BANGALORE, Aug 17: Indian army chief J.J. Singh on Friday ruled out a withdrawal or reduction of troops deployed in occupied Kashmir as long as the valley remained under threat from separatist guerrillas.

He said the army had been called into Kashmir’s ‘hinterland’ to perform a constitutional duty of helping restore law and order, safeguard lives and allow the state administration to carry out its tasks.

“When the situation has normalised, the people are safe and you and me can visit the place as an Indian without any apprehension, the government and the state will themselves recommend that the army is not any longer required.

“I don’t think that situation has come yet,” he told reporters in response to a question.

BLAST: In occupied Kashmir, a truck carrying paramilitary soldiers was blown up by a roadside bomb, killing two soldiers and wounding another five, an official said.