39 wounded in Anantnag blast
ASI, 2 Pak militants killed at PDP leader’s house

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 8: The overnight stand-off between the Lashkar-e-Toiba militants and security forces at the house of a ruling PDP leader’s house in Baramulla has culminated in the death of two militants and an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) of Jammu and Kashmir Police. Meanwhile, as many as 37 civilians and two Police personnel have sustained injuries in a grenade explosion at Anantnag town in south Kashmir today.

Informed sources told the EXCELSIOR that hours after evacuating all the four civilians, troops of Sector-10 and Police directed heavy volume of gunfire on the plush house of the PDP’s Zonal president, Wajahat Hussain Qureshi, at Kanispora, in Baramulla outskirts this morning. After a sustained response, both the holed up militants emerged out of the house and began scampering into an alley. Both of them were shot dead by the security forces who had maintained a tight cordon around the house.

The militants, killed in action, were identified as Imran alias Salah-ud-din Lashkari and Abdur Razaq alias Abu Veqas alias Saleem Fidayee. Sources said that both of them turned out to be the Pakistani members of Lashkar-e-Toiba and residents of Multan. Two AK-56 rifles and a quantity of assorted ammunition were recovered from the devastated site of the gunbattle. Sources said that the PDP leader’s house suffered extensive damage.

As already reported in this newspaper, two unidentified foreign militants had trooped into the PDP leader’s house on Sunday evening and expressed their will to see the mainstream political activist. Wajahat Qureshi, a close associate of the Minister of Finance Muzaffar Hussain Baig, has joined the PDP after taking retirement as Dy SP from J&K Armed Police. Police and security forces laid siege to the house and took the PDP leader into protective custody in Kupwara after learning that some militants were waiting for his return at Kanispora, Baramulla.

Police and troops managed to evacuate the PDP leader’s wife, mother-in-law, father-in-law and a maid. After the evacuation of the civilians was over, troops engaged the holed up militants in a gunbattle, ultimately killing both of them. Residents, however, said that the holed up militants allowed the family members to leave the house after they found themselves cordoned by Police and security forces. They objected to the phrases "evacuation" and "rescue" by security forces.

Sources said that during the operation, an ASI of SOG Baramulla, namely Mushtaq Ahmed of Poonch, sustained critical injuries in mysterious circumstances. Apparently, he did not sustain gunshot wounds from the militants’ firing. He was rushed to Army Hospital in Baramulla where he succumbed to injuries.

Reports from Baramulla said that ASI Mushtaq enjoyed good reputation while working for 12 years in Baramulla. Even as he worked with the otherwise infamous SOG, people had never complained against his behaviour with the civilian population. Years back, he was reportedly involved in a gun running case which is still under investigation. Two senior Police officials are also facing charges in the same case. Though a report circulated by unknown sources said that the ASI committed "suicide" shooting himself dead, another report said that he got killed during the gunbattle at Kanispora. What surprised the media is that all officials maintained for the whole day that Police or security forces had not sustained any casualty in the encounter at Kanispora.

None of the senior Police officials was available for comments to explain as to how the ASI had got killed.

Meanwhile, sources in south Kashmir said that troops of Rashtriya Rifles 55 Bn gunned down a 27-year-old youth, Shameem Ahmed Dar S/o Ashoor Dar R/o Punzgam during a cordon-and-search operation at Gulzarpora-Begpora in Awantipore area today. Sources said that Dar, believed to be an overground militant operative, was killed when he was trying to escape from the cordoned area. However, none of the holed up militants could be traced, arrested or killed by the security forces.

A Spokesman of Army’s Victor Force insisted that Dar was a militant who got killed during an encounter between the militants and security forces. He claimed that troops recovered one Chinese pistol and a grenade from his possession. Some residents, however, suspected that troops eliminated Dar after arresting him and finding him to be an associate of the militants. On record, the residents maintained that Dar was a civilian with no militant connections.

