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'Indian troops to be ready for battle in three days'
NEW DELHI: India said on Thursday its troops on the border with Pakistan would be fully deployed and battle-ready within three days, as the security cabinet in New Delhi mulled fresh diplomatic sanctions against Islamabad. Amid renewed appeals for restraint from the international community, Defence Minister George Fernandes described the situation on the border as "grave" but said diplomatic efforts should be given time before pursuing other options.
"In the next two to three days, the deployment process will be completed and the forces will be ready for any eventuality," Fernandes was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India. "But there are diplomatic efforts which should be allowed to reach some conclusion," he added. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's cabinet committee on security met later on Thursday to consider such steps as withdrawing Pakistan's
most-favoured-nation status and banning its international carrier from Indian air space.
The Pioneer newspaper on Thursday cited a confidential memo from the National Security Council - an advisory body to the government on defence issues - that warned against an armed conflict with Pakistan. "In the prevailing international security environment, a military option would not be advisable at this stage," said the memo that was reportedly sent to the cabinet secretariat and armed service chiefs.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan said here that India has every right to launch military strikes against "terrorist" camps in Pakistan. Mahajan told an anti-terrorism rally organised by the ruling BJP party that if circumstances "pushed India" towards a war with Pakistan, New Delhi would make sure the threat of terrorism was completely stamped out. "If at all the war happens the intensity will be so strong that there will be no need for a future war with Pakistan. And the results will be there for everyone to see," Mahajan told the 4,000-strong rally. "India has the full right to take military action on all those terrorist camps across the border as was done by the US on Afghanistan after the September 11 terror attacks," he added.
Mahajan said the international community should avoid hypocrisy in its stance towards India's fight against terrorism. "We cannot have a double standard approach where the US can attack Afghanistan if the situation demands and we have to show restraint," said
Mahajan. "Given a choice we do not want a war with Pakistan, but if it is forced upon us we are fully ready for it. All these options are being discussed."
Meanwhile, Indian civilians were evacuating their villages near the Pakistan border on Thursday as tensions escalated with the large-scale deployment of troops on both sides. The army said villagers in three districts of the western border state of Rajasthan - including
Jaisalmer, Barmer and Bikaner - had started moving in their hundreds in bullock carts, hired jeeps and tractors.
Rooparam
Meghwal, a cobbler from Pachla village some 45 km from the border, said the troop mobilisation had raised safety concerns. "We were very scared to see soldiers pouring into our village with tanks and cannons. Our village panchayat (council) then took the decision that we move to safety," Rooparam told
AFP.
The army said it had advised civilians to evacuate nine frontier villages, including Kishangarh and
Karanpur, which saw fierce tank battles in India's 1965 war with Pakistan. According to officials, the army planned to post an advisory evacuation notice to 300 frontier villagers if the situation worsened. "Army officers on Wednesday asked us to leave our village with essential commodities only," said Harish
Chuahan, from Anupgar village. "They have not informed us about when it will be safe for us to return home. I loaded my bullock cart with food and bedding. We are not sure where we are going to camp," he added.
Harish said the army had not helped villagers to physically move. "It is hard for us to leave our village as we do not own cars like city folk. Some of my village people are walking with bundles on their backs. I gave a ride to three elderly women in my bullock cart," he added. Thousands of soldiers and tanks have massed in
Ganaganagar, Anupnagar and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.
The News 28.12.01 |
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