Demilitarisation in J and K could be fatal: Army

Jammu, Jan 9 (UNI) The Army has expressed strong reservations over any move to demilitarise Jammu and Kashmir and said the withdrawal of troops could be ''fatal'' in view of the current situation in the state.

In an article, ''Demilitarisation in Kashmir: the Area of Caution'' issued by defence spokesman Lt Col S D Goswami, the Army categorically said the demand of ''demilitarisation'' ''is neither new nor acceptable''.

With demilitarisation -- one of the major components of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's four-point formula on the Kashmir issue -- Islamabad meant complete withdrawal of troops not only from the borders but also from urban areas like Kupwara, Baramulla and Srinagar, which is unacceptable, the Army maintained.

''Even if normalcy is restored and peace returns to the state, troops can go back to the barracks but demilitarisation cannot be considered as the requirement of defending the country's borders still remains paramount, in fact non-negotiable,'' it said.

The Army has -- perhaps for the first time -- made its statement public just a few days before External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's maiden visit to Pakistan.

It said the current situation in the state and its strategic and geographical location were such that the troops withdrawal from Jammu and Kashmir was not favourable.

The spokesman said besides three invasions from Pakistan and one from China on the northern side, Jammu and Kashmir had witnessed cross-border terrorism in which 30,000 people had lost their lives.

''In such a situation, the withdrawal of troops would be fatal,'' he added.

Troops, besides guarding the Line-of-Control (LoC) and the Line-of-Actual-Control (LAC), have also been engaged in counter-insurgency operations in the strife-torn state for over 17 years.

The spokesman wrote: ''The demand for the withdrawal of troops was made by Pakistan immediately after the invaders were rooted from the valley (in 1948).'' Lt Col Goswami recalled the statement of then head of emergency administration of state Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah at Delhi where he had raised his voice and asked: ''If troops are withdrawn, as demanded by Pakistan, who is going to protect the people of Kashmir? I am not going to leave my people in the hands of marauders. Indian troops are in Kashmir to protect my people and they will remain there till normal conditions are restored.'' He had said, ''So far as Kashmiri Muslims are concerned, by virtue of the state's accession to India, they have equal rights as citizens of India and they should avail themselves of these,'' Mr Goswami said.

''We had decided to work and die for India not in October 1947 but in 1944 when Mr (Mohammad Ali) Jinnah tried to persuade us to join hands with him and support his two-nation theory but he failed because we resisted his advances.'' ''He has definite reason for wanting to annex Kashmir. He tried to get at the point of sword what he failed to attain by persuasion,'' the late leader was quoted as saying.

UNI