Fernandes was asked at a press conference in the temple town of Chidambaram, 250 kilometers from the southern city of Madras, if India would reduce the size of its military to match Pakistan's planned troop reduction, the Hindu newspaper said.

"There is no proposal along this line," the paper quoted him as saying.

India has the fourth-largest army in the world with 1.32 million troops.

"All that Pakistan has done is that it has kept the combat forces intact and cut off the tail. As far as the combat forces of Pakistan are concerned, the same balance remains," Fernandes added in the report.

The "tail" refers to those working in logistics and administration.

Last month, Pakistan announced it would reduce the size of its army by 50,000 troops, the first military downsizing in the country's 57-year history.

The decision, which officials said would save millions of dollars annually, was taken at a two-day meeting of top generals chaired by President Pervez Musharraf, a general who heads the army.

Pakistan's army now has around 550,000 regular troops.

Islamabad's decision came amid improving relations with New Delhi after the South Asian giants nearly went to war in 2002 over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir.

Pakistan has said the cuts will not affect its fighting capacity.

WAR.WIRE