Post damaged; 2 killed, 3 injured
Indo-Pak troops clash again in Nowshera
*15 members of 3 families cross over to PoK

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 8: Indo-Pak troops clashed again in Janghar area of Nowshera sector of Rajouri today resulting into a total of three casualties while 15 members of three families crossed over to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) from Poonch sector last night. The BSF jawans were injured in Pargwal sector this evening.

Reports said that Pakistan’s Jangal-I post was completely destroyed by the Indian troops from their RC post in Janghar area of Nowshera sector this morning. Of a total of six soldiers manning the Pakistani post, two were killed while four others fled back abandoning the damaged post.

MMG bursts were used by the Indian side in smashing Pakistan’s post, the reports said, adding the destroyed post of the enemy was being used in massive shelling on forward positions in Janghar sector.

A jawan of Indian army Company Havildar Major Babu Ram was injured in Pakistan’s firing while manning Ashoka post in Nowshera sector last night. He was evacuated from the firing site and shifted to hospital. He had sustained a gun shot on his neck and his condition now was stated to be stable.

Other forward areas in Nowshera sector remained calm since last evening. No major exchanges of shelling or firing were reported from any other forward village barring Janghar and Ashoka posts.

Pakistan army again activated Galar area of Samba sector last night by firing four heavy mortar shells. One of the shells exploded in Galar village causing damage to several houses while three other shells exploded in the fields, the reports said.

No casualties were reported in the shelling. Galar bore the brunt of Pakistan’s shelling a fortnight back forcing entire population of Ben, Galar and adjoining villages to migrate.

However, two BSF jawans were injured in Pak firing at Pargwal Island in Akhnoor tehsil today. They have been identified as Sepoy Mahadev Singh and Kartar Singh.

A mine explosion took place in Chandu Chak village of RS Pura sector. A cattle, which walked over the mine in a field, was killed.

Our Rajouri correspondent adds: Fifteen members of three families crossed over to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) from forward village of Kalsan in Poonch sector last night. The families migrated amidst continued exchange of shelling and firing.

The civilians, who exfiltrated to PoK, included Mohd Akbar, 35, his wife Shakoora Bi, daughter Zaitoon Bi and son Farooq Ahmed, Haneefa Bi wife of Sattar Din, Kali, Mohd Bashir, Mohd Hanief, Mohd Mehboob and Attra Bi, all children of Sattar Din, Fareeda Bi wife of Kali, Kaleema Bi daughter of Kalu, Hakim Bi wife of Hassan Din, Mohd Arshad son of Hassan Din and Shamim Akhter daughter of Hassan Din.

Surprisingly, Hassan Din and Sattar Din had reached the safer areas in Poonch town.

According to sources, some of the families were evacuated by the army in first trip from Kalsan as Pakistan side started heavy firing and shelling in the village. While the troops could evacuate other families, the shelling intensified and these families crossed over to PoK.

ISI’s re-structured offensive in J&K

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Jan 8: Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is desperately preparing the ground for a restructured offensive in Jammu and Kashmir.

The ISI has, as part of its new ‘Kashmir line’, successfully motivated the new leadership of the Hizbul Mujahideen to make its cadre work under the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). This development has been engineered soon after the Hizbul's centrist command was replaced by pro-Pakistan leaders, who include, among others, Ghulam Hassan Khan and Abdul Ahmad Bhat.

At a time when the Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba are engaged in a major restructuring process, fresh signals from across the border suggest the possibility of selective killings in the districts of Doda, Udhampur and Poonch in the coming days.

And if latest radio intercepts are any guide, terrorist strikes can be expected in several places in Rajouri and Poonch districts. Apparently encouraged by the deployment of Indian troops on the western border after several companies had to be withdrawn from counter terrorist duties, Pakistan sponsored terrorists have been, according to these intercepts, directed to target Budhal and Kandi sections in Rajouri and Thanamandi and Bhimber Gali in Poonch.

