Centre mulling various options for JK, including talks

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The Centre today reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir where various options, including initiating peace talks, to bring back normalcy in the restive Kashmir Vally were discussed.
The meeting, chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and attended by NSA Ajit Doval besides others, took stock of the prevailing situation in the state, which saw massive violence during the April 9 bypoll to Srinagar Lok Sabha seat.
The top brass was given a detailed presentation on the critical situation the Kashmir Valley is facing and the steps taken to restore normalcy there, official sources said.
During the meeting it was discussed whether peace dialogue with any separatist groups wielding influence on the protesters could be initiated.

The Home Minister had already announced that the central government was ready for talks with anyone within the framework of the Constitution, an offer the separatists are not ready to accept.
However, the idea of dialogue hit a dead-lock as no group could be identified in breaking the cycle of violence that has engulfed the Valley since July 8 last year when poster boy of Hizbul Mujahideen terror group Burhan Wani was gunned down during an encounter in south Kashmir.

The meeting discussed how to deal with the series of videos which portray security forces in bad lights. Sources said authenticity of the videos are also a matter of serious question as many of them were posted in social media sites from Pakistan.

The security brass also discussed the reports of "deep planning" in Pakistan to vitiate the atmosphere in the Kashmir Valley and incite insurgents to target local police personnel and their families, the sources said.
Meanwhile, the sources added that the Home Ministry has received a report of a team of "concerned citizens" led by former External Affairs Minister and senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha on Kashmir.
The group that visited the Valley twice last year on a fact-finding mission has recommended "multi-dimensional dialogue" that includes talks with Hurriyat should be "initiated at the earliest" and has asked the government to improve human rights situation and resuscitate democratic linkages between with people and allow Kashmiris to assemble and meet to hold discussions.

However, so far there is no discussion or decision on the Sinha-led panel's report at any level in the government, the sources said.