Jammu, Nov 8: Union Home Minister L K Advani has said that Pakistan was introducing highly sophisticated weapons in its proxy war against India.Speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday, Advani said while Pakistan was holding talks on Kashmir, there had not been any let up in its proxy war against India.
It has added a new, sinister dimension to trans-border terrorism, he said, referring to the recovery of remote-controlled flying machines from the border Rajouri district recently. ``Until now, we have only been talking of its providing sophisticated weaponry to the terrorists,'' he said.
Advani said the Central Government will ensure that counter-insurgency services and security forces were equipped to meet the challenge. ``We have to understand that while Pakistan was posing it was desirous of resolution of the Kashmir issue through talks, it was not letting up in its proxy war against India,'' he added.
To a question, the Home Minister said infiltration by militants and the smuggling of weaponswere being carried out from across the border into Jammu and Kashmir for a long time now. He did not, however, concede that the smuggling in of flying machines reflected the security forces' lapse. The nature of the terrain and continued shelling by Pakistani troops at various places along the border contributed to this, he said.
``Earlier, we had even seized anti-aircraft guns smuggled from across the border into the State,'' he said, adding this indicated that Pakistani designs against India were ``sinister.'' Asked about Parliament's resolution to get back Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, he said this was ``the will of the people of the country and was binding on every Central Government.''
The Home Minister said while the Central Government wanted an amicable resolution of all bilateral issues with Pakistan through talks, it had also adopted strong measures to deal with anti-national activities within the country. Asked why India was holding talks on Kashmir when the State was a part of our country anyway,Advani said Pakistan's opposing stand on the matter did not ``bar us from discussing the issue.''
``We want to discuss the issue bilaterally under the Shimla agreement,'' Advani said. However, Pakistan violated the agreement by talking of third party mediation, he added. Advani said that Centre held regular discussions with the State Government for improving the State's law and order situation. The next meeting is slated for December, wherein issues of development will be discussed, as also Kashmiri Pandits' settlement.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.