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Following the controversial remarks of <keyword id="56159" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hurriyat">Hurriyat</keyword> hardliner <keyword id="314949" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Masarat-Alam">Masarat Alam</keyword>, the Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the newly formed Jammu and Kashmir government to share a report on the circumstances that lead to the release of the separatist leader from jail. Alam has over 15 cases pending against him. 
	 
	The move comes after the J&amp;K wing of BJP raised objections to the statements made by Alam while addressing press conference. “Mufti Sayeed should not try to take political mileage out of it. I was released through a normal legal procedure since my Public safety Act (PSA) detention was about to end in the next two to three days,” quoted Alam in a PTI report. 
	 
	He further added, “What difference does it make if one person is released when there are thousands languishing in jails." Alam has been held responsible for the killing of youths in the unrest that took place in the valley in 2010. 
	 
	The report also alleged that the 44-year old separatist has 15 cases pending against him that include cases under Section 120 and 121 Ranbir Penal Code (waging war against the country) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. 
	 
	According to the PTI report, officials of the J&amp;K home ministry worked on Sunday as well in order to prepare the report. 
	 
	It should be noted that the recent release of Alam has strained the ties between People’ Democratic Party and BJP following Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s statement in which he applauded Pakistan, Hurriyat Conference and militant outfits for allowing smooth conduct of elections in the state.

Union Minister Rajnath Singh seeks report over release of
separatist leader Masarat Alam

Having taken risky initiatives, Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> on Monday said India will have to be "alert and conscious" all the time but wondered with whom in <keyword id="3001" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pakistan">Pakistan</keyword> red lines can be drawn for conducting talks — with the elected government or "other actors". 
He also said that India would have to drive home the advantage on the fact that the world is now convinced of its views on terrorism from across the border by continuing to put forth its views on this matter. "The first thing is that with whom in Pakistan you will decide about laxman rekha — with an elected government or with other actors. So India will have to be alert and conscious all the time. There should not be any laxity and negligence," he told <keyword id="19470" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Times-now">Times Now</keyword>. 
Modi was asked what is the 'lakshman rekha' for holding talks Pakistan because in 2014 it was said it will be only talks between the two countries and not with Hurriyat, the second was 26/11 and now Pathankot. 
He said because of his consistent efforts like the visit to Lahore or inviting the Pakistan Prime Minister here that he no longer has to convince the world about India's stand on terrorism. 
"The world in one voice is praising India's role. Pakistan is finding it difficult to answer. The world is watching. If we remain an obstacle then we will have to convince the world that we are not like this. 
"Earlier the world would not buy India's theory on terrorism and sometime it would even treat it as out law and order problem. Now the whole world is accepting what India says on terrorism. It is accepting the loss caused to India by terorrism, the loss caused to humanity by terrorism. I believe India will have to continue putting forth its view on this matter," the prime minister said.

PM Modi says India will have to be alert, conscious all the time with Pakistan

JAMMU: This may appear counter-intuitive, but PDP — the main opposition party in Jammu &amp; Kashmir — as well as Hurriyat and separatist leaders believe that BJP’s “anti-Muslim” prime ministerial nominee, <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>, is the best bet for Muslim-dominated Kashmir in the hope he can address both the internal and external dimensions of the region’s problem. 
 Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the Hurriyat’s moderate faction, was emphatic, saying BJP had a clear stand on Kashmir and has the “capacity” and political will to solve the problem. The Mirwaiz said a decade of <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> rule at the Centre reversed the work done by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government to resolve the conflict. 
 
“There was a forward movement on Kashmir during Vajpayee’s tenure as PM. He declared Kashmir a humanitarian issue which should be addressed within the ambit of humanity,” the Mirwaiz said. 
 
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said, “A section of Kashmiris believe Modi can take some tough decisions on the Kashmir issue... (they believe) he may emulate Vajpayee who took some bold steps to infuse in the people hope of a final settlement of the Kashmir issue.” However, she ruled out alliance with BJP in the state or even in New Delhi. 
 
