Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, replying to a discussion in the Lok Sabha on July 22, stated that the government will be alert against the menace of terrorism emanating from across the border. He added that India’s objectives were three-fold - raise the level of preparedness to meet any terror threat; respond swiftly and decisively to any terror threat or any terror attack; and guard against terror.

On Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Chidambaram stated that the Army would continue to be deployed whenever there was a terrorist threat. He clarified that he had never made any statement implying that the Army should be withdrawn. On the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, he stated that the government would revisit the issue at an appropriate time1.

• 1. “Army to stay in J&K: PC,” Daily Excelsior, July 23, 2009, at http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/09july23/news1.htm#3