Leh: Asserting that India can never be "insensitive" to security matters, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on May 31 said government will "observe minutely" how its peace initiative is reciprocated by Pakistan.

"We formed the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government at the Centre on two issues – security and development. On the issue of security, we can never be insensitive," he said replying to questions from reporters regarding Islamabad's promise to combat cross-border terrorism.

Advani arrived in Leh on May 31 on a two-day visit to attend the annual 'Sindhu Darshan' festival on June 1.

Maintaining that making comments on a daily basis on every issue will not help in progress of peace initiatives, he however, said New Delhi was observing minutely how Islamabad was reciprocating.

"Evaluation and assessment is going on and only on that basis a detailed statement can be made," he said, adding peace initiatives should not come in the way of countering the menace of terrorism.

Advani said Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had stated in Srinagar that India wanted peace between the two countries, but at the same time, he had maintained that for resolving differences, the right atmosphere was needed.

Advani said that coinciding with the Prime Minister's remarks, Indian security forces launched operation 'Sarpa Vinash' in the Kashmir valley and destroyed 80 terrorist camps, besides killing many terrorists.

He said the government was of the view that peace between the two neighbours alone could ensure welfare of the people.

PTI