rediff.com: India will do utmost to avoid war: Vajpayee

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Friday asserted that India was determined to stamp out terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country although "no means will be spared" to avoid a war with Pakistan. He also asked the people to be "prepared to face any eventuality".

He emphasised that no self-respecting nation, which valued its freedom, would take the attack lying down and this development was the most important issue in the nation's agenda. "Everything else is now secondary."

The prime minister asked the international community to bring pressure on Pakistan to stop its policy of cross-border terrorism.

"Our objective is to put an end to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of the country. We shall use all means and resources to achieve this objective," he said

"No means will be spared, although we shall do our utmost to avoid a war with Pakistan," he said in his speech at the day-long meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party National Executive in New Delhi.

Vajpayee said, "We do not want war, but a war in the form of cross-border terrorism has already been thrust upon India. We would like the world community, which had earlier remained indifferent to this terror for close to two decades, to bring pressure upon Pakistan to take effective steps to stop its policy of cross-border terrorism."

He said the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States had changed the world's outlook towards the issue of terrorism. More and more countries now agreed that India was right when it was alerting the world community about this menace.

Maintaining that the success in Afghanistan was principally due to the unprecedented global unity against terrorism, he said India had urged the international community to show similar resolve in the struggle against terrorism aimed at India.

Welcoming the understanding and support extended to India by the international community in its struggle against terrorism, Vajpayee said, "We shall intensify our diplomatic efforts to secure a concrete dimension to this understanding and support. At the same time, I would like one and all to know that, if necessary, India shall fight this battle on its own to achieve its objective."

The prime minister said India had won the battle against terrorism in Punjab on its own. "We shall similarly triumph against the terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and defend our national unity at all costs."

He made it clear that India would not come under any external pressure to dilute its struggle against terrorism. "This is our firm resolve."

He said he would appeal to all the countrymen to be prepared to face any eventuality with unity, courage and supreme confidence in the justness of the struggle.

Vajpayee said Pakistan's stand on terrorism had been exposed to be opportunistic. "General Musharraf has hinted that he chose to join the international coalition against the Taliban with the sole purpose of getting Kashmir. We accept this challenge."

He asked the BJP and all other parties to launch a mass awareness campaign to educate people about the developing situation. "Our endeavour should be to take every section of our diverse society with us on this issue. As a matter of fact, the nation is already united. We need to strengthen this unity."

The prime minister thanked the opposition parties for their support to the government at this hour of crisis, which he said was in keeping with the proud national tradition. "We should take care to ensure that no divisive issues are raised by anybody at this juncture. It is our prime duty to see to it that communal peace and harmony remains undisturbed throughout the country."

In his appeal to party workers, Vajpayee said, "Prepare the nation, in close cooperation with all other parties -- ruling or opposition -- to face any eventuality and march as one. Our victory is certain. I am confident that our party will rise to the occasion."


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