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It was essential for India to demonstrate its defence capabilities: Farooq

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah has welcomed the test explosions by India, saying it was essential for the country to 'demonstrate its defence capabilities.'

"(The tests will) serve as a deterrent," he said, "We have to show our enemy that we do not lag behind (in weapon power)."

Speaking at a function in Srinagar, Dr Abdullah congratulated scientists for the successful test explosions. He said Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had informed him on telephone about the test explosions at Pokhran.

The chief minister said a high level meeting would be held in Delhi next week to review the overall situation in the state in view of the escalation of violence in parts of Jammu. A uniform plan would be finalised for tackling the situation.

"The need is not only of additional security forces but also of modern weaponry to fight the militants," Dr Abdullah said, adding that armed militants still continued to infiltrate through Kupwara, Poonch and Rajouri.

"A lot of blood has been shed in the state and it must stop now. There is not a single home left in the valley which has not been affected in the past eight years of militancy," he said, "I am also fighting a war and I have to devote my whole time and energy to it."

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