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Indian Army reduces 20,000 troops in Kashmir

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

Coinciding with the Agra summit, the Indian Army has reduced its troop presence by almost 20,000 in the Kashmir Valley.

Senior army officials, however, vehemently denied that the troop reduction had anything to do with the summit,

"It is purely based on our military planning and is a reflection of the ground situation," said a senior army official to rediff.com

The withdrawal of 20 army units from the Kashmir valley has brought down the army presence in the trouble torn area to the pre-Kargil days.

India had pumped in extra troops to the valley to fight Pakistan infiltrators during May-July 1999 Kargil war.

According to sources, the army completed the troop reduction last month.

"It took over five months," officials said.

The army had been going slow on the troop withdrawals during the Ramzan ceasefire announced by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in November last year.

"Once the ceasefire was withdrawn, there was a perceptible change in the situation. We have been able to bring about a change in the scenario-we are in control now," a senior army official said.

He pointed out that the militants had got a decisive edge during the ceasefire 'as our troops had their hands tied behind'.

Several suicide attacks were carried out against security forces and militants also gunned down numerous army informers.

But, with the ceasefire ending on May 31, the troops started aggressive combat operations.

And in June, the troops killed a record number of 250 militants, much above the average.

The troops have also been able to push back a large number of militants who had migrated to the cities and towns, officials said.

There has not been a single suicide attack ever since May 31, officials point out.

However, the army has also been suffering a higher casualty. Noticeable is the casualty among young officers. Seniors in New Delhi blame it on the 'casualness' of the young officers.

The army's maximum militant killings have been along the border with Pakistan.

"There has been an increase in infiltration in the recent times," sources said. Army officials said that the troop reduction was possible due to 'new strategies being employed'.

The army has also been finding great results after the recent introduction of high quality sensors to detect improvised explosive devices.

"There are several factors that helped the troop reduction. Our fighting ability has not been affected," the sources in Srinagar said.

Indo-Pak Summit 2001: The Complete Coverage

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