Kargil intrusion a desperate attempt 8212; Advani

AHMEDABAD, JUNE 20: The ongoing Kargil conflict was engineered by Pakistan as the latter's designs to dismember Kashmir from India by usi...

AHMEDABAD, JUNE 20: The ongoing Kargil conflict was engineered by Pakistan as the latter8217;s designs to dismember Kashmir from India by using insurgency had failed, said Union Home Minister L K Advani here on Saturday. 8220;It is a desperate attempt by Pakisan to resurrect militancy,8221; Advani said at a function organised by the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry GCCI to confer Gujarat Businessman Award 1998-99 on industrialist Arvind N. Lalbhai.

Expectedly picking up the Kargil issue, Advani said that the genesis of the current conflict lay in 1948 when Pakistan-back armed guerrillas had intruded into Kashmir. 8220;Though we repulsed the attack of 1948, we lost one-third of Kashmir to Pakistan due to a ceasefire,8221; he said.

8220;They Pakistan have repeated 1948 in 1999, with the hope of gaining more territory,8221; Advani said. Allaying fears expressed by Arvind Lalbhai that a lengthy conflict could cause setback to trade and industry, Advani said, 8220;Do not worry about a setback. I assure that theKargil operation will not last long. We have already contained the conflict.8221;

He also said that the Indian economy was more mature and resilient than that of Pakistan and could withstand the economic burden caused by battle.

8220;Pakistan has realised that if the conflict lasts longer, its economy will be unable to take a blow.8221; He also spoke of Pakistan8217;s precarious situation on the diplomatic front, saying that even its 8220;traditional allies8221; were not siding with it on this issue.

He also made it clear that though India believed in improving ties, it was resolved to defend itself against any aggression. 8220;Prime Minister A B Vajpayee went to Lahore by bus, extended his hand for friendship. But at the same time he did not hesitate to order strikes to flush out intruders,8221; he said. Pakistan has failed to understand our political system, he said.