Govt’s step forward: troops to step back

The decision by the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, to ‘‘redeploy’’ troops from the IB means that the strike corps in the Rajasthan and Punjab sectors will be pulled back before the onset of winter, leaving the holding or defensive corps to man the frontier.

Emerging from the CCS meeting, Defence Minister George Fernandes said that the armed forces were now being ‘‘asked to redeploy from positions on the international border with Pakistan, without impairing their capacity to respond decisively to any emergency.’’

‘‘There will be no lowering of the vigil in Jammu and Kashmir,’’ he said, adding that he would instruct the three service chiefs accordingly. ‘‘There is no question of discussing any start of a diplomatic initiative. Nor is there any question of a dialogue with Pakistan as long as cross-border terrorism continues,’’ he maintained, denying suggestions that today’s move was a result of US pressure on India.

Official sources said that the decision to move back from the IB had been taken at the highest level last week but was given the official stamp after consultations at a joint meeting this morning of the NSC and NSAB.

One of the reasons for the withdrawal, sources said, was the approaching winter in the Rajasthan desert which would have warranted a fresh look at operational preparedness and logistics. ‘‘After the harsh summer, the sharp fall in temperature would have made it very difficult for the troops stationed there,’’ sources said.

While Fernandes maintained that today’s decision did not amount to ‘‘de-escalation,’’ he said that the army would now decide the time and quantum of redeployment. This would also include ‘‘which ones will go to peace locations.’’ It would, however, be in a calibrated manner while keeping an eye on Pakistan.

He said the armed forces had achieved the objective of securing the frontiers which were being threatened. ‘‘The successful completion of the election in Jammu and Kashmir caps their achievements,’’ he said.

Earlier, the joint meeting of the NSC and the NSAB, which too was presided by the Prime Minister and began around noon at Hyderabad House, stretched an hour beyond its scheduled time with NSAB members making their presentations.

The military point of view was put forward by former Army chief V P Malik while other presentations related to possible measures on the diplomatic and economic fronts.

The 15-member NSAB is headed by C V Ranganathan, former ambassador to China. Others present at the meeting included Air Marshal (retd) Vinod Patney, Vice Admiral (retd) K K Nayyar, former IB chief Arun Bhagat, former NSG director Nikhil Kumar, IDSA director K Santhanam and former Atomic Energy Commission chairman M R Srinivasan. Also present were Cabinet Secretary designate Kamal Pande, new Home Secretary N Gopalaswamy and IB chief K P Singh.

The members reportedly felt that with wider participation of people in the elections and formation of a new government in J&K, Pakistan could step up the level of violence. The coming to power of right-wing parties in Pakistan was also taken into account.