Sources said that at 1155 hours today, an unidentified young man, suspected to be a militant, hurled a hand grenade towards a Police party at the crowded bus-yard in Anantnag town. It exploded, causing splinter injuries to as many as 37 civilians, including five females, and two Police personnel. The injured were evacuated and rushed to different hospitals. About a dozen of the critically injured were referred to three Srinagar hospitals. Doctors said that three of them were "extremely critical".

The injured Police personnel were identified as Sub Inspector Ghulam Rasool Khanday and Constable Mubeen Ahmed.

Indo-Pak ties accident-prone: Natwar

NEW DELHI, Dec 8: Terming Indo-Pak relations as "accident-prone", External Affairs K Natwar Singh today said this has to be dealt with great restraint, wisdom and patience and hoped its future does not lie in the past now.

Replying to a debate in Lok Sabha on foreign policy, Singh said having been India’s Ambassador to Pakistan more than a quarter century ago, he naturally has great interest in promoting good neighbourly and cordial relations with the northern neighbour.

"Indo-Pak relations are accident-prone. We have, therefore, to deal with this matter with great restraint, with great wisdom and patience," he said stressing "with Pakistan, we have put behind a reactive policy, which frequently oscillated between euphoria and despair.

Emphasising that the two countries were engaged in a sustained and comprehensive dialogue process, he said "I hope that the future of Indo-Pak relations does not lie in the past now".

India, he said, would not be deflected by "transient developments and often contradictory pronouncements from the other side of the border".

New Delhi’s confidence in taking this process forward was reflected in the number of wide-ranging Confidence Building Measures that has been proposed by it. "We have offered Pakistan 72 CBMs for them to study".

Singh said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has clearly enunciated the parameters within which India sought peace with Pakistan.

"I am aware of the fact that from time to time, statements are made in Pakistan which sound a discordant note, but we have to go on trying very hard and take a view in the larger interest," he said.

Observing that the atmosphere between the two countries has "considerably improved", he said "it shall be our endeavour to see that it remains so".

Contending that differencss would be there when there were "complicated" issues going back to many decades, he said "there are no quick-fixes and there are no magic solutions available for them".

He said "all that I would like to do is to try and improve relations with them, whether it is in the field of transport, railways, buses, easy visa regime, opening of our consulate offices in Karachi and others in Mumbai, and exchange between scholars, students, journalists, and even bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad".

On the proposed bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, he said "talks are going. There are some hitches, but we are hoping to resolve these initially at the expert level and later on, probably at the ministerial level.

"But, I do not wish to give a picture saying that all is well. It is not. But we are emphasising the aspects which are positive and trying to solve aspects which are negative," he said.

Describing India’s relations with the US as "special" because both were vibrant democracies, Singh said "our perspectives on specific issues may be different and that may lead to differences in policies."

"However, we share a great and enduring affinity as people are wedded to democratic values and today there is such a broad range of interaction between the two countries across the board," he said.

On missile defence, he said India has not given any commitment about its participation. "At this stage, we are being given technical briefings and presentation on missile defence by the US".

He noted that the Bush administration has approached the US Congress for the supply of a weapons package to Pakistan that includes surveillance aircraft and anti-tank missiles.

"The UPA Government has expressed our strong concern over this move at very high levels of the US Government," he said.

He assured members that "in case of US arms supply to Pakistan, the UPA Government will not hesitate to take steps to ensure that our defence preparedness is not compromised in any way".

Singh said changes in the US administration have not resulted in any uncertainty or doubt. "India-US relations are beginning to acquire a degree of stability and predictability. We are ready to work together on shared concerns."

The minister said he would be later this month visiting Gulf nations where he has convened a meeting of Indian heads of missions in the region.

The minister contended that his Government’s efforts had ensured that India’s claim to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council within the context of overall reform of the world body had been "well established within the international community".

Russian President Vladimir Putin had clarified that Moscow supported India’s candidature with veto rights, he said.

Putin’s remarks were aimed at clearing "all misunderstandings" following media reports a day earlier that he was against veto powers to new Security Council members, Singh said.

