But during the course of the day, at a joint meeting of the National Security Council (NSC), the Strategic Policy Group (though all members had not been invited) and the National Security Advisory Board, chaired by the Prime Minister, a ``clear understanding of Pakistan's aims emerged,'' an official press release said.

This is the first meeting of the NSC since it was set up a few months ago. Since the Cabinet Committee on Security, whose members also sit on the NSC have been meeting fairly regularly in the wake of the Kargil crisis, the aim of this meeting was to undertake wider consultations and try and build consensus on the conflict along the LoC.

``Pakistan's recent official pronouncements reveal an inclination towards adventurism, the consequences of which shall beentirely Pakistan's responsibility,'' the joint meeting felt, according to the release.

Meanwhile, at the official briefing today, the spokesman made clear that Aziz was being received here at the ``convenience'' of the Indian leadership. He also indicated that if the June 12 date was not suitable to the Pakistani authorities, then new dates would have to be renegotiated all over again.

``I'm not aware of any request that has been made,'' the official spokesman said, when asked about the possibility that Aziz may not accede to New Delhi's `request'. The spokesman added with some asperity, ``We have intimated our convenience to receive him on Saturday, June 12.''

The spokesman reiterated that the visit, ``as and when it takes place will be in the backdrop of the armed intrusion. No other subject will be discussed.''

At the NSC meeting chaired by the prime minister, where the Home minister, Defence minister, External Affairs minister and Finance minister were present, there was ``complete unanimity''that the combined Army-Air Force operations in Kargil were the right response to the Pakistani armed incursion. There was also ``complete agreement'' that the attempt to question the LoC and violate the Shimla agreement by Islamabad was ``completely unacceptable''.

But the meeting also struck a cautious note, with members agreeing that India should remain committed to the composite dialogue process with Pakistan. That the Lahore process should be sustained in the search for a comprehensive improvement in relations with Pakistan. ``But at the same time, India must be prepared for all eventualities in the fluid situation prevailing today,'' the release added.

George offered to quit

NEW DELHI, JUNE 8: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is learnt to have rejected Defence Minister George Fernandes' offer to resign or be given some other portfolio in the wake of growing demand for his head.

Besides the Congress, a number of Opposition parties had demanded that Fernandes be sacked for "mishandling"the Kargil situation and issuing a series of controversial statements embarrassing the Government time and again. ``George would have been sacked long ago, had he been a minister in the Congress Cabinet,'' the Congress spokesman said.

Fernandes offered his resignation to Vajpayee to "save the Government from undue criticism" during a national crisis. Some allies of the ruling BJP had also advocated Fernandes' shifting to avoid further embarrassment, informed sources in the BJP said.

The Prime Minister, however, rejected the proposal saying any such action would mean conceding that Fernandes had erred, an admission that would have given handle to the Opposition to beat the BJP with, sources said.