SRINAGAR, Sept 12: Federal police will take over from paramilitary troops in Indian Kashmir by 2007 because violence has fallen sharply since India and Pakistan began peace talks last year, a senior officer said on Monday

India in 2002 said it would cut its Border Security Force (BSF) troops posted in occupied Kashmir and replace them with federal police, said senior border force officer J.B. Negi in Srinagar.

“The BSF is being replaced in four phases,” said Mr Negi, adding under the first two phases in 2003 and this year, 20,000 of the 50,000 troops were pulled out from counter-insurgency operations.

He said the remaining border troops would be replaced by federal police over the next two years.

The replacement process gained momentum a week after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held his first-ever high-level talks with moderate Kashmiri leaders.

“The situation now is well under control and they (federal police) are equally good to take the reins from us,” said Mr Negi, adding that the replacement of the border force in Srinagar is almost complete.

However, some border troops will remain in the main city to protect a key road and residence of a federal governor, Mr Negi said.

The border troops will also continue counter-insurgency operations in a few towns until 2007.—AFP