Paneri (Indo-Bhutan border): For peace-loving Bhutan, the Army crackdown on Indian militants, which entered its sixth day today (Dec 20, 2003), came after long years of persuasion and its patience wore thin.

"Normally the concept of war does not fit into the psyche of a common Bhutanese and a visitor to the country will always be greeted with a smile," said Yashey Dorje, the country's Director of Foreign Affairs.

"It was not our intention to launch an Army operation and we regret it. We are Buddhist people and basically peace and fun loving people... Our reluctance for warfare can be gauged from the fact that for the last 12 years we were sitting patiently even though we knew very well that the insurgents had set up camps on our soil."

"For six years we have been pursuing them to leave our soil but they stayed back and posed a threat to our sovereignty... There is a limit to patience and now we are prepared to face the consequence," Dorji said hinting at a possible backlash by the ultras.

It was only after the Bhutan National Assembly took a decision that the Royal Bhutan Army had no option but to go after the militants, he said.

The RBA personnel had to be trained by the Indian Army and their inexperience showed in the large number of casualties it had to suffer.

"Yours is a huge country and we are a small and peace-loving country. I appeal to the people of India, particularly those of Assam and West Bengal, not to misunderstand us," Dorji said.

History lends support to Dorji's words. The last time the Himalayan kingdom had gone to war was as long as 138 years ago.

Way back in 1865, Bhutan was engaged in a war with Britain after the then King failed to honour an agreement which stated that the frequent raids on the then British territories in Bengal would be stopped.

As factional Bhutan leaders continued conducting occasional raids, the British declared a war and defeated the Bhutanese after which the Crown exercised a lot of influence in the country's affairs.

Since then the RBA was basically deployed for internal security till King Jigme Singye Wangchuk reluctantly put the force on the trail of the more than 3,000 Northeast insurgents on December 15.

The King and his second son Prince Jigyel Wangchuk have emerged to be the idols of even the country's children for leading the action risking their lives.

"At present it would be difficult on my part to say where the King and the Prince are but I am sure they are at interior locations directing the forces," Dorji says.

Even special prayers were organised by Buddhist monks praying for the success of the troops and for peace.