Hikmat Kashmir New

KASHMIR AT CROSSROAD – AN ELOQUENCE BY HIKMAT AFRIDI, NATIONAL DEFENCE UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD ([email protected]) Introduction Pakistan and India emerged as independent dominions in South Asian Subcontinent on August 14/15, 1947, leaving the fate of about 500 princely states undecided. However, these states were required to accede to either of the dominions on the basis of their geographical location and the wishes of their people. Accordingly, the state of Jammu and Kashmir should have acceded to Pakistan because of its overwhelming Muslim population and geographical location. The non-adherence to the accepted principle resulted in Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971, besides two limited wars in Kashmir during 1947-48 and 1999 and several stand-offs, the last one being in 2002 for about a year. The United Nations resolutions agreed to by both India and Pakistan required that “the accession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pakistan will be decided through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the United Nations”. The plebiscite remains stalled because of the Indian strategy of gaining time as spelled out by its first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru when he told Sheikh Abdullah of Kashmir that “we are superior to Pakistan in military and industrial power”, and with the passage of time Pakistan will “accept a settlement which we consider fair, whether in Kashmir or elsewhere”. Accordingly, in 1950s, India refused a dialogue on Kashmir on the plea that Pakistan had joined Western sponsored “defence pacts”, and then “terrorism” is cited as a reason for non-resumption of composite dialogue. Consequently, owing to non-implementation of the UN resolutions, the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir continue to suffer; the state remains a “disputed territory” awaiting resolution and a nuclear flashpoint. Aim To highlight the recent developments in Indian Held Kashmir with view to find the root causes of uncertainty and crisis situation and recommend response strategy. Factual Recounting During 2012 /13 in Indian Held Kashmir The calendar year 2012 came to an end. It (2012) stepped-in with a killing note, when a 21-year-old student was killed at Boniyar by paramilitary Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) personnel. The year in Kashmir saw; much awaited and talked report of interlocutors coming out of Allahdin’s lantern, lacking magic power, as a result, raising suspicion of Government of India’s seriousness towards resolving the Kashmir issue, debate over the commencement of yearly Amarnath Yatra, number of Yatris and road to the cave; to the events like Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s untiring and fruitless attempts to seek partial revocation of AFSPA. The other areas were; Pakistan’s soft stand over Kashmir dispute, infant death spree in G B Pant Hospital, government’s failed attempts to seek reclamation of some power projects from NHPC, effective interference of Amnesty International (AI), Judgment in the case of Jaleel Andrabi, killing of Panchayat members, incessant demand of State Congress for incorporation of 73rd Amendment of Indian Constitution into J&K’s Panchayati Raj Act, tragic fire incident of Dastgeer Sahib Shrine, Pathribal fake encounter in General Court Martial, Bandipora fake encounter. Afzal Guru’s clemency plea to hanging issue, detection of multi-crore bungling in Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, frequent house arrest of Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani, Bedi Commission’s clean chit to Chief Minister and others in the death case of National Conference worker Haji Mohammad Syed Yousuf and much talked visit of Hurriyat Conference (M) delegation to Pakistan. The other account of events are as under:- Summarized Account of Events 2012 (Attached at Annexure A). Summarized Account of Events 2013 (Attached At Annexure B). Kashmir’s Descant and Emanation of Acquisition – Facts and Figures General. No one knows when and for what time, and where curfew could be imposed, and every movement will be at a standstill. It is per sure to hear the facts from Mothers and Parents of Disappeared Persons about the illegal arrest, arbitrary detention and torture, custodial deaths and rape; all with no hope for justice. Was Jammu and Kashmir to be called a ‘banana republic’ (as it often is), such a dubious distinction, though unfair in many ways, would be fairly apposite in many others. Some describe the socio-political upheaval of the past two decades as a civil war; others label it as a terrorist movement, with political and infrastructural backing from across the Line of Control: have it either way, there is no denying the fact that the people of the state have borne the brunt of the extreme violence of the past twenty years, all in the name of security, at the hands of armed forces. Militarisation In Kashmir, there is one soldier for every twenty people. There are over 5,00,000 armed troops, 3,00,000 army men, 70,000 Rashtriya Rifle soldiers, 1,30,000 central police forces as against the total population of 1 crore. In the past 20 years, a generation of Kashmiris has grown with soldiers at every street corner “often even in their living rooms”. The grievance of the people is that instead of confining the role of the military and security forces to that of external defence and as against freedom fighters, it is regularly and continuously used for domestic repression; and as Professor Hameeda Nayeem says : “that has transformed the Indian state into a source of deep insecurity for the citizens – as instruments of the persistent violator of human rights and converted the Indian military into an illegitimate agent of repression. Both in turn seriously undermine the democratic credential of the state.” This excessive militarization has resulted in wiping out all space for the exercise of democratic rights by the people, the result being terrorization of the people at large. This has resulted in ruthless action on all dissent, and at the same time the military indulges in acts of violence against people with impunity. All these acts of violence against innocent people are violations under the Geneva Convention, 1949, to which India is a party. The provisions of the Common Article 3 of the Four Conventions dealing with “armed conflicts not of an international character” occurring within a State require the parties to treat humanely all persons taking no part, or not being able to take active part in the hostilities….; and further the parties are prohibited from indulging in violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, and cruel treatment and torture. There is a further Protocol II of June 1977 for Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts which further reiterates that all persons who do not take any direct part in hostilities are “entitled to respect for their person, honour and convictions and religious practices.” They shall “in all circumstances” be treated humanely without any adverse distinction. Article 13 says: “The civilian population and individual civilians shall enjoy general protection against the dangers arising from military operations.” To give effect to this protection, the Protocol says: “The Civilian population as such as well as individual civilians, shall not be the object of attack. Acts or threats of violence, the primary purpose of which is to spread terror among the civilian population are prohibited.” It is unfortunate that the State, which has sponsored these armed forces who have indulged in killings, loot, arson and rape of innocent victims, has not kept these provisions of the Convention in mind. Draconian Laws Militarisation is invariably accompanied by Draconian laws. Together they have such a cascading effect that all human rights and democratic rights get washed away. This is what happened in Manipur, Assam, Kashmir and other places. In Manipur, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, has been in force for five decades. It was first enacted to contain Naga dissidence. It was introduced in Assam in 1980 and in Kashmir in 1987. Section 4 of the Act states that armed forces officers have only to form an “opinion” to consider what may be necessary, and then on the basis of such “opinion” they “can fire upon or otherwise use force, even to the causing death against any person” and they can “arrest, without warrant any person” and “enter and search without warrant any premises” at any time, and use force to achieve this objective. Section 6 of the Act gives them full protection against any prosecution or legal proceedings in respect of anything done or “purported to be done” in exercise of the powers conferred by this Act. The result is that in all these States, and of course, in Kashmir, arbitrary arrests, detention, torture and custodial deaths, rape and midnight raids into homes and disappearances have become routine. The other Act which is resorted to silence all protest and dissent is the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978. This law is especially draconian in nature, falling far short of meeting international human rights standards, and has become notorious for its rampant misuse at the hands of the armed forces. Under this Act, the maximum period of detention is two years, without trial, for “persons acting in any manner prejudicial to the security of the State.” What would constitute such an action is again left to the better judgement of the arresting agency or official, thereby giving sweeping powers to the security forces to arrest and detain at their pleasure. Prisons in Jammu and Kashmir and beyond are full of detainees booked under the infamous PSA, with reports suggesting that even minors have been arrested and detained under this law on a number of occasions. Furthermore, very often the PSA is slapped on a person again and again, at the end of successive periods of two years, thereby making the actual period of detention much longer. Farooq Ahmed Dar, one such detainee, had to spend sixteen years in prison before he was finally released in 2006. There have been various instances where political leaders and common people have been slapped with successive detention orders despite the fact that Courts keep on quashing them. This is done only with a purpose and intention not to release the detainees. Disappearances One other impact of militarization and arbitrary detention is large scale custodial deaths, extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances. The testimony of M/s Parveena Ahangar, who is the Chairperson of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), clearly establishes that from 1989, about 10,000 persons have just disappeared. Many of them were killed while in custody of the army or the security men. One Rashid Billa (SDPO) at Sowa is reported to have killed over 512 persons extra judicially. Whenever and wherever the next of Kin went to the police stations or army camps to enquire, or to claim the bodies, they were either threatened or tortured. Some had to pay bribes to get information. What is important is that there has been no proper investigation to apprehend the culprits and to punish them. Muhammad Yasin Malik (Chairperson of J&K Liberation Front – JKLF) says that he took 150 victims of disappearances to Delhi; but they were abused and black ink was thrown over him. The fact remains that no serious investigation was done even by the Central Government. He also pointed out that the worst sufferers were women and children. He said: “they cannot say whether they are widows or whether their husbands are just missing. Neither can the children call themselves orphans or say that their father is still alive…this is what I conveyed to the PM of India. This is the primary case…the Kashmiri women; the ones who can neither say they are wives or widows. Tell what you are! Are you a widow or are you still married?” The UN General Assembly in 2006 has unanimously adopted the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearances. Earlier, there was the UN Declaration to the above effect (December 1992). Article 2 of the Declaration says that, “the prohibition” of “disappearances” is absolute and no state can find an excuse. Article 7 says, “no circumstances, whether a threat of war, internal political instability, or any other public emergency may be invoked to justify” these acts of violation. Hence, it is not open to the state to resort to enforced disappearances that would include all custodial deaths on the ground of any threat to internal security or external safety and stability. It is here the state’s liability becomes absolute, and there have no hesitation in making these observations. Rapes Militarised environments expose women to serious forms of dehumanization. The masculinity cult that pervades military establishments is intrinsically anti-female and therefore creates a hostile environment for women. Rape becomes a common feature in such a situation. In all such cases there have been no investigations. There are complaints pending. It appears that about 100 women, including minors and the elderly (between 13 to 80 years), the pregnant and disabled were raped in Kunan Poshpara, Kupwara by the 4th Rajputana Rifles, during a search operation. However, till today no action has been taken against the culprits, despite several reports in the newspapers and journals, and also by various NGO groups, both national and international. Apart from such direct abuse, women had to suffer further humiliation. Women succumbed to death stemming from the mental trauma and disgrace they had to put up with. Women have also been struggling with physical ailments subsequent to the incident. The self-humiliation resulting from traumatic experience didn’t allow them