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Musharraf
back home without signing joint declaration AGRA, July 16 : The crucial Indo-Pak Summit ended in failure tonight over the contentious issue of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf left for home after midnight. No agreement could be reached despite a 100-minute late night call by Musharraf on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee after which he drove straight to the Airport to fly to Islamabad. The two sides failed to agree to a Joint Declaration or even a joint statement, reflecting the collapse of the much-hyped Summit, the first since the 1999 Kargil conflict. At a post-midnight briefing to the world press, the Indian Government said it was disappointed that "although the commencement of a process and the beginning of a journey has taken place, the destination of an agreed joint statement has not been reached." The spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry Nirupama Rao, who read out the one-paragraph official statement, refused to elaborate, saying the Indian side would address a press conference at 1000 hours tomorrow. Pakistani journalists present at the briefing angrily asked why Gen Musharraf had not been allowed to address a press conference but she declined to respond. The Vajpayee-Musharraf Summit, which for two days appeared to be fruitfully moving forward, ended abruptly with differences erupting on how to address the two most difficult and contentious issues that have bedeviled relations between the neighbours. When there appeared a remote possibility that an agreement would-be reached on these issues, President Musharraf decided to leave for home. This was communicated to the Indian side and a courtesy call on the Prime Minister was hurriedly arranged for him, Principal Information Officer of the Pakistan Government, Ashfaq Ahmed Gondal told UNI. Major General Rashid Qureshi, the Director General of Inter Services Public Relations, blamed an "invisible hand" from the Indian side for the collapse of the talks. He said the draft declaration underwent changes several times. Each time it was approved and sent for typing, it came back with new changes, he alleged. Till late tonight there was no word from the Indian side as officials remained tight-lipped. In fact the proposed briefing by the official spokesperson could not be held. The two leaders agreed on the broad contours of their proposed structured dialogue on bilateral issues, including Jammu and Kashmir and other matters, covered within the framework of a composite dialogue. The understanding was reached during the three-hour long marathon session today in which Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Gen Musharraf were assisted by their aides. Mr Vajpayee, while setting the tone for the Summit, proposed a framework for a future detailed exchange of views on Jammu and Kashmir which would include the issue of cross-border terrorism in its ambit. On his part, Gen Musharraf made it clear that India must recognise that Kashmir is the central issue and involvement of the Kashmiri people is necessary to solve the problem. The Pakistani side had suggested the setting up of a Joint Working Group on Kashmir but the Indian side wanted such a mechanism to first deal with Islamabad’s support for cross-border terrorism. Mr Gondal said the Indian side conveyed that the agreement on a Joint Declaration would be signed after lunch this afternoon. But the Pakistan President was kept waiting till 2130 hrs with no official word from the Indian side, he said. In between External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, his Pakistani counterpart Abdul Sattar held another round of talks in an effort to break the deadlock that surfaced on certain ticklish issues. Foreign Secretaries and senior officials of the two countries also met on the sidelines but nothing concrete emerged. The much-expected Agra Declaration was consequently dropped. Though several rounds of talks were held in the past two days, including one-to-one meetings between Mr Vajpayee and Gen Musharraf, the two countries failed to break the impasse, sources said. A Pakistani official said the talks collapsed when Gen Musharraf decided to leave for home after waiting for more than eight hours to sign the joint declaration. He said the President, who waited till 2130 hrs for signing the declaration, decided to leave as there was no word from the Indian side. The spokesman said that during three hours of hectic consultations between the two leaders and their aides an agreement was thrashed out which was to be signed after lunch. It was because of this that President Musharraf had cancelled his visit to Ajmer. "We were waiting for the Indian response for signing the joint declaration but this did not happen till 2130 hrs. So the President decided to pack up," the spokesman said. Mr Vajpayee and President Musharraf held nearly two hours of one-to-one talks followed by one hour of delegation level meetings, which remained inconclusive due to varying perceptions. Five drafts of the declaration were exchanged by the officials but none satisfied both sides. The drafts were routed through the Foreign Secretaries who, after vetting, submitted them to the Principals. Here again disagreements surfaced on the contents. The two leaders were to meet for the final meeting to sign the declaration or Agreement but wide differences surfaced again. Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf put off his departure from the city by several hours as the delegates were engaged in hard bargaining on the specific issue of Kashmir. Although the Foreign Ministers of the two countries — Jaswant Singh and Abdul Sattar — met they could not achieve a breakthrough. Foreign Secretary Chokila Iyer and her Pakistani counterpart Inam-ul-Haq were also involved in the intense discussions. A Pakistani official said the two sides had worked out a draft declaration by this afternoon. According to him, Mr Vajpayee and Gen Musharraf were to meet again to discuss it, but the Indian side kept the Pakistani leader waiting for several hours. The official said Gen Musharraf finally decided to leave for home when there was no response from the Indian side for so long. The Pakistan President was due to pay a farewell call on Mr Vajpayee before flying back, the official added. Gen Musharraf’s decision to extend his stay in Agra meant that he could not fulfill his desire to visit the Dargah of Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti at Ajmer. Members of the Pakistan delegation, who were about to leave for the airport, were asked to stay back in view of the change in plans. The differences between the two sides on the Kashmir issue came to the fore earlier in the day when Gen Musharraf used a breakfast meeting with senior Indian journalists to put across his views with characteristic candour. The Pakistani ruler said the Kashmir issue was central to any progress in bilateral ties with India and asked New Delhi to face up to this ‘reality’ at the earliest. He also insisted that any resolution to the Kashmir issue was not possible without the participation of the Kashmiris. "I feel if we do not face the issue squarely, do not catch the bull by the horn and do not put the horse before the cart, we cannot move forward," Gen Musharraf told the journalists. At the same time, the Pakistan President said he was willing to discuss all other issues dividing the country. Shortly afterwards, the Indian side released a copy of the statement made by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the first one-to-one meeting with Gen Musharraf yesterday. In it, Mr Vajpayee had proposed a framework to address differences between the two countries on Jammu and Kashmir with the inclusion of cross-border terrorism in its ambit. "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. We are willing to address these differences and to move forward," Mr Vajpayee said. The Prime Minister, however, asserted India’s resolve to counter terrorism and violence in Jammu and Kashmir, which, he said, was being promoted from across its borders. "Let no one think that India does not have the resolve, strength or stamina to continue resisting terrorism and violence," he warned. Mr Vajpayee said India was committed to the establishment of trust and confidence, to developing mutually beneficial cooperation and to addressing all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir. He raised six specific issues including Pakistan’s shelter to terrorists and criminals who were involved in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts. The Pakistan President was also urged to arrest and hand over the hijackers of the Indian airlines plane IC 814 in December, 1999. "they have to be brought to justice," he said. One of those released in lieu of the hostages, Maulana Azhar Masood is the Chief of the newly-created Jaish-e-Mohammed which is actively involved in militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Gen Musharraf’s meeting with the Indian editors took place shortly before he went into his third one-to-one session with Mr Vajpayee. "We must be realistic. Unless progress is achieved in Kashmir we cannot go any further. Kashmir is an issue. It must be resolved. We have to talk to the Kashmiris also. Can we do anything over their heads," Gen. Musharraf asked. The Pakistani ruler said there was a need to infuse a sense of urgency in the matter. Referring to the Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) announced recently by India, Gen Musharraf said the biggest CBM would be the solution of the Kashmir problem. He lauded the statesmanship and boldness of Mr Vajpayee in extending the invitation to him to visit India, as it had set the tone for a dialogue. Gen. Musharraf referred to the "atrocities" allegedly committed by Indian soldiers in Kashmir and said progress in resolving the issue would have an impact on this as well as on India’s allegations of cross-border terrorism. ‘If India and Pakistan cannot break the deadlock on Kashmir, I will have to buy the Neharwali Haveli in Delhi and stay on," he remarked, referring to his family’s ancestral house in the Capital, which he had visited on Saturday on the first day of his three-day state visit to India. Gen Musharraf, in particular, was peeved by a statement made by Indian Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday, in which she had not mentioned Kashmir while listing the issues being discussed at the Summit. The Pakistan President said the fact was that Kashmir had figured quite prominently in the talks between the two sides. The Pakistani delegation had issued a statement late last night in response to Ms Swaraj’s remarks, providing the first inkling that the talks had run into some difficulties after the upbeat mood that prevailed yesterday.(AGENCIES) |
