Army sources have confirmed that the government of India has decided to reduce the presence of Indian troops in Jammu and Kashmir [Images] by one brigade. Pakistan has been demanding troop reduction in the valley for a long time.

"I can confirm to you that we have decided to move out a brigade from South of Pirpanjal area in Rajouri sector," a senior Army official told rediff.com. Earlier reports had said that a division is being moved out.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, when confronted with the news item at the territorial Army Day, confirmed the reduction of the troop movement but said that it would be of the size of a brigade.

This will be the second major troop reduction exercise in the Valley; the first one took place from Anantnag a couple of years ago. The troops' reduction was announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] after his visit to the valley in November 2004.