Thackeray questions concessions to Pak.

By Arunkumar Bhatt

MUMBAI, JULY 13. The Shiv Sena today criticised the Vajpayee Government for showering concessions on Pakistan before the Agra summit even when its outcome was doubtful.

At a press conference here today, the party chief, Mr. Bal Thackeray, raised doubts about the efficacy of relaxing visa norms for Pakistanis. Senior party member, Lt. Gen. (retd.) P.N. Hoon, threatened to return his military honours, including the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, if New Delhi decided to withdraw troops from the Siachen glacier.

Lt. Gen. Hoon, former Corps Commander of the area and also former GOC-in-C of the Western Command (during Operation Brasstacks), said he had reason to believe that Mr. Vajpayee was considering withdrawal from the Siachen.

Using a map, he explained to presspersons that the Kargil episode had occurred because of the inability of the Pakistan Army to dislodge Indians from the Siachen glacier. Pakistan needs the Siachen to be able to capture Khardung La, in the south of the Karakoram Pass, to link up with Aksai Chin and encircle the Kashmir valley.

Referring to the high costs of defending the glacier, Lt. Gen. Hoon said India could reduce its force level while increasing electronic surveillance in the area.

At the same time, it should send a strong signal to Pakistan that any mischief would be met with strong retaliation.

According to the Shimla pact, the Siachen glacier and Kargil stood effectively demilitarised.

It was Pakistan that violated the pact and forced India to occupy the area.

Mr. Thackeray said he did not see any difference between the BJP and earlier Congress governments. He welcomed the stand taken by the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, but said, ``I cannot guarantee when it will be softened.''

Mr. Thackeray said the NDA decision not to attend Gen. Musharraf's tea party was due to pressure exerted by his party.

He parried a question on whether the Sena and other NDA allies were taken into confidence on the Prime Minister's meeting with Gen. Musharraf.

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