Terming Indo-Russian relations as "strategic and time-tested", he said Putin’s visit had helped take them to a much higher level of interaction.

"A declaratory phase in our relations has given way to concrete steps to put substance into our professed intentions," he said. (PTI)

NC ready to consider Hurriyat proposal if sent ‘formally’

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Dec 8: Senior National Conference (NC) leader Ali Mohammad Sagar, today said that his party was ready to consider the proposals of the Hurriyat leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Professor Abdul Gani Bhat in case the same were forwarded to the high command "formally". The Hurriyat leaders had proposed, at their sit-in on Tuesday, that they would welcome the NC leaders if they quit the "electoral politics" and declared publicly Jammu and Kashmir as a "disputed territory". Former chairman of the separatist amalgam, Prof Gani, had asserted that the Hurriyat was ready to hold the function of the NC's declaration even at Sheikh Abdullah's tomb at Hazratbal.

"We'll definitely consider such proposals if the same came formally from the Hurriyat. Our working committee will discuss the same at a meeting and subsequently take a decision with regard to the Hurriyat proposals", Sagar told the EXCELSIOR at the end of a news conference at Nawai Subah, NC's headquarters. He was asked for his party's reaction to Mirwaiz Umar asking the NC to abandon the "electoral politics" and Prof Gani desiring the mainstream political party to declare J&K as a disputed territory. The Hurriyat leaders had made these expressions on occasion of some of the NC leaders participating in the separatist conglomerate's sit-in against the alleged human rights abuse here on Tuesday.

On Dec 5th, birth anniversary of late Sheikh Abdullah, the NC patron and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah had publicly asked his rank and file to join the Hurriyat's dharna in protest against the "growing human rights abuse" by Police and security forces.

Earlier, while addressing the news conference, Sagar and some other NC leaders complained that human rights abuse by Police and security forces had reached phenomenal heights during the last two years of the Mufti Sayeed-led coalition Government in Jammu and Kashmir. Party's Chief Whip in the Legislative Assembly Mubarak Gul, MLA Mohammad Sayeed Akhoon, MLC and head of the Women's Wing Shameema Firdaus and the party president Omar Abdullah's close associate Nasir Sogami were present at the news conference.

Asked how a pro-India party, which claimed to be the state's largest political party with 28 MLAs and 15 MLCs, besides cadres in each and every village, had gone piggy riding on the Hurriyat show, Sagar said: "We have no hesitation in joining anybody who raises voice against the present government's atrocities on innocent civilians". When he was reminded that, until recent past, he and other NC leaders used to call the Hurriyat icons as "Mohalla leaders", while holding them responsible for "glorifying and patronising terrorists", Sagar clarified that the NC's joining the Hurriyat dharna did not tantamount to condoning the "human rights violations of the other side".

Sagar described it as a "positive indication" that the Hurriyat leaders had realised the futility of the gun culture and they were now coming forward with civilised forms of protest against the human rights abuse. He said that his party had been repeatedly telling the Hurriyat that the gun culture was a menace, which would one day engulf all parties and individuals. He said it was a historical fact that the militants of the organisations, once patronised and represented by the Hurriyat leaders, were responsible for killing hundreds of the NC activists all over the State.

As mediapersons reminded Sagar that the human rights abuse was no different when NC was the ruling party and he was the Minister of State for Home, he said: "But we took cognisance of all complaints, ordered inquiries, published reports and initiated prosecution against the accused". Added he: "Mufti Sahib's government has ordered 85 probes in the last two years. Not a single report has been made public. Not a single of the guilty has been punished". He said that Mufti Sayeed had promised disbanding of the SOG and had taken votes in the name of punishing the SOG officials. "Today, it's the SOG officers alone who are holding key postings at districts and other levels", Sagar pointed out.

