US jets pound Taliban frontlines

WASHINGTON/KABUL, Oct 22: The United States, under pressure to achieve a breakthrough in its Afghan campaign before the Muslim holy month of Ramzan, today again attacked frontline positions of the ruling Taliban that guard the capital of Kabul.

Witnesses saw two jets circling over the front line between the Taliban positions and the opposition Northern Alliance before one broke away, flew much lower and appeared to fire a missile at Taliban positions at Kali Nasru.

A plume of black smoke billowed into the sky and a second strike followed swiftly, as Taliban forces responded with anti-aircraft fire. It was the second day that US warplanes have targeted the entrenched Taliban positions that guard the approaches to Kabul.

The United States launched its military campaign on October 7 in response to the September 11 plane attacks on New York and Washington landmarks that killed more than 5,400 people.

The campaign aims to destroy the forces of Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden, who the United States believes masterminded the September 11 operation that destroyed New York’s World Trade Center and damaged the Pentagon, as well as his protectors from the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban movement who control most of Afghanistan.

On the home front, the US Health officials worked to isolate and contain the spread of the Anthrax bacteria, a potentially deadly germ warfare agent, which was sent through the mail to prominent media and Government addresses and continues to infect some of those who came into contact with the germ-ridden envelopes.

One mail worker in Washington was diagnosed over the weekend with inhaled Anthrax, the most dangerous form of the bacteria.

One man has already died in Florida and another has been infected with inhaled Anthrax, while six others in New York and New Jersey have contracted the less deadly skin Anthrax.

Meanwhile, in an apparent move to help the opposition Northern Alliance advance on major Afghan cities, US jets today pounded Taliban positions near frontlines outside capital Kabul amidst indications that Americans want progress on the ground before the winter sets in.

Taliban claimed to have shot down another US helicopter and its wreckage was shown by Qatar’s Al Jazeera TV network. However, Pentagon immediately dismissed it as a "Taliban lie".

Al Jazeera showed pictures of landing gear, tyres, metallic pieces and large casing stamped with words "Boeing" and "Philadephia, Pennsylvania."

The US has acknowledged loss of one helicopter with two crew in an accident in Pakistan on Friday.

The militia accused US forces of using chemical and biological weapons while their supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar gave a call to Muslims all over the world to join the Jehad against the US claiming divine intervention in the war.

"Muslims inside and outside Afghanistan should know that death in this sacred way is martyrdom and would ensure eternal happiness in the heaven," Omar said in a statement released through the official Bakhtar news agency.

The militia said they had completed 60 per cent deployment of its forces across the territory under their control to counter attacks by US commandos.

Abdul Hanan Hemat, head of Taliban’s information agency, said the militia suspect use of chemical and biological weapons by US forces as there were signs of unusual symptoms noticed by doctors on patients.

"There are signs of intoxication and doctors suspect it may be because of chemical and biological weapons," he was quoted as saying. There was no immediate comment from the US on the allegation.

The Bakhtar news agency reported heavy bombings by US fighter jets on positions 50 km north of capital Kabul, suggesting beginning of a more aggresive campaign that could help anti-Taliban Northern Alliance.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell said in Washington that the Alliance was likely to soon "start moving on Kabul more aggresively."

Asked if Kabul or the southern city of Kandahar are to fall by winter, he said: "it would be in our interest and the interest of the coalition to see this matter is resolved before winter strikes, and it makes our operations much more difficult."

However, US military Joint Chiefs Chairman Richard Myers warned that "this is going to be a very, very long campaign."

There are indications that the Muslim holy month of Ramazan which begins around November 15, may influence US military planning.

Powell said though the US had to be "respectful to that very very religious period, ... At the same time, we also have to make sure our campaign, so I will yield to my Pentagon colleagues as to what might be required."

Powell said "US was very interested in seeing the opposition forces take key town of Mazar-e-Sharif, but was still continuing discussion whether their march into Kabul would be the best thing."