Other separatist groups and several political analysts in J&amp;K are also wishing for an NDA victory to take the process of a Kashmir solution forward. Prominent separatist Nayeem Khan said a BJP-led government would address Kashmir with its external and internal dimensions. “It was Vajpayee who looked for a Kashmir settlement with Pakistan. The people of J&amp;K have great respect for his statesmanship and for the initiatives he took for the settlement of the Kashmir issue,” Khan said. 
 However, Hurriyat hawk <keyword id="48746" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Syed-Ali-Shah-Geelani">Syed Ali Shah Geelani</keyword>, who opposes any dialogue with New Delhi over Kashmir, thinks only the external dimension of the issue can settle the Kashmir imbroglio. He expressed dismay over Prime Minister <keyword id="6359397" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Manmohan-Singh">Manmohan Singh</keyword>’s lack of progress in dialogue with Pakistan. 
 The Kashmiri aam admi doesn’t seem to share Geelani’s view. They feel a BJP-led government can bring peace and prosperity. “The complex Kashmir issue can neither be solved by parties in Kashmir valley nor by the announcement of frequent bandhs and strikes, but by talks with stakeholders including Kashmiris. But overall, the confidence building measures that got diluted under the UPA need to be revived,” said Mohammad Sidiq Bangroo, a political analyst in <keyword id="41568" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Srinagar">Srinagar</keyword>. 
 <keyword id="2128881" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Mohammad-Yousuf-Mir">Mohammad Yousuf Mir</keyword>, a taxi driver whose top concern is peace so that tourists flock in large numbers to the Valley, said, “Modi is said to be communal but he would bring peace in Kashmir as the Valley is important for the integrity of India. Modi would try to bring Kashmiris around by announcing more concessions for a permanent settlement.” 
 
The perception in Jammu is similar. Most Jammu residents believe Modi will try to appease Kashmiris but wouldn’t allow “any nonsense” by the Kashmir-centric parties vis-a-vis their stand on the Kashmir issue. “Modi won’t allow the regional parties to do doublespeak, which they generally do. They say one thing in Delhi and another in J&amp;K for votes in the Valley,” said Madan Lal Gupta of Jammu.

Modi Finds Unlikely Fans In J&K’s PDP, Separatists

When US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha D Biswal will come to India to prepare for maiden <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Boost-to-Indo-US-ties-India-to-apply-US-technology-to-manufacture-aircraft-carrier/articleshow/48113956.cms">Indo-US</a> Strategic Commercial Dialogue, both the countries will discuss more than the set agenda. 
 
India will apprise the visiting dignitary about the failed <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=India+Pakistan+talks">National Security Advisor-level talks with Pakistan</a>. 
 
Pakistan pulled out of the NSA-level talks after India insisted the agenda should be limited to terror and barred <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=sartaj+aziz">Sartaj Aziz</a> from meeting Hurriyat leaders. 
 
US showed disappointment over the botched up talks and hoped that India and Pakistan would resume a formal dialogue soon. 
 
New Delhi will point out to the US on how the Pakistani military establishment raised the anti-India rhetoric within a few days of Ufa and tried to instigate India through statements and incidents, including the attack in Udhampur that resulted in the capture of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Captured-terrorist-says-Its-fun-doing-this-Udhampur-terror-attack/articleshow/48362757.cms">militant Mohammed Naved</a>. 
 Officials said it was evident from the beginning that <keyword id="37837" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pakistan-army">Pakistan army</keyword> would not allow the NSA-level talks. “After the arrest of Naved it was difficult for them to come for talks. In any case, non-inclusion of the K-word in the Ufa statement was seen as some kind of embarrassment for Pak Army," a senior official said. 
 
