The Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is a strong opponent of coalition partner, PDP's proposal of troop reduction and revocation of AFSPA and has issued warnings against politicizing of the issues.

Mufti vented his optimism at a party function in Srinagar [Images].

"I am optimistic of some tangible movement forward on these crucial issues in the coming days," Mufti told PDP functionaries in Srinagar.

The former chief minister also said in response to his recent communication  to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, restating the urgency and necessity for reduction of troops and revocation of AFSPA, he received a letter from

Dr Singh two days back wherein the Prime Minister had reiterated his commitment to the understanding arrived at and the mechanism devised for the purpose in March 2007.

He informed the meeting the prime minister has stated that vigorous efforts are being made to implement the decisions taken in March and the expert panel constituted for the purpose has already visited various parts of the State as a part of this exercise.

"The final recommendations of the committee are expected soon," he said.

Mufti had written to the prime minister on July 6, 2007 re-emphasising the urgency of thinning the presence of troops and revocation of AFSPA in the backdrop of the public outrage over Bandipora and Kupwara incidents.

"The prime minister shared our vision of what is required for Jammu and Kashmir [Images] and on how to end the cycle of violence that has deprived the State of its full potential", Mufti said.

Welcoming the prime minister's assertion, in his latest letter, that the orchards, institutional buildings and private properties, being used by the security forces would be handed over to their rightful owners with adequate compensation, Mufti said that with the declining levels of violence such steps have now become imperative to build the confidence of the people.

"Sharing my anguish over the recent incidents of alleged force's high-handedness, the prime minister has made it clear that no one can condone such barbarous acts and has personally discussed the matter with both the defence and the home minister giving clear directions to prevent recurrence of such incidents," he said.

"This is the only way to a workable and lasting peace," he said and added that the people and the civil society must now have a greater say in the affairs of the State and they should get the full room to assert themselves.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad recently however, warned against politicizing the issue of demilitarization, saying it did not concern any particular political party.

Azad believes the sensitive issue of demilitarisation is directly linked to the overall situation in the state.

"Any wrong step taken at a time when the State was nearing the destination of peace would take the situation back to 1990," Azad maintained.

He said although the incidents of violence and militancy were on decline it was not wise to lower the guard.

Recalling his meeting with the Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt early this month, the chief minister said he made it clear to him that the security forces should make their own arrangements on war footing and vacate private houses and government installations so that the facilities were used for the purpose these had been constructed.

The chief minister highlighted the role of the security forces in bringing about improvement in the situation.