India Should Have Retaliated After December 13 Attack

May 26, 2002

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said on Sunday that India should have launched a retaliatory strike against the terrorists in Pakistan soon after the December 13 attack on the Parliament.

"When the attack on Parliament occurred, that time itself India should have given its reply," Mr. Vajpayee, who inaugurated a new road tunnel in Rohtang pass, said.

"Everybody asked us to be patient and assured us that such a thing would not happen (again). After that, incidents have taken place again."

The Prime Minister said that India's patience had worn thin and called for unity to achieve victory over terrorism. "In this hour of crisis, we should unitedly prepare to defend ourselves," the Prime Minister said. "The nation should stand shoulder to shoulder against the challenge. We want victory, victory over terrorism."

He added: "We want to tell the international community that when the whole world is united against terrorism, the US forces are in Afghanistan, why should we bear these acts of terrorism and for how long?"

Earlier, Mr. Vajpayee went into a huddle with Defence Minister George Fernandes and National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra on the tensions with Pakistan.

Mr. Fernandes and Mr. Mishra arrived in Manali by helicopter early on Sunday, where the PM is on holiday.

"Pakistan has found a new way of waging war," Vajpayee said in his address. "They have seen that they can never gain victory over India in a direct war and they always suffer defeats. They have therefore found this new way of terrorism."

"The world tells us that you are right. Cross-border terrorism should end," Mr. Vajpayee said.

"The Pakistan president, whatever he said on radio and television, he should implement," he added.

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