Pilgrims security further intensified
Amarnath yatris again protest

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 8: With State Government reluctant to open the fresh registration counters at Jammu, hundreds of stranded yatris again took out a procession from Geeta Bhavan to Ranbereshwar Temple and staged a demonstration there for half an hour demanding their enrollment.

However, the demonstration dispersed off peacefully after the police reached the spot and informed them that the registration will be opened at Geeta Bhavan soon.

But to the dismay of these pilgrims, no body from the officials turned up at Geeta Bhavan counter till late in the night for making the enrollment of the hundreds of stranded pilgrims.

Some of the stranded yatris have run short of money and they are making the rounds of various social organisations for help to return to their home states without performing the darshan.

The stranded yatris term the Government decision to allow the only registered pilgrims for darshan an infringement to the fundamental rights of the Hindus. They were also highly critical of the Central Government and Union Home Minister, Mr Lal Krishan Advani.

The BJP exploited us for seeking votes on the name of Ram Temple at Ayodhya and protection of Hindus rights when in opposition. But after coming to power they have betrayed the masses said Ram Sunder Dass a pilgrim from Maharashtra who along with other 15 members of the group was waiting here for registration to open.

"We had high expectations from them, but it is a pity that this Government is not potent enough to make arrangements of our pilgrimage to Holy Cave what else we can expect from it", he alleged.

"We were expecting that every body will get the registration the moment he reaches Jammu, but we proved wrong after alighting from train here as we have been exposed to odd situation by the Government", Mr Dass said.

Challenging the Government’s authenticity to fix the quota for pilgrims Ram Chander a Sadhu from UP said this system is not justiciable as no power on earth can debar us from our religious right.

He said how a devout Hindu can be deprived of the darshan of Baba Amarnath which is the matter of unflinching faith to millions of Hindus of the country and a symbol of our nationalism from centuries together.

Making a dig at the State Government, Mr Ashok Kumar a Civil Secretariat employee of Rajasthan Government said the administration is totally unconcerned with the yatris problems.

"We have made number of rounds of the concerned offices but no body guides us properly," he said, adding yesterday we were told that registration will open in the evening at Geeta Bhavan and today also same promise was made with us but all false.

"For how many days we will stay here more, he said adding we have come from such a far off place to have the darshan of Swami Amarnath and if we return without proceeding ahead this will hurt our emotions."

This reporter saw hundreds of stranded pilgrims including a large number of Sadhus at Geeta Bhavan compound waiting for registration for entire day. A huge gathering was also waiting at Aggarwal Sabha till late in the evening for officials to turn up.

According to reports reaching here from Anantnag two yatris namely Jasbinder Kumar, son of Amar Chand, 26, of House No 2635/C Mata Rani Road Roper, Punjab and Krishan Kumar, son of Ram Lal of 6-12/15 , Sector No 15 Rohni Delhi breathed their last at Panjtarni and Brari Marg respectively.

In view of the recent attacks by militants at Army convoy at National Highway and recovery of some explosives in south Kashmir to be used to disrupt the yatra, the Government has further beefed up the security arrangements.

The Police has utilised the services of some voluntary organisations for maintaining vigil in the City. The volunteers have been deployed at M A Stadium and different nakas in the city to assist the Police in routine checking to avert any untoward incident.

Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 3,705 pilgrims today left the Base Camp here for the Holy Cave of Lord Shiva. These yatris comprising of 3,078 male, 506 female, 23 children and 98 Sadhus left in a cavalcade of 209 vehicles.

According to late reports reaching here from Anantnag these yatris had reached the Nunwan the first Camp towards the Holy Cave in Anantnag district of south Kashmir by late evening.

They will proceed for the next destination tomorrow morning. The sky from Sarbal to Holy Cave remained over cast with clouds today.

A total number of 40,500 Amarnath pilgrims have arrived in Kashmir valley so far since the yatra started on July 2. Out of them 33,200 devotees had darshan of Icy Lingam in the Holy Cave till this afternoon and 11,000 yatris have returned their homes after performing the darshan till today.

Some Hindu organisations today warned to directly come into action incase the registration counters were not opened by tomorrow and all stranded yatris were not allowed to leave for darshan. President J&K Unit of VHP Dr Rama Kant Dubey, Founder member Baba Amarnath Yatri Niyas Mr Tilak Raj and City president Shiv Sena Mr Sanjay Mahey warned to intensify agitation from tomorrow.