Presence of a number of jihadis belonging to the LeT and JeM (Jaish-e-Mohammed) in these areas has already been acknowledge by the Military Intelligence (MI) and BSF's intelligence agency. Infiltration of Jaish activists into Darhal section has also engaged the attention of the Unified Headquarters.

The Pakistan Government's action by way of effecting the arrest of a few hundred workers and sympathisers of the LeT and JeM has not affected the hardcore jihadi cadres. Classified intelligence inputs have confirmed that the forward camps of the LeT, JeM, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Al Badr continue to be in place, often right next to Pakistan Army facilities on the Line of Control (LoC).

These inputs have also confirmed that the Chief of the Pakistan Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Lt Gen Mohammed Aziz, is vehemently supporting the activity and agenda of the Jaish-e-Mohammed. Briefly discussing the "direct" involvement of the "highest level of Pakistani Army" in the activities of fascist groups, intelligence inputs reveal that Jaish-e-Mohammed changed its operation name to the Tehreek-ul-Furqan after the October 10 meeting presided over by Lt Gen Aziz.

Intelligence reports have termed as "farcical" Islamabad's announcement about the freezing of the bank accounts of the LeT and JeM. Asserting that LeT has no bank account since its finances are directly controlled by its parent body, Markaz Dawa-al-Irshad, these reports say that the assets of the Markaz have not been frozen.

And sensational, indeed, is yet another revelation: Jaish-e-Mohammed's accounts with the Allied Bank at Binori in Karachi and at Khayabeya in Rawalpindi have not been touched. Why? The "highest levels of Pakistani Army" have stopped action as, according to them, money deposited in the two accounts has not been used directly to finance terrorist operations.

Intelligence reports have also revealed that the names of those persons from the Indian side of the LoC accommodated in the recently-announced 11-member council of the Lashkar-e-Toiba are "fictitious". The new council will have limited powers, as the LeT's military operations will continue to be led by Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi, a Pakistani national who has commanded the organisation's terrorist activities in India since 1995.

The web site of the Markaz Dawa-al-Irshad and its publications, particularly Voice of Islam, have brought to the fore the agenda of the LeT: "Muslims ruled this part of the world for about 750 years. Now Muslim governments will be established again in the subscontinent, Insha-Allah, and the Lashkar-e-Toiba will perform this feat".

Pak’s Nepal Embassy a hub for ISI activities

KOLKATA, Jan 8: The Union Home Ministry has identified the Pakistan Embassy in Kathmandu as the major hub of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for subversive activities, including terrorism, in South Asia.

Home Department officials here said the Pak Embassy in Kathmandu had been working against India for the past several years by encouraging the members of the terrorist groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and the North East India. Maoist rebels, active in both India and Nepal, were also being provided with funds and arms, ammunition and explosives.

We have convincing evidence that the Pakistan Embassy in Kathmandu has not only hosted several meetings of the terrorist and insurgent groups but also acted as a major centre for circulation of forged Indian currency, the officials told UNI.

They said the External Affairs Ministry is also aware of such clandestine activities by the Embassy in Kathmandu. Last week’s arrest of a Pakistani Embassy official with forged Indian currency in Kathmandu was not the first incident of its kind. Several months ago another Pak embassy official was also arrested in Kathmandu with forged Indian currency and RDX, the deadly explosive, they added. The officials said the ISI had been running several units in Karachi and a couple of places in Bangladesh for printing forged Indian currency notes which were being routed through the embassy in Kathmandu and circulated in Indian market by ISI agents and rebels of different extremists and terrorist groups.

The ISI men and Islamic terrorists, who were recently arrested from different parts of North Bengal, had also confirmed existence of units for printing forged Indian notes both in Bangladesh and Pakistan’s port city Karachi, the officials said.

They said Indian Government became suspicious about the role of the Pakistan embassy in Kathmandu after a clash between two groups of Sikh militants in Nepal’s capital several years ago.

Besides holding regular meeting with Khalistani terrorists, the Pak officials held a series of talks with the rebels of the NSCN and the LTTE.