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8 killed as militants
turn out to be civilians Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, July 16: Even as Lashkar-e-Toiba attacked two military formations in Kupwara district, killing 5 soldiers and leaving 13 soldiers wounded, security forces have eliminated at least 13 militants in Kashmir valley since last evening. Meanwhile, eight persons killed as militants in Baramulla and Kupwara districts, have turned out to be civilians. After Defence sources claimed to EXCELSIOR late last night that six militants and a driver of 8 JAK Rifles had died in a fierce gunbattle, in the jungle of Janbazpora near Baramulla town, Rafeeabad area has turned tense. People today disputed the Army version and alleged that troops had killed four civilians of Patoosa village. As already reported, troops of 8 JAK Rifles had launched the extensive combing operation in the woods after militants ambushed a Handwara-bound convoy near Sports Stadium, in Janbazpora outskirts of Baramulla town on Sunday. Late last night, Defence sources had claimed that troops killed six militants while as one soldier had also died. Residents today identified the civilians killed as Showkat Ahmed S/o Mohammad Jamal, Altaf Dar S/o Rasheed Dar, Sultan Dar S/o Kareem Dar and Ashraf War S/o Qadir, all residents of Patoosa. They claimed that they were all labourers. However, two more remained unidentified. Officials claimed that the two unidentified persons were "certainly militants" as both of them had been found in combat dress. As regards the four Patoosa residents, officials maintained that the matter was "under investigation" in view of the divergent claims of Army and the civilians. On the condition of anonymity, a responsible official confirmed that four of the six people killed by troops "were found to be civilians". However, security forces maintained that all the six were militants. They claimed that four weapons had been recovered from the site. While Rafeeabad locality remained tense amid allegations of four civilians having been killed in a "fake encounter", people refused to accept and bury the dead bodies. When Dy SP Headquarters G H Rather reached Patoosa with the four dead bodies, angry people shouted slogans against security forces and in favour of Azadi. They resorted to stone-pelting on the Police party. In defence, Police fired tear-smoke cannisters and used baton charge. When that failed to disperse the mob, Police opened fire. Three civilians sustained bullet injuries. When the injured civilians were being rushed to hospital, the minibus met with an accident and five more persons sustained injuries. Later, five of the injured were rushed to a Srinagar hospital while as two were treated at Baramulla. MLA Rafeeabad Mohammad Dilawar Mir and SSP Baramulla A Q Manhas reached the tense Patoosa village late this evening and they pacified the people. Finally, the burial of the four labourers took place in presence of MLA and SSP at 8.45 p.m. Meanwhile, four more persons, killed in an encounter at Budnambal, in Keran sector, have turned out to ter at Larnoo, in south Kashmir. Unidentified gunmen, believed to be militants, have eliminated a counter-insurgent Muslim Mujahideen activist Firdaus Ahmed Bhat alias Bitta S/o Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Bhat of Achhabal, Anantnag. 5 soldiers killed, 13 injured Official sources told EXCELSIOR that late last night, four militants of the Abu Zarrar group of Lashkar-e-Toiba stormed into the company headquarters of Rashtriya Rifles 24 Bn at Shahlal (Waripora), near Magam village of Handwara, in north Kashmir. In all, five soldiers got killed and eight more wounded. Troops retaliated in total chaos and confusion but all the militants managed to escape unharmed. Not far away from Shahlal, another group of Lashkar-e-Toiba militants attacked the guarded battalion headquarters of RR 21 at Zachaldara, Rajwar. Five soldiers were left wounded. Troops retaliated and a fierce gunbattle continued for half and hour but all the militants managed to escape. 9 militants killed in Kupwara Official sources said that last evening’s encounter between militants and security forces at Kashmiri Manigah, in Kupwara district, has ended with the death of seven militants. As already reported, two militants had died in the beginning of the gunbattle last evening. Officials today claimed that troops of 14 Rajput and SOG Kupwara, who carried out the operation on a tip off, killed all the seven militants without any loss. Militant circles, however, claimed that 5 militants of Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen died in the clash with 14-Rajput at Safawali Batpora while as four militants of Hizbul Mujahideen died in a separate encounter with 14-Rajput at Haihama Haminder where troops blasted off the residential house of one Hakim-ud-din. 5 CRPF men injured Here in the capital city, militants this evening lobbed a hand grenade on a CRPF patrol in front of Dastgir Sahib’s shrine at Khanyar which exploded causing splinter injuries to five paramilitary personnel. |
