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Armed forces mobilised, says Fernandes

Defence Minister George Fernandes on Monday said the mobilisation of the armed forces along the Indo-Pak border was complete and any de-escalation would take place "only after cross-border terrorism is effectively stopped".

"Our forces are fully prepared for any eventuality," Fernandes said on the eve of his six-day visit to the United States.

The defence minister made it clear that India wanted to settle outstanding disputes with Pakistan through peaceful negotiations.

Asserting that the Indian people were "fed up" with Pakistan-sponsored terrorist activities, Fernandes declared the government's resolve to put an end to the menace.

Stating that New Delhi had launched an intense diplomatic initiative to inform the world about the menace of cross-border terrorism, he said the build-up on the border after the December 13 attack on Parliament was "in response to the activity on the other side".

The defence minister said the current status of Indo-Pak ties would prominently figure during his wide-ranging parleys with the US leadership.

Referring to the recent shelling in Kargil town, Drass and Mushkoh valley, Fernandes said this was not by terrorists but by the Pakistani Army.

He said this Pakistani action was also aimed at sneaking in infiltrators under the cover of firing.

Welcoming Musharraf's broadcast to the nation on Saturday, the defence minister said, "We have heard him and we are awaiting his deeds. They have to be translated into action and fully implemented."

Observing that defence cooperation between Washington and New Delhi had received a fresh impetus after the visit of US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in November last, he said the ties had undergone "qualitative changes" from the "strait-jacketed" relationship that existed during the Cold War era.

On his tour of the US at the invitation of Rumsfeld, he said he would hold wide-ranging discussions on policy issues with American political and military leadership. These would include matters of mutual concern in the subcontinent and defence and security related issues.

Fernandes said joint exercise between the Indian and US armed forces were on the cards and the two sides had shared values on military cooperation.

Asserting that the West understood terrorism after the September 11 attacks on US, he said there was now an admission at the global level of cross-border terrorism and ways to stop the mindless menace.

The December 13 attack on Parliament, he said, was aimed at liquidating the entire political leadership of the country and striking at the roots of India's secular polity.

Issues relating to the global war against terrorism and the support extended by India to the US in its action in Afghanistan would also come up for discussion during his talks with the American leadership, Fernandes said.

On India's defence requirement from the US, Fernandes said, "I am not going to the US with a shopping list. We have given our list when Rumsfeld was here. We will look into various items, which we need to acquire at the earliest. I don't want to go into the details."

PTI

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