INDIA MAKES SIGNIFICANT GAINS AGAINST PAKISTAN IN BORDER CONFLICT

Indian armed forces scored some significant wins last week in its battle with Pakistan-backed infiltrators who have occupied Indian territory in the northern regions bordering Pakistan. It managed to capture the crucial Tiger Hills after fierce fighting which saw both Pakistan and India suffering casualties. At the time of writing it had captured another important position on the Indian side.

The onward march of the Indian army with support from the air force over the past month and a half has seen the intruders being pushed back closer and closer to the Line of Control, the line which divides the two nations. But the Pakistan army is believed to be trying to penetrate India from other border areas.

On the diplomatic front, a Pakistan envoy arrived in India to come up with a dialogue towards peace with the Indian Prime Minister. India too sent two representatives very quietly to Pakistan. However, Pakistan's cause received a major dent when the US insisted that Pakistan should respect the Line of Control as per the Shimla agreement, cease hostilities, withdraw its troops and begin the peace talks that the two had started earlier this year. China too did not support Pakistan's point of view though along with France it supplied Pakistan with fighter jets and arms and ammunition. Bowing down to the pressure Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Shariff agreed to withdraw its troops from Indian territory.

At the time of writing, at least three Indian government representatives were beaten up by Pakistani lumpen elements in Pakistan. India's stand point is that it will continue to battle with the intruders until they are driven out fully.

Meanwhile, the elections will take place as scheduled in September, the Indian government and Election Commission stated. The Opposition parties have tried to have their say too: they have insisted that a special session of Parliament on the Kargil issue should be convened.