Situation in J&K does not allow cut down of troops: Army

Jammu, Jan 15 (PTI) A day after the Union Governmentannounced it is considering reducing the strength of securityforces deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, the Army today said thatthe present situation in the state does not allow cut down oftroops and the decision should be reconsidered.

"Present situation in Kashmir does not allow cut down oftroops and it should be reconsidered," General OfficerCommanding in Chief Northern Command (GOC-in-C), Lt Gen K TParnaik told reporters at Akhnoor, 35 kms from here.

"The situation at present is not conducive for withdrawalof troops... It''s a very dynamic process you have peacesomewhere, you have instability somewhere else and thissituation keeps on changing. I don''t think it is right timefor us to think of troop reduction as of now," he said afterattending an official function at Akhnoor.

Yesterday in Delhi, Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai hadsaid that the Central Government is considering reducing thestrength of security forces deployed in Jammu and Kashmir by25 per cent as a confidence building measure.

In reply to the question of Armed Forces Special PowersAct, Gen Parnaik said, "I think Armed Forces Special PowersAct is important for us. Army is here (J&K) and doing a verytough task. And it is important that they (Army) must havesome protection when working in hostile conditions."

Keeping in view the present situation in Kashmir, AFSPAmust stay as it is must for the Army, he said, adding that theArmy is firm on its stand over AFSPA.

Gen Parnaik said revocation of AFSPA must be donefollowing situation on the ground as it keeps changing.

"AFSPA gives protection to the forces. Already acommittee was framed to discuss AFSPA but in my opinion it isnecessary," he said.