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No combat operation in J&K during Ramzan

In a major initiative, the Union government Sunday announced suspension of combat operations against militants in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan.

Announcing the decision, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said in a statement in New Delhi that he hoped the gesture "will be fully appreciated and all violence in the state and infiltration across the Line of Control and the international border will cease and peace will prevail."

The Cabinet Committee on Security Affairs is understood to have considered the Centre's move at its meeting on Saturday and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah was consulted by Vajpayee earlier in the day before the decision was made public.

Vajpayee said "the holy month of Ramazan, during which Prophet Mohammed exhorted one and all to live in peace and harmony, is soon approaching and the government has, therefore, instructed the security forces not to initiate combat operations against militants in Jammu and Kashmir during this pious month in the Islamic calendar."

He said government has continued efforts to normalise the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and to hold talks with all those prepared for a dialogue.

Vajpayee had summoned Abdullah from Srinagar at a short notice to discuss the initiative before making the announcement.

The prime minister, in his statement, recalled that during his visit to Srinagar on August 3 this year, he had "underscored the need for resolving all issues in the spirit of insaniyat."

"Mine was a sincere appeal for co-operation to bring to an end the long trail of violence which has claimed so many precious lives and inflicted untold misery on all sections of the state's population -- Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs alike."

Asserting that India has always stood for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue, Vajpayee said events of the past two years "have further underscored India's credentials for peace."

"They have also once again proved beyond a shadow of doubt that India has both the resolve and capability to defeat any attempt to transgress India's security and challenge our national unity and integrity," he said.

PTI

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