'Centre plans to station army permanently in JK'

The Hardline Hurriyat Conference on Tuesday alleged that the statements made by Union Defence Minister A K Antony and a senior army commander in the Kashmir Valley were an indication that the Centre was planning to settle the armed forces permanently in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The Indian government is planning to settle its armed forces in Kashmir permanently and is working at different levels to achieve this plan, but Kashmiris will never accept the occupation of their land," Hurriyat Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani said in a statement in Srinagar.

Geelani was reacting to the statements of Antony and General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based 15 corps Lt General S A Hasnain.

While Antony had ruled out any reduction in the number of troops in the state, Lt Gen Hasnain had said the troops are being trained in Kashmiri language. "It is part of a larger conspiracy to settle the troops in the Valley," Geelani alleged.

The Hurriyat hawk reiterated his demand for complete withdrawal of troops from the state, stating that bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan or Srinagar and New Delhi cannot help in the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

"It is in the interest of the India to accept the ground realities, give up rigidity and fulfill the promises made to the people of Kashmir," he said.