: The Union Home Secretary Sushil Kumar Shinde Tuesday rejected Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharifs demand for US intervention to resolve Kashmir issue stating that there was no role for a third party. Asserting that anything that had to happen would happen bilaterally, the Union Home Minister, however, in the same breath obliquely ruled out any possibility of a bilateral dialogue between Indian and Pakistan very soon by stating that a cordial atmosphere was essential for that. Shinde, who was here on a day-long visit to review security situation along IB and LoC in the wake of escalation in ceasefire violations and incursion attempts in Jammu region, was talking to media at BSF camp in Samba. There has been a stand since the period of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru on Jammu and Kashmir that Kashmir is ours...No third party thing can happen. Anything that has to happen has to happen bilaterally, Shinde said. When asked about talks between India and Pakistan in the wake of frequent ceasefire violations and infiltration, Shinde said, There should be atmosphere to have cordial talks. Let us see how we can better create that. Asked about the reasons for the recent spurt in border firing by Pakistan, he said, We dont know what has led to the spurt in ceasefire violations, but we are discussing the matter and will find out. In a query pertaining to increased infiltration attempts, the Union Home Minister stated that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed could be visiting areas of LoC to abet infiltration. It is true that information suggests Hafiz Saeed could be visiting areas of LoC to abet infiltration, he said. Replying to another question whether India would talk tough with Pakistan over ceasefire violations and shelling along the border or maintain a compromising position, Shinde said, Whenever there is a good policy, we talk of compromise. We cannot become tougher by talking tough. Action is being taken whenever other side breaks the peace along the border. It is not that we are not taking action. We have taken action and we have proved it. On criticism that India has always been at receiving end, Shinde said, We cannot say that we are always at receiving end. We have to compromise sometimes, but if they (Pakistan) take an uncompromising position, we will deal with them accordingly. The Union Home Minister said the matter had been taken up in flag meetings. I have surveyed areas along the border today, even those from where infiltration took place recently, he added. He admitted that there was spurt in infiltration. Yes, there is more infiltration as compared to past times. But, the forces are ready to face any situation, he asserted. Shinde added, We cant be tougher by only saying so. We are taking action to that effect. He said India always maintained that Kashmir was an integral part of the country. No third party thing can work. Anything that has to happen has to happen bilaterally, he said. On providing security to residents of border areas, the home minister said shelters would have to be created by the state government for the civilians when they feel threatened and frightened. Earlier, while addressing the BSF troops at BSF Camp in Samba, Shinde said that Centre was worried over the increased infiltration this year in Jammu and Kashmir. Looking at last years record, we are not worried. This year, however, we are worried because of the increased infiltration. I have been discussing this with my officers about the reasons behind the infiltration, he said. While interacting with the troops, Shinde expressed governments full support for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and said they had been granted the status of ex-servicemen like their counterparts in the defence services. The CAPF are not given the status of ex-servicemen like the defence forces. When I said this to the Prime Minister, he asked me to bring a note regarding this in the Cabinet. You all will be happy to know that CAPF have been granted the status of ex-servicemen, Shinde said. He also said that the Ministry was considering extending few more benefits to CAPF personnel. The Home Minister also sought to boost the morale of forces saying the government was aware of the hardships faced by them while guarding the country and would take steps to address their issues. The Home Minister told the jawans that he had brought the message of the Prime Minister that the government, the entire nation was with the soldiers fighting the enemies and safeguarding the border. The whole country stands by you, Shinde said. Shinde arrived here Tuesday morning on a days visit to take stock of the security situation in the wake of frequent ceasefire violations along the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu region. 136 ceasefire violations have been reported so far this year, the highest in the past eight years. Even yesterday, Pakistani Rangers opened fire at 10 border posts, injuring a BSF jawan and an SPO. Because of these violations, the Union Home Minister did not go to any forward post and confined himself to meeting BSF personnel in Samba district. Yet he accompanied by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other senior officers had an aerial survey of the areas in Akhnoor, Samba, R S Pura and Hiranagar sectors where ceasefire violation by Pakistan troops was causing great difficulties for common people. Shinde landed at the technical area of Jammu airport in the morning along with Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami, other senior home ministry officials and Subhash Joshi, Director General (DG) of Border Security Force (BSF). From Jammu airport, Shinde along with the state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the team of union ministry officials flew in a chopper to Samba town where Shinde reviewed the situation on the International Border with senior BSF officials. He took a security meeting with top BSF field commanders at the Samba headquarters of the paramilitary force. The BSF officers briefed them at Samba about the prevailing situation in the border areas and violation of ceasefire by Pakistan Rangers. BSF officers presented detailed account of the measures put in place by the Border Security Force in this regard. Divisional Commissioner Jammu and IGP Jammu were also present in the briefing. At BSF camp in Samba, the Union Home Minister and the Chief Minister also interacted with media and received memoranda from various delegations led by Minister of State for Cooperation, Manohar Lal and legislators Subhash Gupta and Durga Dass. Shinde, accompanied by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other senior officials, also visited the Hira Nagar police station where four policemen and two civilians were killed by three militants on September 26 this year. The militants had later stormed Mehsar army camp in Samba where they killed three soldiers and a Lieutenant Colonel, before being gunned down by army commandos. The Union Minister also visited the Mehsar army camp area. Before flying back to the union capital this evening, the Union Home Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde along with the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reviewed the prevailing security situation in the state at a high level meeting here. Matters relating to violation of ceasefire by Pakistan Rangers and the difficulties caused to civilian by the shelling in border and LOC areas were also discussed in the meeting in detail. He flew back to the union capital in the evening. News Updated at : Wednesday, October
Posted on: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 07:39:38 +0000
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