India: 1,200 rebels active in Kashmir

NEW DELHI, April 29 (UPI) -- India said an estimated 1,200 militants, including foreigners, are active in disputed Jammu & Kashmir state.

"The central government in tandem with the state government has adopted a multipronged approach to contain cross-border terrorism and infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir," Junior Interior Minister Sri Prakash Jaiswal told Parliament in a statement.

He said the approach includes strengthening of border management and multi-tiered and multimodal establishment along the border, construction of border fencing, continuous upgradation of state police and central forces through improved weaponry and surveillance and communication equipments.

Jaiswal said the approach also includes technology, sharing of intelligence and operation cooperation among various agencies involved in counter-terrorism operations.

"The situation is being closely and periodically reviewed through the unified headquarters set up under the chairmanship of the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir," he said Tuesday.