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600 Militants Infiltrated in Kashmir in 2007

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Feb 7: At least 600 militants managed to infiltrate into Kashmir from Pakistan during the year 2007.

This was revealed by police chief of Kashmir, Kuldip Khuda.

He said that the number of militants, who managed to infiltrate into this side during 2007 stood between 550-600. "The figure is almost equal to the number of militants who managed to sneak into Kashmir from Pakistani territory in 2006" claimed the police chief.

He claimed that Militant bases and infrastructure in Pakistan was intact and effective.

He asserted that once the situation settles down in Pakistan after February 18 elections and if post-election Government in that country didn't tackle hard-liners effectively, there is every possibility that militants will increase in Kashmir

The police chief said that since 2008 is the election year in Kashmir, we are anticipating a rise in infiltration and violence level. "Police and army personnel deployed in Kashmir are fully geared to meet with the situation," he added.

He said that police and army would be launching surgical operations against militants based on specific inputs.

"Successes of police and security forces have given us a hope that we will overcome militancy", he added.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.