Residents of Kabul, Afghanistan walk over the rubble of 4 houses as others look on near the airport destroyed by alliance bombing Friday night. (AP/Amir Shah)
Residents of Kabul, Afghanistan walk over the rubble of 4 houses as others look on near the airport destroyed by alliance bombing Friday night. (AP/Amir Shah)

Jet misses target, hits civilian area
Taliban reject second chance offer to surrender Laden
*US resumes bombing of Afghan capital

KABUL, Oct 13: Defiant in the face of a weeklong US-led air assault, the leader of Afghanistan’s Taliban today insisted they’re not surrendering Osama bin Laden. People living in a neighbourhood near Kabul’s airport reported one person killed in a pre-dawn airstrike, and the US later acknowledged that a bomb had gone astray.

The Taliban rebuff of a US offer made earlier in the week - hand him over, and the airstrikes could end - came amid a seventh straight night of air attacks in Kabul, the southern city of Kandahar and Taliban targets in the north of the country.

After nightfall in Kabul, US jets fired at targets in the north of the city, causing earthshaking detonations and sending up huge plumes of smoke. In Kandahar, the Qishla Jadeed military base in the northeastern part of the city was also targeted in night time raids, the private Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) reported in Islamabad, Pakistan.

The Taliban’s supreme leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar, issued a blistering statement late today denouncing the American air campaign and saying there was no move to "hand over anyone."

Americans and their British allies are "making our children orphans and ... making our women widows," he said in a statement distributed by AIP. Appealing to Muslim nations, he said: "Does your fate allow you to remain silent spectators or to support America? we will not accept a life of slavery." Omar, whose compound was repeatedly attacked by US jets this week, rarely appears in public and there is no generally accepted photograph of him. The last time anyone apart from his closest associates is known to has met with Omar was Sept 28 when a delegation of Pakistani clerics and an intelligence General visited him in Kandahar.

Earlier today, people living near Kabul’s airport said one person was killed and four others hurt when their neighborhood of Qala Meer Abass was hit before dawn. Four destroyed houses could be seen in the neighborhood, about 1.6 km from the airport.

"We have no way to rebuild our homes," said Mohammed Shoaib, whose house was one of those wrecked. "What will we do?" In Washington, the Pentagon official acknowledged that a stray bomb had hit a civilian area a mile from the airport. The satellite-guided bomb had been aimed at a helicopter at the airport, it said, blaming a possible "targeting process error." The AIP cited Taliban officials as saying four people had been killed and eight injured, two of them critically.

In Kabul, the lawyer for eight foreign aid workers accused of trying to preach Christianity in Afghanistan made a brief court appearance today, submitting a reply to the charges against them. He also met with the eight defendants -two Americans, two Australians and four Germans - and reported all were well. Another court session was set tomorrow.

Humanitarian groups, meanwhile, were painting an increasingly grim picture of life inside Afghanistan. The United Nations reported that the markets of Kabul were still operating, but food prices were said to be creeping up.

UN spokeswoman Stephanie Bunker said in Islamabad that in one children’s hospital, fewer than half of doctors and one-third of nurses were working. Kabul University was empty of students, teachers had not been paid in two months and the national airline, Ariana, has canceled all domestic flights, she said.

The Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, Afghanistan’s sole remaining envoy to the outside world, told journalists in the Pakistani frontier city of Quetta that he was returning to Afghanistan for consultations.

There was no word on the topic of the planned talks, to be held in the Taliban home base of Kandahar, but the ambassador, Abdul Salam Zaeef, said he would be meeting with Omar.

In addition to the pre-dawn raid on Kabul, Kandahar was targeted in a morning strike. Taliban Information Minister Kudarat Ulla Jamal said Kandahar’s airport was hit, several houses were destroyed and "a lot of people" killed. The claim could not be independently verified.

The United States has said repeatedly that civilians are not being targeted, but ordinary Afghans say they feel afraid.

"Osama...Is not living in the mud houses of poor people," said Mohammed Wali, a Kabul moneychanger. "We should not be attacked."

In neighboring Pakistan, a new confrontation was simmering between the Government and anti-US, pro-Taliban demonstrators.

A radical Islamic leader, Abdullah Shah Mazar, was detained today by authorities in the port city of Karachi, which has been hit by anti-US, pro-Taliban riots in recent days, and hundreds of his followers staged a sit-down strike in protest.

