Call for US Ground Sensors on Border

New Delhi, Jun. 28 2002 (INS News) -- The Defence Minister George Fernandes said there was considerable drop in cross border terrorism and pointed it had given the go ahead to install advanced US ground sensors on the Line of Control to verify the Islamabad's claim on ending infiltration.

Talking to the media persons in an assesment of the situation after the two countries moved towards easing of tension Defence MInister said there was a considerable decline in cross border infiltration but ruled out military deescalation.

Troops would be deployed in forward position on India-Pakistan border as long as it is necessary. Fernandes said though the government had decided in
principle, to installground sensors along the LoC to monitor the
infiltration, formal talks with Us was yet to take place.

The deployment of ground sensors had been mooted by visiting US
Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeild during his just concluded visit here as effective means for New Delhi to maintain cross-border infiltration.

Reacting the comment on Pakistan President Pervez Musharra's observation that Islamabad's nuclear capability had acted as a deterrent, Defence Minister George Fernandes referred to the Presidential candidate APJ Abdul Kalam's view that the recent skirmishes had shown that if India disnt have a nuclear deterrent there would have been a war now.

Chief of the Army, S. Padmanaban who also present to facilitate an army team for one of theheighest peak in the region echoed the infiltration has come down considerably. There have only been one or more two attempts in the recent weeks. General Padmanaban firmly ruled out joint patrol by India and Pakistan troopsalong the Line of Cintroltill adequate trust was established.

Meanwhile the External Affairs Ministry said ther had been a decline in cross border infiltration, but the trend must a become a permanent one.

-- Sam Asharaf - South Asia Correspondent in Trivandrum, India
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