Taliban said Mazar-i-Sharif was firmly in the militia’s hands and claimed as many as 200 opposition fighters had been killed in the push for the strategic northern city.

A militia official told Taliban radio that the security situation in Mazar was "very good." "My message to our compatriots is that - with the help of almighty god - the United States is not able to do anything here from the air or else."

As the US strikes against Osama bin Laden and his harbourers went into third week, Britain indicated that its troops might go into Afghanistan.

Downing Street has indicated that there have been "detailed discussions" with US over use of UK forces in "overt" operations, BBC reported.

British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon told BBC radio that the Government had always maintained that sending the ground troops was an option.

"No specific decision has been taken but clearly we are exploring all possibilities," he said.

In a related development, Russian President Valdimir Putin signed a joint statement with his Tajik counterpart Enomali Rakhmonov and deposed Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani on the "need to find a political solution in Afghanistan."

"All the ethnic groups should take part in forming the next Afghan Government," and the process should involve UN and all foreign Governments, the statement said.

Meanwhile, more than 100 people, including patients, doctors and nurses, were killed today when US planes bombed the second biggest hospital in Afghanistan’s western city of Herat, the Taliban claimed.

Taliban’s ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Salam Zaeef told reporters here that American and British aircraft also hit two clinics and several shops in Oruzgan province, killing 18 civilians.

He said the dead included patients, doctors, nurses and other hospital staffers.

He also claimed that the militia forces had shot down an American plane in Registan area of Helmend province.

"American planes are intentionally targeting the Afghan people by using the sophisticated and destructive weapons, which were never used before in any war.

A village in Nangarhar province was also destroyed completely after bombing by American planes. There are civilian sites located far from military places," Zaeef said adding that so far thousands of innocent Afghan civilians have been killed in US-led air raids.

"In our view it is an open terrorist attack committed by Bush administration to terrorize the Afghan people and to punish them because they believe in an Islamic system," he said.

Meanwhile, a senior commander in Afghanistan’s Northern Alliance said today the opposition was poised to launch an assault on the key Taliban-held town of Mazar-i-Sharif, possibly within hours.

General Baryalai said opposition troops had prepared for the attack, just days after being forced back by the Taliban in a district of Mazar-i-Sharif, close to Uzbekistan and straddling important supply lines to the Afghan capital of Kabul.

"We are ready to attack today, maybe in an hour," Baryalai, a deputy to opposition Defence Minister General Mohammed Fahim, told journalists.

"Today, we want to attack," he said.

The opposition has been saying for more than one week that it would launch an attack on the key city, the site of many skirmishes in recent days and major battles in the past between the Northern Alliance and ruling Taliban.

But so far threatened advances have yet to appear and Taliban efforts to break the deadlock have also fallen flat.

Besides opening up the supply routes running south, the fall of Mazar-i-Sharif would also deal a huge blow to morale for the Taliban, the target of a U.S.-led military campaign involving daily air raids and the deployment of special forces. Baryalai said U.S. bombing against Taliban front line positions near the capital Kabul had helped the opposition’s long-running battle against the ruling movement, but had not "solved all of the problems". He did not elaborate.

U.S. Jets circled over frontline positions of Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban north of Kabul on Monday, dived and directed their fire on four targets, sending up a column of black smoke.

It was the second straight day on which U.S. Jets have launched such a clearly targeted attack on the Taliban front line that faces the opposition.

The Taliban responded with heavy and regular anti-aircraft fire.

In Islamabad, Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef, the Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, told a news conference that the opposition bid to capture the city had failed.

"They wanted to capture Mazar-i-Sharif city...Using American troops but they were unsuccessful...And they lose a lot of people," he said.

Washington and its allies launched air strikes against the ruling Taliban more than two weeks ago after the hard-line Islamic group refused to surrender Osama bin Laden, prime suspect behind attacks on U.S. landmarks which killed more than 5,000.