to visit any of their relatives from other villages, nor did they pay them a visit. Women have to take their children out from their schools, for fear of being apprehended and tortured by the army. “Sons and many young men from the village grew up harbouring vengeance in their hearts, for what had been done to the women in their families.” Quite a number of rape cases go unreported due to constant threats from the army men and also due to fear of social stigma and the futility of taking up an embarrassing legal battle. Such abuses have taken place in places like Manipur where the army is placed above the civilian police, with the same result of utter indifference by the concerned authorities. Plight of the Disabled Throughout the conflict, people have been maimed and disabled due to the indiscriminate firing of security forces during even nonviolent protests. People have also been disabled during interrogations where torture was used. Many injured persons have been disabled for life and have suffered mentally, physically, and financially. Hardly any steps have been taken for their rehabilitation. The disabled persons revealed that they were totally shocked and shattered. They could bear with the aftermath of physical injury, but not with the mental pain, agony, and trauma that make them feel that they die several deaths every day, rather than living even once. Failure of all Democratic Institutions and Redressal Mechanisms Routine criminal investigations – a key function of the police – are among the first to deteriorate under militarization. All complaints against the army men just remain without any investigation. Under AFSPA, the army can shoot, kill, or do any heinous act, and they get protection; and the police become helpless. This also leads to a situation where the police acquire a taste for impunity, when they have to work within a military environment. The rules do not operate as laid down in the statute books. In some cases, the police just refuse to record FIRs and the victims remain helpless. The police appear to be not bothered about the complaints from the victims, because they know that no one will question them. This has also affected the Judiciary. No criminal court could be in a position to do proper justice, with impunity for the actions of the army, and with no investigation being possible by the police. Over 8945 habeas corpus petitions pending in the Jammu & Kashmir High Court. In about 2001, there were 35000 civilians under detention and quite a number of them still continue to be inside, while the Courts remain judicially paralytic. In quite a number of cases where the victim had been killed, the courts have not even awarded any compensation to the next of kin. Many of them feel that they would get no justice through the courts. Even the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) are not in a position to do anything; they have no power to investigate or to take any action on any complaint of violation of human rights by the army. Even when complaints were made to the SHRC, it has failed to exercise its powers proactively to provide justice to the victims. Needless to say that the Executive and the Legislature were more involved in playing power politics than in rescuing the people from gross human rights violations. Role of Major Powers viz-a-viz Pride and Prejudice The deep-rooted historic rivalry between India and Pakistan over Kashmir has been a long-running concern for international peace and security since the independence of these two countries in 1947. In the last half a century, Pakistan and India have fought three full-scale wars, a mini war in Kargil in 1999, and also prepared for a destructive war (possibly nuclear) in 2002 over Kashmir. Today, the conflict overlaps with other security issues: ethnic conflict, cross-border terrorism, human rights violations, and nuclear proliferation. Nevertheless, India and Pakistan have failed to resolve the dispute. Although the ongoing peace process is encouraging, there is a fear that at any time this peaceful environment could turn tense, as has occurred in the past. Related to this, Stephen P. Cohen of the Brookings Institution notes that the peace effort is not likely to go very far because sooner or later something will disrupt the relationship." On the other hand, due to Indian opposition, the United Nations has failed to implement its resolution for a plebiscite in Kashmir. At the same time, it is also observed that neither diplomatic pressure by the international community nor military intervention can bring a realistic end to the conflict. Kashmir dispute needs to be mediated by an impartial third-party major power, which has leverage on both India and Pakistan. But it is also important to consider who could best fulfil the criteria for such a role. Conflict management scholars emphasize the importance of the role of third party mediation in managing conflict when two adversaries fail to resolve a conflict by themselves. There are various actors involved in mediation: states, the UN, regional organizations, NGOs and individuals. However, individual mediators and NGOs lack the requisite leverage for effective mediation. On the other hand, due to the involvement of so many states, the UN and regional organizations often complicate the decision making process for conflict resolution. Hence, a state, particularly a major power that has impartiality and leverage, is ideally suited to mediate a conflict more effectively. There is a debate on the importance of impartiality and leverage as the most important criteria when choosing a mediator. The third party must be substantially impartial in the dispute, at least once the negotiation has started, and the issue is actually on the agenda. In most cases a meaningful role for a third party mediator will depend on the party's impartiality in the conflict. If an intervening party is perceived as partial to one side or other, it loses its status as a true third party. The mediation process succeeds not merely when a mediator is unbiased or impartial, but when he or she possesses resources and leverage that either disputant values. Thus leverage is more important than impartiality for effective mediation. South Asia has been considered an important region for its significant geo-political location. In addition, the　9/11 terrorist attack and subsequent "War against Terrorism' have made this region even more important for the international community. All major powers have been involved in the region as a result of their respective political, economic and strategic interests. The best to perform in this role is United States of America; hence all out efforts are required in this direction to compel US to mediate on Kashmir issue. The Insightfulness of Kashmir – Events During Year 2012/13 in Indian Held Kashmir Jan. 1989 to July 31, 2013 Total Killings * 93,910 Custodial Killings 7,003 Civilians Arrested 121,739 Structures Arsoned/Destroyed 105,982 Women Widowed 22,770 Children Orphaned 107,457 Women gang-raped / Molested 10,062 July 2013 Total Killings * 36 Custodial Killings 3 Tortured/Critically Injured 474 Civilians Arrested 290 Structures Arsoned/Destroyed 2 Disappeared 1 Women Widowed 3 Children Orphaned 7 Women gang-raped / Molested 5 Evaluation of Facts and Figures in Indian Held Kashmir – 2012. The year 2012 had passed, and yet again like previous years, the government of Jammu and Kashmir had claimed the year to be peaceful. This hyped peace was void of justice & peace and was packed with violence & injustice. In the year 2012 the people of Jammu and Kashmir in routine had witnessed unabated violence, human rights abuses, denial of civil and political rights, absence of mechanisms of justice and heightened militarization and surveillance. The figures of violent incidents suggest that 2012 as usual had been the year of loss, victimization, lies, mourning and pain for the people. In 2012, a total of 148 people had lost their lives due to violent incidents in Jammu and Kashmir. Out of 148 persons, 35 were civilians, 75 were alleged freedom fighters, 36 armed forces personnel, 1 was an unknown person and 1 a retired police officer. Out of the total 35 civilians killed this year, 6 were children and 9 were women, amongst whom 4 were tourists. During the year Pakistan was encircled by clouds of despair and controversies emanating from molesting the law enforcement agencies nationally and internationally. All important institutions and personalities remained involved in averting intriguing politics in degrading personalities and institutions in general and Pakistan in particular. With all these unwanted events, Kashmir cause remained on the top and the principle stand on Kashmir was never compromised. The salient of the year are as under :- 6217 unmarked/mass graves, 132 cases of enforced disappearances, extra-judicially killing by the armed forces and police, probing on various human rights abuses in a number of cases, detention of 225 persons under the Public Safety Act, rapes and molestations against women, and 214 cases of human rights violations clearly shows the grave law and order situation in IHK. Kashmir day was observed all over Pakistan with renewed if not recharged fervour and commitment on the part of both the government and the people, reaffirming their full solidarity with the Kashmiri people in their just struggle for their inalienable right to self-determination, enshrined in the UN Charter. Meetings and rallies were held marking the day of solidarity with the valiant struggle of the Kashmiri people for freedom from India’s military occupation. Almost coinciding with the event this year was the 12th Islamic Summit held in Cairo where Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar boldly presented the Kashmir case drawing the Muslim world’s attention not only to the atrocities being committed by Indian security forces against the Kashmiri people, but also to the need for peaceful solution of the longstanding Kashmir dispute. In its final Communiqué, the Islamic Summit reaffirmed its principled support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the realisation of their legitimate right to self-determination. Taking note of persistent human rights violations in Indian-occupied Kashmir, the Summit called upon India to undertake independent investigation into the discovery of mass graves and ensure free and fair trial of those responsible for the heinous crimes. It also urged the Indian government to allow the OIC fact-finding mission and other international human rights groups and humanitarian organisations to visit Jammu and Kashmir. Expressing deep concern over the recent ceasefire violations along the line of control, the Cairo Summit welcomed Pakistan’s proposal for investigations through UN’s Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan (UMMOGIP). The Kashmir dispute has, indeed, been on the agenda of the UN for more than six decades as an unfulfilled obligation of the international community to let the Kashmiri people decide their future through free and impartial plebiscite in line with the UN Security Council resolutions. Thousands of Kashmiris have laid down their lives. No amount of atrocities and humiliations could deter them from a cause based on their legitimate aspirations. While all other issues are amenable to easy solution, the Kashmir dispute invokes intense feelings among the peoples of both India and Pakistan as well as the Kashmiri people. Their historical experiences, cultural diversities, religious fervour, scars of partition, wars and conflicts, India’s hegemonic designs, liberation struggle in Kashmir and India’s unchecked human rights violations in the occupied territory all come together in a curious convergence in the unresolved dispute of Kashmir.  This brings us face to face with the stark reality of our geo-political environment that makes Pakistan’s relations with India the “centre-point” of its foreign policy. Our Kashmir policy since the beginning of the dispute has gone through various phases. One constant, however, remained unchanged: our total commitment to the cardinal principle of self-determination enshrined in the UN Charter. In the post-Kargil period, taking advantage of global concern with terrorism, India remained locked on to the alleged nexus between “terrorism” and the Kashmiri struggle with the demand that Pakistan cease assistance to the Kashmiri cause. India has been seeking to implicate Pakistan in every act of terrorism on its soil, and most of the time it also kept the dialogue process hostage to its policy of keeping Pakistan under constant pressure. On its part, encouraged by its “strategic” partnership with the US, India managed to gain unprecedented influence in Afghanistan with serious nuisance potential against Pakistan, which it tried to use as an instrument of its policy to ‘redefine’ the Kashmir issue. What India should understand is that Afghanistan is not Kashmir and Kashmir is not Afghanistan. The only parallel between the two is that the people in both Afghanistan and Kashmir have special unflinching historic, cultural and religious bonds with Pakistan that India can never match. India will serve itself well by not seeking to redefine the unalterable realities of this region, and instead pursue the peace process with Pakistan in a purposeful manner. There is no fair, just, legal, and moral solution to other than provided by the United Nations, which both India and Pakistan had accepted. The setting aside of the UN resolutions is one thing, the discarding of the principle they embodied is quite another. Kashmiri people feel betrayed over the indifference of world powers and their failure to implement UN Security Council resolutions. Despite curfews and military crackdowns, they have often been out on the streets demanding to be freed from Indian military rule.  