NEW DELHI, June 28: Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was briefed by the army chief on Monday about developments in Kashmir, a move notable for its timing with the successful conclusion of rare talks on the Kashmir dispute with Pakistan.
Dr Singh, who presided over his first meeting of the cabinet committee on security (CCS), was briefed by Gen N.C. Vij about the situation along the country's borders, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, reports said.
The hands on prime minister held the meeting at the Army Headquarters' operations room. During the Vajpayee administration the CCS would invariably meet at the prime minister's residence.
Gen Vij briefed Dr Singh and his cabinet colleagues with the help of maps and models depicting the Line of Control and the China border. Significantly, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who attended the meeting, was scheduled to visit Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, ostensibly to probe the recent killings of civilians in the Poonch sector.
Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh also attended the meeting. Press Trust of India said Dr Singh was also briefed about the ongoing armed forces' modernization drive and defence acquisition plans.
Dr Singh has warned that the shadow of terrorism would continue to dog the peace process with Pakistan but that would not deter Delhi from moving on with the dialogue. Official sources believe India and Pakistan are considering formalizing their ceasefire along the Line of Control with an agreement.
