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Blair
bid to win over Arab public opinion ISLAMABAD, Oct 11: In its heaviest onslaught, US war planes today dropped for the first time "bunker-busting" bombs on Kabul and Kandahar inflicting heavy casualties and returned to pound the Afghan capital at night as American troops and aircraft landed in Pakistan, indicating possible ground operations against the Taliban militia. As President George W Bush declared the war on terrorism would be of an "uncertain" length and asserted that victory was as "certain" as the triumph over the axis powers in World War II, jets screamed overhead Kabul targeting a Taliban military academy, artillery units and suspected training camps, triggering huge blasts, reports reaching here said. Taliban claimed over 140 people have been killed in the assault in Kabul, Jalalabad and Kandahar since last night. A report from Kabul quoting Taliban officials said more than 200 civilians were killed in the eastern Afghan village of Kadam in an apparent attack on a former Laden camp. According to the militia, nearly 100 people died around Jalalabad and another 18 in Kandahar and ten members of a family in Kabul. As the night enveloped Kabul, the American planes came roaring back drawing a barrage of Taliban anti-aircraft fire. Several big explosions were heard after the jets had flown across the capital sky. A US Air Force sergeant was killed in a heavy duty equipment accident in the northern Arabian peninsula becoming the first casualty in the military operations against Afghanistan. A huge fireball was sighted in the southern sky of Kabul in the direction where an abandoned terrorist training camp set up by bin Laden is located. A mosque has been destroyed in the eastern city of Jalalabad killing 15 people in the missile attack. However, there was no independent confirmation of these claims. American warplanes are reported to have begun using 5,000 pound bunker-busting bombs, which could mark the start of the next phase of the US and its allies’ campaign against Osama bin Laden, prime suspect in September 11 terror attacks in the US, and his protectors. Speaking at a memorial service in Washington for the victims of the Sept 11 kamikaze, Bush said "as Americans did 60 years ago, we have entered a struggle of uncertain duration. But now, as then, we can be certain of the outcome." As the US offensive continued for the fifth consecutive day, officials in Islamabad said more than 15 US military aircraft including C-130 transport planes have landed at Jacobabad airbase, 500 km northwest of Karachi. Some American personnel were also on the ground in Pakistan but the Pakistani officials stressed they were not combat forces and would not use the country’s territory for attacks against Afghanistan. The officials were quoted as saying that Pakistan has allowed US to use Jacobabad and Pasani airbases only for logistics and support operations. Asked about the reports of the arrival of US troops and planes in Pakistan, Taliban ambassador to Islamabad Abdul Salam Zaeef said "when the Americans enter Afghanistan, here will start the real war, not now." "We tell the White House administration that your atrocities, your weapons and your hypocrisy will not weaken the morale of Afghans," he said. CNN quoting an unnamed US official reported that several Taliban leaders were believed to have been killed in the first round of attacks on Sunday night. The US has received "highly credible" reports that raids killed some Taliban leaders, including two adult male relative of the militia leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, the official was quoted as saying. Zaeef said both Omar and bin Laden were okay. "They have not been affected by the strikes." Meanwhile, opposition Northern Alliance fighting Taliban claimed that they have taken a key central Gur province after heavy fighting with the militia forces overnight. A huge blaze was reported near Kabul airport last night and a military academy, east of the capital, was reportedly hit. Taliban gunners opened fire from at least three positions near the city centre. Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press reported explosions in Shamshaad, a Taliban military base east of Jalalabad near Pakistan border. US officials said the military may use low-flying helicopters to hunt bin Laden and his followers although this was not imminent. Meanwhile, Egypt’s Interior Ministry has confirmed the arrest of members of a militant cell which allegedly planned to carry out large-scale operations in the country at the behest of Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda terrorist organization, press reports today said. Dozen’s of the group’s members were arrested and detained two weeks ago as they plotted to carry out terrorist operations involving multiple targets across Egypt, said one report in the state-owned Al-Mussawar news magazine. Documents seized during the arrests, complete with operational plans, had been especially helpful in establishing definitive links between members of the cell and bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda organization, the report quoted security officials as saying. An investigation had revealed that cell members came from diverse cultural, economic, social and educational backgrounds. Two had been trained as pilots at the same aviation school as Mohammed Atta, a key suspect in the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US. Egyptian security sources quoted by the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper Thursday confirmed that two of those arrested were trained commercial pilots but would not say where they received their training. The suspects had been rounded up as early as May for espousing "extremist ideas" and plotting to carry out operations aimed at destabilizing Egypt, Al-Ahram, Egypt’s flagship paper, said today. Security officials told the paper that the crackdown was part of the Interior Ministry’s continuous efforts to pre-empt renewed activity by extremist groups. