India's Fernandes calls for militant crackdown

Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes is in Singapore to attend the Asia Security Conference

SINGAPORE -- India's defense minister has said that arch-rival Pakistan must back up its proclaimed desire for peace on the subcontinent with action on militants.

Speaking at the sidelines of a security conference in Singapore on Sunday, George Fernandes told CNN that the crisis over the disputed territory of Kashmir would de-escalate much faster if Pakistan hands over 20 suspected militants wanted by India.

The South Asian nuclear neighbors have amassed nearly a million troops along their shared border amid accusations from both about which country is to blame for escalating tensions over Kashmir.

Negotiation is a "must," but "there has to be the requisite environment generated for that purpose," Fernandes said. "You can't have our soldiers, family folk, particularly innocent women and children, shot dead and at the same time say, 'Come, let us sit and talk.' You don't do that."

In an interview with CNN Saturday, Musharraf said nuclear conflict was all but unthinkable. "I don't think either side is that irresponsible to go to that limit," he said.

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"I would even go to the extent of saying one shouldn't even be discussing these things, because any sane individual cannot even think of going into this unconventional war, whatever the pressures."

Fernandes said that Musharraf had talked "about exercising the nuclear option" until his comments this weekend.

"But it seems that [Saturday] he has decided that it is an insane person's job to exercise the nuclear option and one should now act with responsibility.

"Since there has been a change in his thinking, one hopes steps will be taken to resolve the issues that are at the root of this present situation," Fernandes said.

On Friday Fernandes told reporters in Singapore there is no immediate cause for concern in the tense standoff, and said he thought the situation was stable.

"The troops have been on both sides in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation for the last six months, so I don't think one needs to worry just now as to what is likely to happen," he said.

Stop militants

While India has recognized that Pakistan is supporting the U.S.-led coalition against terrorism, New Delhi still believes that terrorists were infiltrating from Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir.

Militant groups including al Qaeda and Taliban fighters from Afghanistan had escaped into Pakistan's Northwest Frontier province and its part of Kashmir, Fernandes told reporters at the conference.

"We are deeply concerned that these cadres would be encouraged to indulge in terrorist violence against India."

Pakistan says it has sealed its western border with Afghanistan and does not let members of al Qaeda, the group blamed for the September 11 attacks on the United States, or the Taliban enter Pakistan.

But analysts say Musharraf -- an army general who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999 and extended his presidency for five years in a recent referendum -- may not be able to control the militants or some hawkish commanders in his own military who are sympathetic to the Kashmiri separatists.