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

Search Rediff

Voice of Russia calls them Islamic infiltrators

Moscow's state-owned radio, Voice of Russia, has described the infiltrators holed up in the icy heights of Kargil sector as ''fundamentalists, extremists and separatists'' receiving various kinds of support from across the borders.

This includes diplomatic and moral prop-up from Pakistan, the radio said in extended coverage last night of the Indian air strikes to dislodge the intruders.

In contrast to the West's subtle criticism of the air-strikes and stubborn silence over the decades-old active military back-up of the mercenaries by Pakistan, Voice of Russia described the armed bands entering Indian territory as Islamic militants from across the borders.

The current developments are different from the wars India and Pakistan had fought in the past as both countries now possess nuclear powers, the radio said.

A major Russian daily, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, also dwelt on the conflict in the context of the just-concluded visit of Indian external affairs minister Jaswant Singh. New Delhi's concern over NATO air-strikes on Yugoslavia on the pretext of human rights is quite understandable, the daily said pointing out in this context frequent Western attempts to seek internationalisation of the Kashmir problem. The West has been insisting that solution of the problem is possible only by, involving a third party, the daily noted.

According to the mass circulated daily, in Delhi's view it may mean for India a scenario quite similar to the Kosovo one, in the name of human rights been used as pretext by the US and European nations to destroy Yugoslav territory.

It is completely unacceptable to India, as the so-called Kashmir problem is an exclusive concern of the people of Indian sub-continent, the daily asserted.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report