Srinagar blast accused's arrest sought
PM says no to talks with Pak

NEW DELHI, Oct 17: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said he has made it clear to the US that Kashmir was not "central" to the relationship between India and Pakistan and Secretary of State Colin Powell also "amended" his views.

Powell was "categorically told that we do not agree that Kashmir is a central issue .... He has also made some amendment in his views," Vajpayee, who had a meeting with the Secretary of State earlier in the day, told reporters after a book release function at his residence.

Maintaining that there was no proposal for an immediate dialogue with Pakistan, the Prime Minister said India is ready to discuss the Kashmir issue as part of the composit dialogue process but will not accept it as a pre-condition.

"We want a solution to this issue (Kashmir) without which our relations with Pakistan may not improve ... We are ready for talks on the issue, but it cannot be a condition," Vajpayee said.

The Prime Minister said though India was also keen to resolve the Kashmir problem, there were other problems that should be discussed with Pakistan.

The Prime Minister said India wanted to continue the dialogue process with Pakistan "but all discussions finally boil down to Kashmir".

"We went to Lahore and then invited him (President Pervez Musharraf) to Agra ....I also had a telephonic discussion with him recently. But finally he would come down to Kashmir," he said.

Asked to comment on the "pro-Pakistan tilt" of the US as Washington required Islamabad’s help in its war against the Taliban regime, Vajpayee said "Agar Kaante Se Kaanta Nikala Ja Sakta Hai To Koi Harz Nahin. Shart Yeh Hai Ki Donon Kaanto Ko Baad Mein Phenk Diya Jaaye (if a thorn can remove another thorn, there is nothing wrong. But the condition should be that both are thrown away later)."

He said the American position now clearly showed Washington was serious about India’s genuine concerns about checking terrorism worldwide.

Vajpayee asked Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to arrest and handover to India the terrorists who claimed to have carried out the suicide bomb attack on the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on October one, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh said here today.

Disclosing this at a function here, Singh said when Musharraf had called Vajpayee on the phone and condemned what he called an "act of terrorism", Vajpayee told him that the next logical step was to arrest those who claimed to have done it (Jaish-e-Muhammad), apprehend them, arrest them and hand them over to India.

"He (Musharraf) said he would order an inquiry into it," Singh added. (PTI)

Demands ban on Jaish, Laskhar, Hizb
Farooq meets Advani, George; lauds troops

NEW DELHI, Oct 17: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today met Union Home and Defence Ministers to discuss the present situation in the State besides raising the demand for banning some more terrorist outfits.

During his meeting with L K Advani, Abdullah stressed the need for banning of terrorist outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashker-e-Toiba.

"The militant outfits need to be banned immediately and their actions should be exposed through a concerted campaign within democratic and civilised countries," Abdullah told PTI after the meetings.

While stating that their banning by India would lead to curbing of violence perpetrated by them in the State, Abdullah said "the world should now realise that iron hand was the need of hour to stamp out the menace of terrorism around the globe."

"We had been talking about the basic nefarious designs of terrorism for over one decade but the world realised the outcry only after innocent civilians in the United States fell prey to such dangerous people, who are a curse on humanity," Abdullah said.

The Chief Minister also discussed the statement of the US Secretary of State Colin Powell in Pakistan yesterday with Advani.

The Chief Minister expressed serious concern about the border skirmishes in the State. "The (retaliatory) action of the Indian army earlier this week was good but not adequate to teach a lesson," Abdullah said.

During his meeting with George Fernandes, Abdullah told him that there were enough reports to suggest that Pakistan’s ISI would be pushing in more infilitrators into the Valley.

"The Defence Minister has assured me that extra vigil will be maintained to thwart any such attempt," Abdullah said after meeting Fernandes for the first time after the latter assumed the charge as Defence Minister on October 15 for the second time.

Expressing satisfaction over the two meetings, Abdullah said "the Centre has assured the State of all possible help."

About other issues, the Chief Minister said "since the Power Minister (Suresh Prabhu) is not in the country, I have sought help from the Home Minister to improve the power condition in the State."

