New Delhi, January 14
The Union Home Secretary GK Pillai and Army Chief General VK Singh today seemed to talk on different wave lengths over confidence-building measures in Jammu and Kashmir. However, they did not contradict each other.

Pillai, while addressing a seminar at Jamia Millia University in the National Capital, said the government intended to reduce the forces' strength by one-fourth in J&K over the next 12 months.

The deployment of security forces should be minimum in populated areas, where local police would be ideal. “If violence is not there, we can gradually reduce the strength of security forces and make sure that forces are stationed only at the border and for preventing infiltration,” he said.

The Home Secretary said as part of the confidence-building measures, India and Pakistan, at present, allow people from Jammu and Kashmir and PoK to visit either side with a permit valid for 15 days.

“We suggested that the people visit their relatives more often. Now we are planning to unilaterally give six-month multiple entry permits for people of PoK,’’ he added. Pillai said New Delhi wanted to reach out to the people of the neighbouring country through various ways, including cultural exchange programmes. “We are encouraging musical, cultural programmes, and drama festivals between the two countries. We are encouraging Pakistanis to come here on these grounds,’’ he said.

The Centre was also asking corporate India to give jobs to youths of Jammu and Kashmir in different parts of the country. “We can absorb 1,00,000 youths all over India in the next 12 months,” the Home Secretary said.

Meanwhile, the Army Chief said the armed forces have been deployed in the state based on a certain threat perception. He said the Army was not aware of any troop reduction plans. He was responding to a question on Pillai’s statement and whether the Army felt that the situation had improved to an extent that the number of troops’ could be reduced. Though the Army Chief declined to make any direct comment on Pillai’s remarks, he said “the Army had deployed its troops in the state as per the requirements on the Line of Control and other areas.”

“We have not yet felt that we have to cut down our forces. If they (Home Ministry) want to cut down paramilitary or police forces, I won’t say anything,” the General added.