Pakistan, meanwhile, warned foreign journalists against visiting its prohibited border region or traveling to Afghanistan without proper documents.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Riaz Mohammed Khan’s warning was made after two French and one British journalist were arrested slipping into Afghanistan. The Taliban have barred most foreign journalists since the start of the crisis.

In northern Afghanistan, contested territory could be changing hands again. Mohammed Ashraf Nadim, a spokesman for the opposition military alliance, said the rebels had captured an important district in Samanghan province, Gul Dera, and were closing in on other Taliban-controlled areas. Nadim was contacted by telephone from Islamabad.

A report today from the private Islamabad-based Afghan Islamic Press said US warplanes attacked Taliban positions at Pul-e-Khomri, in northern Baghlan province, which has changed hands several times. The US has said it is not targeting the Taliban’s front lines with the rebels.

In rebel-held territory, a senior rebel commander said Pakistan had pressured the US not to hit Taliban front-line positions. Pakistan is supporting the US in the war, but has a hostile relationship with the Northern Alliance. (AP)

3 escape in Pir Panjal heights
6 JeM terrorists shot dead

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, Oct 13: Six terrorists of Tehreek-e-Fuqran, the changed name of Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, were eliminated in a joint operation by the BSF and Poonch Brigade in Pir Panjal range at about 12,000 feet height from sea level this afternoon when they were infiltrating to Kashmir valley. An army jawan was injured.

All slain militants were Pakistanis, Defence sources said, adding three other terrorists escaped during the encounter due to darkness. An operation to eliminate trio will be resumed tomorrow morning, they added.

Sources said BSF and Poonch Brigade jawans intercepted a group of nine terrorists of erstwhile Jaish-e-Mohammed group of Osama bin Laden’s close associate Azhar Masood at Makhyari Dhok in Lunawali Gali of snow bound Pir Panjal range this afternoon. The group of terrorists was heading towards Kashmir valley after infiltration from the Line of Control (LoC).

A heavy exchange of gun fighting started between security personnel and the terrorists around 12 noon today. In the initial fighting, troops eliminated four terrorists while five others managed to escape.

Army and BSF jawans chased the fleeing terrorists and eliminated two of them taking toll to six. Operation to kill three other absconding terrorists was called off late this evening due to darkness in the snow bound mountains of Pir Panjal range.

Operation will be resumed tomorrow morning.

Bodies of slain terrorists, all of whom were Pakistanis, have been recovered from the heights but not brought down to the planes. Six rifles, ammunition, two wireless sets, UBGL and grenades were recovered from the encounter site.

An army jawan sustained minor injuries in the encounter. He has been shifted to a hospital where his condition was stated to be stable.

This was the third operation by army, which was fought on the heights of 12,000 feet from sea level in Pir Panjal ranges. Two previous operations were also highly successful as they led to killings of almost all the terrorists, spotted there.

With the killing of six terrorists, Poonch Brigade jawans have eliminated 16 terrorists during last 10 days.

According to sources, a large quantity of literature was also recovered from slain terrorists, which indicated that they were affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, which had recently changed its name as Tehreek-e-Fuqran following a ban imposed on Jaish by United States and Britain.

The group of nine had crossed over to Indian territory from the Line of Control (LoC) on Thursday night and were heading towards Kashmir valley through Pir Panjal range.

Doda's oldest terrorist among 2 gunned down

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Oct 13: Two terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen including a ‘section commander’, who was one of the few longest surviving terrorists, were gunned down by STF Doda and Rashtriya Rifles in a house at village Kastigarh, about 15 kms from Doda town this morning. Another militant escaped during the gun-battle.

Slain terrorists have been identified as Tariq Hussain, Hizbul Mujahideen’s ‘section commander’ and active in Doda since 1992 and Tanvir Hussain, both locals. Another local ultra Mukhtiar Ahmed managed to flee.

SP Doda Ashkoor Wani and army sources said a report was received early today about the presence of three hardcore local terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit in a house at Kastigarh. Immediately after the report poured in, jawans of STF Doda and 10 Rashtriya Rifles rushed to Kastigarh and surrounded the hideout.

The hiding terrorists opened indiscriminate firing with AK-56 rifles from inside the house on army and police personnel, who retaliated. A heavy exchange of firing followed in which one of the terrorist Mukhtiar Ahmed managed to slip away.

