The Hindu : Vajpayee reviews security situation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 17, 2002

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Vajpayee reviews security situation

By Harish Khare

The Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani, flanked by the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, and the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, during a meeting in New Delhi on Thursday to discuss the terrorist attack in Jammu. — Photo: Sandeep Saxena

New Delhi May 16. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, today held consultations with his senior colleagues on the security and political fallout of the terrorist attack in Jammu, while the Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani, organised a review meeting of security officials.

The thrust of the meeting at the Prime Minister's residence was on formulating the Government's response tomorrow during the discussion in both the Houses of Parliament on the Jammu terrorist attack.

On the one hand, the Government has come under pressure from its allies on the right as well as the Sangh Parivar to match its rhetoric with action; on the other, the Opposition, though supportive of the Government, would want to know if the Vajpayee administration has a plan to implement the Prime Minister's assertion that there would be an "appropriate response" to the terrorist attack.

Those who attended the meeting included Mr. Advani, the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, the External Affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh, and the National Security Adviser, Brajesh Mishra. Mr. Fernandes who had been to Jammu gave an account of the incident. It is believed that there was no discussion on a possible military response(s). (According to PTI, Jaswant Singh has cancelled his 12-day visit to Kenya, Tanzania and Mauritius starting May 27.)

The Defence Ministry, meanwhile, issued a statement saying that the three terrorists killed in the Kaluchak attack had been "identified as Pakistani nationals''. They are: "Abu Suhail, son of Abdullah, resident of Faisalabad; Abu Mursheed (Mohammad Munir), son of Mehzabin Shah Jeb, resident of gali number 1, Salampatura, Rahwali Cant., Gujranwala district; and, Abu Javed (Amzad Salam bin Mohammed Gisha), son of Amir Bin Jabbi, resident of Guda Giriya village, Gujranwala district''.

The statement asserted that "certain food items such as biscuits and chocolates found on the persons of these terrorists also reveal that these items were bought from Zaffarwal, Pakistan. With this, the involvement of Pakistan in perpetrating cross-border terrorism has once against been established beyond doubt''.

Another security-related confabulation took place at the Union Home Ministry which was attended by the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, Mr. Fernandes, the two Ministers of State in the Home Ministry, the Union Home Secretary, and other senior intelligence and defence officials. Mr. Advani presided.

After the review meeting, the official statement said: "Steps for further refining the strategy and tactics to be followed by security forces with special reference to checking infiltration, providing hinterland security and related confidence building measures for the civilian populations, continued operations against the terrorists and action against overground support base of the terrorists were discussed''.

However, it is learnt that the Advani-presided meeting was primarily an Abdullah show. After the Home Minister's perfunctory welcome remarks, the stage was left for the J&K Chief Minister to make a pitch once again for "action'' against Pakistan.

He held forth on Pakistan's ill-intentions, but made a point of thanking each and every para-military organisation for sacrifices of their jawans and officers.

Dr. Addullah demanded that his State get more para-military forces to compensate for the armed forces which have been deployed at the border. He was gently reminded that there were other internal security hotspots such as Gujarat which also needed the Army and para-military presence. The Chief Minister did get support from the intelligence agency on his demand for more forces.

Mr. Fernandes maintained a studied silence, as did the two Ministers of State for Home Affairs.

The meeting ended with Mr. Advani requesting Dr. Abdullah not to speak too much before the media.

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