New Delhi: In the backdrop of the militant attack on Srinagar-Jammu national highway which killed 29 people, the Centre has put on hold pulling out of Border Security Force (BSF) from counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and replacing it with Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

The circular issued by the Union Home Ministry did not state any reason for it and only said the taking over of the counter-insurgency operations in the State by CRPF had been put on hold till October 30 this year, official sources said.

However, it is believed that the failure of CRPF, which was responsible for sanitising the highway, to detect the deadly explosive on May 23 which led to the death of BSF personnel and their family members travelling in a bus, could be one of the reasons.

The sources said before taking over the operations in the valley, the CRPF was likely to be given more training to deal with the situation.

So far, CRPF had taken over at six places in the valley from the BSF but now as per the latest directive from the Centre, "the status quo should be maintained", they said.

The take-over process had started in November last year and was expected to be completed by next month.

The decision was taken after Union Home Secretary Anil Baijal held a series of meetings with Special Secretary (J&K) B B Mishra, Director General of BSF Ajai Raj Sharma and CRPF chief J K Sinha.