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Tight security blanket AJMER, July 16: A tight security blanket has been thrown around this pilgrim town hours ahead of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s ‘Jiyarat’ ....more Musharraf
equates AGRA, July 16: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today sought to equate the Kargil operations with the Indian action in Bangladesh and.....more Framework
to address AGRA, July 16: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has told President Pervez Musharraf that while he was prepared for a detailed exchange of....more AGRA, July 16: A day after sharp reaction from Islamabad over her remarks, Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj today clarified......more |
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Minister appeals MP BARODA, July 16: Union Minister of State for Power today appealed Madhya Pradesh Government to cooperate in resettlement work of Project .....more Shiv
Sena burns JAIPUR, July 16: Traders and Shiv Sena activists today burnt effigies of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf amidst anti-Musharraf slogans in the ....more AGRA, July 16: Shiv Sena activists today burnt the Pakistani national flag outside the Delhi gate of Agra Fort a...more Musharraf
claims AGRA, July 16: Claiming complete legitimacy for his governance and taking over the reins of power, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today said he .......more |
Tight security blanket thrown around Ajmer AJMER, July 16: A tight security blanket has been thrown around this pilgrim town hours ahead of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s ‘Jiyarat’ (pilgrimage) even as the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti wore a festive look to receive the second Pakistani head of state to the shrine. Police last night detained Shiv Sena’s district chief Shyam Sundar Parashar and district secretary Nathulal Parashar as a precautionary measure and hundreds of security personnel, including commandos and sharp shooters, have been deployed across the town to prevent any untoward incident during the dignitary’s hour-long itinerary here. The 13th century Dargah, has been virtually evacuated and entry of pilgrims prohibited since early morning, police sources said adding the entire area around the Ghugra helipad, where Musharraf is scheduled to arrive by an IAF helicopter from Jaipur, had been barricaded. A few hours before Musharraf’s arrival, the Dargah Bazaar outside Nizam Gate would be closed as a precautionary measure, traffic on all routes would be stopped and pedestrians would be allowed only after being frisked, the sources said. Musharraf and his entourage would be received at the Dargah by the members of the Anjuman in Mughal style to the accompaniment of ‘Nagaras’ and Dhols. After being presented a ‘Saptnama’ (welcome speech), the first being accorded to a Pakistani President, Musharraf and Begum Sehba will offer a velvet Chaadar and roses at the ‘Mazaar’ (tomb) amid recital of Fateeha (Quranic verses). Musharraf, who will spend 40 minutes at the Dargah, is also likely to pay a visit to the circuit house located on a hilltop from where he will enjoy a panoramic view of the Anasagar lake during his 20-minute stay there. Thereafter he will proceed to Jaipur for his journey homeward. (PTI) |
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Musharraf equates Kargil to Bangladesh action, Siachen AGRA, July 16: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today sought to equate the Kargil operations with the Indian action in Bangladesh and Siachen saying they had hurt the feelings of his countrymen. Addressing a breakfast meeting with editors here, he said there was a tendency to stop at Kargil, but no proper attention was being paid to the feeling of hurt in Pakistan after the 1971 Bangladesh action and the intrusion into Siachen in 1984. He said he was being referred to as the Kargil man as he was the Chief of Army Staff. The General said the Mukti Bahini was trained in India and used against Pakistan. People should remember how much hurt the 1971 operation caused in Pakistan, he added. Gen. Musharraf alleged that India had intruded into Siachen despite the Simla agreement causing a lot of resentment in his country. He said the time has come to forget the past and move forward. All these hurts were caused by Kashmir and this issue should be resolved once for all so that such things should not recur, he said. No leader in Pakistan can sideline Kashmir for trade, commerce and similar issues. We must progress in tandem. There should be progress on all issues together, he said. (UNI) |
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Framework to address
differences must AGRA, July 16: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has told President Pervez Musharraf that while he was prepared for a detailed exchange of views on all issues including Jammu and Kashmir, India firmly believed that the framework to address the differences on the issue would have to include cross-border terrorism in its ambit. When the summit between the two leaders commenced here yesterday Vajpayee, in his very opening remarks, said they had already had a frank discussion on important matters and that "we look forward to a further detailed exchange of views on all issues including that of Jammu and Kashmir". "You are fully aware of our views on this subject and we have heard yours. We cannot deny that there are vast differences between us on this. We are willing to address these differences and to move forward but for this, it is important to create a conducive atmosphere ", Vajpayee said. The terrorism and violence being promoted in the state from across its border do not help to create such an atmosphere, the Prime Minister said adding "we will counter them resolutely." In an unambiguous