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US blames Pak based WASHINGTON, Jan 26: The US administration has squarely blamed Harkat Ul-Mujahideen for the December 24 hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane, acknowledging that the Islamic militant group enjoys the support of Pakistan Government’s agencies, including......more
Lull in Chechnya fighting, MOSCOW, Jan 26: Heavy snow robbed Russian troops of vital air support today....more Parent company of Bofors LONDON, Jan 26: Celsius, the parent company of Bofors, Sweden, is expected....more 9 killed as Indonesian BANDA ACEH (INDONESIA), Jan 26: Nine people, including a policeman, were killed.....more |
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Pakistan judges to ISLAMABAD, Jan 26: In a move to ensure a hold over the judiciary, the Pakistan.....more
Threat of war clouding KARACHI, Jan 26: Deposed Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharif, due to face trial today.....more Thai hospital gunmen BANGKOK, Jan 26: Three of ten guerillas killed in the rescue of 700 hostages from.....more Arranged marriage DETROIT, MICHIGAN, Jan 26: An Indian woman has been arraigned on murder.....more |
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US blames Pak based Harkat for hijacking of IA plane WASHINGTON, Jan 26: The US administration has squarely blamed Harkat Ul-Mujahideen for the December 24 hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane, acknowledging that the Islamic militant group enjoys the support of Pakistan Government’s agencies, including the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Islamabad’s military-intelligence wing. It, however, pleaded ignorance about Pakistani Government’s culpability in the hijacking. The issue came up at President Clinton’s press conference here yesterday. Asked whether the US had reason to believe that the Pakistan Government may have been involved in the hijacking, Mr Clinton said, "no, we don’t. We do not, know. I guess the simplest thing I can tell you is that we do not have evidence that the Pakistani Government was in any way involved in that hijacking. The New York Times, in its lead story yesterday, quoted "Clinton administration officials" saying that "the United States now believes that a terrorist group supported by the Pakistani military was responsible for the hijacking of an Indian Airlines jet last month, a judgement that puts Pakistan at risk of being placed on Washington’s list of nations that support terrorism." But, White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said, "we have no evidence that the Government of Pakistan had foreknowledge of, supported or helped carry out the hijacking." A State Department official, who did not want to be identified said, "we do have reason to believe that the Harkat Ul-Mujahideen was involved in the hijacking." He said, "there are agencies of the Government of Pakistan which have provided general support to a number groups which have been active in Kashmir and that includes Harkat Ul-Mujahideen." State Department spokesman James Rubin said Pakistan supported groups known as Kashmiri nationalists. "We have long said that the Government of Pakistan does provide general support to a number of groups operating in Kashmir, including the Harkat Ul-Mujahideen," he added. Harkat Ul-Mujahideen is the new name for Harkat Ul-Ansar, a radical Kashmiri nationalist group that was put on the State Department’s list of terrorist groups in 1997, later, it changed its name. A spokesman for Pakistan’s embassy here said Islamabad denied any link to the hijacking. The Government of Pakistan today (Monday) denounced the suggestion that it had anything to do with the hijacking, much less that it supported any organization that had anything to do with the hijacking,’’ the spokesman said. Meanwhile, the New York Times today reported that the ISI has been used by the Pakistani military in Kashmir. As militant Islamic political parties gain increasing power in Pakistan, the group— often referred to by its acronym hum— has been able to extend its influence, the daily says quoting administration officials and experts on Pakistan. And the hijacking last month was an illustration, officials said, of a group that appeared to have gotten out of control. In its 1999 report on global terrorism , the State Department said that the group, led by Fazlur Rehman Khalil, had been linked to Osama Bin Lden, who has been implicated in the bombing of two American embassies in Africa in 1998. The group, which claims to have several thousand armed supporters in Pakistan, operated terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and suffered casualties during the 1998 missile strikes by the United State against Bin Laden’s camps in Afghanisatn. Because of those casualties, Khalil warned that Harkat Ul-Mujahedeen would take revenge against the United States, the State Department said. (UNI) |
