Lowering of guard in J

Jammu, Jan 25 (UNI) Cautioning against security forces lowering their guard in Jammu and Kashmir, Governor S K Sinha today said terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) was intact and conditions in Pakistan were most volatile, having risk of spilling over to the Indian side.

While greeting the people of the state on the eve of 59th Republic Day, Lt Gen (retd) Sinha in his address said, ''Lowering of guard is not favourable whether on borders or in the interiors of the regions in Jammu and Kashmir.'' ''The ratio of deployment of troops to population in Jammu and Kashmir, excluding, militancy free Ladakh, is 1:40. This is less than 1:37 in Wazirstan in Pakistan and 1:28 in Tibet,''the Governor said.

The Governor, however, said that once peace was restored in the state and infiltration from across the border cease, then only there would be return of the troops back to the barracks deployed for internal security.

Cautioning against the challenge of terrorism, which had taken international dimensions, the Governor said, ''The neighbouring country has been the epicentre of international terrorism, where from terrorism has been exported to its two neighbours and almost all acts of terrorism across the world have Pakistan connection.'' ''Pakistan is not only in a web of terrorist violence but also sectarian conflict, ethnic antagonism and political instability,'' Lt Gen Sinha (retd) said, asserting, ''The lesson we need to learn from all this, is to fight unitedly the monster of militancy violence and the demon of religious fanaticism.'' ''Both the USA and Pakistan sponsored international terrorism in Afghanistan, which is based on religious fundamentalism and it rebounded on the USA on 9/11 and on Pakistan in the current turmoil there,'' the Governor said.

However, lauding the security forces in carrying out their difficult task in the state, the Governor said, ''They have been showing immense restraint while dealing with the situation.'' ''Jammu and Kashmir is marching towards peace, progress and prosperity as several initiatives have been taken to ensure development of all the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir,'' Lt Gen (retd) Sinha said, adding that a crusade was also on against corruption to ensure that funds for development do not get siphoned off.

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