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Advani talks tough on passports
for Hurriyat team: PTI

"Those who ought to get passports will get them and if it is their precondition, that they would go to Pakistan only if all are issued passports, then let them not go. That is their decision," he said in an interview to the Hindi weekly Panchajanya, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh mouthpiece.

Stating that the government was adopting a firm attitude in various matters relating to the troubled state, he dismissed suggestions that the government's preparedness for talks with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, including militants, was a sign of weakness.

He also made it clear that the government was firm against holding tripartite talks on Kashmir, despite militants breaking off earlier parleys on this issue. "There is no question of tripartite talks and that is the end of the matter".

In the interview, Advani also emphasised the need to accept the concept of `federal crime' to help the Centre effectively tackle anti-national activities, including those of the Inter-Service Intelligence. He said that though the states had not accepted the idea at a conference of chief ministers, the Centre would again make efforts in this direction.

Advani said that what was being witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir was a proxy war. He said it was easier to win a war than fight a proxy war, which takes longer and costs dearly as is happening at present. "But, we are determined to control terrorism, which they also call a 'jihad' and end it," he said.

Referring to the situation in Kashmir, he said that unless and until Kashmiri Hindus returned to the valley and lived peacefully, the government would not consider the situation to be normal.

The minister said that during the last two years many ISI agents were nabbed or killed. This had not happened on such a scale before. The Intelligence Bureau had done good work, he said.

However, the menace could be tackled by creating public awareness of the dangers posed to the nation's security through anti-national elements, he said.

Advani said vote bank politics had caused immense harm to the nation. He said that till three years back, even the mention of the ISI was not considered proper, but the situation had now changed.

The complete coverage: The ceasefire in Jammu & Kashmir

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