STATEMENT BY THE DEFENCE MINISTER AT THE PRESS BRIEFING AFTER THE CCS MEETING

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The following is the text of the statement given by the Defence Minister at the Press Briefing after the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security here today.

"The Cabinet Committee on Security met this evening under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister Shri A.B. Vajpayee. Earlier today, there had been a full meeting of the National Security Advisory Board with National Security Council presided over by the Prime Minister.

The CCS, after deliberation upon and examination of all aspects of the continued deployment of our forces along the border, has decided that as the Armed Forces have, with great distinction, achieved the objectives assigned to them, thus upholding all the traditions of the Indian military, they now be asked to redeploy from positions on the international border with Pakistan, without impairing their capacity to respond decisively to any emergency. There will be no lowering of the vigil in Jammu & Kashmir. The Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff will now be instructed by the Defence Minister accordingly.

The CCS placed on record and acknowledged its whole-hearted appreciation of the conduct of the armed forces. The successful completion of the elections in Jammu & Kashmir caps their achievements."