PM begins Ground Zero recce today

In other words, say North Block officials, it means initiation of the war mechanism and adherence to the stipulated drill. In a related development, the Merchant Navy too has been brought under the operational control of the Navy. This would automatically curtail free movement of private ships in Indian waters.

Accompanied by Fernandes, national security adviser Brajesh Mishra and Army chief S Padmanabhan, Vajpayee will spend Tuesday in Jammu where he will meet people injured in the May 14 attack.

He will be briefed by Army commanders on the situation at the border where an angry exchange of shelling is currently underway. He will also be visiting troops in the forward areas of Kupwara and Baramulla.

The Prime Minister last visited the state in August 2000, together with Opposition leaders, soon after the massacre of Amarnath-bound pligrims.

While hinting that more measures could follow, Advani today told The Indian Express that ‘‘we have to change our strategy in dealing with cross-border terrorism. Some of these changes are already being effected…We are moving in a certain direction.’’

According to Advani, the massacre at Kaluchak on May 14 could well be the turning point in the way Indian forces had been handling Pak-sponsored terrorism. He brought in the Punjab experience to buttress his argument.

‘‘During the militancy in Punjab, the turning point came after terrorists started singling out the families of policemen.’’

Earlier in the day, while inaugurating a charity centre in the Capital, Advani declared that India would decisively win the proxy-war unleashed by Pakistan in the same way it won the earlier wars, though this time ‘‘we will have to change our strategy…a decision in this regard would be taken in close consultation with the armed forces.’’

Meanwhile, Fernandes and chiefs of the Army and IAF today flew to the Nal air force base to witness the final phase of Operation Parakram Phase-III. The exercise focuses on synergised air force and army assaults on ‘enemy’ territory with emphasis on firepower to neutralise ‘enemy’ assets.

‘‘The air force moves in to flatten enemy defences ahead of an armoured and artillery assault. The exercises are taking place at the Mahajan field firing ranges,’’ Army sources said.

The month-long exercise concludes tomorrow with a air and ground firepower demonstration. ‘‘We have taken several scenarios into account, ranging from a limited strike to escalating conflict. The army and air force are also capable of handling a nuclear scenario. Although in the existing situation, we do not expect the conflict to cross the nuclear threshold, we are prepared for every eventuality and have been testing our responses,’’ the sources said.

The IAF today appointed Air Marshal A R Gandhi as the new air officer commanding-in-chief of the key Western Air Command, controlling air combat assets from Leh in J&K to Ganganagar in Rajasthan.

Senior air staff officer of WAC, Gandhi replaces Air Marshal V K Bhatia. He was awarded a Vir Chakra after he shot down a F-86 Sabre of the Pakistan Air Force over Halwara during the 1965 conflict.