New Delhi, February 12
Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig today said that the level of infiltration in the state had reduced and the neighbouring country was not orchestrating such attempts in the manner it was doing in the past.
Speaking on the sidelines of a function to flag off ceremonial torch of the fifth National Winter Games, being held at Gulmarg from February 17 to 22, he said there had been nearly 40 per cent reduction in infiltration. He said militants trying to sneak in the state were mainly those being pushed by LeT. “These organisations have their own command structure. They may even be against ISI and oppose those who do not subscribe to their ideology.”
Answering queries on Pakistan’s support to militancy, Baig said it has diminished. “The state support has diminshed. Some officers in the Army may be fundamentalists but it is not being officially orchestrated like before,” he said. Asked about the peace process, he said it would resume in a couple of months after a new government comes to power in the neighbouring country.
Baig said the PDP and Congress would fight the assembly elections in the state as an allaince. The two parties had not decided on the share of number of seats, but Congress was likely to be the larger partner.
Asked if the Congress-PDP coalition would follow the same pattern of sharing Chief Minister’s post for three years if they come to power, Baig said it would depend on the results.
On the PDP’s demand of troop relocation, he said the state government had taken steps to move out troops from orchards and school and hospital buildings. He said the PDP feels that troops can also be withdrawn from areas which have least risk of militant strikes.
Earlier, IOC chairman Suresh kalmadi said that international events were being planned in Gulmarg where Pakistan would also be invited. He said that the aim was to create infrastructure in the state to host events such as winter olympic games. The torch flagged off today will go to some places in North India before reaching Gulmarg.
