No ceasefire against ultras in J-K: Fernandes

Speaking on the sidelines of the Sixth Asian Security Conference, he said: ‘‘There is no proposal to announce a ceasefire in operations against militants even as an Id gesture.’’

The Defence Minister said New Delhi hopes to have more interaction with Islamabad, which would mainly focus on bilateral trade and commerce. Elaborating on defence purchases, he said the Centre plans to go ahead with the current modernisation and procurement drive. For which, he added, the Ministry has proposed a substantial defence capital outlay.

Fernandes said the greatest concern in the world today was from WMDs falling into the hands of non-state actors either through clandestine means or by covert connivance of a deviant regime.