India deploys sophisticated fighters in bombing raids

India yesterday stepped up its aerial bombing missions in northern Kashmir state by bringing Mirage 2000 fighters, among the most sophisticated in its aerial arsenal, into the fray against Islamic insurgents entrenched in cement bunkers and snow hollows at heights above 16,000 feet. Both India and Pakistan, who have been to war three times since independence 52 years ago, also moved their armies to operational locations close to their borders. "We are monitoring the situation," an army spokesman said in Delhi yesterday.

Officials said two French-built Mirage 2000s led a complement of fighters and helicopter gun ships in bombing raids over Kashmir's remote Kargil region for the sixth successive day. They said the Mirages' role was to protect the accompanying aircraft by jamming Pakistan's radar and air defence artillery batteries that had downed two jet fighters and a helicopter gun ship last week. India, meanwhile, has agreed to Pakistan's proposal for peace talks to defuse tension over its military action in Kashmir against armed guerrillas holding vantage points inside its territory. A foreign ministry spokesman said the dates for the meeting in New Delhi between the Indian Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Pakistani Foreign Minister, Mr Sartaj Aziz, would be announced later. Analysts, however, said the talks would produce little of worth as Pakistan's civilian government could not contain the army that had reportedly "sponsored" the intruders.

India claims it has proof that the intruders are accompanied by regular Pakistani soldiers and their supply lines bolstered by the military. "The onus [in the talks] will be on Pakistan guaranteeing the withdrawal of the intruders," said Dr C. Raja Mohan, a member of the advisory council of India's National Security Council.

Mr Vajpayee described the situation in Kashmir as "warlike" and said India's military would continue until it pushed the intruders back across the line of control into Pakistan. He accused Pakistan of "sponsoring" the intruders, a claim that is denied by Islamabad. The Prime Minister told supporters at his residence yesterday that "back-stabbing" Pakistan had been preparing to infiltrate hundreds of Muslim guerrillas into Indian-controlled Kashmir even as he was discussing peace in the Pakistani border city of Lahore in February.

Mr Vajpayee also said he had rejected a proposal by the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, to send an envoy to the region in an effort to reduce hostilities. "I told him [Mr Annan] if he wants to send an envoy, send him to Pakistan, there is no need to send him to India," Mr Vajpayee said.

India opposes all outside mediation, especially by the UN, on Kashmir, while Pakistan insists on it as a precondition to settling the dispute. The US Secretary of State, Ms Madeleine Albright, and the British Foreign Secretary, Mr Robin Cook, have also spoken with their Indian counterpart, Mr Jaswant Singh, and expressed concern over the fighting.

India's military, meanwhile, claimed to have made "satisfactory" progress in its ground operations against the militants. "Efforts are continuing to evict the militants, cut off their supply routes and deny them reinforcements," army spokesman Maj Gen J. J. Singh said.

India claimed the militants include Taliban fighters from Afghanistan as security agencies have intercepted their wireless messages in Pushtu, the Afghan language.

The army claims to have killed around 300 militants in encounters since operations against them began last month. Its own losses include 33 soldiers dead, 130 wounded and 12 missing.

India's air attache in Islamabad has lodged a protest with the Pakistani government for allegedly executing an Indian Air Force pilot after he parachuted safely on to Pakistani territory.

His friends and colleagues in the air force "want to avenge his death", said a senior air officer after Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja's funeral on Sunday. Pakistan, however, denies the charge.