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Tony Blair has widened a media campaign to win over Arab public opinion in favour of western military strikes against Afghanistan. Blair, who appeared on the popular Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television and Abu Dhabi television to argue his case, published a column in the pan-Arab Al-Hayat newspaper today telling Arabs that the West has no quarrel with Islam. Instead, he said, the West was only targeting Saudi-born dissident Osama bin Laden, named by Washington as the prime suspect in the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. "Many of you have your own opinions on whether this move is right or wrong. But I would like to persuade you of one thing our dispute is not with Islam but with terrorism and with those who support it," Blair wrote in a column translated into Arabic. "Osama bin Laden knows this war is not against Islam. He knows this war is against him and his like — the terrorists who kill thousands of innocents. He knows we are committed to cooperating with Muslim countries as equal partners in the fight against terrorism," Blair added. Most Arab states have condemned the deadly aerial attacks on US landmarks, but protests erupted in several Arab countries after the launch of US and British raids on Afghanistan, where bin Laden is hiding. Arabs are worried the attacks might harm fellow Muslims in Afghanistan and could extend to Arab states. Blair, on a regional tour that included inspecting British troops conducting military exercises in Oman, has emerged as a leading advocate of the US-led "war on terrorism". In his rare column in Al-Hayat, Blair used Islamic phrases associated with the mention of Prophet Mohammad and invoked Islamic war-time traditions to court Arab and Muslim opinion. "Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him, used to tell his troops not to kill women, children, non-combatants, elderly people and monks," Blair wrote. "He even prohibited the cutting of fruit-bearing trees or poisoning water wells of the enemy." Blair said that while bin Laden was using the Palestinian cause as a rallying cry for Arabs and Muslims, Palestinians were among Muslims killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center. Bin Laden, in a taped statement broadcast by Jazeera channel after the strikes on Afghanistan began on Sunday, swore America would not have any peace until Palestinians felt peace at home. "The September 11 attacks have killed many innocent Muslims, including Palestinians," Blair said. "We now know that the plans for the attacks date back two years, when the middle east peace process was progressing. "Britain, the rest of Europe and the United States realise the Palestinians have been ill-treated and are still facing unjust treatment. We have always supported the establishment of a Palestinian state, through negotiations, that would contribute to peace and stability in the region, including Israel." Blair warned Arabs that bin Laden’s real motive was to topple moderate Arab and Islamic Governments. "If people believed him, then he would be in a more secure position and may recruit more members to carry out further terrorist attacks," Blair wrote. "Then he would be one step closer to his real goal of weakening any Muslim Government willing to live in peace and cooperation with the rest of the world and to replace it with extremist hardliners waging a continuous struggle with the West. Is this in the interest of Islam and Muslims around the world?" (Agencies) |
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Centre considering
Farooq’s suggestion VARANASI, Oct 11: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today vowed to firmly deal with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, stating that security operations will be stepped up to flush out the Pakistan-backed mercenaries. "The Government will not shy away from intensifying the security forces operation," he said, adding that "we are discussing the matter and an operation on this effect might be launched after considering all options." Talking to newsmen here before leaving for Ballia, to participate in the birth anniversary celebrations of Jai Prakash Narayan, Mr Vajpayee said the Government was also considering the facts made available by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, who also advocated for such flush out operations at this juncture. He said that the Government was alive to the issue of terrorism in Kashmir and would not move back. Supporting the US attack on Afghanistan against terrorism, Mr Vajpayee said that it was wrong to suggest that the attack was against any particular religion. "Those who are trying to make an issue out of it were only helping the cause of terrorism and they will have to suffer later", he pointed out. When asked whether Pakistan had taken an edge over India in the wake of US attack against terrorism, he said that it was well known that Pakistan had been supporting terrorism and had to take the turn after pressure from the global community. He said that India had supported the US against terrorism, to root out this global phenomenon at the earliest. The Prime Minister later left for Ballia by an Indian Airforce helicopter. UP Chief Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP state president Kalraj Mishra were among the prominents who accompanied Mr Vajpayee to Ballia. Mr Vajpayee is expected to return to New Delhi later in the evening. Stating that terrorism recognised no boundaries, he said India was continuing discussions at the United Nations on a comprehensive convention against international terrorism. "I am confident that with this renewed international focus and determination, we would move towards a world where innocent civilians are not targeted, terrorism is rejected as an instrument of state policy, and there is no acceptance of any political, religious or any other attempted justification for such criminal acts," he added. Earlier giving an assessment of the prevailing situation in Afghanistan as "monitored and reviewed" by the Defence Ministry, he said Taliban’s command and control structure and logistics had suffered badly and were "already in disarray". He said Pakistan had returned two taliban helicopters earlier impounded by it as the US-led air strikes had "considerably degraded" the fighting strength of the Taliban. Stating that Taliban had suffered 76 casualties while about 100 of their fighters had been wounded, he said the strikes were "likely to continue intermittently round the clock". Regarding the future structure in Afghanistan, he said Tajik president Rakhmanov and former Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani had held talks recently. (PTI) |
