Crucial meet today
Hurriyat likely to broaden its base

SRINAGAR, Oct 22 : Hurriyat Conference is holding a crucial two-day special session here from tomorrow to discuss the ways and means to broaden its base by including in its fold other groups active in Jammu and Kashmir, informed sources said today. Foreign diplomats, who visited the Valley in the past one month, have been asking the organization in clear terms to broaden the base of the umbrella organization so that all groups would come under one banner to represent people of the State in the proposed talks to find a solution to the Kashmir issue, the sources told PTI here. ............more

Tehran supports Delhi’s position on Kashmir
Iran rejects proposal for its participation in J&K ‘jihad’

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Oct 22: Iran has turned down a proposal seeking its help and support for "liberation struggle" in Kashmir. According to diplomatic sources, Tehran has conveyed to Islamabad its refusal to offer material aid to terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir........more

Blast under bridge in Rajouri
Two Pakistanis among 4 ultras killed in Doda

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 22: Troops of Delta Force continued their onslaught against Pakistan-backed militants by killing four militants including two Pakistanis in Tantna area, about 10 kms north east of Doda this morning..........more

PM discharged, confident of resuming
normal routine soon

MUMBAI, Oct 22: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who left for New Delhi today after his discharge from Breach Candy Hospital here, exuded optimism that he would soon be able to resume his normal duties. "I hope to start my routine activities very soon," a cheerful Vajpayee, who addressed newspersons in a specially created media enclosure at the hospital premises prior to his departure, said. ‘Time has come to leave this place after my 12 days’ stay’, Vajpayee, seated in a wheel chair, said. In his 10-minute address to the media, Vajpayee said his desire to return home before Deepawali was being fulfilled as doctors have discharged him from the hospital. ..........more

Divisions worry Pakistani militant rank and file

NEW DELHI, Oct 22: Close on the heels of fatricidal clashes among factions of Hizbul Mujahideen in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), reports are coming in of first serious split in mercernary group Harkatul Mujahideen, formerly the Harkatul Ansar. ...........more

IAF loses Rs 800 cr in crashes

NEW DELHI, Oct 22: Indian Air Force lost 84 aircraft, most of them ageing MiG-21’s, in air accidents in the past five years causing a staggering loss of over Rs 866 crores to the exchequer, according to official estimates. ...more

Blast at Lashkar convention kills 3

KARACHI, Oct 22: An explosion today at a rally of hardline Islamic militants in southern Karachi, killed three people and injured 30 others, police and hospital officials said. ......more

President, family watch ‘Mission Kashmir’

NEW DELHI, Oct 22 : Taking time off his hectic schedule, President K R Narayanan alongwith the first family watched Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Bollywood thriller ‘Mission Kashmir’ at a special screening at the Rashtrapati Bhawan here last evening. ......more

40 killed in Pak road accident ....

BJP MLAs meet Governor, stake claim to form Goa Govt....

Young girl dies in firing
Youth dies, 4 of family taken ill with poison ....