M A I N   N E W S

Vajpayee sees Pak hand

Lucknow, October 22
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today virtually blamed Pakistan for the suicide attack by militants at an air force base near Srinagar, saying it was a “proof” of cross-border terrorism.

“Pakistan is continuing with cross-border terrorism and the attempt to attack the airbase is a proof of this,” he said.

In New Delhi, a senior Army official accused Pakistan of continuing its proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir by stepping up violence and enhancing the level of militancy, but asserted that New Delhi would take all necessary steps to stop it.

“Pakistan has told militants to stay back, get activated and enhance the level of militancy. There is definitely some flow of communication between the terrorists in Kashmir and their mentors across the borders,” he said.

Referring to the infiltration from across the border, he said the militants are trying to sneak into the valley through many routes.

Asked whether some militants had left the valley to join the Taliban in their fight against the US forces in Afghanistan, the official said no such information was available so far.

A spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said there was no information about any proposed meeting between Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York next month as Pakistan had not sent any formal invitation for such a meeting.

The spokesperson, however, said that Mr Vajpayee’s US programme had not been finalised yet. UNI

Pervez warns India against ‘adventurism’

Islamabad, October 22
Two days after seeking resumption of dialogue with India, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf tonight asserted that his forces were “fully prepared” not only defensively but to “teach a lesson” to New Delhi if it tried any “adventurism”.

In highly provocative language, General Musharraf thundered “the threats on the Line of Control (LoC) must be stopped. Pakistan is not a chota mota country. We are not wearing chudiyan (bangles).

They will be paid back in the same coin.”

In an interview with Pakistan Television, General Musharraf accused Defence Minister George Fernandes and Home Minister L.K. Advani of stepping up anti-Pakistan rhetoric. PTI