In the first hour of the gun-battle, troops eliminated Tariq Hussain while Tanvir Hussain continued to fight. In the afternoon, the house, where the terrorists had taken positions, caught fire in which Tanvir was roasted alive. House was gutted, the sources said.

They said there were no casualties on police or army side in the exchange of firing that lasted nearly four hours.

Body of Tariq Hussain was recovered from the hideout while body of Tanvir Hussain burnt. An AK-56 rifle, ammunition and grenades in possession of Tanvir were also burnt in the fire. One AK-56 rifle, a wireless set, two grenades, three AK magazines and a diary were recovered from the possession of Tariq.

Sources said Tariq Hussain had recently been elevated by Hizbul Mujahideen leadership as ‘section commander’ of the outfit. Tariq was one of the few oldest surviving terrorists in Doda district.

He had undergone army training in Pakistan in 1992 and returned to Doda in the same year. Since then had been operating in the militancy-infested district. He was involved in a series of killings, kidnappings, attacks on security forces and extortions across the district.

Killing of Tariq Hussain was a big blow to Hizbul Mujahideen outfit, the sources said.

Meanwhile, they said, a massive operation was going on in a surrounding forest area of Kastigarh to eliminate the absconding terrorist Mukhtiar Ahmed. However, he remained untraced.

Taliban fighters unable to launch counter-attack

JABAL-US-SARAJ, (AFGHANISTAN) Oct 13: US strikes on positions of Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban have robbed their fighters of the ability to launch a counter-offensive, opposition Northern Alliance Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah said today.

"In the last one week there have not been any counter-offensives from the Taliban. That is significant," he told a news conference. "They have lost their capacity to launch counter-offensives."

That claim could not be independently verified and the United States has said only that it has robbed the hardline Taliban militia of their command over the skies of landlocked, rugged Afghanistan in its pursuit of Osama bin Laden and his Taliban protectors.

Abdullah said the US strikes had for the first time hit the frontline between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance in the northeastern Taloqan district.

"That was the first bombing in Taloqan and ... Was the first bombing of the front line," he said.

The Northern Alliance, composed of Mujahideen groups thrown out of Kabul by the triumphant Taliban in 1996, has been eagerly hoping that the US strikes will hit the Taliban front lines and thus give them a possible opportunity to try to advance from positions where they have been stuck for years.

Asked about casualties among foreigners fighting for the Taliban, many of them Arabs, Abdullah said that the bases of "foreign friends of the Taliban" had been hit.

"The number of (casualties) should be hundreds not dozens."

The Taliban forces are estimated to number about 45,000, including several thousand foreign fighters, including many from among Arab countries and from Pakistan.

The Taliban has said it estimates the death toll so far from the strikes at around 300, more than half from a single remote village near the eastern city of Jalalabad.

The US-led strikes have not hit the front line directly north of Kabul, where alliance forces have been waiting for years for an opportunity to make an assault on the capital.

Some alliance commanders at the front expressed frustration this week that the Taliban positions facing them have gone unscathed.

However, the United States is likely to keep the Northern Alliance at arm’s length, given the political and military risks of closer links to a ragtag army blamed for destroying Kabul with an internal power sruggle and still deeply unpopular in the Pashtun south.

But regional analysts say Washington has shared intelligence with the Northern Alliance to target Taliban positions accurately during this week’s air strikes.

Abdullah said political considerations were the main reason bedhind any US decision not to attack Taliban front line positions north of Kabul.

"To the best of my knowledge it is an evaluation of the military situation only," he said, although he said he "could not rule out" that political issues had played some role in Washington’s planning.

He denied that alliance forces would delay their own advance on Kabul until a political deal was reached on a post-Taliban Government, and said Washington had not asked the alliance to hold back.

"It (the advance) does not depend on the political (process)," he said.

The alliance has agreed with former King Zahir Shah, deposed in 1973 and now living in exile in Rome, to set up a council that would prepare for a post-Taliban administration.

However, many analysts doubt that any grouping of the king, who comes from the Pashtun majority — as do the Taliban —with the Northern Alliance that is composed of smaller ethnic minorities would produce a sufficiently credible broad base to allow the creation of a new administration. (REUTERS)

Why should Washington fight New Delhi's Srinagar battle?
All militant outfits are 'lawful' in J&K

From Ahmed Ali Fayaz

SRINAGAR, Oct 13: Believe it or not, none of the 130 militant outfits that existed in the State during the last 13 years of turmoil is outlawed in Jammu & Kashmir. Since darkness is the antonym of light, one can easily argue that all militant outfits, operating in the State, are ‘lawful’. The legal position is that even Harkat-ul-Ansar, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammad — which have been declared as "international terrorists" by USA and UK Governments — can lawfully establish their offices, apply for telephone connections and manage their finances in Srinagar, Jammu or any other place in Jammu & Kashmir.

