New Delhi, Feb 6, SPA -- India has withdrawn at least 3,000 troops from Jammu and Kashmir state as the level of violence there falls, the country's defense minister said on Monday. Earlier, government and military officials said a total of 15,000 troops would be withdrawn in phases, but Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee said only a brigade was being moved for now -- at least 3,000 troops, according to army officials. "One brigade, we are not withdrawing as such but re-deploying them to the north-east (of India)," Mukherjee told reporters. "It is a routine exercise and, of course, the decision has been taken in view of the fact that the level of violence has come down," Mukherjee was quoted as saying by Reuters. --SPA 11 10 Local Time 08 10 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/323920