Karthik007’s Blog

Anand Sharma Minister of State for External Affairs

In a strong clarification from India, it has informed Pakistan that it has not engaged in any sort of troop build-up along the frontier and sought firm action against terrorist camps and militant groups operating from the Pakistani soil.

In fact, New Delhi has also told Islamabad that it has no plans for a military action, but wanted a combination of “executive action and judicial processes” against terrorist elements like the Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) and its front organisation Jamaat-ud-Dawah (juD), which have been linked to the Mumbai attacks.

The message was conveyed during Indian High Commissioner Satyabrata Pal’s meeting with Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir yesterday (December 26).

Indian Deputy High Commissioner Manpreet Vohra was also present in this meeting. The clarification comes as the Pakistani side has said any surgical strike by India in response to the Mumbai terror attacks would be seen as an “act of war”.

Anand Sharma, Minister of State for External Affairs, speaking on the conflict said, “The war mongering by Pakistan is unwarranted and irresponsible. Instead of indulging in this and creating tension in the sub-continent it would be in the interest of the region and in Pakistan’s own interest to take action against the two organisations LeT and JuD, and also not to give the named terrorist the luxury of house arrest, but to take appropriate action.”

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee speaking ealier, said that India was closely watching the developments across the border, and asked Pakistan to tone down the war rhetoric and act against those responsible for the Mumbai terror attacks. Pranab once again asked Pakistan not to divert attention from the main issue of terror.

Pranab’s stern warning to Pakistan came on a day when the capital saw several high-level meetings. First the service chiefs met the Prime Minister at South Block to brief the PM on the current security situation.Soon after, the Cabinet Committee on security met with Defence Minister AK Antony and NSA MK Narayan in attendance.

Following the meetings, the External Affairs Minister said there was no cause for alarm following the build up across the border.These meetings come amidst rising tension at the border with the defence forces reporting unusual activity on the other side of the fence, and in the wake of Pakistan putting its warplanes in forward deployment mode.

The defence forces have been stating that they are in a state of preparedness in the event of an attack.India’s scathing comments came as Pakistan continued its defiance and flexed its muscle across the border. Further, the Pakistani army has cancelled leave for most troops and has even pulled out forces deployed at the Afghanistan border and rushed them to the Indian side.

Pakistani media claims Pakistan Army’s 10th and 11th Divisions have also been put on high alert and troops moved to forward posts on the border facing Rajouri and Poonch sectors in Kashmir. Also, reports coming in said Armoured Brigades from Lahore are heading towards Jhelum.

Defence analysts said troops withdrawal from FATA and NWFP are likely in case of escalation of tension on eastern border.

According to sources, the Pakistani naval forces have been placed on defencive alert since the November 28th.

A number of warplanes and submarines are being kept ready for operations. Pakistan has also kept its warships ready. Currently, Pakistan has three new Agosta class submarines. Of the older submarines, sources say atleast two have been readied for operations. Pakistan has around 9 Orion Recce planes, capable of carrying missiles.