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Forces to stay in forward areas: Fernandes

By Our Special Correspondent

VIJAYAWADA June 15. The Defence Minister, George Fernandes, today said that the armed forces would be retained in the forward areas as long as necessary and the morale of the forces was at its peak.

Addressing the two-day national council meeting of the Samata Party here, he ruled out any possibility of third party interference in resolving Indo-Pakistani disputes and reiterated India's commitment to the Shimla agreement for bilateral talks.

He said that Pakistan had mobilised its forces along the border with Rajasthan for regular military exercises in December but did not withdraw them later. It had also positioned its rocket launchers within striking distance making it difficult for India to know its intentions. India was compelled to move its forces to forward areas to meet any challenge. Though it had withdrawn some Naval units in the last few days, it would continue deployment of the Army, Air Force and others in the forward areas untill the issues are resolved politically.

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