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Summit
sends positive signals AGRA, July 15 : India and Pakistan today showed signs of warming up their relations after the Kargil chill with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and President Pervez Musharraf holding two rounds of talks covering a wide range of issues amidst positive signals of first steps towards normalisation. Keeping aside pre-summit stiff postures, the two leaders appeared to have struck a rapport having "very cordial, frank and constructive" discussions, including a 90-minute one-to-one interaction, during which Vajpayee accepted Musharraf’s invitation to visit Pakistan. The Indian side took up issues of cross-border terrorism, reduction of nuclear risks, trade matters and release of Prisoners of War but Pakistan is understood to have focused on the Kashmir problem. But it was not a smooth progress all the way as the two leaders, assisted by their delegations, did some tough negotiations with Pakistan insisting on a constitution of a Joint Working Group to discuss the contentious Kashmir issue to address its concerns. Similarly, there was hard bargaining on a mechanism to consider reduction of troops in the world’s highest battlefield, Siachen glacier as part of measures to de-escalate tension between the two countries that fought a war on the Kargil heights. Taking time off from his serious business, Musharraf took his wife Begum Sehba on a tour of Taj Mahal where he said the talks "are going on well" and were "fruitful". The two leaders and their delegations were treated to a cultural programme at a banquet hosted by U P Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri. Vajpayee and Musharraf also decided to hold unscheduled discussions tomorrow morning at the end of which the possibility of a joint statement is not ruled out. Echoing similar sentiments, Musharraf’s spokesman Maj Gen Rashid Qureshi told reporters in a separate briefing that the talks were conducted in a "conducive environment and positive atmosphere. "There is a feeling that we are moving towards progress," he said. As the two leaders met for a second round in the evening at the Jaypee Palace Hotel, Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj said "the talks are moving in the right direction" with cross- border terrorism, nuclear-risk reduction, release of Prisoners of War (PoWs) and commercial ties figuring in the talks. Swaraj said "this shows it is a composite dialogue." The statement said Musharraf extended an invitation to Vajpayee to visit Pakistan and the Prime Minister accepted it. Qureshi said "several ideas" were thrown up by the two sides during the discussions. However, he declined to elaborate. On the possibility of setting up a Joint Working Group to deal on the Kashmir issue, he said "we have not come to that stage." Asked if the Kashmir issue was being discussed, a Pakistan Government spokesman Ashfaq Ahmed Gondal recalled Musharraf’s statement that this was the focal point and its resolution was most important for Pakistan. To a query whether anything significant was being worked out by the two sides on Kashmir, he said "let us wait for tomorrow." Gondal expressed the hope that Vajpayee would visit Pakistan at the earliest. On the possibility of an Agra declaration being issued at the end of the Summit, he said any decision in this regard would have to be taken by the two leaders. External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh also held one-to-one talks with his Pakistani counterpart Abdul Sattar. Despite hard positions taken during the pre-summit days, Vajpayee and Musharraf appeared to have struck a rapport during their 90-minute parleys which were originally scheduled for just about half an hour and agreed to continue their discussions tomorrow. "If things are going well why extend the visit?" Musharraf said at Taj when asked whether he was extending the visit to India. Following is the text of the statement issued by the Government after the first round of summit-level meeting between Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. The statement, which was also seen by the Pakistani side before being officially released, was read out by a spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry. "The Prime Minister of India and the President of Pakistan met today for one hour and thirty minutes of one-to-one and over an hour of delegation-level talks. The talks were held in a very cordial, frank and constructive manner. "Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and President Pervez Musharraf will further meet tomorrow. Talks will also be held between the two delegations at official and ministerial levels. "Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has extended invitation to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to visit Pakistan. The invitation has been accepted." The eagerly awaited statement was read out at the summit’s media centre by spokesperson Nirupama Rao who, however, declined to answer any questions. She confirmed an earlier Islamabad’s announcement that the Prime Minister had accepted Musharraf’s invitation to visit Pakistan. In a separate media briefing, Pakistani spokesman Maj Gen Rashid Qureshi confirmed the talks were held in a "positive atmosphere". Asked whether the Foreign Ministers of the two countries would be meeting separately, he said they were part of the delegation. To a question about the possibility of Musharraf extending his visit, he said "there is no talk of it. Just as talks go on, we will see.... One needs to be flexible." Asked whether he ruled out such a possibility, he said "better wait and see". (PTI) |