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Govt rules out hot pursuit
of militants NEW DELHI, Oct 11: India today indicated that Pakistan-based terrorist outfits including Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) may be targeted as part of global campaign against terrorism but ruled out hot pursuit of militants and their camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. "The target is Al Qaeda network, promoter of which is Osama bin Laden and one of the consequences is Taliban. The Al Qaeda has a number of terrorist organisations in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India and when Al Qaeda is targeted, these organisations are all targeted," External Affairs and Defence Minister Jaswant Singh told reporters here. He listed the terrorist outfits having links with Al Qaeda as Harkat-ul Mujahideen, which figures in the American list of terrorist outfits banned and their funds frozen, and Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Bangladesh-based Harkat-ul-Jehad. Asked about hot pursuit as demanded by J and K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, Singh said "no. I do not see that". New Delhi has been pressing Washington to include in its list JeM, which had claimed responsibility for October 1 Srinagar car bomb blast, and other Pakistan-backed militant organisations. Singh announced that India would be providing one million tonnes of wheat and other essential items like tents, blankets and medical services as humanitarian assistance to war-ravaged Afghanistan. Singh said India will benefit from neutralisation of terrorist camps in Afghanistan as militant training camps operating from PoK had recently shifted to that country. On US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s visit to New Delhi expected shortly, Singh said his discussion would focus on Indo-US cooperation in combating global terrorism, the current operations against Al Qaeda network in Afghanistan and those who harbour and support them besides the evolving situation in the region. As part of ongoing consultations, Singh said he had visited US, UK, France and Germany and had telephonic contacts with leaders from a number of countries including Russia, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, Canada and the Arab League. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will be arriving here later this month for consultation with Indian leaders. Efforts would be made for upgrading the current relationship between New Delhi and Berlin to that of strategic partner, he said adding "we will be moving in that direction". He said discussions were slated with France, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan besides those to be held with Russian Deputy Premier Ilya Klebanov later this month. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsen Aminzadeh and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Trubniko would also be visiting India in the near future, he said. On the possibility of an early visit to Pakistan by him, Singh said "I have no plans to visit Pakistan. It will be difficult in the present circumstances given the current obligations and Pakistan’s present pre-occupation". On resumption of dialogue with Pakistan, he said Islamabad has to create the right atmosphere for meaningful talks and the instrument of terrorism being used by it has to be abandoned. To a question whether Powell would seek resumption of the dialogue between India and Pakistan in a bid to lower the temperature, the minister said "India has never done anything to raise temperatures" and maintained that the dialogue process was not a one way street. At the same time, he said India will do nothing to add to the current "disturbed and complex" situation in Pakistan. Allaying apprehensions in certain political quarters that India could provide permanent base facilities to the US, Singh said Washington has not asked for anything other than what was routinely provided. "We will address the US requests as and when made and on its merit". (PTI) |
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Hostel was frequented by
Ansari activists Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Oct 11: Of five harbourers of the terrorists, arrested by police from across the district for their involvement in the killings of two brothers and other incidents, one has turned out to be a student of degree college. Hostel of the college, where he had been putting up, was oftenly frequented by the terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen’s Shakeel Ansari group, thus, putting lives of hostel students to risk. Mohd Ashraf, a resident of Lohai Malhar presently putting up in village Deoal, was a Part-III student of BA in degree college Kathua. SP Kathua Manohar Singh, who supervised the operation leading to arrest of five harbourers of the terrorists including a woman, confirmed that Ashraf was a college student and had also been allotted a room in the hostel. Singh didn’t confirm a report received from some reliable sources that another student of degree college as well as hostel was absconding. Reports were that a room-mate of Mohd Ashraf in the hostel hasn’t appeared before police even after being sent a call. The boy was pleading innocence but was hesitant to report to police, reports said. Sources said all five Shakeel Ansari group’s activists have made ‘very important’ disclosures during their interrogation. After interrogation, all five were today dispatched to Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) in Jammu. Mohd Ashraf reportedly disclosed during interrogation that terrorists of Shakeel