New Delhi: Ending prolonged suspense, Border Security Force (BSF) would be phased out from counter- terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir from November, about 14 years after being inducted into the campaign, and will be replaced by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Although no specific dates have yet been finalised for the transition, the government has asked the two forces to begin the process by next month, high-level official sources told reporters in New Delhi on October 15.

BSF will pull out eight of its 52 battalions from Srinagar in the initial stage to be replaced by the same number of CRPF battalions.

Prior to the pull out, BSF will work with CRPF battalions to be inducted for about a month to ensure a smooth changeover, they said.

The eight battalions of CRPF earmarked for replacing BSF have been given special 45-day training by Army, the sources said.

After their induction, more CRPF battalions will be readied for replacing BSF in a phased manner, they said.

Confirming the move, BSF Director General Ajai Raj Sharma said the force was awaiting government's orders regarding dates for pullout.

PTI