Srinagar, Oct 12 (IANS) Infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir has declined, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said here Friday.
The minister, on the first day of his three-day trip to the state, expressed satisfaction over the decline in the infiltration graph and lauded the security forces for stopping infiltrators.
Shinde went to Suchetgarh sector, inspected an octroi post on the international border and talked to Border Security Force officers and troopers.
"We salute the strength and sincerity of our security forces who safeguard the nation without caring for their comfort," he said.
The minister also addressed a 'Sainik Sammelan' at the border post. Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh and senior civil and police officers of the state had accompanied him to the border.
Earlier, Shinde visited Chakan Da Bagh -- the cross-LOC (line of control) trade facilitation centre -- in Jammu's Poonch district.
He also met a group of traders and listened to their problems.
Shinde said steps were being taken to enhance immigration of passengers and cross-border trade through the LoC centre.
He said the government was determined to promote cross-border trade with Pakistan.
"This is a step forward in confidence building measures initiated by India," he said.
Shine told the traders that issues such as landline telephone to registered cross-border traders, short visa and lifting of ban on coconut export etc. would be looked into.
In Jammu, Shinde met several delegations including members of Jammu bar association, chambers of commerce and industry and Congress workers.
The minister will Friday night attend at dinner hosted by Governor N.N. Vohra.
The next day, he will attend an extraordinary meeting of unified headquarters.
The unified headquarters is the apex security grid of the state with officials from the army, paramilitary, police and intelligence agencies.
Shinde will also pay obeisance at the Hazratbal shrine.
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