archive: War will finish Pak, says Atal
War will finish Pak, says Atal
Posted by Ashok Chowgule (ashokvc@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in)
The Pioneer
June 26, 1999
Title: War will finish Pak, says Atal
Author:
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: June 26, 1999
Ruling out talks with Islamabad till the last of the intruders get out
of Indian territory, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Friday
warned Pakistan that if the Kargil conflict escalates into
full-fledged war, it would be disastrous for it.
Addressing a rally in Patna's historic Gandhi Maidan on Friday, Mr
Vajpayee reminded Pakistan of the humiliating defeats it had suffered
in armed conflicts with India. "They should not forget that in 1971,
when they attacked India, they lost Bangladesh. They have no idea what
they are likely to lose this time," he said.
Mr Vajpayee said India was prepared for a full-fledged war if Pakistan
tried to aggravate the situation along the LoC. "We are ready for war
if it is imposed on us. But we hope Pakistan will not make that
mistake again."
The Prime Minister accused Nawaz Sharif of committing treachery. "It
is unfortunate that while I went to Lahore to explore ways of
co-operation Mr Sharif was preparing for this military intrusion" he
said. "I didn't go to Lahore on my own but in response to Sharif's
invitation. It was treachery to talk of peace and prepare for war."
The Prime Minister said if Pakistan wanted to raise any dispute over
the LoC, Mr Sharif could have discussed the matter with him when he
was in Lahore. "It is clear that their intention is something
different. Pakistan did not want to improve bilateral relations but
aggravate the situation," he said.
Mr Vajpayee said Pakistan planned the Kargil misadventure under the
notion that there was a political instability in India and "we were
not in a position to counter them. But we have proved them wrong.
Today, Pakistan is paying for its miscalculation. It has been isolated
internationally and its troops are suffering heavy casualties and
retreating every day," he said.
The Indian stand on Kargil had been widely appreciated by influential
world powers, while Pakistan's chicanery and subterfuge had met with
all-round condemnation. "When Pakistan has been pushed into a corner,
they are talking of peace. But India is not going to sit for a
dialogue, till we have driven out or killed the last of the
infiltrators.
Mr Vajpayee appealed to Opposition parties to check their temptation
to exploit the Kargil conflict for political ends and electioneering.
He said he was not here to talk of politics or elections, but to seek
the nation's support in teaching Pakistan a lesson. "I hope political
parties will forget the elections and remember that our jawans are
shedding their blood to protect our borders."
The Prime Minister alerted the people against sabotage by ISI agents
as part of Pakistan's attempt to destabilise the country. The ISI had
a hand in last week's blast at the New Jalpaiguri railway station, he
said, adding that disruptive forces would try to commit such heinous
acts to divert attention from the frontier.
He called upon the people to be cautious of such nefarious designs.
Talking to newspersons later, the Prime Minister said the demand for
convening a special Rajya Sabha session by several political parties
to discuss the Kargil situations was being considered, even as the BJP
opposed it saying such a debate would have a demoralising effect on
the armed forces. Mr Vajpayee said sever parties had made such a
demand "which is under consideration..."
His remarks come a day after Congress leader Manmohan Singh demanded a
special session of the RS on Kargil and other issues in a letter to
President K.R. Narayanan.
However, BJP vice-president K.L. Sharma attacked the Opposition for
the demand, which he said was politically motivated. "It would not be
proper to discuss the issue as the debate would have a demoralising
effect on the armed forces," he told reporters here.
At a time when the nation's territorial integrity was threatened, the
Congress and Communist "cohorts" want to sow divisions and show that
India's political class is not united, he added.
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