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India
launches fresh diplomatic offensive NEW DELHI, Dec 27: In a fresh diplomatic offensive, India tonight slapped further sanctions against Pakistan reducing by half the strength of their missions in both capitals and banned Pakistani air services from January one, rejecting Islamabad’s "cosmetic" measures to deal with terrorist outfits responsible for the attack on Parliament. Amidst reports of massing of troops on the borders, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met and also decided to restrict the movement of Pakistani High Commission staff and their families to the municipal limits of the Capital. Pakistan has been given 48 hours to withdraw 50 per cent of the 110-member strong mission and the deadline for it would begin at 0600 hours tomorrow, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh told reporters after a 90-minute meeting of CCS chaired by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The decisions come days after the recall of Indian High Commissioner from Islamabad and the snapping of rail and road links between the two countries in the wake of Pakistan’s failure to take action against Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Toiba involved in the strike on Parliament. Singh, however, refused to answer questions on the possibility of war saying he would not like to discuss military matters. Before the CCS meeting, the Prime Minister along with Home Minister L K Advani, Defence Minister George Fernandes, the External Affairs Minister, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman K C Pant went to the Defence Ministry where in the operations room they were briefed by the military top brass. The briefing covered operational deployment of troops and armour along the border and the situation along the Line of Control (LoC). Terming Indo-Pak relations as "tense", Singh said armed forces were "fully prepared" to meet any eventuality. He, however, said it was not necessary to speculate on whether the country was closer to a conflict. "There is no need to speculate or worry about it. "All overflight facilities available to Pakistan and Pakistan International Airlines to overfly Indian airspace will cease or be suspended with effect from January one, 2002," he said. Describing the offensive as "minimal measures", Singh said "we hope even now that the Government of Pakistan will understand the gravity of the situation and take urgent measures to curb the activities of terrorist groups." He said India "remains ready to take such further measures as are considered necessary." On reduction of the strength of the Pakistani mission by 50 per cent, Singh said "this is particularly important in the context of recent events, wherein official of the Pakistan High Commission have been involved in espionage as well as in direct dealings with terrorist organisations." He said regrettably India’s serious concerns about all the ramifications of the December 13 attack had not been fully grasped in Pakistan. "The depth of concern in India, the totality of rejection by the entire cross-section of our country’s opinion of Pakistan’s continued sponsorship of cross-border terrorism, and its promotion of terrorism as an instrument of state policy has also not been sufficiently appreciated. "That is why it is doubly regrettable that attempts to dupe the international community with cosmetic half measures, non-measures or even fictitious incidents are still being made," he said, adding this was not acceptable. "Terrorism can simply not be justified on any grounds, or under any name. It must be eradicated fully," the minister asserted. Today’s decision marked a major diplomatic action by India since the snapping of diplomatic ties between the two countries in the wake of 1971 war. In 1994, Islamabad had ordered closure of the Indian consulate in Karachi in protest against what it called India’s refusal to operate the Pakistani consulate in Mumbai from Jinnah House. Asked what was India’s bottomline of the action Pakistan has to take, Singh said New Delhi has already spelt this out and wants definitive action by Islamabad including banning of the terrorist outfits, seizure of their assets and arrest of their leaderships. He said the Pakistan allowed three to four days to LeT and JeM to withdraw their funds and shift their headquarters from Punjab to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) before announcing freezing of their assets. On his telephonic talk with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Singh said he had conveyed to him that there could be no two standards to tackle terrorism in the east and the west of Pakistan. To a question on the remarks by Defence Minister George Fernandes that Washington continued to follow double standards, he said subsequent action by the US in designating LeT and JeM as foreign terrorist outfits had proved that they had taken all necessary steps. On Powell advocating dialogue between India and Pakistan to reduce tension, Singh said "this is neither practical nor possible at the moment." He dismissed Pakistan’s charge that India was trying to stall people-to-people contact between the two countries and said it was New Delhi which had initiated such measures. The minister said groups of MPs would be soon despatched to key world capitals to explain India’s viewpoint on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. He parried a question on whether India was contemplating withdrawal of Most Favoured Nation status to Pakistan. Replying to a question, Singh said the contact between the Directors General of Military Operations of the two countries remained open. (PTI) |
