October 18, 2001	Thursday	Rajab 30, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 17: Pakistan on Wednesday put its armed forces on high alert along its eastern front following movement of Indian troops near the international borders.

Pakistan reserved the right to respond appropriately any act of aggression against its territory or violation of its airspace by India, defence spokesman Maj-Gen Rashid Qureshi told reporters after the foreign office briefing.

The spokesman gave no details of the number of troops and the sector where the fresh deployment had been made by India, but pointed out that the fresh deployment when seen in the context of an irresponsible statement by the newly appointed Indian defence minister and unprovoked firing by Indian forces two days ago constituted a clear threat.

Islamabad, he said, had made it amply clear on more than one occasion that while world attention remained focus on Afghanistan no one would be allowed to exploit the situation or undertake any hostile action against Pakistan.

The recent demonstration in some parts of Pakistan by some extremist elements, the spokesman said, might have been perceived by Indians as a sign of weakness but they should know that Pakistanis got united whenever there was a threat to the country.

Asked again about the sectors where fresh deployments had been made, he said the movement of some troops had been monitored closer to the international borders.

In reply to a question, he said: “The armed forces have been on the alert since Sept 11 but what one wants to convey is that they are fully alive to the situation on eastern borders and have information about the movement of Indian forces.”

Maj-Gen Qureshi hoped that sense would prevail and India would not indulge in any aggression against Pakistan. “India knows that Pakistan armed forces are fully capable and competent to respond appropriately.”

Asked whether any contact had been made at the director-general military operation’s level, he said, the action would be taken at all level.

India, the spokesman said, had been trying to implicate Pakistan in terrorist acts. He then referred to the bombing of Srinagar parliament on Oct 1 and the plan hijacking attempt which turned out to be farcical. The Indians had plans to bring that plane to Pakistan and blow it up, he added.

Earlier, the foreign office spokesman said India had never conducted impartial inquiries into the incidents involving killing of innocent people. He recalled that they had also refused to hold an impartial inquiry into the incident of Amarnath Yatra on the pretext that it would be demoralizing for the security forces.