Interlocutors report on Kashmir to be made public in January

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today said the government is open to dialogue with separatists in Jammu and Kashmir and once the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is thoroughly briefed on the report of the J&K interlocutors, it will be made public and that is most probably in early January.

"The CCS has been briefed on the report only once. Once it has been briefed thoroughly, the report would be made public. We are open to dialogue with separatists. If they are ready for talks, so are we. The channels of talks are still open, " Mr Chidambaram told at a news conference called to present a monthly report of his Ministry.

The interlocutors submitted their report to Mr Chidambaram in October this year.The report was called for review of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and gradual withdrawal of Disturbed Areas Act from certain parts of the Kashmir valley.The report, however, stayed away from the contentious issues of ‘azadi’ and autonomy, saying the clock cannot be turned back in the Valley.The panel comprised senior journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, academician Radha Kumar and Information Commissioner M M Ansari.The trio were appointed on October 13 last year, when the Kashmir situation had turned grim following street protests and the killing of more than 100 youths.