No links between Al-Qaeda and Kashmiri militants: Omar

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday rejected reports of links between Kashmiri militant groups and Al-Qaeda, saying during his tenure he had not seen a single intelligence report suggesting so.
Abdullah also expressed hope that there would be no impact of Osama bin Laden’s killing on the dialogue process between India and Pakistan. He said New Delhi had made it clear that India wouldn’t want to strain relations with Pakistan on the basis of the Osama episode, and would like relations with that country to remain normal.
“I know that some people are drawing parallels between what’s happening here and Osama bin Laden or Al-Qaeda, but, having chaired the unified command for the last two and a half years, I can tell you that I haven’t been shown a single intelligence report that would suggest a link between Al-Qaeda, Osama and what is happening in Kashmir,” Omar Abdullah said during a press conference here.
“There is no doubt that there is an external dimension to Kashmiri militant, but there are no credible reports to suggest Al-Qaeda links,” he said.
Referring to talks between India and Pakistan, Omar said, “The dialogue process was brought on track with great difficulty after Mumbai attacks and it wouldn’t be right if relations between the two countries will deteriorate in the aftermath of Osama killing.  It will have a negative impact on the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Abdullah also stressed on the need of speeding up the internal dialogue process and broadening its ambit, saying those “who haven’t participated in the dialogue ( with New Delhi) should come forward because they themselves agree that there is no other option other than talks to resolve the issue.”
He said while people were expecting the state government to redress their day to day problems and speeding up of developmental works, “on the broader level, people hope that through talks the political issue (of Jammu and Kashmir) would be resolved.”
“The dialogue process between India and Pakistan also needs to be expedited, and a solution found to the issue which is acceptable to both countries and people of Jammu and Kashmir
Omar refused to comment on the government’s response to Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik’s Public Interest Litigation seeking action against government forces responsible for last year’s civilian killings, saying it was a legal matter which would be best addressed by the state law department.
When asked what steps the government had taken to promote tourism this year, Abdullah replied, “The steps we have been taking every year. Every year we bring tourists and somebody forces them to run away. We are not giving this (tourism promotion) hype and request the media to not overhype the tourist influx.”
The chief minister said that “right environment and peace” were imperative for carrying out developmental works.
“We cannot promise to resolve all the issue within six months but we promise that we will work with honesty and sincerity so that the people get the maximum benefits,” he said as per a correspondent.
On Hurriyat (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s strike call on May 14 and his objection to the chief minister’s twitter remarks, Abdullah said, “Geelani sahib is a senior member of the society and I am sure he would not like to put people through inconvenience because of something I said.”
“I think that we can take up our differences in a public forum,” he said.