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War still an option: Indian army chief
Pakistan has deployed additional troops along the border with India since the Mumbai attacks, but India has not responded in a similar manner, the Indian army chief said on Wednesday."The aspect of some (Pakistani) troops coming towards the east ... we are aware. That has happened," General Deepak Kapoor told reporters. "They have come to the eastern border of Pakistan with India." Pakistan's military has denied any build-up of forces on the Indian border and said it moved a "limited number" of soldiers off the Afghan border "for defensive measures" as tensions rose with India after the Mumbai attacks. Kapoor said India had kept all options open, including the option of fighting in the wake of Mumbai attacks but there was no need to create hysteria. "There is a larger amount of tension after 26/11. Because we feel that the perpetrators of 26/11 came from Pakistan. In view of that, we in India are keeping all options open," he said. The options were "diplomatic, economic, or as a last resort, a fighting option," he said, adding, there was "no need to create any kind of hysteria" Referring to the use of military option as a last resort, Gen Kapoor said it depended on the political leadership to decide. "Our political leadership has said war is not an option. But all options are open. The situation remains at that stage," he said. A senior Indian official also confirmed on Wednesday "some" troops movement on the Pakistan side, but added New Delhi had been careful not to respond in a similar fashion. Kapoor said though India was not provoked and would not indulge in whipping up war hysteria, its armed forces were in a state of full preparedness. Posted by: Fred 2009-01-16 |
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