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Top LeT, JeM leadership
eliminated in Surankot Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, July 15: In one of the biggest successful operation, troops of Romeo Force and Poonch Police tonight gunned down 18 foreign militants including top leadership of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfit in a fierce six hour long gun fighting at Hill Kaka at the height of 9400 feet from sea level in Surankot tehsil of Poonch district. This was for the first time in over a decade long militancy in the State that 18 foreign mercenaries have been killed in a single operation, a jubilant spokesman of Army told EXCELSIOR late tonight. The operation was launched at 1500 hours, jointly by Romeo Force and Poonch Police, and ended at 2100 hours tonight with the killing of all 18 militants including 10 Pakistanis, three Afghanis and five militants from other foreign countries, whose nationality couldn’t be ascertained immediately. In all, six hideouts of the militants, where top brass of LeT and JeM was holding a strategy meeting, were destroyed by the troops and biggest ever cache of arms, ammunition and explosives including of 213 mortar bombs and 3500 kg ration were recovered, the spokesman said. He said identity of slain militants couldn’t be established immediately as it was getting dark in the hills and troops had to return to their camp. "Identity of the militants would be carried out tomorrow but we have confirmed reports that all of them were front ranking leaders of LeT and JeM outfit and were holding a meeting in the upper reaches to devise fresh strategy for intensifying militant activities in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri", he added. The killings of 18 hardcore militants came within few hours after Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf concluded their summit level talks in Agra. "Killing of 10 Pakistanis in 18 foreign mercenaries was a clear indication of Pakistan’s direct involvement in the militancy", the spokesman said. Recovery made from the encounter site was also the biggest ever haul and included 112 small mortar bombs, 101 big mortar bombs,90 kg RDX, 24 grenades, 65 blankets and46 RPG bombs and 3500 kg ration besides Pika guns, AK rifles, RPGs, UBGLs, grenades, wireless sets and RDX besides a huge quantity of ammunition. Exact details of the recovery would be available only tomorrow morning when troops and police will again leave for Hill Kaka. "It was one of the most difficult operation launched amidst a hostile weather and extreme tough circumstances at the height of 9400 feet from sea level. It was, however, executed in a highly professional manner by army and police and completed successfully", the spokesman said, adding there was not even a single casualty on army or police side in the operation. He said army and police had jointly developed an information that top leadership of LeT and JeM outfits will meet in Hill Kaka heights to discuss effective co-ordination between the two outfits and step-up militant activities after the return of Pervez Musharraf from India after summit level talks with Vajpayee. Army used sophisticated weaponry in the operation. Well trained commandos of army also joined the operation in view of the reports of top militant leaders presence. "We have broken the back-bone of LeT and JeM outfits by eliminating their entire top leadership. It was a big blow for the two outfits which would definitely demoralise their cadre in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri", the spokesman said. Bodies of the militants were expected to be brought to Surankot tomorrow alongwith arms and ammunition recovered from them. Our Poonch correspondent adds: Elsewhere in Poonch, three militants including an ‘area commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit identified as Tipoo and two civilians were killed in separate incidents. Official reports said army and police laid a cordon in remote village of Kothi falling in Chaktru area of Mandi sector this afternoon soon after an information was received about the movement of four to five militants. Troops noticed the militants moving toward a cluster of houses in Kothi village at about 1230 hours and asked them to surrender. The militants, however, ignored the army call and rushed towards houses in an apparent attempt to get the cover of human shield. Army jawans opened firing killing two militants on the spot. Three others opened firing on army and during the exchange of firing fled towards a forest area. Army and police jawans continued a search operation to eliminate the fleeing militants but they remained untraced. Both slain militants were activists of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit, the reports said, adding their identity couldn’t be established immediately. Duo were suspected to be foreign mercenaries from Pakistan. Recovery made from their possession included two AK-56 rifles, six magazines and five hand grenades. No loss of life was reported on army side in the encounter. Another encounter took place between army and militants when latter ambushed a patrol party of security forces at village Mehrian in the same Mandi sector last night. Exchange of firing between the two sides continued for about one hour. One militant and a civilian were killed in the cross-firing while no casualty was reported on troops side. Slain militant has been identified as Tipoo, an ‘area commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit for Mandi sector. Tipoo was active in Mandi for last one and a half year and was involved in a number of militancy related incidents. His death was a big blow for Hizb outfit, especially in Mandi sector, official sources said. Civilian, who was trapped in the cross-firing and got killed, has been identified as Khadim Hussain son of Munir Hussain, a resident of Mehrian. Two to three militants managed to escape during the encounter. Security forces continued a search operation for them. Another patrol party of army was ambushed by the militants at Jharan Wali Gali (JWG) in Parat area of Mendhar at 0700 hours today. Militants fired on army patrol with heavy weaponry. Fire was retaliated by army. A civilian Fateh Mohd, 48, son of Shakhi Mohd, who was returning to his house after attending nature’s call, sustained gun shots in the exchange of firing and was killed. Fateh Mohd was evacuated from the firing site and shifted to hospital where he was declared dead. His body was handed over to his family this afternoon after post-mortem. Militants involved in ambushing the army patrol party fled away as troops tried to save the civilian. |
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3 soldiers, 2
civilians among 25 killed Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, July 15: Having intensified their counter-insurgency operations after withdrawal of 6-month-long unilateral cease-fire, security forces have eliminated at least 20 militants in five separate encounters in Kashmir valley. Two civilians have been killed by unidentified gunmen in Pulwama while as one lady SPO, one Police constable and a soldier of Army have been killed by militants, since last evening. Official sources in north Kashmir told EXCELSIOR that at 11.30 a.m today, militants ambushed an Army convoy near Sports Stadium, Janbazpora, in outskirts of Baramulla town. The convoy was on way to Handwara from Baramulla. Even as the militants used guns and grenades, only one soldier sustained injuries. Militants escaped towards a nearby hillock but troops of 8 JAK Rifles followed them and launched a combing operation in the dense forest cover. In the evening, fierce gunbattle took place between the militants and security forces. Officials claimed that 6 militants and a soldier, Havildar Damodar, died in the clash. Even as officials claimed that no civilian casualty was reported from the spot, residents insisted that troops had forcibly taken two civilians as "human shield" and neither of them had returned to home till late this evening. They had apprehensions that the duo might have been killed in the operation. Officials said that none of the militants killed could be got identified. But, they claimed that it was a group of Lashkar-e-Toiba. Sources said that in a separate gunbattle, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 28 Bn eliminated an unidentified militant at Markote, in Dangiwacha area of Rafeeabad, not far away from Janbazpora. Officials today confirmed that three more militants had been killed by troops of 2-Dogra at Hanjikote Tulel, raising the number of militants killed in the operation to five. On July 11, officials had confirmed the death of two militants. One of the militants killed in the encounter has been identified as Ali Akram of Lahore, Pakistan. Official sources claimed that it was a Lashkar-e-Toiba group of infiltrators. Five AK-56 rifles, eight hand grenades and one wireless set has been recovered from the spot. As already reported, three soldiers of 2-Dogra have also died in the clash. As already reported, two Pakistani militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba died in an encounter with troops of RR 14, RR 15 Bn and SOG Bandipore, last evening. Today, they were identified as Abu Rafee and Muazam of Pakistan. Official sources today said that troops of 9-Assam had laid an ambush near Ragni post, in Budnambal area of Trehgam, in Karnah sector. They had received information that a group of infiltrators may use the track through Chowkibal. When, late last night, a group of militants fell in the trap, troops opened fire, killing four militants on spot. The dead bodies fell into a rivulet, close to LoC. However, Police reports claimed that all the four were residents of Lone Harray village. Yet another gunbattle occurred between militants and troops of 14-Rajput Rifles at Kashmiri Manigah, in Kupwara district today. SOG Kupwara also participated in the operation. Officials confirmed that troops eliminated four militants of Al-Badr. Head of the SOG contingent, ASI Ravi Kumar, had a close shave as his gun received a full burst. His finger was injured. All the four militants killed at Manigah remained unidentified, though they were believed to be Pakistani nationals. Reports from Baramulla added that militants had kidnapped constable Rakesh Kumar Raina of Srinagar District Police from the residence of one Habibullah Rishi at Katjan, Kralweth, in Magam-Tangmarg belt where he had gone as a guest alongwith his nephew. Even as his nephew was let off, Rakesa Kumar was shot dead at Rawanpora. His dead body was recovered today. He had been occasionally visiting Rishi’s house. Reports from south Kashmir said that militants shot dead a woman SPO, Shakeela Akhtar D/o Mohammad Ramzan Malik, resident of Hassanpora (Shopian). Sources said that this afternoon at 1630 hours, two persons travelling on scooter No: JK03-4219, were intercepted and shot dead by unidentified gunman at Chakore, in Pulwama district. Both of them were reportedly residents of Kanelwan, Bijbehara. They were identified as contractor Mohammad Saleem and teacher, Abdur Rasheed Ganai. |