Opposition commanders have said the Northern Alliance had taken three districts around the town and was about six km (four miles) from Mazar-i-Sharif’s airport. (REUTERS)

Pak training women jehadis for Kashmir

WASHINGTON, Oct 22: More than 100 religious schools in Pakistan are engaged in brainwashing girls as young as five to women as old as 65 preparing them to "attain martyrdom" by fighting in Kashmir and elsewhere.

Brainwashing techniques, employed under the guise of Koranic teachings to produce an unlimited supply of male Jehadis by Pakistani authorities or by extremist leaders to use them as human fodder, are now being applied to train women Jehadis, The New York Times magazine reported.

The US publication, which earlier revealed the existence of 10,000 Madrassas in Pakistan turning out Jehadis, said more than 100 religious schools have been established for women in Pakistan, particularly in the North West Frontier Province.

These schools ostensibly teach the Koran to girls as young as 5 and women as old as 65 but interviews with some of them by the magazine showed that they are fired with enthusiasm for terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden and they too want to attain martyrdom somewhere.

When the girls in these institutions turn 15 or 16, marriages are arranged for them and they teach their children what they learnt in these institutions, remaining at home and shunning modern ways of life.

A striking picture is that of a young mother kissing her young son, holding him in her arms, but saying: "I named my son Osama.

"I named my son Osama because I want to make him a Mujahid. We are not afraid. I am already asking my husband if I can go to Kashmir and train to fight."

The young mother said: "I will suicide-bomb. If there are 20 to 30 non-Muslims, there I will commit martyrdom. If America attacks, we will put our hands on the throats of Americans and kill them."

The magazine said that apparently there is no shortage of funds to establish such institutions in the name of religion where boys and girls are taught to hate "the infidels" who "occupy Muslim lands." (PTI)

Lt dies in Pak shelling
JCO, 4 terrorists killed in Poonch

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Oct 22: Pakistan army intensified firing and shelling on the Line of Control (LoC) in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch today killing an army officer in Nowshera and wounding two BSF jawans in Poonch sector.

In other incidents, four terrorists and a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) were killed and another ultra was captured by army in Mendhar, Surankot and Mahore this evening.

Official sources confirmed that Lt Anoop Kumar, a resident of Kerala, was killed in intense shelling by the enemy troops in forward area of Jhangar in Nowshera sector early today. Lt Kumar was posted in Ashoka Post, which was being manned by 2/4 Gorkha Regiment.

Ashoka Post of Indian army also suffered minor damage in shelling.

Troops from this side replied effectively and silenced Pakistani guns after about 90 minutes of intense firing with heavy weaponry and mortar shelling.

This was first Indian army casualty in the ongoing border skirmishes on the LoC as well as the international border, which began with last Monday evening’s ‘punitive action’ taken by troops in Pallanwalla, Mendhar and Nowshera sector in which 30 Pakistani infiltrators and armymen were killed.

Indo-Pak troops also traded firing at seven other places on the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri sectors, the sources said, adding that two BSF jawans were injured in firing at their Ringkatar post in Poonch sector. Injured jawans identified as K R Pillay and Dinesh have been hospitalised.

There was no report of casualties on Pakistan side in latest rounds of skirmishes.

Meanwhile, army and police eliminated two top HUJI terrorists in a joint search operation at village Naika Majari in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district this evening. The terrorists were killed after a fierce encounter that lasted 45 minutes.

JCO Gian Bahadur, who was leading the operation, was also killed in the encounter but not before his team had eliminated two terrorists.

Bodies of both slain ultras have been recovered from the spot. One of them was identified as Mohd Sajad son of Dr Safdar Ahmed, a resident of Gujranwalla, Pakistan. Identity of second terrorist couldn’t be established but he too was stated to be a Pakistani.

Two AK rifles with ammunition and some explosive material was recovered from the possession of terrorists, who were affiliated with HUJI.

Another terrorist was killed by army in Kachar Para area of Surankot but his identity couldn’t be established.

One more ultra identified as Farooqi Abdullah, a Pakistani and an activist of Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit was gunned down by army in Mahore tehsil of Udhampur district. An AK rifle was recovered from his possession.

