New Delhi, August 22
Indicating a positive change in the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Parliament was today informed that there has been a drop in number of cross-border infiltration. Figures show that a lesser number of Pakistan-based militants have been making attempts to cross the Line of Control (LoC).

The Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home Affairs in separate replies to written questions in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha indicated that the situation in the northern states had improved in the past 18 months. This is a significant pronouncement by two key security-related ministries. People-friendly confidence building measures (CBMs) like shifting of security bunkers from the city of Srinagar are being taken by the Centre and the state government. It assumes importance in view of the ongoing debate over removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the select areas from the Jammu and Kashmir. This has been a persistent demand of the state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The MHA has suggested three amendments to the AFSPA which are under consideration of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). The MoD has not so far agreed to dilute the AFSPA.

Figures tabled by the Ministry of Defence in the Lok Sabha today showed that the year 2011 saw half the number of infiltration attempts made as compared to the previous years. This year also the trend has shown decline in the infiltration with 103 attempts made till June 30 in which 38 terrorists were able to sneak in. Defence Minister AK Antony’s written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha cited figures of infiltration and said this was the assessment made by Multi Agency Centre (MAC). The Army, the BSF, the IB, RAW and local police, among others, are part of the MAC.

Antony said in 2011, 247 attempts were made by terrorists to enter into Indian territory in which 52 terrorists had sneaked in. In contrast, the year 2009 saw 485 infiltration attempts by terrorists in which 114 terrorists were successful in entering the country. In 2010, 485 terrorists tried to enter the country and 95 managed to sneak in.