``The ban on transmission of PTV, which is temporary, was imposed under compelling circumstances... Although the government did not want to ban it, the decision had to be taken in view of the Kargil developments,'' Information and Broadcasting Minister Pramod Mahajan told reporters here. He added that the ban would be revoked as soon as the situation returns to normal in Kargil.

The minister said the government was considering measures to counter the ``hostile'' Pakistani propaganda by improving the reach and quality of its electronic media.

``Twenty-first century war is not a military war, but an information war and the government is determined to strengthen its information network,'' Mahajan said.

``To fight thisinformation war effectively, a joint cell comprising officials of All India Radio, Doordarshan and the Army has been constituted and the government is also studying the impact of the programmes broadcast or telecast from Indian networks on the people living in border areas of Pakistan,'' he said.

Mahajan said that in the wake of Kargil conflict, his ministry had sent a low kilo-watt mobile transmitter to Kargil for radio transmission so that the people living in that area had an easy access to information.

On the poor network of high power transmitters (HPTs) and low power transmitters (LPTs), the minister said since the terrain in Jammu and Kashmir was very tough and difficult, it was not possible to install HPTs after every 40 kms.

Replying to a question on the issue of crossing the Line of Control (LoC), Mahajan reiterated the government's stand not to cross it and said ``by observing restraint, the government has gained much''.

Asked about possibility of the BJP losing the coming Lok Sabhaelections, he said his party was busy with the Kargil conflict and considered driving out intruders from Indian soil as first priority.

Earlier, he inaugurated Dogri news room at Doordarshan Kendra here.

Speaking on the occasion, Mahajan said his ministry would soon take steps to ensure that the people in border areas were not influenced by Pakistan Television.