Meanwhile, a civilian, who was working as an overground harbourer of the terrorist, was arrested by army from his house in village Chuan in Mendhar yesterday. The arrest was made after a specific information was developed by troops that civilian was working for the terrorists.

He has been identified as Mohd Naseem son of Sher Mohd, a resident of Chuan. From his possession, army recovered one 9 mm Chinese pistol with five rounds and two hand grenades.

After preliminary questioning, army handed over the terrorists’ habourers to local police for sustained interrogation. A case has been registered against him.

'Jehadis' call for massive offensive in J&K

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Oct 22: In a major development, the Pakistan-Afghanistan Defence Council has joined hands with Islamic jehadi groups to launch a "massive" offensive in Jammu and Kashmir.

The tie-up between jehadi groups and the Pakistan-Afghanistan Defence Council is the outcome of the decision of the Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Lashkar-e-Toiba to assist the Pakistani troops in their "battle" against India’s "mounting threat" along the Jammu and Kashmir border.

The joint strategy of all Islamic jehadi outfits and the Pakistan-Afghanistan Defence Council, according to Online news agency, has been necessitated by the fresh spurt of what anti-India lobby termed as "heavy offensive" by Indian forces on the Pakistan-India border.

By far the most significant input provided by Online was: The decision by the jehadi groups to step up their offensive in Jammu and Kashmir, which was conveyed to the Musharraf Government, received prompt approval of Islamabad.

The tie-up between jehadi outfits and the Pakistan-Afghanistan Defence Council became an open secret at a time when a note available with the Indian Home Ministry had talked about the "possibility" of more fidayeen attacks in J&K in the coming days and weeks.

The Home Ministry’s note, which has been, to quote a top Government source, "examined" by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Home Minister, Mr LK Advani, says that there has been no decline in the activities of foreign mercenaries in J&K since September 11, when the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington added a new chapter to the history of terrorism.

The source told EXCELSIOR that 4,000 to 5,000 militants were presently operating in Jammu and Kashmir. Of these, 1,400 to 1,500 are foreign mercenaries. According to the source, the J&K Police and CID had estimated-and the estimate had been accepted by Central intelligence agencies-that 2,000 to 2,500 terrorists operate in Kashmir Valley, while the rest continued to be active in the Jammu region.

If the Home Ministry’s note were any guide, majority of foreign militants have come from Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). The note has, at the same time, given broad details vis-à-vis the number of terrorists from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sudan and Egypt.

The note has reckoned that nearly 70 per cent of the foreign terrorists, based in different places in Jammu and Kashmir, belonged to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen. And if the note is to be believed, about 600 foreign mercenaries belong to the Lashkar-e-Toiba as against 400 from the Hizbul Mujahideen and 300-odd from the Jaish-e-Mohammed. The remaining are with groups such as Tehrik-e-Jihad, Al Badr, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami.

The tie-up between jehadi outfits and the Pakistan-Afghanistan Defence Council was also made public at a time when the Institute for Security Technology Studies at Dartmouth College, USA, warned Washington that several Pakistani groups that successfully defaced some Indian sites in the past were potential attackers in the current scenario.

The Institute’s study titled ‘Cyber attacks during the war on terrorism’ has said that the Muslim groups around the world could become players in this scenario. The study, in fact, has also warned: "And many have significant experience in launching sophisticated and sustained cyber attacks".

In this connection, a pointed reference has been made to pro-Muslim hacker groups such as the ‘G-Force Pakistan’, ‘The Pakistan Hackerz Club’ and ‘Doctor Nuker’. The study has said that these groups could use these tactics against the USA and its allies

The study reiterated that pro-Pakistan hackers eager to raise "global awareness" about the Kashmir conflict had hit Indian sites. According to the study, the number of pro-Pakistan defacements of Indian web sites has risen markedly over the past three years-45 in 1999, 133 in 2000 and 275 till the end of August 2001.

4 cops injured in rocket attack
Two youths killed in Kishtwar

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Oct 22: Two youths were killed in exchange of firing between the terrorists and security personnel at village Gun in hilly Marmat area of Kishtwar tehsil in Doda district this morning. Army, however, claimed that both the youths were HM terrorists.

