Govt planning troop reduction in J-K

New Delhi, Jan 14 (PTI) The Indian Government is
considering reducing the strength of security forces deployed
in Jammu and Kashmir by 25 per cent as a confidence building
measure.
Indian Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai also said that
India was planning to unilaterally issue six-month multiple
entry permits for people of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK)
wanting to visit northern Indian state Jammu and Kashmir
through the Line of Control (LoC).
"As a confidence building measure in Jammu and Kashmir,
the strength of the security forces would come down by 25 per
cent. We would like to reduce it as soon as possible depending
on the ground situation," he said addressing a seminar at
Jamia Milia Islamia University here.
Pillai said in north-eastern state Nagaland a few years
ago there were two divisions of the Army but now hardly there
was any presence of security forces in the state. In the same
way there were 60 companies (6,000 personnel) of the
paramilitary forces in Nagaland and now there are just two
companies there.
"These are things which, if peace comes, if violence is
not there, if people are comfortable, we can gradually reduce
(the force strength) and make sure that all forces are only at
the border and for preventing infiltration," he said.
The Home Secretary said as part of the confidence
building measures, India and Pakistan allow people from Jammu
and Kashmir and PoK to visit either side with a permit valid
for 15 days.
"We suggested that the people visit their relatives more
often. So, we have suggested that if you give 15 days permit
they have to go through the verification process. So why don't
we give a six-month multiple entry permit. Once verification
is done, one can be able to visit relatives whenever he or she
wants. Now we are planning to unilaterally give six month
multiple entry permits for people of PoK," he said. (More) PTI