Omar meets Chidambaram

Home minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday is understood to have stressed on the early decision on pruning the list of districts where the Armed Forces Special Powers Act is in force.

Home minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday is understood to have stressed on the early decision on pruning the list of districts where the Armed Forces Special Powers Act is in force.

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Emerging from an hour-long meeting with Chidambaram, J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah said they undertook a "comprehensive review" of the security situation and discussed removal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).

Districts that do not have a significant presence of the armed forces would be taken up first under this exercise.

"We have to see the areas where the footprints of Army was minimal and then go for revocation of the Disturbed Areas Act and subsequently AFSPA," the chief minister said, adding that it would not mean an "overnight revocation" of the laws considered draconian by human rights activists.

"I will return and have a discussion with my cabinet colleagues and officers, after which we can take a decision," he said.