KASHMIR SITUATION
Government statements
On Autonomy to J&K
In the recent past, different ideas and suggestions have been given by individuals and groups on issues like Autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir. In this context the Prime Minister had made a statement on 4 November, 1995 in which, while urging upon the people of Jammu & Kashmir to take à determined stand against terrorists and to help restore a representative overnment, he reiterated the commitment of the Government not only to maintain the special status of the State under the Article 370 of the Constitution but also to strengthen within the Constitution the autonomy of the State keeping in view the aspirations of the people belonging to all the regions of the state. The commitment of the Government to fully implement the Agreement reached in 1975 between the Centre and the State was also reiterated Along with a further statement that the Government would have no objection to the restoration of nomenclatures of 'Wazir-e-Azam and 'Sadar-e-Riyasat' if the state legislature were to take action for amending the State Constitution for the purpose. The Government have continued to maintain that it is open to dialogue and discussions with various individuals and groups with the aim of building up an environment, and further consolidating the improved situation in the State, so that peace and normalcy can be restored and a democratic and representative Government brought about through free and fair elections at the earliest.
Such dialogue and discussions could also include issues pertaining to the question of autonomy as mentioned in the Statement of the Prime Minister. The Government shall continue to follow this approach and pursue its efforts towards achieving the above objective and there shall be no let-up in the efforts in this regard.
(source: LSUQ No. 250 dated 28 February, 1996 by P.R. Bhardwaj)
On OIC Stand
There is some change in the stand of the countries of OIC on Jammu and Kashmir in the recent past. Government have taken a number of steps to apprise the member countries OIC regarding the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the involvement of Pakistan in terrorism and militancy in the state. These included a briefing of the government authorities in these countries at highest possible level, and briefing of ambassadors of these countries based in Delhi by the Ministry of External Affairs followed by an aide memoire through our missions in the respective countries as well as their missions in New Delhi. External Affaris also wrote to his counterparts in a number of OIC countries, highlighting the external inspiration and support to terrorism and militancy in J&K. Government have also taken steps to brief suitably legislators, media, scholars, think - tanks and various other opinion- makers in these countries, apart from disseminating factual information on a continuous basis to these countries on facts regarding the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
(Source :LSUQ No.1205,11 March, 1996)
Govt. Statement On President of Pakistan's
New Year Greeting Card, New Delhi, 2 Feb., 1996
The new year greeting cards received by President and Prime Minister from the President of Pakistan carried a photograph of a scene of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Foreign Secretary called in the High Commissioner of Pakistan to convey India's strong resentment at the discourtesy shown to President and Prime Minister by including such a photograph in the cards.
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