Centre to talk to every section of political opinion: P Chidambaram

Making a fresh bid to reach out to separatists in Jammu and Kashmir, home minister P Chidambaram today said Government will hold talks with every section of political opinion in the state through "quiet dialogue, quiet diplomacy" to find a political solution to the Kashmir problem that may be "unique".

"We are not shying away from talks with anyone," Chidambaram said while interacting with journalists at the All India Editors Conference on Social and Infrastrastructure issues here.
      
"Let me assure you it will be quiet dialogue, quiet diplomacy until we find the contours of a political solution. Once the broad contours of a political solution are arrived at, it will be made public at an appropriate time", he said while refusing to elaborate on it. "We cannot hold the dialogue in the glare of the media".
      
"We will hold dialogue with every shade of political opinion in Jammu and Kashmir to find a solution in a civilised way," he said.

Chidambaram said political parties like National Conference, PDP and Congress have a point of view and the effort would be to hold talks with all shades of political opinion, including some political groups advocating separatism, to arrive at the contours of a political solution which may be unique.
       
Such a solution, he said, should be "honourable and acceptable" to the vast majority of the people in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Jammu and Kashmir has a unique geographical location and a unique history. We have to find a solution that may turn out to be unique.

"There is nothing wrong with a unique solution but we must find a solution that is honourable, equitable and acceptable to the vast majority, overwhelming majority of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," Chidambaram said.
   
To a question if India considered Kashmir as its integral part, he refused to get into "verbal gymnastics" on the issue, saying he would not like to get into "these kind of traps".

He acknowledged that there is a "problem" in J-K and efforts will be made to find a political solution.
   
On the security scenario in the border state, he said infiltration from Pakistani territory and PoK was "solely" responsible for violence in the state adding that it was difficult to completely control it because of long border and Line of Control with the neighbouring country.

He said the Jammu and Kashmir police, backed by paramilitary forces, was now being made responsible for maintenance of peace. Army's role, he said, is to defend the borders -- international border as also the LoC.

The home minister said there has been significant successes on the part of the security forces in the last few months in stopping infiltration from across the border.

The security forces were doing "better and better" to contain the influx of terrorists into the country though groups across the border were recruiting young men and brainwashing them to pursue Jehad and create mayhem in India.
  
According to statistics, so-called militant commanders were being neutralised in six months to a year's time by the security forces who were all out to reduce infiltration to the barest minimum, he said.