The Pak officials also had several rounds of meetings with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and Bodo militants and extremists of the Maoist Group of Nepal and Peoples War Group and Maoist Communist Centre of India, they said.

The officials said taking advantage of diplomatic immunity, some of the embassy personnel were even instrumental in supplying arms, ammunition and explosives to these terrorists and extremists groups at a high price.

Most of these firearms are procured from China, one of the biggest contributors to the clandestine arms markets in South Asia. The assault rifles procured from China had also been sent to the Islamic terrorists in Afghanistan and Jammu and Kashmir and insurgents groups like the NSCN, the ULFA, the Bodos, the KLO and the Maoist extremist groups, they pointed out.

The officials said finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the Indian security men, the ISI personnel, in active connivance with the Embassy officials, had also been financing the Indian criminals, who had links with Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan and utilising them for subversive activities in different parts of the country, including West Bengal.

They said the ISI and the Pakistan Embassy officials in Kathmandu were successful in setting up a criminal network in West Bengal, Nepal and Bangladesh and penetrating deep into the transborder smuggling gangs operating in South Asia.

What is even more dangerous is that the ISI and Pak Embassy officials in Kathmandu have been using the transborder gangs of smugglers for drug trafficking in South Asia, they said.

The officials said the ISI agents and the Islamic terrorists had been procuring these drugs from Afghanistan, North East India and Myanmar through various insurgent groups and routing those to the smugglers through some Pakistan Embassy personnel in Kathmandu.

This is also quite evident from the recent arrests of some ISI agents and smugglers with huge quantity of drugs from different International Border areas in both North and South Bengal, they said.

The officials said the growing menace of drug trafficking along the International Borders had made the task of the border security force even more difficult. If the BSF men fail to check this recent spurt in ISI-backed drug trafficking it will spell disaster for the entire South Asia, they added.

They said the West Bengal Government was aware of this new phenomenon and it had been pressing the Centre hard for deployment of more border forces to curb the menace.

The situation has become even more critical after the ISI-backed terrorist attack in the Parliament complex. Pakistan-backed terrorist groups and Maoist rebels have already chalked out a dangerous plan to attack vital installations including the Farakka barrage, important railway stations, rail and road bridges, oil installations and the Army establishments in North Bengal. We have already alerted the State Government and asked it to beef up the security measures, they said.

This is a very dangerous situation and we are jointly working with the Central Intelligence Agencies and forces to prevent these subversive activities. Several ISI agents and members of Islamic terrorist groups have already been arrested but we are not complacent. We need more security forces for deployment and a strong legislation to deal with the situation,’’ West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said. (UNI)

Braving bullets, they work with soldiers

From Dinesh Manhotra

KOROTANA (Indo-Pak Border), Jan 8: Deafening sounds of ammunition poundered by the Pakistani soldiers, repeatedly piercing through the ominous atmosphere, gripped with melancholy and fear. For the last more than 15 days Pak soldiers have been resorting to heavy firing, some times with ferocious intensity and some times with low intensity. Amidst this tense atmosphere some youth, with tools in their hands, were digging ditches and laying cables for troops. Inhabitants of border hamlets, these youth were soldiers of ‘different kind’. Neither they are donning olive green nor they have been assigned this job but they are discharging their duties as Indians.

Due to the fear of death, which looms large in form of Pakistani bullets, almost entire population of this village has migrated to safer places. But braving all odds, these local youth are helping troops in strengthening security in the area.

"On the very first day when Pakistani soldiers resorted to heavy firing entire population of this hamlet deserted their native place but some youth of this belt have been continuously helping us", said a soldier deployed in this area to keep a check on the activities of Pakistan. These youth are neither on a pay roll of Army nor they have been provided any benefit. But being Indian they are working round the clock with troops.

Located just a stones throw distance from International Border, firing from across the border is routine affair in this area but for the last 15 days, Pakistani soldiers have been firing with ferocious intensity resulting in to mass exodus. "Although the situation is not normal on the border but we will not leave our native places", said Rajinder, one of the youths who has been helping troops in laying cables in the area. "Though almost all the villagers have left the homes but we preferred to remain in our village to help the Army", he further said and asserted that they will provide every possible help to the Army in case of war.