With Afzal Guru’s judicial murder earlier this week, the valley is once again simmering with tensions.  Kashmiris’ is the voice of a wronged and neglected people challenging India’s and the world’s conscience. The Kashmir settlement has to be in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people, impartially ascertained, in conditions of freedom from oppression and intimidation. Brutal military force brings no relief to anyone and popular movements cannot be suppressed. Stark lessons are there to read in the unclosed chapters of Afghanistan and Iraq. It is never too late to revert to the path of justice and fair play, and to heed to sanity and rationality. Evaluation of Facts and Figures in Indian Held Kashmir – 2013. The Ramban incident (July 17, 2013) in Jammu and Kashmir State of India in which quite a number of unarmed protesters were killed, and many others injured, by the Border Security forces (BSF) under the garb of self defence, clear points towards non-professionalism of the BSF and grave situation in IHK. It also reflects on their inability to avoid crisis in fourth Generation Warfare (4GW) and to manage a crisis, once created. The incident is not the first of its kind, but a continuum of State violence has been perpetrated since the inception of armed conflict in 1989. Lately, the infamous Amarnath Land Row, (2008), The violent unrest of 2009 (Shopian Double rape and Murder case row) and Machil Fake encounter Row in 2010 and now in 2013, the security forces have displayed ample examples of un-professional crisis creation and crisis mishandling, leading to a greater trust deficit and publics ‘enemy’ percept about the armed forces. It further shows ineffectiveness of government which involved in brutally killing of innocent people of Kashmir. In addition, global powers have different response to human rights violations in the world. Politics of human rights has been gaining much importance since the end of the Cold War. Although, at institutional level, United Nations was the pioneer organization to introduce the Universal declaration of Human Rights and later on International covenant on civil and political rights and International covenant on economic, social and cultural rights to ensure the basic human rights and freedom of expression of people without any discrimination of race and religion. Given the predominance of traditional security of the Cold War, human rights violations and humanitarian issues could not achieve the desired attention, but in the post-Cold War era, the concept of absolute sovereignty and non-intervention in internal affairs of states were challenged on the pretext of humanitarian crisis in former Yugoslavia and Africa. Why and what is so change in case of Kashmir is the question of million dollars? Other salient are as under:- The principle of humanitarian intervention has been used selectively in various states perhaps in those states that have geo-strategic importance for big powers while human rights violations in many other states go unnoticed. Kashmir depicts the real picture of indifference of world powers towards human rights violations. Let us hope that Kashmiris are not cornered because of their Islamic pre-eminence. Following the hanging of Afzal Guru, (a Kashmiri who was hanged on mere allegations of being part of the planning of attack on Indian Parliament on December 13, 2001) curfew was imposed across Kashmir Valley for nearly a week as an attempt to contain the peaceful demonstrators and to check the deterioration of law and order situation. His execution and lack of access to proper legal counsel has raised questions about Indian judicial system and the role of Indian media. Majority of Kashmiri people consider that Afzal Guru could not receive fair trial and without having direct evidence he was awarded death sentence. This realization has been increasing the sense of alienation of Kashmiri people. More than a thousand young people were arrested for holding peaceful demonstrations. A number of youngsters have been booked under Public Safety Act that allows the detention of any suspect and keep him or her jailed for two years without any trial. This act is widely abused in Kashmir and is being used against 12-16 years old boys for pelting stones. The introduction of “Jammu and Kashmir Police Bill 2013,” that will institutionalize and formalize the human rights violations carried out by the police as general practice. It would allow the state to set up “Special Security Zones” where administrative and magisterial powers will be retained by police. The bill also proposes to set up militia of civilians as “village defence committees” and recruiting special police officers outside the existing police structure. Timing of this bill is crucial, after the hanging of Guru when curfew was imposed in the Valley. The state police could get powers quite similar to the controversial legislation, Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) that was even opposed by Omer Abdullah’s government. What implications of all these developments we can foresee, as far Afzal Guru’s case is concerned, India was much criticized not only by Kashmiris and some Indian human rights activists but by International human rights organizations as well. These organizations otherwise remain indifferent to human rights violations in Kashmir whether it is the killing of hundreds and thousands of innocent people in Kashmir or the issue of missing persons or the discovery of mass graves in Kashmir, now require to take practical steps for the just cause of self determination of the Kashmiris people. How far these grave human rights violations will impact the forthcoming elections in India? Congress and other political parties will have to justify themselves on the eve of grave human rights violations during their Election campaigns. Can we find any similarity between execution of Maqbul Bhat and Afzal Guru and similarity between forthcoming elections and 1989 elections in Kashmir that were highly rigged and led to the rise of indigenous uprisings? Key Recommendations General. The ideal course of action under the norms of a civilized behaviour in the international community is to pursue a peaceful settlement of any conflict through negotiations. 9/11 has changed the course and the international community in no uncertain manner have termed the freedom fighting movement in Kashmir as an act of terrorism. Pakistan is left with no other option except to strive in creating conducive environments through diplomatic means and moral cum diplomatic support on international forums to save Kashmiris brother from complete annihilation. The ensuing recommendations are specific to improve the human rights violations in Kashmir. To the Government of India Improve the Human Right Situation in Kashmir and try to create consensus among the masses in India for the settlement of the Kashmir issue under the UN’s auspices. Establish an independent and impartial commission of inquiry into serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law by Indian security forces since the beginning of the conflict. The findings of the commission should be made public and the commission should be empowered to recommend the prosecution of persons implicated in abuses. Repeal all legal provisions providing effective immunity to the security forces. These include Section 45 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which prohibits the arrest of members of the armed forces without permission of the central government, and Section 197(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, which prohibits the prosecution of members of the armed forces without permission of the central government. Amend the Human Rights Protection Act to allow the National Human Rights Commission to independently investigate allegations of abuse by members of the armed forces. Publicly release detailed information on all arrests, prosecutions, and convictions against army troops, paramilitaries, police, and public officials for human rights violations since the beginning of the conflict. Release the same information on an annual basis in the future. Strengthen and enforce laws and policies that protect detainees from torture and other mistreatment, including strict implementation of requirements that all detainees be brought before a magistrate or other judicial authority empowered to review the legality of an arrest within twenty-four hours. A centralized register of detainees, accessible to lawyers and family members, should be established. Respond promptly to habeas corpus petitions in cases of “disappearance” and those filed to challenge detentions. Take swift and public action against all state officials who have obstructed or ignored judicial orders to produce detainees in court. Allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to undertake the full range of its protection activities in Jammu and Kashmir, including giving it full access to all army and paramilitary interrogation and detention centres. Take all feasible measures to account for persons reported missing as a result of armed conflict and provide information to their family members. As a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council and therefore bound to cooperate with its mechanisms, issue a standing invitation to relevant U.N. special rapporteurs and working groups to visit Jammu and Kashmir and conduct independent investigations into abuses by all parties to the conflict. Should the Human Rights Council appoint a special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir and Azad Kashmir, cooperate fully with the special rapporteur, including allowing any necessary visits and implementing all the rapporteur’s recommendations. To the Government of Indian Held Kashmir Establish an independent and impartial commission of inquiry into serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law by security forces in the state since the beginning of the conflict. Given the continuing failure of the military justice system to fully prosecute members of the armed forces for human rights abuses, prosecute fairly in civilian courts members of the army and other security forces of all ranks implicated in serious rights abuses. Repeal all legislation, including the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act and the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, that authorizes the excessive use of force, including deadly force, beyond that allowed by the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. Repeal the Public Safety Act, which allows preventive detention for two-year renewable periods for offenses defined by vague and overbroad terms, and violates international due process standards. Strengthen and enforce laws and policies that protect detainees from torture and other mistreatment, including strict implementation of requirements that all detainees be brought before a magistrate or other judicial authority empowered to review the legality of an arrest within twenty-four hours. To prevent “disappearances,” require arresting officers of all security agencies to provide signed receipts for all detainees to family members, village elders, or persons of similar status. The receipt would be retrieved when the person is released. Establish a civilian review board to oversee the detention of surrendered Freedom Fighters. Such a review board should ensure that alleged Freedom Fighters are not arbitrarily detained, tortured or otherwise mistreated, or compelled to serve in the state security forces, including paramilitary forces. To Freedom Fighter Groups Take all necessary steps to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law, specifically common article 3 to the 1949 Geneva Conventions and customary international humanitarian law. Publicly denounce abuses if any committed by any Freedom Fighter groups and ensure that there is appropriate accountability for such abuses. Allow all Kashmiris displaced by the conflict, including Kashmiri Hindus, to return safely to their homes. Permit civil society organizations to undertake the full range of protection activities including investigations of abuses committed by Freedom Fighters. Provide information about deaths of freedom fighters to an independent organization so that families can be informed. To the Government of Pakistan Assist in efforts of independent humanitarian organizations to obtain access to all Pakistani citizens detained in Indian prisons for taking part in Freedom Fighter activities. Collaborate with the Indian government in identifying Pakistani citizens killed in armed encounters so that their families can be informed. To the United Nations The Human Rights Council should appoint a special rapporteur with an ongoing mandate to publish regular and public reports on the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir and Azad Kashmir. The governments of India and Pakistan should publicly commit to full cooperation with the special rapporteur, including with any necessary visits. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Human Rights Council (of which both India and Pakistan are members, and thus bound to cooperate with its mechanisms), should encourage both India and Pakistan to issue a standing invitation to relevant U.N. special rapporteurs and working groups to visit Jammu and Kashmir and Azad Kashmir and conduct independent investigations into abuses by all parties to the conflict. To the International Community, In Particular Those States With Significant Influence on India, Pakistan and Freedom Fighter Groups Encourage the United Nations Human Rights Council to appoint a special rapporteur with an ongoing mandate to publish regular and public reports on the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir and Azad Kashmir. Encourage the governments of India and Pakistan to publicly commit to full cooperation with the special rapporteur, including with any necessary visits. Urge the government of India, the government of Pakistan, and all Freedom Fighter and Kashmiri groups to place human rights protection mechanisms at the centre of any attempt to resolve the conflict. Press these parties to ensure responsibility for abuses, thereby bringing impunity to an end, without which no sustainable settlement will be possible. All parties should accept responsibility for the excesses committed by each of them, and ensure that an end to impunity and accountability for abuses is the touchstone for a sustainable end to the conflict. Condemn violations of human rights and humanitarian law by the Indian security forces. Make future military aid and sales and all programs of military cooperation with India conditional on India taking significant steps to end abuses by and impunity for its forces in Jammu and Kashmir. Press the World Bank and other multilateral agencies to publicly speak out on human rights violations and condition their lending and grants on each government taking significant steps to end abuses and impunity in Jammu and Kashmir. Conclusion It is well known fact that majority of the population including Sikh, Christians and even Hindus were against the annexation of Kashmir with India. However, India entered the forces and captured the area against the wishes of the Kashmiri and since then conflict has become the burning regional issue between two nuclear neighbours. It would not wrong in saying that Kashmir valley is no stranger to bloodshed and murder due to occupied forced brutality against the locals which include Sikhs, Christians and Kashmiris. The deployed occupied force keeps on doing acts of nonsense against the innocent people and their religion, norms and customs.  In international media Indian Army is on the top in global crimes list due to its insolvent in barbarity, sexual harassment, war crimes, killing, injuring and raping of innocent Kashmiris, Sikhs, Maoists, Christians and Gujrati Muslims. The settlement of the Kashmir is need of the time since it is the main bone of contention between two nuclear Asian States. Four wars between Indo-Pak are already the biggest discredit to the regional peace. In nutshell without the interference or mediation of third party, settlement of Kashmir is not possible. Therefore the international community should exert pressure on India and enforce settlement on basis of humanitarian ground. References Amnesty International (2011). 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Jan 6: Adhering the call given by the Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) Kashmir observed complete strike to protest against the killing of a student by paramilitary CISF personnel at Boniyar. Jan 7: Rejecting Indian claim that J&K is its integral part, Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson Abdul Basit said the State was disputed territory. Jan 15: calling controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) as requirement for national security, Northern Command Chief Lt Gen K T Parnaik said decision on revoking the Act in Jammu and Kashmir will be taken by Defence and Home Ministries. Jan 20: Supreme Court asked the Centre to clarify whether it was willing to try army officials under the Army Act for their alleged involvement in the Pathribal fake encounter case. Jan 21: Masiuma area and its adjoining areas observed a complete shutdown to mark the 22nd anniversary of Gawkadal massacre. Jan 23: The Supreme Court expressed its displeasure that more than the decade-old encounter killings case in Pathribal, was yet to reach the trial stage due to Army's perceived defiance against prosecution of its personnel. Feb 3: The CBI told the Supreme Court that no sanction is required either under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or Code of Criminal Procedure Code for prosecution of army officers allegedly involved in the fake encounter killings of five persons at Parthibal. Feb 4: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said that Pakistan will continue to extend its fullest political, moral and diplomatic support to the cause of the Kashmiri people. Feb 6: Acknowledging that Pakistan cannot afford wars in the 21st century, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said the Kashmir issue would have to be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. Feb 11: The killing of a youth, Ashiq Hussain, 20, allegedly by army men triggered massive protests in Rafiabad. Feb 23:  Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir S M Sahai said that a comprehensive policy has been devised to rehabilitate surrendered freedom fighters. Feb 24: Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani informed the Assembly that at least 293 persons were detained during past two years under the Public Safety Act. On the same day Chief Minister Omar Abdullah informed the Assembly that the government is examining under its amnesty scheme the cases of 1,524 people allegedly involved in stone-pelting during the 2010 summer unrest in the Kashmir Valley. Feb 27: Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said there won’t be any talks with Government of India till all three main stake-holders of the Kashmir issue are involved in the dialogue process. Mar 5: Government disclosed that 444 cases have been registered against various security agencies and police in Jammu and Kashmir during last three years. Mar 6: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said a just and equitable settlement of the Kashmir dispute is a priority for Pakistan as it will open new avenues for cooperation with India. Mar 8: The multi-crore bungling in Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association rocked Assembly with opposition PDP staging walkout and demanding registering of FIR against JKCA president Farooq Abdullah. Mar 10: A youth Yasir Ahmad son of Mohammad Ayub Wani of Anchidora, Islamabad was hit by an Army Vehicle at K P Road near Delhi Darbar, Islamabad, causing his on spot death. Mar 19: The CBI told the Supreme Court that the alleged fake encounter at Pathribal in Jammu and Kashmir 12 years ago in which seven people were killed by Army personnel were cold-blooded murders and the accused officials deserve to be meted out exemplary punishment. Mar 22: One person was killed and 21 others were injured, when a car bomb exploded in Bijbehara town. Mar 23: Sopore town observed complete shutdown against the alleged custodial death of a youth, Sajad, 25, detained under Public Safety Act. Mar 26: The activists of right-wing Hindu group Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) tried to disrupt a function in New Delhi where Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani was scheduled to interact with scholars of Delhi University. On the same day the then Home Minister of India P Chidambaram launched an interactive Udaan website aimed to facilitate job prospects for 40,000 youth from Jammu and Kashmir in a period of five years. Mar 27: The government disclosed that forces have occupied 1561 private houses and 306 government buildings including an educational institute and two health department buildings in the State. Mar 29: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told Legislative Council that over 1,300 persons have been booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in the State during last three years. Mar 30: Christ of Heyns, UN’s Special Rapporteur urged India to repeal the controversial law that gives special powers to military. April 13: Police picked up 16 youth on charges of using the online platform to “instigate masses” and whip “anti-national” sentiment. April 16: Army Chief General V K Singh said controversial AFSPA was a functional requirement for the armed forces in certain areas. April 18: Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad stating that withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) is a long process and added that Home Ministry would take a decision on the removal of controversial Act after reviewing the situation in the State. April 27: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon advocated peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue while respecting the will of people. May 1: The Supreme Court asked the Army authorities to decide whether its personnel accused of fake encounter killings in Jammu and Kashmir and Assam should be tried by court-martial proceedings or by regular criminal courts. May 2: International human rights watchdog Amnesty International Termed Supreme Court verdict on Pathribal fake encounter killings as major setback to justice in Kashmir. May 3: The international human rights watch dog, Amnesty International called on Jammu and Kashmir government to end the persistent practice of administrative detentions in the state and repeal the Public Safety Act (PSA), 1978. May 9: While reacting to the speech of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should give permission to separatists to hold a rally at Lal Chowk to prove their representative character. May 10: While speaking at a public contact meet in Kulgam, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq asked Government of India (GoI) to implement UN resolutions on Kashmir and hold referendum in Jammu and Kashmir. May 11: Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called for strike on May 21 to commemorate the death anniversaries of former Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Moulana Mohammad Farooq and former Hurriyat Chairman Abdul Gani Lone. May 21: Life across Srinagar and other parts of the Valley was affected due to strike called to commemorate death anniversaries of Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone. May 24: The report of the interlocutors- Dileep Padgaonkar, Radha Kumar and M M Ansari- was made public. The report ruled out a return to the pre-1953 position, whereas favouring setting up a Constitutional Committee to review all Central Acts and Articles of the Constitution of India to the state extended after 1952. The report was highly condemned by the separatists groups, people of Kashmir and by some mainstream parties. Jun 10: A former Indian Army officer, Major Avtar Singh, who was wanted for the murder of prominent Kashmiri lawyer Jaleel Andrabi, killed himself along with his wife and two children in his California home. Jun 15: In the first political killing of the year, suspected freedom fighters shot NC Block President Abdul Rehman Ganai in Natipora area of the city. Jun 25: In a tragic incident, the 245-year-old revered shrine of Dastgeer Sahib (RA) at Khanyar was gutted in a major blaze. Following the incident the spontaneous strike coupled with curfew-like restrictions in some parts of old city paralysed life for many days. Jun 29: Army decided to try in General Court Martial (GCM) its five officers involved in the Pathribal fake encounter killing of five innocent men in Pathribal in March 2000, prompting a court in Srinagar to hand over charge-sheet of the case to them (Army). July 2: Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani accused Government of India (GoI) of hatching a ‘dangerous’ plan to settle people from rightwing Hindu groups RSS and Sang Parivar through settlement colonies in Kashmir to trigger a civil war here. July 3:  The chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference and JKLF chief met visiting Pakistan Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani separately in New Delhi and stressed on Pakistan government that Kashmir should be the core issue in Indo-Pak talks. July 13:  The strict restrictions amid complete shutdown brought life to a standstill in Valley, which remembered 22 Kashmiris who were killed by Dogra forces of Maharaja Hari Singh on this date in 1931. July 25: Army men shot dead a youth, Hilal Ahmad Dar, in Aloosa area in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district. His killing sparked protests in the Bandipora district preceded by many day hartal. July 29: Police completed its investigation into the Bandipora “fake encounter”, in which a local youth Hilal Ahmad Dar was killed, claiming that it was orchestrated by 27 RR of army in connivance with one of its informers. July 31: The death of youth, Aqib Hussain Bhat, in mysterious circumstances in South Kashmir district triggered protests and shutdown. The family of the deceased and locals alleged that he was beaten to death by CRPF men. Aug 17: Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said Supreme Court should refrain from passing judgement on macadmisation and constructions of road to the Amarnath cave as it would be environmental disaster. Aug 26: Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani apprehended that increase in number of Amarnath Yatris and arrival of large number of non-resident labourers in Kashmir is taking place under a conspiracy to change the demography of Kashmir. Sept 10: A Sarpanch namely Ghulam Mohammad Itoo of ruling National Conference was shot dead in Palhalan village. Sept 18: The anti-Islam film “Innocence of Muslims” made by a US filmmaker paralysed life across Kashmir with people staging massive anti-US protests and burning American flags at several places. Sep 26: While raising Kashmir issue during his speech in United Nations, Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari said Kashmir is symbol of UN’s failure and sought a solution to the issue under UN resolution. Oct 2: The representatives of India and Pakistan had a verbal duel in United Nations General Assembly over the decades-old Jammu and Kashmir dispute between the two South Asian countries. Oct 05: Scores of Kashmir University students held protest demonstrations against Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the campus, accusing varsity authorities of politicizing the campus by holding