Parents of PGI Superintendent murdered in Trikuta Nagar

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 8: An old couple, who were parents of PGI Medical Superintendent Dr Anil Gupta, were found murdered under mysterious circumstances in their house at Sector No. 6 in Trikuta Nagar late this evening.

Initially, police believed that double murder might have been committed for the purpose of dacoity but ‘circumstantial evidences’ gathered by police officers after two hours long inspection of the house late tonight didn’t confirm a dacoity attempt or any other reason behind the gruesome and sensational killings.

Deceased Dr Uttam Chand Gupta, about 72, a retired Professor of Ayurvedic College of Jammu and his wife Kamla Devi Gupta, about 66, were living alone in their house in Sector No. 6 of Trikuta Nagar as their two sons including Dr Anil Gupta and Rajesh Gupta, an Engineer in Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) were posted outside.

DIG Jammu-Kathua range Dr S P Vaid said throats of the couple had been slit with a sharp-edged weapon by unidentified assailants. Exact timing of the crime couldn’t be ascertained immediately but it was said to be between 1400 hours to 1900 hours.

A stunned Dr Anil Gupta told EXCELSIOR and police on his arrival in the house that he talked to his parents on mobile telephone at about 1315 hours from his car somewhere near Chandigarh and told them that he was on way to Jammu and will reach the house by 1900 hours. "By then, my parents were alright", he said.

According to police, Dr U C Gupta informed his son-in-law about the arrival of Dr Anil Gupta by this evening and sought the help of his servant for purchasing cheese from the market. The servant delivered cheese in the house at about 1400 hours and went back.

Dr Anil Gupta reached the house at about 1915 hours and found doors of the house closed. As no response came from inside after repeated running of the bell, Dr Gupta went inside from a back door only to see dead bodies of his father and mother lying in two separate but adjoining rooms.

Body of Kamala Devi Gupta had been covered with a white chadar while the body of Dr Uttam Chand Gupta was lying open. Both were in pool of blood, police said, adding bodies also had marks of injuries on face and head.

Throats of the couple had been slit with a sharp-edged weapon resulting into their death.

Besides DIG Jammu Dr S P Vaid, SSP Jammu Rashmi Ranjan Swain, SP South J L Sharma, SDPO East Sanjay Sharma and SHO Trikuta Nagar Shamsher Singh Parihar rushed to the house soon after getting a report of the crime.

Police said a ‘darat’ (weapon) was recovered from under a bed sheet of the room but it had no marks of blood, which indicated that it hadn’t been used in the offence. The weapon used in slitting the throats of couple was stated to be a sharp-edged.

According to a police officer, only one almirah of the house had been broken while all other almirahs and their safe were intact. Even most of the goods inside broken almirah were intact, they said but didn’t rule out the possibility of some costlier goods having been stolen from the almirah.

"Nothing can be said as of now when investigations were at a preliminary stage. Things would be slightly clear by late tomorrow afternoon", one of the investigating officer said. He was of the view that had dacoits struck in the house they would have definitely attempted to break other almirahs and safe of the house. No window or door of the house was found broken. Police officers remained in the house for more than two hours investigating all aspects of the crime. Dog Squads and Forensic experts were also called to the house for investigations.

Neighbours of the couple said they didn’t hear any sound from the house. Servant of couple’s son-in-law, who had gone to the house to deliver the cheese, told police that two persons (both male) were sitting in the house at that time and were inspecting first floor of the house for taking it on rent.

Besides, Dr Uttam Chand Gupta was also a regular private practitioner of Ayurvedic treatment. A number of people including some labourers from Orissa and Bihar, putting up around Trikuta Nagar, were among the patients of Dr Gupta. Majority of them knew that Gupta couple was living alone in the house as their both sons were settled outside and used to visit Jammu occasionally. Hectic investigations in the case were on till late tonight. A double murder case has been registered at Trikuta Nagar police station but no arrest has been made so far.

Meanwhile, a family member said, the couple would be cremated at 12 noon on Monday at Shastri Nagar cremation ground.

Summit not to be cancelled due to Hurriyat row: Pak

ISLAMABAD, July 8: Pakistan has ruled out the possibility of the forthcoming Indo-Pak summit being cancelled due to difference with India over Islamabad’s invitation to Hurriyat leaders to a reception for President Pervez Musharraf in New Delhi, saying both the countries were not prepared to hold the summit a "hostage" to the controversy.

