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| 24 December 2004 | Friday | 11 Ziqa'ad 1425 |
Security situation dynamic: India
NEW DELHI, Dec 23: "The security situation between India and Pakistan is dynamic, subject to change, but the ceas fire along the Line of Control in Kashmir is holding," Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha
on Thursday.
"During the last six months no skirmishes have taken place with Pakistani soldiers," Mr Mukherjee said, but, he added: "More than 200 terrorists are assessed to have successfully infiltrated into Jammu & Kashmir during the last six months."
He said the cease-fire on the 'border' with Pakistan was holding. Reference to the LoC as a border is rare at senior levels. Mr Mukherjee said all possible measures including confidence-building measures under the composite dialogue have been taken to ensure that peace on the border continues.
The defence minister gave stark statistics as perceived or propagated by India. He said: "Fifty-eight terrorist-initiated incidents have taken place and 25 terrorists have been killed and seven apprehended since troops started withdrawal from November 17th, 2004 till December 15th, 2004."
The Indian army had constructed 734-kilometer length of fence along the Line of Control at a cost of approximately Rs3.15 billion. "The security situation is dynamic and is reviewed periodically. No compromise will be made on security related matters, and plans are in place to cater for all possible operational contingencies," Mr Mukherjee said.
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