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‘Unconfirmed reports
of Al-Qaeda’s infiltration’ Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 27: Seven Kashmiri militants of four different outfits today laid down their arms before IGP Kashmir, K Rajendra Kumar. All of them hailing from Bandipore and Rafiabad areas of north Kashmir, surrendered through Dy SP of SOG Ganderbal, Jagtar Singh, at a simple function at Police Control room Srinagar. They handed over to the IGP sophisticated grenade guns, pistols and other arms and ammunition. Three of the surrenderees described themselves as members of Al-Fatah Force, two of them said that they belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen and each each was stated to be members of Al-Badr and J&K Islamic Front. On this occasion, K Ranjendra Kumar claimed that Police and security forces had caused severe blows to different militant organisations in Kashmir during the last one month. He said that cash worth Rs one crore had been seized from Hizb and Jaish-e-Mohammad while as a large number of militants had either been killed or arrested. Others, he said, were coming forward to lay down arms. IGP said that in addition to arresting several militant activists wanted in the attack on Parliament, Kashmir Police had arrested, on the inputs provided by District Police Jammu, a key Al-Qaeda conduit. He identified him as Ghulam Qadir Najar of Manzgam, Bren (Nishat) and said that he was also working in Hotel Centaur in Srinagar. Rajendra said that the former Harkat-ul-Mujahideen militant Qamar Ayub S/o Mohammad Ayub of Mirpur, Pakistan, (who was now an Al-Qaeda functionary) had stayed at Najar’s house. It was on their disclosures that Jammu Police also arrested a Saudi militant. He said that several militant hideouts had been destroyed in north Kashmir during the last four weeks. Rajendra explained how SOG Srinagar recovered a money consignment of Rs 20 Lakh from the house of one Abdur Rasheed Ganai S/o Ghulam Qadir R/o Nowgam, Shopian a day after Eid. He said that SOG had intercepted Hizbul Mujahideen’s message to a militant asking him to collect cash of Rs 20 Lakh from the Shopian resident’s home. He said that an SOG decoy went to the family in the guise of a militant, disclosed to the house owner the code name of "Abdullah Makki" and thereupon the resident handed over the cash consignment to the SOG decoy, mistaking him for the Pakistani militant. IGP said Police were in possession of "unconfirmed reports" that about 25 Al-Qaeda militants, including the top thinktank Mulla Abrar, had sneaked into Kashmir valley through Rajwar and other infiltration routes in Kupwara district. |
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Deployment to be completed
in 2-3 days ON BOARD IAF AIRCRAFT, Dec 27: Terming the border situation as "grave", Defence Minister George Fernandes has said that the forces deployment on the forward areas would be completed in two to three days but India would await "positive results" on its diplomatic efforts in its fight against cross border terrorism. "In the next two to three days, the deployment process will be completed and the forces will be ready for any eventuality. But there are diplomatic efforts which should be allowed to reach some conclusion," he told reporters accompanying him on his three-day whistle-stop visit to snow-bound Siachin Glaciers, Kargil, Drass and some forward areas in Western Sector. Stating that Islamabad had started amassing troops a day after the December 13 terrorists attack on the Parliament house, Fernandes said "at the moment India pays great emphasis on its diplomatic efforts. We are still awaiting some positive results". He said that New Delhi was following the diplomatic process from a "position of strength and no one friend and foe should misread and say that we are not making up our mind one way or the other." India wanted to give "diplomacy a chance from a position of strength," said Fernandes, who had earlier, addressing jawans at Siachin, lashed out at major powers for adopting double standards in their fight against terrorism vis-a-vis India’s battle against cross border terrorism. Fernandes said that there might be some reasons for Islamabad to act at such a rapid speed to deploy its forces a day after the December 13 attack on Parliament house. Stating that an incident of such a nature was far too serious for any nation to accept, he told the