Fernandes briefs envoys, Opposition leaders

Simultaneously, France, Britain and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan expressed concern over the developments in Kashmir and urged both India and Pakistan to show 8220;utmost caution8221; in dealing with the situation. They said the matter should be resolved in the spirit of the Lahore Declaration.

The Congress, however, seemed dissatisfied with Fernandes8217;s explanation. Chairman of the party8217;s Foreign Affairs Department Natwar Singh told correspondents today that the Defence Minister did not add to the information available in newspaper and television reports.

8220;It was gross negligence on the Government8217;s part to have allowed the situation to have reached theproportion it has. Since it is a question of the country8217;s security, we want a cohesive statement from the Government on all the facts,8221; Singh asserted.

The Government8217;s decision to brief appears to have been prompted by the initiative taken by US Ambassador Richard Celeste and UK High Commissioner Rob Young who sought appointments with Fernandes to 8220;ascertain facts8221; about the Indian action in Kargil. An official said later that Celeste ruled out US intervention.

He also said that the Government has asked its missions abroad to be in regular touch with foreign Governments about Pakistan-backed infiltration into Kashmir and India8217;s efforts to flush out the intruders.

Fernandes went from briefing to briefing today. Those in the Opposition to whom he has talked include the Left Parties, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Sharad Pawar and Mayawati. He called on former Prime Minister I K Gujral in the evening and will meet Narasimha Rao tomorrow.

Meanwhile, an MEA spokesman said today that a stable bilateralrelationship between India and Pakistan was not possible as long as the latter engaged in 8220;confrontational and hostile activities8221;.

He said Pakistan should adhere to the spirit of the Simla Agreement, the Lahore Declaration and the composite dialogue process to which India was committed.

He revealed that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had warned his Pakistani counterpart that India would be compelled to take steps to repulse the intrusion. He described the development as 8220;a new challenge8221; as it involved the use of Pakistani Army regulars.

Asked what Nawaz Sharif8217;s response was, the spokesman said the Pakistan Premier8217;s view was that the Director Generals of Military Operations from both sides should establish contact with each other.