Union Defence Minister: 58 ceasefire violations by Pakistan since 2003; PDP releases document on ‘Self-Rule’
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    • Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony told the Lok Sabha on October 20 that Pakistan had violated the five-year-old border ceasefire as many as 34 times since January 2008. Mr. Antony added that the Indian Army had managed to thwart a majority of the infiltration bids across the Line of Control in the summer. The Minister pointed out that a total of 58 incidents of ceasefire violations by the Pakistani side had taken place since the ceasefire came into effect in November 2003 and that 4 Indian troops had died1.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed released a detailed document on 'Self Rule' on October 25. The 40-page document, titled ‘The Self Rule Framework for Resolution of Kashmir Issue’ called for a rollback of the central laws - including Articles 356 and 249 - that empower President of India to dissolve the State Assembly and the Indian Parliament to legislate on matters of the state jurisdiction. Other demands included the appointment of Governor by general elections and withdrawal of the Indian troops and personnel of the All India Services like IAS, IPS and IFS. Sayeed also demanded that only permanent residents of J&K should be qualified to contest elections2.

    Sayeed further added that though trade across the Line of Control was a good beginning, it was not enough and that it should move beyond symbolism. Laying emphasis on economic integration between the two parts of Kashmir across the LoC, Mr. Sayeed called for J and K to become a bridge in the SAARC region. The PDP leader also stated that regional councils could be formed by upgrading the Legislative Council and members from both sides could be accommodated3.

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