The only hindrance to the overground managers of Kashmir’s militant organisations are provisions of the ‘draconian’ Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) which give unlimited powers and immunity to security forces operating in an area declared as "Disturbed". In absence of other necessary legal provisions — say ban on guerrilla outfits — security forces can take resort to the AFSPA, destroy the offices or kill the office-bearers. At least five separatist activists have already been lifted in broad daylight from the offices of Hurriyat Conference and J&K Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) and all are believed to have been eliminated in custody.

Section 4 of AFSPA is explicit: "Any commissioned officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer, or any other person of equivalent rank in the armed forces may, in a disturbed area, if he is of the opinion that it is necessary so to do, destroy any arms dump, prepared or fortified position or shelter from which armed attacks are made, or are likely to be made, or any structure used as a training camp for armed volunteers or utilised as hideout by armed gangs or absconders wanted for any offence".

While the establishment during the Governor’s and the President’s rule has been simply lackadaisical in invoking ban on the militant outfits, by all indications, it appears that keeping the groups intact and granting them legitimacy has been part of the policy of National Conference (NC) Government in the state and the BJP-led NDA alliance at the Centre — though for varied reasons. Government Jagmohan had banned some militant outfits in 1990 and later in 1997 too the Central Government had imposed ban on one particular group, namely JKLF. But on both the occasions, it proved to be futile as the Government could not convince the designated tribunal.

Besides, it was a matter of irony that Justice Usha Mehra of Delhi High Court, who headed the tribunal, was assigned to see whether the ban, imposed by the Centre, was justified on JKLF. Interestingly, JKLF was — and continues to be — the only militant organisation, which declared a unilateral ceasefire with the security forces, nine years ago and maintained it till date. In today’s date, Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) is the only outlawed organisation but it has neither any cadres nor any structure in Jammu & Kashmir.

Even as over one hundred Kashmiri militant outfits have vanished with the passage of time, it is only Hizbul Mujahideen, which has survived the worst of times. By virtue of its base in pro-Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami, it continues to have well-connected cadre throughout Kashmir valley and Muslim-dominated parts of Jammu division. Hizb too has since wound up its surrogates and subsidiaries.

Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen, Al-Omar Mujahideen, Al-Fatah, Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami and JKIF are the other existing outfits but, according to well-placed sources, none of them has even 50 members. While the Hizb has been lying low since its ceasefire fiasco of July 2000, it is Pakistan-based groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad who have dominated the battlefront with landmine blasts and suicide attacks. Hizb’s Pakistani cousin Al-Badr and Harkat-ul-Ansar’s current avatar Harkat-ul-Mujahideen have also presence in a few localities.

Officials at the State Home Department admitted that there was "little political will" in seeking imposition of ban on the militant outfits. They revealed to EXCELSIOR that the concerned file had been shuttling between Srinagar, New Delhi and Jammu for the last five years without any progress. The State Government’s plea is that the Centre should impose the ban, the way it did in the case of SIMI, as almost all guerrilla groups operating in Jammu & Kashmir were now in movement at New Delhi and other Indian states as well. On the other hand, New Delhi wants Srinagar to bell the cat.

Sources said that USA’s and UK’s imposing ban on Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and now Jaish-e-Mohammad had caused jubilation in New Delhi but, at the same time, it made the Indian Government’s position awkward as neither of these outfits has ever been declared "outlawed" in this country. Even the American State Department officials are said to have pointed out that Indians were crying over the groups which have been "very much lawful" in Srinagar and New Delhi. It was after this embarrassment that a serious exercise has begun to assess the pros and cons of imposing ban on 12 militant and separatist political organisations of Jammu & Kashmir.

The new crackdown on the guerrilla groups, sources said, would mainly concentrate on the real estate, immovable and movable benami properties and financial channels of the groups to be banned. A comprehensive "anti-terrorism law" is likely to be imposed in the form of an ordinance, which would be, later on, ratified in the legislature in the Budget session.

