Although his visit to the state has been called off, Home Minister Shivraj Patil today chaired a meeting to discuss the situation in J-K.Comprising senior Home Ministry officials, the Army and the Intelligence Bureau, the group also discussed the issue of restarting talks with separatist leaders.According to MoS for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal, the meeting had earlier been scheduled to take stock of the situation prior to the Prime Minister’s visit. But with both the PM and Patil’s visits being called off, it was turned into a ‘‘general briefing’’ on Kashmir.On the reported increase in militant activities as well as the surge in infiltration, Jaiswal said: ‘‘The situation may not be termed good but it is not that bad either. As far as infiltration is considered, we knew that it will increase once the snow starts melting.’’On talks with the Hurriyat Conference, he said no decision has been taken so far as the conglomerate was settling its own internal problems.‘‘Let the dust settle down, things will start emerging clearer and clearer,’’ he said.The Army, for its part, gave a detailed briefing to the Home Minister and explained the present situation on the Line of Control. Patil was also apprised of the developments in the dialogue process with Pakistan and the talks held by Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri with J-K separatist leaders during his visit to New Delhi. The meeting was also attended by Home Secretary Dhirendra Singh, Centre’s representative on J-K N.N. Vohra, Vice-Chief of Army staff Shantonu Chowdhury and Director of Intelligence Bureau A.K. Doval. Director General of CRPF J.K. Sinha and Additional Director General of BSF A.K. Mitra too were present.
