June 2nd 2002
Defence Minister George Fernandes told a regional security conference today that India would not be "impulsive" in its current standoff with Pakistan, but would be steadfast in the fight against terrorism.
"I assure you ladies and gentlemen, India will not be impulsive," he said in a speech at a conference of defence ministers and other security officials gathered here.
"Neither will we waver in our determination for the simple reason that what we have been fighting and will continue to fight is the war against terrorism, the same terrorism which hit the World Trade Center and the Pentagon," he said.
Fernandes wept at one point in his speech when he described violence in Kashmir.
"I’m sorry for the difficulty I have every time I think of this," he told the delegates."
“All we expect from the Musharraf regime is that it desist from supporting terrorism,” Mr Fernandes told Defence Ministers and policy makers from North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific at the Asian security conference here.
As the United Nations and several countries began withdrawing diplomatic staff from South Asia in the face of growing war rhetoric, he accused Pakistan of fuelling fears by “threatening to use weapons of mass destruction”.
But while both countries have one million troops massed along their common border, he played down the prospect of war.
Talk of a major conflict on the subcontinent rose following a statement by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf that Pakistan’s existence was under threat, but the statement had “more drama in it than any reason,” Mr Fernandes said.
Mr Fernandes said the January pledge by Pervez Musharraf to crack down on terrorism following a deadly attack on Indian Parliament in December was “merely cosmetic” and cross-border attacks continued in Indian territory.
“The country is angry and anguished,” the Defence Minister said.
“The pressure on our PM, Mr Vajpayee to launch an attack on terrorists is intense. But we have held back.”
He later told reporters that the conference should send a message to President Musharraf that the terrorist situation must change “and it can be changed in 24 hours and at the most 48 hours.” But Mr Fernandes ruled out room for an international forum to handle the Kashmir issue.
“We have to resolve the problems between ourselves and I believe that we are capable of resolving those problems if ... the USA plays its role.”
Mr Fernandes in his speech said there had been in recent days an “intemperate assertion from Islamabad that Pakistan may use nuclear weapons if India takes military action.”
“We must look at why Pakistan is... threatening to use weapons of mass destruction... is this not an attempt to blackmail India and the rest of the global community.”
Mr Fernandes also downplayed such a scenario, reiterating that there was “no way that India will ever use the nuclear weapon other than treat it as a deterrent.”
Kyodo reported that Mr Fernandes welcomed President Musharraf’s comment yesterday rejecting the possibility of a nuclear war.
“The fact that from his earlier declarations of using the nuclear options, he has now said that it is only insane minds that could think of it” is a great development and should be welcomed, he said.
“It is only insane people who could think of using the nuclear option. He has recanted from the position that he has taken. So the issue ends there. We don’t have to have controversy over that anymore,” he added.
