Steped up military operation in J-K "inevitable": Fernandes
New Delhi,Monday, October 15, 2001: Asserting that the present action in Afghanistan has "exposed" the nexus between Pakistan, Taliban and Osama bin Laden to promote terrorism, Defence Minister George Fernandes tonight said a step up in military operations against militants backed by them in Jammu and Kashmir is "inevitable".
"A step up in operations against terrorists in J and K is inevitable. What we have to decide is the form, time and place," Fernandes, who was re-assigned the Defence portfolio, told PTI.
In a free-wheeling interview, he made it clear that "in the ultimate analysis India will have to carry on with its own fight against terrorism. There should be no illusion about it".
Fernandes, however, said the September 11 attacks in the U S had traumatised the world which could pave the way for the major western countries to "stand by us".
Cautioning against moves by Islamabad and Taliban to portray the present U S-led military action as targeting the Muslims, even when they have been masterminding terrorist activities, he said "We are fighting the terrorists...A terrorist is a terrorist just as a criminal is a criminal".
The Minister asserted that no religion should be identified with terrorism.
(PTI)
20:26 IST
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