NEW DELHI (AFP) - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a troop reduction in disputed Kashmir this winter, a move welcomed by regional rival Pakistan as a boost to peace efforts.
The announcement, which did not give the number of troops being withdrawn, comes days before Singh is due to make his first visit to the insurgency-hit Himalayan state since becoming prime minister in May.
"During the past several months, the Indian army and other security forces deployed in the state of Kashmir have achieved success in bringing about an improvement in the security situation in the state," said a statement issued by the prime minister's office.
"In recognition of the improvement in the situation in the state, the government has decided to reduce the deployment of troops this winter."
India, which administers the southern two-thirds of Kashmir, has fought two of its three wars with Pakistan over the territory since independence from British rule in 1947. Both sides claim it in its entirety.
Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf last month publicly outlined a formula to resolve the Kashmir dispute.
"We do not know the level of intended troops reduction, but on the face of it we welcome the move as confidence-building measure," Pakistan military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan told AFP.
The nuclear rivals have been engaged in a peace process since April 2003 then-Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee offered a "hand of friendship" to Pakistan. A series of so-called confidence-building measures followed.
The two sides are about to enter a second round of substantive peace talks.
The Indian army has been reluctant to disclose its troop deployment in the restive state, which is in the throes of an insurgency by Islamic militants, but has variously given figures ranging between 200,000 and 300,000.
Some Indian troops have been gradually withdrawn since Vaypayee's peace initiative.
Separatists and Pakistan, however, claim the numbers more realistically range between 500,000 and 700,000.
The statement from Singh's office said "effective counter-infiltration measures and mobilizing the support of the people in the war against terrorism have led to a visible improvement in the situation."
"This is reflected in the increased tempo of economic activity, continuing increase in tourist arrivals, and a general sense of security among the people," it added.
But the statement said the prime minister, whose Congress party-led coalition government won general elections in May, would continue to monitor the situation closely to assess any rise in militancy.
"The decision to reduce the deployment of troops would therefore be kept under constant review. If the levels of infiltration and terrorist violence increase, more troops as necessary will be redeployed," it said.
Singh in his statement said infiltration by rebels into Indian Kashmir from the Pakistani zone was still continuing.
"We cannot afford to relax our vigil," he said.
"We are aware that infiltration attempts from across the border and the Line of Control (the de facto border) continue and the infrastructure of terrorism in the shape of training camps and launching bases remain intact," he added.
The insurgency in Kashmir has claimed more than 40,000 lives by official count since the start of the Islamic unrest in the region in 1989. Separatists say the toll is at least 80,000.
11/11/2004 - 16:24 GMT - AFP