Fernandes, however, expressed hope that international pressure on Pakistan would deter it from using nuclear weapons in case of a war.

"Pakistan's threat that it may go for the ultimate option of using nuclear weapons in the event of a full-scale war should not be taken casually coming as it does from the responsible leaders of that country,'' he told reporters at the Patna airport.

Fernandes, who was on the way to Rajgir to lay the foundation stone for the Rs 760-crore ordnance factory, also ruled out any third party mediation to end the Kargil crisis.

"We have taken a position that we will not accept any third party mediation and there is no question of our changing the position,'' the defence minister said.

Asked to comment on France's support to India on Kargil even while continuingwith the agreement to supply fighter planes to Pakistan, Fernandes said, "It was an old deal''.

When his attention was drawn to a newspaper report stating Pakistan had breached the LoC in the early 1980S, He said, "I have not seen the report. I believe it is not true.''