NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Tuesday's attack on a bus and an army camp in Jammu was the outcome of the Pakistan leadership's frustration, Defence Minister George Fernandes told reporters after visiting the site of the attack on Wednesday. He said the perpetrators of the violence would not go unpunished.
"It is a situation which calls for punishment to the perpetrators. What that punishment should be needs to be deliberated," Fernandes said.
"We cannot have this kind of terror go unpunished, particularly when there is a global coalition to fight terrorism and we are part of that coalition," he said.
Asked why the army had not been instructed to wage war despite mobilisation of troops on the India-Pakistan border since December, the minister said, "how the army should be used will be decided at a proper time. Such decisions are taken with due thought."
Fernandes refused to comment when one reporter asked if "punishment" meant "war with Pakistan." On being questioned further, the minister said, "When the decision is taken, the punishment will be known to all."
The minister visited the army camp at Kaluchak where terrorists massacred many members of soldiers' families, including children and women, soon after his arrival from Delhi. He also visited the victims' homes. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and some of his colleagues were present during the minister's media briefing.
EARLIER REPORTS: 33 killed in suicide attack in Jammu Pak hand in attack: Fernandes Bandh paralyses Jammu
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