Advani, Farooq on Azhar's hit list
RAW, IB fear strikes in J&K, UP

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Oct 13: India’s premier intelligence agencies, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Intelligence Bureau (IB), anticipate major strikes by three dreaded militant outfits, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen, in the coming days in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh (UP).

A top Government source told EXCELSIOR that the RAW and the IB had, through identical reports, informed the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Union Home Ministry that the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Hizbul Mujahideen had planned to unleash major strikes in J&K and in the communally sensitive towns of UP to avenge India’s support to US military action in Afghanistan.

Following the receipt of this information the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, held consultations with the Minister for Home Affairs, Mr LK Advani, on the question of making available "new" guidelines for the police and other security agencies in the two sensitive States in their campaign against militants and subversives.

The Government source divulged that both Jammu and Kashmir and UP were put on high alert immediately after the Prime Minister told Mr Advani that it was high time to ensure that there was no laxity or complacency on the part of the security agencies in these two States and elsewhere in the country.

The RAW and the IB, it was also revealed, had, in their assessment reports, stated that while the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen had already entrenched themselves in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir, the three terrorist outfits, after having succeeded in registering their presence in Uttar Pradesh during the past few months, were gearing up to strike in communally sensitive towns like Kanpur, Agra, Faizabad, Varanasi and Lucknow.

These three groups, the IB’s report confirmed, attempted to foment trouble in Lucknow as soon as the Government of India declared a ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) last month. The IB’s field intelligence personnel had reported that although quite a few militants belonging to the three groups had been either arrested or killed in encounters in UP in the past six months, there was sufficient evidence to suggest that the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen had developed links with SIMI activists, who provided infrastructural support to them.

The source also revealed that as Ayodhya for obvious reasons remained most vulnerable for terrorist attacks, the UP Government had forwarded a proposal to the Centre to declare Ayodhya into a no-flying zone. It is not unknown that militants belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed made two unsuccessful attempts recently to blow up temples in Ayodhya.

Following the US warning that its war against terrorism could extend to some other countries as well, the RAW, the IB and the UP Government’s intelligence department have hinted at the passage of an unspecified number of militants from Kashmir to UP.

While the RAW’s assessment report contains broad details of the renewed efforts by the Pakistan-sponsored ultras seeking the "end" of the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, the IB’s report, according to the source, talked about the plan of the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Al Qaeda to assassinate Mr LK Advani.

Dr Farooq Abdullah has once again been advised by the Union Home Ministry to be "extra-careful". In fact, the Director-General of J&K Police, Mr Suri, was contacted by a top functionary of the Home Ministry on the "need" to further improve the security cover to the Kashmir Chief Minister.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has also ordered beefing up of security of Mr Advani. This follows the unearthing of the assassination plot, which was to have been executed on September 23 during Mr Advani’s visit to Lucknow.

Advani hails ban on Jaish

AGRA, Oct 13: Home Minister L K Advani today welcomed the US and British decision to freeze the assets of Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed and demanded that countries providing refuge to terrorists should be treated as "untouchable and terrorist states".

In an obvious reference to Pakistan, he said "it is not the terrorist organisations which are a threat. It is state-sponsored terrorism that is a threat. Militant terrorist outfits such as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba and JeM cannot match the might of the Indian state".

Addressing the golden jubilee National Convention of BJP’s Youth Wing (BJYM) near here, he said the American and British decision showed that international community has now begun recognising the threat from state sponsored terrorism India had been countering for nearly two decades.

The Home Minister said any country that sponsored terrorism as part of state policy was bound to be isolated by the world community.

He said India should not expect others to solve the problem in Jammu and Kashmir. "It is an internal problem that India will tackle with its own might," he asserted.

Stating that the international situation had drastically changed after the Indo-Pak summit here three months back, he said Pakistan which had refrained from signing the Agra declaration over inclusion of a reference to cross border terrorism, has condemned the terrorist attack on Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly on October one.

Advani said the world has begun to recognise that terrorism was a curse for the entire global mankind. "It is a new type of war being waged now."

While Britain and US had faced two world wars, it was the first time that US had been made a target of unprecedented terrorist strike on its own soil.

Saudi terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda oufit, the prime suspect behind the Sept 11 attacks in US, were closely associated with terrorist groups in Jammu and Kashmir as was evident from recovery of Laden’s photographs from apprehended and killed terrorists, Advani said.

