenade and planted in a tiffin box inside a bathroom in the TRC complex, was detected around 11.40 a.m. The bomb disposal squad which was rushed to the spot defused the device.

Meanwhile, two jawans injured in an IED blast in Anantnag district of south Kashmir yesterday succumbed to injuries. Militants shot dead a shopkeeperin Srinagar this afternoon, they said.

A former Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant was killed by militants at Ganai Mohalla in the Mattan area of Anantnag district today.

A ray of hope: Omar

In Mumbai, the National Conference leader and Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Omar Abdullah, said ``people in Kashmir see the unilateral ceasefire as a ray of hope for peace in the Valley''.

Talking to reporters, he took a dig at the Shiv Sena chief, Mr. Bal Thackeray's demand for reconsideration of the ceasefire.

- PTI

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