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Cabinet panel reviews Pak buildup along LoC

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

The Cabinet Committee on Security met this evening to review the situation along the Line of Control in Kashmir where Pakistan has been beefing up its military presence over the last few days. The three service chiefs also attended the meeting.

The meeting took place a few hours after the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, comprising army chief General V P Malik, air force chief Air Chief Marshal A Y Tipnis and navy chief Admiral Sushil Kumar, met and reviewed the situation.

Later, the three chiefs called on Defence Minister George Fernandes and gave him their assessment of the situation.

According to sources, the movement of troops by Pakistan is aimed at heightening tension in the run-up to United States President Bill Clinton's visit in March.

Defence sources maintained that they do not expect any confrontation immediately. "It is merely a game plan being executed before President Clinton's visit."

According to recent reports, the Pakistani Army has moved two more battalions to the LoC.

While saying that he has no definite information, ACM Tipnis pointed out, "We would be, and are, carrying out intelligence assessment of the situation."

The air chief returned to India last night after a three-day visit to neighbouring Bangladesh, where he gifted to the air force museum three fighters -- a MiG-21FL, a Gnat, and a Hunter -- that had participated in the 1971 war with Pakistan that resulted in the birth of that nation.

He said the Indian defence forces are on full alert. "Our preparedness is there. There is no question of being caught unawares." But he added that there is no "undue anxiety" in the defence forces.

On his visit to Bangladesh, the first in 25 years by an IAF chief, Tipnis said both sides have decided to work towards better co-operation. "We need to look more towards Bangladesh," he said.

Tipnis said the IAF could assist the Bangladesh Air Force in training personnel as navigators, in weapons delivery, flight combat leadership and flight strike leadership. "Perhaps we will discuss the possibility of some exercise together at a logistically possible level," he said.

On the joint exercise 'Springex 2000' of the Indian Navy and the IAF currently taking place off the Goa coast, the air chief said the IAF is looking at validating and reviewing its concepts of maritime strikes. "We are also validating the concept of the air force neutralising the enemy's maritime strike aircraft. We will also be carrying out combat air patrols in the sea, providing a defensive umbrella for our own naval forces."

The IAF and the army begin another joint exercise in the Haryana and Punjab area tonight. Codenamed Vijay Chakra, the exercise will have extensive practice on the airborne induction of troops over the next five days.

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