He warned that Government will not spare those trying to cause disturbance in the country in collusion with anti-national forces. He said there was evidence that the banned Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) was involved in bomb blasts and other terrorist acts.

Advani said India should learn lessons from the conduct of American leadership, lawmakers, media and common man in the face of September 11 strikes.

Union Ministers Sushma Swaraj, Venkaiah Naidu, Ananth Kumar, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Rajnath Singh, UP State unit president Kalraj Mishra, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, former party president Kushabhau Thakre and other senior party leaders were present at the convention as well as over 60,000 party activists from all over the country. (PTI)

Rifles, pistols haul in R S Pura area

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 13: The Border Security Force (BSF) today effected recovery of a huge consignment of arms and ammunition from forward village of Dewangarh in RS Pura sector, where a suspected group of four to six terrorists reportedly escaped.

Official sources said a group of border villagers spotted few large bags lying close to the International Border in Dewangarh village early today and sounded a nearby BSF picket. BSF soldiers reached the village and seized the consignment.

Recovery included four AK-56 rifles, four Chinese pistols, four AK magazines, three pistol magazines, a huge quantity of ammunition of AK rifles and pistols and explosive material. BSF jawans fanned out in the border village and launched a search operation for the terrorists but latter remained untraced.

Sources said the infiltrating terrorists abandoned the consignment in a field in view of security forces movement ahead. They had to pick up the consignment sometime during night hours but before that it was spotted by local people and seized by security personnel.

Local people anticipated that terrorists either escaped back to Pakistan after observing movement of BSF or were hiding somewhere in the forward villages. BSF and Border police have intensified patrolling along suspected infiltration route of the terrorists.

Recovery of four rifles and four pistols (besides ammunition) indicated that number of terrorists could be between four to six, the sources said. Nevertheless, they observed, the terrorists have been rendered handicapped with the recovery of their entire consignment including AK rifles.

However, Pakistan army continued unprovoked firing on the International Border at most of the places in Jammu and Kathua districts last night.

A civilian Baldev Raj son of Roop Lal Arya was injured in Pakistani firing at Rathua in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district late last night. Injured has been referred to Medical College hospital in Jammu.

Firing was replied by the BSF silencing Pakistani guns after about half an hour long exchange of firing.

Other forward villages, where exchange of firing took place between Indo-Pak troops, included Manyari, Chor Gali, Rathore, Dulma Chak, Mangu Chak, Sadhey Chak, Regal and Chander Chak in district Kathua, Pindi, Pital Post, Jabowal, Mehta Post, Kote Kuba, Zero Point, SH Way, Budhwar, Sangral, Mangral, Korotana, Khurd, Abdullian, Khatmarian, Joura Farm, Nawa Pind, Gharana, Gharani, Kandral, SM Pura, Narayanpur, Ratwal, Chamblayal, Suchetgarh, Kullian, Ghallar and Faqira Chak in Jammu district.

Another son of Omar dies

ISLAMABAD, Oct 13: Another son of Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Omar died of the wounds received in US bombings, according to Pakistan daily ‘The News’.

The other day, Omar lost another son. Omar’s daughter, one of four wives and several Omar’s relatives were wounded in US attack, Novosti said.

The newspaper reports that the total number of air raids victims exceeded 200. According to the data provided by Taliban Consul General in Peshawar Maulavi Najibullah, the hospital of Jalalabad received 45 wounded. Most of victims originate from the village of Kuz Kukham located near Jalalabad.

Meanwhile, another daily ‘Pakistan Observer’ reported that Mullah Mohammad Omar, his son, father, as well as all his relatives were safe and sound and in a safe place. Taliban also denied that its commanders have defected to the Northern Alliance.

The newspaper reports that approximately 10,000 Taliban troops have been deployed on the Afghan-Uzbek border. (UNI)

Abdullah Ansari eliminated

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Oct 13: A hardcore foreign mercenary Abdullah Ansari was shot dead by army tonight in Koteranka area of this district after two hour long operation.

Abdullah Ansari was affiliated with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit and was operating in Koteranka for last four months. He hailed from Gujranwala, Pakistan. One AK rifle and a hand grenade was recovered from his possession. Two associates of Ansari escaped during the encounter.

