NAGPUR: The Union defense minister, Sharad Pawar, disclosed here Sunday that the Pakistani forces had launched a major offensive on a military base in the Kargil sector of Kashmir Satur day, in violation of the recent agreement arrived at Islamabad between the two countries. Six

Army jawans were seriously injured in the attack. Heavy mortar and shells were used by the Paki stains.

“Our jawans have repulsed the Pakistanis”, he said and added. Our men had seen the invaders carrying away six bodies.”

The defense minister said that Army personnel of both the countries had met at Islamabad on October 18and 19, following talks between the prime ministers of both countries in Harare.

The decision not to attack the military bases of either country was taken at the Islamabad meet. But what happened Saturday was a violation of the said agreement. Referring to the secessionist activities in Kashmir, Pawar said that Pakistan’s game seemed to be wage a “low-cost war in Kashmir that would destroy its economic and social life”.

The government has definite information. About Pakistan’s plans to send around 6,000 per sons rained in subversive warfare into Kashmir between June and November this year. Acting on this information, the border has been sealed and vigilance intensified. The Indian Army has been. Instructed to shoot the infiltrators on sight. This has greatly helped in containing the inflation.

The defense minister said that even the United States has come out against Pakistan’s activities in Kashmir a top U.S naval officer who visited the Valley recently, was convinced about Pakistani designs against India.

Agencies add “He warmed that India would deal “ruthlessly” with Pakistan, if it continued to play mischief in the Kashmir valley through infiltration and arming of terrorists.

Pawar, however, ruled out a preemptive attack on Pakistan, saying that India wanted peace and had no intention to start a war with is neighbor. “When they do attacks, however, we would give them a fitting reply.” he added.

Pawar said Pakistan even tied to use the Aghan Mujahideens against India by including them in the batches of infiltrators.

Replying to another question he said the Army operations had effectively stopped the violent activities of the ULFA in Assam.

 TRIBALS: He warned the tribals that Anxieties active in tribal areas interested not in helping

The   Advises but “in using them to run a parallel govt”,

Pawar exhorted voluntary organizations to set up educational facilities in tribal areas as the Advice children were not getting good jobs due to their lack of education

He also stressed the need to modify the forest conservation rules so that the advises were not forced to leave the forest, which was their main source of live hood.

 BJP CRITICISED: Earlier, ad dressing a meeting of party workers, Pawar criticized the Bharatiya Janata Pany (BJP) for its sustained drive to “exploit” religious feelings on the Babri masjid issue ignoring the critical simulation facing the country.

He said the BJP govt in Uttar Pradesh thought it politically expedient to give priority to the temple issue though there were other serious problems facing the people in that state.

He pointed out that militants, gating support from across the border, were pursuing their secessionist designs in Kashmir and Punjab with full vigor. He, however, declared that they would never succeed in their game, (Indian newspaper report).

Article extracted from this publication >> November 1, 1991