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NEW DELHI, June 17: India described as too early and premature any talk about de-escalation on the border with Pakistan but said New Delhi would match steps taken by Islamabad.
Press Trust of India quoted foreign office spokesperson Nirupama Rao acknowledging that there has been a “perceptible change” in Pakistan’s attitude. But, Rao said “that does not as yet provide us with the comfort of coming to the conclusion that this is a permanent shift in their position”.
She said India has welcomed certain assurances made by Pakistan regarding stopping infiltration and dismantling infrastructure of terrorist outfits. “But we need to see, to verify and ascertain how best Pakistan translates these assurances into action on the ground. It is still too early to form any definitive assessment in this regard,” she said.
Asked about troops withdrawal, she said this depended on how the situation unfolded on the question of infiltration and cross-border terrorism. “You have a situation on the Line of Control and in area adjoining it in Jammu and Kashmir and the valley where there have been continuous attempts over a period of time now by elements aided and abetted by the Pakistan state to violate the atmosphere of stability and law and order,” PTI quoted her as saying.
She stressed that “until and unless we see an abatement, a reduction and an end to such activity, it is too premature indeed to talk about military de-escalation”.
RAO SAID: “India will not be found wanting in terms of responding positively to concrete steps taken by Pakistan. This is dependent on the kind of action taken by Pakistan”.
On dismantling of “terrorist camps” in Pakistan, she said India has received “indications” that Pakistan would take action to permanently quell, control and eliminate their capabilities for supporting terrorism.
She said there was no clear assessment at this point of time whether the infrastructure provided by these terrorist camps have been dismantled. “We are monitoring the situation”, the spokesperson added.
VAJPAYEE: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was meanwhile quoted as saying in an interview with a Hindi newspaper that India was prepared for a nuclear attack from Pakistan but it did not believe its neighbour would be foolish enough to launch it.
Separately, PTI said that in a sign of easing of Indo-Pakistan tensions, the Indian army has posted back all instructional staff of major defence institutions including the College of Combat, Staff College, Infantry and Armoured Schools from current border deployment. It said these instructional staff may go back in batches in four to eight weeks time.
PTI quoted highly-placed army officials as clarifying that a decision to re-start army courses may be taken once the instructional staff was in place.
The officials also said that leave to soldiers and officers deployed on the frontline was still being given on only compassionate grounds with only 12 to 15 per cent per unit.
