Srinagar blasts will not derail Indo-Pak peace process: Duggal

New Delhi, July 11 (UNI) The Centre today said the serial grenade attacks in Srinagar will not affect the ongoing Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and the process process with Pakistan, and claimed that the security agencies have definite leads about those behind the incidents which claimed seven lives and left 31 injured.

Union Home Secretary V K Duggal told mediapersons here that no organisation had claimed responsibility for the five grenade blasts that rocked Srinagar, but the security agencies were confident that they had leads and would get those behind the incident immediately.

''The CBMs will continue. The peace process will not be slowed down because of today's incidents,'' he said.

''At the same time, we will continue with strongest measures against those who are involved in terrorist activities,'' Mr Duggal said.

Mr Duggal said the CBMs had made impact on the people. ''Nothing comes easy. It will take time to take on forces trying to derail the ongoing peace process.'' Terming the incidents a cowardly act, he said it was unfortunate that innocent people and unsuspecting tourists were the target of attack.

He said the government was more concerned because the militants chose to attack ''the softest of soft'' targets. ''This makes us work hard.'' Mr Duggal said the Home MInistry had been in constant touch with the Jammu and Kashmir government.

Asked if there was a dip in the number of tourists visiting Kashmir because of a few militant attacks on them in the recent past, he said, ''Initially there were tourist cancellations.

However, things came to normal soon. However, the spirit of tourism has not died down in the state.'' He, however, agreed that the number of tourists visiting the state would not be more this year as compared to last year. ''It will not be too low either.'' The Home Secretary said out of the seven people who were killed in today's grenade attacks, six were tourists from West Bengal.

He said arrangements have been made for air transportation of the bodies of the victims to West Bengal.

Mr Duggal did not give a reply when asked if the government would issue advisory to the tourists against visiting Jammu and Kashmir.

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