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Vajpayee
Talks Soft, Shelling Under Way In Pakistani Kashmir
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| An
Indian army soldier stands guard in Kashmir |
MUZAFFARABAD,
Kashmir, March 18 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – As Indian
Prime Minister told parliament Monday that action taken by Pakistan
has improved the situation in Kashmir, Indian troops fired mortars
and machine-guns across the de facto border in Pakistan-controlled
Kashmir, injuring four people, news agencies reported.
"Indian
troops started shelling at 9:00 am (0400 GMT) using machine-guns and
mortars," Liaqat Hussain, deputy commissioner of the southern
district of Poonch, told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The
fire was "heavy and continued till evening in intervals",
he added.
Hussain
said four civilians, including three women, were injured in shelling
in Mandhol village in Hajira sector and were hospitalized.
The
situation along the Line of Control, the de facto border, otherwise
has been relatively calm in recent days, although neither side has
pulled back its troops.
Pakistani
officials in Kashmir say more than two dozen people have been killed
and scores of others injured in Indian shelling since the December
13 attack on the Indian parliament which New Delhi blames on
Pakistan-linked activists.
Meanwhile,
Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee voiced satisfaction at
security measures taken by Pakistan in Kashmir.
Speaking
before the Indian parliament Monday, Vajpayee said he would soon
visit the region, where a massive deployment of troops by both
countries in recent months has caused international concern,
reported BBC’s online news service.
Reports
said the Prime Minister's brief statement to parliament may indicate
that infiltrations by Kashmiri activists into the
Indian-administered portion of Kashmir have decreased.
It
may also ease tensions that have risen sharply since the attack on
India's parliament last December, which Delhi said was backed by
Pakistani intelligence. Islamabad denied the charge completely.
India
still rules out direct talks with Pakistan until it is convinced
that Islamabad stopped backing Kashmiri activists.
However,
Vajpayee's statement appeared to indicate a departure from the
harsher rhetoric adopted after the parliament attack.
"Things
have taken a turn. Changes in Pakistan have had an impact on the
situation in Jammu and Kashmir," Vajpayee was quoted as telling
parliament.
"It
has had a favorable impact. We must take advantage of it," he
said, without elaborating.
Pakistani
President Pervez Musharraf cracked down on activists after the
incident but refused Indian demands to hand over those allegedly
suspected of involvement.
In
January, Musharraf pledged to crack down on Islamic extremism,
banning two of the main Independence claiming groups fighting Indian
rule in Kashmir.
India
still wants Pakistan to extradite 20 suspects wanted for crimes in
India.
But
Pakistan rejected the demand, saying that it will prosecute the
suspects if Delhi provides credible evidence against them.
Vajpayee,
who last visited Jammu and Kashmir in 2000, said he would make
another trip soon, accompanied by Home Minister LK Advani and
Defense Minister George Fernandes.
“We
will study the situation, we will hold consultations on what kind of
strategy to adopt," he was quoted as saying.
He,
however, stopped short of saying when he intended to make the trip.
The
Indian Prime Minister also urged independence claiming groups in
Kashmir to take part in state assembly elections in October.
The
groups have boycotted such elections in the past, saying that they
are rigged. "The elections will be free and fair,"
Vajpayee said.
"The
separatists (independence claiming activists) who call themselves
true representatives of the people should join the fray," he
added.
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