Centre explores phased withdrawal of Armed Forces Act in J&K

The Centre is considering a proposal for phased withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Jammu and Kashmir following a strong case made out by state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for scrapping it, with the Central leadership.      

To begin with, Centre is likely to explore the possibility of phased withdrawal of the AFSPA in two districts of Kashmir — Srinagar and Budgam — along with two in the Jammu region — Jammu and Kathua — where incidents of violence have shown a marked decline, official sources said.      

The Chief Minister has held a series of meetings with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Defence Minister A K Antony during the recent past where he raised the issue of either amending the AFSPA, repealing it or taking it out of the state in a phased manner.      
Abdullah gave a roadmap for its phased withdrawal beginning with the districts which have registered no or bare minimum violence during the past one year and in this context he gave examples of the four districts.      

Sources in the government said that while the situation in militancy-hit state has improved to a large extent, a serious thought could be given to the state’s demand.      

A meeting between Home and Defence Ministries officials may be held soon to elicit the views of the Army and Central para-military forces, which have been fighting militancy in Jammu and Kashmir for the past two decades, the sources said.

While the state has been appreciative of the Army’s role in fighting the terrorism in the state, it has contended that local police should be at the forefront of all anti-militancy operations.      

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, during his visit to the state, also favoured a greater role for the state police.      

Abdullah had, while raising the issue with central leaders, noted that on the one hand the government was giving an impression that the situation in the state was improving while on the other phased withdrawal of AFSPA was not being given a serious thought.      

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had also constituted a committee headed by Hamid Ansari before he became the Vice President, to find ways for improving internal confidence building measures. The Ansari panel had recommended revocation of AFSPA in the state.      

The Administrative Reforms Commission headed by Veerappa Moily, now Law Minister, has also endorsed withdrawal of AFSPA or at least incorporation of some measures which prevents giving sweeping powers to the security forces.