The Indian Prime Minister has said that his government would use whatever weapon is available in the continuing stand-off with Pakistan over the disputed territory of Kashmir. Both countries are nuclear powers.
Atal Behari Vajpayee was speaking in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh where elections are due to take place and which, according to some commentators, may be why he is adopting a tougher tone.
Earlier, a policeman was killed and 17 people were injured in the attack, which happened near Indian Kasmir's assembly in the capital Sringar.
The Indian Prime Minister accused Pakistan of supporting terrorism as state policy. The Pakstani President, General Pervez Musharraf, said that his country wanted peace with India, but not at the cost of its honour and dignity.
Meanwhile, India has said that its army has completed the reinforcement of its border with Pakistan in its dispute over an attack on the federal parliament in Delhi last month, which it blames on Pakistani-based militants.
Meanwhile, the US President, George W Bush, has discussed the deepening crisis between India and Pakistan with the British Prime Minister. Tony Blair is expected to urge the two nuclear powers to pull back from the brink of war when he visits the region next week. Last October nearly 40 people were killed when extremists attacked the Srinagar assembly.
