No Surrender

Kashmir Rehabilitation Policy

FIRDOUS TAK

Jammu, Nov 22: Jammu and Kashmir government Monday approved the much awaited `Rehabilitation Policy’ paving way for the return of youth who had crossed over to Pakistan administered Kashmir with the eruption on turmoil in the Valley.
Well placed sources in the ruling alliance told Greater Kashmir that the state cabinet, which met here for the first time after shifting of Durbar to the winter capital, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah gave the final nod to the policy, drafted by state and approved by the Union Home Ministry.
The Chief Minister was of the view that once the policy comes into effect, new channel would be opened up enabling these youths to resume their normal life after proper precautions were taken.
“What is proposed is that for those who are desirous of returning without arms and resuming some form of normal life, we will open channels for them so that they can be able to come back,” Omar had said.
National Conference reportedly had a smooth sailing in approving the policy despite reservations from the Congress ministers, who had sought some more time in view of the ensuing elections for Panchayats and urban local bodies.
The cabinet decision will now be followed with the constitution of a high-level committee to be headed by Commissioner/Secretary Home, which will be the final authority to clear the cases under the policy.
As per the policy, youth who had crossed over to Pakistan and PaK will be brought under the ambit of the scheme. The policy had received nod from by the Union Home Ministry also after consultation with the Army and central security agencies, official sources said.
The pre-requisite for getting benefit of the policy would, however, be `change of heart’, one of the cabinet ministers, present in the meeting said. He added that the policy will only for those who want to shun the path of violence and return to the mainstream.
Under the policy, parents of the youth who had crossed over to Pakistan or PaK can approach the Superintendent of Police of their district certifying that their ward wanted to return and live a normal life.
The parents will receive orders from the SP only after the case is scrutinized by all the intelligence agencies operating in the state, the sources said. The case will also be forwarded to the high level committee to be constituted in this regard by the government for final approval; sources said adding that the committee will scrutinize cases which receive clearance from the intelligence agencies.
Such youth will be kept in a camp where they would be monitored and imparted counselling so that they could earn their livelihood, the sources said. In the meantime, if someone arrived with their wife and children, they would also be provided with emergency certificate.
For those youth, who do not have any relation, the surrender application can be filed before the Indian High Commission in Pakistan. Government is also contemplating to provide online information and application form under the policy.
The policy, which was discussed threadbare with Union Home Ministry, is expected to put an end to illegal entry of such youths who were entering India through Nepal, Bangladesh or Wagah border using fake documents and coming to Kashmir, sources said.
Government has selected four entry points – Poonch-Rawalakote (Poonch), Uri-Muzaffarabad (Uri), Wagah (Punjab) and Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi from where the youth, given clearance, can enter the state.
“They will be arrested on the entry point and brought to Counselling Centres”, a senior government officer said adding that such youth, who have cases pending against them in any police station, will be tried before the court of law.

HIGHLIGHTS

* Surrender application to be filed before SP, Indian High Commission in Islamabad

* Online application form to be made available

* Applications to be scrutinized by intelligence agencies

* Four entry points identified for return

* Returnee youth to be kept in Counselling Centre for 3 months

* Youth to be tried for cases pending against them

PTI

The much-talked about surrender policy for youths who had exfiltrated from Jammu and Kashmir between 1989 and 2009 for arms training and have a change of heart now was cleared on Monday by the State Cabinet.

Under the policy, youths who had crossed over to Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) will be eligible for the scheme.

The policy had received nod from by Union Home Ministry too after consultation with the Army and central security agencies, official sources said.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was of the view that once the policy comes into effect, new channel would be opened up enabling these youths to resume their normal life after proper precautions were taken.

“What is proposed is that for those who are desirous of returning without arms and resuming some form of normal life, we will open channels for them so that they can be able to come back,” Mr. Abdullah had said.

Under the policy, parents of the youths who had crossed over to Pakistan or PoK can approach the Superintendent of Police of their district certifying that their child wanted to return and live a normal life.

