Unprovoked firing ends as India teaches Pak a lesson: Mulayam

Union Defence Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav asserted in the Lok Sabha on Monday that the Indian troops had achieved their goal in ''silencing'' the Pakistan ''targets'' during last month's unprovoked firing in Kargil sector.

Replying to Sanat Kumar Mandal, the minister said India is committed to upholding humanity. Which was the reason why Indian troops do not target civilians during any operation unless it was unavoidable.

Giving details of the firing by Pakistani troops between April 9 and 13, Yadav said they resorted to heavy volume of small arms and artillery fire not only on the forward defended locations but also on civilian population centres in and around Kargil town. This resulted in the death of two civilians. Some buildings were damaged.

The Indian troops gave ''an appropriate but measured response'' to those firings. The firing of heavy artillery by the Pakistani troops stopped on April 13, he added.

Denying the allegations by some members, the defence minister said the border was being manned by ''competent'' officers. And that they need not seek ''any clearance'' from Delhi to respond to the situation.

Taking exception, Jaswant Singh, deputy leader of the BJP, said the Pakistanis had fired not only from the Line of Control but also 30 km within LoC. Singh's remark drew strong protests from the Treasury benches and Congress MPs.

Prime Minister I K Gujral said India was trying to improve its relations with Pakistan. ''It will be a process and not an event,'' he emphasised.

The defence minister told the agitated members that the army was engaged in dual action in Kargil, evacuating the civilians as well as fighting the Pakistanis.

Yadav said India was anxious to improve its relations with Pakistan and will continue with its efforts. He said the Pakistanis resorted to unprovoked firing as they were unhappy with the peaceful conduct of elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

UNI