Heavy rains claim 70 lives in AP

HYDERABAD, Aug 24: Incessant rains lashing several parts of Andhra Pradesh have left a trail of death and destruction, claiming at least 70 lives in the last three days and inundating about 300 villages, throwing normal life out of gear..............more

Imran Khan expelled from Pak opposition alliance

ISLAMABAD, Aug 24: Pakistan’s cricket hero-turned politician Imran Khan has been expelled from the multi-party Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) for deviating from its charter, the alliance said today. Both Khan, as leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and Tahirul Qadri, president of the religious-political party Awami Tehreek were expelled for behaving in an "undemocratic manner", spokesman Nawabzada Nasrullah said. ...........more

Prankote massacre still haunts people
Militants threats loom large over minorities

From: Dinesh Manhotra

SWANCHAL-GALI (ARNAS): Though the Army has contained militant activities to some extent, fear still lurks on the faces of denizens of this militancy plagued belt, located in the south-west of the Pir-Panchal range. The nightmarish experience, which they had witnessed during Prankote-Dhakikote carnages, still haunt them despite the fact that no big massacre has taken place since March 2000......more

Farooq hails fresh HM offer

NEW DELHI, Aug 24: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today welcomed the recent offer by Hizbul Mujahideen to announce afresh a ceasefire and hoped that this time it would lead to a lasting effort for peace. "The statement of the militant group is in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people of the State," Abdullah told PTI before leaving for London. He, however, hoped that this time the efforts would be a lasting affair and no conditions would be attached to it......more

US wants Pak to encourage peace talks
‘Secret’ parleys between Delhi, and Hurriyat begin

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Aug 24: Adopting ‘secrecy-for-the-sake-of-secrecy’ policy, three representatives selected by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and an equal number of leaders of Kashmir’s All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) have, at last, come together and that too in the Union capital to formulate agenda for "positive, constructive and meaningful" negotiations on the vital question of resolving the Kashmir crisis........more

Talks on with other militant outfits
Proposed ceasefire will be a meaningful one: Dar

SRINAGAR, Aug 24: Top Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) leader in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdul Majid Dar, has said that talks are on between HM and fellow militant outfits to make the proposed ceasefire a "meaningful and effective one". "If there is an offer for initiation of a meaningful dialogue from India, other militant outfits operating in Jammu and Kashmir are also prepared for the ceasefire’’, Dar, chief commander (Operations) of HM, told a local daily in an interview published today.......more

Neeta’s sister-in-law among 3 nabbed
KZF’s Nepal base neutralised

NEW DELHI, Aug 24: Delhi Police today claimed to have neutralised a powerful module of the dreaded Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) in Nepal with the arrest of three persons including the sister-in-law of the militant outfit’s Lahore-based chief Ranjit Singh alias Neeta.............more

Six statues stolen from Tashi Cholang monastery

From Tashi Morup

LEH, Aug 24: In yet another major theft in monastic shrine, six statues were stolen from Tashi Cholang Gonpa of Sural village in Chamba district of Himachal Pardesh recently. Earlier in a similar incident, 21 statues worth crores of rupees were stolen from Zongkul monastery in Zanskar region of Kargil district two years back. Those involved in the theft are still at large...........more

IRP cop kidnapped in Tangmarg
Militant killed, 8 personnel injured

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Aug 24: Even as security forces today eliminated a militant in Tangmarg-Beerwah belt and a constable of IRP was kidnapped in the same area, militants have left ten persons, including eight soldiers, injured in three different incidents of firing and blasts in Kashmir valley....more

Two HMPPR militants shot dead in Banihal

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 24: Troops of Delta Force today eliminated two militants of Hizbul Mujahideen’s Pir Panjal Regiment at Chapni Marg forests in Khari area, about four kms North West of Nachlana in Banihal tehsil of Doda district.....more

Human trafficking to Pak continues....

Heavy firing in Chhamb sector....

Uma Bharti firm on her resignation .....

Musharraf asked to control terrorism in J&K ....

PoK Govt asks India to respond positively to HM’s peace effort ....

‘ISI targeting entire country’ ....

People are tired of violence in Kashmir: BJP ....