jawans "this time we take the issue far more seriously than we have taken earlier and prepared ourselves to meet whatever challenges we face. Whatever steps are needed to be taken will be taken to safeguard the sovereignty of the nation". India has suffered terrorism for a long time, he said adding that the terrorism the country was facing in Jammu and Kashmir was entirely "foreign transported. It is Pakistan-sponsored terrorism," the Defence Minister asserted. Sporting thick winter dress, Fernandes visited some forward areas in the glacier where the weather plummeted to minus 30 degree celsius, Kargil and Drass, the second coldest place in the world, in an exercise aimed at boosting the morale of the soldiers who are facing the twin enemies —Pakistan and the inhospitable weather. This was Fernandes’ 21st visit to the Siachin Glaciers after becoming Defence Minister. He also visited some forward areas in Rajasthan and was briefed by senior Army and Air Force officers on the readiness of the forces to face the challenge. Celebrating the Christmas with jawans at Siachin, a promise he had made earlier, Fernandes said that the morale of the forces was very high and what he noticed was the resolve of the forces to fight "till the last bullet and the last man". (PTI) |
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DIG, SP survive
grenade attack, 30 injured Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 27: While as 26 civilians sustained injuries in an unsuccessful grenade attack on DIG Srinagar and SP at Budgam today, at least five militants, three soldiers and three civilians have been reported killed in different militancy-related incidents in Kashmir valley since last evening. Officials sources told EXCELSIOR that DIG Srinagar, Dr Shesh Pal Vaid, and SP Budgam, Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari, were on way to District Police Office when an unidentified militant hurled a grenade on their cavalcade at the crowded bus-stand, at Budgam, this afternoon. It missed the intended target and exploded on road when the last escort vehicle was driving past the spot, just 30 yards from Police Station. Four escort personnel of SP Budgam and 26 pedestrians sustained injuries. As the injured were rushed to District Hospital of Budgam, everybody was stunned to learn that none of the doctors was present. The attendants were told that almost all of the staff had gone to attend a condolence meeting at a colleague’s home in Sopore area. Consequently, seven of the critically injured civilians were rushed to Srinagar hospitals and others were discharged after a first aid by the junior paramedical staff. Sources said that, on a tip-off, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 7th Bn and SOG Anantnag laid siege to Telwani village, in Achhabal area of Anantnag district this morning. According to the specific information, a group of Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were present in the village. As the troops zeroed in on the target house, belonging to a retired Lecturer Ghulam Ahmed Wani, militants opened heavy volume of gunfire, killing three soldiers of RR 07 Bn on spot. They were identified as JCO Pachhatar Singh, Ranjit Singh and Baldev Singh. In retaliation, troops destroyed the target house, killing three militants. Official sources identified them as Furqain, Abu Mohammad Salfi and Zubair. Two of them were stated to be Pakistani nationals and, according to unconfirmed reports, Zubair was a local cadre of Lashkar-e-Toiba. Defence sources claimed that Furqain was Lashkar’s "divisional commander" in south Kashmir. However, IGP Kashmir, K Rajendra Kumar, did not confirm that and said that nobody by the code name of Furqain had figured as Lashkar’s "divisional commander" in the Police intelligence reports. Reports from south Kashmir added that dead bodies of two more militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba were recovered today from the debris of the house destroyed at Buran Lamad on Wednesday. As already reported, the gunbatle had occurred on Wednesday between militants and troops of RR 9th Bn and the dead body of Pakistani militant, Abu Yasir, had been recovered last evening. Officials were expecting dead bodies of two more militants which surfaced today. One was identified as that of Abu Ubaid, resident of Peshawar, Pakistan, and another that of Mohammad Shafi Paddar alias Abu Aadil S/o Ghulam Mohammad Paddar R/o Chogam, Qazigund. Official sources claimed that the same group of militants had killed a former Sarpanch and National Conference activist, Ghulam Nabi Yatoo, at Url (Kond) on Wednesday night. This evening, another gunbattle took place between a group of holed up militants and security forces in Waripora, Tangmarg. However, no details were available till late tonight. In the morning, security forces had also launched a massive combing operation at Makahama and adjoining villages in Magam area after receiving information that a group of 12 Hizbul Mujahideen militants were present there. However, troops returned empty-handed as all the militants had reportedly left the village. Sources said that during last night, unidentified gunmen kidnapped two brothers, Tariq Ahmed Mir and Farooq Ahmed Mir, sons of Mohammad Ahsan Mir at Chakor, in Pulwama district. Today, their dead bodies with slit throats were recovered from Naina village, in Bijbehara area. Officials said that both of them may have been killed by militants as, in the past, the two brothers had acted as counter-insurgents and SPOs. Reports from Kupwara said that unidentified gunmen appeared at Khadrmuna, Kralgund, during last night and kidnapped a counter-insurgent source of RR 30th Bn, namely Faqeer Mohammad Piswal S/o Mohammad Sultan Piswal. Later, he was shot dead in the same area. |