Bua Ditta, another youth of border village was seen carrying ammunitions and other materials for troops on his bullock cart. For the last five days he has been doing jobs for soldiers. "I am doing this job not for money but as an Indian which is my duty to help the soldiers", asserted Bua Ditta and said that war can be won if we provide help to the soldiers.

For the last 10 days Gurg Post of Pakistan has become active. Pakistani Rangers have been replaced by the Pakistani Army regular and most of the posts are fitted with UMG, Pika and BMG guns through which they have been targetting Indian villages. Villages namely Abdullian, Chandu Chak, Kora Tana, Vidhipur, Suchetgarh, Gulabgarh, Gulabgarh Basti, Gharna and Raipur are worst affected due to unprovoked Pakistani firing. Activities in these villages have virtually come to a stand-still.

Pakistani soldiers have been targeting Indian villages from border posts namely Gurg, Malana, Nandpur, Banote, Kunjpur, Surgpur, Chumbian, Chota Chak, Gulabgarh, Barkpur and Nabapind.

Located just near International Border hectic activities of Pakistani soldiers can be watched in these posts even with naked eyes. Fear psychosis gripped border residents as Pakistani solders intensified their activities as Pakistani soldiers reached near Ditch-cum-Bund.

Living in neck-deep miseries residents of this border belt had reprieve for quite some time during six months long unilateral cease-fire but Pakistani Rangers have been poundering ammunition for the last 15 days without any provocation.

Miseries of the inhabitants increase with the escalation in tension on the border. Due to the fear of life, entire population has migrated to safer places but they are on the verge of starvation.

Staring morsely towards sky, Ramesh Chander, a landless labourer of village Abdullian is virtually at the verge of starvation as he has been rendered jobless for the last 15 days. "Usually these days are hectic for us but this year I have no job", the poor villager said. "Neither I can leave my native place nor can I earn livelihood here. We are hoping against hope ", he said while highlighting conditions of his family.

He is not an isolated case there are number of families of landless labourers which have been facing hardships. "Cultivation has become impossible due to Pakistani firing so we are not finding any jobs these days", said Vidhichand another villager.

Located very near to International Border, miseries of the inhabitants of border villages are indescribable. "We are not only facing Pakistani bullets but we are also victim of apathetic and indifferent attitude of the authorities ", complained a resident, adding, "authorities’ attitude has further compounded our woes".

History may change: US Senators
Musharraf to make policy statement on Kashmir

ISLAMABAD, Jan 8: A nine-member bipartisan US Senate delegation, led by Republican Senator John Mccain, today held talks with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf over the Indo-Pak tensions and said the steps to curb terrorism, to be announced shortly by Musharraf, would change course of relations between the two countries.

Addressing the media after the meeting with Musharraf here today, Senator Mccain said "the steps Musharraf is going to announce, we feel, will change the history of Pak-India relations. This would help reducing tensions between the two countries."

Mccain, who was also accompanied by senior Democrat Senator and Vice Presidential candidate of the last American elections, Joseph Lieberman said "both India and Pakistan are our friends and we are particularly hopeful that troops would move away from both sides of the borders."

"After meeting with President Musharraf, we are convinced that he is committed to eliminate terrorism and establish a tolerant and moderate society in Pakistan," he said adding that Musharraf planned to address Pakistani people on the issue of terrorism in the next few days.

Senator Liberman said Musharraf has taken certain steps to combat terrorism and he was hopeful that further measures to be announced would help in the long term.

"The steps would help in defusing the situation prevailing in the region besides eliminating terrorism," he said.

Referring to the third party mediation to defuse tension between India and Pakistan, he said "the potential and resolution present at the moment requires representatives of the world to exploit it."

