View source for 2001 2002 India Pakistan standoff

{{Short description|Period of military and political tension between India and Pakistan}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = 2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff<br />Indian Codename: '' Operation Parakram''
| partof            = the [[Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts]]
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| date              = 13 December 2001{{spaced ndash}}10 June 2002<br />({{Age in months, weeks and days|year1=2001|month1=12|day1=13|year2=2002|month2=06|day2=10}})
| place             = [[Indo-Pakistani border]]
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| combatants_header = 
| combatant1        = [[India]]
| combatant2        = [[Pakistan]]
| combatant3        = 
| commander1        = [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]<br />[[L. K. Advani]]<br>[[Sundararajan Padmanabhan|S. Padmanabhan]]
| commander2        = [[Pervez Musharraf]]
| commander3        = 
| units1            = 
| units2            = 
| units3            = 
| strength1         = 500,000–800,000 soldiers<ref>Narang 2010</ref><ref name="gs">[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/kashmir-2002.htm Kashmir Crisis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060711070348/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/kashmir-2002.htm |date=11 July 2006}} [[GlobalSecurity.org]]</ref>
| strength2         = 300,000–400,000 soldiers<ref name="gs" />
| casualties1       = 798 killed<ref name="798 soldiers">{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Op-Parakram-claimed-798-soldiers/articleshow/104948.cms |title=Op Parakram claimed 798 soldiers |date=31 July 2003 |access-date=20 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022092929/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-07-31/india/27204243_1_op-parakram-indian-soldiers-operation-parakram |archive-date=22 October 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |url-status=live}}</ref><br />1,874 casualties altogether<ref name="1874 Casualties"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Bhaskar|first=C. Uday |date=2016-09-20|title=No Nation Must Stumble Into War: Lessons from Op Parakram Post Uri|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/no-nation-must-stumble-into-war-lessons-operation-parakram-post-uri-attack-pakistan-soldiers-jawans-kashmir-modi|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303133904/https://www.thequint.com/news/india/no-nation-must-stumble-into-war-lessons-operation-parakram-post-uri-attack-pakistan-soldiers-jawans-kashmir-modi|archive-date=3 March 2020|access-date=2021-11-15|website=TheQuint|language=en}}</ref> (per Indian government)<br />
900 casualties<ref>{{cite web|date=2019-03-04|title=India's national interests must not be subsumed by politically-motivated, competitive machismo masquerading as patriotism|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/lessons-from-a-crisis-pulwama-terror-attack-pakistan-india-5609328/|access-date=2021-11-16|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> (per [[Arun Prakash]])<br />1,295 civilian casualties between 2001–2005 in mine-related incidents (per an Indian NGO survey)<ref>{{cite news|last1=Singh|first1=Satnam Jit|last2=Puangsuan|first2=Yeshua Moser|date=2015-03-19|title=It's time for India to join the Mine Ban Treaty|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/its-time-for-india-to-join-the-mine-ban-treaty/article7008157.ece|access-date=2021-11-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420230800/https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/its-time-for-india-to-join-the-mine-ban-treaty/article7008157.ece|archive-date=20 April 2019|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
| casualties2       = Unknown
| casualties3       = 155,000 Indians and 44,000 Pakistanis displaced <small>(per The News International)</small><ref name=dc/>
| notes             = 
| campaignbox       = {{Campaignbox Indo-Pakistani Wars}}
}}

The '''2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff''' was a military standoff between [[India]] and [[Pakistan]] that resulted in the massing of troops on both sides of the [[India–Pakistan border|border]] and along the [[Line of Control]] (LoC) in the region of [[Kashmir]]. This was the second major military standoff between India and Pakistan following the successful detonation of [[nuclear weapon|nuclear devices]] by both countries in 1998, after the [[Kargil War]] of 1999.

