Talks to defuse Siachen tension on the cards: Pranab

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said military-level talks between India and Pakistan would be held to defuse tension in Siachen.

"Pakistan's defence secretary had a discussion in Delhi with our defence secretary in August and it was decided to hold military-level talks between the two countries," he said on the sidelines of the annual general meeting of the Bharat Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata.

On whether talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Siachen would lessen the arms race between the two countries, Muk-herjee said this was not the first time that talks with Pakistan were held on the Siachen issue.

Earlier, eight rounds of talks were held at the defence-secretary level and military-level talks were held twice. Military-level talks would be held again, he said.

On the infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir from across the border, the defence minister said: "Infiltration has reduced. We have been able to prevent both infiltration and exfiltration." Referring to the purchase of bullet-proof jackets for the armed forces, he said the government was discussing and negotiating the matter. "It will take some time.

Defence purchase is not something which can be made at the super market that you can go and buy," he said. "But I do not think that there is an acute shortage of bullet-proof jackets,"' he said.

He said privatisation would not be allowed in the defence sector but the matter could be reconsidered in exceptional cases. "It was the clear policy of the UPA government not to privatise the defence sector," Mukh-erjee said. "But involvement of the private sector will be there, wherever required," he added.

He said the Centre would provide all help for the modernisation and upgradation of ordnance factories. "Although all the 40 ordnance factories in the country do not get any budgetary support, these are giving money back to the government. For their modernisation and expansion, the government will provide sufficient resources," he said and urged the ordnance factories to use their capacities to the fullest.

"We have to reduce our dependence on foreign weapons, for which technological upgradation is required," the defence minister said. On the appointment of a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the minister said the central government had decided not to appoint a CDS. "The day I assumed office I had said I have not decided to appoint a Chief of Defence Staff," he said when asked whether a CDS would be appointed by the government.

On why the appointment of Chief of Defence Staff was being delayed, Mukherjee said "'has anybody in the government said there is going to be a Chief of Defence Staff? What is your source that there will be a Chief of Defence Staff? From where did you get the idea that it is being delayed?"'

He said even during the tenure of the previous government a group of ministers had made a recommendation and after that they were in office for two years. "But they did not take any decision on the appointment of a Chief of Defence Staff."