Troop Reduction: Gen Singh says he was talking about army

Saturday January 15, 2011 07:51:36 PM, IANS

New Delhi: Clearing the air about his reaction to Home Secretary G.K. Pillai's announcement of a 25 percent cut in security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Army Chief General V.K. Singh Saturday said he was referring to the armed forces when he had demurred to the statement.

"I think there was some confusion. What Mr Pillai said was concerning the paramilitary forces. What I was talking of was the army," Singh told reporters here, on the sidelines of an army function.

"No person from the home ministry will say about the army as it is under the purview of the defence ministry. I am quite sure that the home secretary knows about it and was talking only about the paramilitary forces," Singh said.

The home secretary Friday said the government will reduce by 25 percent the number of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir as part of confidence building measures being planned for the state.

The army chief later told reporters that the force didn't feel that "we have to cut down our forces. If they want to cut down paramilitary and police forces, I won't say anything."

Singh told reporters Saturday that any decision regarding reduction of army personnel's strength in the Kashmir Valley would be taken by the Unified Command, a security grid of the army, paramilitary and police forces that is headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

"Where they (home ministry) want to take out people, it is up to them. Whatever input is required, it will be provided by the Unified Command. I have got no conflict or argument with anybody on this issue," Singh said.

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