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Militants strike in
Ramban, Banihal Excelsior Correspondent RAMBAN, July 16: Militants massacred six civilians including four members of the family of a Sarpanch (already killed) in three incidents across Doda district over-night. One civilian was injured while another was missing. Reports said five local militants of Hizbul Mujahideen’s Mushtaq Group struck at village Bajmasta in Sumbar area, about 13 kms from Dharamkund at 1600 hours yesterday and attacked the house of Mohd Shaffi, 30, son of Feroz Din. The militants kidnapped all five family members of Mohd Shaffi present in the house and took them to a surrounding forest area. Dead bodies of four of them were recovered this morning from near a nullah in Bajmasta area. Deceased have been identified as Mohd Shaffi, his wife Fatima Beevi, 22 his brother Mian, 25 and sister Jaanu, 36, (wife of Ghulam Ali). Shaffi’s uncle Nizam-ud-Din, who was among the five hostages, was still in the captivity of militants and remained untraced. SP Ramban Saji Mohan told EXCELSIOR that police and security forces have fanned out in Bajmasta forests and were trying to locate the hostage Nizam-ud-Din. He said bodies of four deceased civilians were handed over to the local people for burial after post-mortem was conducted on the spot. Deceased family members were part of a Sarpanch Ghulam Rasool’s family. Soon after his election as Sarpanch, Ghulam Rasool had migrated to Maitran in view of militants’ threats. He was, however, gunned down by the militants at Maitran on March 7 this year. BJP leader from Ramban Abdul Aziz Katoch has strongly denounced the killings of four family members. He appealed to the police to step-up security arrangements in Ramban to thwart militant activities. Police said they have reports that five militants of Hizbul Mujahideen’s Mushtaq Group were involved in the carnage. Some of them have been identified by local people. Efforts were on eliminate the militants. Another group of militants struck in village Baatu in Neel area of Banihal tehsil in Doda district late last night. They opened firing on the houses of Ghulam Rasool Wani son of Abdul Razak Wani and Abdullah Wali. Ghulam Rasool Wani was killed in the firing while Abdullah Wali was seriously injured. Wani’s shop and house and Wali’s house were set ablaze by the militants. The militants managed to escape from the spot before the arrival of police or security forces. Police said Wani’s son Mohd Rafiq was a constable in Police Department and was presently posted in Banihal police station. Rafiq had reportedly been asked by the militants earlier to quit the job of police and join ‘jehad’. However, the cop had refused to oblige the ultras. In another incident, two unidentified militants gunned down an ex-serviceman Laxman Ram son of Anant Ram in his house at village Pochal in Kishtwar tehsil of Doda district. Laxman Ram was presently working as a guard with FCI Kishtwar. |
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HC asks J&K Govt to explain difficulties on Amarnath yatra NEW DELHI, July 16: Delhi High Court today asked the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to explain what difficulties it faced in handling the 1,73,000 pilgrims who visited the Amarnath shrine last year. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice D K Jain told the counsel for the J and K Government Anis Suhrawardy that though the restrictions placed on the number of Yatris this year have been justified by the State, it has not given what difficulties, if any, it faced in handling the pilgrims last year. A total of about 1,73,000 Yatris had Darshan of the holy cave last year, of which about 1,05,000 had authorised registration slips and the rest bogus. Why could not the same number of pilgrims who visited the Amarnath shrine last year be allowed this year, the court observed. The Jammu and Kashmir Government had informed the court that it had placed restrictions on the Amarnath Yatra this year in view of threats from militants and inclement weather. This year there were intelligence reports that the militants would try to disrupt the Amarnath Yatra at various points, including Jammu, Pahalgam and the Srinagar-Leh National Highway, Assistant Director of the State Government’s Department of Tourism Sonam Dorjay stated through an affidavit to the court. "These reports are correct as would be seen from a bomb blast at Jammu Railway Station in June, an Improvised Explosive Device blast at Chandanwari in June and grenade attack on Yatris on July 4," Mr Dorjay stated. Restrictions on the number of days of the Yatra, number of pilgrims and ‘Bhandaras’ had been placed to control the number of people within