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India will give medicines to besieged Lankan armed forces

Defence Minister George Fernandes has made it clear that the country would only extend medical help as part of its humanitarian assistance to Sri Lankan forces in the Jaffna peninsula.

''Medicines,'' the defence minister said when asked at a press conference what kind of humanitarian assistance India would provide to the Sri Lankan armed forces.

''Nobody has asked us for any military support,'' he replied when asked whether any formal call for help has been sought from the Sri Lankan authorities.

''However, we are fully prepared to face any eventuality as far as the country's security is concerned,'' he said.

The defence minister had a long closed-door meeting with the defence top brass including the chiefs of the three armed forces at Chandimandir near Chandigarh.

He said he did not foresee any immediate threat to the nation's security.

''I do not expect another Kargil (episode) ...,'' he replied to a question regarding any possibility of the revival of disturbance in the Kargil sector.

UNI

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