Defence Minister George Fernandes today reiterated that infiltration from Pakistan has ‘‘almost stopped and whatever little infiltration is still there will also end’’. But, ruling out immediate withdrawal of troops, he said: ‘‘We have to wait because our past experience teaches us so’’. The Defence Minister also expressed concern over ‘‘little improvement in ground situation inside the state’’. Fernandes was talking to mediapersons after attending inauguration ceremony of Kashmir Vision 2020 here that was opened by Governor Girish Chandra Saxena. Responding to a query about the status of cross-border infiltration, Fernandes said the presence of Al Qaeda and Taliban in PoK is an established fact. Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, however, took an opposite line and said violence in Kashmir will continue as Pakistan will ‘‘never stop sending militants’’ into Kashmir and ‘‘we should never trust’’ that country. Earlier, Farooq said he was happy over the New Delhi’s decision not to allow US troops’ presence in Kashmir. However, he had a long list of woes against the Centre. He complained that the voice of Kashmiri leadership in New Delhi goes unheard and the representation of their six members in Parliament is ‘‘baikar’’ (useless). ‘‘These MPs can do nothing in Parliament. No pays heed to our concerns,’’ he said. Meanwhile, at the same function, Army said normalcy is closer at hand than perceived outside Valley. ‘‘Army in J-K has a dream and, in fact, a vision and Army wants to be part of larger vision,’’ said 15 Corps General Officer Commanding (GOC) Lt Gen V.G. Ptankar in his brief address at the ceremony.