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Straw to Musharraf: curb LeT, JeM violent acts LONDON, Dec 27: Terming the attack on Indian Parliament as an "outrage" against the entire democratic world, Britain today asked Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to stop Jaish e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar e-Taiba (LeT) saying these terrorist groups have no place in a modern society. Expressing deep concern at the recent deterioration in relations between India and Pakistan, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the attack on Indian Parliament was "an outrage not only against India but against the entire democratic world." "There can be no justification for terrorism," he said in a strongly-worded statement here. Recalling that JeM had claimed responsibility for the October 1 attack on Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Straw said Jaish has links with Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda network. Pointing out that he, as Home Secretary, had used powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 to ban a number of Kashmiri terrorist groups including JeM and LeT, Straw said "these violent groups have no place in a modern society. They must be stopped. I urge President Musharraf to continue his action against them with resolve and determination." Straw said over the Christmas period he has had intensive contact with his Indian, Pakistani and US counterparts. "I have urged India and Pakistan to work together to resolve their differences. "As I told Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh this morning, the recent attack on the Indian Parliament was an outrage, not only against India but against the entire democratic world. There can be no justification for terrorism. "This attack follows that on Oct 1 against the State Assembly in Srinagar in which over 40 people died, and for which the Kashmiri terrorist group Jaish e-Mohammed claimed responsibility. This group has links with Osama bin Laden and the Al Qaeda network," he said. Straw welcomed Pakistan’s "swift" condemnation of the attack on Indian Parliament and the recent steps it has taken against terrorist groups operating from its territory. (PTI) |
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House burnt in explosion,
civilian hurt Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 27: Heavy shelling resumed in Poonch sector this evening while an abandoned house caught fire when it was hit by a shell at village Rakh Kundwal in Samba sector early today as tension persisted on both Line of Control and International Border. Pakistan army started shelling the forward villages of Mill Dalaan, Sokar and Digwar at 1730 hours today sending the people running for a cover. Troops took positions in their bunkers and retaliated, official sources said. They said about 32 heavy mortar shells, fired by Pakistan army, fell in the three forward villages within a span of just one hour. Till tonight, the intermittent shelling and exchange of heavy fire arms was going on between the two sides. "So far there had been no report of any casualties on the Indian side—both civilians and security personnel. Three houses, however, suffered damage in the shelling", a civil administration officer said. Sources said the retaliatory firing led to smashing of one bunker of Pakistan army opposite Mill Dalaan post. Pakistan army suffered two casualties in the bunker but it couldn’t be ascertained that whether the casualties were fatal, they added. Shelling in Poonch sector resumed after a brief lull yesterday. Civil authorities were keeping a tight vigil over the situation in Poonch sector. Though no migration has been reported so far from any forward village of Poonch, the authorities anticipated migration if the shelling continued with such a pace. Meanwhile, Ben and Galar villages in Samba sector, which bore the brunt of shelling on Sunday and Monday, were rattled again early today when four to six mortar shells landed in the forward villages. One of the shells fell in the deserted house of Prem Pal son of Ram Saran at village Rakh Kundwal and exploded. The house caught fire and was reduced to a rubble within few minutes. Three cattle, which the family of Prem Pal had chained while deserting the house and fleeing to Samba, were burnt alive. Shelling was effectively replied by the Indian side silencing the Pakistani guns. Small arms firing, meanwhile, continued in Ramgarh, RS Pura, Kanachak and Akhnoor sectors during the day today. A youth Ashok Kumar, 20, son of Ram Lal was hit by a Pakistani bullet in Kanachak Camp and injured seriously this afternoon. The injured was evacuated to hospital in serious condition. Firing was replied by the Indian side at all forwards places on the International Border. Other forward posts where Indo-Pak troops traded firing included Panjar, Chinore Farm, Gole Pattan in Jammu district, Regal, Mangu Chak, Sade Chak, Chalarian, Chachwal, Dulma Chak and Khanwara in Kathua district. |
