The Hindu : 'No troop reduction on LoC now'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 24, 2003

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'No troop reduction on LoC now'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI MAY 23. There has been no reduction of forces on the border following the minor forward movement in India's relationship with Pakistan, the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, told presspersons here.

"Not just now,'' he said, when asked if the Army was planning to bring down troop deployment along the Line of Control and the International Border with Pakistan. He was addressing the media after the investiture ceremony at the Coast Guard Air Station today.

Confidence-building measures initiated between the two countries were yet to have any effect on the border situation. ``It has just begun. The CBMs are in the process of being built,'' he said. Asked if the Government was happy with the response, he said that Pakistan too had taken some decisions.

Mr. Fernandes said that since the CBMs had just begun, talks between the two countries "will take some time. That time is not very close.'' Asked if infiltration had gone down, he said it was too early to reach any conclusion. ``This question (of infiltration) keeps propping up everyday, every hour. And I have said that insofar as infiltration is concerned, there have been ups and downs. There are days when efforts at infiltration are on and our troops on the border have gunned down such intruders and there are days when there isn't any kind of problem on the borders when no one manages to come in. So one can never say the last word on this at this present time.''

India had not asked any third country to help sort out its problem with Pakistan. Mr. Fernandes said India's position had been that bilateral issues should be settled bilaterally.

Asked if India was considering sending a division of the Rastriya Rifles to Iraq, Mr. Fernandes countered: ``No. How can we send? Why should we send?'' When it was pointed out that there had been some discussion on India's participation in peacekeeping operations in Iraq, he said there had been no such thought. Asked if he would support any such move, he replied he would not.

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