In a significant development, the government is reportedly ready to 'soften' the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir to enhance people-to-people contacts, despite concerns over the recent increase in infiltration and violence in the state.

The aim, apparently, is to make some 'realistic progress' in the composite dialogue process when External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh meets his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid M Kasuri on September 5-6 in New Delhi.

Proponents believe the free movement of citizens between J&K and Pak-occupied-Kashmir would foster a desire for peace and turn the tide against terrorists.

But critics argue the move would actually encourage further infiltration of terrorists, and demoralize and weaken India's security personnel, who have been fighting foreign-trained militants for over 15 years now.