"He (Advani) has assured me that he would ensure that the power situation is improved," he said.

Dr Farooq Abdullah lauded the action taken by Indian security forces on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu region on October 15, in which 12 Pakistani posts were destroyed, and said India had at last shown some teeth.

"I have been advocating a pro-active policy on Jammu and Kashmir for a long time and I appreciate the action that security forces have taken now," he told reporters after a 20-minute meeting with Home Minister L K Advani.

Expressing concern over the remarks by US Secretary of State Colin Powell in Pakistan that "Kashmir is central to Indo-Pak relations" Dr Abdullah said such statements at this juncture, when India was fighting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, were a cause of worry. He said he had also discussed the issue with the Home Minister.

The Chief Minister, who was accompanied by his Power Minister, said he had apprised the Home Minister about the acute power shortage in the State and sought Central intervention. (UNI)

Taliban frontline hit for first time
US troops land near Kandahar
*Mullah Omar vows to defeat big infidels

TEHRAN, Oct 17: US infantry landed from helicopters today near Kandahar in southwest Afghanistan, stronghold of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar and suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden, Iranian state radio said, reports AFP.

"Informed sources report that US helicopters from the Pakistani-Afghan border have entered Afghan territory and deployed troops around Kandahar", a radio correspondent said.

"It’s the second part of the American operation on Afghan soil, which started this morning," it added.

The radio did not give an exact number of US troops to have disembarked or of helicopters used in the operation.

Iranian television later cited witnesses saying there were "exchanges of fire between Taliban forces and American soldiers near Kandahar."

However, neither Washington nor London would comment on any of the information, and the reports could not be independently confirmed.

In Kabul, US-led forces pounded Taliban frontline positions for the first time today in apparent preparation for ground attacks, as the bombing campaign came under the critical spotlight and aid agencies called for a pause.

The Afghan capital, and the main cities of Jalalabad and Kandahar were all subject to sustained day and night raids.

In Kandahar, where the onslaught was described as particularly ferocious, Taliban officials claimed 20 civilians had been killed, including an entire family who were wiped out as they tried to flee the southern city in a truck.

The Taliban also claimed two clinics in the city, the militia’s main base, had been hit, a day after the United States admitted mistakenly bombing a Red Cross warehouse in Kabul.

A UN spokesman in Islamabad said a US bomb scored a "direct hit" on a boys school in Kabul today, but failed to explode.

"It was however fused and could explode," spokesman Hasan Ferdous said. It was not known if any children were in the school at the time of the attack.

A group of six international aid agencies called for a pause in airstrikes to allow food supplies to be delivered before the severe Afghan winter begins.

"It is evident now that we cannot, in reasonable safety, get food to hungry people," Oxfam director Barbara Stocking said.

Oxfam international joined Britain’s Islamic relief, Christian aid, Cafod, Tear Fund and Action Aid in the appeal.

The United Nations estimates 50,000 tonnes of food must get into Afghanistan in the next month to stop tens of thousands of people starving this winter. Only 10,000 tonnes have made it in the last month.

Residents of Kabul reported today that an AC-130 had been involved in attacks on the capital for the first time.

As if to prove he was still alive, Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, a resident of Kandahar, issued his first public statement since Saturday and predicted the US forces would be defeated.

"Everyone has to die one day. We are not afraid of dying and we should die as Muslims," Omar said in a message over the Taliban’s internal wireless network, according to the Afghan Islamic Press.

"We have fought against the Russians and this is another jihad against infidels. It is a test. People are in pain but god will grant them success."

Kabul was rocked by bombs throughout the day and night as wave after wave of US planes flew over the shell-shocked capital. Huge clouds of dust were seen to the southeast after a historic walled fort used as a military base by the Taliban was attacked.

To the north massive plumes of smoke could be seen as fuel depots burned out of control after raids on the 16th Taliban army division.

Two bases south of Jalalabad in the east were also bombarded but the Taliban claimed they had been empty and there were no casualties.