Ansari group used to meet him in the college hostel and convey movement of the terrorists. Several top terrorists had also called on Ashraf in the hostel, making the hostel a security risk. However, such a serious security lapse went on unnoticed till Ashraf was arrested. Surprisingly, headquarters of a para-military force were also located just opposite the college hostel building. A woman harbourer of the terrorists Shamsad Begum, who was among those arrested by police and sent to JIC today, told her interrogators that she used to help the terrorists in reaching safely to their hideouts in upper reaches of Udhampur. Shamshad, as per the modus-operandi revealed by her, used to walk about two kms ahead of the terrorist group, carrying a child tied to her back. She carried a powerful wireless set under her clothes and conveyed clearance of track or otherwise to the terrorists following her. This way, the sources said, 30-year old Shamsad Begum had helped several terrorist groups from Pakistan to reach safely to upper reaches of Udhampur and Doda districts. Infact, the woman herself couldn’t recall as to how many groups she helped in reaching their hideouts. "This indicated how important the arrest of Shamsad Begum and her associates was", the sources said. Other three harbourers of the terrorists have also made sensational disclosures, the sources said, adding they wouldn’t like to share all revelations at this juncture when investigations of the case were in initial stage. |
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House of Lords rules deporting Muslim cleric to Pakistan LONDON, Oct 11: In a major blow to Pak-sponsored militancy in Kashmir, the House of Lords today ruled that a Muslim cleric, Shafiq-ur-Rehman, who sponsored and supported terrorism in Kashmir, be deported to Pakistan. Delivering the verdict, Law Lord Hoffman said his judgement had been written three months before the US attacks. "They are a reminder that in matters of national security, the cost of failure can be high. "This seems to me to underline the need for the judicial arm of Government to respect the decisions of ministers of the Crown on the question of whether support for terrorist activities in a foreign country constitutes a threat to national security." The Special Immigration Appeals Commission which first heard his case said he was not a threat to British national security and overturned the Home Secretary’s decision. But in their ruling the Law Lords said the commission had adopted too narrow a definition of what national security involved. The decision is also a victory for the then Home Secretary Jack Straw who ordered in 1997 that Rehman, who was working as an Imam in one of Oldham’s mosques, be deported on the grounds that he was a threat to national security. The decision by the highest court of the land will have wider implications for immigration laws, as the British Government in the wake of the Sept 11 terrorist attacks in the US, aims to crack down on those who allegedly back terrorist activity. Security Service investigators said Rehman had raised funds for the Lashkar-e Toiba group, which is indulging in militancy in Kashmir, while working in Britain for its political wing, MDI. Meanwhile, Rehman’s lawyer Amjad Malik said he was now considering an appeal to the European court. Thirty-year old Rehman had denied allegations of recruiting British Muslims for terrorist training, and raising money to fund a "holy war" in Kashmir. Malik said that, rather than prosecute suspected terrorists under the Terrorism Act, the Government believed it was "easier" to simply deport them. "National security will, therefore, be used as a tool to be rid of people who the Government think are unsafe. "It means that people in Britain cannot raise their concerns about their brothers in Kashmir, Palestine or Chechnya as that will be considered as participating in activities not considered safe by the Secretary of State. "People will not be able to exercise their freedom of expression," he said. Malik claimed the move was punishment for refusing British intelligence agency Mi5’s attempts to recruit him as an agent. Rehman and his wife, who first came to Britain eight years ago, have two children who were born in the UK. (PTI) |
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Militants ambush BSF
in Kokernag Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 11: While as militants ambushed Border Security Force (BSF), killing three soldiers in Daksum forest area of Kokernag in south Kashmir, four militants and two Army personnel died in a fierce gunbattle in Shopian, since last evening. Informed sources in south Kashmir told EXCELSIOR that militants, in an ambush, attacked a 3-member group of BSF 77 Bn, near an MMG post at Gegnar forest area, in Daksum range of Kokernag. Troops were going to fetch two buckets of water when militants struck on them with heavy gunfire. All the three soldiers died on spot. They were identified as constable Ghanshyam, constable Nirmal Singh and constable Vinod Shah. After killing the soldiers in close vicinity of the small formation, militants lifted their weapon and made good their escape in thick forest cover. Two militants of Hizbul Mujahideen, killed in Wednesday evening gunbattle with security forces at Purwar (Panzan), Chadoura, have been identified as Shams-ud-din Gujri alias Shahbaz Khan S/o Fateh Mohammad R/o Mujpathri and Dawood Ahmed S/o Gulam Mohammad R/o Frestwar. As already reported, they got killed in an encounter with troops of Rashtriya Rifles 35 Bn at Purwar, behind Srinagar base of Indian Air Force, last evening. The militant killed in Wiwan forest area of Bandipore on Wednesday has been identified as Mujahid-ul-Islam. Officials claimed that he was a "deputy district commander" of Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami. This morning, militants fired two rifle grenades towards a BSF formation at Chattabal Weir. The grenades fell close to the target but failed to cause any damage. Sources in south Kashmir said that all the four militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba, who had been trapped in a residential