The military buildup was initiated by India responding to [[2001 Indian Parliament attack|a terrorist attack]] on the [[Parliament of India|Indian Parliament]] in [[New Delhi]] on 13 December 2001 (during which twelve people, including the five terrorists who attacked the building, were killed) and the [[Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly]] on [[2001 Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly attack|1 October 2001]]<ref name="Rajesh M. Basrur">{{cite book|title=Asymmetric Warfare in South Asia: The Causes and Consequences of the Kargil Conflict|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-76721-7|page=326|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-vifpWqV2WYC&pg=PA326|author=Rajesh M. Basrur|edition=1st|editor=Peter R. Lavoy|chapter=The lessons of Kargil as learned by India|date=14 December 2009}}</ref> in which 38 people were killed.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=The brink of war|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/south_asia/2002/india_pakistan/timeline/2001.stm|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-16|website=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020217181947/http://news.bbc.co.uk:80/hi/english/static/in_depth/south_asia/2002/india_pakistan/timeline/2001.stm |archive-date=17 February 2002}}</ref> India claimed that the attacks were carried out by two Pakistan-based terror groups fighting in [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Indian-administered Kashmir]]—[[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] and [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]], both of whom India has said are backed by Pakistan's [[Inter-Services Intelligence|ISI]]<ref name=letjemisi>[http://www.economist.com/printedition/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=917228 "Who will strike first"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205030926/http://www.economist.com/printedition/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=917228 |date=5 December 2008}}, [[The Economist]], 20 December 2001.</ref>–a charge that Pakistan has denied.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kashmir Militant Extremists|url=http://www.cfr.org/kashmir/kashmir-militant-extremists/p9135|publisher=Council Foreign Relations|author=Jamal Afridi|date=9 July 2009|quote=Pakistan denies any ongoing collaboration between the ISI and militants, stressing a change of course after 11 September 2001.|access-date=4 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302144145/http://www.cfr.org/kashmir/kashmir-militant-extremists/p9135|archive-date=2 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Perlez |first=Jane |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/world/asia/30pstan.html |title=Pakistan Denies Any Role in Mumbai Attacks |location=Mumbai (India);Pakistan |work=The New York Times |date=29 November 2008 |access-date=31 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105185510/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/world/asia/30pstan.html |archive-date=5 January 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/dec2001/ind-d20.shtml |title=Attack on Indian parliament heightens danger of Indo-Pakistan war |publisher=Wsws.org |date=20 December 2001 |access-date=31 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111215163045/http://wsws.org/articles/2001/dec2001/ind-d20.shtml |archive-date=15 December 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Farooq Abdullah]] the then chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir state urged India to launch a war against militant training camps across the border in Pakistan.<ref name=":1" />

In [[Western media]], coverage of the standoff focused on the possibility of a [[Nuclear warfare|nuclear war]] between the two countries and the implications of the potential conflict on the American-led "[[War on terror|Global War on Terrorism]]" in nearby [[Afghan Interim Administration|Afghanistan]]. Tensions de-escalated following international diplomatic mediation which resulted in the October 2002 withdrawal of Indian<ref name=toiwithdraw>[http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/articleshow?artid=25384627 "India to withdraw troops from Pak border"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031130174834/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/articleshow?artid=25384627 |date=30 November 2003}}, [[The Times of India]], 16 October 2002.</ref> and Pakistani troops<ref name=bbcwithdraw>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2335599.stm "Pakistan to withdraw front-line troops"] , [[BBC]], 17 October 2002.</ref> from the [[India–Pakistan border|international border]].

The Indian codename for the military mobilization was [[Operation Parakram]], which has been characterized by Sanjay Ahirwal of ''[[NDTV]]'' as a manifestation of India's "resolve to have an eyeball to eyeball confrontation" with Pakistan, and also an operation which led to attainment of some of its military and political objectives.<ref name="CLAWS" />

Towards the end of the protracted military standoff, in a surreptitious operation, India's [[Jat Regiment]] occupied a strategically important mountain peak on the Pakistani side of the LoC near [[Dras]], Point 5070, and subsequently rechristened it ''Balwan''.<ref>{{cite book|title=A Ridge Too Far: War in the Kargil Heights 1999 |last=Singh |first=Amarinder |authorlink=Amarinder Singh  |publisher=Motibagh Palace |year=2001 |isbn=9788193107416 |page=132}}</ref><ref name="Mehta dominates"/><ref name="CLAWS" /> This had implications for the Pakistani army, which was accustomed to occupying the peak during summer, as the peak gave India a vantage view of [[Gultari valley]]  which sustained Pakistani posts in Dras. In consequence, the Pakistani army dispensed its entire [[Command hierarchy#Chain of command|chain of command]], including the Pakistani [[Brigade Commander]] and GOC of the Northern Areas over the loss of this peak, while their Indian counterpart Lt. Gen. [[Deepak Summanwar]] was felicitated with an [[Uttam Yudh Seva Medal]] as a recognition of India's complete domination of the boundary area near Dras.<ref name="Mehta dominates">Gen Ashok K. Mehta, [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040713/edit.htm Point 5353 still in Pakistan's possession], The Tribune (Chandigarh), 13 June 2004</ref><ref name="CLAWS" />

== Prelude ==
{{Main|2001 Indian Parliament attack}}

On the morning of 13 December 2001, a [[Clandestine cell system|cell]] of five armed men attacked the [[Parliament of India]] by breaching the security cordon at Gate 12. The five men killed seven people before being shot dead by the [[Indian Armed Forces|Indian Security Forces]].

