Author:
Publication: CNN News
Date: November 11, 2004
URL: http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/11/11/india.kashmir.ap/index.html
India's prime minister on Thursday
ordered the reduction of troops in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir,
saying a decline in separatist violence in the Himalayan region prompted
the decision.
"In recognition of the improvement
in the situation, the government has decided to reduce the deployment of
troops this winter," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in a statement
that came days ahead of his planned visit to the strife-torn Indian state.
Singh said the forces would be withdrawn
this winter, ending in March, though he did not disclose how many troops
would be cut and a senior army officer in Srinagar, the summer capital
of Jammu-Kashmir state, said it was not immediately clear if the withdrawal
would apply to both army and paramilitary troops.
One of Singh's top aides said the
order is aimed at helping the peace process with Pakistan and must be seen
as another confidence building measure by the Indian government.
Pakistan described Singh's announcement
as "a step in the right direction," but said it would wait for the details.
Singh's aide, who spoke on condition
of anonymity, said the reduction in troops will stay in force after the
winter months if there is no increase in violence or incursions by Pakistan-based
militants into India's portion of Kashmir.
"We cannot, however, afford to relax
our vigil. If the levels of infiltration and terrorist violence increase,
more troops as necessary will be redeployed," Singh said in his statement.
India has deployed about 1 million
troops in the Himalayan region since 1989, when more than a dozen Islamic
guerrilla groups began fighting for independence of the Indian-held portion
of Kashmir, or its merger with neighboring Pakistan.
India and Pakistan have fought two
of their three wars over Kashmir, which has been divided between the South
Asian rivals since independence from Britain in 1947, but claimed by both
in its entirety.
Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesman
Masood Khan said the Indian decision will "definitely help ease the situation
in Jammu and Kashmir."
"Pakistan has always maintained
that the people of Jammu and Kashmir should also be made part of the confidence
building and dialogue. This step by the Indian government on the eve of
Eid al-Fitr should ease tension and enhance comfort level for the Kashmiris."
The separatist groups in Kashmir
could not be immediately reached for comments.
Thursday's announcement in New Delhi
coincided with a grenade attack on a paramilitary camp in the city.
One soldier died and three security
guards at the camp were wounded, said police officer Javed Ahmed. He said
a group of suspected militants hurled a grenade at the camp of the Central
Reserve Police Force and set off a gunfight with the security forces. One
of the attackers was also killed in the fighting, he said.
