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NEW DELHI, Dec 5: In a clear signal that he was still in full command of the situation after his party’s rout in the Assembly elections, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee undertook the first expansion of his Cabinet, inducting three senior BJP leaders to fill key ministries of External Affairs, Communications and Information and Broadcasting. India’s negotiator at nuclear talks with the United States, Jaswant Singh was given the External Affairs while Mr Pramod Mahajan who was once Political Advisor to Mr Vajpayee, has been given I and B and Mr Jagmohan, former Jammu and Kashmir Governor, has been made Communication Minister. With this mini expansion,the strength of the council of ministers has gone upto 42. There are 22 Cabinet Ministers and 20 Ministers of State. Today’s expansion is unique as it took place in the middle of the session of the Parliament. The oath of office and secrecy was administered by President K.R.Narayanan at a brief ceremony at the Ashok Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Though there were speculations that Ms Sushma Swaraj will come back to the Union Cabinet following her resignation from the Delhi Assembly, a few hours before the expansion, Mr Vajpayee made it clear that she was not being inducted."She has not expressed her desire to rejoin the Government"Mr Vajpayee said responding to a question after the swearing in ceremony. To another question,Mr Vajpayee said he had consultations with his coalition partners on the induction . Vice President Krishan Kant,Lok Sabha Speaker G.M.C Balayogi and most of the Union Ministers were present at the ceremony. While Mr Mahajan took oath in Hindi, the other two took their oath of office in English. Four Ministers — Mr Buta Singh, Mrs Sushma Swaraj, Mr S. Muthaiah, and Mr R.K. Kumar — were dropped from the original council of ministers in the past few months. While Mrs Swaraj had taken over as the Chief Minister of Delhi, Mr Buta Singh and Mr Muthaiah were named in different criminal cases. Mr Kumar had to go because of pressure from AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalitha. Meanwhile, Mr Vajpayee today said a decision on another Cabinet expansion would be taken if necessary after the winter session of Parliament and before the budget session. Cabinet expansion, as I said earlier, would be only after the winter session of Parliament and before the budget session if the need arose and a decision will be taken then, Vajpayee told newspersons after the swearing in of three Cabinet Ministers. Maintaining that today’s exercise was not an expansion or a reshuffle, Vajpayee said it was only aimed at filling vacancies and easing the burden on me. Asked whether the allies including AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha had been consulted before undertaking the exercise, he said everyone was consulted and would be consulted in future also. He said Jayalalitha had been contacted and she did not want any of her members to be taken in for the time being. On the notable absence of AIADMK members at the swearing-in ceremony, Vajpayee said there is no boycott by them. Asked about the fallout of the BJP debacle in the Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh on the centre, Vajpayee said the Assembly elections and longevity of the Government have no connection. On Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s assertion that her party was ready for mid-term poll, he evaded a direct response and quipped Achchi Baat Hai (that’s good). About the controversial Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) Bill, he said it is coming in Parliament. Everyone’s views will be ascertained before its passage. Asked why he had not inducted former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma into the Cabinet, he admitted that he made the offer in a letter to him. The situation in Delhi has changed. On former Delhi Chief Minister Sushma Swaraj resigning Assembly seat, he said Sushma will have an important role to play but did not elaborate. (AGENCIES) |
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militants arrested Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 5: Militants gunned down six persons including a school teacher and a constable, even as security forces raided militant hide-outs and arrested eight top militants and seized arms and ammunition in the Kashmir valley since yesterday, an official spokesman today said. Militants killed police constable Tahir Ahmad associated with the Special Task Force (STF) and threw his body on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in Anantnag district today, the spokesman said. In another incident in the same district, militants shot dead a Government school teacher, Mubarak Hussain Bhat, in Yaripora-Kulgam yesterday, the spokesman said. Security forces and police raided militant hide-outs at nearly 12 places in the Valley and arrested eight militants including a self-styled group commander of Harkat-ul-Ansar and platoon commander of Hizbul Mujahideen outfits from Srinagar (six) and Baramulla (two). Six AK assault rifles, 24 magazines, 800 rounds of ammunition, 29 grenades, two remote control devices, three IEDs, six detonators, three packets of explosives, a wireless set, a grenade launcher attachment, were also recovered from the militants, the