World leaders and leaders in nearby countries strongly condemned the attack on the parliament, including [[Pakistan]]. On 14 December, the ruling Indian [[National Democratic Alliance]] blamed Pakistan-based [[Lashkar-e-Taiba|Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)]] and [[Jaish-e-Mohammed|Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)]] for the attack. [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Indian Home Minister]] [[L. K. Advani|L.K. Advani]] claimed, "''we have received some clues about yesterday's incident, which shows that a neighboring country, and some terrorist organizations active there are behind it''",<ref name=advanipakclues>[http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/dec/14parl21.htm "Parliament attack: Advani points towards neighbouring country"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050906065831/http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/dec/14parl21.htm |date=6 September 2005}}, [[Rediff]], 14 December 2001.</ref> in an indirect reference to Pakistan and [[Terrorism in Pakistan|Pakistan-based militant groups]]. The same day, in a [[démarche]] to Pakistan's [[High commissioner|High Commissioner]] to [[India]], [[Ashraf Qazi|Ashraf Jehangir Qazi]], India demanded that Pakistan stop the activities of LeT and JeM, apprehend the organisation's leaders and their access to all financial assets.<ref name=demarche>[http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/dec/14parl12.htm "Govt blames LeT for Parliament attack, asks Pak to restrain terrorist outfits"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313105139/http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/dec/14parl12.htm |date=13 March 2007}}, [[Rediff]], 14 December 2001.</ref> Following the [[Government of India|Indian Government]]'s statements, Pakistan put its [[Pakistan Armed Forces|military]] into full combat readiness the same day.

The spokesman for the Pakistani military's public media wing ([[Inter-Services Public Relations|ISPR]]), [[Major general|Major-General]] [[Rashid Qureshi]], said that the attack on the Indian parliament was a result of India's efforts to start a conflict with Pakistan, claiming that "''Those [Indians] who can kill thousands of defenseless people in [[Kashmir conflict|Kashmir]] can resort to such tactics to gain international sympathy. We demand the international community probe this attack independently to know the truth''." while another senior official maintained that India's failure to solve internal problems have caused them to blame Pakistan for everything without cause, stating "''Why have the Indians rejected the [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. government]]’s offer to send an [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] team to investigate the attack on the parliament?''"<ref name=dawndec14>[http://www.dawn.com/2001/12/15/top1.htm "Pakistan forces put on high alert: Storming of parliament"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314041910/http://www.dawn.com/2001/12/15/top1.htm |date=14 March 2007}}, [[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]], 15 December 2001.</ref>

On 20 December, amid calls from the United States, [[Russia]], and [[United Nations]] to exercise restraint, India mobilised and deployed its troops to [[Kashmir]] and [[Punjab, India|Indian Punjab]] in what was India's largest military mobilisation since the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|1971 conflict]].<ref name=USAToday2002>{{cite news|title=Musharraf vows to stop terror activity in Pakistan|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2002/06/22/india.htm|access-date=9 January 2013|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=22 June 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007052612/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2002/06/22/india.htm|archive-date=7 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The Indian codename for the mobilisation was Operation ''Parakram''.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/06/stories/2004020604461200.htm |location=Chennai, India |title=Gen. Padmanabhan mulls over lessons of Operation Parakram |date=6 February 2004 |access-date=4 December 2008  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203233122/http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/06/stories/2004020604461200.htm |archive-date=3 December 2008 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==January offensive==
===Planning===
The troop deployment to India's western border was expected to take three to four weeks, accordingly, the military action involving a limited offensive against the terrorists' training camps in Pak administered Kashmir was planned by the Indian [[Cabinet Committee on Security]] for the second week of January 2002. It would start with an airstrike by the [[Indian Air Force]]'s Tiger Squadron to attack zones with a large concentration of camps. Special forces of the [[Indian Army]] would then launch a limited ground offensive to further neutralize the terrorist camps and help to occupy the dominant positions on the LoC. 14 January 2002, was decided as the tentative [[D-Day (military term)|D-day]].<ref name="IT_Twice">{{cite news |title=Twice in 2002, India was on the verge of striking against Pakistan. Here's why it didn't |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20021223-twice-in-2002-india-was-on-the-verge-of-striking-against-pakistan-793809-2002-12-23 |access-date=9 September 2018 |work=Cover Story |date=23 December 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909190501/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20021223-twice-in-2002-india-was-on-the-verge-of-striking-against-pakistan-793809-2002-12-23 |archive-date=9 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

