There can be forward movement on the Siachen issue if Pakistan is willing to authenticate current troop positions on the glacier, Defence Minister A K Antony said Friday. "Everything depends on authentication. If they are willing for authentication, then I am sure we can have forward movement," he told a press conference in Bangalore.
At the moment, he said, there was no proposal for reducing troops on Siachen glacier. India's position on Siachen is very clear and New Delhi is not against talks on the issue, he noted.
Recalling his recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Antony said: "Of late, infiltration (from across the Pakistan border) is coming down. But I don't think it's a permanent thing. We have to watch. Eternal vigil is needed."
He said if Pakistan is sincere about its desire to improve relations with India, Islamabad must stop encouraging and supporting infiltrators and terrorists. "In that case, I am sure, relations will improve much more quickly.
"Infiltrators are coming only because they are getting encouragement and support from Pakistan," he said.
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