spokesman said. The spokesman said militants also killed a surrendered militant, Abdul Jabbar Ganai, at Dangerpora-Kalaroos in Kupwara yesterday. Militants shot at and critically wounded one Hamid Latief Wani at Chhanpora in uptown Srinagar near his shop. He was shifted to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, the spokesman said. One Jameel Ahmed Lone was killed by militants near Kralapora-Pattan in Baramulla district yesterday. The spokesman said the bullet-riddled body of an unidentified person was picked up from Cherwan in Charar-e-Sharief area of Badgam district yesterday. A youth identified as Muzzaffar Ahmad Bhat was seriously wounded when an explosive device he was fiddling with exploded in his hands at Kamdaylan-Shopian in Pulwama today. Nexus among ISI, Taliban, drug Excelsior Special Correspondent NEW DELHI, Dec 5: The Government of India has received a sensational piece of information from a top politician of Afghanistan, revealing the nexus between the Pakistani ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence), the Taliban militia and international drug trafficking. The Afghan politician, Dr A Abdullah, is reported to have brought to the fore equally sensational development: More than 28,000 Pakistani citizens including paramilitary personnel and military advisers form part of the Taliban occupation forces in various parts of Afghanistan. And yet another revelation made by him is about the flow of military logistics, fuel and arms from Pakistan to the Taliban militia. If there was any doubt about Pakistan's continued commitment to the Taliban's continuing rule in Afghanistan, it was set at rest by none other than the Pak Prime Minister himself by singing the praises for the ultra-orthodox Islamic Taliban militia in Afghanistan. Indeed, Mr Nawaz Sharief even suggested that the Taliban brand of ‘‘justice’’ was appropriate for Pakistan. Mr Amin Saikal, the Director of the Centre for Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies at the Australian National University, has been quoted by International Herald Tribune as saying: ‘‘Mr Sharief's ringing endorsement reconfirms Pakistan's continued commitment to the Tali-ban's continuing rule in Afghanistan. It flies in the face of the international community's increasing condemnation of the militia for its brutal theocratic regime’’. Mr Saikal has placed himself on record by explaining: ‘‘Since Pakistan was created as an Islamic republic in 1947, Islam has often been used for political purposes. Whenever Pakistani political leaders have needed a diversion from the country's deep-seated political, social and economic problems or foreign policy difficulties, they have found it convenient to invoke Islam to gather popular legitimacy’’. ‘‘All of Pakistan's leaders have been guilty of such behaviour’’, he said in his write-up, which, at the same time, regretted: ‘‘But never before has such a prominent Pakistani endorsed an Islamic system of justice and order such as the one that prevails in the areas under the control of the Taliban’’. If Pakistan's founding father, Mr Mohammed Ali Jinnah, wanted the best of what Islam and secular democracy could offer, Mr Nawaz Sharief seems to want is not just to make Shariat the supreme law of Pakistan, but a brand of that religious law similar to that imposed in Afghanistan. Does Mr Nawaz Sharief want to ignore the fact that the Taliban's rule is not embraced by the people? There is no denying that the Taliban's rule is imposed by brute force. Many of the militia's practices are historically alien to the Afghans. They are condemned by the United Nations and the West. They are also condemned by a majority of Muslim countries. At present, the Taliban is recognised only by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. According to one school of thought, Mr Nawaz Sharief's support for the Taliban is intended to disguise his own policy failures, which have brought Pakistan to the brink of bankruptcy. Early this week, Pakistan's influential English daily, Dawn, said: ‘‘It should fill any citizen with remorse and shame to see Pakistan, one time proud possessor of the world's finest public service and judiciary, fall to a level where a primitive tribal society becomes its model for maintaining order and dispensing justice’’. Even if the argument is conceded that the Taliban have been able to put an end to crime through summary and harsh dispensation of justice, Pakistan cannot revert to Afghanistan's tribal status. Dawn's article on the rabble Taliban forces had a couple of significant points. First, the Taliban are accountable neither to the people, nor to any legislature nor courts of law. That is neither Islamic nor democratic. In Pakistan, the executive authority is accountable to all three even though corruption and cronyism have gradually eroded the sense of consistence and just accountability. Second, Pakistan Prime Minister had good reason to be exasperated by the growing and violent crime and the fast inroads it is making into the politics and public services of his country. He has chosen the Army to dispense speedy and stern justice. That was in fact the objective he failed to achieve earlier when the judiciary refused to let the anti-terrorist courts operate outside its surveillance and later when he failed to muster enough support in the Senate to get his Shariat bill through.
Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Dec 5: An Army jawan was killed and another seriously injured when their patrol party was attacked by the militants with rockets and heavy firing from assault rifles at Chandi Marh in Surankote area of Poonch district last night. Official reports said militants fired five rockets aiming a patrol party of Army at Chandi Marh in Bafliaz area of Surankote at 2145 hours last night. The rockets were fired from atop a hill by a group of five to six militants. Four rockets failed to hit the intended target while one of the rocket exploded near the patrol party causing serious injuries to two Army jawans, one of whom later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Army personnel immediately took positions and fired towards the militants. However, militants managed to escape towards upper reaches and disappeared. Re-inforcement of Army also rushed to the spot and combed the entire Chandi Marh area. Troops mounted search operations in the area to eliminate the militants responsible for firing rockets on the patrol party. Searches continued in the area till late this evening but no success has been made so far. The deceased Army jawan has been identified as Raj Kumar. The injured identified as Jai Mal has been admitted in the hospital where his condition was improving. Sources said the same battalion of Army, whose one jawan attained martyrdom while fighting with militants, had killed 14 militants in last 15 days in different areas of Surankote. While bodies of seven slain militants were recovered by the troops, seven bodies were whisked away by the fleeing militants. The battalion was hunting the absconding militants and was hopeful of eliminating or apprehending them alive. Meanwhile, security forces conducted a search and cordon operation at village Chapra Dhoke in Loran area of Poonch district last night. The operation was launched following an information given by the local people about the presence of militants in the area. However, before the arrival of security forces in the village, militants managed to escape from their hideout and fled towards mountainous areas leaving behind their arms and ammunition which were seized by the security forces. The seizure include four rifle grenades, four hand grenades, 201 rounds and seven magazines of AK rifles and one bayonet. Troops were carrying out searches in the area to trace the absconding militants. Meanwhile, a police spokesman said, militants set ablaze a Chowkidar hut at village Mathola in Doda district. The hut was damaged but there was no civilian casualty as Chowkidar wasn’t present inside at the time of fire. Militants escaped after torching the hut. Tributes paid to Sheikh
Abdullah Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 5: The 93rd birth anniverary of Late Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was today commemorated by inauguration of several welfare projects which include commissioning of Water Treatment Plant at Pokhribal, foundation laying stone of a bridge at Shadipora, Baramulla and opening of 50-bed paying ward at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura. The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah accompanied by the Minister for Works, Mr Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah, the Minister for Medical Education, Dr Mustafa Kamal, the Minister for Irrigation and Flood Control, Mr Ali Mohammad Sagar, the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, the MoS for Home, Mr Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, the general secretary, National Conference Sheikh Nazir Ahmad, several legislators and party workers visited the mausoleum of Sher-e-Kashmir to offer ’’Fateh’’. The Chief Minister showered flower petals on the grave of the departed leader. The Holy Quranic verses were recited at the Mazar. The CM also released special Sher-e-Kashmir issue of JK News brought out by Information Department. Later, Dr Farooq Abdullah inaugurated Pokhribal Water Treatment Plant involving an expenditure of Rs 4.16 crores having capacity to treat 40 lakh gallons daily. The plant would cater to the people of Kathi Darwaza, Bahuddin Sahib, Bota Kadal, Hawal, Lal Bazar, Saida Kadal and some areas of Rainawari. Addressing a gathering on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that his Government is striving to achieve autonomy for the State within the frame work of Indian Constitution but this should in no way be an impediment in our friendly relations with the people across the country. He hoped that India and Pakistan would stren-gthen their bilateral relations adding that an atmosphere of mutual trust and confidence to prevail between the two countries. Referring to the electricity scenario, the Chief Minister said that work on Tulbul Navigational Lock meant for