New Delhi, July 20: As India and Pakistan try to improve their relations, infiltration from across the border into Jammu and Kashmir has shown no decline and figures continue to be the same as last year. "There is no decline of infiltration of militants from across the border," state governor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha told news agencies here today.

He said that the figures were same as last year and there was no reduction of militants being pumped into the Kashmir valley from across the border.

However, the Governor said that there was some decline in infiltration of militants across the international border into Jammu region.
Commenting on the ISI activities in Assam, he said, "ISI was operating in the region and had set up safe houses in Dhaka where they were training misguided youths from Assam and North East."

One should not see in isolation the fact that some Assamese youths fought along with Taliban in Afghanistan and very recently an Assamese militant was killed in Kashmir valley, Sinha said.

However, he said "winds of change" were blowing in Jammu and Kashmir and expressed hope that the new leadership of Hurriyat Conference could give a fillip to the peace process there.

"The winds of change are blowing in the state. The moderates have taken over the Hurriyat Conference. Though we cannot be over-optimistic, things are much better than before," he added.

Bureau Report