CM hails Centre's proposal to establish 5 meeting points

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 29: Appreciating proposal of the Union Government to establish five designated points along the border for interaction between divided families on both sides of Kashmir, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed today said that this historic proposal will help in further strengthening relations between India and Pakistan.

In an informal chat with media persons after addressing a seminar on "Issue of Good Governance", organised by the J&K Chapter of Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), the Chief Minister hailed this proposal and said, "these types of steps will definitely strengthen people to people relations and will provide opportunities to those who want to meet their relations across the border".

"Everyone should appreciate these steps", he said and hoped that Pakistan would give positive response to India’s proposal of establishing five meeting points for divided families.

Responding to a query of reporters, regarding news item published in section of media about arrest of his nephew for alleged links with militants, the Chief Minister made it clear that everyone is equal before law and no one is above the law. "No one is above law whether he is my own son or relative", reacted the Chief Minister and added ‘the law will take its own course’.

Earlier, addressing the seminar, the Chief Minister asked for the active participation of people in the decision making process at the State and the Centre so that the benefits of democracy would be extended to every section of the society. He was of the opinion that unless people were involved at the grass root level in the functioning of Panchayat and Urban local bodies the fruit of development cannot be beneficial.

Reiterating his government’s commitment of provide good governance, the Chief Minister said that the coalition was keen to bring transparency in the administration and in this connection steps have been already initiated.

The Mufti further said that the Government has institutionalised the recruitment process, evolved procedures and set the norms for this purpose. "Despite selection of more than 40,000 candidates in various Government departments, not even a single complaint of corruption has been received", he said and added that admission to professional and University courses being also made through independent agencies.

The Chief Minister said that after coming to power his Government has evolved a strategy to address the alienation of the people of the State and providing a good and clean administration was the first among the steps which have been taken so far. "Alienation of the people can be removed, to large extend, by providing good governance", he opined.

The Mufti was of the view point that the good administration was the only vehicle to transform the situation. He asked the civil servants to inculcate in them the sense of motivation, dedication and devotion towards their jobs.

Asking the Vigilance Organisation to widen its ambit of influence, the Chief Minister said that people should know about the functioning of the State and its various agencies.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Vigilance Commissioner, P Shanker cautioned the Ministers against brazen misuse of power by their personal officers. "Personal officers of the Minister are responsible for bringing bad name to the politicians", he observed and advised the Ministers to keep a strict vigil on their personal staff’s activities.

Mr Shanker stressed the need for creating awareness among the public about the powers and scope of the Vigilance authorities. He said that Vigilance Commissioner can be effective only if the quality of complains from the society will considerably improve. He further said that Central Vigilance Commissioner receive, every year, about 17000 complaints of which only five percent were actionable.

Emphasising on the need of involving people in developmental process and other activities of the Government, Mr Shanker stressed on the need of adopting Bagyadari system of citizens’ participation as practiced by the Delhi Government in all State Government. He elaborated ‘Social Audit Concept’ and said these types of concepts would help in keeping a check on mis-use of public exchequer.

The Chief Vigilance Commissioner regretted that due to escape routes in the system, most of the corrupt people manage to escape.

In his address, the chairman of the IIPA, J&K Chapter and Chief Secretary, Dr Sudhir Singh Bloeria enumerated four issues of transparency, institutional reforms, decentralisation of Government functioning and moral authority among the civil servants for discussion for achieving a corruption free society.

NC leader gunned down in Srinagar downtown
3 civilians, militant killed in Tral

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 29: Senior National Conference (NC) functionary Farooq Ahmed Zargar is among eight people killed in Kashmir valley even as three civilians and a militant got killed in a shootout in Tral area of Pulwama district today.

Informed sources told the EXCELSIOR that, on a tip off, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 42 Bn intercepted a passenger bus, JKC-4704, at Lalgam on Awantipore-Tral road in the forenoon today. When the passengers were coming out of the vehicle for identification and physical frisking, one of them took out his pistol and fired three shots on a soldier. In quick retaliation, troops gunned down the militant. They also evacuated their critically injured colleague who was later admitted to Army’s Base Hospital in Srinagar. On hearing the gunshots and watching the panicky passengers run in different directions, a nearby ROP of BSF 79 also opened fire. It was in this shootout that a 40-year-old woman, Jameela, and her 18-year-old daughter, Rifat Jan, got killed.

