When to lower border heat? Security panel debates today

When asked if it implied crossing the Line of Control and attacking terrorist hubs inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Khandelwal said: ‘‘It should be left to the Army to decide what action to take. The Army should be given a free hand and a clear mandate to destroy the terrorist camps.’’

Agreeing that keeping troops deployed for an indefinite period was not pragmatic, he proposed that the Government could recall the Army from the international border but not budge from the LoC.

According to sources, ‘‘de-escalation in the military build-up along the border is only one of the issues. At the meeting, the country’s security issues would be reviewed in the light of the post-election scenario in Pakistan.’’

Individual aspects, such as diplomacy, economic security and technological preparedness, would be assessed in the context of the latest developments in Pakistan, they said.

The objective of the joint meeting of the NSC was revealed by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani during a press conference on Sunday while fielding a query on troop recall. The last such meeting was held in 1999 at the height of the Kargil war.

Sources said there was pressure from the international community, particularly European nations, which feel that India must ease tension along the border as a first step towards starting a dialogue with its neighbour.

A section of the Army is also pressing for bringing down the troops — which have been perched atop the mountains since last December — before the onset of winter. They argue that the objective of coercive diplomacy has worked resulting in the successful completion of Jammu and Kashmir polls. Additional defence forces were deployed in the frontier areas following the attack on Parliament on December 13.

BJP vice-president Khandelwal pointed out that Vajpayee and Advani had stated a number of times that Pakistan was sponsoring terrorist activities in India. ‘‘Once we decide to pull back our troops from the border, it would weaken our case against Islamabad.’’

The NSC comprises Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Advani, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Defence Minister George Fernandes, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman K C Pant and National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra.

Its advisory board, constituted in December 1998, has 15 members who meet regularly to chalk out the steps that the government must take.