The opposition reported the US also had mounted the first attacks on two Taliban frontline positions north of Kabul, including close to the Bagram airbase 50 km from here, but voiced disappointment at what they termed purely symbolic attacks.

The frontlines north of Kabul have been in stalemate for years.

In the far north, senior opposition spokesman Mohammad Habeel said the Taliban had launched a major offensive east from the strategic city of Mazar-i-Sharif, where the heavily bombed airport had become a no-man’s land in recent days.

"They are backed by 70 vehicles including tanks and pickups. Severe fighting is going on," he said via satellite phone.

The opposition northern alliance, otherwise known as the United Front, has been fighting the Taliban since being ousted from the capital Kabul in 1996.

It has promised to cooperate with the US-led military action to end the Taliban’s support for alleged terrorist Osama bin Laden, blamed for the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

But it has complained that it cannot do anything on the ground until the Taliban’s frontline positions are softened.

"The bombs hit a Taliban base, and a convoy of at least three cars were also completely destroyed," the opposition’s General Baba Jan told reporters at the frontlines.

"But do you think three bombs will make much of a difference?"

India, US sign treaty on terrorism

NEW DELHI, Oct 17: India and the United States today signed a treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters to strengthen bilateral cooperation in law enforcement and counter-terrorism measures.

The treaty was signed by Home Minister L K Advani and visiting US Secretary of State Colin Powell. It aims at enhancing the ability of the two countries to pursue their common objective of law enforcement by putting in place a regularised channel.

The new agreement will improve implementation of the bilateral extradition treaty that came into force on July 21, 1999.

During discussions between the two delegations prior to the signing of the treaty, the two sides expressed determination to double their efforts to eradicate the scourge of terrorism and use the treaty as an instrument to this end. The two sides were of the view that the "political offence" exception to mutual legal assistance should not apply to violent terrorist attacks against non-combatant targets.

The treaty provides a broader legal basis and enhanced procedural mechanisms to enable both countries to provide assistance in connection with the investigation, prosecution, prevention and suppression of serious crimes.

"The United States and India look forward to bringing this important treaty into force in the near future and strengthen their cooperation in law enforcement," an official statement said.

Later, the visiting dignitary met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. His other engagements included meetings with Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Brajesh Mishra and leader of the opposition Sonia Gandhi.

Mr Powell arrived here yesterday from Islamabad on a two-day visit to India in the midst of US-led ‘war on terrorism’ that has led to bombing of suspected terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan since October seven.

In has hington, the US has said that there was no change in Washington’s Kashmir policy and Secretary of State Colin Powell was not advocating creation of an independent Islamic state out of Kashmir when he talked about taking into account "aspirations" of the people to resolve the problem.

"We will continue to have the same policy on Kashmir that we had for so many years, and that is the two sides (India and Pakistan) need to resolve this peacefully....And that the way to do that is through dialogue," State Department Spokesman Philip Reeker told reporters yesterday.

He said that it was "important for all sides to reduce the violence and try to pursue a dialogue."

When asked whether such statements by the US do not amount to reward Pakistan, Reeker said "we have made clear statements ... About denouncing the behaviour of those who have perpetrated terrorist attacks like those made in Srinagar."

Asked if Powell was endorsing the idea of an independent Muslim state when he talked in Islamabad about the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, Reeker emphatically said "no".

"This is not about Kashmir mediation but, as we have said all along, we encourage the two sides to take into account the views of the people of Kashmir", he said.

When a reporter further pressed that "aspirations" seems to imply that US was recognising that people there were unhappy with their present setup, the spokesman shot back "I think you are overimplying something based on a transcript of the Secretary’s press conference" in Islamabad.

