Monday, February 7 2005 21:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolar (K'taka): Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today (Feb 7, 2005) said the number of infiltrators into Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan has come down but not the efforts to infiltrate.

"The number of infiltrators has come down but the efforts to infiltrate has not come down. Many efforts are being made. Now we have been preventing that by completing the fencing on the Line of Control. That has acted as a deterrent," Mukherjee told reporters.

Greater surveillance and vigilance had also helped in bringing down infiltration, he said but added that the Fidayeen attacks had increased because the number of infiltrators had come down.

Describing Fidayeen attacks as "a more dangerous weapon", he said nowhere could one fight "those who are willing to kill themselves." He was in Kolar on a visit to Defence undertaking BEML.

Mukherjee said according to estimates of the Union Home Ministry, there had been a substantial decrease in infiltration by 60 per cent over the previous year.

He, however, stressed that the figures on infiltration from different sources were "some sort of estimates". "You have to understand that the infiltrators are not going to stand in the queue and going to say you count us."

To a query on troop reduction in Jammu and Kashmir, he said it had not affected "our vigilance" and surveillance. "Many people have welcomed it (troop reduction)."

Asked if he would visit Pakistan if invited, he said, "It is a loaded question. Let the invitation come. How can I say on a hypothetical question. Upto now, I have not received any invitation."