"A lot has gone into the preparation of the summit, and a lot is at stake for both sides. We do acknowledge the centrality of the Kashmiris to the final solution to the Kashmir problem, however there is no evidence, either from our side or from India, that the meeting between the two leaders can be held hostage to this controversy," an official was quoted as saying in a media report here today.

Stating that the success of the summit is the prime concern for Pakistan, the official said "the perception that Musharraf-Vajpayee meeting was in danger of being cancelled over the Hurriyat controversy was baseless."

Referring to the controversy, the official told the daily ‘Dawn’ "Islamabad is keen that the meeting between President Pervez Musharraf with Hurriyat leaders in Delhi takes place, but a successful summit with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is at present its prime concern".

The official denied that at any stage Pakistan intended to deliberately score a point against India by extending an invitation to the Hurriyat leaders.

"Let us get our facts right. The invitation to Hurriyat leaders is for a meeting over tea. It is not a structured dialogue where issues will be debated methodically," he said. The official said "President Musharraf has returned a courtesy of writing to Hurriyat leaders for he had received a letter from them. Now India is the host country. We hope that they would play good hosts, but if they chose not to, the summit meeting will still take place".

The official termed the Hurriyat criticism that Pakistan had ditched them as "senseless", saying "we have stood by them through thick and thin. There is no such thing as anyone being ditched".

The clarification by Pakistan official followed Friday’s meeting between Indian High Commissioner to Islamabad Vijay K Nambiar and Pakistan Foreign Secretary Inamul Haq during which the Indian envoy is reported to have reiterated India’s objections that the invitation to Hurriyat leaders could have a negative fallout on the summit.

However with the controversy assuming serious overtones, Pakistan appears to be putting the onus on India to defuse the crisis.

Pakistan Minister for Kashmir Affairs Abbas Sarfraz Khan told a news agency yesterday that Islamabad has formally requested the New Delhi to allow Hurriyat leaders to meet Musharraf.

"Our position on this even now with the Indian Government is that we have formally requested them to allow the Hurriyat to meet us," Khan said and claimed "we are yet to learn from the Indian Government whether they are prepared to accept this proposal or not". (PTI)

Both leaders responsible for result: Musharraf

ISLAMABAD, July 8: Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf has said both Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and he will be equally responsible for the success of the July 15 summit meeting.

In an interview with the ‘Voice of America’, Gen Musharraf said, "fifty per cent is my part, but I am not responsible for the other 50 per cent...I would say we have a desire to remove this tension, this main issue."

Responding to a question, the general said he should not be held responsible if the talks failed due to intransigence from India. "Then, why would I be held responsible, why should my credibility be reduced?" he asked.

Asked what was the minimum he expected from the summit, Gen Musharraf said "if we set our direction towards a structured approach towards addressing the core issue, I think we need to certainly initiate and continue the process of dialogue. And, the dialogue should certainly not be fruitless."

"Instead, it should be aimed at a direction which moves towards resolution of the core issue," he added.

Referring to his "no war" pact offer to India, Gen Musharraf said, "I have offered that because we need to concentrate on the economic development in this area. And desist from an arms race when the people of both these countries and the entire region are poverty stricken."

He said, "I am extending a hand of friendship and I am sure the Indian Prime Minister is also doing the same. But now, beyond this hand of friendship, concrete movement towards addressing the core issue is the key matter."

"If anyone thinks that this is not the issue, then what else are we going to talk? that is the issue. For the past 50 years, we have carried on in this antagonistic state because we were not addressing the core issue."

The President felt that if the same practice was repeated, the hostility would continue for another 50 years. Gen Musharraf said he would like to meet leaders of the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), but that depended on the Indian side.

He said India seemed a "little hesitant" to allow the APHC leaders to meet him. "But, I think it will be very unrealistic if the Kashmiris did not join this dialogue at some stage in the future."

Asked what made him optimistic about the summit, he said, "I am optimistic because I have been invited. Nobody in the past has ever been invited to discuss the issue. This is the first time that the head of the state from Pakistan has been invited to India for a dialogue. We have never before entered into a dialogue willingly without pressure."

