ndia is determined to strengthen friendly and cross border trade relations with its all neighbouring countries especially with Pakistan. Various steps are on the anvil to enhance immigration of passengers and cross border trade between both parts of Jammu an Kashmir through Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing point. This was stated by Union Home Minister, Mr. Susheel Kumar Shinde during his visit to Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing point in Poonch today while addressing traders. Responding to demands of traders , Home Minister assured full help from the Centre and promised to remove all hurdles in the path of strengthening of cross-LoC trade with Pakistan. Shinde also reviewed the security situation in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri at Poonch. The Home Minister also visited Suchetgarh and interacted with several delegations before flying to Srinagar. During his visit to Suchetgarh the Union Home Minister took stock of overall security scenario in the Octroi Post on International Border. He also inspected various units of the post and interacted with the BSF commanders and jawans. Shinde expressed satisfaction over a notable decline in infiltration graph of the state and lauded the security forces for foiling the attempts of infiltration with a firm determination and added vigour. Later, the Union Minister interacted with top brass of Border Security Force (BSF) and got a detailed description about the security set-up in the region.

he Centre has decided to allow Maoist-hit states to hire helicopters on their own from private firms to use them for anti-Naxal operations till it acquires eight Mi-17V-5 choppers. Home Ministry officials said in New Delhi, the Central government would reimburse all the expenses to be incurred by the state governments in hiring the helicopters. These will primarily be used for casualty evacuation, emergency reinforcement of forces and transportation of medicine and other supplies. They said, the Home Ministry will give up to 15 crore rupees per annum to each of the Naxal-affected states for hiring helicopters. Ministry officials feel that with that much of fund, a state can get 30 hours flying time of choppers every month.

India today attributed the failure of the signing of an agreement with Pakistan on new liberalized visa regime to some delay in the procedure in that country and Pakistani Interior Minister's desire for political participation in the exercise.

Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai told mediapersons in New Delhi that India had gone to the Home Secretary-level talks in Islamabad fully prepared to sign the visa agreement as per the decision taken during the discussion between Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in April this year. Mr.Mathai added that both sides had attached a lot of importance on signing the visa agreement.

Replying to a question, Mathai said Pakistan had invited Home Minister P Chidambaram who had said that he would visit that country at a convenient time.

In Islamabad, Malik said an agreement on the new liberalised visa regime with India will not be inked during the ongoing Home Secretary-level talks suggesting that the pact should be concluded at the political level.

Rehman Malik made these remarks after meeting the Indian delegation led by Home Secretary R K Singh who is in Islamabad for talks with Pakistan's Interior Secretary Khwaja Siddique
Akbar.

Concerned over poor telephone connectivity in remote Naxal-affected areas, the government is planning to install 2,200 mobile towers in nine Maoist-hit states by the end of this year. 

Following a request by the Home Ministry, the Department of Telecommunication has roped in the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited to carry out the ambitious project to strengthen the mobile telephone network by setting up the towers in remote inaccessible areas where Maoists have a strong presence. 

Official sources said, the towers will be set up in consultations with the state governments near establishments of security forces, police stations or other secured locations as the Naxals have often been targeting such towers in the past. 

The proposal will be submitted before the Union Cabinet soon and once it gets approval, work will start immediately.

They said, the states that will benefit from the project include Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal and Maharashtra.