Housewife Jameela was the spouse of Mohammad Yusuf Shah of Babhaar, Pulwama, who is reportedly an Assistant Sub Inspector in J&K Armed Police. Her daughter Rifat Jan was a class 12th student. Four commuters of the ill-fated bus sustained injuries. They were identified as Saleema W/o Mohammad Aslam Sheikh R/o Barsu, Abdul Ahad Mir S/o Ghulam Mohammad R/o Pruchhal, Nisar Ahmed Rishi S/o Ghulam Mohammad R/o Midora and Manzoor Ahmed Khan S/o Noor Mohammad R/o Tral.

Sources said that minutes after the shootout, troops of BSF’s ROP opened fire at Midoora, killing a farmer, namely Nazir Ahmed Dar S/o Mohammad Ramzan Dar R/o Armpora. Officials said that Midoora is 3 Km from Lalgam, where the first shootout took place. They said they were investigating as to why the BSF party, far away from Lalgam, opened the gunfire.

Eyewitnesses said that dozens of gunshots hit the passenger bus and a number of the commuters when they were running for life. The militant killed in the shootout has been identified as Abdur Rasheed Bhat S/o Habibullah Bhat R/o Waghama, Bijbehara. Inquiries revealed that he was a member of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit, who had been arrested and detained under PSA in 2002. He had been recently released from jail.

Defence spokesman, Col V K Batra, said that the militant as well as two women got killed "amid firing from the militant, Army and BSF". On behalf of Army, he refuted charges that troops had directed heavy fire on the bus and its commuters well after killing the one-odd militant. He said that the injured trooper as well as the civilians were out of danger after they received medical treatment at two different hospitals. BSF spokesman could not be reached due to faulty communication system for his comments on the incident.

Sources said that immediately after the incident, hundreds of residents took to the streets at Midoora and Tral township. They forced closure of all shops and staged a demonstration, while alleging that the three civilians had been killed by security forces "in cold blood". They shouted pro-Azadi and anti-forces slogans, demanding judicial inquiry and punishment to those found guilty of over-reaction.

NC leader shot dead

Here in the capital city, unidentified gunmen fired pistol shots on senior NC activist, Farooq Ahmed Zargar S/o Noor-ud-din Zargar R/o Sonarkhull, Safakadal, when he was participating in a Fatiha ceremony in the downtown locality of Kawdara. Zargar, who was a protected person with two PSOs allotted to him, sustained critical injuries. He was rushed to SMHS hospital where he succumbed to injuries. After sustaining injuries in a similar attack in 1998, Zargar had been staying at the CRPF-guarded Welcome Hotel on the Boulevard. After working as Srinagar District president and Kashmir Province President in the Youth National Conference, 45-year-old Farooq Zargar had been appointed as a member in the NC’s Kashmir Province Working Committee.

Zargar is survived by a daughter and 10-day-old son. He lost his life when he was making arrangements for a birth party. Informed sources said that driving his own Maruti car, alongwith a friend, Zargar had gone to the interior Kawdara locality. He was ambushed by a gunman when he was returning to his car after offering Fatiha to a relative who had passed away recently. There was no PSO with him. NC circles claimed that a bullet-proof car, earlier allotted to the protected person in view of threat perception to his life, had been withdrawn by Security Wing of J&K Police on the directions of the coalition Government. For over two decades, Zargar had been known as a right hand man of the former Minister and senior NC leader Ali Mohammad Sagar.

In their separate statements, NC’s patron Farooq Abdullah, president Omar Abdullah and other leaders of the Opposition party paid tributes to their slain colleague. Without blaming militant for the assassination, the NC leaders said that Zargar’s killing was "part of a strategy to harass the voters and keep them away from the civic body elections" in the capital city. Authorities insisted that Zargar was gunned down by militants as he had not moved out with his PSOs.

Meanwhile, reports from north Kashmir said that militants fired upon a BSF soldier at the bus stand in Sopore today. He died on spot. Militants looted his SLR and vanished in the town.