(Image: Thinkstock)

India will complain about Pakistan to big daddy US over failed NSA-level talks

<ul><li>The Pulwama terror attack may set back any possibility of peace talks between India and Pakistan. </li><li>Indian government’s policy towards Pakistan has been inconsistent so far. </li><li>The sting of the Indian rhetoric against Pakistan has been more consistent on Twitter than at the level of the government. </li><li>However, neither India’s spurts of aggression nor its periodic pacifism have changed Pakistan’s patronage for terror groups. </li></ul>Forty five paramilitary soldiers lost their lives in Pulwama, Kashmir on Thursday in a terror attack, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi called ‘dastardly’, and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley promised an ‘<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/pulwama-attack-on-crpf-in-kashmir-condemned-by-pm-modi/articleshow/67997003.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">unforgettable lesson</a>’ for the perpetrators. “A befitting reply will be given to the perpetrators of the heinous attack and their patrons,” the Indian prime minister <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1096293506048380928" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">said</a> on Friday. The Indian government is blaming Pakistan-- Islamabad has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/jaish-e-mohammad-from-pakistan-kills-45-indian-soldiers-but-government-denies-link/articleshow/68003080.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">denied</a> any links-- for enabling the terrorists behind the deadly attacks in Kashmir. India has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-revokes-most-favoured-nation-status-to-pakistan-after-pulwama-attack/articleshow/68004958.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">revoked</a> the most favoured nation status-- which offers beneficial trade terms-- given to Pakistan in the wake of the attacks in Pulwama. However, aside from the reactionary outbursts soon after such attacks in the recent past, India’s policy, towards its troublesome neighbour on the West, has appeared incoherent and inconsistent. A similar attack in Uri, Kashmir in 2016 led to the ‘<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/30/world/asia/kashmir-india-pakistan.html">surgical strikes</a>’ by the Indian army across the Line of Control, in Pakistan-occupied- Kashmir, in September 2016. The move helped establish Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a strongman who would wait and watch as Pakistan used ‘terrorists’ as a state tool of aggression against India. This was<a href="https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/2016-surgical-strike-was-not-indias-first-here-are-the-previous-ones/313158"> not the first</a> such attack by the Indian army, but it was definitely the most publicised one. The propaganda was so effective that the wave of appreciation for Modi’s courage swept over the<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-41896865"> ill-conceived demonetisation</a> initiative that brought the country’s economy to a grinding halt. It even won the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) key state elections, which followed soon after. The surgical strikes even inspired a movie, Uri, two years later, in January 2018. The slick blockbuster sparked widespread jingoism in India and the BJP milked it well for political gains. The many flip-flops The man who, before becoming prime minister, asserted that the Indian government should respond in the same ‘language’ – that of violence – as the one that Pakistan uses, turned very cordial soon after he was elected. Modi got accolades for his statesmanship when he<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/Sharif-other-Saarc-heads-invited-for-Modi-swearing-in/articleshow/35452933.cms"> invited</a> Pakistan’s head of state Nawaz Sharif for the swearing in ceremony in May 2014. Three months later, Modi<a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1126123"> cancelled</a> the scheduled foreign-secretary level talks citing a meeting between the Pakistani high commissioner to India and the Kashmiri separatist Hurriyat group. The next flip flop happened in December 2014, when Modi<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pm-modi-lands-in-lahore-on-a-surprise-visit-meets-pak-pm-nawaz-sharif/"> flew impromptu</a> to Lahore to dine at Sharif’s home when the latter’s daughter was getting wedded, and hope floated that the rapport between the two leaders may calm the tensions between the two nations fighting over shared borders for nearly seven decades now. However, within ten days of the famed meeting of the two leaders, terrorists from the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad attacked a military base in Pathankot, Punjab killing 7 Indian soldiers and one civilian. The conversations between the two governments stopped and Modi’s poise turned icy. What followed was a rise in cross-border firings as well as a marked-up call to global allies to ‘<a href="https://www.ft.com/content/bb7592de-82e3-11e6-8897-2359a58ac7a5">isolate</a>’ Pakistan in international forums. That was 2016 and 2017. In November 2018, the two countries agreed to build a cross-border<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-pak-to-build-corridor-for-sikh-pilgrims-to-visit-iconic-gurdwara/story-HV7Zgu8jh1VSDMNNqwbmCL.html"> corridor</a> that would allow Sikhs to visit a holy shrine, which is devoted to the religion’s founder Guru Nanak, situated in Pakistan. Less than a month before the hand shakes on the Kartapur corridor, representatives from the two countries had a heated exchange at the<a href="https://thediplomat.com/2018/09/an-india-pakistan-showdown-at-the-united-nations-73rd-general-assembly/"> United Nations</a> General Assembly. Cut to the new year, and Modi was a lot more considerate in his answer to the question on his stance towards Pakistan. “It will be a huge mistake to believe that Pakistan will mend its ways after a war. It will take a lot of time for Pakistan to mend its ways,” the Indian prime minister said in an<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pakistan-would-take-a-lot-of-time-to-mend-its-ways-narendra-modi/article25881945.ece"> interview</a> on January 1. Weeks after the stately view on Pakistan, Modi today, after the latest attack, <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pulwama-terror-attack-live-updates-several-crpf-personnel-martyred-in-jammu-and-kashmirs-pulwama-district/liveblog/67994460.cms">said</a> that the Indian security forces have been ‘given full freedom’. India is a lot more polarised today on many issues, none more common than nationalism. The idea of patriotism and the plight of Indian soldiers facing the enemy at the western border have been contentious issues among the country’s citizens—both on social media and in personal interactions—and the credit goes to the BJP for making the debate ubiquitous. However, in hindsight, the sting of the Indian rhetoric against Pakistan has been more consistent on Twitter than at the level of the government. Neither India’s aggression nor its pacifist attitude has had any impact on Pakistan’s approach. Ceasefire violations have increased six fold between 2015 and 2018, according to a government<a href="https://scroll.in/article/888719/data-check-already-more-ceasefire-violations-along-line-of-control-this-year-than-all-of-2017"> data</a> released in July 2018. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-revokes-most-favoured-nation-status-to-pakistan-after-pulwama-attack/articleshow/68004958.cms">India revokes Most Favoured Nation status to Pakistan after Pulwama attack</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/terror-attack-in-kashmir-condemned-by-several-countries/articleshow/68003200.cms">US, Russia, France among countries to condemn terror attack in Kashmir</a>

