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Today's diplomatic slap at Pakistan was just a preliminary step, with more weighty decisions yet to come, a senior Indian official said. "This is a signal to both Pakistan and the West that India is serious about doing whatever it takes to bring this menace to an end," he said.
As intended, such talk is stoking fears among American officials that war may be looming between India and Pakistan, both of which have nuclear abilities. India wants the United States to pressure Pakistan to take tougher action against Islamic militants waging a proxy war for Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, India's only majority Muslim state.
Already, India and Pakistan have stationed a million men along their border — a mobilization India initiated after a five-man squad attacked its Parliament on Dec. 13. At that time, India held Pakistan responsible. It recalled its ambassador and severed bus and train service between the two countries.
India now seems to be taking the steps needed to go to war. The Indian Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs today briefed the prime minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and senior cabinet members on military options for countering what India regards as Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. Both countries claim the territory which has been the cause of more than a half-century of conflict between them
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http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/19/international/asia/19INDI.html