Thaindian News

New Delhi, Nov 15 (IANS) Defence Minister A.K. Antony Tuesday reviewed the country’s internal and external security situation with the armed forces chiefs, when the demand for withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from some parts of Jammu and Kashmir is said to have come up for discussion.

Antony met navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma, army chief General Vijay Kumar Singh and air force chief Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne and they discussed the present overall security situation, defence ministry officials said.

The outcome of the security review, held every month, was not known, though.

The meeting comes in the backdrop of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah making a push for lifting of AFSPA from parts of the state in view of improved security situation in some of the districts.

AFSPA provides unbridled powers to the armed forces fighting insurgency in the state.

Abdullah met the top government figures including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Antony over the last three days to discuss his proposal for AFSPA’s partial withdrawal.

The army chief also called on him in the morning when the issue figured in the discussions.

Among other issues said to have come up at the Antony-convened meeting with the service chiefs, also attended by Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma, included infiltration attempts from across the border into Jammu and Kashmir.

Antony had on Monday said that the attempts at infiltration by militants into Kashmir were continuing and the security forces need to maintain 24X7 vigil in the border state.