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Lull in Chechnya fighting, security boosted MOSCOW, Jan 26: Heavy snow robbed Russian troops of vital air support today and halted their advance in the battle for the Chechen capital Grozny. In seven important regions across Russia, security forces were on heightened alert for retaliatory strikes by Chechen rebels. Acting President Vladimir Putin gave the order in an attempt to foil possible attacks against soft targets. Itar-Tass news agency quoted press officers in Mozdok, Russia’s main army base in the region, as saying troops lost seven dead and 12 wounded in fighting over the last 24 hours. Tass quoted the military as saying the rebels had skilfully entrenched themselves in Soviet-era concrete bunkers and apartment buildings, using their intimate knowledge of Grozny’s Labyrinthine streets and alleys to outwit the soldiers. As many as 40,000 civilians are still thought to be trapped in the city’s cellars with little or no food. With the city under constant bombardment, they dare not venture far. Ria news agency said in the mountains south of Grozny troops focused on strengthening their positions around rebel bases. Heavy overnight snow grounded most combat aircraft and left troops in Grozny without air support — their main trump card against the rebels, Tass said. The bad weather forced Russian troops to work on consolidating gains around strategic Minutka Square which guards the main road into the heart of the devastated city, Tass said. Tass said troops in Grozny had to fight for every floor of every building and the advance was slow and painful. The Russian Commander in Chechnya, Viktor Kazantsev, said in an interview with the army daily Krasnaya Zvezda that minutka would be taken shortly and the whole operation, including crushing rebels in the mountains, wrapped up before march. The flagging campaign is swiftly turning into a sensitive issue ahead of an early presidential election due on March 26. Putin, heavy favourite to win the race, built his runaway popularity on early successes in the four-month campaign. Any downturn in Chechnya could dent his lead in opinion polls, although few doubt he is still likely to win. A talk show on NTV commercial television underscored what the media say is a change of sentiment toward the war, which enjoyed overwhelming popular support in its early days. Alexander Mikhailov, a spokesmen for the official rosinform campaign press centre, said he was puzzled by Russia’s action in Chechnya. "It still defies me what the strategic thinking behind trying to take Grozny is. As an observer, I cannot understand. What for? Why do we need it?" He said. "I have no doubt we have to wind up the military phase of the operation." Arkady Baskayev, Commander of Interior Ministry troops in the Moscow military district, said Russia could not score a quick victory but also could not pull back as any withdrawal would look too much like the humiliating retreat of 1996. (REUTERS) |
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Parent company of Bofors to send latest prototype LONDON, Jan 26: Celsius, the parent company of Bofors, Sweden, is expected to send the latest prototype of its artillery system to India for extensive fire power and mobility trials in May, Jane’s Defence Weekly reported. Bofors weapons systems is expected to send the prototype of its 155mm/45 calibre FH-77BD (6x6) self-propelled artillery system to India, the weekly in its latest issue said. According to Defence Minister George Fernandes, Celsius has offered the FH-77BD for field trials on a no cost, no commitment basis, but no decision has yet been taken in this regard. Late last year, it was reported that influential Indian Army officers favoured purchasing about 300 to 400 of the 6x6 systems. The FH-77BD is a further development of the Bofors’ prototype system based on a commercial VME A25C (6x6) articulated all-terrain chassis. On the front unit is fitted a fully enclosed armoured cab for the crew while on the rear unit is the elevating mechanism of the Bofors 155mm FH-77b towed artillery system which normally has a 155 mm/38 calibre ordnance. For the Indian trials, the FH-77bd will be fitted with a Bofors designed and built 155mm/45 calibre barrel which, firing a high explosive extended range full bore base bleed projective, will achieve a range of around 40km, it is probable that any production systems would have a 155mm/52 calibre barrel. The report said the Indian Army has 410FH-77BS in service which were delivered from 1986 to 1990. Following allegations of corruption, India froze the last two stages of the contract which would have included local production in India. India has recently started to place orders for Bofors for spare parts for the FH-77B. In mid-1995, the Indian Army completed extensive tests of four different 155mm self-propelled artillery turret systems fitted to the locally built Russian-designed T-72M1 Main Battle Tank (MBT) chassis. These were French Giat Industries 155mm GCT. The South African LIW T-6: Slovakian ZTS Zuzana and the then UK Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Limited AS90. The T-6 subsequently returned to India for further trials installed on the chassis of India’s Arjun MBT. So far no production order has been placed for the LIW T-6 155 mm/52 calibre turret system. Compared with a full tracked self-propelled artillery system, the 6x6 FH-77bd would have a number of advantages, including greater strategtic mobility and lower procurement and life-cycle costs, the report said. (PTI) |
