Kashmir: 2,309 civilians and 3,550 security personnel injured so far in 2016

 As many as 3,550 security force personnel and 2,309 civilians were injured following severe protests and stone pelting incidents in Jammu and Kashmir till July 25 this year, Rajya Sabha was told. Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said there were 1,029 incidents of severe protests and stone pelting in Jammu and Kashmir so far this year in which 48 civilians and two security personnel were killed. There were 730 incidents of severe protests and stone pelting in the entire 2015 in which five civilians were killed and 240 injured while 886 security forces personnel were also injured. 

Ahir said, replying a written question, that various steps have been taken by the police authorities which include organising police-public meetings to avoid such incidents. Security forces were also advised to strictly adhere to the SOP and resort to use of non-lethal weapons while handling law and order situations. Ahir said there were 152 incidents of terrorist violence in the state till July 17 this year in which 30 security force personnel lost their lives.

In the entire 2015, there were 208 incidents of terrorist violence in which 39 security force personnel were killed. The Minister said there have been 90 attempts of infiltration by terrorists from Pakistan to Jammu and Kashmir of which 54 were successful while 10 militants were killed and 26 militants fled. Ahir said India is engaged with Pakistan to address core concern of terrorism emanating from there and territories under Pakistan's control and challenges posed by such terrorist acts on the normalisation of India-Pakistan relations. 

Former Pak Ambassador bats for togetherness

 Former Pakistan Ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani today said the 69-year-old unresolved relationship between India and Pakistan cannot be resolved by symbolic gestures, instead there has to be a major shift in attitudes of both the countries.

"A relationship, which has not been resolved for last 69 years, it cannot be resolved just by symbolic gestures. Both Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Narendra Modi wanted to have good relations, but it needs a major shift in attitudes and that shift of attitudes have not taken place," he told PTI in an interview here.

Haqqani said this when asked to assess Modi's efforts to improve relations between India and Pakistan which was quite promising at the beginning of his tenure than it is now.

He was in the city for an interaction over his book - India vs Pakistan: Why Can't We Just Be Friends.

Haqqani also said until and unless terrorism is taken off the table completely, he does not see any Indian leader "who can move forward with normal relations with Pakistan." "Similarly," he further continued "as long as Pakistan does not realise and recognise the weaknesses and the problems that have come up in Pakistan because of past militarism and militancy, we will not see a major change." Asked whether the Pakistan Prime Minister can deliver on improving India-Pakistan relations even as he is facing corruption charges over Panama papers leak, in Pakistan, Haqqani said: "There is no doubt that PM Nawaz Sharif like President Asif Zardari and former PM Yousaf Raza Gillani wants normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan, but I think the political circumstances in Pakistan are not conducive to strike normalisation, right now".

"The circumstances in Pakistan are not conducive because extremists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar are still free and open to operate. I think the normalisation (process) will not be easy between the two countries," he added.