manageable proportions as the State Government could neither provide security nor guarantee safety to all the pilgrims against militant attack or inclement weather, he said. Last year 21 people, including 15 Yatris, were killed and 35 people injured in a militant attack at a Bhandara near Pahalgam. In 1996 over 243 pilgrims died due to untimely snowfall on the Yatra route. The restrictions had been placed in view of the recommendations of the Dr Nitish Sen Gupta inquiry committee and Lt Gen J R Mukherjee committee, instituted after the 1996 and 2000 tragedies respectively, Mr Dorjay said. Through registration the J and K Government has restricted the number of Yatris visiting the cave shrine to 3,500 per day and 1,05,000 in all, and the pilgrimage can only be done within a 30 day-period between Ashadh and Shrawan Purnima. This time the number of langars have also been restricted to about 90. In fact the Gen Mukherjee report had even suggested that the existing numbers were also on the higher side and thereby difficult to handle. It recommended campsites should accommodate only about 3000 persons, roughly half the size of present ones, and need to curtail the number of Sevadars with each Bhandara to the maximum of 50, the Assistant Director stated. The Dr Sen Gupta report had fixed the upper ceiling of 2,800 and 700 pilgrims per day from Pahalgam and Baltal sides respectively, keeping in mind the behaviour of the track when the rainfall would be normal or excessive. This year, so far rainfall has been normal, he said. It was also submitted that necessary amenities would be provided to the Yatris and an attempt had been made to prevent forgery of registration slips. On July 4 the court had asked the State Government to provide details of how many people it had registered for the Amarnath Yatra and how many were having a Darshan at the holy cave everyday. A division bench comprising Justices Virendra Jain and S K Kaul had asked Mr Suhrawardy to file the reply by today. On July two, the court had issued a notice to the J and K Government on a petition challenging the restrictions imposed on the movement of Amarnath devotees. The Shri Amarnath Yatra Welfare Board, through counsel Randhir Jain, told the court that the State Government had restricted the number of Yatris violating the right of movement guaranteed in the Constitution and the religious rights of the Hindus. The court expressed displeasure at restrictions and observed that these should not be imposed on matters relating to faith. The court also asked the respondents to explain reports about confusion in registration and non-availability of facilities to Yatris. (UNI) |
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Two militants killed in
Domana, arms seized Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 16: Over 20 powerful explosions took place in forward village of Gole Pattan near Chinore Farm in Kanachak sub sector last mid-night blasting 17 to 20 fencing pillars while security forces detected and defused six live Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). A BSF jawan was injured in one of the explosion. On the other side, police eliminated two militants — one Kashmiri and another foreign mercenary —in Sandhwa village near a border police post in Pouni Chak area under the jurisdiction of Domana police station this morning. A large quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from the possession of slain militants, who were reportedly sneaking into this side for disturbing the ongoing Amarnath pilgrimage. Official sources said suspected Pakistani saboteurs had tied about 25 to 30 highly improvised explosive devices with fencing pillars about half a kilometer inside the Indian territory around Gole Pattan and Chinore Farm area of Kanachak sector last night. Saboteurs, who might be numbering about half a dozen, managed to escape back to Pakistan after planting the IEDs. Sources didn’t rule out the possibility of saboteurs being regular Pakistan army personnel. Over 20 IEDs exploded in a time span of about 40 minutes around mid-night completely damaging 17 to 20 pillars, being used for the purpose of border fencing on the International Border in Kanachak sector. Some other pillars were damaged. A BSF jawan identified as Laxmi Chand was also reported to have sustained splinter injuries in the explosion while patrolling the fencing area. He has been admitted in the hospital where his condition was stated to be stable. Deafening sound of the explosions—one after the other—was heard in the entire border belt in Kanachak sector. Panic-stricken people remained indoors in the border villages fearing a big strike by the militants. BSF jawans from their nearby pickets rushed to the site of explosion and cordoned off the area. They launched a search operation in the village but couldn’t trace the saboteurs, who had by then managed to flee back to Pakistan, the sources said. They said BSF jawans detected six more live bombs, tied with the fencing pillars which hadn’t exploded. All live IEDs were safely defused by security personnel after more than two hours long operation this morning. This was for the second time that militants