It was the third time Vajpayee has taken office as prime minister, and this time it occurs amid political upheaval at home, and the military coup in Pakistan, which may further complicate relations between the two South Asian neighbors. India has had three elections since 1996 as unstable minority and coalition governments fell. After the coup in Pakistan, India expressed grave concern, and put its armed forces on high alert, following Pakistani state media reports that the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had been dismissed. The first order of business for the new government is a meeting of the cabinet committee on security. Vajpayee held talks with senior colleagues before the ceremony, to take stock of the situation.
Reports emanating from Pakistan are a matter of grave concern.
Prime Minister Vajpayee is keeping himself fully abreast of the developments and is maintaining constant touch with the Indian mission in Pakistan. All the members in the mission are safe. Karachi flight Pakistani satellite television monitored in London said the Pakistani dismissal was announced in a news flash from army General Pervez Musharraf, who was sacked hours earlier by Sharif. We are keeping a keen eye on the situation. BSF troops have been naturally put on high alert.