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Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi
Defence Minister George Fernandes on Tuesday asserted that India would ruthlessly stamp out terrorism and embark on a 'no holds barred' operation against them.
Addressing his maiden press conference after taking over the defence ministry, Fernandes pointed out that 'hot pursuit' was not clearly defined and that the fight against terrorism could entail any eventuality.
He also pointed out that any premature announcement about not carrying out 'hot pursuit' was undesirable and that he would ensure that terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir was definitely routed out.
"India will be ruthless in dealing with the (Pakistan-backed) infiltrators, and the army will act very decisively and with no holds barred," said Fernandes.
Fernandes also said Indian soldiers killed 'around 30 terrorists who sought to infiltrate' into Jammu and Kashmir in the Akhnoor and Mendhar sectors of the LoC October 14-15.
Pakistan-backed militant groups, he said, were laying mines along the LoC and carrying out attacks with improvised explosive devices and suicide squads, such as the strike on the Jammu and Kashmir assembly on October 1.
"One has to be very ruthless in dealing with all these actions of Pakistanis and Pakistani terrorists," he said, describing the Indian army's actions in the Akhnoor and Mendhar sectors as 'punitive' in nature.
"Such actions are continuing," he said.
Fernandes did not provide details of operations being mounted by the army to counter terrorism, saying such information would allow militants to take precautionary measures.
He dismissed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah's call for pro-active action against Pakistan-backed terrorists, saying: "That's a big decision which can't be taken at the spur of the moment. Hard decisions are not taken on the basis of emotion."
Denying that the army had resorted to heavy artillery fire on Monday to fight back infiltrators along the LoC, Fernandes said only air defence guns, grenade launchers and mortars were used.
Fernandes emphasised that India would have to tackle Pakistan-sponsored terrorism on its own, without expecting support from the world community.
"We told the world that Pakistan and the Taleban were behind the terrorism, but no one believed us. If there was no attack on the World Trade Centre, and more importantly the Pentagon, I wonder whether the US would have decided to tackle terrorism. I have no doubt we will have to fight terrorism on our own, and win this fight on our own," said Fernandes.
With inputs from agencies
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