Saturday, January 15 2005 18:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir has stopped "almost completely" though militants continued to make bids to cross over from across the border, Army Chief Gen N C Vij said today (Jan 15, 2005).

"Despite repeated attempts by militants, today infiltration has been stopped almost completely," he said after taking the salute at the Army Day parade in New Delhi.

Vij said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir was "progressing towards peace."

He also announced various welfare schemes for Army personnel, including on health and housing for their families and educational schemes for their children.

Later speaking to reporters, Vij said though infiltration had come down to a "trickle", attempts were still continuing from the other side.

"Infiltration has been brought down to a trickle. And if you take the facts of last five months, it is one-tenth of what it was last year," he said.

However, Vij added that it was "noteworthy that attempts on the other side (to infiltrate) are still continuing."