Indian army soldiers travel toward Kargil as clashes continue to escalate RELATED VIDEO In Pakistan, many men say they are ready to die in the fight for Kashmir. But others say talks are needed first. CNN's Kasra Naji looks at the division. (June 23) Windows Media 28K 80K CNN's Satinder Bindra reports on India's determination to push Pakistani fighters back, despite the difficulties. (June 23) Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K  MESSAGE BOARD: India-Pakistan relations

June 23, 1999
Web posted at: 12:13 p.m. EDT (1613 GMT)

In this story: Minister rebuffs cease-fire call Pakistan readies air defenses RELATED STORIES, SITES

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- Indian officials said Wednesday they would consider moving across the cease-fire line dividing its territory in Kashmir from Pakistan's as its offensive against Islamic guerrillas moved it closer to the border.

Emboldened by battlefield gains and an implicit rebuke of Pakistan by the Group of Eight nations, India moved to crush a guerrilla insurgency in the Himalayan province as a Cabinet officer warned the country to "be prepared for war."

The chief of staff of India's army, V.P. Malik, said India would consider crossing the U.N.-drawn boundary as long as it had the approval of the country's Cabinet. And Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani warned Pakistan it would pay a "stupendous price" if it attempted another incursion.

Indian troops Wednesday fought pitched battles with heavily armed guerrillas in the Batalik area and artillery pounded positions in Turtuk, Chabutla and Kaksar, near the cease-fire line that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan, officials said.

Malik said Indian troops have foiled what he called a Pakistani plan to sever a vital road through the rugged territory, and are prepared to reclaim one of the last strategic peaks still held by the rebels.

"We review the situation all the time, and I believe that if it becomes necessary to cross the Line of Control in the supreme national interest, the matter will be taken up in the Cabinet," he said.

Indian military officers in Kashmir say they are on the verge of reclaiming the last of the mountain peaks held by the Pakistanis.

"It is a very difficult operation, because you have to get up these heights where the enemy is located, and that takes time," said Col. Atvar Singh.

India says the guerrilla force is made up mostly of Pakistani regulars and Afghan mercenaries. Pakistan has denied supporting the rebels, and Pakistani officials have repeatedly called for a cease-fire in the region -- a call Advani rebuffed.

"With Pakistan now seeking cease-fire, it is amply evident that they have realized their blunder," he told a news conference in the northern city of Lucknow. "But let it be loud and clear to them that we are in no mood for cease-fire until the intruders are completely thrown out of Indian territory."

Pakistan says the militants are Kashmiri freedom fighters over whom it has no control.

The offensive began May 26 as India began a push to reclaim strategic mountain posts occupied by the guerrillas after winter snows melted.

The fighting among peaks as high as 5,200 meters (17,000 feet) has been marked by shelling so intense entire towns are deserted.

Nearly the entire population of Dras -- about 14,000 people -- has left, but the Indian army says their homes are being looked after.

Both countries claim all of Kashmir, which has been the flashpoint for two of the three wars between India and Pakistan since 1947. Both countries tested nuclear weapons last year.

Foreign ministers of the two countries met for crisis talks in New Delhi earlier this month, but made no headway and blamed each other for the stalemate.

"It would be prudent on the part of India to be prepared for war," Advani said.

Pakistani leaders on Tuesday renewed an offer to resume peace talks, but they acknowledged the Indian rhetoric by beefing up security. In Karachi, anti-aircraft guns and missiles had been deployed at strategic points around the country's biggest city, military officials said.

Pakistan had sought the support of the G-8 countries, the world's leading economic powers, in seeking an end to hostilities.

The G-8 did call for a cease-fire, but implicitly blamed the conflict on Pakistan by criticizing "the infiltration of armed intruders" across a designated cease-fire line.

British, Russian, U.S. and German envoys in New Delhi all supported India's claim that the guerrillas were backed by Islamabad.

Demonstrations of support for the militants were held in Muzzafarabad, the capital of Pakistan's portion of Kashmir, but few Pakistanis seemed willing to go to war with India again.

"There should be talks on the table," one woman said.

Many of the Islamic militants are veterans of civil wars in Afghanistan, and they say they are ready to fight a new holy war.

"Allah has given us the order to fight the Indian army until they leave Kashmir," one told CNN.

New Delhi Bureau Chief Satinder Bindra, Correspondent Kasra Naji and Reuters contributed to this report.