Border calm as 'war-ready' stand-off continues

Pakistan-based Islamic militants in Kashmir were lying low today amid rising US pressure on Islamabad to clampdown on terrorists who have brought India and its neighbour to the brink of a fourth war.

There was calm overnight on the border, where nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan have rushed troops, tanks, artillery guns and ballistic missiles amid rising tensions provoked by a suicide attack on India’s Parliament, blamed on Islamabad.

Security officials in Kashmir said there seemed to be a change in the ground situation after the pressure from the United Nations and other countries on Pakistan to crack down on the Islamic guerrillas based in its territory.

For 12 years, the militants have carried out attacks on the Indian army and terrorist strikes that killed thousands of civilians in the mountainous province.

‘‘The militants are temporarily in hibernation. Due to the pressure on Pakistan, the terrorists’ mentors might have advised them not to take action,’’ said R.S. Bhullar, deputy inspector-general of the paramilitary Border Security Force.

But unless far-reaching steps were taken, Bhullar said he was concerned this might be ‘‘a temporary phase’’.

Meanwhile more than 20,000 civilians have fled homes near the Kashmir frontier fearing a conflict, and to escape border firing.

Pakistan’s support to Islamic militants and terrorists in Kashmir - which India says also includes funding and arms training - has brought the two nations close to a fourth war. Islamabad says it provides only ideological backing.

In Crawford, Texas, on Saturday, US President George W Bush urged Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf ‘‘to take additional strong and decisive measures to eliminate the extremists who seek to harm India, undermine Pakistan, provoke a war between India and Pakistan and destabilise the international coalition against terrorism,’’ said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

Bush also spoke with Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said the United States is ‘‘determined to cooperate with India in the fight against terrorism,’’ McClellan said.

In New Delhi, Vajpayee was holding a meeting with senior leaders of 11 political parties, including eight opposition groups and three providing legislative support to the ruling coalition, in an attempt to consolidate political consensus amid the tense face-off with Pakistan.

Both sides have said there is no possibility of a nuclear war.

‘‘Those who deal with those weapons are sensible,’’ Fernandes said of Pakistan in the interview to The Hindustan Times newspaper.

‘‘Pakistan can’t think of using nuclear weapons despite the fact that they are not committed to the doctrine of no first use like we are.’’

‘‘We could take a strike, survive and then hit back. Pakistan would be finished,’’ Fernandes was quoted as saying. ‘‘I do not really fear that the nuclear issue would figure in a conflict.’’

The dozen or so Islamic militant groups based in Pakistan that are battling Indian rule in Kashmir enjoy support among a vocal sector of the public and within segments of the military.

Vajpayee said on Saturday that his government would do its best to avert war, but National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra added that India will not pull troops from the border until Pakistan takes ‘‘credible, firm, substantive and visible action’’ against militants operating in Kashmir.

Pakistani police say they have arrested at least 30 militants since the Parliament attack.

India has dismissed Pakistan’s steps as cosmetic and on Saturday demanded tougher action.

The two nations - where millions on both sides are connected by ties of blood, marriage or friendship - are severing their connections, with transport links between them due to be cut on Tuesday.