house at Bas Kuchhan, on Shopian-Zainapora road, last evening, were eliminated by security forces in a 26-hour-long gunbattle. However, two soldiers of RR 01 Bn also died in the initial round of the clash. One soldier of RR 01 Bn, one soldier of 4/1 GR sustained injuries. A civilian with serious head injury was rushed to Srinagar and admitted at SKIMS, Soura. Three residential houses were destroyed in the overnight operation. Even as all the four militants killed in the clash remained unidentified, residents believed that three of them were Pakistani nationals while as the fourth one was a local militant. They said that "district commander" of Lashkar-e-Toiba was among those killed. Four AK-56 rifles, two pistols, two wireless sets and four grenades are reported to have been recovered from the devastated site of the gunbattle. Official sources said that today’s encounter was a major setback to Lashkar after the killing of its "divisional commander" in an encounter at Behnipora, Shopian, earlier this year. Shopian area has been a stronghold of Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Al-Fatah since last year. |
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Ban likely on 12
militant, political outfits From Ahmed Ali Fayaz SRINAGAR, Oct 11: Taking advantage of the world opinion turning against terrorism and Pakistan landing in the trouble of its own creation, New Delhi has intensified efforts to label the 12-year-long Kashmir militancy as "terrorism flowing from Pakistan and Afghanistan". Instructions have been flashed to security forces and the Jammu & Kashmir Government to launch what the officials call, hot pursuit. According to well-placed Government sources, the Centre has not agreed with the Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah’s suggestion of military strikes on the militant training camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. However, New Delhi’s Kashmir strategists are understood to be in favour of obliging Dr Abdullah by way of "destroying militant hideouts" in both regions of the State. This is considered to be "the most opportune time" as, thanks to Afghanistan, the entire Kashmir issue has slipped to the backburner. Ministry of External Affairs — in which the junior Minister Omar Abdullah is handling Kashmir with the Muslim countries — has mounted pressure on America to declare three major militant outfits as "international terrorist organisations". These include the state’s largest guerrilla organisation Hizbul Mujahideen, besides Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Toiba. The Americans are reportedly inclined to incorporate Jaish-e-Mohammad in the State Department’s black list for its alleged links to Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Kandahar-based think-tanks. However, the Americans have been lukewarm in the matter of Lashkar and Hizb as their records do not indicate anything directly harmful to the US nationals in the past. For an argument, the Americans are said to have pointed out to New Delhi that none of the Jammu &Kashmir militant organisations had been banned, either by the Centre or the State Government. Among the 100-odd militant organisations, only JKLF had been banned: First by the State Government for two years in 1991; and, later by the Central Government for three years in 1997. Today’s position is that none of the militant or separatist political organisations is outlawed in Jammu & Kashmir. New Delhi has immediately woken up to the lacunae and, according to senior official sources, ban on 12 militant organisations is being worked out. In accordance with an amendment to the criminal law, a notification is being formulated on the pattern of the recent ban on SIMI. Since the National Conference Government has repeatedly pointed out to the Centre that the militant groups operating in the State have also been causing subversive activities in New Delhi and other states, the ban is likely to be imposed by the Union Ministry. The State Home Department is also understood to be working over a dossier on Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s Jamaat-e-Islami and Asiya Andrabi’s Dukhtaraan-e-Millat who have been staunch supporters of Osama bin Laden and other Pakistan/Afghanistan-based Jehadi groups in Kashmir. Sources said that "a comprehensive anti-terrorism law" was also in the making and its main focus of concentration was real assets, properties and flow of funds to several guerrilla organisations and political parties. Even as armed forces in Jammu & Kashmir have special powers to kill militants and destroy structures, currently neither Police nor security forces have any legal tools in hand to tackle the assets and funds of separatist groups. The Centre can ask its revenue agencies to proceed in the matter but, during the last 12 years, Income Tax department has not been able to prove anything objectionable in case of those separatist leaders on whom it had slapped its notices. While, efforts are on to further weaken the crisis-ridden Pakistan at the diplomatic front, the armed forces and Police have been asked to "crush terrorism firmly". Sources said that counter-insurgency grids were being relocated all over Jammu & Kashmir. Director General of Police A K Suri today convened a meeting with all district heads of Special Operations Group (SOG) and asked them to "show progress". IGP Kashmir A K Bhan and three DIGs of Kashmir division also participated in the meeting. |