political activities inside the campus. Oct 10: Syed Ali Geelani came out with the second part of his autobiography (Wullar Ke Kinaray-II), chronicling important developments in J&K’s turbulent political history. Oct 19: Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq demanded demilitarization on both sides of Line of Control (LoC). Nov 5: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah said no deadline has been fixed for lifting of controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the State but favoured a phased withdrawal of the controversial Act that gives sweeping powers to armed forces. Nov 7: The leader of Pakistan's Tehreek-e-Insaaf party Imran Khan told Delhi-based newspaper, Mail Today that Indian troops are losing battle of heart and minds in Kashmir and there is possibility of Mumbai-like attacks till the Kashmir issue is resolved. Nov 16: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said Kashmir remained the oldest unresolved issue on the UN Security Council agenda and a source of constant conflict between India and Pakistan. Nov 22: Calling Afzal Guru a ‘hero of Kashmir nation’, Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani warned against hanging him and said the move could have serious consequences. Nov 30: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the death of Tufail Matoo closed the case as “untraced”. Dec 16: All Parties Hurriyat Conference faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on their visit to Pakistan met leaders from Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Dec 18: Hurriyat Conference (M) chief, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that the Arab Spring which saw toppling of regimes in Tunisia and Egypt was inspired by the Kashmir summer unrest. Dec 20: Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari urged the international community to focus its attention towards the miseries and troubles of Kashmiri people, who have been waging a ‘legitimate struggle’ for right to self-determination despite suffering huge losses and worst human rights violations while Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said there has been no change in country’s Kashmir policy. Dec 26:  State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) ordered a fresh inquiry into the 1990 Gaw Kadal massacre in which at least 50 people were killed. Dec 28: At least 15 civilians were injured when troops allegedly fired on protestors in Pulwama where encounter was on and Police claimed to have killed two local Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) freedom fighters. On the same day Northern Railways made history as the first train chugged through India's longest railway tunnel through the Pir Panjal mountain range, connecting Kashmir Valley to Banihal town on Srinagar-Jammu National highway. Dec 31: Adhering the call given by the both factions of Hurriyat Conference Kashmir observed strike to protest against indiscriminate firing on civilians by troopers in Pulwama. Annexure B SUMMARIZED ACCOUNT OF EVENTS – 2013 January 7 The Pakistani army said in a statement that one of its soldiers had “embraced martyrdom due to unprovoked Indian firing” at the Line of Control (LoC). “Indian troops again resorted to ceasefire violation and carried out unprovoked firing this evening at LoC in Hot Spring and Jandrot sectors from 2200 (1700 GMT) to 2300 hours (1800 GMT). January 11 Ceasefire violation by Indian troops. DIG, Poonch and Rajouri Range Danish Rana said that the heightened tension in the bordering areas of Poonch District was because most of the other parts of the LoC were covered by snow and Pakistan was trying to push infiltrators into Indian territory through this stretch. January 12 January 13 Indian troops violating ceasefire opened heavy firing at majority of posts, including Nangi, Kranti, Kirpan, Ghora, Chajja Man and Dogra, in the KG sector, at LoC, in the Poonch District. January 14 General Bikram Singh opposed any dilution of the AFSPA in J&K, saying that any decision to revoke it from any part should be taken only after getting inputs from security agencies and stakeholders. Brigade Commander level flag meeting between India and Pakistan at Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing point in Poonch District ended without any positive result as both sides stick to their positions. January 15 Indian Army resorted to heavy firing at four instances, at least, since the Brigade Commander level flag meeting between India and Pakistan of January 14. January 16 A new visa program that was hailed as a sign of thawing relations before the latest fighting seemed to be affected by the tension. Pakistani senior citizens were turned away at a border post the first day the program was to come into effect. JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik called for monthly sit-in protests against life imprisonment of Kashmiri youths. In a telephonic conversation the DGMO of India and Pakistan agreed not to allow escalation of tensions along LoC. January 17 Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Salman Bashir said that Pakistan is willing to address all Indian concerns over LoC, including the demand for a probe into the mutilation of the bodies of Indian soldiers on January 8. AJKPC Spokesman Ghulam Hassan Panzoo said that the Conference is not against the honorarium and insurance cover, but the larger question of empowerment of Panchayat representatives continues to remain unanswered. January 21 India Permanent Representative to the UN suggested the UN to wind up its mission on Kashmir UNMOGIP saying that it has outlived its utility. January 22 Omar Abdullah said UNMOGIP failed in its duty to maintain sanctity of the LoC in J&K. Pakistan Permanent Representative to UN, Masood Khan, said no bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan had overtaken or affected the role and legality of UNMOGIP. Indian diplomat Manish Gupta said that the UNMOGIP's role was to supervise the ceasefire line which no longer existed as a new line came into existence on December 17, 1971, through Shimla Agreement. Scheduled January-end Indo-Pak Secretary-level meeting on waters has been cancelled. J&K Government decided not to extend benefits of Rehabilitation Policy to former Freedom Fighters and other citizens of J&K returning from PoK via Nepal and/or Bangladesh on the ground that they didn't fall under the categories prescribed in the Policy Syed Salahuddin asked people to observe January 26 (Republic Day) as 'Black Day'. January 24 Omar Abdullah said that gun has never been solution to any problem and stressed for Indo-Pak talks for resolving the political issue of J&K. Elections to BDC would be held within next two-three months. January 25 Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that they would consider dialogue with the Union Government if AFSPA is revoked from Jammu and Kashmir. January 28 Bus service between Poonch (Poonch District) - Rawlakot resumed. January 30 Chairman of APMCC Vinod Pandit began a fast-unto-death in Porbandar (Porbandar District in Gujarat) demanding the Union Government and government in J&K to specify a time frame for resolving issues pertaining to Kashmiri Hindus. Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said in an interview said that if the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had not visited the United States, the Pakistani Army would have conquered 300 square miles of India. January 31 Colonel (retired) Ashfaq Hussain revealed that weeks before hostilities erupted between Indian and Pakistani troops in the Kargil sector in 1999, General Pervez Musharraf crossed the LoC in a helicopter and spent a night at a location 11 km inside Indian territory. He further said Pakistani troops first intruded into the Indian side of the LoC on December 18, 1998. In a meeting with the PM Dr. Manmohan Singh Omar Abdullah said that the Panchayat elections have raised expectations of the common man in the development share of the State and it was essential that Sarpanches and Panches get honorarium. February 1 February 5 In their messages on Kashmir Solidarity Day, President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Pervaiz Ashraf paid rich tribute to valiant Kashmiri martyrs who laid down their lives in their quest for realising their inalienable right to choose their destiny by themselves February 6 Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has hailed Pakistan and its people for supporting Kashmir cause. “Pakistan has consistently supported the rightful struggle of Kashmiris,” Mirwaiz said in a statement. He termed it as appreciative and bold policy on Kashmir undertaken by the Pakistan and its people. A Kashmir-based civil society group slammed the Government of India over its proposed ordinance on crime against women. The Kashmir Centre for Social and Developmental Studies (KCSDS) chairperson Prof Hameeda Nayeem came outstrongly against the proposed ordinance by the Govt of India “in which it has made some minor changes in the existing laws on rape.” The Union Minister for Finance, P. Chidambaram said that there was no consensus between the Union Government and the Army on the subject of AFSPA. On the issue of NCTC, Chidambaram said the Union was in favour of it while State Governments were opposed to it. February 7 Kashmiris leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani led APHC-G called for general shutdown on the death anniversary of the hanged Freedom Fighter Mohammad Maqbool Butt. February 8 While telling the OIC Contact Group on Kashmir that India should exercise restraint and stop killing Kashmiris, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar was only telling the plain unvarnished truth, and stating the obvious, that Indian occupation forces were crossing all the limits prescribed not just by civilization, but also common humanity. While addressing a meeting of the Contact Group on Kashmir in Cairo on Thursday, Ms Khar called for those responsible to be brought to justice. February 9 40 persons, including 23 Policemen, were injured in clashes that broke out between protesters and Police in several parts of Kashmir Valley after authorities imposed indefinite curfew in Srinagar City and other major towns of the Valley. Indian violated ceasefire by firing on forward Indian posts in Poonch District. February 10 Sporadic protests were also reported from some parts of Srinagar city (Srinagar District) and Kulgam District. However, there were no reports of anyone getting injured in the clashes with the Security Forces. Curfew continued for second consecutive day in Srinagar and other major towns of Kashmir valley to prevent protests against Guru's hanging. CM Omar Abdullah said that he had no say in the execution of Mohammad Afzal Guru but warned of wider alienation and implications of the decision in long term across the Kashmir Valley. Defence Minister A.K. Antony said that tension along the Indo-Pak border had largely reduced but the situation was not yet normal and it will depend on Pakistan’s action. A 16-year-old boy, Ubaid Mushtaq, injured in CRPF firing in Watergam area of Baramulla District succumbed to his injuries. February 10 A 16-year-old boy, Ubaid Mushtaq, injured in CRPF firing in Watergam area of Baramulla District in the evening of February 10 succumbed to his injuries late in that night. Ubaid along with five other men, were injured in Watergam area. February 11 Police fished out body of 14-year-old boy Zameer Ahmad Dar in Batwina in Ganderbal District. As reported earlier, one body was recovered on February 10. There were reports of protests and clashes from across Kashmir Valley. Police and CRPF clashes with stone throwing protesters in several area in Sopore and Baramulla in Baramulla District, Srinagar city (Srinagar District), and Districts of Ganderbal, Pulwama, Anantnag, Shopian and Kulgam. APHC-G chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani has urged people to observe strike till Friday (February 15) against the curfew and killing of youth. February 12 Seven more persons were injured as protests continued for the fourth day. Curfew also continued for fourth consecutive day in Srinagar and other major towns of Kashmir Valley. Isolated stone pelting and clashes were also reported from Districts of Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama and Srinagar. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that there were clear signs of improvement in internal security situation in Jammu and Kashmir but admitted that a lot still needs to be done. He also asserted that India remained committed to good relations and peaceful existence with the neighbors. February 13 At least eight persons, including six protesters and two Policemen, were injured as protesters clashed with the Police in SK Colony Janglant Mandi, Sheerpora, Lal Chowk and Lassibal areas of Anantnag town in Anantnag District. Curfew was relaxed and lifted from parts of Kashmir Valley while in other sensitive parts it remained strictly enforced for fifth consecutive day since its imposition on February 9.Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said there was no ban imposed on publication of newspapers but the dailies had chosen not to print as curfew had made distribution impossible.. February 16 Three soldiers were injured in a land mine blast near the LoC in Mankote area of District Poonch. February 18 President Asif Ali Zardari has reiterated that Pakistan would continue to render its unwavering support to the Palestinian people till the establishment of an independent Palestinian State, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.The President said this in a statement, read by him, at the luncheon for the President of the State of Palestine, Mr Mahmoud Abbas, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad on Sunday. A dozen persons, including CRPF personnel, were injured in fresh clashes that broke out in the morning in Pulwama town of Pulwama District. Normalcy returned in Srinagar and other major towns of Kashmir valley after it remained paralysed for nine days due to curfew and strikes in the aftermath of Gurus' execution. APHC-G led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani called for a three day general shutdown from February 20 demanding the return of body of Parliament House attack case convict Mohammad Afzal Guru. JKLF also called for complete shutdown on February 22, against the hanging of Afzal Guru and demanding the mortal remains of Afzal Guru. J&K Government will set up a State Police Complaints Authority (SPCA) to inquire into accusations related to misconduct by Police personnel in the State. February 20 President of Palestinian state, Mehmood Abbas has said the Kashmir dispute can be resolved through talks between Pakistan and India. In an exclusive interview to Dr. Moeed Pirzada, for Waqt News, telecast on Tuesday night, he said Pakistan and India were neighbours and could settle the dispute through negotiations. General shutdown called by APHC-G starting February 20 evoked mixed response on the first day, however, no reports of any significant clash or demonstration were reported. Chairman of APHC-M Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that the execution of 2001 Parliament Attack case convict Muhammad Afzal Guru was for political gains. February 21 A vehicle of Divisional Forest Officer, Social Forestry Department was attacked by the 'protesters' with stones Kulgam town (Kulgam District) resulting in injuries to two employees. Chairman of APHC-M, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq was put under house arrest while curfew was clamped in many major towns of Kashmir valley to prevent violence during the protest march following Friday prayers. February 22 At least 12 persons including three SF personnel were injured in clashes between SF and protesters after the Friday prayer in various parts Kulgam, Bandipora and Kupwara Districts.IGP, Kashmir Zone, Shiv Murari Sahai said curfew had been lifted from all areas on evening of February 22 and there would be no curfew for the next two days. Six Gram Panchayat members resigned at a local Mosque after fresh Freedom Fighter threats in village Ayand Rawalpora of Shopian District after three Freedom Fighters carrying weapons threatened them on February 20. JKLF has called for general shutdown on Friday, March 1. February 24 Bashir Ahmad Wani, a Sarpanch of village Kalantra, was shot dead by unidentified Freedom Fighters in the evening of at his residence in Payeen locality of Kreeri area in Baramulla District. Security Grid in the State is not in its favour of returning the body of 2001 Parliament Attack case convict Mohammad Afzal Guru to his family fearing it may trigger widespread violent protests which might cause fatalities in the State. February 25 Various separatist and religious organizations from the State have formed a coordination committee, Muttahida Majlis-e-Mushawarat (Joint Consultative Council), after two meetings at an undisclosed location in Srinagar town (Srinagar District). The committee comprise of both factions of APHC, APHC-G and APHC-M, JKLF, Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, JeI and DeM. The committee has called for a valley wide strike on February 27, February 28, March 1, and March 2. February 26 NHRC had served notice to both State and Union Governments seeking their response upon the issue of failure in providing security to the 33000 strong Gram Panchayat members on February 15. March 1 Six persons were reportedly injured when clashes broke out in the evening between protestors and Delhi SFs in different places of the State during the shutdown called by MMM. Normal life remained affected. Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman of APHC-G addressed a protest rally held at Shopian (District) township over phone. Geelani has been put under house arrest. March 2 Two Indian Reserve Police (IRP) personnel, who were on duty in Handwara town bus stand of Kupwara District, were shot dead by unidentified Freedom Fighters. No Freedom Fighter outfit has yet owned responsibility for the attack. March 3 At least 37 members of the British and European Parliament have called upon the Indian government to immediately hand over the mortal remains of shaheed Muhammad Afzal Guru and shaheed Maqbool Butt , presently buried in New Delhi’s Tihar jail, to their families in Indian-held Kashmir for formal burial after performance of due rites, says a press release, issued by the UK-based All Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmir, here Saturday night, “Following JKLF-UK campaign for the return of mortal remains of Shaheed-Azam Maqbool Butt Shaheed, who was hanged by India and buried in Tihar jail under similar circumstances to the hanging of Afzal Guru Shaheed, this letter has been sent to the President of India Parnab Mukherjee by the chair of the ‘All Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmir, in UK. it said. Two persons, including a minor, were arrested for carrying four live non-electric detonators in ISBT-43 of Chandigarh. March 5 One Tahir Latief Sofi was killed and two others were injured in Baramulla town (Baramulla District) in alleged SF's firing on violent protesters agitating against the suicide by a Kashmiri Student in Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh) on March 2. Protests were reported from other parts of the State too, in which over a dozen of persons, including Police personnel, were injured. Beginning night curfew has been imposed in different parts of the State as a precautionary measure with the apprehension of law and order problem following the killing. March 6 Veteran Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Geelani has said that India can never be a friend of Kashmiri people‚ rather will continue to commit atrocities on them. Talking to media men in Srinagar over phone from New Delhi, he said every Kashmiri is insecure in India. He said India has made them slaves and the murder of Mudasir is one of the visible signs of our being slaves of India. Geelani while callin g Mudasir's killing a blot on the face of Indian democracy said New Delhi was committing genocide of Kashmiris and had no moral or legal right to remain in Kashmir. Defying curfew, protesters clashed with SFs while protesting against the alleged killing of Tahir Latief Sofi by Army trooper in which at least 50 persons, including 20 Police personnel were injured. Protest erupted after a protestor, identified as Tahir Latief Sofi, was killed in alleged firing by Army on March 5. He was participating in a demonstration called for one Kamran Mudarsi who was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his University Hostel's residence in Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh) on March 2. March 7 Protest and clashes between protesters and SFs amid curfew continued in various parts of the State for the second consecutive day in which 40 persons, including SF troopers, received injuries. Syed Ali Shah Geelani was placed under house arrest on after his return from New Delhi. March 8 Over 130 persons, including 77 Police and Para-military personnel, were injured as many protesters defied curfew after Friday prayers. At around 65 places there were stone pelting incidents while at around 40 places there were peaceful protests. During the past few days 103 vehicles, including 20 civil, 35 Police, 45 CRPF and three Government suffered damage at the hands of miscreants in stone pelting at various places in areas falling under Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian. March 10 Barring a few areas in Baramulla and Kupwara Districts, life returned to normalcy in most parts of the Kashmir valley. Curfew like restrictions remained in effect in Baramulla Seelu, Sangrama, Palhalan, Pattan and Sopore towns of Baramulla District and Lalpora and Lolab in Kupwara District. Sporadic incidents of stone pelting and clashes between SF and protesters were reported. However no one was reportedly injured. Around 30 persons in total were arrested from Seelu, Sopore, Palhalan, Pattan, and Tangmarg areas in Baramulla District, Handwara, Lalpora, and Lolab localities of Kupwara District and Khudwani and Qaimouh of District Kulgam on charges of stone pelting. MMM announced a fresh protest calendar, calling a general shutdown and 'civil curfew' on March 13. JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik was put under house arrest at his residence. Malik returned to India after spending one and half month in Pakistan. March 11 Riyaz Ahmad Khanday (24), who was injured in an attack by a group of 'protesters' throwing stones on vehicles on March 8, succumbed to his injuries in Srinagar (Srinagar District). In a major crackdown launched against stone pelters to prevent summer unrest similar to that of 2010, Police have arrested a total of 338 persons on charges of pelting stones since the February 9, 2013, execution Afzal Guru. State Government, under its amnesty scheme, has released 1,811 persons, mainly youth, involved in cases of stone-pelting in during 2010 summer unrest. March 13 One person was killed in alleged firing by CRPF troopers. The incident happened when some SF personnel were rushed to SKIMS for donating blood to the victims of the fidayeen attack. SF personnel came under attack while returning as locals pelted stones upon their vehicle. To disperse the violent crowd, CRPF troopers allegedly opened fire in which two persons were injured. Later, one of them, Altaf Ahmad Wani, reportedly succumbed to injuries at SKIMS. March 14 National Assembly of Pakistan unanimously passed a resolution against hanging of Afzal Guru and called upon the UN and the international community to help Kashmiris and get their right to self-determination. March 18 Normalcy returned to J&K as business establishments, schools, public transport remained operational. Curfew clamped since March 13 was lifted from most part of the State in the evening of March 16 barring old city area of Srinagar city (Srinagar District). Curfew from the old city areas were lifted on the morning of March 17. Authorities imposed restrictions in Langate town of Kupwara District following fresh clashes between forces and protesters. MMM announced fresh protest calendar for upcoming week. MMM has called for protest demonstrations on March 18 (today) and 19 and a complete shutdown on March 20. It also asked to observe complete blackout in the evening on March 21. March 19 At least 24 persons, including SF personnel, were injured in sectarian clashes Hakarmulla village (Budgam District). Claim to a piece of land by two rival sects led to clashes. Later persons from both the sects pelted stones on SF personnel who were rushed to the spot. March 20 Normal life was affected due to the general shutdown called by newly formed coordination committee MMM. Sporadic incidents of stone pelting were reported from Bokrikadal and Batamaloo areas of Srinagar city (Srinagar District) in which one woman, identified as Faheem, was injured. March 21 Three BSF troopers sustained critical injuries, one of which succumbed to his injuries later in the day, when their vehicles came under attack by unidentified Freedom Fighters in Rawalpora area of Srinagar city (Srinagar District). Convoy of 8th Battalion of BSF came under attack by unidentified Freedom Fighters, who were riding a motorcycle, at Methain Bypass, in Chanpora locality of Srinagar city (Srinagar District). Two Freedom Fighter outfits, HM and JuM- splinter group of HM, have separately claimed responsibility of the attack. March 22 March 23 MMM while issuing fresh protest calendar on March 24 has called for complete shutdown on March 28. March 25 CM Omar Abdullah said that separatists do not want to deal with the government on political grounds and are indulged in arson though he had always dealt with them politically. March 26 Seven Police personnel sustained minor injuries when a grenade accidentally blasted at the arms and ammunition store in Parimpora Police Station in Srinagar city (Srinagar District). March 27 A 16 year old boy, Maqsood Ahmad Mir, was injured in a littered explosive blast at village Danisayyidan along LoC in Uri area of Baramulla District. APHC-M chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was released from house arrest in the night. General (retired) Pervez Musharraf said that he was proud of the Kargil (Kargil District of Jammu and Kashmir) operation and blamed political class for squandering away a military victory. March 28 MMM sponsored general shutdown witnessed mixed response. Baramulla and Sopore towns (Baramulla District) and Bandipora city (Bandipora District) reportedly observed complete shutdown. . Stray incidents of stone pelting were reported from many parts of old Srinagar (Srinagar District) including Safa Kadal and Kadi Kadal localities. March 29 At least 24 persons received injuries in 'protests' which erupted after the congregational Friday prayers at old Srinagar area (Srinagar District), Baramulla town (Baramulla District) and Islamabad area (Anantnag District). March 31 MMM, an amalgam of various separatist and religious organizations in J&K, issued fresh protest calendar. It has asked people to hold protest demonstrations on April 5 after the congregational Friday prayers and observe complete shutdown on April 6. Protests erupted against the arrest one Zubair Ahmed on charges of inciting violence and pelting stones. In addition, Police arrested one more youth, identified as Haseeb Ahmad Gania, on charges of stone pelting. Police also arrested an active worker of Syed Ali Shah Geelani led All Party Hurriyat Conference-Geelani (APHC-G) from Zainapora area of Shopian township (Shopian District of J&K) for inciting people to violence. Harkat-ul-Ansar (HuA) is reportedly inciting anti-India sentiments while pushing recruits into this side of the border. April 1 Clashes between 'protesters' and SF continued for second consecutive day in which at least six persons sustained injuries in Shopian District, J&K. 