message, the Prime Minister told Gen Musharraf "let no one think that India does not have the resolve, strength and stamina to continue resisting terrorism and violence. But they do not promote meaningful dialogue". Vajpayee said "we firmly believe that a framework to address the differences between us on Jammu and Kashmir would have to include the issue of cross-border terrorism in its ambit. We can also look at other confidence building measures to further encourage this process." He told his Pakistani guest that India had "always taken a comprehensive view of India-Pakistan relations because it is our conviction that we must progress where we can, even as we address the more complex issues." India, he said, believed that "rather than operating in segments, we should take a broad-based approach across the spectrum of possibilities in our relationship." It was with these perspectives that India had announced a few decisions in advance of Musharraf’s visit, aimed at addressing some of the mutual concerns of the people of the two countries, Vajpayee said. He told Musharraf that the subjects that India had identified for the composite dialogue covered a wide range and progress on them could meaningfully contribute to the welfare and security of the people of the two countries. Vajpayee then referred to specific matters such as the release of 54 Indian Prisoners of War (PoWs) "that we strongly believe remain in your custody". He also pressed for the arrest and handing over to India of terrorists and criminals involved in the 1993 Bombay blasts and hijacking of the Indian Airlines flight to Kandahar in 1999. India knew they were living in Pakistan, he said. Vajpayee told Musharraf that India had recently issued instructions to its coast guard not to take into its custody Pakistani fishermen who inadvertently strayed into Indian waters but to turn them back after due warning. A similar reciprocal gesture on Pakistan’s part would lead to a permanent resolution of this recurring problem. Another point raised by Vajpayee was that the presence of known terrorists who had been allowed to stay in Sikh Gurdwaras in Pakistan was a matter of grave concern to the Sikhs in India. "We have formally requested your authorities that these terrorists be handed over to us to face due process of law in connection with crimes for which they are wanted in India. I wish to specifically reiterate this request to you," he told the Pakistani leader. He also went on to say that the poor upkeep of Hindu temples and the treatment of Hindu pilgrims was also a matter of concern to India. Turning to trade ties, Vajpayee told Musharraf that their enhancement would be mutually beneficial and that India was seeking no unilateral advantage. India was willing to take major steps for greater interaction in this area. Recalling that India had already announced a reduction or elimination of tariffs on 50 lines to encourage Pakistani imports to India, the Prime Minister proposed that a group of experts of both the countries be constituted to recommend measures to increase bilateral trade, economic and technical interaction. In conclusion, he told the President "our vision for the future of Indo-Pak relations has to construct a durable road map for the future based firmly on the lessons of its often troubled history. We should respond not only to our immediate need for peace and progress for our peoples but also to an international environment that increasingly stresses inter-dependence and cooperation over conflict and discord. "Let us grasp this fresh opportunity to create the lasting peace and amity which has eluded us for these past 54 years," he said. (PTI) |
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AGRA, July 16: Shiv Sena activists today burnt the Pakistani national flag outside the Delhi gate of Agra Fort a few minutes before the arrival of Pakistan’s first lady Begum Sehba Musharraf for a visit to the historic site. Half a dozen Sena activists took out the Pakistani flags and set them afire before running away raising slogans against Pakistan and its President Pervez Musharraf. The activists chose the Delhi gate for their protest as it is never used by any visitor, it being closed for them due to location of some defence units there. (PTI) |
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Musharraf claims complete legitimacy for his rule AGRA, July 16: Claiming complete legitimacy for his governance and taking over the reins of power, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today said he was introducing genuine democracy for the first time in the country. "I was thrust into that position by my predecessor. May be I was not required, but his (Nawaz Sharif) going was certainly required for the betterment of Pakistan. I can say majority of people in Pakistan support what we are doing," Gen Musharraf told editors from the Indian media in an interaction with them over breakfast. Gen Musharraf claimed democracy had never existed in Pakistan and he was trying to introduce it for the first time by holding local bodies’ elections which was a revolution. He said preparations were also under way for next year’s general elections. The Supreme Court of Pakistan recently ruled that general elections would have to be held by October 2002. Stressing that though legitimacy of his rule was an internal matter of Pakistan. He invited the Indian journalists to visit any department of governance in Pakistan and see for themselves the developments taking place in all spheres — education, health, railways, economy, society or polity. He said there has been utmost transparency in all aspects of his rule since he assumed power in October 1999. President Musharraf stressed that his rule had wide popular support. "When you invite me, you do need to trust me," he said in reply to a question. (UNI) |
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