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9 killed as Indonesian President visits Aceh BANDA ACEH (INDONESIA), Jan 26: Nine people, including a policeman, were killed in clashes surrounding President Abdurrahman Wahid’s brief visit to troubled Aceh province, security officials and residents said today. Wahid made a near two hour visit to Sabang on the island of Weh, off the northernmost tip of aceh yesterday to inaugurate a freeport and free trade zone there. During the visit, Wahid said he felt confident that peace would be restored to aceh within a few months, but gave no hint on how he proposed to end the ongoing violence. In Riseh Tunong, North Aceh district, four suspected separatist rebels were shot dead early yesterday when troops raided a house believed to be a temporary headquarters of the Aceh Merdeka (free Aceh) movement, North Aceh police chief Lieutenant Colonel Syafei Aksal said. Ahmad Kandang, a leader of the movement which has been fighting for a free Islamic sultanate since 1976, was believed to be among 46 gunmen who escaped unhurt after a three-hour exchange of fire, Aksal said. Troops found hundreds of bullets and several mortars, eight cars, seven motorcycles, one truck, and a stash of documents at the premises. At Beurandang, in the Syamtalira Bayu sub-district, a policeman from the North Aceh police intelligence unit, was stabbed by an unknown attacker as emerged from a mosque. First Sergeant Ramli Yahya died later at the military hospital in Lhokseumawe, the main town in North Aceh. (AFP) |
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Pakistan judges to take oath under military’s constitution ISLAMABAD, Jan 26: In a move to ensure a hold over the judiciary, the Pakistan Army regime has ordered all top judges to take oaths under the military’s constitution. Military ruler General Pervez Musharraf announced midnight last night that all judges of the Supreme Court, federal Shariat Court and High Courts in the provinces will take fresh oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) today, the state-run APP news agency said. All judges who will take a fresh oath under the PCO will have to decide all matters, petitions and cases under the October 14, PCO No. 1 of 1999, promulgated two days after the Army takeover. Under the PCO promulgated by the Chief Executive last year in the wake of the dismissal of the Nawaz Sharif Government, sweeping powers are vested in the military-dominated dispensation. Gen Musharraf had then declared a state of emergency across the country and suspended the Constitution. Reports said that it was learnt President Rafiq Tarar would administer the new oath to the judges of the Supreme Court and federal Shariat Court here. Governors of respective provinces would administer the oath to judges of High Courts. The move was in line with a similar step used by late Gen Zia Ul Haq to weed out unsupportive judges. In 1977, when the military junta ordered judges to take oath under the PCO, a few judges refused and had lost their jobs. The notification bars judges from giving any verdict or any other person exercising powers or jurisdiction under his authority, the reports said. Under the PCO, no judgement, decree, writ, order or process whatsoever shall be made or issued by any court or tribunal against the chief executive, or any authority designated under him. The President shall act on, and in accordance with the advice offered by the Chief Executive. Under the PCO it had been announced that all persons who, immediately before the commencement of this order, were in the service of Pakistan as defined in Article 260 of the Constitution and those persons who immediately before such commencement were in office as judge of the Supreme Court, the federal Shariat Court or a High Court, or Chief Election Commissioner, or Auditor General or ombudsman and Chief Ehtesa Commissioner, shall continue in the said service on the same terms and conditions and shall enjoy the same privileges, if any. (PTI) |
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Threat of war clouding over Pak: Sharif KARACHI, Jan 26: Deposed Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharif, due to face trial today, criticised the country’s military regime and said the threat of war was nearing in Pakistan. Presently the very existence of this country is in danger, Sharif said in a statement handed out by his lawyers at an anti-terrorism court here. War clouds are hovering over us and in such circumstances the elected Prime Minister of the country has been put behind bars and has been alleged to be a terrorist, hijacker, jail breaker and the one waging war against his own country, Sharif said. There is no example in the world that the elected Prime Minister is designated as a terrorist, hijacker and jail breaker. Pakistan has become isolated. There is tension on the borders. The country is in danger. Terrorism is increasing its pressure on the present Government. He criticised the military Government for its economic policies, saying unemployment was at a peak and money was flowing out of the country. In such circumstances how Pakistan can make progress? It is unfortunate that the present illegal and unconstitutional regime has shattered the national unity and integrity of this country. (AFP) |