In a separate incident, four police jawans were injured when the terrorists fired rocket on their picket in Neel Top in Banihal tehsil of Doda.

Police said a joint team of Special Task Force (STF) Doda and 8 Rashtriya Rifles carried out a search operation in hilly village of Gun in Marmat area of Kishtwar tehsil in Doda district at 1000 hours today. Operation was launched on the basis of specific inputs given by local people.

During exchange of firing between the terrorists and security jawans, two youths, who were returning to their houses from a flour mill, were trapped and got killed. In the meantime, the terrorists managed to escape taking advantage of the situation, resulting due to civilians killings.

Deceased civilians have been identified as Showkat Ahmed alias Salman son of Ghulam Mohd and Khurshid Ahmed son of Hassan Din, both residents of village Dehota in Marmat.

The fleeing terrorists left behind one pistol, four grenades, one pistol magazine and four rounds. Later, STF and Rashtriya Rifles personnel carried out a search operation in village Gun and adjoining areas for the terrorists but couldn’t get them. Operation was on, the sources said.

However, army sources said that deceased yout were terrorists.

They said situation was tense in Marmat following the killings of two civilians, whose bodies were handed over to their family members after post-mortem. Local people alleged that civilians were killed by security forces by mistaking them as the terrorists.

Meanwhile, a picket of police was attacked by the terrorists at village Zarari in Neel Top area of Banihal tehsil in Doda district early today. The ultras, who had taken positions atop a hill, fired two rockets on the picket and then rained bullets with automatic weapons.

Police jawans and Special Police Officers (SPOs), deployed in the picket, fired back. Cross-firing between the two sides continued for one and a half hour in which a police head constable and three SPOs were seriously injured. Police picket was also extensively damaged in the attack, the sources said.

The ultras managed to escape after the attack.

Injured jawans have been identified as Ghulam Abbas, head constable, Kirat Singh, Ranjit Singh and Rashpal Singh, all SPOs. Ranjit Singh and Rashpal Singh were referred to Medical College hospital this afternoon while two other injured were admitted in a local hospital.

Army jawans were later rushed to village Zarari to launch a search operation for the terrorists, involved in the attack. However, no arrest could be made immediately.

Five arrested, 4 tankers seized
Two gangs of kerosene oil black-marketeers busted

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 22: Police today busted two major gangs involved in black-marketing of kerosene oil in Sainik Colony and Sidhra areas by apprehending five persons and seizing four oil tankers. Police have also identified some petrol pumps in the City, who used to get adulterated petrol from the black-marketeers.

Busting of racket has also led to cancellation of kerosene oil depot licenses of three dealers by Food and Supplies Department.

DIG Jammu-Kathua range Dr S P Vaid said the first gang was busted in Sainik Colony where kerosene oil was being mixed in petrol and diesel at a tarcoal plant. A tanker, from which the kerosene oil was being unloaded, has been seized by police and its driver Dinesh Kumar arrested.

The tanker belonged to Sham Lal and Company of Transport Nagar.

Details with police revealed that tanker had to unload kerosene oil at four depots. It unloaded kerosene oil only at Qasim Nagar depot while quota of three other depots was sold in black-market.

The depots, whose quota was disposed off with their consent, were named by police sources as Banwari Lal of Rehari Colony, Rakesh Kumar of Ashok Nagar and Rajinder Singh of Shant Nagar.

After getting a formal report from police, Food and Supplies Department today cancelled the licenses of all three depots.

Police said three accused involved in the racket were absconding. They have been identified as Jasbir Singh, Harjit Singh and Dharampal. One of them has reportedly managed a bail while police continued a hunt for trio.

A case in this connection has been registered at Channi Himmat police station for further investigations. The gang was unearthed by a Channi Himmat police party headed by SHO Ajay Suman Gupta under supervision of SP South J L Sharma and DySP East Sanjay Sharma.

Another similar racket of kerosene oil black-marketing was busted by police in Sidhra area last evening.The accused were caught red handed while mixing kerosene with petrol and diesel in the premises of the main kingpin- Kuldip Singh at Sidhra. The raiding police party was even stoned by kerosene oil black-marketers resulting into minor injuries to three police constables..

Amidst stone pelting, kingpin of the black-marketers managed to escape while four others were arrested by police. Additional SP Jammu Nissar Ahmed identified arrested persons as Rakesh Kumar, Bhawani Singh, Ganesh Dutt and Mulak Raj.

The diesel and petrol, adulterated with mixing of kerosene oil, was destined to 3-4 petrol pumps of Jammu City. Two of them were located on BC Road. Nissar said one consignment was destined to the petrol pump of Mukha Singh on BC Road.

Accused have been booked under Sections 353, 332, 336, 147 and 420 RPC and 3/7 Essential Commodities Act. Over 35,000 litres of kerosene, diesel and petrol has also been seized by police.

The record from Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is also being scrutinised by police.

Kashmir movement can't be termed jehad: Rehman

ISLAMABAD, Oct 22 : A leading pro-Taliban Pakistani cleric has said that "movement" in Kashmir can not be termed as Jehad as Pakistan only fought for a piece of land and not for the self-determination of Kashmiris.

Leader of a faction of the Jamat Ulema Islami, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who spearheaded massive protest rallies against Musharraf Government for its backing to US military action in Afghanistan, said the objectives in Afghanistan and Kashmir were different and can not be equated.

"I have reservations in regard to Jehad in Kashmir as Kashmir has been an issue of right of self-determination. Kashmiris are fighting for their right of self-determination," Rehman, currently under house arrest for leading pro-Taliban demonstrations, said in an interview with Urdu daily `Jang’.

He said "Pakistanis are not fighting the war in Kashmir in this context. On the contrary, Pakistan is fighting a war for capturing a piece of land. Therefore, objectives of those, who are fighting war in Kashmir and those, who are fighting in Afghanistan, are entirely different.

"The war in Afghanistan is undoubtedly a Jehad and it has a preference over fighting in Kashmir," he said.

Stating that the Kashmir issue should not be linked with Afghanistan, Rehman said "the Kashmir issue should be resolved through better means and if it is not done, Kashmir would also have to face an anarchy like Afghanistan."

Rehman, a staunch advocate of the Deobandi School of Islam being practised by Taliban, has in the past called on the Jehadi groups fighting in Kashmir to settle for ceasefire and work for a negotiated settlement.

Rehman had made well-advertised appeal for ceasefire on the eve of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s visit to India in July this year.

To a question about the doubts being cast about the role of Deobandi Ulema in the Pakistan Resistance Movement, he said it was a fabricated campaign and the only motive behind such propaganda was to make Pakistanis to doubt the patriotism of the people taking part in pro-Taliban demonstrations.

Rehman said in the prevailing situation, he is doing everything to save the country but at the same time Pakistan army was thwarting his efforts and wanted to disintegrate the country. "I have doubts about the role of the army and its chief," he said.

On Taliban system of governance, he said the militia had introduced Islam in its real spirit and it was the only ideal Islamic Government in the world.

Referring to the Sept 11 attacks in New York and Washington, he said "it was a terrorist act but it has to be seen as to who is the terrorist."

About the outcome of the Afghan war, he said Afghans would win the war and predicted that Pakistan’s extension of help to the US against Afghanistan would create internal unrest in the country.

Denying that the anti-US protests being carried out by his organisation were violent, he said protest against the Government within Pakistan was of a political nature and no worker of any religious group had used weapons during the protest rallies. (PTI)

Don't rely on Pak: JKLF to ultras

DUBAI, Oct 22: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) has warned the militant groups operating in Kashmir that they risk being left in the lurch if they relied too much on Pakistan.

"Take a lesson from Pakistan’s betrayal of Taliban in Afghanistan. What if under US pressure Pakistan takes the same policy toward Kashmir as well," JKLF leaders said.

