Violence casts shadow over peace moves

By K.K. Katyal

NEW DELHI, DEC. 26. With most other procedural matters more or less becoming manageable, the continued terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir by jehadi outfits has emerged as a major issue to be taken up by India when it initiates ``exploratory steps''. This was a formidable hurdle in the way of the resumption of dialogue with Pakistan after the Kargil conflict, but the focus has sharpened now as the other impediments appear to have weakened.

The issue has crystallised in its starkest form. Here is a situation where India first announced a unilateral ceasefire and then extended it, while Pakistan decided to observe ``maximum restraint'' along the Line of Control and then to partially withdraw its troops from there. New Delhi reiterated its terms for talks with various Kashmiri groups, saying it was prepared to resolve all issues in the spirit of ``insaniyat'', while Pakistan gave up its earlier insistence on trilateral talks.

The level of violence has come down, the statements from New Delhi are conciliatory and the response by Pakistan, though halting, is positive. The resultant new situation, encouraging by itself, serves to highlight the criminality of the jehadi organisations and their potential for causing damage.

Those speaking on behalf of these outfits do not mince words - they proclaim their resolve to continue the strikes and follow them with deadly actions. These organisations are based in Pakistan and use its sanctuary for planning and executing their plots against India. Despite disavowals by the Pakistani establishment, the fact that they enjoy official patronage, and all that goes with it - supply of arms, funds, guidance, training facilities - has not been in doubt. That some of them may have acquired a measure of autonomy is a different matter; none of them is outside the control of the Pakistani Government.

Witness the developments in the last three days. On December 22, three jawans were killed in the high-security Red Fort in Delhi by armed terrorists. The following day, Laskhar-e- Taiba claimed responsibility for the attack; its spokesman used the normal channels to contact the media. On December 25, a car- bomb explosion outside Army headquarters in Srinagar killed nine persons, including five soldiers. Responsibility for the attack was owned by two outfits, with known Pakistani connections.

New Delhi has moved away from its earlier position - that the end of trans-border violence is a pre-condition for re- starting the dialogue with Islamabad. It will, however, be well within its right in inquiring from Pakistan as to what it proposes to do to rein in the jehadis who, apart from indulging in heinous crimes, could jeopardise the peace process.

The activities of these organisations were very much in the mind of the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, when he announced extension of the ceasefire and related steps. While noting the expansion of the constituency of peace and decline in terrorist violence, he referred to matters of continuing concern. Among these were the activities of the organisations such as Lashkar-e- Taiba and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, ``resulting in most unfortunate and regrettable loss of human lives, including of the personnel of the armed forces''.

The continued violence casts a shadow over the peace moves and therefore, needs to be tackled effectively. This is recognised by the world community too. The United States President, Mr. Bill Clinton, for instance, while applauding the latest moves, said, ``I continue to believe that all parties should reject violence and work for a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue.''

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