NEW DELHI, Oct 31: Two days after fuming at the UN’s peace monitor in Kashmir for accusing India and Pakistan of playing games with the troubled Himalayan region, India’s army and prime minister were making threatening statements against Islamabad on Wednesday that appeared to vindicate, not allay, fears that bilateral tensions between the two nuclear neighbours could yet spin out of control.

On the one hand Lt Gen R K Nanvatty, GOC-in-C, Northern Command, warned that the Indian Army was prepared and would take military action against Pakistan if the need arose. On the other hand, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee used a political rally to warn President Pervez Musharraf not to take India’s patience for granted.

“The nuclearisation of the subcontinent may have altered the situation, but space still exists for limited conventional operations,” General Nanavatty said in a meeting with reporters in Kashmir. “While every effort must be made politically, diplomatically and economically to deter Pakistan, we must remain prepared to exercise the military option.”

On Monday, the head of the United Nations Military Observers’ Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), Major General Hermann Loidlt had warned that tensions were going to increase in the days ahead between India and Pakistan, chiefly over their dispute in Kashmir which he described as a “tormented country”.

Vajpayee asked General Musharraf, who in his turn had recently used shrill words against India, not to be under any illusion about India’s unity and strength.

Stressing that India had kept its patience despite the harsh statements, he said, “We have faith in our armed forces and scientists and are prepared to meet any eventuality. We are quite capable of defending the territorial integrity of the country.”

Speaking at a function to commemorate the 50 years of rebuilding of the ancient Somnath temple, Vajpayee asserted that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India.

In an obvious reference to Gen Musharraf, Vajpayee ridiculed him for metaphorically citing bangles to drive home the point that Pakistan was not weak to face any threat from India.

“Some people fall under illusion when they see women here wearing bangles. We don’t speak in this language but would like to point out that in Punjab where bangles are very popular, kada (steel bracelet) is also worn,” said the Prime Minister. Elections are due soon in the crucial Punjab and Uttar Pradesh states, where Vajpayee’s Bharatiya Janata Party is locked in a battle for survival.

General Loidlt had said in his rare remarks that Pakistan and India were both playing games with Kashmir, one because it was easy to divert the anti-American anger in Pakistan against arch-foe India, the other because of crucial elections.

Vajpayee has ignored international pressure to so far rule out a meeting with Gen Musharraf in New York where both will be addressing the UN General Assembly in the second week of November.

However, most of India’s opposition parties favour a dialogue. Congress president Sonia Gandhi told reporters after an all-party meeting with Vajpayee on Tuesday: “Our party welcomes dialogue and the door of negotiation should always be left open.”

This was generally the view of the other opposition parties too. “But we have made it clear that whenever the dialogue takes place the interests of the nation must be kept foremost in mind,” Sonia Gandhi said.