Giving itself a year to stamp out militancy in Kashmir, the army on Wednesday said it will have to tackle the threats of fresh infiltrations and the terrorist infrastructure across the border for the return of peace in the Valley.

Northern Command General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Lt Gen Hari Prasad said about 60 per cent of militancy has already been wiped out and its top leadership eliminated.

He, however, said there is "no let up in the attempts to infiltrate into J&K from across the border.
 
General Prasad said the militants, whose top commanders have been eliminated during the past year, are frustrated and are now targeting innocents --  children, women and the elderly.

He was referring to the Tuesday's car bomb attack outside a school in Pulwama that left 15 dead.

"No religion targets innocents. Targetting of civilians is a sign of cowardice," he added.