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Woman shot at in Doda Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Dec 27: Two terrorists of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and a Special Police Officer (SPO) were killed in an encounter at village Chanakote in Mahore tehsil of this district early today. According to police sources, a joint operation was launched last night by the Border Security Force (BSF) and Special Task Force (STF) in Chanakote village falling under Reasi police station jurisdiction. The operation was launched on an information that two terrorists had taken shelter in the village. The terrorists, hiding in a house, opened firing with AK-56 rifles on the approaching columns of BSF and STF personnel, who retaliated. Exchange of firing that started at 0400 hours continued for about one and a half hour. In the operation, both terrorists were eliminated by the BSF and STF jawans. In the exchange of firing, an SPO Abdul Rashid (No. 331) also sustained serious injuries and died before being evacuated to hospital, the sources said. Bodies of two slain ultras were recovered from their hideout this morning. While one of them has been identified as Mohd Rafiq, a resident of village Dooru in Anantnag district, identity of the second terrorist couldn’t be established. Two AK-56 rifles, 47 rounds, three magazines, one wireless set and three detonators were recovered from the scene of encounter. Meanwhile, in another incident, a group of terrorists entered into the house of Vakil Singh son of Nasib Singh at village Chapnari in Doda district last night and opened firing. Vakil Singh’s wife was seriously injured in the firing. STF jawans from Chapnari post opened firing on the terrorists after hearing the sound of gun shots forcing latter to flee from the village. Injured woman has been admitted to a hospital. |
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India’s airspace ban stymies SAARC summit ISLAMABAD, Dec 27: A South Asian summit meeting set for January in Nepal has been effectively scuttled by India’s ban on Pakistani planes flying through Indian airspace, analysts said today. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was due to attend the January 4-6 summit of the seven-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) but is now unlikely to make the trip, a Pakistani official said. "He would have to overfly India to go to Kathmandu, so naturally by banning the airspace, the Indians have made it difficult for Pakistani officials to travel there," said the Government source. Under the SAARC charter, the presence of all member States is a condition for the holding of the summit and a postponement now appears to be inevitable under the circumstances. Analysts agreed that the Indian Government’s new sanctions, announced in the wake of the deadly attack on its Parliament complex earlier this month, have jeopardised the summit. (AFP) |
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25 civilians killed in US raid KABUL, Dec 27: At least 25 civilians were reported killed today when US planes pounded a village in eastern Afghanistan even as American troop deployment were put on hold in the search for Osama bin Laden in the caves and tunnels in the mountainous Tora Bora region. The US marines for the time being have been left out of the risky job of flushing out bin Laden and remnants of his Al Qaeda network amidst reports that the American military is offering incentives to the Afghan forces to take the lead rather than risk the lives of its troops. The Afghan fighters are being offered incentives including weapons, money and winter clothing, according to American officials. The 500 odd marines will not be deployed as previously contemplated but they would be on standby, they added. The Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) reported quoting unidentified sources that women and children were among the killed in the US bombing at Naka village in Paktika province at 2 a.m. (local time) today. The AIP quoted witnesses as saying that five houses, including that of a Taliban commander Mawlawi Tauhaw, were destroyed but the commander was not at home. There was no immediate reaction from the US about this report. The whereabouts of bin Laden continued to be a matter of speculation amidst reports that he may have fled to Pakistan or still in his hideout in Afghanistan. There were reports that he might have died of natural cause or under intense US bombing at the Tora Bora caves. According to Interior Minister Yunus Qanooni, there were reports that bin Laden is still staying with a former commander of Hezb-i-Islami in the east. US troops continued to be on heightened alert at the Kandahar airport in southern Afghanistan after officials said they received warnings of possible attack. The US led coalition, meanwhile, said that military operations in Afghanistan will not stop until bin Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar are found. But, tribesmen from an eastern Afghanistan province where a controversial US bombing flattended a convoy of vehicles last week pleaded for an immediate end to air attacks on their territory. International peacekeepers streng-thened their presence in Afghanistan with a further 300 British military personnel flown to Kabul bringing to around 500 the total number of British troops in the Afghan capital. (PTI) |
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Militant groups to protest against Musharraf Govt ISLAMABAD, Dec 27: A conglomerate of Pakistan’s hardline religious parties has condemned the Musharraf Government for taking action against the activities of fundamentalist groups and announced plans to hold protest demonstration tomorrow. Leaders of the Afghanistan and Pakistan Defence Council, which previously conducted the anti-US and pro-Taliban agitations in the country, criticised the Government for taking Pakistan towards "secularism". They said claims of India and America that Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad were terrorist organisations were false. "The Government has no reasonable justification for the arrest of Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Maulana Fuzlur-Rehman, Azam Tariq and Shah Ahmad Noorani and some other important Islamic leaders," the leaders added. "....Regrettably General Musharraf has carried out a campaign against the Islamic parties, which have rendered sacrifices for Islam and the country in every crisis". The leaders said they would hold a peaceful protest demonstration against the Government policies tomorrow. They demanded that the Government should release all the Islamic leaders to bring out the country from the current crisis. "The US military must be pulled out from the country as soon as possible because now they have no justification for their stay in Pakistan after the fall of Taliban regime", they said. (PTI) |
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HUSSAINIWALA BORDER (PUNJAB), Dec 27: Amid heightened tension on the borders following amassing of Pakistani troops, Defence Minister George Fernandes took everyone by surprise by visiting this "zero" border separating the two neighbours to witness the "flag ceremony" yesterday. Fernandes, who was to visit some border posts in Khemkaran areas, was forced to land in Ferozepur following inclement weather and it enabled him to see the ceremony, similar to the one celebrated at Wagah border. The minister keenly watched the brief ceremony by the Border Security Force (BSF) jawans and the Pakistan rangers. In a rare gesture, Pakistan rangers sought the Indian dignatory’s permission to start the ceremony, watched by a large number of people including tourists from both sides. Enthused by the ceremony, Fernandes crossed over to the other side and shook hands with Pakistan rangers and presented a gift. Nazir Ahmed of Pakistan ranger briefed the minister that the ceremony has been perfected in a mutual arrangement. "I am seeing the ceremony for the first time", Fernandes said adding that the facial expression of the jawans was "tougher". While Fernandes was looking at a huge arch on the Pakistan side, a BSF official told the minister that India was also erecting an arch "better than Pakistanis" and for which Punjab Government had released some funds recently. With the building up of tension on the borders whether war would break out, asked a tourist and came the reply from the Defence Minister "you don’t discuss war on the streets". (PTI) |
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Senior Hurriyat functionary held Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 27: Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested a senior Hurriyat Conference functionary accusing him of being the main conduit between separatist elements and ISI operatives in Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, who is also the deputy chief of Kashmir Awareness Bureau set up by the Hurriyat Conference in Delhi, was arrested while he was leaving for the national capital, Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Range) K Rajendra Kumar told reporters here. He said Bhat had been deputed here on a special mission to investigate into the circumstances which led to the recent seizure of Rs one crore by police from Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militants in the Valley. Kumar said Bhat was here to revive the activities of militant outfits which suffered setback due to arrest of top brass. Bhat, a trusted lieutenant of fire-brand Jamaat-e-Islami leader and former Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, had earlier also been arrested by Delhi Police for anti-national activities. |
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Laden hiding in Pak : Afghan Govt KABUL, Dec 27: Terrorism suspect Osama bin Laden, on the run from the US-led coalition against terrorism, is believed to be with "friends" of a Pakistani religious party leader, an official in Afghanistan’s new interim Government said today. Mohammad Abeel, spokesman for the Defence Ministry in Kabul, said bin Laden was believed to be with "friends" of Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, a Pakistani Islamic activist in a border area of Pakistan. He did not elaborate or divulge the source of his information. Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman is the leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, a powerful Pakistani religious party sympathetic to Afghanistan’ deposed Taliban militia. Its main support base is parts of Pakistan’s North West Frontier and Baluchistan provinces, both of which border Afghanistan. Riaz Durrani, central information secretary for Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, rejected the report about bin Laden as "baseless." "We support the Taliban, but never had any connection with Osama bin Laden," he said. "Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman is under detention for the last three months. How can he or his party do this?" He added: "it is part of an international conspiracy to attack Pakistan under the pretext of action against religious organizations." (Agencies) |
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8 jawans injured in terrorists attack on vehicle Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Dec 27: Terrorists opened firing on an army vehicle at Behram Gala in Surankot tehsil of Poonch district this evening injuring eight soldiers while troops eliminated two terrorists in Malut area of Darhal today. Official sources said the ultras ambushed an army vehicle and opened heavy firing wounding eight jawans. Army personnel retaliated forcing the terrorists to flee. Injured army soldiers have been hospitalised. Meanwhile, an encounter took place between army personnel and the terrorists at village Malut in Darhal this morning. Two unidentified terrorists were killed in the operation. Two AK-56 rifles, five magazines, 84 HE grenades, 75 AK rounds, one anti tank rifle grenade, a smoke grenade and two wireless sets were recovered from the slain ultras. |
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Rewards on Masood, Ghazi Baba, Tariq NEW DELHI, Dec 27: Delhi Police today announced ‘handsome’ cash rewards for anyone giving information leading to the arrest of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar and two other JeM terrorists, Ghazi Baba and Tariq, wanted in connection with the December 13 attack on Parliament. "Masood Azhar, Ghazi Baba and Tariq are wanted for conspiring and abetting the attack on Parliament. Any one providing information leading to their arrest would be rewarded handsomely," DCP (Special Cell) Ashok Chnad said. "The three are responsible for planning, suppling arms and ammunition, financing and providing other logistic support to the Jaish-e-Mohammad militants," he said. Delhi Police has also released a photograph of Azhar and portraits of the two terrorists along with their descriptive rolls. Masood Azhar was one of the militants released by the Indian Government in exchange for the passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines aircraft to Kandahar in Afghanistan in December 1999. After moving to Pakistan he founded the Jaish-e-Mohammad. The descriptive rolls of the other two terrorists from his outfit are as follows: Ghazi Baba alias Abu Jehadi alias Saqlain: Pakistan national (hails from Punjab province), ht-6 ', wheatish complexion, medium build, silky hair (black), speaks Punjabi, Urdu, English, Punjabi touch in speech, wears jeans and jacket, keeps beretta pistol, small grenades, knife on person. Tariq Ahmed: address- Tral town, Anantnag, ht-5' 10 , wheatish complexion, strong build, speaks Urdu and Kashmiri, wears pant, shirt and jacket, keeps Chinese pistol and visits Tral town often. (UNI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 27: A spokesman of Jammu and Kashmir Government today denied a report appearing in a national daily about recall of Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah from abroad by the Prime Minister due to prevailing border scenario in the State. The Chief Minister is fully abreast with the situation and in constant touch with the State administration about the latest situation, the spokesman said, adding that he is being kept informed about the measures taken to provide respite to migrating people in the wake of Pak shelling. The spokesman described the report as baseless. |
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