New Delhi, Feb 22: The Centre Tuesday said it was considering withdrawal of more central paramilitary forces (CPMF) from Jammu and Kashmir as situation in the valley was improving.
Minister of State for Home Gurudas Kamat said while 10 battalions of CPMF were withdrawn from Kashmir during 2009, further withdrawals were being considered and examined as the situation in the Valley was improving.
The state police is also acquiring better capabilities and higher numbers of personnel as a result of the capacity building efforts, he told Lok Sabha in a written reply.
Kamat said deployment of CPMF in Kashmir valley is a subject of continuous appraisal and review. The force levels are maintained in order to meet the requirements of the state government for maintaining law and order.
“It has been the endeavor of the government to reduce CPMF deployment in a graded manner thereby entrusting more and more responsibility on the state force for the maintenance of law and order,” he said. The Minister said all adjustments in the strength of CPMF in Jammu and Kashmir are made after careful consideration of all factors, view points and the ground situations.
“Force levels in the Kashmir valley are maintained in close consultation with the state government,” he said.
Pertinently, Army has been opposing any reduction of troops in the Valley.
While Defense Minister AK Antony and Army chief Gen VK Singh have categorically ruled out any troop-cut in the Valley, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Srinagar-based 15 Corps, Lieutenant General S A Hasnain, on Monday said that not a single army soldier would be withdrawn from the state. He reiterated that troop cut announced by the centre was not applicable to the army.
“Not a single army soldier will be pulled out from the state. The decision of the centre to withdraw 10,000 troops is in no way applicable to the army. It is only applicable to the paramilitary forces,” the GOC told reporters at the sidelines of a public meet organized by the 62-RR, at Anantnag in south Kashmir yesterday.
About the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Hasnain said the decision would be taken at the top political level and army had no role to play in it. “Army can only give its suggestions,” he said.
However, he was quick to add that “AFSPA cannot be revoked overnight.”

(WITH INPUTS FROM GKNN)

Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 Feb 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 IST