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Srinagar, May 3 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha today rejected outright the demand for troop reduction in the state, saying such a step cannot be taken at this stage, as terror infrastructure across the Line of Control (LoC) was still intact.

''Infiltration from across the LoC is going on unabated. The terror infrastructure across the border has not been dismantled so far. It is still intact,'' Gen Sinha said in his keynote address at a seminar on consolidating peace and sustaining the improved security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir.

The seminar was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in collaboration with the New Delhi-based Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies.

The Governor, however, favoured discussions on Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's four-point formula.

Ruling out demilitarisation of Jammu and Kashmir, he said being a border state the move would not be practicable even if complete peace and normalcy was restored.

''There can be no demilitarisation of Jammu and Kashmir as in the case of border states of Punjab and Rajasthan. Being a border state, the presence of military in Jammu and Kashmir was a must even if complete peace is restored,'' Gen Sinha said.

He asked the Army not to lower its guard and remain vigilant as the threat of violence in Jammu and Kashmir continued.

However, the Governor said troops deployed for counter insurgency operations in the state could be sent back to barracks once there was considerable improvement in the situation.

''Violence is on the decline, but there is no guarantee that areas vacated by troops cannot be used by militants. There is no need to lower the guard as threat perception continues,'' he said.

Gen Sinha said there was no need to reject the four-point formula of the Pakistan President. ''We can discuss the proposals put forward by Gen Musharraf on resolving the Kashmir issue. His formula revolves around identifying Jammu and Kashmir as a geographical and political entity, demilitarisation, self-governance and open borders and joint control,'' he added.

He welcomed the proposal of making the LoC irrelevant, but asserted that before taking any such decision the dividing line need to be converted into a line of peace and prosperity and there should be complete end to the cross border terrorism.

UNI