had blasted fencing pillars in Kanachak sector. In the first strike about one and a half month back, saboteurs had blasted 15 fencing pillars with an equal number of IEDs. According to sources, Pakistan army was using its hired saboteurs (sometime its own regulars) to plant IEDs and damage fencing pillars with a view to disrupt the fencing work. However, the fencing work continued uninterrupted. Meanwhile, a police patrol party noticed movement of two militants in a forward village of Sandhwa border police post along Tawi river in Pouni Chak area at about 0500 hours today and became alert. Two militants started fleeing towards a bush on seeing the patrol party. One of the militants fired three to four shots on cops with a pistol. Cops fired back and gunned down both the militants within 20 minutes of the operation. No police jawan was injured in the exchange of firing. Additional SP Jammu Nissar Ahmed and Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Jagjit Singh alias Jagga rushed to the encounter site early today. Bodies of both the militants have been recovered from the scene of encounter but not identified. SP Nissar Ahmed told a visiting EXCELSIOR correspondent in Pouni Chak that two identity cards of United Endowment Investment Finance Company were recovered from the pockets of slain militants. "However, we feel that cards are absolutely fake. Cards carried names of Amir Lone and Basharat having designations of peon and clerk of the Company", the SP said. This was also not the exact identity of the militants. However, one of the ultra was suspected to be a Kashmiri and the other a foreigner. Two pistols, five magazines and eight live cartridges besides dress, dura cells and other belongings were recovered from their possession. Police sources said two to three bombs were thrown by the militants in a nullah after they felt that their death was imminent at the hands of police. The bombs were washed away in the flooded nullah and couldn’t be traced by police. According to sources, a bag recovered from the militants carried two wet dresses which indicated that militants had changed clothes after crossing Tawi river. They were wearing normal clothes after intruding into this side of the border. Sources said police had reports that militants had hidden one more consignment of arms and ammunition along Tawi river to pick it up at a later date. Police, assisted by para-military, continued searches to effect the recovery. Police believed that both the militants had been pushed into this side by Pakistan army to target Amarnath pilgrims. "Timely killings by the police has averted a major tragedy", they said. |
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Surankot encounter toll rises to 20 Excelsior Correspondent POONCH, July 16: Death toll of militants in last night’s encounter at Hill Kaka on the height of 9400 feet in Surankot tehsil of this district has risen to 20 with the recovery of two more bodies of the militants during searches this morning. Bodies of 18 militants including top leadership of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) were recovered by troops of Romeo Force and jawans of Poonch Police last night. This morning, army and police personnel again carried out searches at the site of encounter. Bodies of two more slain militants were recovered under the debris of a destroyed concrete hideout of the militants, official sources said. A total of 20 militants have been killed in the operation in which there was no casualty on security forces. Of 20, identity of only two militants has been established as Abu Jindal, a hitman of LeT and Saifullah, a front ranking militant of JeM. As reported, a huge quantity of weaponry was recovered from the possession of slain militants. Recovery included 90 kg RDX, 213 mortar bombs and 3500 kg ration. In all, six concrete hideouts-cum-bunkers of the militants were destroyed by army personnel. This was for the first time in over a decade long militancy in Jammu and Kashmir that 20 militants have been killed in a single operation and that too the top brass of two outfits. Our Doda correspondent adds: A patrol party of Rashtriya Rifles was ambushed by the militants in Kethar village near Bunjwa in Doda district yesterday. The patrol party was fired upon by the militants with automatic weapons. Army jawans equally replied the firing. Exchange of firing between the two sides continued for about one and a half hour. However, there was no report of any casualty on either side. Militants managed to escape after the attack. |
