Can’t set deadline for lifting AFSPA: Antony

Can’t set deadline for lifting AFSPA: Antony

On a day Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah lobbied with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram for partial removal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from certain areas of his State, Defence Minister AK Antony made it clear that since the security situation remains serious there, they cannot take chances and cannot set any deadline for lifting the Act.

Omar, who had met Antony on Sunday, however, insisted there was scope for addressing concerns of Armed forces while still allowing for the Act’s removal. The Congress Core Group too met to discuss the issue.

“On our side, my opinion is that this being a very sensitive issue. Let us handle it in a very mature and cool manner,” Antony told mediapersons in reply to questions on the issue of withdrawal of AFSPA in certain areas of the State.

The Defence Minister said he had “very frank” and “very fruitful” discussions with Abdullah on Sunday but it remained inconclusive. He said inter-Governmental consultations are taking place and discussions on the issue will continue.

To a question on the security situation in the State, the Defence Minister said it was much better. “But considering that the infiltration attempts from across the border are continuing, we have to be careful 24/7,” he said.

Asked if the AFSPA issue would come up at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security this week, he said, “Don’t put any time limit.”

Omar, who met the Prime Minister and Home Minister, also made it clear that he was not in the “business of playing politics with national security”, nor would he do so ever in future.

“I believe that there is ample opportunity to address the concerns of armed forces while still allowing us to go ahead with the position that we have taken which is keeping with what the Cabinet Committee on Security recommended almost a year ago,” he said after a meeting with Chidambaram.

The Chief Minister dismissed the suggestion that by raking the AFSPA he was trying to deflect other issues facing his Government and said he has been raising the AFSPA issue ever since be became the Chief Minister three years ago.

The Congress Core Group including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party chief Sonia Gandhi too held intense consultations.