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| India-Pakistan |
| Troops told to ready for 'decisive battle' |
| 2002-05-22 |
| India's prime minister has called on his troops to prepare for a "decisive battle" one day after the assassination of a Kashmiri activist. The fiery words came as military sources confirmed to CNN the Indian navy had moved five warships into positions off India's west coast near Pakistan and Britain said it was cutting back its diplomatic staff in Pakistan after terrorist threats against its organizations. Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf chose not to respond to the statements. Musharraf, who is conferring with top officials in the country on the crisis, said his country was prepared to defend itself but was also ready to work toward peace. As concern worldwide grew over the prospect of a full-blown war between the nuclear-armed rivals, Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee told troops along the Line of Control dividing the Pakistani- and Indian-administered parts of the Himalayan flashpoint to be ready for a conclusive fight. "We must be prepared for sacrifices," Vajpayee said in the middle of a three-day trip to Kashmir, his first visit there in two years. "Our goal is victory. It's time to wage a decisive battle." The Indos have a choice: They can continue to put up with the continuing stream of thugs crossing from Pakland and raising their kindred bands of thugs in Jammu and Kashmir, or they can bite the bullet and kick the Paks where it will do the most good. Both choices stink. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |