Karzai sworn-in as new Afghan leader

KABUL, Dec 22: Soft-spoken aristocrat Hamid Karzai was today sworn in as leader of Afghanistan in the first peaceful handover of power in 28 years before tribal elders, UN delegates, diplomats and a top US General gathered to witness an end to war.

"I would like to promise you that I will fulfil my mission to bring peace to Afghanistan, that we cannot see again the chains of fighting and shooting in our country," Karzai said in a speech in both Pashto and Dari — the two main languages of Afghanistan — minutes before he was sworn in.

In the hall in the Interior Ministry in the heart of Kabul, 2,000 tribal leaders, incoming cabinet members and diplomats gathered for the ceremony to inaugurate Karzai as head of a Government tasked to bring peace to a land riven by war for decades.

"This is indeed a momentous day for Afghanistan, but the challenges ahead are also momentous and everyone present today will have a share in facing up to those challenges," United Nations Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi said.

The ceremony to swear in the 30-member interim administration that took over from outgoing President Burhanuddin Rabbani, a Professor of Islamic Shariah Law, and which will stay in power for six months began with a prayer by an Islamic cleric.

The National Anthem played as curtains parted at the back of the stage to reveal a huge portrait of Ahmad Shah Masood, legendary leader of the Northern Alliance that defeated the Taliban and assassinated in a suicide bombing two days before the September 11 attacks on the United States.

Shouts of "god is great" echoed through the hall when speakers referred to the late hero of Northern Afghanistan.

Brahimi, who brokered the talks in Bonn this month at which Afghan groups agreed on the administration, spoke first and reminded his audience that "each and every" Afghan had been touched by tragedy in decades of civil war and foreign invasion.

He reminded the incoming administration of "the people of Afghanistan whose prayers can almost be heard echoing through the valleys and mountains of this ancient land".

To ensure that peace returns, armed British troops patrolled the Afghan capital for the first time to boost security.

"It’s a great day," said James Dobbins, US Special Envoy to Afghanistan.

He arrived with General Tommy Franks, the man in command of the US war in Afghanistan that wrested power from the Taliban after six years of fundamentalist rule when men were banned from trimming their beards and women could only walk the streets veiled in the all-enveloping Burqa.

"I will safeguard the achievements of Jihad (holy war)," Karzai said in his oath of office, administered by the acting Chief Justice.

"I will try my best to rise above the ethnic, religious and linguistic prejudices to serve my country and work for national unity," Karzai said, speaking in Dari.

To applause, he pledged to respect the role of women.

Among the women at the ceremony, none was wearing a Burqa. They were wearing silk scarves over their hair, and many were wearing makeup — just weeks after the disappearance of the fundamentalist Taliban who banned them from appearing in public.

A red carpet was laid out on the Tarmac of the compound and an honour guard and a small military brass band were lined up beside it, giving a drum roll as Rabbani arrived.

"In my view the problems and hardships of our people are coming to an end. We are now tied with modern civilisation. We are now together with the international community," Rabbani said.

"This is a historic moment which has no precedent in almost a century," Rabbani said.

Security was tight in a capital that has been ravaged by war since the Soviet invasion on Christmas Day 1979.

Soldiers of the Northern Alliance that swept into Kabul on November 13 in the wake of retreating Taliban, arrested three suspected armed fighters of the fundamentalist militia in the Interior Ministry compound.

Northern Alliance police wearing newly painted white helmets sprayed with the word "police" in English and Dari had sealed off the streets for several blocks around the ministry by 9.30 a.m. (1030 hrs Ist).

Many carried Kalashnikov rifles. Inside the Interior Ministry compound, several hundred armed alliance troops were deployed, including some on rooftops. Every visitor was searched.

Former foes and longtime friends sat in the audience.

On the stage, Karzai, his head covered with what is rapidly becoming his trademark grey lambskin hat, sat with Tajik officials of the Northern Alliance, leaders of the ethnic Hazaras descended from Genghis Khan and fierce ethnic Uzbek warlord General Abdul Rashid Dostum.

The Northern Alliance was the main military force on the ground in the US-led defeat of the Taliban, and will be providing 18 of the 30 ministers in the interim administration of Karzai, who becomes interim Chairman.

In the streets outside, British Royal marines took up positions — answering a popular call for outside security to ensure the leaders do not return to the bloody civil strife that killed 50,000 people in Kabul in the early 1990s.

The UN-mandated presence of 20 at the Interior Ministry was their first involvement with security, and comes despite reservations among the Northern Alliance and many tribal leaders who are nervous of the presence of foreign troops on their soil.

Their commander, Major Matt Jones, told media the marines were providing "a presence, reassurance" at the ministry in coordination with Northern Alliance troops. "We were invited". The marines were wearing green berets but not helmets. They carried personal weapons but were not involved in searching guests arriving for the inauguration.

Shortly before the ceremony was due to begin, alliance soldiers arrested three suspected armed Taliban fighters in the compound.

"There were three of them. They looked suspicious and we stopped them and found out that they were Taliban people," said one officer. A second soldier said that the men were armed.

The three were taken away for interrogation by members of the security force led by incoming Defence Minister Mohammad Fahim.

Many of the Afghan soldiers were chatting to the British marines through interpreters, and comparing weapons.

"It has gone pretty smoothly up until now, Jones said. "We’ve got quite a friendly response, one of curiosity more than anything else. When we waved, they waved back."

But just a day earlier, a US attack threatened to cast a shadow over the ceremony.

US aircraft destroyed a road convoy late on Thursday, and the Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press said 65 tribal elders on their way to Kabul for Karzai’s inauguration were killed.

A US diplomatic official in Kabul said the convoy carried members of Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda network and had opened fire on the aircraft.

US General Franks said the convoy appeared to be a legitimate target. "I think we’ll have to take a hard, firm look at it. It looks like it was a good target at this point," he said.

An Afghan honour guard of around 50 men in ageing ceremonial greatcoats and black boots, bearing rifles with fixed bayonets, was at the ministry ahead of the inauguration.

The standard bearers carried military flags of the Northern Alliance.

The celebrations may have been spoiled by the failure so far to track down Osama bin Laden, the primary focus of the whole campaign, but General Franks was undaunted.

"Oh eventually, of course, we will catch him," he said. (AGENCIES)

SOG Source killed in Pattan
9 cops suspended for cowardice, 2 promoted for bravery

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 22: While as all the five members of the minority Sikh and Pandit communities, gunned down by unidentified terrorists in Anantnag last evening, were cremated today, Government ordered inquiry and suspension of the nine Police personnel who had failed to protect the civilians. However, two more Policemen have been promoted for their timely action and bravery.

Official sources told EXCELSIOR that all the nine Policemen, posted for the protection of the Sikh community members at Poshkreeri, have been placed under suspension and arrested for dereliction of duty. Inquiry into their conduct and their immediate suspension and arrest was ordered by Director General of Police, A K Suri, who visited the twin sites of carnage today. Residents told the DGP that the Police guards had bolted themselves in a secure room till the assailants showered bullets and killed three young girls. Inquiries revealed that three to four of the nine guards were also on unauthorised absence when terrorists struck at the village last evening.

Those arrested and placed under suspension for negligence and dereliction of duty were identified as head constable Ghulam Qadir, constables Ghulam Mohi-ud-din, Abdur Rehman, Nisar Ahmed, Bashir Ahmed, Riyaz Ahmed, Bashir Ahmed and Mohammad Ashraf besides SPO Jang Bahadur.

On the other hand, DGP ordered out-of-turn promotion to constables Shabir Ahmed and Shams-ud-din of JKAP 5th Bn who displaced bravery and repulsed the terrorists’ assault at the nearby village of Hugam. Still two women got killed and two more injured. They included constable Shams-ud-din. Both the constables have immediately been promoted as selection grade constables.

