ISLAMABAD, Nov 16: Pakistan on Tuesday termed Indian media reports regarding New Delhi's decision to reduce 40,000 troops from occupied Kashmir a 'positive development' and hoped that it would lead to more troop reduction.

"We hope this is just the beginning. It's a positive development and a step in right direction," Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan said when his comments were sought on the figure quoted in a section of the Indian media the other day.

He said in the overall context of the meeting between President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New York on Sept 24 this was a significant confidence-building measure.

"We must keep up its momentum. The main goal is resolution of issues through dialogue and promotion and protection of human rights of Kashmiris," Mr Khan added.

There is no word yet from the Indian official quarters on the number of troops to be reduced. Indian officials have indicated that the number will not be disclosed by New Delhi and any number quoted will be mere speculation.

The figure quoted in the Indian media is considered a leaked estimate or an intelligent guess work.

Sources in the Indian camp insist that given the history and kind of deployment since 1989, major re-deployment of troops is unlikely. They predict that presence of troops would be reduced in urban centres by removing checkpoints to create an impact there.

Islamabad believes that reduction of troops can reinforce the process of dialogue and confidence-building between Pakistan and India as well as ease tensions in the occupied territories and boost confidence among Kashmiris.

Following Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's announcement last week about the Indian government's intent to reduce troops in held Kashmir, Pakistan had said it would 'closely monitor' the situation on ground. "To see whether it is reduction in real terms, withdrawal of troops to the barracks or relocation," remarked one official.

Kashmiri leaders while welcoming the Indian move have also underlined the need for a change in the hostile attitude and harsh behaviour of the Indian security forces which have let loose a reign of terror in the Valley.

Pakistan and India will hold the next round of talks on Kashmir in December at the foreign secretary-level. However, this issue is likely to figure in Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's meeting with his Indian counterpart in New Delhi later this month.

There is no definitive figure on the total number of Indian troops, military and paramilitary, deployed in the disputed region. India has never given a clear-cut figure nor refuted various estimates cited.

According to Kashmiri leaders, the Indian government has deployed around one million troops in the disputed territory since 1989. The figure that Pakistan has been quoting is 700,000.

There is a big dispute about the number between the Pakistani and Indian civil societies. While members of the Indian civil society put it at between 300,000 to 400,000, the Pakistani civil society puts it at between 700,000 to 800,000.

The international community has avoided quoting a specific figure on the number of Indian forces in the disputed region. The United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has never quoted a figure, at least not for public consumption.

However, neutral bodies and human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and International Crisis Group have all in their various reports referred to held Kashmir as world's most militarized civilian zone. A fact-finding mission of the EU delegation earlier this year described it as 'the most beautiful prison' in the world.