He said this while addressing a meeting in New Delhi of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his ministry and the subject of the discussion was "matters relating to Jammu and Kashmir".
Union home minister P Chidambaram today said contours of a political solution to the Kashmir problem were expected to emerge in the next few months.
He said this while addressing a meeting in New Delhi of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his ministry and the subject of the discussion was "matters relating to Jammu and Kashmir".
Chidambaram said the first and second reports of the group of interlocutors for Jammu and Kashmir dealt with confidence-building measures and added that he had now asked the group to focus on finding the contours of a political solution.
"Contours of a political solution to the Kashmir problem are likely to emerge in the next few months," an official statement quoted him as saying.
He appreciated the work done by the group of interlocutors and asserted that the "Kashmir issue is a political issue for which a political solution must be found."
However, peace and good governance are pre-requisites for reaching a political solution.
The members on the Consultative Committee suggested amending the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and speedy rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants to which the home minister stated that a proposal to amend the AFSPA is under consideration.
Chidambaram said violence being witnessed in the state was of two types and a different approach must be adopted to deal with each.
"The violence perpetrated by militants and infiltrators must be dealt with in a strong and resolute manner. On the other hand, the violence witnessed during protests by residents of the state requires deft and sensitive handling," he said.
The minister pointed out that after the government announced an 8-point plan for the state recently, the situation there has improved considerably.
"This process must be strengthened. Space must be allowed for peaceful protests. Governance and delivery on the ground must improve," he said and added that visible presence of security forces must be reduced.
The home minister said efforts must be made to win the minds and hearts of the people of the state.
Taking part in the discussion, the MPs welcomed the steps taken by the government to improve the situation in the state and some of them felt efforts must be made to evolve a political consensus on the Kashmir issue at the national level.
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