The Hindu : `Retaliation if infiltration does not stop'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 08, 2002

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`Retaliation if infiltration does not stop'

By Vinay Kumar

The Union Home Minister, L.K.Advani, with the Union Tourism Minister, Jagmohan (left) and the Urban Development Minister, Ananth Kumar, after the inauguration of a conservation complex at Qila Rai Pithora in New Delhi on Friday. — PTI

NEW DELHI JUNE 7. The Union Home Minister, L. K. Advani, today said India would react in accordance with the "popular national sentiments" if Pakistan failed to end cross-border terrorism.

"If Pakistan does not put an end to cross-border terrorism and India reacts in accordance with popular sentiments, it would be considered appropriate,'' Mr. Advani said here, after unveiling the statue of the Rajput warrior, Prithviraj Chauhan.

While acknowledging that the international opinion had undergone a sea change from Agra to Almaty, Mr. Advani said there had been a realisation among the community of nations that pressure should be exerted on Pakistan to end terrorism.

The entire world had realised that Pakistan was encouraging terrorism in India and leaders, including he U.S. President, George Bush, and the British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, had expressed the opinion that permanent peace could not be established in the region unless Islamabad stopped abetting terrorism.

Mr. Advani said that not only the armed forces but also the entire nation should stand united in the fight against terrorism. Referring to the Agra summit, he said: "We were not against discussing Kashmir — we were ready to discuss all aspects related to Kashmir.''

He recalled that despite the then ruler of Jammu and Kashmir signing the Instrument of Accession in 1947, the Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, had insisted on the popular leader of the State, Sheikh Abdullah, and the State constituent assembly putting their stamp of approval on it.

UNI reports:

Describing the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building in Asia at Almaty as a ``success'' — it had exposed Pakistan's involvement in cross-border terrorism — Mr. Advani said that Islamabad would be held "solely responsible" in the event of any retaliatory action taken by New Delhi.

It was no surprise that the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, did not have any talks with the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, during the CICA summit. "Such talks are possible only after Islamabad stops the killings of the innocent people in our country.''

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