Advani tells Pakistan to roll back its ant-India policy - The Times of India

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In its first warning to Pakistan after declaring itself as a
nuclear weapons state, India on Monday said: "Islamabad should
realise the change in the geo-strategic situation in the region
and the world. It must roll back its anti-India policy
especially with regard to Kashmir. Any other course will be
futile and costly for Pakistan."

The warning came in the form of Union home minister L.K. Advani's
address at a high-level meeting to discuss a strategy to tackle
Pakistan-sponsored militancy in Jammu and Kashmir. Those present,
included defence minister George Fernandes, principal secretary
to the prime minister Brijesh Mishra, J&K governor Girish Saxena,
state chief minister Farooq Abdullah, cabinet secretary Prabhat
Kumar and senior officials of the army and paramilitary forces
and intelligence. Without mincing any words, Mr Advani said,
"India's bold and decisive step has brought about a qualitative
new stage in Indo-Pak relations," particularly in finding "a
lasting solution to the Kashmir problem."

Specifically, it signifies, even while adhering to the principle
of "no first strike", India's resolve to deal firmly and strongly
with Pakistan's hostile designs and activities in Kashmir, he
added.

The government has also decided to set up a committee under
special secretary M.B. Kaushal to go into the all aspects and
formulate an action plan for tackling militancy in the state. Mr
Advani said there would be a "pro-active plan" rather than a
reactive one. He, however, did not elaborate.

Anticipating "Pakistan to step-up its hostile activities" in
Kashmir and elsewhere in the new situation, Mr. Advani appealed
to the people and all sections of the governments in Srinagar and
New Delhi to how greater vigilance". At the same time, he
asserted that India will not be deterred by hostile acts as "has
been amply demonstrated in Punjab".

Sensing the assertive mood in the government and at the meeting,
Mr Abdullah told this newspaper that "It's for the first time in
the history of India's independence that such a meeting has been
held and held so effectively. I am looking forward to the results
of this meeting, which will establish peace in the state."

A senior official who preferred not to be quoted, too, expressed
satisfaction over the meeting and felt that while "only time will
tell whether this new situation will make Pakistan think twice,
if it doesn then wel have to act."

Asked whether India would consider an attack on Pakistan, Mr
Advani told journalists that there were no such plans "We are
keeping ourselves ready" Since its creation through partition in
1947, Pakistan said Mr Advani, has remained unreconciled to the
non-theocratic and non-denominational principle on which Indian
nationhood rest."

Pakistan's unwillingness to accept J&K as an integral part of
India has led it to wage three wars against India, he said.
Having tasted defeat in all three, its rulers decided to mount a
prolonged proxy war in Kashmir by sending trained mercenaries
into J&K and by assisting terrorist outfits in other parts of
India.

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