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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, OCT 13: India is concerned about what is happening in Pakistan but there is no cause for alarm or anxiety, Union Minister Jaswant Singh said here on Wednesday after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
The committee, chaired by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, met for more than an hour-and-a-half here this evening to take stock of the situation in the sub-continent following the military takeover in Pakistan on Tuesday.
Talking to newsmen after the meeting, Singh denied reports that the Indian armed forces had been put on alert following the coup.
Asked about the resumption of bi-lateral talks with Pakistan, the Minister said that it depended on how the situation evolved in the neighbouring country. He hoped the situation would stabilise. “It’s our hope and there is also an expectation for resumption of talks. But, Pakistan must take concrete steps,” he added.
Referring to initiatives taken by the Vajpayee government to normalise relations with Pakistan, Singh said the fact that the Lahore-Delhi bus operated normally today was a pointer in this direction.
Both sets of buses, from Delhi to Lahore and vice-versa, left and arrived at their respective destinations without a hitch today.
Describing Vajpayee’s bus diplomacy as a historic step, Singh said the initiative continued to have meaning even today.
The CCS, which met at Vajpayee’s 7, Race Course Road residence, was attended by senior ministers Jaswant Singh, L K Advani, Yashwant Sinha, George Fernandes, the three services chiefs, convenor of the National Security Council K C Pant and National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra.
Meanwhile, in an interview to Nalini Singh for TV Live soon after the swearing-in of the new Council of Ministers, Singh however, ruled out any misadventure by Pakistan or use of nuclear power by the neighbouring country.
"I don’t think Pakistan will attack us. I also do not see that they will use their nuclear power against us. In fact the Kargil war was fought by Pakistani army and if it wanted, it could have resorted to nuclear option during the conflict," Singh said, according to a press release issued by the TV channel.
To a question whether martial law had been imposed in Pakistan, he said the situation was confusing and there were no clear signs as to what was happening there.
