India sends missiles to Pakistani frontier By Rahul Bedi in New Delhi (Filed: 27/12/2001)

INDIA deployed nuclear-capable missiles along its frontier with Pakistan yesterday as the two rivals continued their biggest military build up in 15 years, and prepared for a war that neither side wants.

Military build up: an Indian gunner loads shells as the other aims towards Pakistan Sporadic artillery, mortar and machine-gun exchanges continued throughout the day across the line of control in Kashmir.

More than 30 soldiers, three of them Indian, have died and scores of bunkers and military posts destroyed since Monday, defence officials claimed. Fighter aircraft and troops were also being sent to forward bases.

Speaking yesterday, George Fernandes, defence minister, said: "Our missile systems are in position."

Military officials in New Delhi said he was responding to Pakistan's deployment of medium-range ballistic missile batteries along the line of control that divides Kashmir, over which the rival claimants have fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947.

Both sides have missiles that can be armed with nuclear warheads, but it is not known whether such a step has been taken. The countries conducted tit-for-tat nuclear tests three years ago.

Tensions between the two adversaries spiralled swiftly into a military build-up after an attack on India's parliament earlier this month which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militants.

India accused the Pakistani spy agency, the ISI, of backing the attack on parliament by insurgents from two militant groups, Jaish-e-Mohammed (Army of Mohammed) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (Army of the Pure).

At a ceremony to mark his 77th birthday this week, Indian prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said: "We do not want war, but war is being thrust on us and we will have to face it."

This time the fight should be such that it would be the last on the issue of terrorism, he added.

India accuses Pakistan of sponsoring the 12-year separatist campaign in Kashmir which has claimed more than 35,000 lives. Pakistan denies the charge but says it offers moral and political support to Kashmiri separatists.

India has already recalled Vijay Nambiar, its high commissioner, from Islamabad and will shut down train and bus services between the two countries on New Year's Day in a diplomatic offensive intended to pressure President Pervaiz Musharraf of Pakistan to take strong action against the guerrilla groups.

India's cabinet committee on security has deferred until today its decision on putting Pakistan under further diplomatic pressure as part of its "calibrated" approach towards achieving its aim.

This is likely to include scaling down Pakistani High Commission personnel in New Delhi and withdrawing overflight permission to Pakistan International Airlines.

A committee headed by Mr Vajpayee is also considering cancelling Pakistan's "most favoured nation" trading status and abrogating the Indus Waters Treaty, which ensures Islamabad's water supply.

Brahma Chellaney, strategic affairs analyst and former National Security Council advisory board member, said: "The time for peaceful negotiations is over."

Fears of war sent jitters through India's stock and currency markets and, for the first time, nationwide parades to mark Army Day next month were cancelled.

Thousands of villagers fled their homes as soldiers moved into the frontier states of Rajasthan, Punjab and Gujarat while Indian aircraft "buzzed" military locations near the border.

America has placed Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba on its list of foreign terrorist organisations. This outlaws them under US law, freezing any assets they have there and making it illegal to support them financially. Colin Powell, the US secretary of state, is also increasing pressure on Gen Musharraf to act against them.

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2001