Move to re-induct George draws flak

NEW DELHI, Oct 13: The reported move to reinduct Samata Party leader George Fernandes into the Cabinet today drew sharp political criticism amidst reports that the former Defence Minister may be given some responsibility that directly does not place him in the Cabinet.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee held several rounds of discussions with party leaders and others including Fernandes reportedly on the proposed expansion of the Cabinet on Monday.

Home Minister L K Advani and former BJP president Kushabhau Thakre came from Agra, where they had gone to attend the golden jubilee convention of BJP’s youth wing - BJYM— to attend a dinner at the Prime Minister’s residence where Vajpayee held informal consultations with them on the issue.

Speculation was rife that Fernandes, who has been restive being outside the Government, may be made the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, a post which enjoys Cabinet rank but does not have any ministerial responsibilities.

This is being planned to counter opposition attack that a person under cloud in the wake of Tehelka expose cannot be reinducted into the Cabinet without being absolved by a commission of inquiry set up to go into the issue. Fernandes had resigned in March after the expose.

However, with a Cabinet rank the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman also attends Cabinet meetings as a special invitee and meetings of key Cabinet committees like the one on security.

The Planning Commission job is likely to fall vacant with the move to make the incumbent K C Pant the new Defence Minister to lighten the dual responsibility held by External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh.

Monday’s exercise may also see Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain being shifted to some other portfolio in the wake of criticism over the handling of the recent ‘hijack’ fiasco.

Meanwhile, opposition parties attacked reported moves to reinduct Fernandes saying it showed utter disregard to propriety and insult to judicial commission going into the Tehelka expose.

Congress went one step further to demand filing of an FIR against Fernandes in connection with the arms deal expose.

The Left parties opposed any move to reinduct Fernandes into the Cabinet saying it will be a blow to the fight against corruption in high places.

The CPI-M and the CPI, in separate statements, said such a step would also go against the Government’s assurance that Fernandes, who quit as Defence Minister in the wake of the Tehelka expose, would be reinstated only after the judicial commission clears him.

The Prime Minister’s meeting with Fernandes assumes significance in the wake of reports that the Samata Party leader might rejoin the Government in the backdrop of BJP rehabilitating its disgraced former president Bangaru Laxman, who was made Chairman of a Parliamentary Committee on Housing on Thursday.

Sources said that just as Laxman was rehabilitated, in the same manner Fernandes might be given the job of Planning Commission Deputy Chairman which is of Cabinet rank but without ministerial responsibilties.

The former Defence Minister had yesterday welcomed Laxman’s appointment in the Rajya Sabha Committee saying whoever had appointed him had done a good job. (PTI)

Major tragedy averted

SRINAGAR, Oct 13: A major tragedy was averted with timely detection of a powerful IED on Baramulla-Uri road today, an official spokesman said.

Road Opening Party of the security forces averted a possible tragedy when they detected a powerful IED planted by militants near Peernia on Baramulla-Uri road in north Kashmir today, he said. The deadly device was defused.

Police recovered body of an employee of Power Development Department near Baba Faridauddin shrine at Garkote in border town of Uri in Baramulla district, he said.

Militants kidnapped a person from his house at Lawaypora in Baramulla early today, the spokesman said. (PTI)

CBI team for Dubai to track dons

NEW DELHI, Oct 13: A joint team of senior CBI and Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials will leave for Dubai next week to seek the help of authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in tracking down underworld dons, involved in crimes in Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata and other parts of India.

The high-level team, led by IB Joint Director T Sivanandan, is carrying a list of underworld dons, staying in various parts of UAE, who are sought by courts in India for trial in cases including the 1993 Bombay serial blasts , CBI officials said.

The names of Dawood Ibrahim and his cousin Chotta Shakeel, the prime suspects behind the serial blasts, do not find a place in the list as they are reportedly hiding in Pakistan.

Sources in the CBI confirmed visit of the team to Dubai. They said the discussions with UAE officials assumes significance as this is the first time that a wide spectrum of issues concerning the underworld operations from Dubai would be taken up with the Gulf country.

The team is understood to be carrying with them dossiers of several criminals who are wanted for a variety of offences in India and who have been sighted in various parts of West Asia in recent times.

The information on the whereabouts of these men has been passed on to the Interpol as well.

The sources said the dossiers would include the offence list of the criminals along with photographs and the places where they have been sighted in recent times.

The dossiers are being carried out to convince the authorities in UAE of the involvement of about 25 criminals.

