• Hurriyat Crisis

In its lead news the bilingual Alsafa (04 October 2003) reported "Abbas Ansari, (Chairman, Ansari group) ready to resign", and referred to the statement of Ansari that, “it is unfair and undemocratic to create cracks in the organization for wanting to hold on to the chair. I will go to any extent to forge unity and understanding within the organization.” Very soon, a meeting of the executive council would be held to discuss two important issues and decisions taken accordingly. Meanwhile, reacting to the statement of Anasri, a senior member of Geelani’s group said that it was not the question of resignation from chairmanship but the mind-set of Ansari as chairman of the Hurriyat Conference. The approach of Ansari vis-à-vis Kashmir issue doesn’t qualify a chairman’s character.

Geelani and Anasri are being persuaded to quit the Chairmanship of respective Hurriyat Conferences, reported Alsafa (07 October 2003) in its lead news. "Efforts are being made to persuade Geelani and Ansari to step-down from the Chairmanship of respective groups. Reliable sources told Alsafa that Ansari is likely to agree to this demand. In line with this development, President Jamat-e-islami, Nazir Ahmed Kashani met Chairman JKLF Mohd. Yaseen Malik. Later, Malik and Ashraf Sahari discussed the matter for hours. It continued "Sources said that Malik believes that this could be the only way-out to end the stalemate in the organization. After this, there would a general and executive council meeting to elect the chairman. It is believed that People’s league is also appreciating this move, summed up the report.

• Mufti government

The daily Aftab (08 October 2003) in its lead news reported "Union government was analyzing the political and administrative state of affairs in Kashmir." The Chief Minister, Mufti Mohd. Sayeed’s arrival in Delhi is seen as a very important move. Various sections believe that a few leaders are likely to be investigated for receiving money from foreign countries. It continued "sources also said that intelligence has also provided some vital information and state Government is being kept updated on this front. “Mufti has been asked to make every effort to restore peace in the valley and the Central Government has assured every possible support”, summed up the report.

• Kashmiri leaders

In its editorial the daily Srinagar Times (12 October 2003) commented on the changing colours of the Kashmiri leaders. "Kashmir has become a safe heaven for those who have made a trade of politics. Since 1989 politics in Kashmir has taken a weird turn. The gun came into being. New and young faces entered into politics holding the gun as the only solution to the Kashmir problem. Kashmiri soil has witnessed many leaders in the shape of Dr Farooq, Late Maulana Farooq, Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani, Abdul Gani Lone, Abbas Ansari, Late Qazi Nisar, Abdul Rashid Kabli, Shabir Shah, Azam Inqalabi, Fazal Haq Qureshi, Ghulam Rasool Zabghar and many others. Citing the example of Abdul Rashid Kabli, it read "Kabli started as a youth leader. Taking a cue from Maulana Farooq, he fought assembly elections and won the same. Five years later, he joined Farooq and became the member of Lok Sabha. Militants exploded a grenade at Kabli’s house and he disappeared from the political scene for many years. In 1996, he emerged again as an ambassador. He now became the leader of BJP.” It continued "there are many other leaders who have changed colours like Kabli. After taking an oath on the Indian constitution, Abdul Ghani Lone and Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani observed Republic Day as a black day. Realizing that the gun culture was picking up in the Valley, both formed militant outfits like, Hizbul- Mujahideen, Al-Barq, Al-Jihad and Al-Umar. Having advocated a culture of violence for six long years, Lone, Umar Farooq, Jamat-Islami and JKLF chairman, Yasin Malik, astonishingly, announced that they were fighting a political struggle. Summing up, the editorial questioned "thousands of youth who have been made to take to the gun must be questioning themselves, if the gun was to be dropped why it was picked up in the first place?”

• Increasing Violence

The daily Khadmit (01 October 2003) in its lead news reported attacks carried-out by militants in different parts of the valley "In an attack in border area Poonch, one Special Police Officer (SPO) was killed outside a police station and four others were injured. The militant also died in the attack. There are reports of the killing of a militant in Kishtawar in Doda district. Meanwhile, explosion of half a dozen grenades in Srinagar and Shopian wounded one dozen security forces personnel besides injuring 20 civilians. Among them a few are said to be critically injured.

• Speeches at UN & the hidden objectives behind them

Daily Srinagar Times (15 October 2003) in its editorial commented on the hidden objectives behind the speeches of Indian Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf at the UN General Assembly. "The tone of the Prime Minister changed suddenly. When troops of both countries were facing each other in the Kargil crisis and war between the two was almost unavoidable, amazingly, Vajpayee made no expressions of aggression. As of now, Vajpayee in his speeches was trying to create a hostile atmosphere. At the same time, he (Vajpayee) has maintained silence on the issues of Ayodhya and Ram Mandir, obviously, to add life to these. It appears that, this was happening in line with the elections ahead. It continued, "Musharraf’s statements too were full of aggression. Obviously, the establishments in both countries were involved in gaining political momentum by doing this."