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SRINAGAR, July 15: The India-Pakistan summit has raised hopes of a new dawn over the trouble-torn Valley as the leaders of the two nations meet in Agra, the Kashmiris exuberate excitement and expectations of a lasting peace. A vast majority feel "it is now or never situation". From commoners to intellectuals — all seem optimistic and have pinned high hopes on the summit. They were upbeat following the recent positive statements emanating from Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf, who has reiterated that without a resolution to the Kashmir issue, no improvement was possible in the relations between the two countries. While Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the architect of the peace move, has accepted that Kashmir will be the major topic in the summit. And when the two meet, the relations are bound to improve and peace cannot be far away, says Rafiq Ahmed, a cart-puller from Lal Chowk here. "It is a golden opportunity for the two leaders and their countrymen to break the ice on Kashmir issue. Urges and aspirations of Kashmiri people are attached with the summit and Inshaallah (god willing) it will be a success, noted a university teacher, Mohammad Akbar. "I like the rest of the Kashmiris, am optimistic about the Agra summit", Akbar says adding "both the leaders know once the Kashmir issue is settled, the sub-continent will wear a new look of peace, tranquillity, development and prosperity". Ghulam Mustafa, a motor mechnic, says "I think some thing serious is cooking. They have something in their minds otherwise what was the need of this rendezvous". "Things have been already settled, now only a final announcement remains to be made", observed Shafkat Wani, a doctor by profession. "Look, India is providing a red-carpet welcome to Musharraf, who is considered to be the butcher of Kargil. It means serious business will be held at Agra as India has forgotten the past and wants a new beginning in its relations with Pakistan", Wani added. "Let us all pray for the positive outcome", says the 74-year-old Haji Mohammad Yousuf Mir. During partition I spent 23 days in a refugee camp at Delhi, at that time it was easy for the politicians to solve the Kashmir tangle but today let us pray for something positive". Security forces carrying out operational duties are no exception. They too feel the summit would lead to peace and they would be able to go back to their barracks. "We want an end to the ongoing violence here so that we can move back’’, commented a security officer leading a patrol party outside a highly fortified camp on the outskirts of Srinagar. A senior army officer said if the summit ends on a positive note, the condition of the borders shall certainly improve. "Before ceasefire the guns used to boom frequently and our troops had to remain vigilant and ready for any sort of option. No doubt, our jawans are still maintaining a vigil but the tension has reduced a lot", the officer said. "We have very high hopes on the summit and we pray to god that this kind of atmosphere that is prevailing at present in the camp may last long", said Jaswant Singh, a jawan. The polity of India and Pakistan is complex and it is very difficult to expect miracles but one expects something from the summit, said Abdul Majid Khan, a banker. Gen Musharraf’s visit to India itself is a historic event which will definitely bring to an end the hostilities between the two countries, says M Sadique, an employee of Government undertaking here. (PTI) |
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Love at first sight for Musharraf at Taj AGRA, July 15: The architectural splendour of the Taj Mahal, monument of love, today bewitched the tough soldier in Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf who confessed that it was "love at first sight" for him. "Magnificent, marvellous," said the General after spending nearly an hour at the 17th-century wonder along with his wife Begum Sehba, taking a break from the talks with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that brought him here. A relaxed first couple of Pakistan drove the short distance from their hotel to the Taj shortly after the General had engaged in complex discussions with Vajpayee lasting nearly three hours. On a humid and windy afternoon, the Musharrafs sat on the Lovers’ Bench in front of the monument as the world press recorded the moment. The General ran his fingers through his hairs more than once and waved to cameramen. VVIPs they were, but the Pakistani President, attired in a casual short-sleeved off-white shirt and black trousers, and his wife in a peach coloured salwar-kameez, were left alone by the security to savour some private moments for sometime. The General pointed out the marvels of the Taj to his wife as they walked holding each other’s hands. The Musharrafs spent about 15 minutes in the mausoleum where the actual graves of Shahjahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal was opened for the first time since former American President Bill Clinton’s visit last year. An awe-struck Musharraf wrote in the visitor’s book; "Visit to one of the seven wonders of the world—the Taj Mahal—was a most unique experience. The beauty in its symmetry was most exhilerating. The monument proves the genius and asthetics of the builder—emperor Shahjahan. We indeed are lucky to have visited it." And the wife wrote "This unique structure endorses the unique talents and industry of all mankind. Exquisite." Archaeologist Mohammad K K, who guided the Musharraf couple at the Taj, told reporters later that the Pakistan President was impressed by the inlay and jali work at the monument and was surprised to hear that the name of the craftsman was Ustad Ahmed Lahori and that Shahjahan was born in Lahore. As Musharraf was getting into the battery-operated bus to leave the Taj, the General was mobbed by the media. (PTI) |
