Pakistan's Vice-chief of Army Staff Gen Mohammad Yusuf  Khan on Monday said Kashmir will remain an 'inseparable' part of Pakistan's national policy and a key component of Islamabad's overall strategy despite international pressure.
 
Addressing a gathering at the Naval War College in Lahore, Gen Khan welcomed the offer of talks by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, but asked the Pakistan military not to lower its guard.

"We ought to be very clear that the only guarantee for peace is our preparedness for war,"

he was quoted as saying by the official APP news agency.

"We must be able to deter aggression and defend land frontiers of Pakistan. However, in case deterrence fails, we have to maintain a strong defensive capability to absorb enemy's offensive, inflict serious attrition, and embroil enemy's committed forces.
   
"We also have to have credible offensive capability not only to retain strategic options, but also for ending the war on a favourable note," he said adding that Pakistan needed to step up its indigenous defence production.