Indian pledge on Kashmir

NEW DELHI, India -- India's parliament has resumed for the first time since a suicide attack in December with a new strategy from the government on Kashmir designed to stamp out terrorism.

In his address at the start of the annual budget session, President K.R. Narayanan said his government would inject money into the disputed region and hold talks with separatists as part of a three-fold effort to eradicate militancy.

"First, to counter the terrorists with a firm hand ... The second objective of our strategy is to support faster economic development," the Associated Press news agency quoted him as saying.

Government funds would be used to create employment among the men in the region who have joined militant groups, the president said.

The third step was a repeated offer to talk with any separatist groups that lay down their weapons, Narayanan said.

Military buildup

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However, the massive military buildup along the border with Pakistan would continue, the president added.

That buildup was sparked by the December 13 suicide attack on parliament by five men, armed with explosives and automatic weapons, which left 14 people dead.

New Delhi has blamed the raid on Pakistan-based Islamic militants fighting against Indian rule in Kashmir.

India has ruled out any talks with Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir until Islamabad proves it has halted its support of militants operating in the Himalayan region.

"What happened on December 13 was the nadir of a long list of reprehensible acts in 20-year-long campaign of cross-border terrorism," Narayanan said in the Associated Press report.

Security

The attack has forced security around the parliament complex to be increased.

New security cameras, barricades and additional paramilitary guards have been stationed around and in the premises.

Prior to the raid, unarmed guards manned the 12 doors of the main parliament building. Now they carry automatic rifles.

Each of the more than 8,000 government workers, journalists, tourists and businessmen that enter the parliament area each day are now frisked or have their identity checked.

Also on Monday, Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and other government officials paid tribute to the six security officers and gardener killed in the incident.

Those that attack parliament were "closely aligned through ideology, inspiration, resources and logistics to those who carried out the terrorist attacks against the United States on Sept. 11," Narayanan said.

Suspects

India blames the attack on two Pakistan-based groups -- Jaish-e Mohammad and Lashkar-e Tayyaba -- and Pakistan's spy agency.

Although Islamabad has denied any involvement, India says it won't begin withdrawing its troops until Pakistan hands over 20 terror suspects.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has yet to respond to India's demands but did order a nationwide crackdown on Islamic extremists. Thousands of suspected militants have been detained or arrested.

Musharraf has repeatedly called for talks with India on the issue of Kashmir -- calls that have been consistently rejected by New Delhi.

India accuses Pakistan of arming, training and encouraging militants operating in Kashmir since the separatist insurgency began in 1989.

Islamabad denies the charge.