Tensions ease in Kashmir

India’s army chief said the number of incursions by Pakistani-based Islamic militants into India’s portion of Kashmir has dropped dramatically.

‘‘Infiltration has gone down significantly,’’ said General Sunderajan Padmanabhan. Since May 27, ‘‘we have had probably just one attempt which we have intercepted.’’

The statement came amid a calming of tensions on the India-Pakistan border where about one million soldiers from both sides have been deployed since a December 13 suicide attack on India’s Parliament.

The two nuclear-armed rivals went on war alert after the attack, which India blamed on Pakistani-supported Islamic guerillas fighting Indian rule in disputed Kashmir.

The threat of war eased after hectic diplomatic efforts by the West and others.

Pakistan promised to stop insurgents from crossing into Indian-controlled Kashmir to stage attacks, but called on India to begin talks on the future of the territory.

India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir since they became independent of Britain in 1947.