Sagar referred to the repeated statements of Mirwaiz Umar, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and other separatist leaders calling the Mufti regime as "worse than the NC's" in terms of the human rights abuse. He described it as "NC's bad luck" that media had "magnified" the human rights violations of the NC's rule manifold but it had "played down" those of the coalition regime.

Sagar and Akhoon referred to about a dozen of the incidents when Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed had declared to "reveal and punish the guilty" in a few days. "But neither a delinquent was unmasked nor punished", the NC leaders alleged.

With the news conference's primary emphasis on "discrimination" against Srinagar and some Muslim-dominated areas of Jammu in developmental works, Sagar alleged that the coalition regime had employed "political vendetta" in all matters of the governance. He lamented that Assembly and District Development Boards had been reduced to a joke and it were the individuals of the Chief Minister and some Ministers whose bedroom orders were being implemented by the administration. He claimed that as many as 61 decisions had been taken in the previous meeting of the District Development Board Srinagar but only six had been implemented.

"This is the real anarchy and monarchy. Mufti Sahib, who used to taunt our party with monarchy, has himself grown as a monarch. He and his Government have consigned all democratic norms to the dust bin", Sagar added. He asserted that the NC would continue to play the role of a responsible Opposition for equitable development in the State. He said that his party had learned about the Government's plans of holding the civic body elections through newspapers and the state's "largest political party" had not been taken into confidence. He named over a dozen developmental schemes which, according to him, had been formulated, initiated and partly executed by the NC government in 1996-2002 but the same were being projected as the achievements of the coalition Government.

Ex-soldiers for permanent Indo-Pak peace

NEW DELHI, Dec 8: Once they may have been adversaries but today they are friends, together in their quest for establishing everlasting and permanent peace between India and Pakistan.

Lt Gen (retd) Moti Dar, the president of "India Pakistan Soldiers’ Initiative for Peace (ISIP)" (Indian chapter), was the opposing commander to Lt Gen (retd) Mohammad Nasir Akhtar, his Pakistani counterpart, 1970s.

Gen Dar was then corps commander in Jodhpur and GOC-in-C Southern Command and Gen Akhtar, Corps Commader, 5 Corps (Karachi).

Today they talk of peace and say war is a useless thing. They explain as to how necessary it had become for the two neighbouring countries to bury the hatchet to avoid a nuclear conflict.

Gen Dar, a highly decorated officer, was injured in the war of 1971. He retired as the Vice-Chief of the Army Staff in 1996. From 1967 to 1970, he served as Brigade Major of the 121 Brigade, responsible for Kargil’s defence and which was at the core of the controversies regarding its handling of the war in 1999.

From 1981 to 1984, he was again connected with events in Kargil, while commanding the 114 Brigade in Leh. In 1983, he participated in major exercises in the Kargil area, which formed the basis for subsequent strategic policies in the area.

Gen Dar was also involved in designing strategies for the defence of the Siachen Glacier, and was closely connected with counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

Talking to UNI on the sidelines of the luncheon meeting hosted by Jammu and Kashmir CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami in honour of the visiting ex-defence officers from Pakistan here today, Gen Dar said initially there was reluctance from the both sides, which had once been bitter enemies, to meet each other.

"Even I was reluctant and hesitant to be part of the organisation with which Gen Nasir Akhtar was associated. We were once the opposing commanders. But in four years that bitterness and the reluctance has completely gone. We have since developed a good rapport and share a very pleasant relationship. We have come out of the past and are actively involved in the peace process," he added.

Gen Dar, a Kashmiri Pandit who has made Pune his home, said people-to-people contact between India and Pakistan has created an environment which will ultimately pave the way for resolution of all the issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, between the two countries. He said the ISIP has been instrumental in creating this environment. Gen Dar, who once wrote that India erred in not crossing the Line of Control after 1999 Kargil conflict in his essay in guns and yellow roses, said military men understand each other in a better way.

"We have been able to put across our viewpoint to the two Governments. Pakistan has a military regime so it understands our language better," he said.