Asked about India’s decision not to hold talks with Pakistan in the immediate future, Mccain said "I hope Indian leadership will listen carefully the words of President Musharraf and find something, sit down and start negotiations with Pakistan." (PTI)

Cabinet reviews border situation

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 8: Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet today reviewed the overall situation prevailing in the State at large and on borders in particular.

The Cabinet that met here with Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah in the chair also took stock of the arrangements made for the people who have been displaced due to shelling from across the border.

Dr Abdullah convened the Cabinet meeting immediately after his arrival in the winter capital this afternoon.

Briefing about the Cabinet meet, Chief Secretary Mr Ashok Jaitly said the cabinet gave specific instructions for stepping up relief measures to ensure that the eligible families get relief immediately. The district administrations have been asked to ensure quick distribution of sanctioned relief among the sufferers and have regular monitoring about it.

Expressing concern over attacks on minorities by militants, the Cabinet condemned selective killings and passed on instructions for further beefing up security in the minority pockets.

The Cabinet also took stock of the internal security of the State and role of Civil Defence in the given situation.

Instructions were issued to the district administration all over the State to hold regular interaction with prominent citizens and create awareness about the challenges posed to the nation besides keeping up vigil at all levels against the enemy’s nefarious designs.

The Cabinet was briefed about steps already taken to provide all possible assistance to the people in distress in various areas.

Indo-Pak stand off serious: Bush

WASHINGTON, Jan 8: Mounting pressure on Pakistan, US President George W Bush has firmly asked President Pervez Musharraf to crack down harder on terrorists operating from Pakistani territory saying the Indo-Pak stand off is still serious.

"The situation between India and Pakistan is still serious and it is very important that Musharraf make a clear statement to the world that he intends to crack down on terror," Bush told reporters here.

If Musharraf "does that (crackdown) and continues to do what he is doing, it will provide relief to a situation that is still serious", the President said.

"We are working hard to convince both the Indians and the Pakistanis that there is a way to deal with their problems without going to war", he said.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair bluntly told Musharraf in Islamabad that Indo-Pak dialogue could resume only after Islamabad has made a complete rejection of terrorism.

US State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher appealed to India and Pakistan to focus on fighting terrorism saying that both countries should resume dialogue in order to reduce tensions and promote cooperation. (PTI)

India awaiting concrete Pak action

NEW DELHI, Jan 8 : India today said it is awaiting "concrete" action by Pakistan to end cross-border terrorism and ruled out third party mediation to help resolve outstanding issues with it.

"We expect from Pakistan concrete, serious and substantial steps to deal with the issue of cross-border terrorism and action against terrorist groups based on its soil," an External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said.

She was responding to queries on reports that Islamabad has sought guarantees from Washington that no Indo-Pak conflict takes place.

Making it clear that New Delhi was against any third matters, the spokesperson said "it is for our two countries to seek solutions. There is no room for any other country".

On the statement of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf last night that he was analysing the cases of 20 people whose extradition has been sought by India for committing terrorist and heinous crimes in the country, she said India is yet to see satisfactory and substantive action being taken by Islamabad against terrorists.

"Let us see what action he (Musharraf) takes," she said, adding that Pakistan should openly renounce cross-border terrorism and "shed ambivalence" on this issue.

On reports about LTTE ideologue Anton Balasingham seeking to visit India to push forward the peace process in Sri Lanka, the spokesperson parried the query and only said that New Delhi supported the peace process.(PTI)

Chinese Premier visiting India

BEIJING, Jan 8: Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, who is embarking on his first official visit to India from January 13, will be urging both India and Pakistan to make their "best efforts to solve all their differences through peaceful negotiations, a senior Chinese official said here today.

"We hope the two sides will make their best efforts to seek peace through dialogue and consultations," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi told reporters.

Zhu will be in India from January 13 to 18 after visiting Bangladesh from January 11 to 13, Sun said adding China hopes that India and Pakistan will exercise restraint and refrain from worsening and deteriorating the situation and seek solution through dialogue and consultation so as to seek peaceful settlement.

"The visit by Premier Zhu is also going to be made in this spirit," Sun stressed.

Zhu’s visit to India will be the first in over a decade by a Chinese premier.

