The government is considering reducing the strength of security forces deployed in Jammu and Kashmir by 25 per cent as a confidence building measure.

Home secretary Gopal K Pillai also said that India was planning to unilaterally issue six-month multiple entry permits for people of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) wanting to visit Jammu and Kashmir through the Line of Control (LoC).

"As a confidence building measure in Jammu and Kashmir, the strength of the security forces would come down by 25 per cent. We would like to reduce it as soon as possible depending on the ground situation," he said addressing a seminar at Jamia Milia Islamia University here.

Pillai said in Nagaland a few years ago there were two divisions of the Army but now hardly there was any presence of security forces in the state. In the same way there were 60 companies (6,000 personnel) of the paramilitary forces in Nagaland and now there are just two companies there.

"These are things which, if peace comes, if violence is not there, if people are comfortable, we can gradually reduce (the force strength) and make sure that all forces are only at the border and for preventing infiltration," he said.

The Home Secretary said as part of the confidence building measures, India and Pakistan allow people from Jammu and Kashmir and PoK to visit either side with a permit valid for 15 days.

"We suggested that the people visit their relatives more often. So, we have suggested that if you give 15 days permit they have to go through the verification process. So why don't we give a six-month multiple entry permit. Once verification is done, one can be able to visit relatives whenever he or she wants. Now we are planning to unilaterally give six month multiple entry permits for people of PoK," he said.

The Home Secretary said despite hiccups in the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan, New Delhi wants to reach out to people of the neighbouring country through various ways, including cultural exchange programmes.

"Official level composite dialogue has not taken off the way we would have wanted it to take off. But people-to-people talks are on. We are encouraging musical, cultural programmes, and drama festivals between the two countries. We are encouraging Pakistanis to come here on these grounds," he said.

Replying to a question of a Kashmiri student as to why did it took the Centre four months to react to the deaths of students in Jammu Kashmir in last summer, Pillai said, "I agree it should not have taken so long but governance is a huge issue for the Central government.

"Why can't the state government solve some issues on its own. At every stage the Centre is expected to fill in. You have to empower the people. The government has to be decentralised, has to reach out to people," he said.

The Home Secretary said transparency was important and it was extremely important for people to know what was happening, where was the money, what was the money available for various schemes and how it was being spent.

"That is why the setting up of an Information Commission in Jammu and Kashmir as well as strengthening of Human Rights Commission, setting up of a Child Rights Council are issues which are part of confidence building measures. We hope that the state government would take up such things in the coming days," he said.

Pillai said the Central government was taking up the issue of discrimination against the Kashmiris with some of the state governments.

He also said the Centre was also asking corporate India to give jobs to youths of Jammu and Kashmir in different parts of the country.

"We think they can absorb 1,00,000 youths in jobs all over India in the next 12 months," he said.

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Army says no to whittling strength in J and K

On a day Home Secretary G K Pillai hinted at a 25 per cent reduction in security forces' strength in Jammu and Kashmir, Army Chief General V K Singh today said they do not not feel the need to "cut down" their forces in the state.

He also said it will be ensured that "extra pressure" is not put on his "already-stretched" deployments.

"We have not yet felt that we have to cut down our forces. If they want to cut down para-military and police forces, I won't say anything...

"So when that is done, it will be ensured that extra pressure is not brought on our already-stretched deployments there," Singh told a press conference on the eve of Army Day.

Maintaining that Army was not aware of any troop reduction plans, the Army chief said he was sure that any step in this direction would be taken in consultation with the Unified Command headquarters operating in the state.

The security forces operating in the state work under a Unified Command, which is headed by the State Chief Minister.

He was responding to a question on Pillai's statement and whether the Army felt that the situation had improved to an extent the that the troops' presence could be reduced.

Declining to make any direct comments on Pillai's remarks, Singh said the Army had deployed its troops in the state as per the requirements on the Line of Control and other areas.

"Same way in the hinterland, some Army columns are deployed to maintain peace and counter terrorism. We have not yet felt that we have cut to down our forces. If they want to cut down paramilitary or police forces, I won't say anything," he added.

Singh said security forces in the state included the police, paramilitary and the Army and probably only those people, who are considered to be dispensable, would be taken out of the state.

When asked if the Army would agree with the demand for repealing the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from some parts of the State, Singh said, "you know the views of the Army in this regard. The issue is already before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and I would not like to say anything further."

The Army chief said after putting in a lot of effort and creating anti-terrorism obstacles in place, the security forces have been able to check infiltration to a large extent.

"As per the data of the Multi Agency Centre (MAC), there were 468 infiltration attempts in the state in 2010 out of which only 95 could be successful and 40 terrorists were killed there," Singh said.

Answering another query, the Army chief said that the Army would not allow the sacrifices made by its troops to go waste and allow terrorists to gain hold in areas which were previously cleansed by the security forces.

He said in different counter-insurgency operations in both Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army lost 15 officers, 13 Junior Commissioned Officers and 159 jawans.