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Hunt for 3 associates Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 16: A local militant, involved in a number of IED blasts that damaged electric poles in Bhalwal and other areas, has been arrested by Ghrota police under Akhnoor sub division alongwith a consignment of arms and explosives. Three associates of the militant have also been identified by police. A massive operation was going on to nab them but a success couldn’t be achieved till tonight, a police official said. IGP Jammu Range Radha Vinod Raju is scheduled to visit Ghrota police station tomorrow. Police sources said police had developed an information that blasting of electric poles in Bhalwal and some other incidents were the handiwork of some local militants. During sustained investigations, police managed to identify a key man of the militants in Ghrota area. Ghrota police succeeded in apprehending the militant from his hideout last night. He was subjected to sustained questioning during which he disclosed that he had hidden a consignment of arms and ammunition in an isolated area. Police took the militant to the identified spot from where two pistols, two magazines, six cartridges, two grenades and a sophisticated wireless set were recovered. Sources said the militant, whose identity has been kept secret, has disclosed the names of his three local associates, who were also operating as militants in Jammu. Police raided suspected hideouts of three militants in Bhalwal and Bhatindi area of Narwal but couldn’t get them till tonight. However, police continued raids and said it was hopeful of apprehending three ultra, whose arrests will go a long way in busting the network of militants. Further questioning of the militant was on and some more clues were expected of him. Sources said the militant also used to work as a guide for the infiltrators. |
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Neharwali Haveli ‘beckons’ Musharraf AGRA, July 16: "If India expects me to ignore Kashmir, I better buy the Neharwali Haveli and stay there," Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said at a breakfast meeting with senior Indian editors here today. Gen. Musharraf, who left the Neharwali Haveli in Delhi as a four-year-old after the partition, said in a lighter vein that he may have to settle down there again if he ignored the Kashmir issue. Gen. Musharraf and his wife had visited the Neharwali Haveli in the Daryaganj area of old Delhi on the first day of their visit on July 14. The General had said that he felt "nostalgic" after the visit to his ancestral Haveli. (UNI) |
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‘Ajmer cancellation not a good omen’ AJMER, July 16: "It is not a good omen for Pervez Musharraf", said a leading Islamic cleric commenting on the inability of the Pakistani President to fulfil his planned `Jiyarat’ (pilgrimage) to the shrine of two prominent Sufi saints in Delhi and Ajmer. "There was no invitation to him from the saints and that is why Musharraf couldn’t make his planned pilgrimage to the shrine," Sayed Sarwar Chishti, secretary of the Anjuman looking after the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti here and a descendent of the Sufi saint told PTI. While in Delhi, Musharraf had to cancel his visit to the Mazaar of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia due to paucity of time and security reasons, the Ajmer trip had to be called off following extension of the summit level talks in Agra. "It (the cancellation) is not a good omen," Chishti, who was disappointed by the cancellation of the visit, said when asked about the religious significance of the development. "It is not good for him personally, but has nothing to do with Indo-Pak relations", he said. (PTI) |
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Pak army jawan held in Rajouri Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, July 16: A Pakistan army jawan of 647 Mujahideen battalion was arrested by army from forward village of Rattal in Jhalas area of Keri sector this morning. He was identified as Owais Mustafa son of Ghulam Mustafa, a resident of Gujarat, Pakistan. Owais, posted on a forward picket opposite Keri sector, had a tiff with his Commandant and deserted the post. He had inadvertently crossed the LoC and reached Indian side. After interrogation, army this evening handed over Pakistani soldier to Rajouri Police for further investigations. |
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Violence in J&K will escalate: Hizbul ISLAMABAD, July 16: Pakistan-based militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen tonight warned the breakdown of the Indo-Pak summit in Agra would lead to escalation of violence in Jammu and Kashmir. Hizbul Mujahideen leader Slahauddin told PTI by telephone from Muzhafarabad that India had to take the blame squarely for failure of the talks. "The dialogue broke down due to "intransigent and obdurate behaviour of India." The failure of the summit would result in more Mujahideen attacks in Kashmir as they had no other alternative but to fight, he said adding India was in no mood to accept Kashmir as a disputed territory. Chief of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Amanullah Khan described the breakdown of the talks as "catastrophic" and said it would take a long time for both the leaders to create the same atmosphere again. Jamaat-e-Islami appreciated the stand taken by Musharraf at the Agra summit. "The President and his delegation rightly said there cannot be any thaw in bilateral relations between the two countries unless India considered Kashmir as a disputed territory," Jamaat leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed said. (PTI) |
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