The security grid has been tightened in Kashmir ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the embattled State next week. The multi-faceted visit, first in more than two-and-a-half years, has attained significance against the backdrop of local and international political situation.
The Prime Minister is expected to arrive here on June 25 on a two-day visit to inaugurate the Qazigund-Banihal rail stretch and Mughal Road, which would revolutionise the communication pattern between the land-locked Valley and Jammu province.
Political observers say that the Prime Minister’s arrival is likely to set the ball rolling in Kashmir on political interventions. On the international level, he is expected to modify India’s approach towards Pakistan against the backdrop of Nawaz Sharif’s election as his counterpart while on the local front, the separatist groups can measure their relevance in the newest scheme of things on Kashmir in New Delhi. Before his visit, the mainstream political parties are in an election-like mood, even as the coalition Government has more than a year to rule.
On Wednesday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired the Unified Command Headquarters meeting to review the security situation. All State and provincial level chiefs of security forces, police, the intelligence agencies and the civil administration participated in the meeting.
The meeting discussed preparedness in the wake of the Prime Minister’s visit and the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, which will begin on May 29, three days after the high-profile visit ends. Soruces said the security officers briefed on the ground situation and discussed the recent incidents of violence especially encounters with militants in south Kashmir.
The Chief Minister went to the Raj Bhawan also and briefed Governor NN Vohra about the security situation. “In their over one-hour long meeting, the Governor and the Chief Minister discussed matters relating to the programmes of certain important visitors to the State later this month. They also reviewed the arrangements made for the forthcoming Shri Amarnathji Yatra and discussed the overall security scenario”, an official spokesman said.
The Prime Minister would inaugurate the 17.73-km long Banihal-Qazigund section on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramula rail link, which was completed on an investment of `1691 crore. Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety RK Kardam conducted a detailed inspection of the railway track on June 18 and 19. The CCRS’s approval would pave way for the handover of the track to Northern railways.
“While the significant projects that the Prime Minister is scheduled to dedicate to the people would help his party in the upcoming elections in J&K, his visit would be interesting for people in Kashmir only if he announces any political initiative involving Pakistan and Kashmiri separatists”, said journalist Haroon Rashid.
However, the separatist camp is not much enthusiastic. JKlF chief Yasin Malik has called for a shutdown while hardliner Syed Ali Geelani has been evasive to offers of talks on the terms of the Government of India. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who has involved in talks with the Centre in the past, too is disillusioned. There has been no overt contact with his group for more than three years.