New Delhi, December 16
India today said it was not planning any military action against Pakistan but stressed that the neighbouring country would have to take action against terrorists there for the relations to improve.
“We are not planning any military action... but at the same time unless Pakistan takes actions against those terrorists who are operating from their soil against India and also against all those who are behind the Mumbai terrorist attacks, things will not be normal,” defence minister A.K. Antony said. He was talking to reporters on occasion of ‘Vijay Diwas’ marking the 37th anniversary of India’s military victory today over Pakistan in the Bangladesh liberation war.
On the issue of troop deployment along the Indo-Pak border, Antony said the situation there was “normal” and armed forces were “always ready”.
“Everything is normal because our forces are always ready,” the minister said.The minister denied that India was planning to call off the more than five-year-old ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC).
“Nothing like that,” he stated when asked if India had any plans to call off the ceasefire with Pakistan.
Refusing to divulge India’s course of action in the present scenario, Antony demanded sincere action by Pakistan against the terrorists.
“I cannot say what course of action we will take but unless Pakistan shows sincerity in whatever they are saying through their actions, one thing is very sure that there is no question of things as usual,” he said.
The chiefs of Navy, Army and Air Force — Admiral Sureesh Mehta, General Deepak Kapoor and Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major — also attended the Vijay Diwas function.
— PTI
