"Kashmir and Kargil are two different issues," Vajpayee told reporters in Lucknow when asked whether India wanted to settle the Kashmir imbroglio with the resolution of the Kargil stand-off.

To a question, he maintained, ''As of now, we have no intention of crossing the LoC.''

The directors general of military operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan spoke on the hotline on Tuesday even as Indian troops, in a meticulously planned offensive, re-captured two key positions held by Pakistani infiltrators in Drass and Batalik sectors killing over 40 Pakistani armed regulars.

As Indian air force combat jets continued to bombard selected targets in the entire Kargil region, reconnaisance missions were launched to identify majorsupply and administrative camps of the intruders at Kaksar, Muntho Dalo and Mushkoh valley.

During the attacks, IAF fighter pilots encountered sporadic anti-aircraft fire and surface-to-air missiles.

A report from Kargil said a crack team of army commandos re-captured a Pakistani-held position 2.5 km from the LoC in Kaksar region killing 17 Pakistani soldiers. One Indian jawan was killed in the operation.