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Withdraw infiltrators, Britain warns Pakistan

Pakistan suffered another diplomatic setback today. In its strongest statement yet on the crisis in Kargil, Britain pointedly asked Pakistan to withdraw its infiltrators from the Indian side of the Line of Control in Kashmir.

Endorsing the Indian stand that Pakistan is responsible for the breach of the LoC, British High Commissioner for India Rob Young said the Group of Eight, which issued a statement on the conflict on Sunday, is in no doubt where the responsibility for the crisis lies.

He warned that without the withdrawal of the intruders, the problem could not be resolved.

He said Islamabad would continue to get "tough messages" from the G-8 countries until it de-escalates the situation.

He also called upon New Delhi to continue to exercise restraint, and warned that any attempt by Indian forces to cross the LoC could jeopardise international support for its cause.

But external affairs ministry spokesman Raminder Singh Jassal said any such decision would be guided purely by national security interests and not by international opinion or pressure.

The Kargil Crisis

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