Govt to verify Pak troops withdrawal claim -- Fernandes

Govt to verify Pak troops withdrawal claim -- Fernandes
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, DEC 21: Defence Minister George Fernandes today said that the Government would have to "verify" at ground level before commenting on Islamabad's claims to have undertaken a partial withdrawal of troops from the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

"We have to understand the meaning of these claims. How can troops be withdrawn overnight from high up in the mountainous terrain that marks the Line of Control", he said, when asked to react on Pakistan Army's announcement last night.

"How were the troops withdrawn. Were they moved by road or aircraft, as the cantonement are far back in the rear. The roads are bad all along the LoC", Defence Minister told PTI, adding that these facts had to be verified before Government could react to the developments.

He also said that the Pakistan army's announcement had not mentioned the areas from where the troops had been withdrawn and the strength of the reported withdrawal.

Asserting that an atmosphere could be created for resumption of peace dialogue with Pakistan, Fernandes asked Islamabad to curb activities of mercenary groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen to prove its sincerity towards peace with New Delhi.

Fernandes said the groups like LeT, based and bred in Pakistan were vowed to violence and their their continued activities within Kashmir were a "cause of grave concern".

"These mercenary groups are sponsored by Islamabad. They have their camps in Pakistan and to prove it's bonafide to peace process Islamabad should control the activities of these groups by putting a curb on them," he said.

Fernandes said there had been a marked improvement all along the borders since the Prime Minister's announcement of the ceasefire. "Borders are more or less peaceful with a let up in shelling."