India vows no pause in Kashmir assault for talks
[Reuters]
Published date: 1st Jan 1999
1 June 1999
22:59
Reuters News
English
(c) 1999 Reuters Limited
NEW DELHI, June 1 (Reuters) – India will not halt its air and ground assault against “infiltrators” in Kashmir even if Pakistan’s foreign minister arrives in New Delhi for talks on the crisis, senior Indian officials said on Tuesday.
“There is no pre-condition” for the talks with Pakistani Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz, one official told reporters.
But let it be clear to the Pakistan government – we are not going to stop our operations; there will be no
pause to facilitate dialogue.”
Tensions between India and Pakistan are at their highest level in 30 years after New Delhi launched air strikes last Wednesday on its side of the ceasefire line against the infiltrators.
Nothing has moved on the diplomatic front. India’s foreign ministry reported no progress after Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Monday accepted an offer from Pakistan to send Aziz for talks.
The officials, who spoke on condition they not be identified, said Indian forces in Kashmir were operating in a “well calibrated” manner.
Our constraints are self-imposed, not out of weakness. Our forces are operating in a very calibrated manner to ensure this does not escalate (into full-scale war) and even at a cost to themselves.”
The officials said there was no danger of the nuclear capable neighbours sliding into their fourth war since Independence in 1947.
This is not 1948. This is not 1965. This is not 1971. This is 1999,” one senior official said.
There is a certain responsibility. You don’t want to escalate because you are aware of the implications.”
The officials said Pakistan’s plan to infiltrate a large number of heavily armed men into India’s side of the Kashmir ceasefire line in the Drass, Kargil and Batalik sectors had been exposed because the snow melted early this year from high passes.
Their plan to cut off the highway linking Srinagar to Kargil was foiled. We have been moving troops along that road for the past four days.”
One senior official said after leaders of the two countries signed the Shimla Agreement in 1972, accepting a 1949 ceasefire line as the dividing frontier in Kashmir, officials of the two countries met for six rounds of talks.
Both sides agreed on 19 specific maps delineating the Line of Control. There was a detailed description of the terrain with grid references.”
Both countries had not permanently manned the barren, icy heights where the fighting is now concentrated because of the inhospitable terrain, the officials said. “Once you have an agreed border, you only have the basic elements of border control.”
The officials said there was a series of high, icy ridges leading from the Line of Control towards Indian
territory. “You would need a colossal number of troops to man each height. Then why have a Line of Control at all?”
one official said there was ample evidence pointing to active Pakistan Army involvement in the infiltrations. Pakistan denies the charge.
“We are absolutely certain there is a regular pattern of support, backed by Pakistani observation posts. The Intruders are using signal frequencies used by the Pakistan army.’
Indian reconnaissance photographs showed the infiltrators had set up rows of pup tents in “beautiful, military rows”, the official said.
“These are no ordinary intruders. No riff-raff can fight at 16,000 feet.”