Defence Secretary may submit Kashmir demilitarisation report by month end

Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt today wrapped up his two-day visit of Jammu and Kashmir, and is likely to submit a report on the issue of demilitarisation by the end of the month.

By Sudhakar Jagdish

New Delhi/Srinagar, July 6 : Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt today wrapped up his two-day visit of Jammu and Kashmir, and is likely to submit a report on the issue of demilitarisation by the end of the month.

Dutt, who is heading an expert panel appointed by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to carry out an in-depth assessment of the ground situation in the State, visited Poonch, Baramulla, Kupwara and Awantipora.

The panel would determine whether there is need to relocate and reconfigure the deployment of security forces in the State.

In Srinagar, Dutt held detailed discussions with Army and State officials, including Director General of Military Operations. Representatives from Defence Ministry and Union Home Ministry were also present in the meeting.

"At the meetings, threat perceptions to the internal security of the country were ascertained," a senior Defence Ministry official said.

Defence Minister A K Antony has already expressed his concern over the spurt in terrorist infiltration. The successful infiltration bid by militants from across the border in J and K trebled to 79 in April 2007, as compared to the same month of previous year. However, during May the figure remained almost same vis-�-vis May, 2006. arlier, Antony had said that the any decision on demilitarisation will be taken as per the recommendation of the expert panel, and the panel would ensure that "cardinal aspects of security are not compromised in any manner."

The Army has already expressed its reservation on the issue and has said that the "time is not ripe to pull out the troops from the State", in spite of remarkable improvement of the situation in the State.

On March 30, Prime Minister Dr. Singh formed this expert panel along with a review committee for the application of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act to different areas of the State, after People's Democratic Party (PDP) voiced its demand for withdrawal of troops from the State and even threatened to pull out from the Congress-led coalition in the State.

Though there was no deadline given for the committee to submit its report, it is likely that this would be Dutt's last visit to the Valley before he submits his report this month.

After the Defence Secretary submits its report, a high power committee headed by the Defence Minister, and comprising representatives of the Central and State governments, would take decisions on the recommendations of the expert panel.

ANI