He said that US has encouraged both India and Pakistan to help pursue dialogue. "We have said that restraint on all sides will facilitate prospects for the dialogue to produce positive results." (Agencies)

FBI, CIA benefit from RAW's inputs

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI: The US Administration has called for "quiet" investigations by America’s intelligence establishment in close cooperation with its allies outside the United States of a set of reports, all accusing Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of having played its role while facilitating the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Even as Pakistan President and military ruler, Gen. Parvez Musharraf, has tried to divert Washington’s attention by sacking the ISI chief, Gen. Mehmood Ahmed, America’s FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) seem determined to investigate the allegations against the ISI.

The FBI investigators have come across what has been termed as the "most damaging evidence" vis-à-vis the former ISI chief’s connection with Omar Sheikh, the Pakistan-born British national, who was released by the Government of India along with Masood Azhar and Mushtaq Zargar towards the end of 1999 to seek the freedom of passengers of the hijacked plane of Indian Airlines at Kandahar in Afghanistan.

The FBI investigators are reported to have conceded that India’s inputs proved to be "vital". A highly-placed intelligence source told EXCELSIOR that the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) provided the critical lead, which was vigorously pursued by the FBI investigators in Pakistan for more than 10 days until the cat was out of the bag.

The critical lead, the source elaborated, was the cellphone number of Omar Sheikh. In the initial stages, America’s intelligence establishment was found having certain reservations on India’s inputs. The scenario changed after the RAW made available Omar Sheikh’s cellphone number-0300 94587772.

The FBI’s examination of the hard disk of the cellphone company Omar Sheikh had subscribed to led to the discovery of the "link" between him and the deposed chief of the Pakistani ISI, Gen. Mehmood Ahmed. And as the FBI investigators delved deep, sensational information surfaced with regard to the transfer of 100,000 dollars to Mohammed Atta, one of the Kamikaze pilots who flew his Boeing into the World Trade Centre. Gen. Mehmood Ahmed, the FBI investigators found, fully knew about the transfer of money to Atta.

Atta graduated from Cairo University’s engineering department in 1990, but his degree meant little in a country where thousands of college graduates were unable to find good jobs. Though Mohammed Atta, as reported by New York Times, found work with a German company in Cairo, his father convinced him that only an advanced degree from abroad would allow him to prosper in Egypt. Soon he was headed to Hamburg Technical University on a scholarship.

Atta’s academic focus was Arab cities, specifically preserving them in the face of Western style development. According to the American publication, Atta arrived in June 2000 at Newark International Airport in New Jersey and would spend the next 15 months in nearly perpetual motion, earning a pilot’s license in Florida in the last six months of 2000, then spending the first nine months of 2001 travelling across the country and at least twice to Europe.

For much of 2001, Atta, as reported by Western media, appeared to make important contacts with other hijackers or conspirators. He travelled twice to Spain, in January and July, and officials are investigating whether he met with Al Qaeda contacts. He also used Florida as a base to move around the United States and made trips to places including Atlanta, where he rented a plane; New Jersey, where he may have met other hijackers, and Las Vegas at least twice.

The CIA as well as the FBI investigators, report said, had accepted Indian intelligence community’s inputs that it was with the full support of the former ISI chief (Gen. Mehmood Ahmed) that Omar Sheikh and Masood Azhar launched Jaish-e-Mohammed after the Kandahar hijacking episode. The FBI investigators, reports added, had also come across evidence with regard to the contact the two militants had developed with Osama bin Laden after their release.

Omar Sheikh languished in the Meerut district jail in Uttar Pradesh for over three years in a TADA case before he was moved to Delhi’s Tihar Jail, and eventually released. The FBI investigators are presently collecting every strand of information on Omar Sheikh.

Omar was seen in Karachi a fortnight before the September 11 strikes. America’s intelligence community as well as India’s RAW treat him as the "crucial link" in the probe into the September 11 attacks. He has gone underground since the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon. Is he hiding in Afghanistan?

BSF soldier hurt in IED blast
Jawan, Afghan terrorist killed

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 17: An army jawan and a terrorist were killed and two other soldiers were injured in two separate encounters in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district early today.

In other incidents, a BSF jawan was wounded in an IED explosion in hilly Dharamkund area of Udhampur. A civilian was shot at and seriously injured by the terrorists in Hari Mehrot, Surankot.