According to the Indian strategy, a limited strike in the [[Pakistan administered Kashmir]] was preferred as it would convey the Indian resolve to Pakistan and yet keep the international retribution levels that are manageable. Indian actions would then be comparable to the ongoing US offensive in Afghanistan against [[Osama bin Laden]]'s [[Al-Qaeda]] terrorists.<ref name="IT_Twice"/>

The CCS had weighed in the possibility of Pakistan launching an all-out offensive as a response to the Indian strikes. The intelligence assessment suggested that the Pakistani Army was not well prepared. This further minimized the chances of Pakistan launching a full-scale war. The Indian plans were strengthened by a strong [[Economy of India|economy]] with low inflation, high petroleum, and [[Foreign exchange reserves|forex reserves]]. [[Ministry of Finance (India)|Finance minister]] [[Yashwant Sinha]] announced that the Indian economy was prepared for war, in spite of being the final option. The limited strike served as a tactical option. The troop build-up signaled "India's seriousness" to the international community. If Pakistan's strategy did not change then India would have no other option.<ref name="IT_Twice"/>

=== Military confrontations ===
In late December, both countries moved [[ballistic missile]]s closer to each other's border, and mortar and artillery fire was reported in Kashmir.<ref>[http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/south/12/25/india.pakistan.kashmir.missiles Pakistan, India 'move missiles' to border] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106131408/http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/south/12/25/india.pakistan.kashmir.missiles/ |date=6 January 2007}} [[CNN]], 26 December 2001.</ref> By January 2002, India had mobilized around 500,000 troops and three armored divisions on Pakistan's border, concentrated along the [[Line of Control]] in Kashmir. Pakistan responded similarly, deploying around 300,000 troops to that region.<ref name="gs" /> The tensions were partially defused after [[Pervez Musharraf|Musharraf]]'s speech on 12 January promising action on terror emanating from Pakistan.<ref name="IT_Twice"/>

Artillery duels were commonplace during the protracted military confrontations. In one such instance, well over 40 Pakistani soldiers perished on [[Point 5353]] near Dras when Indian troops from nearby Point 5165, [[Point 5240]] and Point 5100 commenced artillery fire on the Pakistani post, rendering the Pakistanis unable to reinforce their troops.<ref name="War and peace on Gurkha Post">{{cite news |last=Swami |first=Praveen |authorlink=Praveen Swami |title=War and peace on Gurkha Post |date=9 March 2004 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/2004/03/10/stories/2004031001731200.htm |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=25 September 2017}} {{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

===Diplomacy===
India initiated its diplomatic offensive by recalling [[High Commission of India, Islamabad#Indian High Commissioner|Indian high commissioner]] and the civilian flights from Pakistan were banned.<ref name="IT_Twice"/>

Pakistan picked up the war signals and began mobilization of its military and initiated diplomatic talks with US president [[George W. Bush]]. [[American Secretary of State]] [[Colin Powell]] engaged with India and Pakistan to reduce tensions. In the first week of January, [[British prime minister]] [[Tony Blair]] visited India with a message that he was pressurizing Pakistani president Musharraf. The US declared LeT and JeM as [[United States State Department list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations#Groups designated as FTOs|foreign terrorist groups]].<ref name="IT_Twice"/>

===Musharraf's speech===
On 8 January 2002, [[Indian Home Minister]] [[L. K. Advani]] visited the US, where he was informed about the contents of the upcoming landmark speech by Musharraf.<ref name="IT_Twice"/> On 12 January 2002, [[President of Pakistan|President]] [[Pervez Musharraf]] gave a speech intended to reduce tensions with India. He for the first time condemned the attack on Parliament as a terrorist attack and compared it with the [[11 September attacks]].<ref name="nys"/> He declared in his speech that terrorism was unjustified in the name of Kashmir and Pakistan would combat extremism on its own soil. Pakistan would resolve Kashmir with dialogue and no organization will be allowed to carry out terrorism ''under the pretext of Kashmir''.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1756965.stm Musharraf declares war on extremism<!--Bot-generated title-->] , [[BBC]], 12 January 2002.</ref> As demanded by India, he also announced plans for the regulation of [[madrasa]]s and banning the known terrorist groups that were operating out of Pakistan.<ref name="IT_Twice"/> He announced a formal ban on five jihadi organizations, that included Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba engaged in militancy in Kashmir.<ref name="nys"/>

===Indian decision===
The Indian [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]] [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee|Atal B. Vajpayee]] though skeptic of the seriousness of Musharraf's pledges, decided not to carry out the military attack planned for 14 January.<ref name=nys>[https://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/02/13/060213fa_fact_coll "The Stand-off"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718000407/http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/02/13/060213fa_fact_coll |date=18 July 2008}}, [[The New Yorker]], 13 February 2006.</ref>

