Vigil on the border has been further tightened, following reports of two Pakistani fighter jets violating the air space and entering the Indian territory.

Although the defence ministry denied any knowledge of such air-space violation at its daily press briefing, the suspense continued as regards to Pakistan's intentions. According to reports reaching from border outposts, the two planes violated Indian air space in the RS Pura sector of Jammu.

According to yet another report, there was an attempt to blow the Doordarshan Kendra's booster station in Drass by incessant shelling. This too was repulsed by the country's armed forces.

These developments did not seem to go well on the eve of the Pakistani foreign minister Sartaj Aziz's visit to New Delhi. Neither did it jellwith Defence Minister George Fernandes hinting a safe passage to infiltrators if they retreated beyond the LoC.

India did not take kindly to the misinformation on the part of Pakistan that its forces shelled Pakistani villages resulting in death of nine school children. It was vehemently denied by spokesmen of the defence ministry who said the armed forces did not target civilian areas.

Replying to a query as to whether India would like to reach a compromise on stopping air raids in Kargil sector during Aziz's visit, Fernandes said on Tuesday, "One can show them (infiltrators) safe passage. That is a matter which can be considered."

The defence minister said the country's position was clear. "All intruders, including Pakistani troops, have to go back, dead or alive, across the LoC. On that there cannot be any compromise."

As for the specific agenda for talks with Aziz, Fernandes said it was for the external affairs ministry to decide. Understandably, the ministry was busy setting the agenda inconsultation with the defence ministry.

Feranandes was soft on intelligence officers saying he did not believe they bungled. He said he had visited the area himself and saw how inhospitable and dangerous the terrains were. "I believe any discussion on it (intelligence failure) at this point in time is not called for. We have a task at hand to send the intruders out. Anything that diverts anybody's attention from the national objective should be kept in the file or should not become a matter of public debate," he said.

Replying to questions, Fernandes admitted that what was happening in the Kargil sector was war of sorts. The difference is that it has not been declared so.

He stressed that the intruders possessed sophisticated weapons which they were using liberally to try and hold on to Indian positions. They will not succeed, however, he said.

As many as 46 Indian defence personnel have been killed, 174 wounded and 12 reported missing so far in the ongoing operation to flush out armed infiltratorsfrom Kargil, brig Mohan Bhandari told reporters on Tuesday.

He said intense fighting was going on at two places in the Batalik sector and force at appropriate levels had been deployed in Kargil to facilitate speedy execution of operations notwithstanding rugged terrain and inhospitable weather conditions.