"Previously, the heads of state have met but that was under some special circumstances...Maybe other than a genuine desire to talk to each other. This is the first time it has happened otherwise," Gen Musharraf said. (UNI)

Three tier security cover for summit in Agra

LUCKNOW, July 8: An unprecedented three-tier security arrangement has been made for the VVIPs coming for the summit between Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf in Agra on July 15.

The Uttar Pradesh Police have already cordoned off the area surrounding the summit venue and hotels where the two leaders are expected to stay for the last ten days. Each and every train and bus plying in the city is being checked by sniffer dog squads. Besides, a ‘task force’ has been constituted to look after the supply of power, drinking water and telecommunication system.

All mobile phones in and around Agra would be put on surveillance by the authorities before the start of the summit till its end for security reasons, while army doctors have been put on a stand-by for their service at the Government hospital in Agra.

A high-level meeting of the administrative and police officials of the State, presided over by Chief Secretary Bhola Nath Tiwari, was held here today. Divisional Commissioner of Agra A N Jha and Agra (Range) Deputy Inspector General of Police R R Bhatnagar along with almost all the senior officials of the State were present at the meeting, which lasted about three hours.

Later, briefing reporters, State Principal Secretary (Home) Naresh Dayal said the VVIPs would be given three-tier security cover with the first one being the Special Protection Group (SPG), followed by the central agencies, including the intelligence wing, and lastly by the up police.

Mr Dayal said the entire area, including the two hotels and the venue for the summit, would be a prohibited zone a couple of days prior to the summit and only authorised people would be allowed there. The hotels, Jaypee Palace, Mughal Sheraton and Amar Vilas would not permit any outsiders, except the contingents of both countries.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would arrive at Agra at 2300 hrs on July 14 after attending the banquet hosted by President K R Narayanan in honour of President Musharraf at New Delhi.

While, the Pakistani President would reach agra in the morning of July 15.

That there was any threat perception, the Principal Secretary (Home) said. "We have taken all precautionary measures to prevent the occurance of any untoward incident."

He said eight dog squads along with a mine detection team have been put on round-the-clock duty to sanitise the area before it would be handed over to security personnel.

Mr Dayal alongwith the Chief Secretary would visit Agra on July eleven to review the arrangements made for the summit.

Among those who attended the meeting were State Director General of Police M C Dwivedi, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) R K Pandit, D G Tourism Desh Deepak Verma, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, ADH (Intelligence) and Power Secretary. Mr Dayal said the Mayor of Agra, the Divisional Commissioner and the DIG would receive the Pakistani President on behalf of the UP Government, while Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri along with Chief Minister Rajnath Singh and a couple of State Ministers would be the guests during the banquet to be given by the State Government in honour of Mr Musharraf on the night of July 15.

He said all arrangements, including security, was being taken care of by the Central Government and the State Government was only coordinating with it.

Meanwhile, Agra Divisional Commissioner S N Jha said rehearsals of the security arrangements had already started and all the entry points to Agra had been put under surveillance.

He said the town was being spruced up to greet the leaders. The eleven-km road from the hotel, where Mr Musharraf would stay, upto the summit venue was being repaired.

Mr Jha said an intensive plan had been drawn up for uninterrupted power and water supply to the area and provision of facilities to the Pakistani contingent wanting to visit the Taj and Fatehpur Sikri.

He, however, could not confirm whether President Musharraf would offer Namaz during his stay in Agra. (UNI)

Captain, militants among 7 killed in Valley
Two ultras killed in Hyderpora

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, July 8: While as two Pakistani militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba and a soldier died in a fierce gunbattle in Hyderpora outskirts of the capital city, two militants, one Captain of Army and a civilian have got killed in different militancy-related incidents in Kupwara district today.

Hyderpora outskirts of the capital city woke up to a fierce gunbattle between militants and security forces this morning. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that troops of Rashtriya Rifles 35 Bn and Special Operations Group (SOG) Budgam cordoned the posh Shah Anwar colony— 200 Metres from National Highway By-pass— in wee hours today after receiving information that some Pakistani militants were present there. According to the tip off, two foreign militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba were present at the house of a senior Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) official, posted in Education Department.

