Amid Kashmir Tensions, Home Minister Amit Shah Chairs Security Meet

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday presided over a high-level security meeting amid escalating tensions in Jammu and Kashmir where a major security build up has sparked fears and tensions.

The meeting was attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Intelligence Bureau chief Arvind Kumar, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Samant Kumar Goel and senior Home Ministry officials.

Additional Secretary (Jammu and Kashmir Division) Gyanesh Kumar separately briefed the Minister about the situation in Kashmir Valley.

Informed sources said the Minister discussed internal security as well as the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, where the Amarnath Yatra has been curtailed after the government warned of terror threats.

All Amarnath pilgrims as well as tourists have been told to leave “as soon as possible”.

Shah spoke about the preparation to deal with terror attacks and deployment of security establishment in the Kashmir Valley amid inputs that Pakistan-backed terrorists were planning to target the Amarnath Yatra - an annual month-long Hindu pilgrimage which started on June 28 and was to end on August 15, the sources said.

Amit Shah is reportedly planning to visit Jammu and Kashmir. This too was discussed, said a source.

The Home Minister was apprised about the situation on the border where some Pakistani soldiers were killed by Indian forces when they tried to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir on the night of July 31-August 1.

The Minister’s meeting, the abrupt axing of the Amarnath Yatra and the security build up has set off yet another round of speculation about the Modi government’s next move in Jammu and Kashmir.

Residents say that many in the Kashmir Valley are buying up essential goods to prepare for the worst.

On the other hand, Pakistan on Sunday upped the ante on Kashmir, with Prime Minister Imran Khan alleging use of “cluster bombs” by India on civilians along the LoC and appealing to the UN Security Council to intervene, while Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi raised the matter with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

India has strongly denied any use of cluster bombs to target civilians along the Line of Control.

In Islamabad, Imran Khan chaired a meeting of the powerful National Security Committee, where he alleged that India has used “cluster bombs” on civilians along the LoC and called on the UN Security Council to take note of the “international threat to peace and security”. Imran Khan’s move comes in the wake of US President Donald Trump renewing his offer to mediate on the Kashmir issue, which India has firmly rejected.

India has firmly stated that any discussion on Kashmir, if warranted, will be only with Pakistan, and only bilaterally.

Meanwhile, amid turmoil and uncertainty in Jammu and Kashmir, all parties in the State on Sunday decided to remain together and stand united in their struggle for safeguarding the state’s “identity, autonomy and special status”. (IANS)

Also Read: Amit Shah And His Team of 16 Working On Kashmir, NRC