In the air strikes which began early this morning, Air Force combat jets and helicopter gunships pounded several positions occupied by the infiltrators in the high mountains. The armed deployment on the ground was simultaneously closing in from three sides to prevent the infiltrators from escaping into the Kashmir valley.

According to reports reaching here, Pakistan retaliated by resorting to cross-border firings at several places. India, maintained, however, that the air strikes had taken place well within its own territory and there was no cause for alarm to the neighbour.

Taking into account the widespread reaction of the move, India swiftly got in touch with the world missions, including US, based in Delhi to explain to them the necessity of the air raids in the Kargil sector.

Defence Minister GeorgeFernandes also briefed the Opposition leaders this evening about the air raids in the high ridges, including details of the flush-out operations jointly launched by the army and the air force.

Home minister LK Advani told reporters late this evening that India will "smash" any effort on the part of Pakistan to support infiltrators in the Kargil sector as this had created an entirely new dimension in the militancy-prone state. He said the para-military forces will be available for use to the armed forces wherever necessary.

The defence ministry fielded a senior officer to explain the situation to newspersons early in the day. "The strikes have been very effective and they will continue. We have used the most suitable weapons to strike the targets within our territory after adequate planning. We are confident about the accuracy of the attacks," Air Commodore Subhash Bhojwani told reporters at a special briefing here on Wednesday.

Replying to queries earlier in the day Bhojwani told newspersons: "shouldthere be any director indirect interference in our operations by Pakistan Army or Pakistan Air force, the Indian defence forces have been authorised to take appropriate action." He said any escalation of this conflict will be entirely the responsibility of Pakistan.

Official spokesman of the MEA separately clarified to newspersons that the air raids were strictly confined to Indian territory with a limited purpose of flushing out infiltrators.

An official statement issued by the defence ministry said that " the Indian Air Force took armed air action against Pak-aided militants, who had infiltrated into our side of the LOC (line of control) in general areas of Dras-Kargil-Batalik. This action was forced upon India because the infiltrators are in considerable strength and consist of a large number of well trained mercenaries."

The statement went on to say that these infiltrators were not only supported directly by the Pakistan army, but Pak army regulars are believed to be participating alongwiththem.

The infiltrators, the defence ministry maintained, had taken positions of advantage on very high ridges, which are dificult to neutralise by ground action alone.

Justifying the air action, the defence ministry said Pakistan would have been encouraged to extend its operations further if not checked now. Delayed reaction would have called for a more severe action, possibly increasing the areas as well as the scope of operations, it added

The government, meanwhile, dismissed apprehensions that a war-like situation was building up between India and Pakistan as a result of the air strikes. "The entire exercise has been to root out intruders," an MEA spokesman asserted, adding that "our aircraft have been operating well inside the LOC, not on LOC or across it".

Srinagar airport has, meanwhile, been closed for civilian aircraft. This has been done to facilitate movement of military aircraft, it is learnt.