Kashmir's security situation improving: Omar Abdullah - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has said that the withdrawal of 30,000 troops from the State showed the improvement in the security situation during the last one year. Talking to reporters after offering prayers at the Ajmer shrine on Sunday, Abdullah said: "For the last one year, there has been improvement in security situation in the Valley. As a result of that we are withdrawing 30,000 troops from the State and sending them to borders." He said that the army was removed from the civilian areas only but it would continue to guard the LoC and sensitive frontier areas. Kashmiri separatists urged New Delhi to pull out troops, release prisoners and end alleged human rights violations after the Indian government in October offered to resume talks to end the two-decade insurgency. It is estimated that there are half a million Indian security personnel, including soldiers, deployed in Kashmir.