The policy, which was discussed threadbare with the Union Home Ministry, is expected to put an end to illegal entry of such youths who were entering India through Nepal, Bangladesh or the Wagah border post using fake documents.

These parents will receive orders from the SP only after the case was scrutinised by the State CID in consultation with the central security agencies, the sources said.

Under the policy, the youth will be kept in a camp where they would be monitored and imparted training so that they could earn their livelihood, the sources said. In the meantime, if someone arrived with their wife and children, they would also be provided with emergency certificates.

“There will be a cooling off period, some counselling, rehabilitation and certain amount of interface between the security forces and them to be assured that they are not being planted and they are actually people who are coming back for resumption of normal life. That is the broad parameters of the policy,” a senior official said.

Asked what could be the number of such people, the official said “the numbers run into thousands but I am not, even for a moment, suggesting that all are going to come knocking on our door on the first day. It may really be a very small trickle that seeks to take advantage of this but the fact is that people are coming.”

Cabinet approves rehab policy

Youth ‘stranded’ in PaK can return to Valley
Shabir Dar
Jammu, Nov 22: After nod from Home minister P Chidambaram, the cabinet Monday finally approved the surrender and rehabilitation policy for youth who had crossed LoC between 1989 and 2009 for receiving arms training and are now willing to return home.
The cabinet, which met here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, held exhaustive deliberations on the ways and means to rehabilitate the youth before approving the policy.
It was the first cabinet meeting in Jammu after the Darbar re-opened here earlier this month.

Confirming cabinet’s approval to surrender and rehabilitation policy, Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir said the rehabilitation policy was the main agenda of the meeting. “It was unanimously approved by the cabinet,” he said.

Minister for Industries Surjit Singh Slathia said that notice in this regard will be issued soon. “The draft has already been formulated by the government and its implementation will start soon”.

Sources said the surrender and rehabilitation policy envisages that the family members of the youth who has crossed the LoC and are presently in Pakistan-administered-Kashmir and want to return back, should approach the concerned Superintendent of Police with an undertaking certificate that their wards want to return.

“Thereafter, the case would be thoroughly scrutinized by various security and intelligence agencies and after their go ahead, the parents of the youth would receive information of return of their wards,” they said.

The policy, sources said, further states that the youth will be kept in rehabilitation camp where they would be monitored and imparted training so that they could earn their livelihood. “If someone arrived with their wife and children, they too would be provided with emergency certificates,” they said.

They said there will be a cooling off period, some counselling, rehabilitation and certain amount of interface between the security forces and the youth to ensure that they are not being planted and actually want to resume normal life. “That is the broad parameters of the policy. Cases would also be filed against them, if found involved in any criminal activity before crossing the LoC,” sources said.

Home minister P Chidambaram has already given a go ahead to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for implementation of the policy during their recent meeting in New Delhi.

“Home Minister was very eager for the package and wanted the state cabinet to approve it without any further delay. Now, that the state cabinet has approved the policy, it will be forwarded to the Centre for approval. The final package will be announced by the Union Cabinet,” a senior cabinet minister said.

Omar first talked about the rehabilitation policy in his address during Chief Ministers’ Conference on internal security in New Delhi on February 7 earlier this year.

Sources said Home Minister readily agreed to the package since it was in line with the recommendation of one of the five working groups set up by the Prime Minister in May 2004. The working group had mooted general amnesty for “misguided youths who want to shun the gun and return to the mainstream”.

“The policy is tipped to be a major confidence building measure for Indo-Pakistan dialogue to get underway,” a senior government functionary said.

Official sources maintain that the proposed rehabilitation package may be extended not only to those who had crossed over to PaK for receiving arms training but also to hundreds of those who had crossed the LoC for economic and social reasons. 

The Cabinet also approved the release of COLA for the PSU employees.

RK

Indian state launches 'militant rehabilitation' policy

• By Binoo Joshi BBC News, Jammu

The government in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir has given formal approval to a rehabilitation policy for militants.

