December 29, 2002	Sunday	Shawwal 24, 1423

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NEW DELHI, Dec 28: Indian Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishan Advani, regarded as the man governing a sustained stretch of poor relations with Pakistan, mounted further pressure on Islamabad on Saturday by declaring that alleged anti-India terrorist camps were back in business across the border.

Advani was quoted by Indian news agencies as telling troopers of the paramilitary Central Reserved Police in New Delhi that the international community ought to take note of the development.

The hardline remarks came within days of a resolution by Advani’s ruling rightwing Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party that it would follow the “Gujarat model” in a round of crucial state assembly elections in some half dozen provinces in February.

An unqualified hate campaign against Pakistan, chiefly targeting President Pervez Musharraf as the real electoral enemy, was a key ingredient in the BJP’s overwhelming success in Gujarat, where elections were held earlier this month.

The BJP’s success has triggered a round of soul-searching within the divided opposition ranks.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who had personally led the campaign, was seen as promoting a moderate version of the BJP’s Hindu nationalist approach. She said on Saturday, however, that the Gujarat result had not disheartened her.

Dismissing suggestions that she was worried over the party’s debacle in the assembly elections in Gujarat, Sonia insisted that her party was ready to face future electoral challenges.

“I am not worried at all but disappointed. We are ready to face future challenges,” she told reporters after the party’s foundation day function at the Congress.

Sonia Gandhi earlier unfurled the party flag after taking salute from foot soldiers at the function. Congress was founded 117 years ago on Dec 28, 1885, and is the oldest political organization in the country.

Advani, on his part, gave an inkling of the kind of nationalist stance in store in days ahead.

The stance that had brought rich dividends to his party both in the aftermath of the Kargil conflict and more recently in Gujarat.

He asserted that Taliban units had shifted from Afghanistan to Pakistan. “The centre of Taliban has shifted from Afghanistan to Pakistan and if the international community does not take note of this development, it will cost dearly to the world,” he was quoted by the Press Trust of India as saying.

“Terrorist camps have started functioning again across the border and infiltration has also increased,” Advani said.

News reports have quoted Indian officials as saying that the Indian forces were ready twice during the passing year to attack Pakistan over its alleged support to terrorist attacks in India.

The Star News quoted Advani as saying that countries other than India could be at risk if they did not recognize the “terrorism” coming out of Pakistan.

According to the news channel, Advani said Pakistan’s role had not fully dawned on the international community. “The realization is not full. It can cost. Not just for India, because we have resolved that we will win this proxy war, but I want to warn the international community,” he said. Advani, who visited Kashmir on Friday for a meeting of army commanders, said there was no indication of change from Pakistan. “I was given reports and the one thing that was common in all the reports was about the path our neighbour has been following for the past 15 years, that there is no indication that it is willing to leave that path,” he said.