If US can retaliate, why can't India, ask analysts

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If US can, why can't India, ask analysts

By firing on Pakistani posts on the eve of a visit by US Secretary of

State Colin Powell, India sent a clear message that it would not let

its concerns over militancy in Kashmir be ignored by the US-led

coalition against terrorism, analysts said on Tuesday.

 

If Washington can send warplanes across continents to root out

terrorism in Afghanistan, New Delhi holds that it should be able to

target militants it accuses of terrorism along its border, they said.

 

The Monday night shelling which ended a 10-month lull across the

India-Pakistan border in Kashmir, was "crucial timing for the right

message," defence writer Masood Hussain said.

 

"India is saying it will fight its own war against terrorism," he

said.

 

US President George W. Bush on Monday called on the rivals to "stand

down" over Kashmir for the sake of regional stability as US-led

forces bomb the Taliban militia in neighbouring Afghanistan in a bid

to stamp out alleged terrorist networks there.

 

But analysts here said the firing on Pakistan army positions was

meant to show that India will reject any US effort to mediate in the

Kashmir dispute as it has done with the Israeli-Palestinian and other

conflicts.

 

"It is a signal to the US not to equate Palestine with Kashmir and

tell them (the Indians) can deal with their own problems," Hussain

said.

 

While India has welcomed Powell's visit, both Prime Minister Atal

Behari Vajpayee and Home Minister L.K. Advani have this week

reiterated New Delhi's long-standing opposition to third-party

mediation over Kashmir.

 

Major General V.K Srivastava from India's Institute of Defence

Studies and Analyses (IDSA), said India had become more assertive in

its handling of terrorist problems.

 

"India is dealing with its terrorist problems a little more

assertively and in a more practical way. We have been tolerant but as

Prime Minister Vajapyee said our tolerance has been tested,"

Srivastava said.

 

"To make a value judgement based on one border firing incident would

be overstating facts but it could be a pointer to perhaps a shift."

 

In past cross-border artillery duels, the Indian and Pakistani armies

have generally accused each other of initiating the attack.

 

"But I am surprised by the very fact that India came forward to take

responsibility for its actions on Monday with such alacrity. It is

sending a strong message. It even issued a tough statement," said

analyst Pramod Joshi.

 

An Indian army statement said: "It was a punitive operation to force

Pakistan to stop aiding terrorism."

 

Defence officials said 11 militants were killed when their gunners

attacked 11 Pakistani posts across the Kashmir border.

 

Pakistan, however, said one woman was killed and 25 civilians injured

in the attacks and demanded New Delhi halt its "state-sponsored

terrorism".