New Delhi: Asserting that the dialogue process between India and Pakistan would not be derailed by an isolated militant action, Home Minister Shivraj Patil today (May 29, 2004) said infiltration along the Indo-Pak border had not stopped completely.

"The talks (with Pakistan) will continue. One incident cannot derail the peace process. It cannot change the Government's policy in this regard or scare us," he told reporters after meeting five Border Security Force (BSF) jawans, injured in the attack on a convoy on Srinagar-Jammu highway on May 23, at Safdarjung Hospital here.

Asked whether the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government would remain pro-active in fighting militancy, Patil said, "Being pro-active does not just mean using the security apparatus. It also means political and economic efforts."

The security situation was "under constant observation. The attacks might be an attempt to sabotage the peace process", he said while referring to May 23 militant attack in which 29 BSF personnel and their family members were killed after the vehicle they were travelling in came under an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack by militants.

The Union Home Minister said infiltration along the borders had not stopped completely. "It has not completely stopped but I do not want to comment on whether it has declined or escalated. Our endeavour will be to stop infiltration completely."

To a question as to why there was a delay in visiting the injured, Patil said the incident had been condemned from the very beginning. The Union Cabinet at its first meeting had condemned the incident.

"There was no delay in reacting to the incident. I have been condemning the attacks since day one," Patil said.

Asserting that adequate assistance will be given to the injured, he said, "Those who have sacrificed their lives as well as the injured BSF personnel and their family members will be given help."

"There is a law advocating for their assistance. Apart from that the Government will provide them all possible help," he said.

To a question as to why People's Democratic Party (PDP), Congress ally in Jammu and Kashmir, had failed to condemn the incident even after five days, Patil said, "Maybe they have and the media has not carried it."

There has been no statement from either Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed or PDP president Mehbooba Mufti in this regard.