Reports of Taliban infiltrating into Kashmir hoax: Farooq

Srinagar, Apr 11 (PTI) National Conference chief and
former chief minister of India's northernmost state of Jammu
and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah has called the recent reports
suggesting that Taliban has sneaked into the state as "mere
hoax" and termed them detrimental to the state's economy
which is heavily dependent on tourism.

Appearing in a discussion programme on the country's
national television channel Doordarshan, he suggested that it
might be an attempt by some to play to the galleries when
American special envoy to the region Richard Holbrooke was in
India.

"I don't know who is spreading this hoax. It is not
true. May be it was aimed at playing to the galleries as
America's Richard Holbrooke was in India", he said.

However, Abdullah did not elaborate on who were behind
the hoax.

He also urged the media to present a positive picture
of the region to the outside world.

"We want people from outside to visit Kashmir so that
our economy gets a boost", he said.

The former chief minister also advocated for
revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). "AFSPA
should be revoked forthwith. Enough is enough. This should
end", Abdullah said.

The recent days have seen a lot of media reports
suggesting that Taliban has entered the country, but have been
vehemently denied by the Army.

"So far there was no information that any Taliban
militant had infiltrated into this side from Pakistan occupied
Kashmir (POK), a defence ministry spokesman said.

The opposition PDP and separatists in Kashmir have
also contested these reports.

The chairman of hardline faction of Hurriyat Syed Ali
Shah Geelani rubbished such reports and alleged that it might
be the handiwork of Indian authorities

Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)
Mohammad Yaseen Malik had Friday said that deliberate
attempts were being made by raising the bogey of Taliban
presence to crush the peaceful struggle of Kashmiris, while
the PDP has termed such reports as an attempt to scare the
youth in the valley.

"A sustained propaganda has been launched about
alleged arrival of Taliban and Al-Qaeda with the sole aim to
create an atmosphere of insecurity among the youth of
Kashmir", Mehbooba Mufti said while addressing party workers
of Anantnag and Kokernag in south Kashmir on Wednesday. PTI
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