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Autonomy only solution to Kashmir issue: Omar NEW DELHI, July 15: Minister of State for Commerce and Industries Omar Abdullah today said autonomy is the only solution to the 53-year-old Kashmir issue. "Autonomy is the only solution to the Kashmir issue. It is the best option available to both India and Pakistan," Mr Abdullah said in a programme telecast on the Star TV today. Expressing the hope that both sides would agree to the proposal, he said the clock could not be turned back. Reacting to the point made by a Pakistani journalist that Pakistan President General Prevez Musharraf had not referred to the United Nations resolutions on Kashmir in his banquet speech, Mr Abdullah said the UN Secretary General had himself stated that these resolutions had lost their relevance. He said the National Conference had always been in favour of greater people to people contact between the people of the two sides of the Line of Control (LoC). Mr Abdullah said he and his father Farooq Abdullah, the Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister, had repeatedly stated that the LoC should be converted into an International Border. The Minister said he felt the talks between Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and President Musharraf had exceeded expectations going by the extended one-to-one meeting between the two leaders. In reply to a question, Mr Abdullah said, he was not offended at not being included in the Prime Minister’s team to Agra as it was the prerogative of Mr Vajpayee. "I am not unhappy. We want peace to return in the State and are hopeful that the two leaders will achieve it," he said. In the same programme, when asked about the progress of the talks in Agra, senior Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone said, "so far so good." He said the postures of the two leaders indicated that things were going well and in the right direction. About the meeting with Gen Musharraf yesterday at the high tea, hosted by the Pakistan High Commission here, Mr Lone said, "we are satisfied with the meeting and told the Pakistan President that it was a historic opportunity for the two countries to move forward in the peace process and it should not be lost." He said the inclusion of the Hurriyat Conference in any future parleys on the Kashmir issue was mandatory. "There will be no talks without the Hurriyat as the Kashmiris are the primary party to the dispute and the APHC is the representative of the people of the State," Mr Lone added. He said Kashmir is a people’s issue and has to be solved in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people. About the steps for reining in the militants in the State, he said it was not possible for Gen Musharraf to control them. "India’s unrealistic attitude is equally resposible for it," the Hurriyat leader said, Mr Lone said, "India should take a forward movement and help the Pakistan President in controlling the extremists and the vested interests of both the countries." Last year during his Pakistan visit to attend the wedding of his son, Mr Lone had remarked that the vested interests and the extremist elements were bent upon sabotaging the peace process. Speaking in the programme, State CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami said it was not fair for the two countries to determine the fate of the Kashmiris without their participation in the talks. (UNI) |
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Militant outfits hail summit but expect no good news MUZAFFARABAD,(PoK), July 15: Militants today hailed talks between Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with guarded hopes for a resolution of the Kashmir issue. Syed Salahuddin, chief of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit, welcomed the Agra Summit and expressed hope something good would emerge from the extended talks between the two leaders. "I wish and pray that India should give up its traditional intransigence regarding Kashmir and some goodness should come out of the Summit," Salahuddin told AFP. If India adopts a realistic approach and extends cooperation to Musharraf, then the longstanding issue of Kashmir can see an amicable settlement, he said. "But if there was no change in Indian attitude, then our 12-year-old armed struggle will continue with full force and we will shed the last drop of our blood to get our birth right," he said. The Harkatul Mujahideen Group of Islamic fighters also conveyed good wishes to the leaders of Pakistan and India, who fought two of their three wars over Kashmir. "We wish General Musharraf should return home with a message of freedom for Kashmiris", the group’s spokesman Amiruddin Mughal said. But Kashmiris harbour doubts about India’s intentions because "there is no let up in the killings in Kashmir at the hands of Indian forces," Mughal said, referring to the latest clash in which 15 separatists were gunned down near the Line of Control. "Even then I wish and pray the talks should bring good news to the people of Kashmir," he said. But Mughal warned: "if India wasted this historical opportunity, then our stand will strengthen." The "freedom fighters would accept nothing short of the total withdrawal of Indian troops" from Kashmir, he said. Muzaffarabad resident Khwaja Abdullah, 70, who migrated from Srinagar in 1947, was sceptical of a postive outcome to the talks. "I wish Musharraf should return successful but given the track record of Indian leaders, I am afraid it may not be likewise," he said. "I have been watching TV transmissions of different channels since yesterday, but so far nothing is clear regarding Kashmir and there are bleak chances of any breakthrough." (AFP) |