'Protesters' pelted stone on Police and CRPF personnel near (Shopian) District Hospital, Shopian Police Station, Bun Bazar and Gagran areas of the Shopian town. 'chairman' of APHC-M, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and several other 'leaders' of the outfit have been put under house arrest starting April 1 when they tried to visit the house of Mohammad Afzal Guru in J&K. April 2 Violent protests and clashes between 'protesters' and SF continued for third consecutive day against the arrest of two youths from Shopian township of Shopian District, J&K on March 30-31. The duo has been booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for inciting violence and pelting stones. April 3 Violent protests and shutdown continued for fourth consecutive day against the arrest of two youths from Shopian town (Shopian District), J&K on March 30-31. The duo has been booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for inciting violence and pelting stones. April 5 At least nine persons were injured in clashes that broke out between 'protesters' and SFs after Friday prayers in Srinagar and Baramulla Districts of J&K. Reports said that soon after the Friday prayers youth pelted stones on Police and CRPF in Saraf Kadal area of Srinagar leading to the clashes that left three persons injured. 'Protesters' also pelted stones on Police and CRPF at several places in Baramulla District. Six persons were injured in the clashes that followed. J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has reiterated his wish for phase-wise revocation of AFSPA. SFs arrested three persons from a village in Khag area of Budgam District of J&K and recovered arms and ammunition from their possession. The arrested persons were identified as Bashir Ahmad Wani, Abdul Rahim Dar and Ali Mohammad Khan. April 6 Syed Salahuddin said that the outfit will carry out 'activities' in the border areas of the J&K during mass agitations. He also added that the abrupt surge in Freedom Fighter activities in Srinagar (Srinagar District) and other towns was to remind the establishment, forces and others that Freedom Fighters were always capable to strike anywhere and anytime. Salahuddin also said that about 120 youth had returned to J&K under Rehabilitation Policy. April 9 J&K CM Omar Abdullah said his Government would continue its efforts to get travel advisories lifted by the US and other countries to attract tourists. April 10 Twelve Pakistani nationals, including four men, three women and five minor children, were arrested from Harlakhi areas of Madhubani District along the India-Nepal border by the Shashatra Seema Bal for trying to enter India without valid travel documents. SF neutralized a Freedom Fighter hideout and recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition during an operation launched since April 8 after reports of Freedom Fighter movement in the Rajwar forest of Kupwara District, J&K. April 11 Indian Intelligence agencies are worried that some of the Freedom Fighters, though not active now, could be used by the Freedom Fighters present in J&K to revive the dying militancy. Moreover, most of the Freedom Fighters were returning with Pakistani wives, who could also pose a security risk at some stage. Of a dozen persons detained by Bihar Police at Madhubani District along India-Nepal border on April 10, one person, Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, was stated to be close associate of HM 'supremo' and UJC 'chief' Syed Salahuddin. However, they appeared to have fallen apart as Salahuddin was opposed to return plan of Dar. April 15 MMM asked people to hold protests after Friday congressional prayers. JKLF ‘chairman’ Yasin Malik has been released from house arrest. A JKLF spokesperson confirming the report said that he will address a press conference on April 16. April 16 JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik said the withdrawal of NATO troopers from Afghanistan can allure youth of the State to gun. MoS for Home Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo informed that 1858 government and private buildings are under the occupation of the Security Forces (SF). However, till now, as many as 1,425 out of the total 3,283 such buildings have been vacated. He also added that 54 static bunkers have been removed from public places in Srinagar till date. April 21 Syed Ali Shah Geelani 'chairman' of APHC-G asked people of J&K to boycott forthcoming elections. He also asked people to ostracize mainstream parties as they are the biggest hurdle in the 'Kashmir struggle'. April 23 At least six youth were detained for questioning in regard to the hoisting of Pakistani and LeT flags on April 22 outside Hariparbat Fort at Rainawari locality in Srinagar city (Srinagar District) that is closed for public and houses a CRPF camp. April 26 Police arrested JKLF 'chairman' Mohammad Yasin Malik along with several of his associates at Mirgund locality in Pattan area of Baramulla District when he was on his way to Sopore to lead a protest rally back in response to the call for protests after Friday congregational prayers given by MMM. April 28 Freedom Fighters fired at and hurled a grenade, which did not explode, at a Police party of SOG of J&K Police in Dangerpora Kanipora locality of Nowgam area located in the outskirts of Srinagar city (Srinagar District). However, no person reportedly was injured in the incidence. April 29 HM through threat posters pasted on electric poles and notice boards in mosques in Sopore (Baramulla District) has warned women and girls to keep away from latest fashion or dire consequences. April 30 SF detected and defused a powerful IED at Shalteng along Srinagar-Baramulla road in Srinagar District hours before movement of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. "The IED, fitted in a pressure cooker, (contained 11 kilograms of explosives) was placed in a rice bag near a culvert in the close proximity of the Shalateng Petrol Pump on the highway." May 2 At least two Freedom Fighters were suspected to be shot dead by the SF in an operation at Gatyali Behak locality in Rajwar forest area of Handwara (Kupwara District). May 3 Of the two Freedom Fighters suspected to be dead following an encounter in Rajwar forest area of Handwara (Kupwara District) on May 2, the body of one of them was recovered by the SF. May 7 The Central Government will soon issue a new set of SOPs for Kashmiri Freedom Fighters, who want to return to India through the Nepal border to surrender under a special scheme. May 15 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that there has been decline in percentage of terrorist related violence by 36 per cent during the year 2012 as compared to the year 2011. May 18 A junior commissioned officer was killed and a soldier was injured in a gunfight with Freedom Fighters at the LOC of the Machil sector in Kupwara District. A teen-aged boy was killed while his sister had a narrow escape when a grenade exploded accidentally at village Kither in Bunjwah area of Kishtwar District in the afternoon. May 20 J&K CM Omar Abdullah, who has been advocating partial withdrawal of AFSPA from some parts of his State, expressed hope of finding a “common meeting ground” with the Army on the vexed issue. May 21 A shutdown called by separatists affected life in Srinagar, although the authorities did not impose any restrictions in the city.  May 22 CM Omar Abdullah reiterated that Army was the biggest hurdle in the withdrawal of AFSPA from the State and he would be taking up the issue with the Prime Minister and Home Minister in an internal security meeting scheduled on June 5. May 23 Police arrested five persons from Gandoh locality of Doda District in a case related to grenade attack on Police personnel at Thathri Police Station in the same district during the intervening night of April 27 and 28. May 24 Three Army personnel were killed in an encounter with Freedom Fighters in village Buchoo located in Tral area of Pulwama District. An Army trooper who sustained injuries during the the encounter at village Bicchu in Tral area of Pulwama District succumbed to his injuries later in the day, while SF shot dead one of the three Freedom Fighters, identified as Saifullah Ahangar, during the encounter. ‘Protesters’ came out and pelted stones at the SFs in Palhalan and Pattan areas of Baramulla District after hearing that LeT ‘commander’ Hilal Molvi was shot dead. Police restored to tear shells and fired pellets at the ‘protesters’ during which two persons received minor pellet injuries. An Army trooper, Lance Naik Rakesh Kumar, was killed in a mine blast at Krishna Ghati (KG) sector in Poonch District. Reports said the he was part of Road Opening Party (ROP), which was patrolling forward areas on the LoC at KG sector. May 25 CM Omar Abdullah said that the wars, ceasefire violations between India and Pakistan and gun culture were no solution to any problems including Kashmir, which can be solved by only through peace and talks. May 27 The State Police is worried over the recent attacks on Policemen in the State. State Congress Committee chief Saif u Din Soz asked APHC leaders to come forward and talk to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh scheduled to visit Kashmir in June. May 28 The chairman of the APHC-G Syed Ali Shah Geelani said he will not accept any solution 'forced' by India or Pakistan and would continue the 'struggle' for right to 'self determination' for people of Jammu and Kashmir. May 29 Separatist leaders rejected the suggestion for a dialogue with Centre particularly with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. 'Spokesperson' of APHC-G Ayaz Akbar said his faction has already made it clear that they will not be part of any dialogue process unless Central Government will not react positively to their point five programme. May 30 10 persons, including four SF personnel were injured in violent clashes at Maisuma locality and adjoining parts of Srinagar city (Srinagar District) during a general shutdown which was called in protest against Government's decision to not allow JKLF 'chairman' Mohammad Yasin Malik in the earthquake-affected Doda District JKLF 'chairman' Mohammad Yasin Malik gave a general strike call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to the State on June 25, 3013. June 3 The SOG of Police raided different places and arrested at least nine persons in a case related to grenade attack on Sherbagh Police Station in Anantnag District on June 2. The Army is planning to procure heavy-duty scanners to enhance the security level at its various units and transit camps in the State. June 4 At least eight persons, including two Police personnel, sustained injuries when a grenade lobbed at an Army vehicle missed its target and went off on a street in Mehandi Kadal locality of Anantnag town (Anantnag District) Two Police personnel, identified as Sub Inspector Shiv Kumar Sharma alias Sonu and a Head Constable Mohammad Ayub, were arrested in connection with a grenade attack on Thathri Police Station in Doda District in the intervening night of April 27-28. June 5 CM Omar Abdullah reiterated his demand for partial and gradual revocation of AFSPA from parts of State where peace has prevailed and militancy related incidents have diminished considerably. June 6 At least six Police personnel were injured when their vehicle turned turtle after coming under heavy stone pelting by 'protesters' protesting against the killings of the JeM Freedom Fighters in Rajpora area. June 8 APHC-M appointed Yousuf Naseem as 'convener' of the conglomerate's chapter in PoK. June 9 Syed Ali Shah Geelani, 'chairman' of the APHC-G rejected any possibility of dialogue with the Union Government until it fulfills 'preconditions' for a dialogue to exhibits seriousness towards resolution of the 'dispute'. June 10 Two anti-personnel mines were recovered and subsequently defused by SFs from an agriculture fields in Garkhal belt of Samba District along the India-Pakistan border. June 12 SFs neutralized a Freedom Fighter hideout in the Kota forest area of Bandipora District and recovered a huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosives. An old grenade was recovered and subsequently diffused by SFs from an agricultural field in Lalyalchak belt along the border in Samba District. CM Omar Abdullah said highly qualified youth in State have started joining militancy and it's a matter of concern. However, he also said that there was nothing new in qualified youth joining militancy, as in the past the number of youth joining militancy was so large that it was almost impossible to focus on individual cases. June 13 An Army jawan sustained injuries when he stepped on a land mine while patrolling in Romilidhara belt of Jangarh sub-sector along the LoC in Rajouri District. Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, State Home Minister, upon his visit to SKIMS, asked the Director General of Police, Ashok Prasad to identify a suitable place where the existing bunkers could be relocated. APHC-G 'chairman' Syed Ali Shah Geelani said the denial of opportunity to join 'peaceful political movement' by New Delhi and State government was forcing the highly qualified youth to join the Freedom Fighter ranks. June 14 DGP Ashok Prasad said that there is no substance in media reports suggesting that educated people are suddenly taking up arms in the valley and that these are isolated cases and not general trends. He observed that there were around 200 Freedom Fighters present in the State as per Police assessment. Security agencies are wary of formalizing the India-Nepal border Check-Post as a designated crossing point or making it mandatory for J&K authorities to inform border forces as they fear that involvement of multiple agencies would heighten the risk of the ex-Freedom Fighter's identity getting compromised, rendering him vulnerable to retaliatory strikes by his former Pakistani handlers. June 16 Security and Intelligence agencies have favoured a North-East type Rehabilitation Policy for the Freedom Fighters returning to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) from Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to dispel doubts that Freedom Fighters returning could turn out to be security risk in future. Although no report of re-cycling of the Freedom Fighters, who have surrendered under the J&K's Rehabilitation Policy has surfaced in the State, officials suspect that some of them might have been pushed into this side by Pakistan's Army or Intelligence agencies with a part of "larger plan'' to use them at a later stage. June 19 Officials in Azad Kashmir have claimed that a nine-year-old girl was killed and three persons were injured in firing by Indian SFs at Batal sector in Rawalakot District. June 20 Chairman of the APHC-G Syed Ali Shah Geelani called for a general strike on June 25 when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrives in Jammu and Kashmir to press for the "right to self- determination" for the people of the state. June 22 Two Jammu and Kashmir Policemen were killed after suspected Freedom Fighters fired at them at Gonikhan Market in Srinagar. Police said the two, Head Constable Mohammad Maqbool Mir and Constable Nazir Ahmad Hajam, were shot with a silencer-fitted pistol from a close range in the crowded market area. June 24 Eight Army personnel were killed and 11 others sustained injuries when two heavily armed HM Freedom Fighters ambushed an Army convoy in Hyderpora area of Srinagar (Srinagar District). While fleeing from the ambush site the Freedom Fighters also opened fire and hurled a grenade on Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) check point near Barzulla Bridge in the city, injuring a Police Officer and a CRPF trooper. June 25 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Manmohan Singh in Srinagar, said in the night that the footprints of SFs are being progressively reduced in the State. He said local Police were visibly involved in counter- insurgency operations. Chairman of APHC-G Syed Ali Shah Geelani thanking people for observing complete shutdown across the valley on arrival of PM, said people of Jammu and Kashmir are 'committed to the movement' and won't give up their 'struggle' despite all these 'oppressive measures'. Violating the CFA, Pakistan Army resorted to heavy firing along the LoC in Poonch sector (Poonch District) in the day-light with aim push a group of four to five Freedom Fighters into the Indian side. Strike called by various separatist organizations to press for the "right to self- determination" for the people of the State affected normal life. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked people of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to express their desire by participating in electoral processes, and said that the efforts of the government in ensuring better future for the State can be accomplished only if economic and political processes are carried out in a democratic manner. Security agencies are convinced that the June 24 Hyderpora (Srinagar District) ambush on an Army convoy, in which eight soldiers were killed, have been carried out by foreign Freedom Fighters belonging to LeT. Earlier, HM had claimed responsibility for the attack. Targeted attacks on the Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Army in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is a result of increased collaboration between Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) and various other Freedom Fighter outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Al Badr. CRPF official said that HM is trying to re-establish its prominence in Kashmir by concentrating on hitting the SF troopers. June 27 Army recovered dead bodies of the two Freedom Fighters killed in an encounter at the Line of Control (LoC) in Keri sector of Rajouri District Army neutralised a Freedom Fighter hideout and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from jungles on the upper reaches of the Shamsabari in Kupwara District. A purported page of the United Jihad Council (UJC), a conglomerate of 13 Freedom Fighter groups operating from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), has sprung up on social networking site Facebook. June 28 A CRPF trooper sustained injuries when Freedom Fighters lobbed a rifle-grenade towards a CRPF picket near Hotel Plaza at Bus Stand Sopore (Baramulla District). Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) has claimed responsibility of the attack on the picket. A suspected Freedom Fighter threw a packed grenade, which did not explode, inside the complex of the District Hospital Kulgam (Kulgam District) when Security Forces (SFs) cordoned off the hospital after receiving inputs about the presence of a Freedom Fighter in the hospital premises. The Freedom Fighter, however, managed to flee from the site taking advantage of the chaos. According to intelligence inputs, Freedom Fighters, especially those holding rank of the 'commanders', are using highly sophisticated modes of communication to avoid their interception by the Security Agencies. External Affairs Minister, Salman Khurshid said that the AFSPA is needed in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to protect the lives of Armed Forces. July 1 One Policeman, identified as Mushtaq Ahmed, and three Freedom Fighters were killed in the encounter at Mundoora Tral in Pulwama District. The dead bodies of the three Freedom Fighters along with three AK-47 rifles and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site. The slain Freedom Fighters were identified as HM ‘district commander’ Shabir Ahmad Bhat alias Shabir Hayina and Aijaz Laway alias Majid. An irate mob set the Army’s Goodwill School located in Hajan area of Bandipora District on fire during the protests. Officials said that hundreds of residents attacked the school while shouting slogans against SFs. Normal life remained affected due to the strike called by separatist groups to protest against the killing of two youth in alleged Army firing in Bandipora District. A suspected Freedom Fighter was killed when the explosives he was carrying exploded during an encounter with SFs at Sawjian forward area in Poonch District along the LoC while three other Freedom Fighters reportedly managed to intrude successfully. July 3 Over a dozen persons were injured as clashes between ‘protesters’, protesting against the killing of two Kashmiri youths allegedly by the CRPF in Bandipora District on June 30, 2013, and Police erupt at various areas of Kashmir valley. ‘Protesters’ pelted stones at main town Sopore and Palhalan in Baramulla District and various other areas of North Kashmir towards the Police and CRPF. A group of ‘protesters’ tried to take out a ‘protest rally’ near Kurhama in Ganderbal District on Srinagar-Lar bypass towards the Kondebal in Ganderbal, but the heavy contingent of police and CRPF deployed in the areas stopped their way and did not allow the protest to proceed. A complete shutdown was observed on the fourth consecutive day at Bandipora, Baramulla, Sopore, Kupwara, Hajan, Lar Ganderbal, Palhalan and various other areas of North Kashmir against the ‘killing’ of two youths. separatist leaders, including APHC-G Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, APHC-M Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, JKLF Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik, Democratic Party Chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah and others were placed under house arrest to prevent them from going to Markundal and Kondebal to attend the ‘condolence and prayer rallies’ of Irfan Ahmad Ganaie and Tariq Ahmad Leharwal. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said some incidents in the Valley over the past 10 days have lent credence to voices both against and for revocation of controversial AFSPA in the State. Jammu and Kashmir Police officials were fired upon from across the border as they were returning after collecting the remains of the Pakistani intruder killed in an IED explosion along the LoC in Poonch sector of Poonch District. July 7 J&K CM Omar Abdullah cautioned authorities in New Delhi against taking Kashmiris "for granted" and said that the Kashmir issue is not one of money or gun but of a political genesis and requires a political solution.  Syed Sallah-u-Din, chairman UJC and ‘chief’ of HM, asked the separatist leadership to sit together and take a final decision on the election boycott call. July 8 A civilian porter, identified as Javed Iqbal, was killed and three others were injured in the IED blast in Kanga Gali area near the LoC in Sawjian sector of Poonch District. Omar Abdullah said, he would love to see what Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will do to improve ties with India. July 9 In a separate incident, two Army soldiers were injured an IED blast on the LoC at forward area of Khokhri in Digwar sub sector of Poonch District.  Separately, two personnel of SOG Srinagar were injured when two grenades were fired on their bunker at Lawveypora on the national highway in the outskirts of Srinagar. An Army personal went missing along with his official weapon from his unit in Udhampur since July 7, 2013. July 10 An Army commando was killed in a gun battle with Freedom Fighters in Lolab forests area of Kupwara District. July 12 The trial of the Kashmir recruitment case, a case in which Keralite youths were taken to terrorist camp for training, has entered its final stage at the NIA Special Court. The court has heard the statements of 160 witnesses in the case. There are 22 accused in the case, including suspected LeT ‘commander’ Thadiyantavide Nazeer. The state Government said that use of tear smoke shells and Oleoresin grenades in the Kashmir Valley, describing them as ‘non lethal’ weapons, has become imperative to control the ‘unruly mobs’ July 13 Freedom Fighters killed a Policeman in Handwara forests of North Kashmir by slitting his throat when he had gone to collect fire wood. July 14 Army recovered arms hidden by Freedom Fighters at Chana village in Mahore sub-division of Reasi District. Sources in the Intelligence Agencies said that within two months of Nawaz Sharif's election as Pakistan's new Prime Minister, its Army, along with the ISI and several Freedom Fighters outfits, including LeT, HM and JeM, have started creating trouble on the Line LoC in Rajouri and Poonch Districts. An Army personal, who had gone missing on July 6 along with his Insas service rifle and three magazines from his unit in Udhampur District, surrendered before his senior officers. July 15 Chief of Army Staff, General Bikram Singh reviewed the overall security scenario in J&K including the situation along the LoC with Pakistan arisen after recent infiltration attempts by Freedom Fighters. July 16 J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told reporters after the meeting with the Army Chief that we discussed the partial withdrawal of the AFSPA from the state but cannot share the details with the media. July 18 At least four persons were killed and 43 others, including a BSF trooper and 14 Police constables, were injured at Dharam in Gool-Sangaldan area of Ramban District in a clash between a group of ‘protesters’ and the BSF. The mob protesting against alleged desecration of holy book by the Security Force personnel at Dharam. Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has ordered an inquiry into the firing incident and deputed BSF Special Director General Dilip Trivedi to Ramban from New Delhi to talk to local Commanders about the incident and hold an inquiry. Police have arrested seven persons for their alleged involvement in circulation of threatening posters on behalf of Freedom Fighter outfit HM in Anantnag town (Anantnag District). July 19 In Ganderbal two demonstrators were critically injured in violent protests. There were incidents of sporadic clashes in Srinagar and parts of north and south Kashmir. No major violence was reported. "The situation, so far, is under control throughout Kashmir Valley, though some stone-pelting incidents have been reported," said a spokesperson for the Srinagar-based police. Around a dozen protesters were injured in clashes in the Valley on July 19. Over 30 persons were injured as ‘protests’ overt the killing of four persons in Police firing on July 18 in the Gool-Sangaldan area of Ramban District continued through the day, reports dnaindia.com. BSF vacated its Dharam camp in Gool-Sangaldan area after the incident. July 21 Over 26 persons, including eight SF personnel, were injured in clashes during a strike called by separatists to protest against the July 18 firing incident in Gool area of Ramban District that had left four persons dead. Curfew in Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir valley, which was imposed on July 19 as a precautionary measure, was lifted on July 21. Police has arrested 40 youth involved in violent protests during and after the Ramban incident. 23 July Pertinently, Geelani has asked the people to observe July 26, Friday, as Day of Unity between Muslim population of Jammu and Kashmir provinces and in the memory of those killed in Gool. 26 July Kashmiri community has decided to raise voice and show solidarity with the innocent martyred and wounded of Ramban through valley wide protests. Dal Khalsa appeal To Sikhs: display solidarity with Kashmiri Muslims on 26 July 2013     55