US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

India ready for war: Vajpayee

"Pakistan has betrayed us and attacked us in the garb of friendship. It has annexed Indian territory by violating the Line of Control," the prime minister told local people and jawans soon after his arrival from Srinagar by helicopter.

The prime minister spoke even as Pakistani artillery shells landed within a kilometre of the helipad.

"We will not rest till the occupied territories are recaptured from the aggressors. We want peace, but if war is imposed on us, the whole country is ready to face any situation," he said.

The prime minister said it was made clear to Pakistani Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz, who was in New Delhi yesterday to discuss the Kargil issue, that "we do not want your territory. You vacate the occupied areas."

Vajpayee said people displaced by the fighting would be provided shelter, clothes and free rations till their rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, President K R Narayanan, who is on a visit to Hyderabad, expressed concern at the artillery shelling by Pakistani troops when Vajpayee was addressing the soldiers.

In a message to Vajpayee, the President said, "I am greatly relieved to know that you were not affected by this cowardly act and have continued with your programme to boost the morale of our troops."

UNI

Text of the prime minister's statement in Srinagar

The Kargil Crisis

Tell us what you think of this report