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Pak. may crack down on terrorists to avert war

By Atul Aneja

NEW DELHI MAY 24. While military tensions between India and Pakistan continue unabated, a visible and immediate crackdown by Islamabad on the Kashmir-bound terrorists can help ease the present standoff between the two nations. Highly placed sources in the security establishment here say that India is not easing military pressure on Pakistan, as it is felt that it is necessary to ensure that Islamabad targets Kashmiri terrorism operating from its soil "urgently.''

While indicating that military pressure has not been halted, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Nirupama Rao, today denied reports in a section of the media that India has decided to foreclose the possibility of military action for the next two months. "This report is speculative and without any credence,'' she said.

India, while maintaining its military stance, will , nevertheless, expect Pakistan, after its President, Pervez Musharaff's recent statements, to stick to key benchmarks that can demonstrate its seriousness to dismantle terrorism from its territory permanently. Such measures can lead to a thaw in the present tense relationship, it is felt.

With New Delhi looking for visible steps, Islamabad, can, for instance, first shut down the large number of terrorist training camps in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). The closure of these camps, which have nearly 3000 inmates, can be easily monitored, with the surveillance means available with India, the United States, Russia and Britain. Second, Pakistani authorities can arrest the key leaders who are running extremist organisations that target Kashmir, and third, Pakistan has the option of taking action against some of the 20 fugitives whose names figure in the list sent to Islamabad.

While these steps are on, India can continue monitoring the flow of infiltration to determine whether there is any drop in the cross-border movement by extremists.

With international pressure mounting, there is an anticipation here that Pakistan may "do something'' to curb terrorism on its territory. But wary of "half-measures'' India, will be satisfied, only if Pakistan eliminates the infrastructure of terrorism that targets Kashmir in its entirety and abandons the "use and promotion of terrorism as an instrument of State policy.''

Missile tests by Pak.

Sources pointed out that while Pakistan may begin taking action against terrorists, it may do so only after undertaking "face-saving'' missile tests that seemingly symbolise Islamabad's assertion, vis-a-vis India. Not surprisingly, Pakistan has notified India that it would test its "short and medium range''missiles between May 25 and 28. India, in response, said in a statement that "it is not particularly impressed by these missile antics, clearly targeted at the domestic audience in Pakistan.''

According to sources, Pakistan, in the last couple of days may have been subjected to unprecedented diplomatic pressure aimed at "persuading" it to counter terrorism in Kashmir. Reflecting the grim mood in Western quarters towards Pakistan on the question of terrorism, the visiting European Commissioner for External Affairs, Chris Patten, has acknowledged that the "patience of the Indian leadership is almost beyond the breaking point and that we need practical examples of genuine and lasting Pakistani action to implement the commitments to eradicate terrorism operating against India.'' He agreed that Pakistan would make a "most profound miscalculation'' if it were to "rely on turning on and off the terror trap.'' Pressure on Pakistan has also been mounted from other quarters. The U.S. Secretary of state, Colin Powell spoke twice to Gen. Musharraf on Thursday.

PM writes to world leaders

Keeping up its diplomatic offensive on Pakistan, the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, has written to the U.S. President, George Bush, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, detailing India's stance on its stand-off with Pakistan.

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