In an effort to put a check on terrorism, last Nov. 4 Pakistan's government outlawed 6 groups of Islamic fundamentalist militants based in the country's Kashmir region.
The six groups were identified as: Tehreek-e-Islami, Millat-e-Islami, Khudam ul-Islam, Hezbul Tehrir, Jamiat ul Furqan and Jamiat ul-Ansar. The former, known to be pro-Taliban, had representative offices in Pakistan and Great Britain. The other five groups, already banished once before, were reorganized under new names while maintaining their old programs.
The news was positively received by the government in New-Delhi, although related to internal matters. However it has strengthened a climate of trust between India and Pakistan which led to a ceasefire ordinance in effect the last ten days.
Meanwhile, Indian prime minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, has confirmed his January visit to Pakistan. The Pakistani premier, Zafarullah Khan Jamai, commented that the news was "a very positive development."
Notwithstanding, refugees refrain from returning to villages located along the border of the two Kashmir regions, where life is in a state of complete abandonment: with homes destroyed, no infrastructure, and crops uncultivated. (PB)