Centre may cut forces in J&K
The Centre is likely to withdraw nearly 10,000 paramilitary personnel from Jammu and Kashmir this year. Union home secretary G.K. Pillai told a news agency: “There is scope of reduction of troops in Jammu and Kashmir. There are more than adequate forces in Kashmir and it can do with less Central forces. I think this year, we can easily take out 10 battalions if not more. Irrespective of the situation, we can take out 10 battalions and it would not have any impact”. In 2009, the centre pulled out 10 battalions from the state. Last year, it did not take out any because of the agitation from June to September.
On the amendments on Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), whose withdrawal has been demanded by the state, Mr. Pillai said this is an issue which has to be decided politically. “Even if it is not done I think you can move forward and say some parts of Kashmir need not be declared disturbed,” he said.
Mr Pillai said that if there was no change being made in the AFSPA than the area can be denotified (as disturbed) and the law will not be applicable there.
He said the proposals for amendments in the AFSPA were before the Cabinet Committee on Security. “All-party meeting, interlocutors, two reports of the Task Force of J&K, Jammu and Ladakh reports have come. We got this employment committee report of Dr Ranjarajan that is expected this month,” he said.
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