It is the first time that that such a policy has been introduced for militants who have allegedly trained in Pakistani-administered Kashmir.
The state government says militants must "eschew arms and violence" if they want to take advantage of the scheme.
They must also "accept the integrity of India" and its constitution.
There has been no reaction from Pakistan or the government of Pakistani-administered Kashmir to the announcement.
Thousands of people have joined the Kashmir insurgency since it began 20 years ago.
Officials say the new scheme is different from previous initiatives because it is specifically targeted towards militants who have been or who are based in Pakistan.
It is geared towards those who have crossed from Indian-administered Kashmir into Pakistani-administered Kashmir to get arms training so that they can join militant groups fighting Indian rule in Jammu and Kashmir.
The scheme currently in place - launched in 2004 - offers rehabilitation and monetary incentives only for "local militants".
"The new scheme is only open for those who are willing to [solemnly renounce] violence and the gun," a senior cabinet minister told the BBC.
He added that the process of screening such people would be "very strict" and would involve various security and intelligence agencies.
"We have to be sure that only genuine people make use of [it]," the minister said.
There is no exact estimate provided by India as to how many people are currently receiving training on the Pakistani side, but security agencies reckon it is about 3,000 people.
Pakistan has consistently denied that it provides any assistance to militants fighting in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Indian Home Minister Mr P Chidambram has backed the idea, but the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it was a "dangerous step and a big security risk" which they would "fight tooth and nail".

Jehad Counsil Rejects

Jehad Counsil has objected to the exclusion of Kashmir from a list of disputes.Jehad Counsil Secretary Genaral and Ameer of Tehreek ul Mujahideen Sheikh Jameel ur Rehman said,
"Jammu and Kashmir dispute is on the AGENDA OF UN FOR 63 YEARS,It is time not to exslude but include the issue on the agenda of Security Counsil as top dispute." "Kashmir is atomic flash Point"he said.
"Time has come to solve the issue according to the wishes of the people and we reject division of Kashmir",he added. He said that Indian forces in Kashmir are terrorist and are killing innocent Kashmiris mercilessly.Let India vacate Kashmir once for all.This is the only solution.

Kashmirm out of UN

Pak objects to no mention of Kashmir in UN list of disputes

 Pakistan has objected to the exclusion of Kashmir from a list of disputes under the observation of the Security Council as mentioned by the UK's top diplomat in an annual debate on UNSC reforms here.

UK holds the presidency of UNSC this month.
"Jammu and Kashmir dispute was not mentioned in the context of unresolved long-running situations," said Amjad Hussain B Sial, Pakistan's acting envoy to UN, told the General Assembly, where the debate was held.
"We understand this was an inadvertent omission, as Jammu and Kashmir is one of the oldest disputes on agenda of the Security Council," he added.
Pakistan has been asking the UN to intervene to help resolve the issue but India has always maintained that it has to be resolved bilaterally between the two countries.
Speaking earlier at the General Assembly, the UK envoy to the UN, Mark Lyall Grant, said that "some long-running situations, including in the Middle East, Cyprus and Western Sahara remain unresolved, as do issues where the Council has become engaged in recent years, including Nepal and Guinea Bissau." 
 
India welcomes exclusion of J&K from U.N. list

India has welcomed the reported exclusion of Jammu and Kashmir from the list of unresolved international disputes.

“It has been reported that United Nations has dropped Kashmir from the list of unresolved disputes. I think, if this step has been taken, I welcome it,” Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur told reporters on Monday. “We have always firmly maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India... this a very welcome step and we hope that in [the] same way the U.N. addresses our bilateral issues,” he said.

Reports have quoted Pakistan's Acting envoy to the U.N. Amjad Hussain B Sial, as stating that the J&K dispute was not mentioned in the context of unresolved long-running situations. “We understand this was an inadvertent omission, as Jammu and Kashmir is one of the oldest disputes on agenda of the Security Council,” he had said.

 

 

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