== Kaluchak massacre ==
{{Main|2002 Kaluchak massacre}}
Tensions escalated significantly in May 2002. On 14 May, three suicidal terrorists attacked an army camp at [[Kaluchak]] near [[Jammu]] and [[Kaluchak Massacre|killed 34 people]] and injured fifty more before getting killed, most of the victims were the wives and children of Indian soldiers serving in Kashmir. The terrorist incident again revived the chance of a full-blown war.<ref name="nys"/>

On 15 May, PM Vajpayee was quoted in the Indian Parliament saying "''Hamein pratikar karna hoga (We will have to counter it).''"<ref name="IT_Twice"/> American [[Deputy Secretary of State]], [[Richard Armitage (naval officer)|Richard Armitage]], quoted the incident as a trigger for further deterioration of the situation.<ref name="nys"/>

The [[Union Council of Ministers|Indian Cabinet]] had little belief that diplomatic pressure could stop Pakistan's support for the militants in Kashmir. India accused Pakistan that it was failing to keep its promise on ending the cross-border terrorism.<ref name="IT_Twice"/> Musharraf's follow-up to his speech on 12 January was observed by India as weak and disingenuous. Pakistan did not extradite the terrorist leaders demanded by India, and Lashkar was allowed to continue its operations in Pakistan as a charity with a new name. During the spring, jihadi militants started crossing the Line of Control again.<ref name="nys"/>

==June Offensive==
===Planning===
On 18 May, Vajpayee reviewed the preparedness with the [[Minister of Defence (India)|defence minister]] [[George Fernandes|Fernandes]], director-general military operations and military intelligence chief. The CCS met and favored taking military action against terrorists in Pakistan. A limited military action similar to the one planned in January was not considered viable as Pakistan had strengthened its forces on the LoC. Any action limited to Pakistan administered Kashmir would only have limited military gains. Indian military favored an offensive along the Indo-Pak border that will stretch the Pakistani troops and provide India access to Pakistan administered Kashmir.<ref name="IT_Twice"/>

The Indian armed forces accordingly prepared the plan to target the war-waging capabilities of Pakistan and destroy the terrorist camps. The battle canvas planned for June was larger than the one planned in January. The Indian Air Force along with the 1 Strike Corps of India would initiate an attack in [[Shakargarh]] bulge to engage Pakistan's Army Reserve North (ARN) that was spread from [[Muzaffarabad]] to [[Lahore]]. This would engage Pakistan's key strike corp while Indian strike formations from [[Eastern Command (India)|Eastern Command]] would carry out the offensive at the Line of Control and capture the strategic positions used by the terrorists for infiltrations. The period considered was between 23 May and 10 June.<ref name="IT_Twice"/>

=== Military confrontations ===
During the end of May 2002, the Indian and Pakistani armed forces continued to be fully mobilized. The tenor of statements published in the [[Media of India|Indian press]] and intelligence information collected, pointed to an imminent invasion by India.<ref name="nys"/> An SOS sent to [[Israel]] by the Indian Defence Ministry for defense supplies during the month of June confirmed the intelligence.<ref name="IT_Twice"/>

On 18 May, India expelled the Pakistani High Commissioner.  That same day, thousands of villagers had to flee Pakistani artillery fire in Jammu.<ref>{{cite news |title=India expels Pakistan's ambassador |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/india-expels-pakistan-s-ambassador-1.325671 |access-date=26 January 2020 |publisher=CBC News |date=18 May 2002}}</ref> On 21 May, clashes killed six Pakistani soldiers and 1 Indian soldier, as well as civilians from both sides.<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020522/main1.htm "Six more Pak soldiers killed"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205002353/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020522/main1.htm |date=5 February 2007}}, [[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]], 21 May 2002.</ref> On 22 May, Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee announced to his troops to prepare for a "decisive battle".<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/may/22/kashmir.india "Indian PM calls for 'decisive battle' over Kashmir"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204021816/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/may/22/kashmir.india |date=4 February 2017}}, ''[[The Guardian]]'', Wednesday 22 May 2002. Retrieved 7 February 2013.</ref>