Indian government is raging at Pakistan again—here's a look at its policy so far

When Chinese <keyword id="46159" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Foreign-Minister">foreign minister</keyword> Wang Yi told his counterpart <keyword id="6355111" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sushma-Swaraj">Sushma Swaraj</keyword> that PM Narendra Modi had injected "a new vitality into an ancient civilization'', he might have been speaking for India's entire neighbourhood. 
 
While Modi internally had issues to contend with, not least the criticism over the WTO muddle, he took no time in coming into his own on India's foreign policy, something he followed closely even as Gujarat CM. While the government's erratic handling of Pakistan was called into question, Modi's larger South Asia outreach in the form of invites to all SAARC leaders for his swearing in, followed by a wildly successful visit to Nepal - a country no Indian PM had visited for 17 years for a bilateral meet, reinforced the primacy of neighbours in India's foreign policy like never before in decades, at least not since the days of Gujral Doctrine. 
 
The results are already showing. A deeply divided country which has struggled to frame a Constitution for years, complaining bitterly in the process about alleged Indian interference, Nepal unanimously endorsed Modi's visit which saw Indian announcing an additional $ 1 billion concessional credit line. Sri Lanka has freed all Indian fishermen from its jails. It is also of significance to the ministry of external affairs (MEA) that almost all SAARC leaders have reassured the government they won't allow their territory to be used against India. 
 
