Jethmalani who assumed charge of the Law ministry on Thursday was addressing a convention of the All India Business Council a pressure group comprising members of trade bodies and business chambers which aims to generate awareness among lawmakers about the needs of the business community.While on the topic, Jethmalani also defended Defence Minister George Fernandes' belief that Pakistan's political leadership was ignorant of its army's adventurism.

Pakistan is becoming ``a rotten nation with a collapsed economy and trade,'' he said. The Kargil adventure, he added, will have ``its own impact'' on the nation.

``We could have prevented Kargil from illegal occupation but it would have cost India billions of dollars in posting army pickets in the snowdesert.''Besides, he added, the adverse weather conditions in the higher reaches of Kashmir would have affected the army personnel.

``When winter sets in,'' he pointed out, ``those parts become snow-bound and inhospitable.''

On whether the intrusion could have been prevented, he said, ``There are prices which could provide results but the price in this case is unacceptable.''

``We cannot afford the price of our soldiers perishing in the treacherous climate.''