'India will consider giving refuelling facility to U.S.'

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 22. India will ``consider'' extending refuelling and other logistic facilities to the United States if a request is made by Washington for possible air strikes on Afghanistan, the Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, said today.

``Although India was not directly involved in the Gulf war in 1991, it had agreed to provide refuelling facilities for American warplanes,'' he said in an interview to a private TV channel.

``We have already acceded to the U.S. request to give intelligence inputs on terrorist bases in Afghanistan and Pakistan besides extending moral and diplomatic support to it in its global war against terrorism,'' Mr. Advani said. Asked about the use of Air Force bases and refuelling facilities for U.S. military aircraft, he said Washington had not made any other demand so far. ``We will consider the request for refuelling and other facilities while keeping in mind India's sovereignty.'' India was backing the U.S. as it was ``directly affected by terrorism,'' he added. The Home Minister said there was no likelihood of Indian troops joining the U.S.-led multi-national military operations against the Taliban.

On the possibility of resumption of the Indo-Pak. dialogue, he said there was no scope for it till Islamabad continued to aid and abet terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and other places within the country.

Mr. Advani said every country fighting terrorism was India's friend. India had been fighting the menace for many years now and was fully capable of defeating terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir as well.

On the situation in Pakistan, he said the Pakistani leadership was facing a Hobson's choice - on the one hand supporting the U.S. and on the other opposing the Taliban which it had created and kept alive. ``This could have serious repercussions for Pakistan. Some people have even talked about a civil war there. I do not want to comment on the internal affairs of that country,'' he said.

Recalling the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf's description of the J&K terrorists as ``freedom fighters'' during the Agra summit, he said ``I feel pity for him. At this juncture, he may be leading the anti-jehadi forces in Pakistan.'' Asked if India could consider going in ``hot pursuit'' of terrorists and eliminating their camps across the border taking a cue from the American resolve to fight terrorism globally, Mr. Advani said ``in the coming weeks and months, a lot could happen in this direction .... with the U.S. declaring that it would combat international terrorism and its networking.''

- PTI, UNI

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