JKLF secretary Faisal Nazki and its Lahore head Ansar Khan pointed out that Pakistan had raised the Taliban and installed their Government in Afghanistan but now under US pressure abandoned the militia.

They told the ‘Gulf News’ daily that India was "going all out to get the Kashmir struggle declared as terrorism."

The two leaders also accused the US of ignoring alleged human rights violations saying "countries like USA and Britain have tried their human rights standards to their economic benefits".

"Since India is a huge market for these countries, they never question rights violations by India in Kashmir," they alleged. (PTI)

Putin supports Northern Alliance

MOSCOW, Oct 22: Russia today pledged its support for the Afghan opposition Northern Alliance as the "sole legitimate Government" and signed a statement with the ousted Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani on "the need to find a political solution for Afghanistan."

Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a brief visit to the Tajik capital Dushambe on his way back to Moscow from the Shanghai summit, said the Taliban regime in Kabul could have no role to play in a future Afghan Government as it had "compromised itself with international terrorism." "Taliban have compromised by providing their territory to the international terrorist network and there was no place for them in the new `broad based coalition," Russian state television `RTR’ quoted him as saying.

The Russian leader also signed a joint statement with his Tajik counterpart Emamali Rakhmonov and Rabbani "on the need to find a political solution for Afghanistan," it said.

"All the ethnic groups should take part in forming the next Afghan Government," the declaration released here by the Kremlin press office said.

The three parties also insisted on the handing over to justice the organisers and perpetrators of the September 11 attacks in the US.

The political process in Afghanistan should be aimed at creating a widely representative Government there which would include representatives of all the nations and ethnic groups in the country. "The Government must be formed as a result of a free expression of the people’s will," the statement said.

It said the formation of the new Government in Kabul should involve a stronger role for the United Nations and "all foreign Governments."

Putin also pledged to provide military and other support for the "legitimate" Government of Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the Indian diplomatic sources in Moscow welcomed Russia’s move and said it was in line with the traditional Indo-Russian stand on the lasting solution in Afghanistan.

At its meeting last week in New Delhi, the Indo-Russian working group on Afghanistan clearly declared India and Russia’s opposition to Taliban’s presence in the proposed broad-based Government.(PTI)

PM blames Pak forsuicide attack

LUCKNOW, Oct 22: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today virtually blamed Pakistan for the suicide attack by militants at an airforce base near Srinagar saying it was a "proof" of the cross-border terrorism.

"Pakistan is continuing with cross-border terrorism and the attempt to attack the airbase is a proof of this," he told reporters here.

Four militants and a civilian were killed when security forces foiled the attack on Awantipura airbase, 30 kms from Srinagar.

Meanwhile, Government had intelligence inputs about terrorist plans to launch a suicide attack on defence and other key installations in Kashmir, Home Minister L K Advani said here today.

Commenting on foiled militant attack on Avantipur airbase near Srinagar today, Advani told reporters that intelligence intercepts had indicated possibility of militants targeting such sensitive installations and therefore security forces had been on an alert.

He said while two of the four attackers involved in today’s strike were Pakistani mercenaries, two belonged to Kupwara district of Kashmir.

On the militancy situation in Jammu and Kashmir, he said there was confusion within the ranks of terrorists following Pakistani Government’s siding with the US while the vast majority of terrorists were sympathetic towards the Taliban.

He also denied any "credible report" of exfiltration of militants heeding to the request of the Taliban to join them in their war against the US.

There is no let up in infiltration by militants, he said.

Advani said during the last two months of August and September, 104 militants had been killed in 31 operations by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. (PTI)

6 jawans hurt in explosion

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Oct 22: Six army jawans were injured when a powerful explosion rocked village Naika Majari in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district this evening when they were returning after burial of two terrorists killed in the same village earlier in the day.

The blast was triggered with an IED, reportedly planted by the terrorists who escaped during the encounter.

Of six injured jawans, condition of two was stated to be serious. Their identity couldn’t be gathered immediately.

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