Between 25 and 28 May, Pakistan conducted 3 [[Chronology of Pakistan's rocket tests|missile tests]]. India reviewed its nuclear capability to strike back.<ref name="IT_Twice"/> On 7 June the [[Indian Air Force]] lost an [[unmanned aerial vehicle]] near Lahore, which Pakistan claimed to have shot down.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vayu-sena-aux.tripod.com/other-Parakram-IAF-UAV-Wreckage.html |title=IAF's Searcher-II Loss on June 07, 2002 |publisher=Vayu-sena-aux.tripod.com |access-date=1 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123123614/http://vayu-sena-aux.tripod.com/other-Parakram-IAF-UAV-Wreckage.html |archive-date=23 January 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Threat of nuclear war ===
As both India and Pakistan are armed with nuclear weapons, the possibility a [[conventional war]] could escalate into a [[Nuclear war|nuclear one]] was raised several times during the standoff. Various statements on this subject were made by Indian and Pakistani officials during the conflict, mainly concerning a [[no first use]] policy. Indian [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|External Affairs Minister]] [[Jaswant Singh]] said on 5 June that India would not use nuclear weapons first,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WDQ/is_2002_June_3/ai_86623659 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205194211/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WDQ/is_2002_June_3/ai_86623659 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 December 2008 |title=India will not use nuclear weapons first: Singh |work=BNET |date=3 June 2002 |access-date=20 March 2012}}</ref> while Musharraf said on 5 June he would not [[Nuclear doctrine of Pakistan|renounce]] Pakistan's right to use [[nuclear weapon]]s first.<ref>[http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2002/06/05/story29703.asp Irish Examiner&nbsp;– 2002/06/05: "Musharraf refuses to renounce first use of nuclear weapons"<!--Bot-generated title-->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929150119/http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2002/06/05/story29703.asp|date=29 September 2007}}, [[Irish Examiner]], 5 June 2002</ref> There was also concern that a 6 June 2002 [[asteroid]] explosion over Earth, known as the [[Eastern Mediterranean Event]], could have caused a nuclear conflict had it exploded over India or Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spacedaily.com/news/deepimpact-02s.html |title=Near-Earth Objects Pose Threat, General Says |publisher=Spacedaily.com |access-date=1 March 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20021201192527/http://www.spacedaily.com/news/deepimpact-02s.html |archive-date=1 December 2002 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Diplomacy===
Vajpayee contacted the leaders of the global community including Bush, Blair, [[Russian president]] [[Vladimir Putin]] and [[French president]] [[Jacques Chirac]] and informed them Musharraf could not deliver on his 12 January speech and the patience of the country was running out. In the diplomacy that followed, Bush, Putin, Blair and [[Japanese prime minister]] [[Junichiro Koizumi]] requested Vajpayee to avoid taking the extreme step. The global community informed India that it would negotiate with Musharraf to clarify his position on stopping the cross-border infiltration.<ref name="IT_Twice"/>

Attempts to defuse the situation continued. The Russian president Vladimir Putin tried to mediate a solution, but in vain.<ref>[https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-a-2002-06-03-10-putin-66287377/541040.html "Putin Attempts to Mediate India-Pakistan Tensions"], ''[[VOA]]'', 3 June 2002. Retrieved 7 February 2013.</ref>

Restraint was urged by the global community as there were fears that Pakistan would proceed to use its nuclear weapons in the face to counter its conventional asymmetry as compared to the Indian armed forces. In April, in an interview to German magazine [[Der Spiegel]] Musharraf had already hinted that he was willing to use nukes against India. Pakistan's nuclear threats led to US Secretary of State Powell contacting Musharraf at five occasions in the last week of May and reading the [[Riot Act|riot act]].<ref name="IT_Twice"/>

On 5 June 2002, American Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage visited Pakistan. He asked Musharraf if he would "permanently" end cross-border infiltration and help to dismantle the infrastructure used for terrorism. On 6 June 2002, Musharraf 's commitment was conveyed to Powell, and to India after his arrival. On 10 June 2002, Powell announced Musharraf's promise to the global community, after which India called off its strike plans.<ref name="IT_Twice"/>

A full-frontal invasion would have translated into war. Political logic implied it was better to give another chance to Musharraf. The military build-up on the border by India in January and June had forced both the international community and Pakistan into action.<ref name="IT_Twice" />

== July–August strikes ==
On 29 July 2002 for the first time after the end of the Kargil war, India used air power to attack positions held by the Pakistani forces at Loonda Post on the Indian side of the Line of Control in the Machil sector. Eight IAF [[Mirage 2000]] H aircraft dropped precision-guided bombs weighing 1,000-pounds to destroy four bunkers that were occupied by Pakistan. The forward trenches prepared by Indian troops in earlier years were also occupied by the Pakistani forces and 155-millimetre [[Bofors howitzer]]s were used to hit them. According to Indian military intelligence officials, at least 28 Pakistani soldiers were killed in the fighting. The air assault was conducted in daylight and to demonstrate India's willingness to escalate the conflict in response to provocations.<ref>[https://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1918/19180220.htm When Pakistan took Loonda Post] ''Frontline'' Volume 19 – Issue 18, 31 August – 13 September 2002</ref>

