Myanmar operation: Parrikar takes a dig at Pakistan

Says those who 'fear India's new posture' have already started reacting

Attributing the Myanmar operation to "change in mindset", Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today took a dig at Pakistan, saying those who "fear India's new posture" have already started reacting.

"If the thinking pattern changes, lot of things change. You have seen for the last 2-3 days. A simple action against insurgents has changed the mindset of the full security scenario in the country," he said addressing a seminar here.

He was speaking on the need for simplication of defence procurement procedures, which, he said, required a change in mindset.

Refusing to go into details of the operation, the Minister said, "Those who fear India's new posture have started reacting". He also declined to take questions from the media on the military action.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan had yesterday said, "Pakistan is not like Myanmar" and warned India that his country cannot be cowed down by the threats from across the border.

Khan's statement came in response to Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore's remarks that military action in Myanmar to hit back at rebels who killed 18 soldiers in Manipur was a message to other countries.

Rathore's comments were interpreted here as a warning to Pakistan.

Khan said that it should be clear to India that "Pakistan is not a country like Myanmar".

"Those having ill designs against Pakistan should listen carefully that our security forces are capable of matching response to any adventurism," he said.

Indian Army had undertaken a successful cross-border strike with the knowledge of Myanmarese authorities killing at least 38 insurgents who were part of the groups believed to be responsible for the ambush on June 4 that left 18 soldiers dead.