Patil has new J-K take: Pak behind Hurriyat delay in yes to talks

The statement said it would be the Government’s endeavour to involve more local groups with different opinions in the dialogue process. According to the Minister’s statement, though the UPA government had announced its commitment to continue the dialogue process in Jammu and Kashmir, ‘‘so far Hurriyat leaders have not come forward for talks as they have some genuine difficulties.’’

‘‘There have been attacks on some of the (Hurriyat) leaders, their relatives and institutions/properties belonging to them.’’

Pakistan was also accused of launching another attempt to regain control of the separatist movement by trying to unite, if possible, both factions of the Hurriyat under the leadership of Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

‘‘It is an established fact that Pakistan has been controlling the level of cross-border terrorism and infiltration emanating from its soil. While cross-border infiltration has come down as compared to last year, Pakistan has not taken any concrete steps to dismantle the infrastructure and offensive capabilities of terrorist groups operating from its side,’’ the statement added.

In this connection, the Home Minister pointed out that the communication infrastructure among militants across the border and within Jammu Kashmir was intact.

‘‘In other words, Pakistan continues to retain the capability to calibrate the levels of cross-border terrorism and infiltration directed against India, while simultaneously retaining the deniability advantage to ward off international pressure,’’ he added in his written statement.

On the ongoing violence in Jammu and Kashmir, he said that though the first nine months of this year have witnessed a perceptibly lower level of violence and tension in the state, there have also been some disturbing indications like low kill ratio of killed militants, the continuing propensity of militants to indulge in demonstrative actions and their growing reliance of overground workers to carry out their strikes. ‘‘There has been a change in terrorists’ strategy and instead of directly confronting the security forces, they are resorting to increased use of IEDs and grenades,’’ he said.

The Government, he said, was making all out efforts to reduce elements of terror and restore normalcy in the state, not ruling out even an internal ceasefire ‘‘if the situation so arises.’’

‘‘As a matter of fact, we are trying to protect the life and property of people and when situation so arises, we will consider such a step,’’ he told reporters after visiting the Octroi Post on the Suchetgarh-Sialkot Road in the R S Pura Sector.

Earlier, Patil said Musharraf’s latest Kashmir proposal could be considered if it were to come through proper channels. ‘‘Right now there is no authentic version available. Musharraf talked about this during an iftaar party in Islamabad. Let a proposal come through the Pakistan government. Only then will our government examine and decide.’’