Today’s reports from Anantnag said that one more woman had died in the shootout at Hugam late last night. She was identified as Sunita wife of Mohan Lal, resident of Akoor, Mattan. With her death, the toll at Hugam rose to two women while as three Sikh girls had been killed at the nearby village of Poshkreeri.

Forest Minister Pirzada Ghulam Ahmed Shah, Minister for Labour Sardar Harbans Singh, Minister of State for Home Khalid Najib Suharwardy, Director General of Police A K Suri and IGP Kashmir K Rajendra Kumar visited the twin villages today and expressed their sympathies to the bereaved families. They sought to assure the terrorised minority communities that such incidents would be prevented at any cost and all necessary arrangements would be made to infuse a sense of security among them.

Reports from Anantnag said that a militant appeared at Mattan Chowk, whipped out a gun and tried to fire on the counter-insurgent Ikhwan’s "divisional commander" Sheikh Tahir. However, Tahir was lucky enough that the gun failed to work. As the Ikhwan commander ran for life, his associates opened fire and tried to kill or capture the militant. He threw away his gun and managed to escape.

Meanwhile, official sources said that unidentified gunmen appeared at Hagarpora in Pattan-Magam belt this evening and shot dead one Mohammad Yusuf Malla S/o Ghulam Rasool Malla. According to reports, he had been working as a counter-insurgent source with SOG Baramulla.

US aircraft comes under fire from Afghan convoy

KABUL, Dec 22: A convoy destroyed by US air strikes in eastern Afghanistan opened fire on US aircraft just before it was bombed, US officials in Kabul said today.

"We apparently had evidence that this convoy had Al Qaeda forces. We circled the convoy," said one embassy official, who declined to be identified.

"I’m told by Centcom (Central Command) that we were fired on twice by the convoy using anti-aircraft missiles, which they took as a hostile act and proceeded to attack the convoy," he said.

The Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) said US warplanes bombed a convoy of Afghan tribal elders yesterday as they were going to Kabul to attend today’s swearing in of an interim Government, killing 65 people. AIP said locals fed the wrong information to the Pentagon.

But US General Tommy Franks, in overall command of the US campaign in Afghanistan, said he thought his forces hit the right target.

"I will tell you, having been in touch with my headquarters, that at this point we believe it was a good target," he told journalists shortly after the ceremony to swear in the new interim administration under Hamid Karzai.

"The indications that I have right now tell me that this was a target that we intended to strike."

"This campaign in Afghanistan has been remarkable in terms of the very small amount of shooting the wrong target, the very small amount of collateral damage," he said. "And each time we receive a report like that we investigate it."

He said that he, too, had heard reports that US planes came under fire.

"The reports that I received as I came in today indicated that the aircraft received fire from that convoy...And so that all has to be factored in."

He said there had been no US casualties.

Residents of the area said supporters of Karzai had come under attack after leaving a tribal meeting for Kabul. Informers apparently told US contacts that they were pro-Taliban.

The reports could not be independently verified.

In Washington, Pentagon officials said US military AC-130 gunships and navy jet fighters attacked and destroyed a convoy believed to be carrying Taliban leadership, allies of Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda network.

The Pentagon said the target was selected on the basis of intelligence reports.

"There is no doubt in their (US military’s Central Command) mind that they hit what they wanted to hit and that it was the bad guys," marine Lieutenant-Colonel Dave Lapan, a Pentagon spokesman, said.

"It was Taliban leadership. Central Command went back and looked at everything that they did and they hit exactly what they wanted to hit," Lapan said.

He said the air strikes occurred at about 2130 hrs IST on Thursday, 39 km west of Khost in eastern Paktia province.

AIP said the dead included tribal elders and former Mujahideen commanders going to Kabul to attend today’s inauguration of the interim Government.