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Jamaat asks Musharraf to change policy or quit (TIMERGARA) Pakistan, Oct 11 : Pakistan’s largest Islamic Party today said it will launch a campaign to force the military Government either to revise its support for US-led attacks on neighbouring Afghanistan or give up power. "If the Government does not change its support to America we have the right to pull down the unconstitutional Government of (General) Pervez Musharraf," Jamaat-i-Islami party leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed told a gathering of a several thousand Tribal members near the Afghan border. "We are going to hold rallies in all major Pakistani cities with the demand that the Government change its policy," he told a cheering but disciplined crowd in this Tribal Rim bordering Afghanistan. Ahmed promised peaceful public rallies in Karachi, Peshawar, Rawalpindi later this month and a possible big sit-in in the Capital Islamabad to force Musharraf to withdraw support to the international coalition forged to fight terrorism after last month’s devastating hijack attacks on the United States. "We don’t want to create a law and order situation and we don’t believe in violence," he added. "In our country we do not want to fight our own army ... (or) police because that will benefit our enemies," Ahmed said. But his Party, Jamaat, had the right to give a call to the people to converge on the Capital, Islamabad, for a sit-in if the Government did not change its policy, he said. "But it will also be peaceful." Ahmed said the first rally in the series would be held in the port city of Karachi on Monday, the second in the Northwestern city of Peshawar on October 19 and the third in Rawalpindi, near Islamabad, on October 21. "Our mission is to make it very clear to the United States that people of Pakistan are not with Musharraf," he said. Musharraf’s Government has maintained a ban on public rallies and demonstrations since March last year. But Islamic parties supporting Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers have held almost daily protest rallies after U.S.-led military strikes on Afghanistgan began on Sunday night. The strikes are aimed at flushing out Saudi-born fugitive Osama bin Laden and his followers hiding there and accused by the United States of responsibility for the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington. There have been several violent demonstrations in Pakistan since the U.S. raids began on Sunday night, but no mass countrywide protests, at least partly because the Government has clamped down hard. Pakistani authorities have detained at least three pro-Taliban Islamic leaders, including Maulana Samiul Haq, the leader of Jamiat-e-Uleam Islam Party whose seminary in Pakistan’s North West Frontier province has taught several Taliban leaders. Haq is chairman of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Defence Council, a 35-member grouping of Islamic parties formed this year to help the Taliban following U.N. Sanctions. "My desire, your desire — martyrdom" and "death to America" were some of the slogans that protesters at the Timergara rally chanted repeatedly. "USA is the biggest terrorist," Ahmed said. "It is time for all Muslims to stand against tyranny and wage Jihad (holy war)." "We will continue our peaceful struggle to establish an Islamic democratic system based on the Constitution in Pakistan," he said. (REUTERS) |
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‘It must be rooted
out but no calendar can be fixed’ NEW DELHI, Oct 11: The United States clearly recognises that the problem of terrorism in Kashmir is part of the global war against the menace and that it must be rooted out but feels a "calendar" cannot be set for it. Washington also rules out becoming a mediator between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue which will be discussed with Indian leadership by Secretary of State Colin Powell during his visit here shortly. "Terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is exactly the kind of terrorism that must be condemned and must be rooted out. War against terrorism must include terrorism against India," US Ambassador Robert D Blackwill told PTI in an interview. In the wide-ranging interaction, the envoy spoke about the "quantum advance" in Indo-US relations, especially after the September 11 terrorist strikes in the US, the evolving scenario in Afghanistan and US-Pak relations. Citing the speeches made by President George W Bush and Powell, Blackwill said "there are no exceptions with respect to countries that harbour terrorism. There are no exceptions to terrorism as it exists in camps funded, trained and so forth. We will accept no nation that harbours terrorism. "You might want a calendar..... But we are now concentrating on Pakistan’s contribution to the war against terrorism which is substantial," he said when asked about US’s "reticence" about acknowledging Pakistan’s role in sponsoring terrorism in J and K. Blackwill said at this juncture the US-led coalition was concentrating on the military action in Afghanistan. "There are many elements of this policy and we are acting simultaneously," he said adding "you should not expose every piece of one’s strategy." On Powell’s upcoming visit expected early next week, he said the Secretary of State would be meeting Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other senior leaders in the Government in an obvious boost to Indo-US relationship. He would discuss mutual relations, international war against terrorism and the situation in Afghanistan. Since he would probably be coming from Islamabad, the US-Pakistan relationship and the Kashmir issue would come up. On Kashmir, he said "our position has not changed. We are not going to become a mediator. We are extremely clear. Secretary Powell will not be getting off the plane with blueprints." To a question on perceptions about increase in tensions in the region in the context of recent developments, he said "our perception is that both India and Pakistan have no wish to act in provocative ways regarding the other and thus to escalate tension". This was one of the major themes in the telephonic conversation between Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Vajpayee on Monday when they exchanged assertions that neither side wanted to increase tensions, he said. The US is urging restraint on everybody’s part, Blackwill said adding there has been a "positive" response from the Indian Government on this. He said India and the US were one in wishing that the campaign in Afghanistan is carried out successfully. While acknowledging that the campaign to root out terrorist networks in Afghanistan served American interests, he said it also served Indian interests because those camps were the breeding grounds