As the troops and SOG men laid siege to the target house, two militants ran out and took shelter in the ground floor of one Jehan Ara wife of late A R Shah. First floor of the plush house had already been occupied by eight RR and SOG personnel. Both the militants made suicidal attempts to take on the troops when they realised that its first floor had already been occupied. However, all the eight men of RR and SOG managed to come out with the help of ropes and sanitary pipes. Thereafter, troops directed heavy gunfire on the house and eliminated both the militants in 4-hour-long encounter.

Lashkar’s radio message, intercepted by troops, identified the militants killed as Abu Abrar and Abu Zakaria. However, officials maintained that both of them were unidentified Pakistani cadres of Lashkar-e-Toiba. The residential house, which had a doctor as the sole tenant, suffered extensive damage as troops used IEDs and other explosive material to destroy the same. Two AK-56 rifles, two hand grenades and a damaged wireless set were claimed to have been recovered from the site of encounter.

One soldier of RR 35 Bn, namely Laninzula of Nagaland, died in the gunbattle while as two constables of SOG Budgam, Manzoor Ahmed and Gurmeet Singh, sustained injuries. They were rushed to a hospital.

Official sources in north Kashmir said that militants ambushed a patrol of Para-2 in Hafruda forest area of Handwara. A Captain, namely Suraj Sharma, was left killed as all the militants managed to escape unhurt. Sources said that one unidentified militant was eliminated in a separate encounter in Razdan forest area of Kupwara while as another, namely Junaid Khan of Pakistan, died in another encounter with security forces in the same district.

Reports said that late last night, unidentified gunmen appeared at Dardpora, Kralpora, and shot dead a Gujjar, Raj Wali Khatana S/o Siraj-ud-din Khatana. He was labelled as a counter-insurgent informer of security forces. Gunmen also fired upon Najid-ur-Rehman S/o Saifullah R/o Qamri, Karnah, who sustained injuries. He was rushed to a hospital.

Reports from Shopian said that two Pakistani militants of Lshkar-e-Toiba ambushed a patrol of BSF 78 Bn at Sofar Naman. Troops retaliated but Sub Inspector Uttan Singh Chaudhary got injured. He was rushed to hospital. Militants managed to escape. A Lashkar spokesman claimed that two militants of the group, Abu Mujahid and Abu Hammad, attacked the BSF party.

‘Outline agenda on summit’
Oppn seeks Gov1t view on Hurriyat

NEW DELHI, July 8: Ahead of tomorrow’s all-party meeting convened by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, opposition parties today asked Government to clarify its stand on Hurriyat and outline its strategy for the Indo-Pak summit in the light of the latest anti-India tirade by Pakistan.

Cautioning the Government against Pakistan’s insistence on involving the Hurriyat in Indo-Pak parleys, Congress today made it clear that there was no room for making it tripartite.

Terming as "most unfortunate" the recent Pakistan Foreign Office statement accusing Indian forces of "repression" in Jammu and Kashmir, party spokesman Anand Sharma said both sides have to create a conducive atmosphere for the success of the summit and desist from worn-out cliche and rhetoric.

Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav lashed out at the Government for the "hush hush" manner in which they were approaching the summit while Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf was speaking out his mind on various issues expected to figure prominently during the parleys.

Deprecating the Government for not doing "enough ground work" for the summit, CPI-M said nothing "substantive" was likely to come out of the Vajpayee-Musharraf meeting.

Government should take opposition parties into confidence and explain its broad strategy for the meeting, it said.

At least 35 leaders of various political parties have been invited for the meeting which is part of the consultation process initiated by Vajpayee.

Congress leader K Natwar Singh said "Pakistan should exercise verbal restraint. They should realise that so much is at stake and act with a sense of responsibility."

He was asked about Islamabad’s latest outburst accusing Indian forces of "repression" in Jammu and Kashmir.

Both sides, he contended, were well aware of each other’s position on outstanding issues, implying there was no need to make statements that could vitiate the atmosphere for the talks.

"I don’t think Gen Musharraf wants to vitiate the atmosphere though some people there may be interested in doing so," he said.

Congress general secretary Ambika Soni contended that the party consistently maintained that Government should initiate talks with whoever was heading the Government in Pakistan.

The CPI-M sought Government’s clarification on Home Minister L K Advani remark that the Vajpayee initiative would create a conducive atmosphere in the direction of formation of a confederation of India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Nepal in the days ahead.

CPI national secretary D Raja stressed that both sides should desist from rhetoric as they had agreed on having a dialogue.

