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India not in a rush to go to war: PMO

Sheela Bhatt in New Delhi

The way the Prime Minister's Office sees it, the week just ending has witnessed the biggest-ever exercise in the latest buzzword in the lexicon of international affairs: 'Coercive diplomacy'.

The public perception, that the government and its prime minister are primed for war is false, says a senior PMO official. "Don't rush to make Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee a wartime PM, he is still a warrior of peace!"

Briefing rediff.com on the diplomatic action behind the scenes, the official said, "Americans, Russians, Chinese, Japanese, the French and the British are all talking our language now. For the first time ever, these countries understand our concerns."

The reason, he believes, is that India's foreign affairs ministry has presented its case like never before. "We have put forward our case, we have produced tons of proof, about Pakistan-backed infiltration into Kashmir, which is in violation of international laws."

There is, despite the seriousness of the situation, an air of self-congratulation as well - especially about India's growing friendship with America.

"Since the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government came to power, India and America have begun walking together," said a senior national security expert. "America is comfortable now in dealing with BJP leaders, and in times of crisis this adds to our comfort level."

This evaluation, he said, has been bolstered by the joint exercises now being conducted in the Straits of Malacca by the navies of both nations, and the earlier land-based exercises by commandos and air force personnel from India and the US, in Agra.

"We explain, successfully, to visiting diplomats and world leaders that Pakistan does not have the physical or strategic depth of India. We also point out that India's security cannot be ignored, not when over 3,000 jihadis stand ready to cross the border. We expect more violence in the run up to the election in Kashmir," the security expert says.

The PMO holds that Musharraf, despite his public protestations, has been using the jihadis as his proxy weapon against India. "That is the message we are giving to the world," the PMO official said. "India rejects the line that Musharraf has limitations and is unable to control militancy due to domestic compulsions - we believe he is in command and can, if he wishes to, rein in the militants."

"We have isolated Musharraf," he added.

This certitude does not mean, officials say, that India is ready to rush headlong into war. "External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh is moving very carefully," one of the external affairs minister's senior aides told rediff.com. "The message he is conveying is that India is patient, and tough; that Al Qaeda has not yet been dismantled; that Musharraf's greatest wish is to see that outfit in Kashmir. We have been pointing out to the international leaders who have been coming here, that Pakistan's public protestations do not fool us - after all, in the battle of Kunduz during the war in Afghanistan, Pakistani soldiers were airlifted into the region to help defend it, right under America's nose."

India will, PMO officials say, hang tough and "not get carried away by the enemy's provocations."

However, there is another side to this debate. A defense analyst points out: " India has forced itself in a situation from where it can only go forward, or lose face. In view of this, the government has mounted a diplomatic offensive. Right now, it suits America to tighten the screws on Musharraf, who has been slackening in his battle against the Al Qaeda.

"Don't be surprised," the analyst says, "if America withdraws its troops from Pakistan soil this week. They will close down their economic and diplomatic wings as well. The diplomatic offensive notwithstanding, matters are moving in the wrong direction."

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