India in 2002 said it would cut its Border Security Force (BSF) troops posted in occupied Kashmir and replace them with federal police, senior border force officer J.B. Negi said in occupied Srinagar.
"The BSF is being replaced in four phases," said Negi, adding under the first two phases in 2003 and this year, 20,000 of the 50,000 troops were pulled out.
He said the remaining border troops would be replaced by federal police over the next two years.
The replacement process gained momentum a week after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held his first-ever high-level talks with Hurriyat leaders.
The replacement process is being seen in occupied Kashmir as a means to address their grievances to some extent since police report directly to the state government.
The transfer in the past was delayed because of concerns the federal police were not trained to handle the Mujahideen who are fighting against Indian since 1989.
"The situation now is well under control and they (federal police) are equally good to take the reins from us," said Negi, adding that the replacement of the border force in occupied Srinagar is almost complete.
However, some border troops will remain in the main city to protect a key road and residence of a federal governor, Negi said.
The border troops will also continue counter-insurgency operations in a few towns until 2007.