J K News Today
Srinagar, September 2:
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Army Chief Bipin Rawat are rushing to Srinagar on Sunday to discuss the overall security situation in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the forthcoming visit of the US secretary of State’s visit to India as part of his assessment of the situation in South Asia region , particularly after the ascendency of Imran Khan to the position of Prime Minister in Pakistan .
The US secretary of State Mike Pompeo has held consultations with Khan on phone and now the remaining strategy would be discussed to give a fillip to war on terror and free Afghanistan of the civil war situation during his visit on September 5. The same day, he and Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Joseph F Dunford , will visit India to hold high level discussions.
Kashmir is bound to come up during the discussions between the US officials and the hosts in Delhi.
During their visit on Sunday, the duo would call on Governor Satya Pal Malik to take his take on the security situation and how it is unfolding . Holding of the Urban local Bodies and Pachayat elections has assumed an extraordinary significance as that is considered to wean away the people from the mindset of militancy .
Governor Malik has already announced the election schedule and he is hopeful that there would be a larger participation n the polls as the people are sick of the non-development in their areas.
He stated at a function in Srinagar on Saturday that the Panchayat elections have nothing to do with the resolution of Kashmir issue , these are meant for the empowerment of the people so that they can become masters of their own destiny.
Sources said that Malik would give the visiting Defence Minister and Army Chief his feedback from the political groups and others whom he has met about the situation in the Valley that had taken an ugly turn with the abduction of the family members of the policemen by Hizb. He is also worried about the continuing infiltration from across the border.
