US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Sharief holds key meeting on Kargil

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief is now holding a key meeting of cabinet ministers and defence forces chiefs to discuss the Kargil conflict, a senior government official said.

He said the meeting, attended by chiefs of Pakistan's army, navy and air force and a few ministers, would discuss 'recent developments' relating to Kashmir and conclude later today.

He gave no further details. Pakistani newspapers said the meeting was expected to take some strategic decisions to handle the present crisis in the region and assess the country's defences.

''The government will come out with a clearer policy on the Kargil situation, dispelling somewhat (the) confusion... after the defence committee of the cabinet, the supreme body making decisions on defence related matters, meets today,'' The Nation said.

Islamabad is under intense diplomatic pressure, led mainly by the United States, to withdraw forces from the Kargil-Drass sectors, where India has maintained ground and air offensives for about two months against what it calls Pakistani-backed infiltrators and some Pakistani regulars.

Pakistan shrugs off the charges and says the insurgents are 'Kashmiri freedom fighters'.

UNI

The Kargil Crisis

EXTERNAL LINK

DCC to approve final strategy today: PM, military commanders may contact Indian counterparts,Track II diplomacy to be continued

Tell us what you think of this report