Asked whether Zhu, who has met Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf twice in the past two weeks here, would be carrying any message to the Indian leadership, Sun said: "we hope they will reduce the tension through peaceful negotiations. This is in the fundamental interests of the two countries. It is also the common aspiration of the international community."

Commenting on the tense military stand-off, Sun said: "we are deeply worried by the exchange of fire along the border between India and Pakistan. We are common neighbours with the two countries. We are closely following the situation." Commenting on Zhu’s visit, which was earlier postponed in November, 2001, in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist strikes in the United States, Sun noted that this was the first overseas visit by a Chinese leader in the new year.

"Bangladesh and India are important neighbours of China. The Chinese Government always attach importance to developing good neighbourly relations and friendly cooperation with the two countries on the basis of the five principles of peaceful co-existence," he said.

During the visit, Zhu will exchange views with the leaders of the two countries on bilateral issues, regional and international issues of common interest, he said.

Zhu will hold official talks with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and call on the President and the Vice President.

"We believe that his forthcoming official visit will consolidate the traditional friendship between China and the two countries and enhance mutual understanding and trust, expand the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields," Sun added.

Zhu, who will be leading a high-level delegation, including nearly 20 top Chinese businessmen, would be visiting Agra, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad during his stay in India. (PTI)

India rejects third party mediation

NEW DELHI, Jan 8: India today rejected outright third party mediation for the resolution of its problems with Pakistan, an official spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry said.

Our stand on this issue has been made clear on several occasions in the past, she said when asked to comment on any possible American role in the Indo-Pak affairs

She said it is for the two countries to seek resolution of their bilateral issues through bilateral dialogue. There is no role for other countries to intervene in the Indo-Pak matters. (UNI)

Israel offers full support to India against terrorism

NEW DELHI, Jan 8 : Sharing India’s concerns over terrorism, Israel today offered to extend to it all possible help to combat the scourge as New Delhi asserted that there can be "no double standards or compromise" in the fight against the menace.

Visiting Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, who briefed Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the Middle East crisis, told reporters "terrorism wherever it comes from and no matter whatever justification has to be eliminated in all its forms".

He was critical of some of the countries not coming out quickly enough to condemn the December 13 terrorist attack on Parliament but did not name them.

Peres, who also held wide-ranging discussions with External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Defence Minister George Fernandes, said he had told Indian leaders in what manner New Delhi could help in for solution to the protracted West Asia conflict.

He said there was need for Simla-type accord where issues could be discussed through bilateral dialogue and consultations held between Israelis and the Palestinians.

Terming as a "very suprising move" Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s decision to support the US-led operation in Afghanistan, Peres stressed "Musharraf has to continue" supporting the international coalition in its campaign against terrorism.

"Against terrorism, there simply cannot be either double standards or compromise," Singh told reporters after a 30-minute meeting with Peres.

He said both sides shared the view that the great question facing the world today was that of terrorism.

Peres, who arrived here yesterday on a two-day visit, said Israel was ready "in every way we can to help and support India" in the fight against terrorism.

The Israeli Foreign Minister, who also had meetings with Home Minister L K Advani, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Ministers P V Narasimha Rao and I K Gujral, said there were no differences between Israel and India. "You are a large country and we are a small country. That is the only difference."

Describing India as a great country, he said the two sides shared views on fighting terrorism, supporting democracy and on moving ahead together.

"We cannot advise India. India will decide itself," he said to a question on the manner in which it could assist India.

Asked what sort of specific role Israel wanted India to play in the resolution of the Middle East imbroglio, Peres said "India is already playing a role. The world has changed since September 11," he said stressing the countries have to decide whether to join the global campaign against terrorism or support the menace.

Singh, who described Peres as a "crusader for peace", said the two sides had exchanged views on regional and global situation.

Peres lauded India for its democratic values, patience and tolerance. "From the outside, we can see India better than you can see," he said.

