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Fernandes rules out Hot Pursuit in Kashmir

Defence Minister George Fernandes on Monday ruled out 'Hot Pursuit' of militants in occupied Kashmir.

Fernandes, speaking after laying the foundation stone of a military station in Jammu and Kashmir's Bhaderwah, felt the strategy was not required as the three-tier defence strategy being employed in the state was good enough.

He was critical of the unilateral United States action in Afghanistan and Sudan.

However, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, who was present at the function, appeared to justify the US action and even urged the defence minister to do something similar to stop the infiltration of militants from across the border.

Fernandes wondered what America would think if India adopted the path they had taken. He charged the US with adopting double standards on the issue of terrorism.

While it had made unilateral strikes when 14 American citizens lost their lives, it had turned a deaf ear when India had pointed out about the proxy war by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

UNI

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