He said the best indicators of the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan are the drop in cross-border terrorism, more than one year of ceasefire, greater people-to-people contact, exchange of media and other peace delegations, opening of communication channels and comprehensive talks on all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.

"Though the talks have not produced the desired results so far by they are on and that is very important. This time the two countries will not regress from the peace process because the people have got involved in it and they want peace and friendship," said Gen Dar, who was instrumental in bringing some normalcy into the troubled Jammu and Kashmir in 1996 while in service.

His efforts contributed to holding of elections in the valley in 1996.

Gen Nasir Akhtar, the ISIP president (Pakistan chapter), said it is only through greater people-to-people contact between the two countries that the "old wounds will heal."

He said the two countries should continue their dialogue process so that all issues are resolved and peace is established in the region. "Peace process is imperative as both the countries have gone nuclear. There is even greater need to close the doors on confrontation."

"Kashmir is a human problem. The issue has been a major source of damage to both India and Pakistan. We want that the issue be resolved peacefully and with the involvement of the people of Jammu and Kashmir because they are the real sufferers," Gen Akhtar said.

"The sub-continent is witnessing a historic change. A peace process between India and Pakistan is on. There may be ups and downs on the way, but we need to keep working on it," he added. The other members of the delegation are former Air Chief of the Pakistan Air Force Air Marshal (retd) Zafar A Chaudhary, Brigadier Rao Abid Hamid, who is also member of the Pakistan Human Rights Commission, Lt Gen Humayun Khan Bagash, Lt Gen Jahangir Nasarullah, Maj Gen Uzair Mohammad Khan, Maj Gen Nawaz Chaudhry, Rear Admiral Hasan Ansari, Rear Admiral Khalid Wasey, Lt Col Tahir H Kardar, Lt Col Iftikhar Ahmed, Maj Kamran Shafi and Ms Sadaf Abid, Brig Hamid’s daughter. Some of the officers are accompanied by their spouses. The visit is part of an exchange programme of the IPSI, which is headed by Rajya Sabha MP Nirmala Deshpande. Admiral (retd) L Ramdas is chief patron of the ISIP.

The delegation, on an eight-day visit to India, has visited Agra and Jaipur and met besides others Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

It also took part in a seminar here on December six on "scope for strategic relationship within South Asia". The delegation will return to Pakistan on December 10.

Besides Ms Deshpande, others who attended the meeting included CPI(M) general secretary Harkishjen Singh Surjeet, CPI(M)’s Mehboob Zaidi, MP, and Mr Ali Javed of the CPI.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Surjeet said there were less critics of the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan.

"Everybody wants peace. We have to show to the world that we can live in peace and harmony," he added.

The CPI(M) leader said there is a need to give a push to the peace process so that all outstanding issues between the two countries are resolved. Mr Tarigami said the peace process has to overcome several hurdles to help in the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

"The final settlement of the Kashmir issue is necessary but till the problem is resolved efforts should be made to improve relations between the two countries. Kashmir should no longer be a bone of contention between India and Pakistan but act as a bridge of friendship and amity," he added.

Mr Tarigami said people of both the countries want peace and called for greater people-to-people contact and immediate resumption of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service. (UNI)

Case being referred to Crime Branch
44 kanals land scam unearthed

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 8: A land scam pertaining to illegal transfer of over 44 kanals of Evacuee Property land has been detected by the Revenue Department. The case is being referred to the Crime Branch.

Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Hakeem Mohammad Yasin said here today that 44 kanals and three marlas of Evacuee land was illegally transferred in favour of some "blue eyed person" by retired officers of the Revenue Department at Majeed Bagh, Hyderpora in Srinagar.

Mr Yasin said on the basis of some complaints received by him, he had asked Financial Commissioner, Revenue, Samuel Verghese to hold an inquiry into the land scam.

The Inquiry Officer has submitted a detailed report to the Government revealing involvement of 10 officers of the Revenue Department including the then Assistant Commissioner, Revenue, Tehsildar and some Girdawars, who have now retired from the Government service.