Referring to the standoff between Israel and the Palestinians, he said Palestine has to decide which side they were on—against terrorism or supporting it. "They cannot be on both sides. you can’t be against terrorism on one side while closing your eyes to it".

Israel, he said, hoped that in the wake of the post-September 11 developments, Palestine would take a firm stand against terrorism.

Asked whether he saw tensions between India and Pakistan esclating into a major conflict, Peres said "the major effort should be to prevent a war. I don’t see India as a trigger-happy nation. It is commited to taking the other path of peace."

He said "while fighting terrorism, you should have a political horizon and conduct a dialogue....And raise one hand of peace in a prominent manner."

Asked whether Israel will support India if it decides to launch hot pursuit against terrorists and smash their camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, he said "India is a major country and will decide for itself."

Earlier, in a television interview, he said India should not only carry forward its fight against terrorism in a determined manner but also conduct dialogue to usher in peace in the region.(PTI)

JeM threatens to target AF, Navy

SRINAGAR, Jan 8: The Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant outfit today threatened to intensify its activities targeting Air Force and Navy besides army and paramilitary forces.

"Our target now will be Indian Air Force, Indian Navy besides Indian army and paramilitary forces," JeM chief in Jammu and Kashmir Abu Hijrat told a local news agency, ‘Nafa’ in a telephonic interview.

"The crackdown by Pakistani Government on the JeM and Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) will not make any difference as far as "jehadi" organisations are concerned," he said.

"We are silently watching the developments and cannot comment on the happenings at the moment," Hirjat said.

Denying JeM’s involvement in December 13 strike on Parliament and October one attack on the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Hirjat disowned Gazi Baba, a Pakistani national who has been named by the Delhi Police as the mastermind behind the attack on Parliament. "Baba is not a member of the JeM."

When asked about the outfit’s claim after the attack on State Assembly and hasty withdrawal later, he said "the question of owning the responsibility for the acts we have not carried out does not arise."

Replying to a question, Hijrat said "Pakistan Government has changed its policy towards "jehadi" groups, but the change will not make any difference on the activities of jehadis.

"We have not jumped into the "jehad" for the sake of fame or fun, but we have launched jehad to implement the law of god in his land," he said.

Hirjat claimed that the JeM has three to five thousand suicide squads in addition to more than 12,000 militants.

Asked what would be the role of militants in the event of a war between India and Pakistan, Hijrat said "the wars are not fought for longer periods. If you want to judge the role of militants during war, remember Kargil.

"But the guerilla war will continue and JeM will intensify its activities and target Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and military," he said. However, he did not elaborate.

Asked to comment on the statements of some separatist leaders questioning the presence of foreign militants in Kashmir, Hijrat said "they (the separatist leaders who said so) do not know the philosophy of jehad. Jehad is compulsory for every Muslim. There is no ban or restriction on jehad as to who will fight where. There is no restriction of territory.

"Numerous Kashmiri youths fought in Chechinya against Russians. That is why non-Kashmiris are fighting in Kashmir," he added.

Meanwhile, security forces have stepped up anti-militancy operations in the wake of reports that ultras were planning to launch attacks on sensitive targets in a bid to boost the morale of the militants, official sources said. Several suspects have been arrested from different areas of the Valley.

Security agencies have received reports suggesting that the crackdown on ‘Jehadi’ groups by Pakistani authorities have demoralised militants here. In an attempt to boost their morale, ultras were planning more attacks on sensitive targets, they said.

They said security forces have taken every precaution to prevent violent incidents. "We are trying to prevent traffic congestion as militants are taking advantage of it to lob grenades in which mostly civilians become targets."

The sources said "Pakistan’s crackdown on `Jehadis’ has had no impact on ground so far. We are witnessing no change in the ground situation. Militants are carrying out subversive activities as usual."

Asked about intensification in vehicle checking and frisking of pedestrians in different parts of the city, Deputy Inspector General of BSF R S Bullar told PTI "we have reports that ultras, particularly belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammad, are planning to carry out grenade explosions in the city to create panic. Accordingly, we have stepped up area domination operations." (PTI)

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