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Man-daughter injured in Pak firing Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 15: A middle-aged man and his daughter were injured in heavy firing by Pakistan troops on the International Border in Kanachak sector early today. Ram Lal and his six year old daughter Sapna were hit by the bullets fired from across the border in the premises of their house in village Dubsudhan in Kanachak sector at 0400 hours today. Both of them have been hospitalised. Bullets fell in the houses of several civilians in Lalyal, Dubsudhan and Kanachak area. Firing was replied by the Indian side. Other forward areas where exchange of firing took place between the two sides included Sdhay Chak post in Hiranagar, Gole Pattan, Chinore Farm, Beli Ajmat, Pargwal, Jabowal, Mehta Post, Budhwar, SH Way and Pital Post. |
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Iron bar, cement among seizure A huge quantity of iron bar and cement was among the recovery made at the heights of 9400 feet from sea level in Hill Kaka from six hideouts of the militants that were destroyed by army and police tonight killing 18 foreign mercenaries. SSP Poonch Dr Kamal Saini told EXCELSIOR that all six hideouts of the militants, destroyed in the operation, were concrete bunkers. More iron bars and cements had been dumped at the spot by the militants for raising more concrete hideouts. Entire stock of construction material has been seized alongwith arms, ammunition and explosives. |
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Vajpayee, Musharraf likely to meet again in Sept AGRA, July 15: In an effort to sustain the momentum of the Agra summit, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf are expected to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York in September. A senior Pakistani official said both leaders would be attending the General Assembly session. It was possible that the two leaders would meet on that occasion in order to give a further push to the ongoing dialogue process. The Prime Minister has already accepted President Musharraf’s invitation to visit Pakistan. But it is not clear whether the visit would take place before September. The official said President Musharraf was keen to keep the channels of communication between the two countries open. This would help narrow down difference on various contentious bilateral issues. He, however, insisted that Kashmir is an important issue for Pakistan. (UNI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, July 15: An army soldier was killed in an ambush laid by the militants in Mahore this evening. Sepoy Kamlesh Singh was seriously injured in the ambush. He succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to hospital. Reports said the militants managed to escape after the ambush. |
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Cong(I) gives unqualified support to PM NEW DELHI, July 15 : Main opposition Congress today said Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had its "unqualified" support for his summit talks with Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf even as BJP took exception to the meeting Musharraf had with Hurriyat leaders at the tea party hosted by Pakistan High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi here yesterday. "We believe there will be some result from the summit tomorrow. Even if there is no result, I won’t say it is a failure as it will lead to the start of a process," Congress spokesman Jaipal Reddy said in a discussion on Star News. He said the opposition had been lending unqualified support to Vajpayee on his current initiative as his party had always favoured talks with Pakistan. Reddy said Kashmir was not the only issue that needed to be discussed and referred to Siachen glacier issue saying both countries were wasting crores of rupees on that. BJP spokesman V K Malhotra said Vajpayee was bound by three things — Simla Agreement, Lahore Declaration and 1994 Parliament Resolution on the Kashmir issue. Asserting that there is no possibility of a change in the status of Jammu and Kashmir, Malhotra, however, said if anything new emerges from the Summit, the Government would have to seek endorsement of Parliament. He criticised Musharraf for inviting Hurriyat leaders at tea party ignoring the elected leaders of Jammu and Kashmir. "Being a guest, he should not have done this," Malhotra said adding Hurriyat has no representative character, no locus standi and is not an elected body. Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, while supporting the Summit, insisted that there could be no progress in talks unless status of Jammu and Kashmir was discussed. "Kashmir is a complex issue and there is a need for moving ahead. If India and Pakistan come close, it will benefit the people of Kashmir," he said.(PTI) |
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