India accuses Pakistan of double standards

Security in India is tight with agencies working on a strategy to foil attacks by Muslim militants during the celeberations

NEW DELHI, India -- In an Independence Day address to the nation, India's prime minister has accused Pakistan of attempting to control the troubled region of Jammu and Kashmir through "cross-border terrorism."

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said that Islamic militants were continuing to infiltrate into Indian Kashmir and accused Islamabad of double standards on fighting terrorism.

"Our neighbour claims to be fighting terrorism in international forum. But in this region it has double standards," Reuters has reported him as saying.

"It is trying to get Jammu and Kashmir through cross-border terrorism."

Vajpayee's hard-hitting address followed a speech by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday in which he vowed to crush Islamic militancy and dismissed upcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir state as a farce. (Full story)

CNN NewsPass VIDEO CNN's Ram Ramgopal looks at the security measures being put in place as the country prepares to celebrate its 55th Independence Day. Play video   MORE STORIES • Pakistan vows to crush militancy  • Weekend Kashmir clashes kill 10  • Kashmir militants launch grenade attack    IN-DEPTH India and Pakistan: South Asia power play     CNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition

India has long accused Pakistan of sponsoring "cross-border terrorism" by sending militants into Indian Kashmir to join a revolt against Indian rule there and the two nuclear neighbours came to the brink of war over the disputed Himalayan region earlier this year.

In India Thursday, security was tight at government buildings across the country on the 55th anniversary of independence, with authorities saying they anticipated trouble from Islamic fundamentalist militants.

A heavy security presence is in place throughout the country, especially in the capital New Delhi and in Jammu and Kashmir state.

Security searches are taking place in Indian-controlled Kashmir with authorities warning militants had sneaked into the disputed region.

"Four suicide squads of 10 militants each belonging to Lashkar[-e-Taiba] and Jaish[-e-Mohammad] have sneaked into Srinagar city to carry out sensational attacks on vital government and security installations on the eve of Independence Day and the forthcoming Assembly polls", Inspector General of Police K Rajindra was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India Wednesday.

Rajindra said in the report that intelligence information indicated the squads had already worked out the details of their attacks.

Sales of the Indian tricolor have been on the rise since a ban on ordinary people owning one was lifted

In New Delhi, where most of the celebrations will take place, the city is also under a security blanket with a similar warning from Indian authorities saying they have received intelligence that separatist militants, including those active in Kashmir and the northeast of the country, are planning to disrupt the anniversary.

Fearing a September 11-styled attack, flights over the Indian capital will be suspended during Thursday's celebrations, while police and paramilitary sharpshooters will be placed at strategic offices to foil any terrorist attack, City Special Commissioner of Police (Security and Operations) S.K. Kain said.

Kain added that intelligence agencies have received information of possible suicide attacks by militants on the residences of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani and other government installations.

Air Force helicopters will patrol the route which the prime minister and other dignitaries will use to travel to the historic Red Fort for celebrations.

At the Red Fort every year, for the last 55 years, an Indian prime minister has hoisted the Indian tricolor.

When it comes to securing the Fort and other landmarks, New Delhi police say they are leaving little to chance.

"Almost 12,000 people are now deployed for the special Independence Day arrangements. The entire Delhi police is involved and they have been given specific instructions for that," Kain said.

Apart from the tight security, this year's Independence Day celebrations will have a new, slightly more colorful, tinge.

Last-minute shoppers flocked to shops in search of the Indian national flag.

Just this year, the government lifted a ban on ordinary people being able to fly the national flag.

Sales of the tricolor have been reported to be brisk.

-- CNN Correspondent Ram Ramgopal contributed to this report