While India insisted on immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Pakistani soldiers and intruders from the Kargil sector, apart from bringing to book those responsible for torture and killing of its six Indian soldiers, Pakistan declined to do so, questioning the line of control (LoC).

Pakistani foreign minister Sartaj Aziz sought stoppage of Indian military action, including air raids, in the Kargil sector to partially de-escalate tension in the region. This was not acceptable to India with foreign minister Jaswant Singh saying a firm no to the suggestion. All that India insisted was a complete and unconditional withdrawal to the line of control."We have made our position to Pakistan very clear. Now it is up to them to respond", Jaswant Singh told newspersons at the end of his talks with his Pakistani counterpart.

Even as Singhcontinued his talks with Sartaz Aziz, Indian fighter jets raided enemy positions in the Batalik heights inflicting heavy casualties. The army and air force spokesmen said a key position in the Batalik sector was snatched from the enemy forces. This resulted in as many as 14 casualties in the Indian side and many more on the other side, the spokesmen stated.

Soon after the talks ended in a deadlock, prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee met senior opposition leaders in the evening and conveyed the situation. The opposition leaders reiterated that there was no question of India relenting till every inch of the territory was recovered from the intruders.

Answering questions, Singh said there would be no let up in military action till the intruders withdraw to the LoC. He admitted that diplomatic action would also continue side by side though he denied that he would be visiting Pakistan for another round of talks on the issue. "We had sought no dialogue on the issue. We placed our position on the LoC which wasfinal", he said.The foreign minister said there was absolutely no confusion as regards the LoC, the same having been clearly delineated as far back as 1971 and maps exchanged between the two countries.

Singh said he raised the question of torture and killing of the six soldiers by the Pakistani army and demanded that the perpetrators of this crime be brought to book. He said Aziz did not deny this (incident). Asked if further talks will take place to resolve the matter, Singh shot back: "We do not have the luxury to talk on talks".

Singh said Aziz suggested that partial de-escalation of tension could be brought about if India stopped air raids and firing. But this was totally unacceptable to India.

"We are for total de-escalation and not a partial de-escalation", he said.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who is scheduled to visit Kargil tomorrow, gave an audience to Aziz and later had a meeting with leaders of opposition parties on the outcome of day-long bilateral parleys.