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India will not allow LoC to be altered: Vajpayee

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today declared that India would under no condition permit any alteration in the status quo along the Line of Control.

Speaking at the all-party meeting convened by him to discuss the crisis in Kargil, Vajpayee said his government is making no secret deals and there are no proposals for mediation by third countries on the conflict.

Lambasting Pakistan for causing the crisis, Vajpayee said, "We wanted to hear from them their willingness to withdraw the intruders without conditions and in a specified time frame. This we did not hear."

He made it clear that the Indian military action would not stop until the intruders are driven away.

The meeting was attended by leaders of all top political parties, Defence Minister George Fernandes, and the three service chiefs who briefed the assembly on the current situation in Kargil.

Vajpayee said, "Nothing but complete and unconditional withdrawal of the intruders will satisfy our requirement."

He expressed satisfaction at the response of the international community to the crisis, saying, "The world has recognised the restraint shown by us. They have also recognised India's responsible approach, which consists of localising operations while pushing back the intruders and expressing our readiness to resume the Lahore process if Pakistan withdraws the intruders."

Vajpayee said, "We shall seek formal reaffirmation of the LoC as it emerged after the Simla Agreement and which both countries have formally delineated on the map.

"Our position is to continue the dialogue, but under no condition will we permit any alteration in the status quo along the LoC."

According to the prime minister, the recent military action should be seen as part of a continuing pattern of Pakistani involvement in Jammu & Kashmir since 1989. One phase of involvement reached its peak in the early part of 1990, but this was contained soon after. The second phase started in 1992, when Pakistan began to push in different terrorist groups such as the Lashkar-e-Toiba or the Harkat-ul-Ansar.

He said this phase reached its peak in the period 1993-95 and was focussed in the valley. Once India succeeded in containing this, the action moved to other parts of Jammu & Kashmir, particularly in selected districts of Jammu and in the regions adjoining the LoC.

UNI

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