The Hindu : Front Page : Quiet diplomacy in J&K will consider all issues: Chidambaram

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Quiet diplomacy in J&K will consider all issues: Chidambaram

New Delhi: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Sunday said the “quiet diplomacy” promised with “every shade of political opinion” in Jammu and Kashmir will consider “everything that is brought to the table.”

He indicated that the separatist Hurriyat Conference will also be part of the dialogue that will also cover issues like autonomy in the State.

He also said the issue of amendments to the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), which the State would like withdrawn, was before the Cabinet.

However, Mr. Chidambaram refused to discuss the road map for the dialogue he had promised to the people of Jammu and Kashmir during his recent visit to Srinagar or the issues that may come up in that.

“We are not discussing this. If we discuss this, it is not quiet diplomacy. As I said there are many sides of political opinion in Jammu and Kashmir. We will consult every shade of political opinion. But it will be done quietly, far away from the glare of the media,” he said in an interview to PTI.

Asked when the exercise would begin, Mr. Chidambaram said he could not discuss the starting date or the ending date.

About the issues that may be discussed in the dialogue, he said, “Let us see, we will talk to every one and then the issues will be thrown up in those talks.”

Asked whether the issues would include the restoration of autonomy, which the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly had unanimously demanded in a resolution passed in 2000 during Farooq Abdullah’s Chief Ministership, he said, “As I said, anything that is brought to the table will be considered and the table will be away from the media.”

Asked about the withdrawal of forces from the Valley, Mr. Chidambaram said the situation was improving every day and the Centre had withdrawn some battalions of paramilitary forces.

“But these are operational decisions taken by the Unified Command there. There are times when the number of security personnel will be enhanced, there are times when it will be reduced.” — PTI

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