23 May 2002
VAJPAYEE SAYS NO WAR CLOUDS BUT
LIGHTNING POSSIBLE
From
Jal Khambata
NEW DELHI: The war suspense continues
as Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Thursday hinted at a flash
or lightning strike to combat the cross-border terrorism and Pakistan
President Pervez Musharraf warned that even a limited offensive can
"quickly spiral out of control."
Even while claiming
that there were no war clouds on the horizon as the sky was clear,
Vajpayee sought to keep the Pakistan Government on tenterhook by
stating that still there can be "thunder and lightning."
In
his live televised Press conference in Srinagar at the end of his
3-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister talked of a
clear sky to send out a message that India was not itching for a war
but Musharraf asserted in Islamabad that India's threats were no
longer "rhetoric" that can be dismissed.
Vajpayee
kept the suspense on by ending the Press conference with remarks
"aage, aage dekhiye, hota hai kya (see what happens in future).
He also said the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) was to meet in
Delhi after he returns to take stock of the latest situation. Home
Minister Lal Krishna Advani sat next to him assisting with replies to
tricky questions.
No country goes to war after declaring and
hence nothing much can be read into Vajpayee's turnaround from his
remarks of a "decisive battle" and a promise to the Army
personnel on the border only a day earlier to return to Delhi only
after making an "announcement."
He, however, himself
hinted at the possibility of a "lightning" strike by
stating that "kabhi kabhi aasmaan saaf hone par bhi bijli gir
jati hai." (Lightning strikes sometimes even when the sky is
clear.) And, yet in the same breath he said it may not happen as he
said: "Hame ummeed hai bijli nahi giregi (We hope the lightning
won't strike)."
The lightning strike, however, is what
Musharraf is expecting as his officials have gone one record stating
that India was quite likely to carry out air strikes on the
Pakistan-administered part of Jammu and Kashmir, possibly backed by a
"limited ground offensive."
While Musharraf keeps
harping on India coming to the table of negotiations and reduce
mobilisation on Pakistan's borders, his security officials on
Wednesday offered to pull back its forces from the western front if
that helps in de-escalation of tension.
Vajpayee was initially
not prepared to give out his mind on the prevailing tension on the
borders as he tried to wriggle out saying "there is tension on
border but is it necessary that I should describe it." However,
after a prompting by Advani, he said: "Situation is serious, a
challenging situation and we will meet the challenge."
Pointedly
asked what was he planning when he himself says India had been under
attack for 12 years by way of cross-border terrorism, he quipped:
"Yes, we have to win this war." But he would not spell out
how except to say: "Wait for it."
Vajpayee said he
was "disappointed" by Musharraf who talked tough on January
12. "Promises were made but they were not implemented. Words be
matched with deeds. That has not happened," he said while
pointing out that India continues to fight the "cross-country
war" slapped on it. A proxy war is already going on for the last
12 years, he said.
Asked why he does not talk to the
All-Parties Hurriyat Conference, an umbrella outfit of Kashmiri
organisations, Vajpayee said: "I am ready to meet the Hurriyat."
He said earlier K C Pant, Planning Commission deputy chairman, had,
on behalf of the Government of India, invited the Hurriyat leaders
for talks but they did not come forward.
When told that the
Hurriyat Conference wants Pakistan to be included in any talks on
Kashmir issue, Vajpayee shot back: "Yahi to museebat hai;
Pakistan ko shaamil karne ka savval hi paida nahi hota (That is the
problem, no question of including Pakistan in any talks)."
He
said he had tried to talk to as many groups of Jammu and Kashmir as
possible during his visit and the process of talks will continue with
those groups which were left out. He would again come to the state to
talk to them and they are also welcome to Delhi. "Meri davat hai
(I extend invitation)," he said.
Repeatedly referring to
a handout on a Rs 6165-crore economic package he announced for Jammu
and Kashmir, Vajpayee said the Centre would continue to help the
state but it is for the Kashmiri people themselves to take the
initiative. He said his Government wishes to people of Jammu and
Kashmir "suraksha" (security), "aman" (peace) and
"khushhali" (happness). END