 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Missiles In "Position" As India Mulls Further Action Against Pakistan
New Delhi (AFP) Dec 26, 2001 India said Wednesday it had positioned its guided missile batteries and dismissed a Pakistani crackdown on militant groups as "cosmetic," as the nuclear-armed rivals showed little sign of easing back on their war rhetoric. Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's cabinet committee on security (CCS) met in the evening to discuss further diplomatic action against Pakistan following the December 13 attack on the parliament complex in New Delhi. However, any final decisions were postponed by at least 24 hours in the absence of Defence Minister George Fernandes who was visiting frontline troops in Kashmir. The two countries have been massing troops and armour on their border since India accused Pakistan's military intelligence of masterminding the parliament attack by Pakistan-based militants which left 14 people dead, including all five militant gunmen. Fernandes told the Press Trust of India that India's array of missiles was "in position." Fernandes did not elaborate but media reports said the army had moved batteries of its surface Prithvi (Earth) missiles from their distant southern Indian facilities to the border with Pakistan in northern Punjab state. The missiles have a range of 150 kilometres (93 miles) and are capable of carrying nuclear warheads. India and Pakistan came out of the nuclear closet with a series of tit-for-tat underground tests in May 1998.
|