generation of electricity by Uri Hydel Project during low water flow season has been stalled due to un-warranted meddling by Pakistan. He hoped that India should take up this issue in International Court of Justice, Hague as the talks between the two countries on this issue initiated by India have yielded no tangible results. If Pakistan does not create any hurdle in the construction of the Navigational Lock, it would lead the State to a position of generating surplus electricity. However, Pakistan is not sincere to us as their only motive is to lead the State to backwardness and poverty although we strive for overall development and peace in the State. The low discharge of water during winter in river Jhelum has drastically plumetted the power generation capacity of Uri Hydel Project from 480 MWs to barely 90 MWs while in Lower Jhelum Hydel Project it has declined from 105 MWs to measly 25 MWs. Dr Farooq Abdullah appealed to the people to consume potable water economically and ensure its intake after proper boiling as the health of the people is more precious than anything else and this precaution is even followed in developed countries. He said the city and its suburbs are now self-sufficient in water supply but the main thrust onwards should be given to remote areas as certain far-flung places are still uncovered under potable water facility. Pointing to corruption in the society, the Chief Minister sought cooperation of the people in eradicating this menace which is sapping the vitals of our social fabric. Earlier, the Minister for Public Health Engineering, Irrigation and Flood Control, Mr Ali Mohammad Sagar criticised the elements who are hell bent on unleashing false propaganda against the Government for their petty political gains. He said the Government has resolved to obviate the ordeals and problems the people have undergone during militancy. He said, the past two year's or present Government's rule have witnessed a sea change in development scenario which is discernible. He said hitherto backward and neglected areas have been accorded top priority in matters of development, including education, health and potable water. Later, the Chief Minister inaugurated 50 bed paying ward at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, costing Rs 5.88 crore. He also watered a sapling planted in the premises as a part of birthday commemoration programme. Addressing Foundation Day function at SKIMS, Soura, in which a galaxy of eminent doctors and other dignitaries were present, the Chief Minister announced construction of Maternity Hospital in the proximity of the Institute to ease out pressure of patients on Lal Ded Memorial Hospital. He said, the mushroom growth of dubious professional colleges were luring innocent students with the ulterior motive of amassing wealth. These colleges, he said, are in fact devoid of even basic infrastructure as setting up of a full fledged medical college requires at least an investment of Rs 8 crore annually. The fake professional colleges in the State are playing with the career of innocent youth. He said the Government have decided to take over the Jhelum Valley Medical College to affiliate it with SKIMS, Soura. The Chief Minister assured the SKIMS Board members of every possible facility to make it a premier institute. He appealed to the doctors and para-medical staff to work with added zeal and zest and visit district hospitals on regular intervals so as to extend special treatment to the patients. He reiterated equal opportunities of health care to people in all the regions of the State saying that no area would be left unattended to. He stressed the need for research in SKIMS so that the research papers receive acclaim across the globe. The Chief Minister released Annual Report published by SKIMS. Earlier, the Director, SKIMS, Dr Mehrajudin gave resume of activities the Institute is engaged in. He said 2.50 lakh patients have been examined by the Institute last year while 500 have been treated in critical care unit. Professor Neurosurgery Dr Muha-mmad Afzal Wani presented vote of thanks. present on the occasion were the Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Mr Ali Mohammad Sagar and the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Mr Khurshid Ahmed Ganai. Rashly driven bus
