Salient aspects of developments along the
Line of Control (LOC) in the Kargil sector in Jammu & Kashmir

Pakistan had pushed a large number of armed intruders into Indian territory across the LOC in the Kargil sector before snow had melted and under cover of artillery shelling since early this month. The armed intruders occupied posts which were vacated by the Indian forces just before last winter snowed up this area. The number of intruders including some Pakistani soldiers was estimated to be around 700. The Government of India naturally decided to take action to flush out the infiltrators from our territory. Since the intruders were firmly entrenched in fortified positions at higher elevations and they were in large numbers, it became necessary to use air power since May 26, 1999 in aid of ground troops. Our resolve is that the operation will continue till the last intruder has been removed from our territory.

The Pakistani scheme is to pose a continuing threat to a sensitive area in Jammu and Kashmir and to change the alignment of the LOC to our disadvantage and to disrupt our vital line of communication from Srinagar to Leh via Drass and Kargil. The Srinagar-Leh road is open for about 5 months in the year providing a short season to keep the population in the area of Ladakh valley provisioned with food and other supplies for the whole year.

The military action, including the use of air power, is being conducted on the Indian side of the LOC. At no point have the Indian armed forces crossed the LOC. The approved flight paths for IAF aircraft do not intersect the LOC.

In the air operation, India has lost a Mig-21, a Mig-27 and a MI-17 helicopter. The first aircraft developed engine trouble and the pilot sent a distress signal and ejected. On receipt of the signal, it was the duty of the other team member to ascertain the area in which the pilot had ejected. While this other aircraft was trying to locate the area where the pilot had ejected, it was engaged by a missile fired from across the LOC and was brought down. This was not an honourable act, and was in a fact an unnecessary, provocative and hostile act. The pilot of this aircraft also ejected. The captured pilot Sq. Leader Ajay Ahuja was killed in cold blood by his captors and India has strongly condemned this act of cowardice and savagery. India expects that the guilty will be prosecuted by Govt. of pakistan for murder and punished. The presence of the wreckage on the other side of the LOC is no proof that our aircraft, before it was hit, had crossed the LOC. They could well have fallen on the other side after they lost control. The helicopter was apparently shot down by the armed intruders with Stinger missile which had been supplied to them, probably in the last few days.

There is no doubt that this entire situation has been planned and brought about by Pakistani agencies. It is a new type of intrusion into Indian territory, an upgradation in a record of active sponsorship of cross border terrorism. The whole operation shows the nexus that exists between terrorists (many of them from Talibans), the Pakistan regulars and army units in the background providing crucial logistical support.

The Prime Minister of India Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee spoke on the hotline to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on May 24, 1999 and told him that the intrusion in the Kargil was a new challenge and that it had involved the use of regulars of the Pakistan army. He said that the situation was unacceptable to us and that we would be compelled to take steps to repulse the intrusion.

The recent developments are a setback to the process of normalisation of relations between the two countries which had got a big boost on account of the historic trip of our Prime Minister to Lahore earlier this year. Despite all that has happened, India remains committed to follow the Lahore Declaration and to engage in a dialogue with Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues. Prime Minister has also accepted the offer of Pakistan's Prime Minister to send Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz to India. The dates will be finalised through diplomatic channels. Operations will continue until the objective of ending the armed intrusion is achieved and status quo ante restored.

Our friends abroad, including the United States, have shown understanding of the compulsions of India in undertaking air operations. There is universal recognition of the fact that Pakistan has escalated the situation first. The root cause of the present situation is the intrusion into Indian territory in a systemic manner and by interfering with the military operations by shooting across the Line of Control at Indian positions and Indian aircraft. Naturally, there is concern and exhortation to exercise restraint and to resolve issues peacefully. India has always observed restraint even in the face of the gravest provocations, but we cannot but react to protect our essential national interests. Our actions have to be seen in this context.