PDP may have its way on troop level

The political crisis in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to blow over after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's assurance that the Centre will the number of troops deployed in the state. There were also indications of demilitarisation of civilian areas in the, soon after summer sets in.

The prime minister's assurance to Mufti Mohammad Sayeed "" the leader of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP), the partner in the Congress-led government in the State "" comes in a letter sent to him last week.

Singh's summer deadline has reportedly gone down well with the PDP leaders, who had been threatening to withdraw from the alliance government in the state over the issue.

The indications of all is going to be well came as the Mufti readily accepted the last-minute invitation to the dinner hosted by the prime minister for his UPA partners here today.

On his arrival here today, the Mufti said, "Every day counts... Small beginning matters and it has to be made... All I want the Centre to understand is that the some modalities needs to be worked out (and) make it clear that we are not in favour of any window dressing."

Sources told Business Standard that the invitation from the Prime Minister came as soon as he had arrived here. The Mufti is likely to have a luncheon meeting with Singh tomorrow, to "sort out the irritants between the two parties".

Earlier in the day, Singh summoned state Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, reportedly, to apprise himself of the situation.

The PDP sources said the Mufti is likely to ask for a mechanism "" probably a committee "" that should look at troops' deployment, periodically, in the state.

The PDP leaders are likely to ignore the angry rebuttals the chief minister had been sending them with his ''no-troop-withdrawal'' position.