Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in an interview to the London-based Financial Times stated that he favoured troop levels in the state to be reduced to numbers that existed prior to 1989. He however added that the central government cannot reduce troop levels due to the upswing in infiltration attempts1.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram told reporters in Srinagar on June 12 that the central government would start a process of dialogue with stake-holders in the state at “an appropriate time.” On the issue of infiltration from across the LoC and IB, Mr. Chidambaram noted that militants were continuously trying to sneak in but the Army has been able to neutralize most of them over the past couple of months. On the possibility of revoking the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), he stated that the issue will be looked into after discussions with the PM and the Defence Minister2. The Home Minister ruled out the presence of any Taliban militants in the state3.

Earlier on June 11, the Home Minister stated that the central government would like the J and K Police to play the primary role in maintaining law and order in the state and that he would prefer to see paramilitary forces like CRPF play a secondary role4.

• 1. “Omar Abdullah favours pre-1989 era troop levels in J&K,” Daily Excelsior, June 9, 2009, at http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/09june09/newsupdate.htm#1
• 2. “Talks with separatists at appropriate time: PC,” Daily Excelsior, June 13, 2009, at http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/09june13/news.htm#1
• 3. “No Taliban in Kashmir, infiltration from PoK going on; Chidambaram,” Daily Excelsior, June 12, 2009, at http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/09june12/newsupdate.htm#3
• 4. “Police to get primary role in law and order: PC,” Daily Excelsior, June 12, 2009, at http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/09june12/news.htm#1