The Minister said these officers had manipulated and tampered the Revenue records under the garb of Agrarian Reforms Act and transferred the Evacuee land in favour of seven persons.

The case is being referred to Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police to initiate disciplinary proceedings under Classification Control and Appeal Rules against the accused, Mr Yasin said, adding that for looking into legal status of grabbed land, the Settlement Commissioner has been appointed as the Inquiry Officer. He has been asked to look into legal status of Evacuee land in other parts of the State.

The Custodian General has also been directed to take possession of the Evacuee land and its supervision.

Mr Yasin said similar incidents can’t be ruled out at other locations of Evacuee property. He added that a State wide drive has been launched for identification of such cases and initiating legal action against the accused.

The Minister further said that during last two years, thousands of kanals of Evacuee land has been freed from illegal occupation and handed over to the Custodian Department for commercial use for generating employment and income by way of establishing commercial complexes like one at Hyderpora and Badgam at a cost of Rs three crore, over six kanals of Evacuee land and community hall at Sanat Nagar, Badgam and over two kanals of Evacuee land at a cost of Rs 1.50 crore.

Tainted or not, it’s PM’s prerogative

NEW DELHI, Dec 8 : Refusing to buckle under Opposition’s pressure tactics on the tainted minister’s issue, the Centre has stated before the Supreme Court that it was the discretion of the Prime Minister to include a Member of Parliament in his council of ministers and that the President was bound by it.

This was stated by Union Home Ministry in an affidavit responding to the court notice on a review petition filed by Manoj Narula challenging inclusion of Mohd Taslimuddin, Maa Fatmi and Jai Prakash Yadav on the ground that criminal cases were pending against them.

The Government said that there was no "limitation or restriction" in the constitution to bar MPs from being included in the council of ministers.

"Once a person is a Member of Parliament, he is entitled to be in the council of ministers if the Prime Minister so decides," it said.

Article 75 of the Constitution did not contain any limitation as to who could or could not be included in the Council of Ministers, the ministry said.

"It is repectfully submitted that the President would have no option but to appoint as Prime Minister the person who commands the support of the majority in the House. Equally, the Prime Minister has the discretion to select his council of ministers, and persons so selected are required to be appointed by the President as being part of the Council of Ministers," the Home Ministry said.

Indicating that a coalition has to do a tight-rope walking in selection of ministers, the affidavit said "there is, at present, a coalition Government which has formed the UPA and there are various parties which are part of the present Government."

It said "the MPs of such parties would be required to be considered for inclusion in the council of ministers, if the parties so desire and the ultimate decision is taken by the Prime Minister while selecting his council of ministers."

Taking note of the debate in Parliament on "tainted" ministers issue, the Supreme Court on July 16 had dismissed Narula’s petition seeking a ban on inclusion of such persons in the Union Council of Ministers.

"The matter is being debated in Parliament. We will see if Parliament comes out with a legislation on this issue," the court had said while refusing to entertain the petition.

However, on September 24, the court issued notice to the Congress-led UPA Government on Narula’s petition on the issue stating that Parliament did not debate on the issue.

The Home Ministry, in its affidavit, said the apex court on July 16 "rightly did not entertain the petition because the matter essentially fell within the province of Parliament and was required to be looked into by Parliament.

"The only reason why the discussion on this issue did not take place in the concerned session was because the session was disrupted by members of the opposition," the Government said adding that "as and when the occasion arises, the matter will certainly be considered and debated in Parliament because ultimately in a system of parliamentary democracy it is for Parliament to consider these issues." (PTI)

Civilian killed in Poonch blast

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 8: A civilian was killed in a mine blast in forward area of Begun in Poonch sector last night while security forces recovered explosive devices during searches in Doda and Rajouri districts.

Official sources said an unidentified civilian was killed when he stepped over a land mine in forward village of Begun in Poonch last night. His dead body was recovered by the security forces this morning.

Security forces have sent the body for post-mortem and identification.

During a search operation in Bhaderwah, security forces recovered two hand grenades, 230 kg ration and four blankets. In another search operation in Thanna Mandi, Rajouri, security forces recovered two kg gun powder, four explosive sticks and half kg RDX mixed with chemicals.

Donald Rumsfeld arrives

NEW DELHI, Dec 8: In his first major foreign trip after the re-election of President George Bush, US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld arrived here tonight for talks with top Indian leadership, during which New Delhi is likely to express concern over resumption of arms supplies to Pakistan.

Though on top of Rumsfeld’s agenda would be measures to enhance defence and security cooperation between the two countries, India has made it clear that supply of arms to Pakistan when Indo-Pak dialogue is at a sensitive stage, would have a negative impact.

Rumsfeld’s tight schedule tomorrow includes one-to-one talks with Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and a meeting with External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh. He may also call on the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"We have conveyed that US arms supplies to Pakistan would also have a negative impact on the goodwill the US in India, particularly as a sister democracy", External Affairs Minister said in Parliament today.

However, on the possible supply of F-16 aircraft to Pakistan, Singh said Washington had conveyed that no decision had been taken and is not imminent.

US has evinced keen interest and held negotiations on sale of maritime spy plane P3C Orions as well Hercules C130 giant transport aircraft to India. The two sides are also close to firming up an agreement on US help in case of Indian Naval submarines being in distress in high seas.

Rumsfeld would be given a ceremonial guard of honour at the Defence Ministry Headquarters in South Block tomorrow, before he begins official talks.

Besides the strategic partnership India and the US entered into a few months ago, the talks are likely to focus on global terrorism, situation in Iraq, Afghanistan and developments in West Asia. Other issues of mutual concern are also likely to be discussed.

The US Defence Secretary’s visit will set the pace for meetings of the Indo-US defence groups, including one on high tech weapons research collaboration. (PTI)

Terror infrastructure in Pak, PoK

NEW DELHI, Dec 8: The Government today reiterated the continued presence of terrorist infrastructure across the border in Pakistan and Pak-occupied Kashmir — progress in the ongoing bilateral peace dialogue notwithstanding.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Rajya Sabha during question hour that there had been no let up in cross-border terrorist activity with as many as 67 terrorist camps and 37 launch pads continuing in existence in Pak and PoK territory.

Describing the ongoing incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir as "a proxy war" and not militancy, the minister said it was not normal terrorist activity that continued to plague the northern Indian state.

Meanwhile, the ceasefire along the Line of Control had borne favourable results in that infiltration/exfiltration attempts had fallen by 60 per cent when compared over the January-October period last year and during the current year.

The Defence Minister also attributed part of this decrease to additional vigilance along the border, completion of the barbed-wire fencing along the LoC, and deployment of sophisticated surveillance equipment with the security forces.

Infiltration/exfiltration attempts had, however, registered a marked increase in November 2004 compared to the previous two months when 15 infiltrators had been killed while attempting to sneak in to J&K — another 30 may have succeeded in their attempts, the minister admitted. The Defence Minister, meanwhile, reassured the members that the Government could always reconsider its decision to reduce troop deployment from J&K if events so decreed.

Even though troops were being pulled out from the northern State as part of confidence building measures undertaken during the ongoing peace dialogue with Pakistan, they can always be re-deployed there if the situation so demanded in future, the minister said.

Mr Mukherjee further informed the members about the Government’s efforts to wean the Kashmiri youth away from militant activity by affording them employment opportunities.

The creation of the ‘home hearth’ battalions — of which 6 were being immediately raised — allowed even militants who had subsequently surrendered to the security forces to join the mainstream of lawful economic activity, he said.

Meanwhile, efforts were also continuing alongside to revitalise economic activity in Jammu and Kashmir which had been adversely hit by the 15-year-old militancy in the State. This would afford the state’s youth more opportunities for gainful employment, the minister hoped. (UNI)

Inquiry in CRPF SI’s killing

SRINAGAR, Dec 8: The CRPF today ordered an inquiry into the killing of Sub Inspector Prem Singh late last night by constable Sanni Topo posted at the residence of People’s Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone at Sanat Nagar.

