Shinde blames Hafiz Saeed for rise in infiltration

Speaking to reporters in Samba on the sidelines of a BSF Sainik Sammelan,Shinde said intelligence reports confirmed Saeed’s visits to LoC areas on the Pakistani side to abet infiltration.

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“Going by last year’s figures,there is certainly more infiltration this time. However,the security forces are ready to face any situation,” he said.

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Denying that the UPA government was being soft on Pakistan,he said,“We cannot be tougher only by saying so… we are taking action to that effect.” Asked about the reason for the spurt in border firing by Pakistan,he said,“I am discussing the matter with my officers and we will find out.”

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Shinde also ruled out any third party intervention on Kashmir. “Kashmir is ours and there will be no third party intervention… anything that has to happen has to happen bilaterally,” he said.

Centre should explore other options: Omar

Responding to Pakistan’s references Monday to UN resolutions on Kashmir,highly placed Indian sources said that Pakistan should avoid duplicitous behaviour.

“They should not make references to the UN when both sides are discussing Kashmir as part of the composite dialogue process. Instead,Pakistan should create conditions conducive for resuming the composite dialogue,” the sources,travelling with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,said in Beijing.

At the Sainik Sammelan,Shinde announced that the central government has decided to extend ex-servicemen’s facilities to members of central armed police forces on the pattern of those made available to the Army.

Shinde,accompanied by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah,also visited the Army camp in Maheshar and the police station in Hira Nagar which were attacked by terrorists last month.

Shinde also co-chaired the Unified Headquarters meeting in Jammu with Abdullah.