PC vows to crush terror in Kashmir

Cautioning against the designs of terror groups in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) “to forcibly annex Kashmir”, the Centre on Sunday made it clear that “those dark forces” would be defeated. 

Addressing the Chief Ministers Conference on internal security here, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said since the beginning of this year, there has been an increase in the number of attempts by militants to enter the country.

In the backdrop of a meeting held on February 4 at Muzaffarabad in PoK and attended by militant groups including the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, the home minister said it was clear that these groups are implacably opposed to India. “These dark forces will not succeed in their designs. We will defeat them whenever and wherever we confront them”, he said.

Later, addressing a press conference, Chidambaram said he did not agree that there was any disconnect between the external affairs ministry and the home ministry on the handing of internal security. 

Chidambaram, who got a word of praise from Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi  on Sunday, said it was heartening that all the states were “on the same page” on the issue of internal security.  On a question whether the Thackerays’ comments were not a greater threat to internal security than those coming form across the border, he said the twin threats need to be dealt with differently.

On naxalism, Chidambaram said  the Centre would  encourage state governments to talk to the naxalites if they abjured violence. The home ministry had circulated a questionnaire to states in the run up to the conference.  The questionnaire sought information under 15 heads.  All the 35 states and UTs have sent their responses.