NEW DELHI, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee Saturday urged the people of his country to be prepared for war with neighboring Pakistan, if peace efforts fail.
Vajpayee said India will strive to avoid a war, adding his government is resolved to end terrorism.
Thousands of Indian and Pakistani troops are deployed at their common border and the nuclear rivals appear to be on the brink of a military conflict.
"Our objective is to put an end to Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the country. We shall use all the means and resources at India's command to achieve this objective," Vajpayee told a meeting of senior leaders of his Bharatiya Janata Party.
"No means will be spared, although we shall do our utmost to avoid war with Pakistan", Press Trust of India quoted Vajpayee as saying.
"I have said before and I say it again: We do not want war, but a war in the form of cross-border terrorism has already been thrust on India."
"At the same time, I would like one and all to know that, if necessary, India shall fight this battle on its own to achieve our objective," Vajpayee said.
The Indian prime minister also urged the international community to pressure Pakistan to stop its policy of cross-border terrorism.
Vajpayee said Indians must be prepared to face any eventuality with unity, courage and supreme confidence in the justness of the struggle.
Meanwhile, at least 18 Indian soldiers were killed while handling landmines along the India-Pakistan border.
Defense officials say the soldiers were taking part in an exercise and being trained how to defuse the land mines when one of the explosive devices detonated accidentally near the Longewala border post.
Defense ministry sources say the soldiers were laying mines along the border to deter any Pakistani tanks. At least 12 soldiers were wounded in the mishap.
India blames two Pakistan-based rebel groups for the terrorist attack on the Indian parliament on Dec. 13. Although Islamabad has disbanded the two groups following pressure from Washington, India says Pakistan's action is "too late and too little."
India has also turned down Pakistan's peace talks offer during an upcoming South Asian regional summit in Katmandu next week.
