City residents reply in near unison "Naa-a-a-a-ah ...!"

Banker S.N. Khurana dismisses the idea that the situation in Kargil could lead to a massive war: "The USA is a super-power and no country can oppose it. It has supported India, so the possibility of massive destruction is ruled out." he describes Nostradamus' predictions as "really vague stuff. Take that business about a guy in a blue turban taking over after the big war. The Akalis will never let that happen ... the minute any one of them starts getting a base the rest of them pull him down."

Vinod Dhingra an executive in a private firm, is convinced "nothing abnormal is going to happen. The Kargil situation is just a regional issue and will not lead to a third world war. In fact, our troops will have cleared out the infiltrators in another few days. After this bitter experience, Pakistan will not think of another such adventure in a hurry."

"Well, I can imagine Pakistan using nuclear weapons in response to India's troops crossing the Line of Control. That would be a terrible thing which would cause a lot of devastation. The world scene is not good and the way Kargil is shaping something major could happen. I'd like to see international bodies intervene and take immidiate, effective measures to de-escalate the tense situation created by the Pakistani intruders. We don't have to let a prediction like that come true, says Lt Col G.P.S. Patheja (retd).

Shyam Lal, an IAS officer, sees "no possibility of a major war breaking out". He agrees that it may take weeks to completely free the Kargil sector from infiltrators but "the conflict will be confined to the Kargil sector only. Worldwide, we see small conflicts but they cannot be cause of any major war. Most of the nations can't afford war and know very well what an all-out war would cost them."

"How could a small, impoverished nation like Pakistan go in for a major war with India? Islamabad has failed to mobilise support from the western powers and even Muslim countries haven't offered it much backing," scoffed Surinder Dhaliwal, a teacher. She thinks the Indian Army will push the intruders and Pakistan Army regulars back within few days. And she adds: "No one can be happy about a war going on; young men dying ... that is a tragic thing. The people of Pakistan must be disturbed by their casualties just as we are -- maybe moreso because they are losing more men. That way, even this conflict is `major' enough."