Monday, February 6 2006 14:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Army has moved out 5,000troops from Jammu and Kashmir following 'much improvement' in the situation there and more could be "redeployed" if violence further decreases, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said here today (Feb 6,2006).

"It is not withdrawal but redeployment of forces from J and K to the north east as violence level has come down," he told reporters on the sidelines of an Army Conference.

To queries from reporters whether the exercise was timed to coincide with the visit of US President George W Bush to the country, Mukherjee said it is a 'routine exercise'.

"The redeployment is a regular exercise undertaken after review of the situation in the state. Last year, we had reduced troops voluntarily," he said.

Army Chief General J J Singh said a brigade has been moved out from the south of Pir Panjal and redeployed at locations in Darjeeling and Kalimpong in the north east.

Further deinduction could take place if there is improvement in the situation in the state, he said adding more forces which had been shifted from the frontier region of Ladakh to the valley have also moved back.