The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Saturday, January 12, 2002, Chandigarh, India

J A M M U & K A S H M I R

India ready for war: Farooq
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 11
The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, while supporting steps taken by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, has said after Pakistan refused to acknowledge India’s plea for stop aiding cross-border terrorism a strong signal had to be sent that “we are ready for war”.

“Whether we live or die, we are ready for war against Pakistan to end the menace of terrorism”, Dr Abdullah told a TV news channel here today in an interview.

The Chief Minister said it was the “result of our strong steps that Pakistan has come under pressure to take action against the terrorists”. Pakistan has been told by the USA, Britain, China and other countries to take action against terrorist groups operating from that country and occupied Kashmir.

Dr Abdullah made it clear that “We are for talks but parleys will be resumed only when Pakistan stopped aiding cross border terrorism”. In reply to a question he said “We want to see action and not listen to statements from across the border that Islamabad has initiated some action against the terrorists”.

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In reply to another question he said “Had we crossed Kargil during the conflict of 1999 there would have been no need to fight ‘aar paar ki ladaye’ (open war).

He said time was not right to brood or repent over the Kargil affair but to act fast and added had he been the Prime Minister he would taken the steps similar to the one taken by Mr Vajpayee.

Dr Abdullah sobbed while recalling the extent of death and destruction Pakistan aided militants had carried out in Jammu and Kashmir and said “If war breaks out between the two countries it will lead to a bigger disaster and many lives would be lost”.

Dr Abdullah said the US war against terrorism would continue till peace was restored in Jammu and Kashmir. In reply to a question the Chief Minister did not agree that the USA and the UK were adopting a dual policy on terrorism.

He said India had shown tremendous restraint during past 12 years. Time had come when concrete steps should be taken to free the nation from the menace of terrorism.