Official sources said a joint patrol party of army and police was carrying out a search operation in Upper Ari village in Mendhar tehsil in early hours of this morning following reports on the movement of terrorists there.

At about 0700 hours today, the terrorists hiding inside the Ziarat of Mardan Ali Shah opened firing on security personnel, who fired back. In the exchange of firing that followed one army jawan was killed and two others were injured.

The terrorists, however, managed to escape towards a forest area. Deceased army jawan has been identified as Sepoy Sham Raj. Two injured soldiers have been hospitalised. Condition of one of them was stated to be critical.

Enforcement of army was rushed to Upper Ari immediately after the encounter to search the absconding terrorists, who numbered between six to eight and were believed to be foreign mercenaries. They remained untraced.

An Afghan terrorist was eliminated by army in general area of Sarhoti in Mendhar tehsil today. His identity couldn’t be established. Recovery made from him included one AK-56 rifle, one magazine, 12 rounds, four hand grenades, one ruck sack and a pouch.

Meanwhile, a powerful explosion, triggered by an IED, rocked village Sumb in Dharamkund area of Udhampur at 0900 hours today. The blast targeted a BSF patrol party.

A BSF jawan J Yousuf sustained splinter injuries in the IED blast while his other colleagues in the patrol party had a narrow escape. Security personnel carried out a search operation in the village to track down the saboteurs involved in planting IED. However, no arrest could be made immediately.

The injured BSF jawan has been shifted to hospital.

Sources said the explosion took place when a BSF jawan walked over the IED planted under a kucha road.

In another militancy-related incident, a civilian was shot at and seriously injured by the ultras in his house at village Hari Mehrot in Surankot tehsil of Poonch district late last night. Injured civilian has been identified as Mohd Shaffi son of Peer Bakar, a resident of Hari Mehrot.

According to sources, two terrorists entered into Mohd Shaffi’s house late last night and shot at Mohd Shaffi with a revolver. As Shaffi fell down, the terrorists presumed him dead and fled away. Injured Shaffi was shifted to sub district hospital of Surankot, where he was responding to treatment.

Surankot police was investigating the case. The ultras involved in shoot-out were suspected to be locals but they hadn’t been identified.

5 militants killed in Valley

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 17: Security forces have eliminated at least five militants in three separate gunbattles in Kashmir valley since last evening.

Informed sources in north Kashmir told EXCELSIOR that, on the basis of a specific information, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 14th Bn and SOG conducted a search operation at Kunan Babagund, in Bandipore area today. During the operation, fierce exchange of gunfire took place between the two sides in which two unidentified militants got killed. Their identity cards, purportedly issued in Muzzafarabad, identified them as Irfan Ahmed Shah, radio code Nasir, S/o Abdul Majeed Shah R/o Kunan Babagund and Owais Ahmed S/o Ghulam Hassan. Two AK-56 rifles and four hand grenades were recovered from the spot.

A civilian, namely Basharat Hassan Lone S/o Ghulam Hassan Lone sustained injuries in the encounter and he was rushed to a hospital.

Last evening, troops of RR 35 Bn raided a militant hideout at Kangipora in Chadoura area. Exchange of gunfire took place between the militants and security forces in which one unidentified militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba got killed. Documents, seized from the site of encounter, described him as Qari. Residential house of Ghulam Hassan Bhat suffered damage in the gunbattle.

Troops of RR 34 Bn and SOG Baramulla conducted a search operation at Aboora village in Tangmarg-Beerwah belt of central Kashmir today. During the operation, heavy exchange of gunfire took place between the militants and security forces in which two Pakistani cadres of Jaish-e-Mohammad got killed. According to the documents seized, they were Abdur Rehman alias Gulail Khan and Gulla Khan, both residents of Pakistan.

Residents insisted that two more militants of the group managed to hide and escape.

