Gulmarg To Geneva

With the rival armies engaged in an eyeball to eyeball confrontation on Kashmir borders, Indian and Pakistani diplomats are busy fighting the ‘war by other means’ between Geneva and New York

In September, when the Kashmir story migrated to Geneva and New York, following a perennial custom that evolved in last three decades, the rival armies are in an eyeball to eyeball confrontation on Kashmir’s de facto border, the Line of Control (LoC). There are occasional exchanges as well. Wire agency IANS reported on September 6, that Pakistan has moved a brigade size force to a location not more than 30 kms closer to the LoC and placed it in Bagh and Kotli.

Amid massive deployement at the LoC, Ajit Doval, India’s National Security Adviser (NSA), who was in Kashmir for initial 10 days of the clampdown since August 5, told reporters in Delhi that some of the 230 militants spotted on the other side of the LoC have actually infiltrated. Similar reports are making rounds on ground too.

With communications blocked, Kashmir survives hundreds of rumours about escalation on Kashmir border on daily basis. The rumour mongering eventually compelled the Lt Gen K J S Dhillon, the Commander of Srinagar based 15 Corps to reveal on September 4, that the army did carry out more than 350 operations in the Gulmarg sector in last 20 days. “There are more than 350 operations, which have been launched around Gulmarg (sector) including some specific information searches inside Gulmarg town,” the General told reporters, insisting, “Otherwise, as you are aware Gulmarg has been terrorism free area because of tourism and other things.”

He said two infiltrators were arrested from the area. At a press conference, early last week, the army showed them in a small video clip.