rolls down Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Dec 5: Two Army jawans were killed and 42 others were injured, seven of them seriously, when a private bus attached with Army rolled down about 200 feet deep into a gorge at tourist resort of Patnitop on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway this morning. Driver and conductor of the bus, who survived with minor bruises, came out of the gorge and fled from the spot. They were being hunted by the police. Official reports received here said the bus No. 9833 JK02A, which was on way from Jammu to Srinagar, met with an accident at about 1130 hours due to negligent driving. The bus skidded off the road, overturned and then rolled down over 200 feet deep into a gorge. Two Army jawans were killed on the spot. They have been identified as Sepoy Shiv Ram Singh and Sepoy Mangu Ram. Fortytwo other Army personnel, travelling in the bus sustained injuries. A police party reached the spot immediately after getting a report and launched rescue operation with the help of local people. Army officers also visited the spot. The victims were extricated out of the gorge by the rescue teams. Thirtyone injured were airlifted to Command Hospital while 11 others were given first-aid in the local hospital. Condition of seven injured admitted in the Command Hospital was stated to be critical. Bodies of two deceased jawans have been shifted to a hospital for transportation to their native States. Local police have registered a case in the accident and started investigations. Police have started searches for driver and conductor of the bus, who fled from the site of accident leaving behind the victims. The bus has been seized by the police. Police said the immediate reason behind the accident was suspected to be the rash and negligent driving. Our Jammu correspondent adds: A student of Kathua degree college, who had come to Jammu to participate in the inter district sports tournament, was injured when he was hit by a speeding mini-bus at Vikram Chowk this afternoon. Identified as Vikram Sharma son of Girdhari Lal Sharma, a resident of Kathua, the youth was crossing Vikram Chowk when the mini-bus hit from the behind. Driver of the mini-bus managed to escape from the spot leaving the victim in lurch. Police shifted the injured to Medical College hospital where his condition was stated to be serious. He had sustained a deep injury in his head. Police have registered a case against ‘erring’ driver of the mini-bus and was looking for him. Another youth identified as Manjit Kumar son of Badi Kumar, a resident of Ward No. 1 in Poonch sustained 50 percent burns in a fire at his residence. He was referred to Medical College Jammu from district hospital of Poonch in serious condition. US disagrees with Pak plea
to link CTBT WASHINGTON, Dec 5: The Clinton administration appears to have dismissed Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s linkage of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) with the Kashmir issue as a mere political posturing meant for domestic consumption back home. Commenting on Mr Sharif’s statement to this effect, Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, Karl Inderfurth yesterday made it clear that the U.S. would go by Mr Sharif’s commitment in the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) in September last, regarding adherence to the CTBT. "We have no reason to believe that the Prime Minister’s assurance provided at the time of UNGA is any different today than it was then. We believe that Pakistan is on a path to both sign and ratify the CTBT," he added. The controversy arose over Mr Sharifs remarks in reply to a question at his press conference on Thursday suggesting that Pakistan would sign the CTBT only after the Kashmir issue had been "meaningfully" addressed and all the embargoes on Pakistan had been lifted. He had never made such a statement before, according to observers. Mr Inderfurth drew attention to the joint statement issued yesterday at the end of Mr Sharif’s U.S. visit which said that Mr Clinton had welcomed the Prime Minister’s statement made at the UNGA, regarding adherence to the CTBT and Pakistan’s decision to participate constructively in the upcoming negotiations at Geneva on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty,’’ consistent with its legitimate security interests.’’ "I think he brought that issue in because he feels very strongly that addressing Kashmir is of utmost importance to Pakistan and addressing the question of sanctions relief is also of utmost importance to Pakistan," he added. Mr Inderfurth said "Mr Sharif is a leader and a leader had to keep his eyes on things of greatest importance to his country. We were not surprised that he had raised those issues." The U.S. hoped that India and Pakistan would be able to fully explore their views on the Kashmir issue as their current dialogue progressed. It would lead to some satisfactory solution of the Kashmir issue and "that will over time also take into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people," he added. The senior State Department official said "we also believe that the international community can at some appropriate time perform a valuable role if there is a movement of the two parties (India and Pakistan) towards resolving the issue." "We can provide some form of support