Areas in Kashmir under Armed Forces Special Powers Act could be reduced

New Delhi: Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, met the Prime Minister in Delhi on Wednesday -his second one-on-one with Manmohan Singh in less than a month.  Stating that "status quo is not an option," Abdullah wants to end the cycle of violence in his state with an economic and political offering that coincides with Eid.

Meanwhile, in Kashmir, separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has been arrested after he threatened to intensify his agitation against the government if his demands are not met.  A month ago, Geelani called for an end to violent protests.  However, in the last few weeks, he has called for a number of strikes. (Read: Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani arrested)

Since June, when teenager Tufail Mattoo was killed, J&K has been besieged by daily violence and near-constant curfew.  More than 60 civilians have died in clashes with security forces, mainly during the stone-pelting protests that fill the streets.

What Abdullah wants to include in his Eid peace offer is a more "humane" version of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act or AFSPA, often criticized for being "draconian"  because of the widespread powers it gives to the Army - it guarantees that army officers can operate without fear of arrest by civil authorities.

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Home Minister P Chidambaram is also in favour of amendments to the act.  However, the Army says the Act provides it with essential legal protection, a stand backed fully by Defence Minister AK Antony.  With the Valley heading into winter, the infiltration by militants, like every year, is expected to decrease, allowing the government to consider withdrawing AFSPA from areas where militancy has waned.  AFSPA, sources say, may be withdrawn from the districts of Srinagar, Ganderbal, Jammu and Samba.

Abdullah also wants to push for the release of political prisoners, new employment schemes, swift action against human rights violations, and an all-party meeting on Kashmir, followed by an all-party delegation's visit to his state.

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This contentious issue is to be discussed at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which meets on Friday hours ahead of Eid.  A top source says the Kashmir crisis will be discussed "threadbare."   What's likely to dominate the agenda is whether to amend AFSPA.  Those in favour of changes, sources say, would like to ensure that warrants are secured in advance for arrests, and that grievance cells are able to address citizens' complaints against the Army. 

The Defence Ministry's view, however, is that while these amendments are acceptable in a scenario where the army is called in to aid civil authority -for example, in the case of riots and civil unrest - but they are too restricting in Kashmir where the army has to take on well-trained, heavily-armed fighters.