16 April 2005	Saturday	06 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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NEW DELHI, April 15: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Friday that incidents like the armed attack in Srinagar ahead of the bus service to Muzaffarabad had underscored the need for a joint strategy by India and Pakistan to combat terrorism.

“I hope the terrorists and extremists in the region have grasped the mood of the people and will not try to disrupt this bus again,” Dr Singh told a state chief ministers’ conference on internal security here.

“I do believe that it is the joint responsibility of the governments of India and Pakistan, and of the local authorities on both sides of the Line of Control, to work together in providing full security cover to the bus service, which is a service for peace and for promotion of reconciliation.

“I sincerely hope we can work together in protecting the lives of innocent people and in fighting the sources of terrorism in the region,” he said.

The remarks appeared to mark a departure from India’s aversion to accepting Islamabad as an ally in the battle against terrorism.

Dr Singh spoke as Indian police and paramilitary forces launched an unprecedented vigil ahead of a three-day visit from Saturday by President Gen Pervez Musharraf. Official sources described the visit as a ‘nightmare’ for the security forces given the threat perception surrounding Gen Musharraf’s public appearances in Delhi and Ajmer.

Sensitive parts of his route would be covered by anti-aircraft batteries, according to sources.

Dr Singh’s address was followed by a briefing to the chief ministers by Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee

Mr Patil stressed that the security environment had witnessed positive developments recently. “The levels of terrorist violence and infiltration in J&K have been significantly lower than before. Infiltration has come down by 61 per cent mainly due to fencing of the border and heightened surveillance and strong counter-action by security forces,” he said.

A record flow of tourists to the Valley, participation of nearly 400,000 pilgrims in Amarnath Yatra in 2004 and a big voter turnout in recent election at different levels had been possible as a result of improved security situation in Kashmir, he said.

“This also reflects people’s yearning for peace and normalcy in the state. Despite terrorist attacks and threats, the journey of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus has begun. This also shows that people in the state are against militancy and militants are getting increasingly isolated,” he said.