and that is what we are hoping to do." he said Kashmir had acquired greater importance in the wake of May nuclear tests by India and Pakistan. Mr Inderfurth said the world and the international community were concerned about the issue. The U.S. believed that India and Pakistan, by willing to keep Kashmir on their bilateral agenda, were "having further talks and are moving in the right direction. We support their efforts," he remarked. "We are not going to say or do anything at this stage which would deflect attention away from the parties themselves discussing this issue in a serious fashion," he said obviously in justification of the U.S. inability to accept Pakistan’s demand for American mediation in the dispute," he added. He said U.S. insists that it would adopt such a role only if both India and Pakistan jointly asked for the mediation. India, on the other hand, wants to settle all its bilateral disputes with Pakistan through direct talks without involving any third party.(UNI) CJI opposes constitution of NJC NEW DELHI, Dec 5: Chef Justice of India A S Anand today opposed the idea mooted by political parties for constitution of a National Judicial Commission to select Judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts and said this is merely an effort to share judicial cake. National Judicial Commission was a lofty idea but is it not too presumptuous to say that those who are outside judiciary and are almost strangers to judicial fraternity would be in a better position to participate in the selection of those who have to manage the administration of justice in the country, he said speaking at a seminar here. Justice Anand said, I am unable to appreciate as to how those whether from the executive or representing the legislature, who do not have any first hand knowledge and information about the system and its manpower can be in a position to arrive at objective decisions? Would they know about the performance of judicial officers including the High Court Judges? the answer has to be in the negative, the Chief Justice said while speaking at the All India Seminar on Judicial Reforms. He said they cannot be in a better position than those who were in judiciary. Many judicial
intellectuals in the country feel that this move to have
National Judicial Commission is merely an effort to share
judicial cake, he added. (PTI) US disagrees with Pak plea
to link CTBT WASHINGTON, Dec 5: The Clinton administration appears to have dismissed Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s linkage of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) with the Kashmir issue as a mere political posturing meant for domestic consumption back home. Commenting on Mr Sharif’s statement to this effect, Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, Karl Inderfurth yesterday made it clear that the U.S. would go by Mr Sharif’s commitment in the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) in September last, regarding adherence to the CTBT. "We have no reason to believe that the Prime Minister’s assurance provided at the time of UNGA is any different today than it was then. We believe that Pakistan is on a path to both sign and ratify the CTBT," he added. The controversy arose over Mr Sharifs remarks in reply to a question at his press conference on Thursday suggesting that Pakistan would sign the CTBT only after the Kashmir issue had been "meaningfully" addressed and all the embargoes on Pakistan had been lifted. He had never made such a statement before, according to observers. Mr Inderfurth drew attention to the joint statement issued yesterday at the end of Mr Sharif’s U.S. visit which said that Mr Clinton had welcomed the Prime Minister’s statement made at the UNGA, regarding adherence to the CTBT and Pakistan’s decision to participate constructively in the upcoming negotiations at Geneva on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty,’’ consistent with its legitimate security interests.’’ "I think he brought that issue in because he feels very strongly that addressing Kashmir is of utmost importance to Pakistan and addressing the question of sanctions relief is also of utmost importance to Pakistan," he added. Mr Inderfurth said "Mr Sharif is a leader and a leader had to keep his eyes on things of greatest importance to his country. We were not surprised that he had raised those issues." The U.S. hoped that India and Pakistan would be able to fully explore their views on the Kashmir issue as their current dialogue progressed. It would lead to some satisfactory solution of the Kashmir issue and "that will over time also take into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people," he added. The senior State Department official said "we also believe that the international community can at some appropriate time perform a valuable role