- CHANDIGARH, India -- With
the unified command meeting under George Fernandes in Srinagar today, defence
sources in Nagrota and Udhampur said the Centre had finally begun the process
of "eliminating" diplomatic options to force Pakistan to stop
cross-border terrorism.
-
- Senior army officers are learnt to have briefed the defence
minister on areas that could be used as launch pads for pre-emptive surgical
strikes on terrorist training camps deep inside Pakistani territory.
-
- "Fernandes' visit here following (Mushtaq Ahmed)
Lone's murder should be seen in the light of his statement made in May,"
a top defence source said over phone from Udhampur. "The defence minister
had then publicly stated that there would be no military action against
Pakistan till the end of September. We are nearing the middle of the month.
While discussions at the unified command meeting cannot be termed as a
countdown to war, it can be termed as a step forward. Nothing can be ruled
out at the moment."
-
- It is learnt that today's meeting discussed ways to not
only stop infiltration but also "do something" to send the message
that Delhi will no longer take things lying down. While retaliatory action
in some pockets along the Line of Control is being seriously considered,
it has been decided to relocate more reserve army formationsto Jammu and
Kashmir.
-
- Sources said top army officials are putting pressure
on the government "to act in a decisive manner that would solve the
Kashmir issue once and for ever". "Today it is Kupwara, tomorrow
it will be New Delhi again," a senior officer warned.
-
- Advani salvo at Pak
-
- Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani today virtually blamed
Pakistan for the surge in militant violence in Jammu and Kashmir. "Pakistan
is worried that the election results in Jammu and Kashmir would create
a decisive situation before the world community" he said in Jaipur.
"That would go against its design of proxy war against India."
-
-
- Copyright © 2001 The Telegraph All rights reserved
|