for terrorism against India. Asked what the US meant when it talks of phase two of the current campaign, he said there were several activities going on simultaneously as part of the global war against direction which are not directly related to Afghanistan. This included strangling of financial resources of terrorist networks, intelligence sharing and law enforcement efforts. "So there is a pre-occupation to get at the people who are the mastermind of September 11 strikes. The Ambassador made it clear that the US was not interested in Government-making in Afghanistan in a post-Taliban scenario. "We are not going to be kingmakers" or interested in "playing primary players". Stating that the people of Afghanistan had to choose their next Government, he said Washington was interested in a "stable" and "broad-based" Government in Kabul. To a question, Blackwill said the US was in touch with the Northern Alliance and several other opposition groups in Afghanistan but did not elaborate. On the apprehension that the current campaign could turn out to be against Islam, he said "it is not a war related to faith and god but it is a war of all religions against evil.’’ He said there have been strong statements by important Arab countries supporting the global war with many Islamic countries joining the international coalition. Blackwill said the US was convinced that the world would accept that the war against terrorism was justified. On the feeling that Indo-US relations could hit a low patch in the context of help from Pakistan, he said "we have an idea of US-India relations beyond Indo-Pak relationship. Indians have quite rightly said do not hyphenate America’s relationship with India". "We hope that Indians do not insist that we return to a hyphenated concept by mentioning Pakistan immediately when we want to talk about a broad strategic direction of Indo-US relationship," he said. "I can tell you without doubt that our relationship has made a quantum advance since September 11," he said. The Indo-US relations have a depth of "intimacy, intensity and comprehensiveness unknown in the past in the intelligence area, military area and diplomatic area". The unfortunate incidents of September 11 have provided a strategic opportunity to both the Governments which they have seized. (PTI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Oct 11: Tension prevailed in village Bharti in Gandoh area of Doda district with minorities, fearing another strike by the terrorists in the aftermath of burning down of five houses of majority community, threatening to migrate if permanent security pickets were not established in the village. Meanwhile, a civilian was seriously injured in an encounter between terrorists and security forces in Marmat area of Doda district this morning. Reports said about a dozen families of minority community were feeling panicky after the killing of their two members by the terrorists on late Tuesday night after being held hostage for a brief period in village Bharti. Problems of dozen-odd minority families were further compounded with some miscreants burning down five houses including that of a village Sarpanch, whom they accused of shielding the terrorists. In their meeting with SP Doda Ashkoor Wani and Deputy Commissioner Shailender Kumar in Bharti village last evening, the minorities apprehended fresh trouble from the terrorists on the ground that Sarpanch of the village had direct access to some terrorist groups. Minorities threatened that they will desert their houses. However, they were persuaded by visiting police and civil officials that they shouldn’t migrate and promised adequate security to them in the village. Local people have, meanwhile, demanded immediate arrest of the village Sarpanch charging latter with harbouring terrorists in his house. They told SP and DC that terrorists, involved in the killings of two civilians, were also hired by Sarpanch. For the time being, authorities have deployed STF and ITBP sleuths to protect minorities as well as track down the terrorists involved in double killing. No arrest has, however, been made so far, the sources said. Meanwhile, an encounter took place between army and terrorists at village Tillar under jurisdiction of Marwah police station in Doda district this morning. Encounter followed an ambush of army patrol party by the terrorists. While no casualties were reported either on army or terrorists’ side, a civilian was trapped in exchange of firing and was seriously injured. He has been identified as Ghulam Hussain son of Mohd Sultan, a resident of Thachana in Dachchan area. Hussain, who was working as a porter with army, was airlifted to Medical College hospital in Jammu this morning in view of his critical condition. A hideout of the terrorists was busted by army in Banihal tehsil of Doda this evening. Recovery made from the hideout included one AK rifle with five magazines, 150 rounds, seven rocket propelled grenades, a UMG ammunition belt with 50 rounds, one feet of cordex and some hand grenades. No arrest was made from the hideout at the time of raid, the sources said. |
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Strikes to last atleast a year LONDON, Oct 11 : US-led air strikes have hit 40 Taliban targets in four days of bombing in a military campaign in Afghanistan expected to last at least a year, British defence officials said today. "We must expect at least to go through the winter into next summer at the very least," Sir Michael Boyce, Chief of the Defence Staff, told a news conference. "With winter coming on in November things will slow down a bit, although action can obviously still continue and will continue until such time as we achieve our goals," he said. Boyce said US warplanes, supported by British air tankers and reconnaissance aircraft, had attacked 40 military targets including air defence systems and training camps throughout Afghanistan — some several times. Defence Minister Geoff Hoon said Britain was investigating reports of civilian casualties, but the latest Taliban figure of up to 100 villagers dead had not been independently verified. "We are not engaged in a fight