"The summit should begin on a cordial note, whatever the outcome," he said adding it should also instil a sense of confidence and that talks would continue in future.

On Pakistan’s stepped-up demand that Kashmir should be on top of the agenda when the two leaders meet, BJP said the countries should first hold discussions on resolving a number of peripheral issues.

This should include measures to enhance people-to-people contacts, trade and cultural ties, S K Arora, convenor of the BJP Foreign Affairs cell, stressed.

Islamabad’s sudden outburst on Kashmir in the run up to the summit has taken New Delhi by surprise. The Pakistan Foreign Office statement, which officials here said, was "totally unwarranted" and "without any provocation".

This statement and Islamabad ignoring India’s reservations by asking the Pakistan High Commissioner to invite the Hurriyat leaders for a reception on July 14 to greet President Musharraf were described as unnecessary irritants in evolving a pragmatic road map for productive bilateral cooperation. (PTI)

Civilian, 2 militants, 2 jawans killed in Rajouri

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, July 8: Two army jawans were killed and another seriously injured in heavy firing by Pakistani troops on an Indian picket in Lam area of Nowshera sector last night while a civilian and two militants were killed in other incidents.

Official sources said Pakistan troops opened firing with heavy weaponry in forward posts of Lam in Nowshera sector of this district late last night. Firing was aimed at giving a cover to sneaking militants on the Line of Control (LoC).

Army replied the firing and an exchange of firing continued for about a couple of hours. In the cross-firing, two army jawans were killed and another soldier was injured on Indian side.

Casualties were also reported on Pakistan side in retaliatory firing brought down by Indian army but their exact number couldn’t be ascertained.

Deceased army jawans have been identified as Naik Yashpal Singh and Naik Harjinder Singh. The injured jawan identified as Hajoora Singh has been hospitalised. Bodies of deceased were sent to their house this afternoon.

According to sources, Pakistan army was trying to give cover to a group of foreign mercenaries infiltrating into Indian territory. However, army replied the firing effectively and thwarted Pak army’s bid to push ultras.

Sources said five militants attacked the house of an ex-serviceman Mohd Sharief son of Sahir Mohammed in Fatehpur village, about 12 kms from here at 0100 hours today.

One of the local militant identified Mohd Sharief and dragged him out of the house. Another militant opened firing killing Sharief on the spot.

Before fleeing, the militants hurled abuses on Sharief’s family members describing him as army agent. The ex-serviceman had recently attended a meeting convened by army in Fatehpur.

Local people of Fatehpur gathered in the village this morning and held a massive demonstration shouting anti-Pakistan slogans. They charged the militants with killing innocent people.

This was for the second time in less than a week that an anti-Pakistan and anti-militant demonstration was held in this border district. Few days back, a similar demonstration was held in Thanna Mandi following the killing of two innocent women—a mother and her daughter.

Meanwhile, army tonight gunned down one militant in Hujan area of Darhal.

Our Poonch correspondent adds: An encounter took place between army and militants in Nangali forests of Mandi area of Poonch district this afternoon. Till this evening, one militant had been killed in the gun-battle while three to four other ultras were still trapped.

No loss had been reported on army side. One AK rifle with three magazines and two hand grenades were recovered from the possession of slain militant, who was identified as a Lashkar activist.

Summit should be used to forge new relationship: Farooq

NEW DELHI, July 8: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah tonight said India and Pakistan should not have very high expectations from next week’s Vajpayee-Musharraf summit which should be used to forge a new relationship.

Stating it was unrealistic to expect resolution of the Kashmir issue in one meeting, Abdullah told Star News that the summit should be acknowledged as a first friendly step with assurances from both sides of more such moves.

Observing it was not easy for India to deal with the person who was behind Pakistani intrusions in Kargil, he said Musharraf too had his own compulsions.

"Let the two leaders meet and understand each other. Other things can follow," he said.

Abdullah, who met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and discussed the current situation in the State, said there was no point at this stage in defining parameters within which the two leaders should find out solutions.

On the Hurriyat issue, Abdullah said it was a non-issue. He said they had been regularly meeting the Pakistan High Commissioner. "If they want to meet (President Musharraf during his visit here), why should they be stopped.... How does it harm us?" (PTI)

latest political and security situation also came up for discussion.

He also apprised the Prime Minister of his views on the Indo-Pak relations.

