20 May 2002

WAR RHETORIC CONTINUES FROM BOTH SIDES

From Jal Khambata

NEW DELHI: Monday was a day of war rhetorics from both India and Pakistan as Delhi vowed to take all necessary steps to defend against cross-border terrorism and Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani talked of new tactics of retaliation while Islamabad sought the world community's help to convince India to see reason to end tension through talks.

The defence analysts in India, however, see the possibility that India may ultimately mount in less than a fortnight an attack on Pakistan in its part of Jammu and Kashmir to destroy the terrorist training camps and simultaneously used the Naval might to engage Pakistan on the other side to deflect its concentration on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indian missions abroad have been already briefed to convey to their host countries' governments about India's concern at the cross-border terrorism being continued by Pakistan despite its repeated claims to be a partner in the war against terrorism launched after the September 11 attack in Washington.

"The government is of firm belief that the way we are retaliating will have to
be changed" in close consultation with the armed forces, Advani said while inaugurating a charity centre here and Foreign Ministry spokesperson snubbed countries advocating restraint, saying they should "look to the other side of the fence."

Stressing that India has the right to decide its own defence, the spokesperson said Delhi was in the process of sensitising key countries about its concerns on continuing cross-border terrorism. She said the world community has already voiced its "empathy" over the May 14 terrorist attack near Jammu.

As regards Pakistan trying to move the United Nations to intervene, she said it was nothing but an attempt to deflect from the primary focus on terrorism aided and abetted from across the border.

Meanwhile, reports from Islamabad said President General Pervez Musharraf is initiating a process of briefing and consultation with political parties and other cross sections of society to take them into confidence regarding the escalated tension on borders with India.

Musharraf has invited political leaders and editors/columnists separately on Wednesday, May the 22nd for briefing and consultations. He will also meet leaders of PML (N) and PPP. He would be also holding the same day a joint meeting of the Federal Cabinet and the National Security Council (NSC) to review the situation.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan said Islamabad was mounting a diplomatic drive for increased international efforts to make India "see reason" and begin negotiations.

"We hope the international community will increase further its efforts considering the hostile postures adopted by India and convince India to see reason and come to the negotiating table for discussions and dialogue," he added. END