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Thai hospital gunmen linked to Embassy siege BANGKOK, Jan 26: Three of ten guerillas killed in the rescue of 700 hostages from a besieged Thai hospital took part in the takeover of the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok in October, the thai military said today. Military spokesman Lieutenant-General Sanan Kajornklam said siege negotiators at Ratchaburi Hospital had discovered the identity of the attackers, all of whom came from a base just inside Myanmar of a renegade ethnic group called "god’s army". "They confirmed three of the ten terrorists killed in the hospital raided the Myanmar Embassy last year," he told Reuters. Their involvement in the 24-hour hospital siege is an embarrassment for the Thai Government, raising questions about its decision to allow the guerrillas safe passage to the Myanmar border after the October 1-2 embassy siege ended without bloodshed. The Thai Government came under fire from neighbouring Myanmar and the Thai opposition for letting the embassy attackers go, especially after Interior Minister Sanan Kachornprasart said they were not terrorists, but activists fighting for democracy. Military spokesman Sanan denied allegations carried in Thai media that commandos who stormed the hospital yesterday morning summarily executed the hostage-takers. All had been shot in the head, a witness said yesterday. "Firstly all the hostages were freed unscathed — this proves everyone concerned gave utmost priority to the safety of the hostages," he said, adding it was normal in such operations to kill with head shots. "A well-trained commando normally will shoot to kill, especially with a head shot, because if hostage-takers with dangerous weapons are not killed immediately they could still harm hostages," he said. Today’s Bangkok post newspaper quoted a female hostage, a mid-level civil servant, as saying she saw commandos holding the ethnic guerrillas from Myanmar at gunpoint after dozens of commandos stormed the hospital yesterday morning. "Shot after being told to undress and kneel down" "They were shot in the head after they had been told to undress and kneel down," she was quoted as saying. Another unnamed woman hostage described the ten attackers as "armed men with soft hearts" who had been shot one by one. Prasong Soonsiri, National Security Adviser to premier Chuan Leekpai, said yesterday the raid should be lesson to other guerrillas not to attempt attacks. Sanan named one of the three guerrillas as Johnny or Kyaw Nee, leader of the Embassy attack. He said another used the Thai name Preeda and Myanmar names Myint Oo and Myint Thien. The third was Hla Mid. Sanan said the three had taken refuge with god’s Army after the Embassy attack and took over the hospital about 120 km west of Bangkok on Monday to gain maximum media attention. "They wanted prominent media coverage like they got with the embassy and to use that to put pressure on Myanmar troops to stop their advance on them," he said. The god’s Army jungle base at Kamaplaw, 60-70 km west of Ratchaburi, came under attack by the Myanmar Army about two weeks ago. The group is commanded by 12-year-old twin brothers said to possess mystical powers. Sanan said about 150 guerrillas were in a desperate struggle for survival with about 500 Myanmar soldiers closing in. (REUTERS) |
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Arranged marriage ends with husband’s stabbing death DETROIT, MICHIGAN, Jan 26: An Indian woman has been arraigned on murder charges in the stabbing death of her husband, just one month after the couple wed in an arranged marriage, police said. The body of Ramesh Sutariya, 28, was found early Saturday lying in a pool of blood inside the foyer of their apartment in Canton, suburb an Detroit, apparently after a domestic fight. Sutariya, a US resident, was stabbed lots and lots of times, as many as 22 times, Sergeant Ernie Sayre of Canton Police said yesterday. His wife, Kinnari Ramesh Sutariya, 20, suffered a small cut on the back of one hand in the incident, and is being held without bail after pleading not guilty to the murder charges at a district court in nearby Plymouth, Michigan. It was an arranged marriage. They got married in India on Christmas eve, said Sayre. It is my understanding they got here a week ago Monday. A guilty verdict in an open murder charge could result in a sentence as long as life, according to Sayre. A preliminary hearing is set for February 7. (AFP) |
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