Towards the end of the protracted military standoff, in a surreptitious operation, India's [[Jat Regiment]] occupied a strategically important mountain peak on the Pakistani side of the LoC near [[Dras]], Point 5070, and subsequently rechristened it ''Balwan''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Singh |first=Amarinder |title=A Ridge Too Far: War in the Kargil Heights 1999 |publisher=Motibagh Palace |year=2001 |isbn=9788193107416 |page=132 |authorlink=Amarinder Singh}}</ref><ref name="Mehta dominates"/><ref name="CLAWS" /> This had implications for the Pakistani army, which was accustomed to occupying the peak during summer, as the peak gave India a vantage view of the [[Gultari valley]], which sustained Pakistani posts in [[Dras]]. In consequence, the Pakistani army dispensed its entire [[Command hierarchy#Chain of command|chain of command]], including the Pakistani [[Brigade Commander]] and GOC of the Northern Areas, over the loss of this peak, while their Indian counterpart Lt. Gen. [[Deepak Summanwar]] was felicitated with an [[Uttam Yudh Seva Medal]] as a recognition of India's domination of the boundary area near Dras.<ref name="Mehta dominates" /><ref name="CLAWS" />

Pakistani army troops stationed near the post in the Kupwara sector's Kel area of the LoC had been shelling the Indian positions across the LoC. India suspected a troop build-up situation near the border post that was similar to Kargil. Indian army planned retaliation by sending troops to attack the Pakistani posts. The initial ground attack to retake the post failed, with the Indian army suffering 11 casualties.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Irish Times |title=Details of major clash in Kashmir were kept secret by India and Pakistan |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/details-of-major-clash-in-kashmir-were-kept-secret-by-india-and-pakistan-1.1093156 |access-date=26 Aug 2002 |publisher=Irish Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Kargil-II Incident |url=http://vayu-sena.tripod.com/other-loonda-kargil-ii.html}}</ref> Later on, after deliberations with the then Army Chief, General [[Sundararajan Padmanabhan]], the plan was modified and instead of only a ground assault, the decision was made to first attack Pakistani positions using the IAF jets followed by a ground assault by the [[Special forces of India|Indian Special Forces]]. At 1:30 pm on 2 August, IAF's LGB capable Mirage 2000 H fighter aircraft loaded with laser-guided weapons bombed the Pakistani bunkers located in the Kel. The attack destroyed the bunkers with an unknown number of casualties.<ref name="IT_Twice" /><ref name="HuffStrike">{{cite news |title=EXCLUSIVE: In 2002, India's Fighter Jets Hit Pakistan In A Surgical Strike You've Never Been Told About |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/01/26/exclusive-in-2002-india-s-fighter-jets-hit-pakistan-in-a-surgi_a_21701344/ |access-date=9 September 2018 |work=HuffPost |date=27 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909221838/https://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/01/26/exclusive-in-2002-india-s-fighter-jets-hit-pakistan-in-a-surgi_a_21701344/ |archive-date=9 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Easing of tension==
While tensions remained high throughout the next few months, both governments began easing the situation in Kashmir.  By October 2002, India had begun to demobilise their troops along her border and later Pakistan did the same, and in November 2003 a cease-fire between the two nations was signed.<ref>[http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/ceasefire-violation-pak-continues-firing-for-seventh-day-233448 "India-Pakistan Ceasefire Agreement"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111074126/http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/ceasefire-violation-pak-continues-firing-for-seventh-day-233448 |date=11 January 2013}}, ''[[NDTV]]''. Retrieved 7 February 2013.</ref>

== Casualties ==
The Indian casualties were up to 1,874, including 798 fatal.<ref name="798 soldiers" /><ref name="1874 Casualties">[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-suffered-1874-casualties-without-fighting-a-war/articleshow/45016284.cms India suffered 1,874 casualties without fighting a war], THE TIMES OF INDIA.</ref> Pakistani casualties were not divulged.