It quoted its sources in the area as saying one of the dead was "commander" Mohammad Ibrahim, a brother of the famous former Mujahideen commander Jalaluddin Haqqani.

Haqqani fought against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s but became the tribal affairs minister in the Taliban Government, which was swept from power last month after US-led bombing for sheltering bin Laden and his followers.

A local resident told the BBC that the dead included Naeem Kochi, head of the Ahmadzai tribe, a man who has changed sides frequently and had been linked with the Taliban in the past.

Fourteen vehicles in the convoy were completely destroyed, AIP said, quoting a member of the ruling provincial Shura, or council, Sayed Yaqeen. (AGENCIES)

Lashkar denies any action by Pak Govt

ISLAMABAD, Dec 22: Amid reports of Pakistan freezing the assets of the militant Islamic outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) as a follow up move to a similar action by the US, the organisation today denied that the Musharraf Government has taken any such step.

Reacting to the reports of Pakistan Government initiating action against LeT, its spokesman, Yahya Mujahid, told PTI here that so far no action has been taken by the Pakistan Government.

"No ban has been imposed so far. No order was received, nor we are approached," he said.

There was also no official announcement so far about Pakistan Central Bank issuing any advisory to local banks to freeze the accounts of LeT and another NGO Umma Tamir Nau, (UTN), whose assets have been frozen by US President George Bush two days ago.

UTN, floated by some of Pakistan’s retired nuclear scientists, is alleged to have close links with bin Laden.

Confusion prevailed over the status of Pakistan action against the two groups as most of the top officials, including President Pervez Musharraf and Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar were away abroad.

Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider was also unavailable as he was bereaved following the assassination of his brother by unidentified gunmen in Karachi last night.

Musharraf is currently in China on an official visit while Sattar is in Kabul to attend the swearing in ceremony of the new Afghan interim Government.

There were conflicting media reports stating that Pakistan had initiated action against the two groups. But there was no official confirmation.

LeT, along with another Pak-based Islamic outfit, Jaish-e-Muhammad have been blamed by New Delhi for the terrorist attack on Indian Parliament. Both the outfits have denied their involvement in it.

Lashkar said that Islamabad would have to think a "thousand times" before if it decides to take any action against the outfit in response to the US ban on them.

Reacting to reports that the Pakistani Government was under tremendous pressure to take action against LeT, Yahya Mujahid, a spokesman of the outfit, said "the Government will have to think a thousand time before taking any action because the people of Pakistan supported it".

His comments followed reports that Pakistan Government has frozen the assets of Umma Taamir Nau, (UTN) an NGO floated by retired Pakistan scientists, who had alleged links with Osama bin Laden.

Stating that the US move would not have any affect on it, Mujahid said "Muslims will continue to support us. They think that we are fighting a holy war against the brutalities and terrorism."

"We posses no asset in Europe or America, neither we have established any network across Pakistan," he said adding there was no danger for the group as a result of the US ban. Meanwhile, LeT chief Hafeez Mohammed Saeed said in a statement here that "we are only promoting education and preaching Islam in Pakistan, so there is nothing wrong with us, which could provide grounds for any action against us."

"We have written a letter to the US Statement Department too some time back inviting their attention towards the fact that the Kashmiri Mujahideen were only waging a ‘just struggle’ for their right to self-determination... It would be unjust and unwise to impose any sanctions against them," he said.

He said the US decision to freeze LeT’s accounts and confiscate its assets clearly shows its tilt towards India which wanted to "take advantage" of the developments in Afghanistan. (PTI)

Govt decision on ties with Pak termed ‘unfortunate’
‘Path to war’, say separatist leaders

SRINAGAR, Dec 22: Leaders of separatist organisations and mainstream political parties have termed ‘shocking and unfortunate’ the Centre’s decision to recall the High Commissioner from Islamabad and terminate the land route link between the two countries in the wake of the terrorist attack on Parliament.

India should reconsider its decision to avoid a war which will prove disastrous for South Asia, the leaders told UNI.

Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabir Ahmad Shah said the decision taken by India was unfortunate and certainly taken in haste.

"India is a big country and the decision should not have been taken in haste. This will widen the gap between the two nuclear-capable countries which could ultimately result in a war," he said.

The senior separatist leader said he condemned the terrorist attack on Parliament as a crime against humanity.

He, however, added that Pakistan too had condemned the attack in equal terms and wanted to cooperate with India to punish those involved in the henious act.

Mr Shah said Pakistan’s demand for a joint probe should be accepted by India as this would help bring the real culprits to book.

"We also support a joint probe in the incident so that there is no scope to doubt the findings."

Mr Shah, who has spent about 25 years in jail since his childhood, said he along with other intellectuals will appeal to India and Pakistan to resume dialogue during the SAARC meeting.

The 23-party separatist alliance All Party Hurriyat Conference also asked the Government to ‘re-consider’ its decision.

"They (India and Pakistan) should work to bridge the gap rather than create a situation of confrontation because if war broke out, the people of entire South Asia will be the victims," a spokesman for the conglomerate said.

"The decision will further deteroriate the relations between the two nuclear states," he added.

Jammu and Kashmir Jamait-e-Islami chief Ghulam Mohammad Bhat said India and Pakistan should strive to resolve all issues through peaceful and meaningful dialogue.

"This decision was unfortunate and will lead to war in the sub-continent which will not help solve any issue but will prove most disastrous for South Asia.

"We should not close our communication channels as this will make things worse and create a wedge between the two nations," he added.

BJP vice-president Abdul Rashid Kabli said the decision will further flare up tensions beween the two neighbours.

The former MP appealed to India and Pakistan to avoid war because in the three wars, it were the people of Jammu and Kashmir who suffered most.

"For the past fifteen years we are facing death and destruction and if there is any war between India and Pakistan, Kashmir will become the battle field," he said.

Ruling National Conference general secretary Sheikh Nazir Ahmad said India should have avoided taking the aggressive approach.

"I can only say the decision was taken in haste.... India should have gone to friendly countries with the proof of Pakistan’s involvement in the Parliament attack who could have pressured Islamabad to take action against the culprits," he said.

Mr Ahmad said the people of Jammu and Kashmir were not happy with the decision as it may lead to a war, adding that tensions should be defused before it was too late.

"The people of Jammu and Kashmir are suffering since 1947 because of the unhealthy reations between India and Pakistan.

"We are peace-loving and appeal to both India and Pakistan to defuse the crisis and settle all matters through peaceful means by sitting across the table," he said.

He blamed India for not keeping its promise made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir at the time of the state’s accession.

"India should honour its commitment made to the people of the State... (and then) we can become a bridge between the people and Governments of India and Pakistan," Mr Ahmad said.

Jamait-e-Islami firebrand leader and former APHC chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani said the Indian action entailed dangerous consequences for both countries in view of their nuclear status.

"India and Pakistan are facing a war-like situation today because of the Kashmir issue and if this bone of contention is removed, the relations will improve automatically," Mr Geelani said.

He said India should adopt a ‘realistic’ approach and resolve the Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes of the people of the State.

Mr Geelani urged both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint as war would not solve issues but would lead to destruction.

Jammu and Kashmir Libration Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik appealed to both countries to observe restraint.

"This is the time to display courage, vision, statesmanship and cooperation so that the culprits can be brought to book and peace given a chance," Malik said.

Mahaz-e-Azadi patron Azam Inquillabi while stressing on the need to exploit options other than war said that in case the two countries do not act wisely, they will be fighting somebody else’s war.

"They will achieve nothing except invisiting unwanted imperialists and colonialists," Azam stated. (UNI)

Imran Bhai shot dead, another held in Doda

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Dec 22: Army and Special Task Force (STF), Doda today gunned down a terrorist of Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI) outfit and apprehended another in two separate encounters across Kishtwar tehsil of Doda district.

