Thursday, April 7 2005 20:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: On the day the Srinagar- Muzaffarabad bus service was flagged of from both ends, Army Chief Gen J J Singh today (Apr 7, 2005) said terrorist infrastructure remained intact in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and that security forces would have to closely monitor the situation.

"Though infiltration has come down, almost becoming negligible during the last month, we have reports that terrorist infrastructure in PoK remains intact," he told reporters.

"We will have to watch the situation closely as the coming summer months will tell us their intentions," the Army Chief said asserting that security forces will continue with their three-layered counter insurgency deployment in Jammu and Kashmir.

Singh, who was briefing newsmen on deliberations of the ongoing bi-annual Army Commanders conference, attributed the fall in infiltration to a combination of factors, including heightened vigilance on the LoC, heavy snowfall and anti-infiltration fence.

The Army Chief said the security forces had embarked upon a strategy of "iron-fist and velvet glove" in Jammu and Kashmir for the last two months and declared this was paying "rich dividends".

Describing the trouble-free run of the bus as a "slap on the face of terrorists", Singh said the security forces would deal with Pakistani mercenaries with an "iron fist" and give a sympathetic treatment to sons of the soil who had been led astray.