NEW DELHI, Nov 1: Indian External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh dismissed reports on Thursday of an imminent army attack on Pakistan, saying New Delhi would not do anything that could disturb Islamabad’s military engagement in Afghanistan, which he said was going to benefit India.
Singh’s assurances came at a joint news conference with visiting French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine amid Indian news reports of a Pakistani military build-up on the Indian borders. There was no reference to the reports at the news conference although Singh and Vedrine were both asked to specify steps needed to keep the India-Pakistan boundary calm.
Western diplomats watching the international borders and the Line of Control in Kashmir told Dawn that they did not see any major flare-up in the foreseeable future between the two arch-foes, both nuclear armed.
“There is a problem of cross-border terrorism in the state of Jammu and Kashmir — it is not Kashmir at all,” Singh said, emphasising what he regards as the politically correct name for the disputed region. “But I don’t think this problem is such a problem that will be permitted to impede any kind of resolution of the Afghanistan situation, where again, after all, it is terrorism that is being addressed, that will benefit us.”
Singh, by speaking in a mild tone, was virtually poking his rightwing Bharatiya Janata Party in the eye, which sees an urgent need to whip up a martial atmosphere that could be of benefit to the party in crucial state polls where it is expected to otherwise fare badly.
Vedrine echoed Singh’s sentiments, saying: “The problems between India and Pakistan must be redressed with dialogue and with a sense of a big responsibility. It seems clear to me that India, like Pakistan, is all set to gain if there is a good political solution in Afghanistan tomorrow.”
Vedrine is due to leave for Islamabad on Friday. Singh said India was not sending any message with him. “We can’t use the foreign minister of France as our messenger to Pakistan when we can pick up the phone anytime and talk directly to them.”
The Press Trust of India quoting officials in New Delhi said Pakistan had moved its strategic army reserves and armoured formations in a rapid build-up facing the Indian border in Akhnoor in Jammu and Kashmir and Ganganagar in Rajasthan.
“While Islamabad has been “crying wolf” over New Delhi’s “intentions”, officials said that the Pakistan Army in the past fortnight has amassed two infantry divisions and an extra strength armoured brigade just 30 to 35 km from Akhnoor border in the Chenab-Jhelum corridor,” PTI said. It said a similar build-up by moving an armoured division and two independent armoured brigades with elements of mechanised and support columns has also been reported from Bhawalpur area facing Ganganagar in Rajasthan.
“Pakistan Army has been put on a state of high alert, with cancellation of leave of personnel and officers and men stopped from attending specialized courses,” officials said triggering speculation that Gen Pervez Musharraf may be preparing for another Kargil style preemptive option, if threatened at home,” PTI said.