A search operation was launched jointly by army and STF Doda around Utter nullah in Dool area of Kishtwar this afternoon after a specific input was developed regarding the presence of a dreaded terrorist in the area, army and police sources said.

During searches, the hiding terrorists (numbering three) opened firing on the security personnel from behind the nullah. Troops retaliated. A heavy exchange of gun-fighting between two sides continued for about one hour.

Army and STF jawans gunned down leader of the terrorists during the gun-battle while slain ultra’s two associates managed to escape towards an adjoining forest area. Troops were hunting the fleeing terrorists but both of them remained untraced till late this evening.

Slain terrorist has been identified as Imran Bhai alias Toofail, a resident of Chatru, Kishtwar and a ‘deputy district commander’ of HUJI for Kishtwar. One AK-56 rifle, three magazines, 11 rounds and two grenades were recovered from the possession of slain terrorist.

Army or police didn’t suffer any casualty in the operation, the sources said.

Another search operation was launched by the security personnel this evening in Galad area of Kishtwar. A terrorist of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit was captured during the searches.

Identified as Nazir Ahmed R/o Galad, Kishtwar, the terrorist was operating in Kishtwar for past quite sometime. A sniper gun with two magazines, one grenade and a wireless set with antenna were recovered from Nazir Ahmed’s possession.

Nazir has been shifted to a local police station for interrogation. Police was trying to ascertain the local contacts of Nazir.

Chowdhary City, Kotwal Nowabad
4 SHOs transferred

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 22: In a first reshuffle aimed at rejuvenating the police stations of Jammu City to take on the challenge of militancy and organised crime, the district Jammu and City police authorities ordered transfers and posting of four Station House Officers (SHOs).

An order to this effect was issued tonight by SSP Jammu Farooq Khan.

Inspector Vijay Kumar Chowdhary has been posted as new SHO of City police station in place of Mr Ram Singh Charak, who has been shifted to the District Police Lines (DPL). Mr Chowdhary was brought to City police station from the DPL.

Inspector Purshotam Kumar Mengi, SHO Nowabad, has been transferred and posted as SHO Gandhi Nagar police station against a vacancy arising out of Gian Chand Sharma’s transfer to CID.

SHO Akhnoor Mr Arvinder Kotwal has been transferred and posted as SHO Nowabad police station vice Mengi. Inspector Arun Jamwal has been posted as new SHO of Akhnoor police station.

Both Kotwal and Jamwal have vast experience of anti-militancy operations as they had spent a long time in Special Operations Group (SOG) Jammu, police sources said.

Many more transfers at police station and police posts level are in the offing, the sources said, adding the reshuffle was aimed at giving a new look to the police, which was faced with a new challenge of fidayeen attacks from Pakistan-sponsored terrorists.

Meanwhile, City police today arrested four accused involved in a stabbing incident at Sarwal the other day.

Arrested accused have been identified as Dinu son of Balak Ram, Sonu son of Sobha Ram and Akash Jyoti son of Mohinder Pal, all residents of Jawahar Nagar and Pervez Iqbal of Punjab, presently putting up in Janipura.

A case of attempt to murder had already been registered against the accused.

Ikhwan commander escapes bid on life

SRINAGAR, Dec 22: Supreme commander of counter-insurgency Ikhwan outfit Tahir Ahmad Sheikh had a narrow escape today when an armed militant attacked him in Anantnag district, official sources said.

They said the attack was carried out by a militant armed with a sophisticated gun when the top Ikhwani alongwith his bodyguards was present in the main chowk around 3.30 pm.

The militants fired around 30 rounds at Tahir. He, however, escaped unhurt, the sources said.

His bodyguards fired back but the militant escaped leaving behind his weapon which was seized by the Ikhwanis, the sources said.

When contacted Kadipora camp housing Tahir and his associates, another top Ikhwan leader Ghulam Hassan said the attack was carried out by Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit.

