The ruling PDP has sought the cooperation of the army for its demand on troop reduction.
PDP is an important partner in the Congress led coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir and has been strongly advocating reduction in troops on grounds that the situation has improved to a greater extent in the state. But its demand is being opposed by a number of parties including the Congress. 
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is highly critical of such a demand saying any move to reduce  security forces would prove suicidal due to increasing levels of infiltration.
At one time the PDP had indicated that it would pull out from the coalition government if its demand was not accepted. However, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh intervened, defusing the crisis. A high level committee was set up by the Centre to review the situation in J&K and to take a decision on the demand for troop reduction.
In the meantime the PDP has opened up a communication channel with the army to present its view point. Subsequently, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti met the Srinagar based General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps Lt Gen A S Shekhon.
Later, Mehbooba said the support and cooperation of the army was important for the demand for troop reduction. She hailed the army for the commendable job it had done in the past.
The PDP president added that when her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the chief minister, his healing touch policy was fully supported by army.
“The security forces brought down the level of human rights violations. I believe the healing touch policy would not have been a success without the army’s support,” Mehbooba said.
She viewed that arm y has done its job on the security front and there should be troop reduction now.