Pak claim of troops build-up absurd: Jaswant

NEW DELHI, Oct 17: India tonight termed as "absurd and totally wrong" Pakistani claim about movement of Indian troops along the border and said only re-adjustment of forces had been undertaken in Northern Command to deal with infiltration attempts which were continuing unabated.

"They (Pakistani claims) are absurd and totally wrong," External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh told reporters after delivering the first Tej Bahadur Sapru Lecture here.

Describing the claims as "complete fabrication", an External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said, "there is no truth in it. The spokesman of the Pakistani side has to exercise restraint."

Meanwhile, a senior Defence Ministry official said, "no additional troops or air assests have been moved to Jammu and Kashmir. There have only been routine turn over of units to deal with infiltration attempt, which have not reduced".

Dismissing claims of Indian troop build-up made by Pakistani defence spokesman Maj Gen Rashid Qureshi in Islamabad, the official said "adjustments had been carried out, as usual, every year, before the onset of winter and as per requirement of counter-insurgency measures".

Gen Qureshi, claiming movement of Indian troops on the border, had said Pakistani forces were on a state of high alert and "reserve the right to retaliate any action of aggression by India". (PTI)

Taliban offer to hand over Laden: Report

LONDON, Oct 17: A senior Minister of Afghanistan’s Taliban regime has offered to hand over terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden during a secret meeting with officials of CIA and ISI in Islamabad, a media report said here today.

For the first time, the Taliban offered to hand over bin Laden for trial in a country other than the US without asking to see evidence first in return for a halt to the Western bombing of his country, the Guardian daily said quoting senior Pakistani officials sources.

Taliban Foreign Minister Mullah Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil, considered a relatively moderate figure, met officials from the CIA and ISI in Islamabad on Monday but US officials appear to have dismissed the proposal, the report said quoting a source "close to Pakistan’s military leadership.’

According to the report, US officials pressed the Taliban Minister for a sweeping change in the Kabul regime. "They are trying to persuade him to get the moderate elements together," the report said adding they are also hoping to engineer a split within the Taliban leadership.

Muttawakil’s visit coincided with the arrival of the US Secretary of State Colin Powell to Islamabad.

The Taliban Foreign Minister asked for face-to-face talks with Powell but no direct meeting was held. According to the report, Muttawakil returned to Kabul last night and the Taliban have publicly denied he was ever in Islamabad. (PTI)

New Govt after eliminating Al Qaeda: US

NEW DELHI, Oct 17: US Secretary of State Colin Powell today said a new Government would be installed in Afghanistan only after the elimination of Al Qaeda terrorists there.

"Only after the terrorists are gone, there can be a new Government in Kabul, Mr Powell said while addressing a joint press conference here with External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh.

Mr Powell’s statement comes amid speculations across the world that the US would first install a new Government in Afghanistan and then carry on its hunt for the terrorists hiding in the mountainous terrain of that country.

Afghanistan must cease to be a base for the terrorists before the new dispensation was put in place there, he said. (UNI)

Pak rejects Indian aid

NEW DELHI, Oct 17: Pakistan has expressed its inability to accept the one million tonnes of wheat aid announced by India for Afghan refugees citing shortage of storage capacity, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh said here tonight.

India had offered to send the aid in special trucks till Peshawar in the North-West Frontier Province but Islamabad informed New Delhi there was not enough storage space in Pakistan and that India may send tents, blankets and quilts, Singh said answering questions after delivering the first Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru lecture here.

Following the Pakistani refusal, India has now offered to send the same through Iran, where there are over 1.5 million refugees, he said, adding New Delhi proposed to send the aid to Afghanistan through Tajikistan via the port of Bander Abbas and therafter through the north-south route, built jointly by India, Russia and Iran.

In the post-conflict scenario, India is also planning to send its world famous ‘Jaipur Foot’ for the benefit of the large number of disabled Afghans, he added. (PTI)

Fresh round of bombing

ISLAMABAD, Oct 17: United States warplanes bombed Afghanistan’s eastern Jalalabad city outskirts in another round of raids today, the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) agency reported.