In the past when the Indian teams have visited Dubai to seek the extradition of Dawood Ibrahim, Annes and Chhota Shakeel, they had to return empty handed with the local administration denying the presence of the wanted men in the country despite proof offered by the Indians.

The sources say that the Interpol’s red corner alerts have already been sounded for the wanted men and the interpol’s branch in Dubai has issued a look out notice at various airports.

However, without the assistance of the local authorities it would be difficult to arrest any of the criminals.(UNI)

Pak arrests JeM leader

KARACHI, Oct 13: Pakistan police said today they had arrested a fourth Islamist party leader with links to the Jaish-e-Mohammad group which has been named on a US terrorist watchlist.

Some 300 extremists blocked a main road here today in protest at the arrest of Tehreek-al-Furqan leader Abdullah Shah Mazhar on charges of displaying weapons in public during violent anti-US demonatrations.

Washington yesterday froze Jaish-e-Mohammad’s assets, along with 39 other suspected terrorists and their supporters which were added to a list of groups and individuals whose funds should be blocked.

US President George W Bush had already issued to US institutions on September 24 an initial list of 27 individuals and organizations whose funds must be blocked, also warning overseas banks to follow suit.

Police said Mazhar, a former Jaish leader who recently set up his own group, was detained as more than 20,000 radicals rampaged through the streets of this southern city yesterday in opposition to the US-led bombing of Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban militia.

"Mazhar was arrested for violating a Government ban on the display of weapons," police officer Ali Raza told AFP.

He is the fourth Pakistani Islamist Party leader to have been arrested in the past week, but the first with any link to groups on the US lists.

Two faction chiefs of Pakistan’s fundamentalist Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) and a leader of Sunni sectarian extremist group Sipah-i-Sahaba have also been arrested to prevent violent pro-Taliban protests. (AFP)

Close shave for Jet passengers

SRINAGAR, Oct 13: About 150 passengers, including two Jammu and Kashmir Ministers, on board a Jet-airways plane flying the Srinagar-Jammu route had a narrow escape after one of its engines was damaged in a bird hit.

The plane, which took the hit mid-air shortly after leaving Srinagar airport at 1430 hrs, flew back from near Banihal, official sources told UNI.

Sources said one of the engines was badly damaged.

Works Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister of State for Home Khalid Najeeb Soharwardy and Director of Information K B Jandial were among the passengers.

A passenger said all of them started praying after the pilot announced he was returning to Srinagar.(UNI)

Musharraf was on the board of Rabita Trust

WASHINGTON, Oct 13: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf was until recently on the board of Rabita Trust, whose assets have been frozen by the US and UK for its links with Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda network.

The Bush administration officials had warned Musharraf about the impending action and "encouraged him to disassociate himself from what they described as its founder’s links to Al Qaeda", media reports said today.

However, to spare embarrassment to Musharraf who is under attack by fundamentalist Islamists calling for holy war against America, the Treasury Department only reveals where the Trust is based, the New York Times reported.

It simply says about the Trust that it is "led by Wael Hamza Jalaidan, a founder of Al Qaeda and its chief of logistics.

The Rabita Trust, the paper said, has helped resettle refugees from Bangladesh to Pakistan for three decades.

"It enjoys top-level connections in Pakistan, including General Musharraf’s support. But administration oficials said its secretary general, Wael Hamza Jalaidan, was an original founder of Al Qaeda along with bin Laden," the paper says quoting the officials.

However, a spokesman for the Pakistani embassy in Washington said he had no information about Musharraf’s links to the ‘charity.’

Also on the list is Yasin Al-Qadi, a Saudi businessman who has run a foundation with trustees that have included some of the kingdom’s most prominent families. It has funneled millions of dollars from Saudi businesses to bin Laden, according to the Treasury Department.

Although the administration consulted with European allies before proceeding with the latest names, the paper said, it did not alert Saudi Arabia ahead of time.

The list was released as Saudi Arabia is trying to walk a fine line between its alliance with the US and its commitment of a stark interpretation of Islam.

The paper says the "new list puts increased pressure on both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, two countries whose help the US has solicited in its war against terrorism, to move against some of their own citizens and financial institutions.

Until now, the administration’s strategy in attacking the finances of terrorism has been to ‘pick the lower hanging fruit in the beginning,’ according to one official. The new list, however, ups the ante by naming individuals and groups tied to countries considered vital to the alliance." (PTI)
 

 

 

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