From Our Delhi Bureau

NEW DELHI: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left no doubts about involvement of the Pakistan Army in the intrusion in the Kargil sector by announcing at Pion near Skardu in the Pak-occupied Kashmir schemes for families of those killed in the operation.

Addressing troops of the Northern Light Infantry in the Shiok Valley, near the Line of Control, he lauded the high morale of the troops and announced that the legal heirs of martyrs would be given a house in the city of their choice, besides compensation of rupees five lakh. The wounded soldier, who has been rendered disabled, would also be given Rs 5,00,000 by the government.

He said it has also been decided that the government would undertake education of the offsprings of the martyrs. In this behalf the boarding houses of Boonji and Gilgit would be upgraded while a students hostel would be set up in Skardu.

Besides Chief of the Army Staff Gen Pervez Musharraf, those who accompanied the Prime Minister during his day-long visit included Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz, Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Minister Lt Gen (retd) Majeed Malik, Information and Culture Minister Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Labour and Manpower Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmed and Religious Affairs Minister Raja Zafarul Haq.

The prime minister said the world has now witnessed that India was rendered helpless before a few hundred Mujahideen. "Now, India knows that Kashmiris cannot be kept in subjugation for long through the dint of wanton force. Their destination is nearer to be crowned with success," Nawaz Sharif said, adding, the Kashmir issue has attained world focus.

The Prime Minister also addressed the heirs of martyrs in Boonji, Gilgit. Paying tributes to the armed forces, he said they have proved that they can emerge successful in every trial with the blessings of Almighty Allah. He paid tributes to those officers, jawans and citizens who laid down their lives and embraced Shahadat. "The nation is proud of these valiant sons of soil who sacrificed their lives for their beloved country." Amidst vociferous slogans of Allah-o-Akbar, he said the lions of Allah Almighty have inflicted heavy losses on the enemy which was much larger in number.

The Prime Minister said the defenders of the country have proved that anyone who dared cast evil eye will have to retreat with humiliation. He assured the people that these sacrifices would not go in vain.

Nawaz Sharif said he had come to pay homage to the brave soldiers who have turned a new page of valour in the annals of the history. He hoped the unprecedented sacrifices and undefeatable spirit of our nation would lead to liberation of kashmir. "I pay salute to these great sons of the nation and also pay tributes to the mothers, sisters and daughters who sacrificed their sons brothers and spouses for the nation." END.