if there is a movement of the two parties (India and Pakistan) towards resolving the issue." "We can provide some form of support and that is what we are hoping to do." he said Kashmir had acquired greater importance in the wake of May nuclear tests by India and Pakistan. Mr Inderfurth said the world and the international community were concerned about the issue. The U.S. believed that India and Pakistan, by willing to keep Kashmir on their bilateral agenda, were "having further talks and are moving in the right direction. We support their efforts," he remarked. "We are not going to say or do anything at this stage which would deflect attention away from the parties themselves discussing this issue in a serious fashion," he said obviously in justification of the U.S. inability to accept Pakistan’s demand for American mediation in the dispute," he added. He said U.S. insists that it would adopt such a role only if both India and Pakistan jointly asked for the mediation. India, on the other hand, wants to settle all its bilateral disputes with Pakistan through direct talks without involving any third party.(UNI) J&K mission urges UK to
declare Pak LONDON, Dec 5: A three member ‘mercy mission’ from Jammu and Kashmir has urged Britain to declare Pakistan a terrorist state for sponsoring trans-border terrorism and called for full international sanctions on Islamabad. The delegation led by former J&K High Court Judge Moti Lal Bhat drew attention of foreign office officials to crimes perpetrated against Pandits in Kashmir by Pak-backed mercenaries. During the talks, mission members, Kashmiri Samiti leader Chaman Lal Gadoo and Ashok Bhan, told officials that Islamabad’s sponsorship of terrorism in Kashmir was a crime and urged to them to declare Pakistan a terrorist state. The delegation discussed all aspects of the Kashmir issue with the officials, Indo-Kashmir European Forum Secretary General Dr S K Durrani told here yesterday. The British officials expressed concern over the recent surge in international terrorism and declared Britain’s resolute stand against the menace during the talks, he said. They also promised to take up the cause of the Pandits at various humanitarian fora. The mission, which is here at the invitation of the forum, also met head of the political affairs of the Commonwealth Secretariat and urged the UN to depute a special rapporteur of refugee camps housing displaced Pandits from Kashmir. (PTI) Security beefed up in Kashmir on PM’s visit SRINAGAR, Dec 5: Security forces have been put on maximum alert in view of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow against which Hurriyat Conference has called a general strike. During his two-day visit, Vajpayee will have on-the-spot assessment of the situation prevailing along the Line of Control, official sources said today. Vajpayee is scheduled to visit forward areas of Tangdhar, Karnah, Gurez and Uri in Kashmir, Leh and Kargil in the frontier region of Ladakh and Jammu. This will be Vajpayee’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since the BJP-led coalition took over at the Centre in March this year. Meanwhile, Hurriyat Conference has called for a general strike tomorrow. A party spokesman said that the strike has been called as a mark of protest against the alleged rigid and uncalled for approach of the Government in finding an amicable and early solution to the Kashmir problem. This approach, the spokesman said, was fraught with dangerous consequences with peace in the sub-continent being at stake. The Prime Minister’s visit to Kashmir takes place against the backdrop of escalation in skirmishes between Indian and Pakistani troops along the Line of Control and the International Border in Jammu region. Kargil in Ladakh and Uri, Tangdhar and Karnah in north Kashmir have witnessed intermittent exchange of fire between the two sides, sources said. On his visit to the border areas Prime Minister would be accompanied by Defence Minister George Fernandes and Chief Minister Farooq Abdulla, sources said, adding Vajpayee will also attend a high level meeting of various security agencies involved in anti militancy operations in the State. (PTI) Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU,Dec 5: Mrs Santokh Kour,mother of Director General of Police (DGP), Mr Gurbachan Jagat passed away at her ancestral town of Hoshiarpur today. She was 83 and is survived by four sons and a daughter. Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and Mr Jagat flew from Srinagar to Hoshiarpur in State Aircraft to attend the last rites of the deceased. After the cremation ceremony,both Dr Abdullah and Mr Jagat returned to Jammu . They are leaving for Leh tomorrow morning to receive the Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee who is paying a two day visit of the state tomorrow. Dr Abdullah and Mr Jagat will later leave for Srinagar. Army directed to be more Vigilant to tackle ISI designs From B L Kak NEW DELHI, Dec 4 : With Pakistani agencies, particularly the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), continuing to aid and abet terrorists and subversive elements in India, including Jammu and Kashmir and the southern States, all formation headquarters of the Indian Army and Military Intelligence (MT) have been directed to be extra vigilant to enable various agencies to take timely action to ''tackle the ISI problem''. This information was given to Parliament by the Union Home Minister, Mr L K Advani. Justifying what he termed as ''sustained operations'' against terrorists and subversive elements, Mr Advani pointed out that the Government had taken several steps such as gearing up the intelligence machinery, intensification of border patrolling, modernisation of police forces and sensitising and alerting State Governments regarding movement of Pakistani ISI agents, anti-national elements and insurgents. Mr Advani said that apart from adequate surveillance on infiltration and other anti-national activities in coastal areas of India, additional battalions of the Border Security Force (BSF) had been posted in Gujarat. While patrolling in sea and land area in Kutch sector had been intensified, Naval detachments had been set up along the coast in Tamil Nadu, he added. According to the Home Minister, 48 ISI suspects- 19 in Delhi, 7 in Punjab, 1 in Rajasthan, 2 in Gujarat, 3 in Haryana and 12 in Andhra Pradesh- were arrested from January to November 20 this year. Indian citizens arrested during the period, Mr Advani divulged, were 29-6 each in Punjab and Andhra Pradesh, one each in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, 11 in Delhi and 3 in Haryana. Mr Advani stated that in Jammu and Kashmir where the militancy ''is aided and abetted by Pak agencies including ISI'', 1306 militants were arrested during the period. Even as Mr Advani admitted that Pakistan continued to aid and abet terrorists and subversive elements on this side of the borders, he let it be known that Pakistan had not set up any training camps for terrorists in India. Denying reports that the ISI agents are inducted into India in the garb of Afghans, the Home Minister stated that a large number of Afghan mercenaries were inducted in Kashmir Valley at the behest of Pakistani ISI for terrorist activities. The number of Afghans identified between 1991 and 1998 was 85, he said, adding that ISI agents and Afghan mercenaries arrested were dealt with under the relevant laws. Mr Advani informed the BJP member from Jammu parliamentary constituency, Mr Vishnu Datt Vaidya, that 1694 security personnel were killed between January 1990 and October 1998. Mr Vaidya, who also wanted to know the number of Army and other security personnel missing or untraced in J&K, was told by Mr Advani that information in this regard ''is being collected and will be laid on the table of the House.'' Referring to the recent recovery of bodies of two remote controlled airborneaerodynamic modules (RCAAM) and components of one engine from a forest area in Rajouri district of Jammu region, the Home Minister said that the Government was aware of the efforts of terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir to obtain sophisticated weapons with active assistance from across the border. He added that while the Government of India had on various occasions strongly urged Pakistan to cease its support to tranborder terrorism in J&K, Indian authorities were ''carefully monitoring'' the situation and taking ''all steps necessary to safeguard the security and territorial integrity of the country''. Regretting that Pakistan has not ceased its attempts to interfere in India's internal affairs, Mr Advani pointed out that in view of the continuing official Pakistani support to terrorist organisations operating in various parts of India, New Delhi remained firm in its resolve to take all measures necessary to safeguard the country's security and territorial integrity. Reiterating that adequate funds had been made available to the Farooq Abdullah Government in Jammu and Kashmir for taking up anti-militancy operations, the Home Minister divulged that the Centre had suggested to the State Government to consider strengthening the village defence committees and integrating them into the existing counter insurgency grid. Stating that there are no reports of large scale migration of people from Jammu and Kashmir during the last six months, the Home Minister informed Parliament that the number of incidents of terrorist violence in the State has been on the decline since 1995 when there were 5939 incidents, which declined to 5014 in 1996, to 3420 in 1997 and to 2537 in the first ten-and-a-half months of 1998. |