Kolkata, Sep 21 (IANS): The central government is prepared for talks with Maoists even if they do not give up arms and ideology, as long as they suspend violence, union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said here Wednesday.

"(The offer of) talks with Naxalites is still open. All we ask them is to suspend violence. We are not asking them to give up ideology and arms," Chidambaram said addressing a special session of the Bharat Chamber of Commerce.

Stating that India had never in the past faced multiple security problems to the extent it faced now, he said Leftist extremism constituted the greatest challenge to the nation in terms of violence and killings.

He said the country needs capacity building in terms of more security personnel. "The capacity that we are building is not able to pre-empt any terror attack," he said.

Chidambaram said 220 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers will be recruited this year. "We will recruit the same number every year for the next seven years," he said.

The minister said the country was more vulnerable, as it was close to the epicentres of terrorism - Pakistan and Afghanistan.

However, he pointed out that no country was free from terror.

"We have to be vigilant 24x7. We ask our security personnel to be vigilant 24x7," he said.

Stressing the need for development in Maoist areas, Chidambaram said: "Where development can take place it should take place without the help of security forces. And where development cannot take place, security forces should go and take control of the area."