Chidambaram in Jammu to review security situation

JAMMU - Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram arrived here Wednesday to review the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and hold discussions on the proposed surrender and rehabilitation policy for militants returning from Pakistan administered Kashmir.

Chidambaram, who arrives here less than a week after announcing the acceptance of the state’s policy on the amnesty, has been monitoring developments in Jammu and Kashmir as part of the overall national strategy to tackle militancy.

He will be attending a meeting of the unified command, a strategic group comprising representatives of the army, paramilitary forces, police and intelligence agencies.

“The main focus would be on the developing situation and how the surrender and rehabilitation policy could help improve situation in the valley,” according to a senior official aware of the agenda of the meeting.

The official told IANS on condition of anonymity that recent incidents in the valley and their response too would come up for discussion.

Infiltration from across the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan, violence in parts of Srinagar and the growing phenomenon of protest demonstrations would be on the table for discussions.

The home minister, who is slated to leave Wednesday Jammu after his meetings, would also be outlining his vision about Kashmir in 2010 and how to increase the sense of security amongst people as well as isolating militants and their overground sympathisers.

It is Chidambaram’s third visit to Jammu and Kashmir since he announced “quiet talks” with “all shades of opinion” in Kashmir, including separatists, in October last year.

On Feb 7, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah declared that the government should seriously consider the return of militants from Pakistan administered Kashmir to bring normalcy to the state. “It was the need of the hour,” he said.

On Feb 11, Chidambaram endorsed the state’s policy and said that steps would be taken for its implementation.