Time not ripe for total withdrawal of army: J&K govt

Though there has been marked improvement in the internal security situation in the state, Jammu and Kashmir government today said time is not ripe for total withdrawal of the army and Central paramilitary forces.
    
"Time is still not ripe for the total withdrawal of the army and Central paramilitary forces from the state even as there has been marked improvement in the internal security situation," law and parliamentary minister AM Sagar told the state Legislative Council.

Replying to supplementaries by Murtaza Ahmad Khan of PDP, Sagar said any such withdrawal will be considered only after the defeat of insurgency and terrorism.

"We also want withdrawal of the army and paramilitary forces from the state but since encounters are still taking place, the government does not want to take any hasty decision in this regard," Sagar said.
    
He, however, said that the deployment of security forces is under continuous review and adjustments will be considered depending on ground situation.

Chief minister Omar Abdullah had, at an internal security meet in New Delhi yesterday, pressed for partial withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the districts where terrorist activities are "minimal".