against the Afghan people. We regret the deaths of any civilians. Coalition targeting is precise. Every effort is made to minimise the risk to civilians," he said. Hoon said there was evidence of groups of Taliban supporters defecting to the rebel Northern Alliance and a decline in the Government’s cohesion. Boyce said the Taliban air defence systems were now crippled — although they still had stinger shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles — giving the allies effective control of the skies and paving the way for further operations. He expected the tempo of the air war to slow in coming days as experts assessed the extent of the bomb damage and hunted for new targets but said it could pick up again thereafter. Boyce declined to speculate on the type of further strikes against the Taliban in the hunt for the world’s most wanted man, Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden, who is accused of plotting the September 11 suicide hijackings in the United States. But he said any involvement of ground troops would take the form of quick search and destroy missions rather than any longer term invasion. "If it is felt that inserting ground troops will aid the overall strategy of getting the Taliban to stop supporting terrorism — and there is a very clearly defined objective for those ground forces to undertake — then we would do that". "It is not a country as history has told us...For us to linger in and to go in other than for a very specific task and then probably withdraw again," he said. He said he expected the unremitting pressure on bin Laden and his Al Qaeda network to eventually result in him being forced into the open and betrayed — probably by an Afghan. (REUTERS) |
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Fight against terror not Islam: Blair CAIRO, Oct 11: The US led anti-terror campaign is not directed against Islam or Arabs, British Premier Tony Blair said, adding battling terrorism should unite all nations and faiths, and not divide them as terrorists have planned. "We are determined that this will never be seen as a struggle of Western countries against Islam," Blair told reporters after talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Blair has repeatedly tried to ease Muslim concerns that the US war on terror is a pretext for attacking their countries and faith. In an interview with the Qatari-based Al-Jazeera satellite Channel, Blair has said that Osama bin Laden, Washington’s main suspect in the attacks against it, is as much of a threat to the Middle East as he is to the West. Blair today said those who carried out the Sept 11 attacks in the US were not only after the loss of civilian lives, but meant to "divide people: Arabs and West; divide Muslims and other faiths; divide people across the world. The international community should send terrorists a clear message: "We will stand united in our fight to see the international terrorism defeated," the British Premier said. Mubarak agreed, "all countries of the world large or small; developed or developing-should be committed to various ways and means to the international campaign toward the elimination of all forms of international terrorism," he said. Mubarak also called for a united stance "against those who are trying to link terrorism to Islam or Arab nation." He said he discussed with Blair measures taken to bring the perpetrators of the attacks to justice and prevent the reoccurrence of similar attacks on the future. (AP) |
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JK Bank net profit up by 40 pc Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 11: Maintaining its growth spree, the operating profits of Jammu and Kashmir Bank Limited for the first half year, ending September 30 last, recorded 49 percent jump to over rupees 186 crore against over 137 crore for the corresponding period of the previous year. The Bank has posted a net profit of Rs 108.47 crore in the first half of this year (Apr-Sep), registering a 40 per cent increase over the corresponding figure (Rs 77.29 crore) of last year. The results were recorded by the Board in its meeting held here. The bank had an operating profit of Rs 186.06 crore, a jump of 49 per cent, it was announced today, it was disclosed during the meeting. The total income of the bank recorded an increase of 32 per cent to Rs 740.33 crore, against Rs 559 crore last year. The total business recorded an increase of 23 per cent during the period. The credit portfolio also registered a growth of 35 per cent, to rupees 4837.21 crore and the the deposits grew by 19 per cent. |
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2700 grenades seized from pro-Taliban tribesman ISLAMABAD, Oct 11: Pakistani authorities have seized more than 2,700 grenades from a Pashtun tribesman who was allegedly planning terrorist attacks in the country to protest against US strikes against Afghanistan, officials here said today. The grenades were seized at Landikotal, a remote town in North West Frontier Province from one Rashid. Rashid had dumped some 2,746 hand grenades in a warehouse in Landikotal, the officials said adding the arsenal was intended to be used for terrorist attacks in major cities. Authorities are investigating as to how Rashid came to obtain such a large number of grenades. Pashtuns, who constituted over 50 per cent of Afghan population are also a large minority in Pakistan. (PTI) |
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Naipaul wins Nobel literature prize STOCKHOLM, Oct 11: Born of Hindu stock in Trinidad Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul won the Nobel literature prize today for works that "compel us to see the presence of suppressed histories," the Swedish academy said. "V S Naipaul is a literary circumnavigator, only ever really at home in himself, in his inimitable voice. "Singularly unaffected by literary fashion and models he has wrought existing genres into a style of his own, in which the customary distinctions between fiction and non-fiction are of subordinate importance," the academy said in its citation. |
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