By IANS

New Delhi : The Indian Army Saturday ruled out any force reductions in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the time was not ripe for withdrawing troops from the insurgency-hit state.

"The time is not ripe for any (force) reductions," Indian Army chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor told reporters here on the conclusion of the biannual Army Commanders' Conference, even as Defence Minister A.K. Antony toured the state for the third time after assuming office a year ago.

"As things improve, as more visitors come in (to the state), as more pilgrims come for the (annual) Amarnath Yatra, that is the time when the government will take a view (on reducing troops in the state)," Kapoor added during his first formal media interaction after taking over as army chief Oct 1.

"We will be more than happy to go back (to the barracks)," Kapoor maintained.

Kashmir's political parties, with the exception of the ruling Congress, have vociferously been demanding a reduction of the Indian Army's force levels in the state, saying militant violence had considerably reduced.

The army has contested this, saying that violence might have reduced but the various terrorist groups in the state were yet to be eliminated. Antony has backed this view, holding that any decision on troop withdrawal would depend on the army's recommendations.

Kapoor reiterated the army view Saturday.

"The violence may have come down to 50 percent of what it was last year, but at the same time, the infiltration (from across the border) has increased as the passes are closing (due to the winter snowfall). In this scenario, the time is not ripe for considering any troop reductions," he maintained.

At the same time, the army chief pointed out that terrorism in Kashmir was being fuelled not only by cross-border infiltration but also by incursions from other routes.

"Terrorism in Kashmir is being fed not only via the land route but via other countries also," Kapoor contended.

Apart from Pakistan, New Delhi has charged Bangladesh with fomenting terrorism in the country. Both countries have denied the charge.