GUWAHATI, Aug 9 � The Government of India has initiated steps for reorganizing the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC), which plays a key role in formulating the internal security and foreign policies.
Moreover, the Government has expressed its concern over the �very slow� progress of the peace talks with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) and decided to expedite the process.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, highly placed official sources said that the Government has decided to appoint former Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) RN Ravi as the Chairman of the JIC. He is likely to take over his new assignment next week.
Sources said that the JIC was formed in the 1970s and was revamped after the Kargil War. The JIC receives inputs from all intelligence agencies of the country, including the civil and military, as well as internal and external to advise the Government in formulating policies on internal security and foreign policies.
The JIC, which works directly under the Prime Minister, used to operate from the Prime Minister�s Office when it was formed, but after its activities were expanded, the secretariat of the JIC was shifted to a new building. The Chairman of the JIC is also a member of the National Security Council headed by the Prime Minister.
It may be mentioned here that Ravi is also well versed with the situation in Assam and other parts of the North East, as he had earlier worked as Joint Director of the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) based in Guwahati. He also used to contribute articles to The Assam Tribune after his retirement from the IB in the middle part of 2012.
Meanwhile, official sources revealed that the Government is very much concerned over the slow progress of the peace talks with the NSCN. Sources pointed out that talks with the NSCN has been dragging on for the past 17 years and no solution is yet in sight.
Sources said that the Government has also asked Ravi to take over the job of Government�s interlocutor to talk with the NSCN and expedite the process of talks.
Without going into the details of the plan of the Government to expedite the peace talks, sources said that the format of talks would have to be revamped to make the talks purposeful. The Government wants to find an amicable solution as soon as possible as it is of the view that there is no point dragging feet on the issue of talks.
It may be mentioned here that the Government is also planning to finalize a time frame for completing the process of talks with the militant outfits of the North East, which have already signed ceasefire agreements with the Government.