Like in the case of his predecessor, Modi too was seen as driving foreign policy. The ministry of external affairs (MEA) was not complaining though as the world seemed captivated by the new PM. Rarely, if ever, has it happened that senior emissaries from all P5 countries have visited India within first 3 months of a new government taking over. That India was the chief saboteur of the WTO trade facilitation deal - in the negotiations for which MEA was not involved - took some sheen off the new government but the interest in India under Modi is not waning just yet. 
 Even before he formally took over as PM, Modi made the point that India's relations with the US were too important to be led by personal whims. That he meant it became obvious when he quickly accepted President <keyword id="16284" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Obama">Obama</keyword>'s invite for a bilateral meet, saving both State Department and MEA the blushes. 
 
While MEA may or may not have seen any cultural change under Modi's leadership, it certainly witnessed some out-of-box thinking. As expected, the ministry under Modi was forced to think of ways to forward India's economic agenda. The decision to make states stake holders in India's economic diplomacy emerged from Modi's desire that foreign policy act as a springboard for economic success. This `state focus' was first put to use with Singapore in August with as many as 4 chief ministers visiting the country, soon after a visit by foreign minister Sushma Swaraj, to explore possibilities for more investments in the infrastructure sector. 
 MEA's 100-day <keyword id="81267" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="report-card">report card</keyword> though is not devoid of blemishes. Modi showed understanding of the geopolitical realities in his handling of <keyword id="6355311" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Japan">Japan</keyword> and China (his real test will come in September when he meets <keyword id="590894" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shinzo-Abe">Shinzo Abe</keyword> and Xi Jinping in a short space of time), but his handling of Pakistan was mercurial. He surprised Pakistan by inviting <keyword id="6576" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Nawaz-Sharif">Nawaz Sharif</keyword> for his oath taking, indulged in saree and letter diplomacy with him after a spunky Sharif accepted the invite, leading to announcement of foreign secretary-level talks, and then snubbed him by calling off talks over what Islamabad thought was a routine meeting with Hurriyat. All within 3 months of becoming <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">prime minister</keyword>. 
 
The risk now is that Modi, by not including ceasefire violations as one of the reasons for cancelling the scheduled talks, may have painted himself so much into a corner that any dialogue resumption exercise in the near future could turn into a zero sum game for the 2 countries. One of the parties may have to concede ground publicly for any such initiative to be successful. 
 
It must be added here though if the current turmoil in Pakistan does end up unsettling Sharif, Modi will be the only man laughing up his sleeve in the end. 
 
MEA's neighbourhood outreach under Modi will also have no meaning if it doesn't move fast to implement the vision outlined by the PM. The fact that the government has shown no interest in ratification of the land boundary agreement or the Teesta water sharing arrangement doesn't bode well for relations with Bangladesh, a country crucial for India's own security. 
 
100-day hits 
 
The neighbourhood outreach lapped up by most countries 
 
Focus on economic diplomacy with involvement of states 
 
Rescue of Indian nurses from IS in Iraq and evacuation of over 10,000 Indians from conflict areas in Ukraine, Iraq and Libya 
 
Japan and China reaching out to India with Modi sending right messages to both countries 
 
MEA deciding to now 'Act East' with foreign minister Sushma Swaraj visiting 3 Asean countries in the first 3 months 
 
100-day misses 
 
Pakistan remains a holdout nation among India's neighbours despite a promising start by Modi 
 No forward movement on land boundary agreement with <keyword id="6381819" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Dhaka">Dhaka</keyword> 
 
Over 40 Indian workers kidnapped in Iraq yet to be rescued despite hectic diplomacy

You Searched For "Hurriyat" and got 8 results

Union Minister Rajnath Singh seeks report over release of separatist leader Masarat Alam

BI India Bureau

PM Modi says India will have to be alert, conscious all the time with Pakistan

BI India Bureau

Modi Finds Unlikely Fans In J&K’s PDP, Separatists

Times Of India

India will complain about Pakistan to big daddy US over failed NSA-level talks

BI India Bureau

Indian government is raging at Pakistan again—here's a look at its policy so far

Sriram Iyer

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 100-Day Hits And Misses

Times Of India

The activist in BJP: Sudhanshu Mittal

Arvind Passey

Full transcript of PM Narendra Modi's TV interview

BI India Bureau

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