His views would be given serious consideration by the Centre for formulating its stand on Indo-Pak relations during the Agra summit meeting.

Dr Abdullah had gone to Britain on a private visit and before his depature met the Prime Minister to inform him about his long stay there.

The Chief Minister will also attend the all party meet, convened by the Prime Minister, to elicit views of various political parties on the Agra summit meeting. (UNI)

When asked about Musharraf’s letter inviting Hurriyat leaders for a reception at Pakistan High Commission, Abdullah refused to comment and said "Hurriyat is a non-issue for us."

The Chief Minister said there was an overwhelming desire for peace in the state and Kashmiris were pinning great expectations and hope on the summit.

Abdullah was specially summoned by the Prime Minister’s office before Vajpayee scheduled meeting with leaders of all political parties tomorrow. (PTI)

Guard at Farooq’s house injured

SRINAGAR, July 8: A BSF jawan posted at the residence of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah was injured when his carbine went off accidentally last night, official sources said today.

The jawan, Gurdesh Paul Singh of 98th battalion of the BSF, was injured in the right shoulder when his rifle went off accidentally around 9.30 pm at the Chief Minister’s residence at Gupkar near here, they said.

A contigent of BSF is deployed at the residence of the Chief Minister in addition to other contingents of police and CRPF.

An FIR has been registered, the sources said. (PTI)

Govt to review Naga cease-fire

NEW DELHI, July 8 : Government tonight decided to review the ceasefire agreement with NSCN(IM) including its extension to areas beyond Nagaland.

"We shall review the ceasefire agreement including the words `without territorial limits’ presently incorporated in the agreement (with NSCN IM) so as to ensure that all doubts about preserving the integrity of Manipur and other states of North-East are removed," Vajpayee said in an appeal to the people of Manipur to restore peace and normalcy.

Vajpayee’s appeal came after a two-hour meeting with MPs and MLAs of Manipur. The meeting was attended by Union Home Minister L K Advani, Minister of State for Home I D Swami, Home Secretary Kamal Pande, Intelligence Bureau Director K P Singh and Centre’s interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah.

Members of Parliament and MLAs belonging to all political parties from Manipur had yesterday threatened to resign from Parliament and State Assembly if the extension of the ceasefire with NSCN (IM) beyond the Nagaland border was not withdrawn by July 31.(PTI)

US charges Pak with supporting militancy in J&K

WASHINGTON, July 8: The United States today charged Pakistan with collaborating with the Taliban regime of Afghanistan in supporting insurgency operations in Kashmir and said differences on the issue would continue to dog relations between Washington and Islamabad for a long time.

The outgoing US Ambassador to Pakistan William B Milam, in an interview to the Washington Post, said Pakistan had collaboration with the Taliban in its support of Islamic insurgents in Kashmir. Close ties also exist between the Afghan regime and the conservative Islamic groups in Pakistan, he said.

Mr Milam. who is relinquishing office at the end of his tenure, said he had reiterated American concerns about Osama bin Laden in final courtesy calls on Pakistani officials and Taliban diplomats stationed in Islamabad. "It was clear we still have a long way to go before coming to a meeting on this issue," he added.

Earlier, according to the American daily, Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar told the US officials during his recent visit to Washington that Islamabad has little control over the Taliban but needs to maintain cordial relations with the group because of Afghanistan’s strategic location and long-standing friendship. (UNI)

Musharraf summons\ NSC on summit

ISLAMABAD, July 8: Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf will seek ‘mandate’ from the newly-reconstituted National Security Council (NSC) to negotiate a solution to the Kashmir issue two days ahead of his India visit.

The NSC meeting on July 11 would probably give Musharraf ‘mandate’ to negotiate with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to find a solution for Kashmir or to move towards that direction in real terms, ‘The News’ daily reported today.

The NSC, which is an advisory body, mainly comprised of service chiefs of the armed forces, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Committee and nominated Governors of four provinces.

The meeting would culminate a series of discussions held by Musharraf with leaders of political parties, intellectuals, journalists and women groups to obtain their views on the approach to be adopted by him at the summit talks.

Besides its regular members, who were drawn mostly from the military services, Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar is expected to address the NSC meeting.

The NSC has been criticised by the country’s mainstream political parties. The 16-party umbrella group, the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, termed it as unconstitutional and declined to recognise its legal status. (PTI)

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