India to remove some troops from Pakistan border

NEW DELHI, India -- India will remove troops from its border with Pakistan except in disputed Kashmir province, the government said Wednesday, in an apparent bid to ease tensions between the nuclear rivals.

Defense Minister George Fernandes did not say how many troops would be involved and ruled out a resumption of talks with Pakistan until it deals with Indian charges it sponsors terrorist attacks in its territory.

"The army will decide when to move the troops, where to and how soon the redeployment will take place," Fernandes said.

The announcement follows the return of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee from a trip last week during which he was pressed by European Union leaders to move toward a dialogue with Pakistan.

Pakistan called the troop withdrawal announcement a "positive move," but said it should also include the Jammu-Kashmir cease-fire line.

"They are the ones who created tension by deploying troops on our border," said Pakistani Information Minister Nisar Memon. "The Pakistan government has not seen the details relating to withdrawal of Indian troops from a particular region, but it seems to be a positive move," he said.

The two nations have fought two wars over divided Kashmir, which both claim in its entirety, and almost started another war in May after an attack on the Indian Parliament.

The rivals have amassed about 1 million troops along their border. Almost all the frontier in Jammu-Kashmir is a tense cease-fire line called the Line of Control.

Indian officials were clear that while the withdrawal will affect all the 1,800-mile international border, it will not involve the Line of Control.