"We have started a hunt to nab the militants involved in the attack," he said.

This is the second attempt by militants to target senior commander of Ikhwan within a week. Earlier on December 16, a parcel carrying a powerful bomb was sent from Srinagar to the camp with the intention to blow it wholly and solely manned by Ikhwani’s. (PTI)

India well versed in art of war: PM

GWALIOR, Dec 22: Asserting that India is well versed in the art of war, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee tonight said though the country prays for peace, it will not hesitate to perform its duty during the crisis.

"Duniya Jan Le Hum Yudh Ka Raga Acchi Tareh Jante Hein, Lekan Hum Shanti Ke Aradhak Hein (people shall know we are well versed in the art of war but we pray for peace)," Vajpayee said after presenting this year’s Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan Memorial awards here.

He said peace is India’s ideal goal and policy but "if crisis knocks at our door, the country will not retract from its duty."

Referring to tension on the border, the Prime Minister said "even when there is tension on the border, we know how to enjoy music."

The awards instituted by Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan Memorial Trust were presented to noted Sarangi player Ustad Sultan Khan, vocalist L K Pandit and Sarod maestro H Chandra Sen.

The trust, founded by Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan in memory of his revered Guru and father propagates and popularises Indian classical music.

The Prime Minister, who was treated to a spell-binding Sarod Jugalbandi by Amjad Ali Khan’s sons Aman and Ayaan, said music is more important during tension.

Earlier, Vajpayee laid the foundation stone for Rs 17.31 crore flood control project for Madhya Pradesh and named the Civil Enclave at the airport here as Rajmata Vijayraje Scindia Terminal.

Vajpayee said at the airport that the country has overcome economic slowdown with impressive foreign exchange reserves and effective price control measures.

In order to attract investment and boost trade and industry, it is necessary to strengthen infrastructure, he said. (PTI)

IT, Communication Ministries merged

NEW DELHI, Dec 22: Government today announced merger of Ministry of Information Technology into Ministry of Communication with three departments of Telecom, IT and Posts.

The new ministry is to be called Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and would be headed by Pramod Mahajan.

A notification has been issued in this regard under clause three of Article 77 of the Constitution regarding amendment to allocation of business rules, 1961, an official spokesperson said here.

The move comes close on the heels of introduction of Communications Convergence Bill, 2001 and taking over the Communications portfolio by Mahajan recently.

The new Bill seeks to bring a comprehensive legislation for IT, Telecom and Broadcasting and also proposes to establish a super regulator— Communications Commission of India. (PTI)

Jaswant tight-lipped over military option against Pak

KABUL, Dec 22 : External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh today declined comment on whether India was contemplating military action against Pakistan.

While replying to Indian mediapersons’ queries following the reopening the Indian Embassy here after a gap of six years, Mr Singh said, "the armed forces are neither rejecting nor accepting that option."

When asked why there had been no Pakistani response to the recall of Indian High Commissioner Vijay K Nambiar, the Minister said that question should be put to Pakistan.

Mr Singh said that after ‘black Thursday’s’ dastardly assault on Parliament, India had asked Pakistan to initiate action against the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist groups that had taken part in the attack. However, Pakistan paid scant attention to this request.

Discussing the strong ties between India and Afghanistan, Mr Singh said that the Afghan people had great regard for India. He hoped that the new administration in Afghanistan would receive all possible international assistance for rebuilding the war-ravaged nation. (UNI)

5 army porters feared dead

SRINAGAR, Dec 22: Five persons working as porters with army were feared killed when they were caught in a snow storm and trapped under an avalanche near the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector, official reports reaching here said today.

The avalanche struck the porters identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Lone, Gani Lone, Sultan Lone, Sattar Lone and Mohammad Shafi (all residents of Lachipora village of Uri) when they were on way to a forward post on December 18, the reports quoting delayed information said.

The reports said efforts are on to extract the bodies of the deceased porters. (PTI)

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