India
Indian Express, Tuesday, May 19, 1998
India hints at strong retaliatory action against
Pakistan to deal with proxy war in Kashmir
NEW DELHI: India today asked Pakistan to "roll back its anti-India
policy" and hinted at strong retaliatory action to effectively deal with
the "proxy war in Kashmir by a hostile neighbour". "Islamabad should
realise the change in the geo-strategic situation in the region and the
world, roll back its anti-India policy especially with regard to Kashmir,
and join India in the common pursuit of peace and prosperity in the
Indian subcontinent. Any other course will be futile and costly for
Pakistan," home minister L.K. Advani warned Islamabad at a press
conference after a high-level meeting on Kashmir. PTI report.
Advani said the meeting appointed a task force headed by special
secretary (J and K) and comprising officials of army, state police and
paramilitary forces, to deal with the three-fold objective of dealing
effectively with the proxy war by a hostile neighbour, development
activities in the state and rehabilitation of kashmiri migrants. Replying
to questions, Advani said the task force would "work out a pro-active
instead of a reactive policy" on dealing with the "proxy war let loose by
Pakistan through mercenaries and assisting terrorists in other parts of
India."
The high-level meeting, called for an in-depth review and preparing an
action plan on Kashmir, was attended among others by defence minister
George Fernandes, state Governor G.C. Saxena and chief minister
Farooq Abdullah and Chief of Army Staff Gen Ved Prakash Malik
besides top officials of Prime Minister's office and ministries of home
and defence. |
