Dragon Fire

General Headquarters, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

‘Get me President Hastings!’ Hamid Khan had watched Jamie Song’s broadcast and taken it to be a message of continuing support. He also remembered the words of the Mullah al-Bishri: concentrate on Kashmir. If he won Kashmir, he would bring peace to South Asia, secure Pakistan and win the respect of the Islamic and Western worlds.

‘The White House is referring us to Ambassador Watkins at the Embassy,’ said Masood. Arthur Watkins, a career State Department diplomat, was patched through to the bunker at Chaklala.

‘The United States is concerned that your statement was not clear enough, General,’ said Watkins.

‘I want to discuss it personally with President Hastings,’ said Khan curtly.

‘The President won’t be taking your call, General. You talk to me or no one at all.’

‘I made my statement and now America must support our call for peace.’

‘The statement was premised on India’s declaration of a ceasefire. We need it to be a stand-alone announcement, not conditional on any other action.’

‘I have done that on nuclear strikes. I cannot make a unilateral ceasefire on Kashmir.’

‘In which case I am authorized to tell you that the United States will throw its diplomatic support behind the democratically elected government in India.’

‘You have thought of the consequences?’

‘That is what I am paid to do, General. And if it’s any help, that is my personal view as well.’

‘The Chinese will never allow it.’

‘I don’t think the Chinese have the authority to make American policy. The President will not be making his statement for another thirty minutes or so. You have time to think about it.’

As soon as Khan had finished the call, Masood said: ‘They are waiting for your instructions, General.’

Two Chinese M-11 medium-range missiles, known locally as the Shaheen 1, were on mobile launchers, erected at 60 degrees, 800 metres apart, in cleared wooded area outside the town of Kagan. The border with Pakistani-controlled Kashmir was 13 kilometres to the east. Islamabad was 120 kilometres to the south. The target was the heart of the Kashmir Valley, the headquarters of XV Corps at the Badami Bagh Cantonment, which was set back on the other side of a hill from the busy area around Dal Lake and the market. Each missile was meant to have a conventional single 500 kilogram warhead.