Srinagar: Asking all concerned not to politicise the issue of troops reduction in Jammu and Kashmir, Governor S K Sinha has said assessment of threat perception and level of violence in the state and prevailing situation in Pakistan was pre-requisite for such a decision.

The events in Pakistan can have bearing on peace process in the region, Sinha said at a function in Baramulla yesterday. "We should not politicise the issue of troops reduction. This demand is being projected differently by different people like troops relocation, return of troops to barracks and demilitarisation," he said. As far as relocation of troops is concerned, it totally depends on the overall assessment of the situation together with peace and stability in Pakistan, Sinha said.

"Return of troops to barracks will be only when the situation becomes peaceful in the state while demilitarisation is an ambiguous term, which is not possible as Jammu and Kashmir is as good part of the country as any other state," he maintained. The Governor said a peaceful and stable Pakistan is in the best interests of India. "We want Pakistan to come out of the present crisis."

On the issue of human rights violations, Sinha said the record of Indian Army is far better than any other army of the world confronting the similar situation. He, however, said a bad act by a black sheep in the army should not be used as a tool to malign the entire force. Sinha said the army has an inbuilt mechanism to take cognisance of complaints and punish guilty when charges are framed.

Source : PTI