26/11 on talks agenda: Chidambaram

No difference of opinion in government on holding talks with Pakistan: Home minister

He also said Mumbai attack investigations would figure in the forthcoming foreign secretary-level meeting.

“There is no difference of opinion in the government on holding talks with Pakistan. And my ministry would like to incorporate investigations into the 26/11 attack into the agenda for the foreign secretary-level talks scheduled for February 25,” Chidambaram told a group of women journalists.

He, however, said the agenda had not been finalised and he would not be able to specify what other issues had been included in the list for discussion between the two countries.

When asked whether there had been a change in the government’s stand on holding talks with Pakistan, Chidambaram said: “The minister for external affairs has already clarified that India is going ahead with the talks as Pakistan has taken some positive steps, including filing chargesheets against six or seven people. I will only repeat what he said.”

He maintained that there had been no difference of opinion between him and the minister for external affairs on the issue.

Curb on militancy
He also mentioned that even though infiltration had not waned, militancy-related incidents had come down in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Our policy of keeping Jammu and Kashmir Police in the front and the Central Paramilitary Forces and the Army in rear positions paid off well,” Chidambaram said.

Development work undertaken by the stable state government had also helped in curbing militancy in the valley.

The minister is ready to hold talks with the Naxals if they shun violence. “Let there be no violence for 72 hours, and I am ready for talks,” he said.

There is no dissent from any member of the Union Cabinet on Centre’s anti-Naxal policy.  Trinamool Congress leader and Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee is  against the violence unleashed by Maoists.

Re-establishment of civil administration and development  works should go hand in hand in the Naxal-affected areas. The Centre is in favour of very careful, controlled and calibrated operations so that casualties could be minimised.

He also stressed that state governments should pull out all stops to revamp the police and set up specialised forces to deal with the Maoists.

‘Terror infrastructure in Pak undeterred’
Defence Minister A K Antony said 42 terror camps operating across border with tacit support from the Pakistani establishment remains India’s biggest concern, reports DHNS from Vasco.

The minister said India has taken a “considerate decision” to go ahead with the talks.