Efforts on to bring back Kashmiri youth who crossed to PoK:PM

Srinagar, May 24: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said efforts were on to facilitate the return of thousands of Kashmiri youths who had crossed over to Pakistan occupied Kashmir(PoK), and expressed hope that the Hurriyat Conference would join the dialogue process and share its views on achieving peace in the state.

''In the light of the changing environment, we are reviewing the cases of all the detainees, including the cases of those who crossed over after violating laws and who are now anxious to come home,'' the Prime Minister said in his opening remarks at the second table conference which began here this afternoon.

It is being attended by 48 prominent politicians and leaders of mainstream parties from the state.

This is for the first time that the Prime Minister has travelled to Kashmir to listen to all shades of opinion and find a lasting solution to the vexed issue.

Several thousand youths were taken by jehadi groups to PoK for arms training but now most of are languishing there and yearn to return to their homes. They have expressed their desire to come back through various channels.

While unfolding a five-point plan, the Prime Minister said there was a need to see how the different regions in the state, having distinct identities, could be brought closer to each other.

''How can these be strengthened so that they can blossom. How can we harmonise relations between them?'' At the same time, Dr Singh said, steps needed to be taken to restore public confidence.

Separatist and secessionist groups, including the Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, have boycotted the two-day round table, held for the first time in Srinagar.

Besides the Prime Minister, the conference is being attended by Home Minister Shivraj Patil, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan, Principal Secretary the Prime Minister, T K A Nair, Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz, former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and Mufti Mohammed Syed, and Panther Party chief Bhim Singh.

Later, after chairing the Unified Command meeting here, the Prime Minister asked the security forces to avoid violations of human rights. ''No human right violations will be accepted and there will be zero tolerance for custodial death.'' He asked them to be people-friendly and avoid any ''collateral damage'' while combating militancy.

While carrying out anti-insurgency operations, every care be taken to avoid damage to innocents. It is the duty of security forces to ensure minimum disruption of normal life, Dr Singh said. ''Be firm, but humane, effective and efficient in control, but intrusive. You must be steadfast and committed for human rights.'' He lauded the role of security forces in holding of peaceful byelections in Jammu and Kashmir where a huge number of voters exercised their franchise. He also praised the troops for providing security to passengers of buses traveling across the border.

UNI