The jawan has been arrested and the inquiry would ascertain the motive behind the killng, CRPF DIG S R Ojha said today. A criminal case was also registered against the constable.

Ojha said during questioning Topo claimed that he was on guard duty when he had observed a suspicious movement near the entrance and challenged the individual. As it was pitch dark due to a power breakdown, he could not identify the Sub Inspector who did not pay heed to the warning forcing him to open fire, the constable was quoted as saying.

"We have taken into account Topo’s statement," the official said.

This was the second incident in which a CRPF jawan shot dead his superior in the past ten days. On November 28, a CRPF jawan killed seven colleauges, including two officers, inside a camp in Baramulla district of north Kashmir before he was shot dead. (PTI)

Prominent jeweller submits surrender certificate for Rs 24 lakh to IT Deptt

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 8: A leading jeweller of Jammu—Ch Shanker Shah Isher Dass today submitted a surrender cerificate for payment of Rs 24 lakh as income tax against the total sum of Rs 65 lakh which the firm had not mentioned while submitting Income tax returns for the year 2004-05.

According to authoritative sources Income Tax sleuths had conducted a raid in the first week of November this year and recovered certain documents pertaining to the income of the firm. The thorough study of these documents had revealed that Shanker Shah Isher Dass firm had not given proper information regarding income and actual sale.

It was found that there was no mention of Rs 65 lakh in the income tax return submitted by the firm for the year 2004-05. Following the discrepancies in the actual income and what was revealed, the Income Tax authorities asked the jeweller to pay 35 percent as income tax on Rs 65 lakh which was calculated as Rs 24 lakh.

The firm, sources said, while accepting that it had earlier concealed information, later submitted a surrender certificate promising to pay the income tax.

Rahdari system can solve Indo-Pak bus impasse: Mirwaiz Omar

DUBAI: Acting chairman of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Omar Farooq has suggested the pre-1953 ‘Rahdari’ system, under which a letter from the local District Commissioner is recognised as a travel document, to resolve the stalemate over resumption of bus services between India and Pakistan.

Terming the resumption of the bus link between the two neighbours as the "biggest step", he said both countries should accept the system that was in place between the two countries till 1953, allowing travel between the two countries. This would solve the problem about the documents to be carried by the passengers, he told Gulf news in a recent interview.

Officials from the two countries met in New Delhi on December seven and eight to work out modalities of restarting the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad transport link. However, the talks conlcuded without agreement yesterday as the two sides failed to resolve the contentious issue of the documents to be carried by passengers.

India has proposed entry permits along with passports for the passengers of the bus service. However, Pakistan favours "no passport, no visa" but only an identify card for the passengers.

Mr Farooq said his definition of ‘azadi’ did not mean Independence but the aspiration of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to be masters of their own fate.

"People want independence to be able to live their life with dignity and honour, that is azadi," the Hurriyat Conference leader said. He alleged that even after 57 years, Kashmiris were being dictated to by New Delhi.

He opposed the division of the Jammu and Kashmir along religious and ethnic lines. "We are one people. Jammu is part of Kashmir, as is Ladakh. It makes us the unique nation that we are," said Mr Farooq, who also heads the Awami Action Committee, one of the member groups of the Hurriyat.

Supporting the step-by-step dialogue process between India and Pakistan, he said, "solutions will emerge from the process, let’s not put the cart before the horse."

The Mirwaiz said Pakistan had given up the plebiscite option and accepted the northern areas, Gilgit and Baltistan as part of Kashmir, but India’s stance still remained "vague" with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying he was willing to talk to all sides.

He asserted that the Kashmiris were Central to the dialogue process and without their inclusion in it there could be no peace. (UNI)

| home | state | national | business| editorial | advertisement | sports |
| international | weather | mailbag | suggestions | search | subscribe | send mail |