The fresh round of attacks against Taliban military installations near Jalalabad occurred at around 1800 IST.

US planes targeted military sites at two locations south of Jalalabad, the Peshawar-based AIP said, quoting a Taliban spokesman from the town bordering Pakistan.

AIP said there was no information about human casualties in the fresh wave of US attacks.

Earlier in the day, Jalalabad came under attack around 0700GMT after early morning bombing raids on Kabul, the Afghan capital, and Kandahar, the spiritual centre of the targeted Islamic Taliban movement.

It was the 11th day of the US-led war on terrorism in Afghanistan where suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda group are based.

AIP said the US planes targeted a military centre at Lewa-e-Nau area and brigade no. 81, situated one and four kilometres south of Jalalabad respectively.

They also bombed the road leading to Chaparhar further south.

An eyewitness told the agency that the whole area was enveloped in clouds of dust but casualties and damage caused were not immediately known.

AIP said today’s barrage set buildings in the eastern part of Kandahar ablaze. Most of the residents have fled the city for safety, but some of those that remained were victims in the attacks, according to the agency.

Forces of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance, trying to take advantage of the aerial onslaught, attacked Taliban forces overnight in Marmoul area in northern Afghanistan but were repulsed, the agency reported.

Marmoul is situated 30 kilometres south of Mazar-e-Sharif, capital of Balkh province bordering Uzbekistan, where the US has readied 1,000 troops for its operation in Afghanistan.

AIP said claims by General Rashid Dostum, an ethnic Uzbek, and other alliance spokesmen that forces had advanced within striking distance of the key city currently held by the Taliban have not been confirmed by other sources. (DPA)

Terrorism is central issue, says Sonia

NEW DELHI, Oct 17: Congress president Sonia Gandhi today bluntly told US Secretary of State Colin Powell that cross-border terrorism, and not Kashmir, was the "central" issue between India and Pakistan.

"Gandhi conveyed to Powell about India’s serious concern over cross-border terrorism. She also made it abundantly clear that cross-border terrorism is the central issue and not Kashmir", party spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters here.

Powell met Gandhi at her residence this morning and had wide-ranging discussions on international and South Asian situation in the wake of US military strike in Afghanistan as part of its campaign against global terrorism.

Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Manmohan Singh, chairman of AICC’s foreign affairs department Natwar Singh and senior party leader Pranab Mukherjee were among others present at the 30-minute meeting between Gandhi and Powell.

During the meeting Gandhi reiterated party’s opposition to terrorism in all its form.

Sharma said Gandhi also expressed her party’s serious concern over the killing of innocent people in the US attack in Afghanistan and emphasised the need for special care to avoid that while dealing with terrorism.

Asked what did Powell say in response to Gandhi’s concern, Sharma said he referred only one thing that they recognise terrorism in India. (PTI)

CBI raids house of DD official

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 17: The Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) last evening raided the house of a Jammu Doordarshan official M L Kharu in Subash Nagar and seized some important documents.

Official sources said the raid was carried out by a CBI team headed by a senior officer. Bank pass books, FDRs and some documents were seized by the CBI team during two hour long searches of Kharu’s house.

However, Kharu was not arrested immediately, the sources said, adding the CBI team was investigating the case. Raids at the residences of some more officials were expected shortly, they said.

Cash looted from Bank employees

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 17: Rs one lakh cash was allegedly snatched from cashier and peon of Land Development Bank (LDB), Sunderbani branch today. However, police have detained two employees of the Bank suspecting their involvement.

Police said Vinod Kumar, cashier and Sat Pal, peon of the Bank were detained as investigations carried out by a Sunderbani police station party under supervision of SHO Rajinder Sharma revealed involvement of duo in the case.

Employees claimed that they were going to deposit the cash in Jammu and Kashmir Bank branch when an old man snatched the cash and fled away. Police said circumstantial evidence didn’t confirm the assertion of Bank employees.

As such, both of them were detained for questioning. A case against them has been registered under Section 409 RPC and further investigations were on.

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