The government is alert to the delicate situation in Kashmir following the killing of Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden and security forces have been asked to maintain a high vigil against attempts by terror groups and other anti-national elements from disturbing peace in the Valley. Government sources said that security forces have been asked to beef up security across Jammu and Kashmir.
Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Friday held funeral prayers for the slain Al Qaeda chief in Srinagar. A government official said that the move has only exposed Geelani and it would further alienate the Hurriyat leader from the local people who do not support the terror groups. “The people in J&K want peace and have not come out in support of Geelani,” an official said. Government sources said that Pakistan is acting as a sanctuary for terror groups and steps would be taken following relevant procedures to put pressure on Pakistan to take action against them. The sources said that the stance adopted by the United States asking Pakistan to act against terror groups operating from its soil post Osama’s killing, is only a “reiteration’’ of what India has been saying so far. However, the sources said that the Osama episode will not affect the peace initiatives which have begun with Islamabad following the recent home secretary level talks between the two countries.
New Delhi has already fulfilled its promise and conveyed to the Bombay high court that additional chief metropolitan magistrate R.V. Sawant Waghule, investigating officer Ramesh Mahale should be available for questioning when a judicial commission from Pakistan arrives to record their statements. Pakistan , however, has not yet conveyed to India when its judicial commission will visit here.
Islamabad has been maintaining that it is necessary to send the commission to India as part of the judicial process of 26/11 case in Pakistan and promised at the home secretary-level talks that they would do so within six weeks.