*ULFA talks of political solution; Army talks tough*
*K Anurag in Guwahati* ** October 19, 2007 08:56 IST http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/oct/19assam.htm The proscribed United Liberation Front of Assam, which is now reeling under sustained and intensified counter-insurgency operation by the Army -- especially in Eastern Assam areas and the two hill districts of the state -- has alleged that the government of India was interested in crushing the 'ULFA revolution' by using force and not at all interested in a political solution to "Assam-India" conflict. The latest outburst by the insurgent group in the latest edition of its mouth piece, *Freedom* came following some 'tough talking' by GoC 4 corps of Indian Army, Lt Gen B S Jaswal, who is the operational head of the counter insurgency operations being carried out in Assam under the three-tier Unified Command structure involving the Army, police and the civil administration. The General had made it clear that the army will need few more months for neutralizing the ULFA provided the ongoing operations against ultras continued unhindered. During the last few months, the army has virtually crushed the ULFA's main strike force, the 28th battalion through encounters and arrests of almost all the top level leaders of the ULFA battalion whose commander Prabal Neog too was arrested by the police recently. The outfit's two other battalions -- the 709 active in Lower Assam areas and the 27th battalion active in central Assam and the two hill districts -- are also now facing the heat of army-police operations. Facing the heat of intensified operations by security forces, the ULFA has started harping on its intention to have a political solution to the conflict, but the army is obviously in no mood to relax. It is evident from the statement made by Lt Gen Jaswal that there should not be any ceasefire with the ULFA unless the latter agreed to be lodged in designated camps leaving their weapons behind. Chief of the Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor, during his maiden visit to the 4 Corps headquarter at Tezpur in North Assam on Thursday, had made it clear that the army will go back to barrack only if the banned ULFA agreed to come forward for peace talks with the government without any preconditions. The government of India has all along been maintaining that any possible discussion with insurgent groups can be held only under the provisions of Indian Constitution. *ULFA must hold unconditional talks: Army Chief * *http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=512142* http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/19/stories/2007101958860100.htm TEZPUR: The Army will stop operations against the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) if it comes to the negotiating table without any preconditions, Chief of the Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor said here on Thursday. "If the ULFA comes for talks without any terms and conditions, then the Army is willing to go back to the barracks," Gen. Kapoor told reporters at the Army's 4 Corps headquarters. The Army Chief said Pakistan's ISI was active in the region. It might be involved in the recent bomb blasts in Guwahati and other places of Assam. "Under the direction of fundamentalists, the ISI is becoming active in Assam, which is a cause for concern," Gen. Kapoor said. — PTI Army to go back to barracks if ULFA comes for talks: Kapoor TEZPUR, OCT 18 (PTI) The army will stop operations against militant outfit ULFA in Assam if it comes to the negotiating table without any preconditions, Chief of Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor said here today. "If the ULFA comes for talks without any terms and conditions then the army is willing to go back to the barracks", General Kapoor told reporters at the army's four corps headquarters here today. The army chief said Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI was active in the region. He said ISI may be involved in the recent bomb blasts in Guwahati and other places of Assam. "Under the direction of Muslim fundamentalists the ISI is becoming active in Assam which is a cause for concern", Kapoor said. The army chief said if the Bodoland Liberation Tigers and the National Liberation Front of Bodoland (NDFB) could come to the negotiating table "then why not the ULFA". On the ongoing problem with China along the border with Arunachal Pradesh, General Kapoor said two rounds of talks between the Indian and Chinese forces were held so far. "The talks have been cordial and we expect to solve the border problem very soon", he said. The army chief is scheduled to visit the Chinese border areas in Bumla sector of Arunachal Pradesh tomorrow.
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