== Cost of standoff ==
The Indian cost for the buildup was [[United States dollar|$]]3 billion to [[United States dollar|$]]4 billion<ref>{{Cite web|title=What did India's military mobilisation after Parliament attack achieve?|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2021/12/13/what-did-indias-military-mobilisation-after-parliament-attack-achieve.html|access-date=2022-01-05|website=The Week|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Pak casualties 2021">{{cite web|title=Media Coverage of Pak-India Standoff 2002: An Analysis|url=http://pu.edu.pk/images/journal/pols/pdf-files/20-v26_1_19.pdf|last1=Sajjad Malik|first1=Muhammad|last2=Iqbal Cheema|first2=Pervaiz|publisher=Journal of Political Studies, Vol. 26, Issue – 1, 2019|quote=The tension continued for a period of 10 months and it had impact on both nations. Reportedly India lost about 2,000 troops while Pakistan suffered less than three dozen deaths.|access-date=29 December 2021}}</ref> while Pakistan's was [[United States dollar|$]]1.4 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/money/2003/jan/16defence.htm |title=Parakram cost put at Rs 6,500 crore |work=Rediff.com India Limited |date=16 January 2003 |author=[[Aditi Phadnis]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030203133106/http://www.rediff.com/money/2003/jan/16defence.htm |archive-date=3 February 2003 |access-date=20 March 2012}}</ref> The standoff led to a total of 155,000 Indians and 45,000 Pakistanis displaced, per Pakistani media estimates.<ref name=dc>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/266623-the-cost-of-conflict-ii-beyond-the-direct-cost-of-war|title=The cost of conflict-II Beyond the direct cost of war|work=The News International|access-date=30 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230160547/https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/amp/266623-the-cost-of-conflict-ii-beyond-the-direct-cost-of-war|archive-date=30 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

One of the reasons for the failure of Operation Parakram is described to be the slow mobilisation of 500,000 troops. It took nearly three weeks for India to completely move 500,000 troops, 3 armoured divisions, and other supporting units to the border. The delay allowed Pakistan to move its own 300,000 troops along with the supporting units to the border. Lacking strategic surprise, Indian military decided to withdraw its troops.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2019/01/is-the-indian-military-capable-of-executing-the-cold-start-doctrine/|title=Is the Indian Military Capable of Executing the Cold Start Doctrine?|last=Gady|first=Franz-Stefan|date=29 January 2019|work=The Diplomat}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FGdaDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA74|title=Pakistan's War Machine: An Encyclopedia of its Weapons, Military Security: Pakistan's War Machine: An Encyclopedia of its Weapons, Strategy and Military Security|date=13 May 2018|publisher=Saghir Iqbal|last=Iqbal|first=Saghir|page=74|isbn=9781986169424}}</ref>

On 5 November 2011, former Indian naval chief, Admiral [[Sushil Kumar (admiral)|Sushil Kumar]], claimed that operation Parakram lacked clear objectives. He described the operation as a "punishing mistake" for India. Moreover, he said that Operation Parakram, may in fact have encouraged both Pakistan and China to increase cross-border violations. Had India tried a similar operation against China, it would have been a fatal blunder for India.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Operation-Parakram-after-Parliament-attack-lacked-cleared-objectives-Ex-Navy-chief-Sushil-Kumar/articleshow/10625959.cms|title=Operation Parakram after Parliament attack lacked cleared objectives: Ex navy chief Sushil Kumar|date=6 November 2011|work=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/op-parakram-most-punishing-mistake-exnavy-chief/871149/|title=Op Parakram most punishing mistake: Ex-Navy chief|date=5 November 2011|work=The Indian Express}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts]]
* [[2002 Eastern Mediterranean event]]
* [[India-Pakistan relations]]
* [[2002 Kaluchak massacre|Kaluchak Incident]]

== References ==
<references>

<ref name="CLAWS">{{cite journal |last=Bhonsle |first=Rahul K |title=Kargil 1999: Limited War, Unlimited Consequences |url=https://archive.claws.in/images/journals_doc/1400824878Rahul%20K%20Bhonsle%20CJ%20SSummer%202009.pdf |journal=[[Centre for Land Warfare Studies]] |date=2009 |page=78}}</ref>

</references>

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040225101306/http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/06/stories/2004020604461200.htm Gen. Padmanabhan mulls over lessons of Operation Parakram]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081202061336/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE5-5/Sunils.html  Thoughts on Operation Parakram]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121022092929/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-07-31/india/27204243_1_op-parakram-indian-soldiers-operation-parakram Operation Parakram]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130514232235/http://repository.library.georgetown.edu/handle/10822/552636 Nuclear Proliferation in India and Pakistan] from the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160115205405/https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/handle/10822/552494 Dean Peter Krogh Foreign Affairs Digital Archives]

{{Indian Armed Forces}}
{{Kashmir conflict}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2001-2002 India-Pakistan Standoff}}
[[Category:Indian–Pakistani border conflicts]]
[[Category:Vajpayee administration]]
[[Category:Military operations of the Kashmir conflict]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 2001|I]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 2002|I]]
[[Category:2002 in India]]
[[Category:2001 in India]]
[[Category:2001 in Pakistan]]
[[Category:2002 in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Nuclear history of Pakistan]]
[[Category:2000s in Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Armed standoffs in Asia]]