Sources in south Kashmir said that troops of RR 9th Bn killed a Pakistani militant in an encounter at Neelu Matribugh in Kulgam area today. He was identified as Waleed Hassan Abbasi R/o Rawalpindi. Sources said that another militant, who was still unidentified, was killed by troops of RR Sector-2 in a gunbattle at Panzigam this evening. The operation was reportedly in progress when reports last came in.

Top HUJI ultra Tahir Billa killed in Darhal

Excelsior Special Correspondent

RAJOURI, Dec 29: In a major success, troops of Gorkha Rifles and Rajouri Police today eliminated a most wanted militant Abdul Tahir alias Billa in a fierce gun-battle in Khoyla forest area in Darhal.

Known as Tahir Billa, the "chief area commander" of Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI) outfit was active in Darhal and other parts of Rajouri district for last seven years. Tahir Billa son of Mohd Hussain R/o Topa, Darhal had twice undergone training in Pakistan.

Billa was infamous for his "burqa drive" launched in Darhal, which subsequently spread to Rajouri, in the year 2003-04. Two girls were shot dead and some others were injured while many others had abandoned their studies during the drive.

SSP Rajouri M A Mujtaba said Tahir Billa, who had escaped security forces and police cordon several times, finally ran out of luck when he was surrounded by troops of Gorkha Rifles and Rajouri police in Khoyla forest area of Darhal this morning.

A Defence spokesman said the troops carried out speculative firing to induce him to surrender but the militant opened indiscriminate firing and lobbed grenades on the Army personnel, who retaliated. He was killed after a heavy exchange of gun-firing, he added.

A large quantity of war like stores besides his personal weapon were recovered from Tahir Billa. However, surprising was the recovery of a range card of a 60 mm mortar recovered from him. The 60 mm mortar is a weapon of ordnance issue, which is in service with the Pakistani Army and recovery of it’s range card has once again demonstrated duplicity of that country, the spokesman said.

He added that the people of Darhal heaved a sigh of relief when the body of Billa was brought down and handed over to his family members in Topa for last rites.

The SSP Rajouri said Tahir Billa had become an active militant in April 1997 when he went missing from his house. He went for arms training in Pakistan and PoK twice during the period. For past sometime, he had been operating as "chief area commander" of HUJI outfit.

He was involved in a number of subversive activities in Rajouri district especially Darhal. In current year, he had killed a PHE employee Mohd Farooq son of Ghulam Qadir and Arshad Hussain, both residents of Dodaj.

The HUJI outfit has suffered a jolt with the killing of Tahir Billa, Mr Mujtaba said.

According to the Defence spokesman a Commanding Officer of the Army battalion had been paying regular visits to the house of Tahir Billa to make him to surrender. His family had been rendering a lot of support to the Army. However, all efforts of Army and Billa’s family couldn’t materialise as he had refused to join the mainstream.

Transporters suspend strike

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 29: All J&K Transporters Joint Action Committee this evening announced to suspend their three day long ‘Chaka Jam’ strike tomorrow following assurances by Deputy Chief Minister, Mangat Ram Sharma to look into their demands.

The Deputy Chief Minister has assured the representatives of transporters that recommendations of the high powered committee, constituted by the State Government to look into grievances of the transporters, will be placed in Thursday’s Cabinet meeting. He assured the transporters that the Government will take every possible step to solve their grievances, informed TS Wazir, chairman of All J&K Transporters Joint Action Committee.

It was after assurance of the Deputy Chief Minister, the agitating transporters unanimously decided to suspend the agitation, Mr Wazir said.

Earlier, a meeting of the representatives of transporters was held at the residence of the Deputy Chief Minister this evening. In the meeting the Deputy Chief Minister informed the transporters that implementation of the recommendations of Committee’s report was in the agenda of tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting.

Worthwhile to mention here that the State Government has constituted a high powered committee headed by Financial Commissioner (Finance), B R Kundal to look into grievances of the transporters. The other members of the committee include Transport Commissioner, Rajan Bakshi and Commissioner Secretary, Transport, Parmodh Jain. The committee has given some recommendations regarding demands of the transporters.

Earlier, the police resorted to mild lathicharge this afternoon to disperse the agitating Transporters who were trying to disrupt traffic near Asia Chowk. The transporters were dispersed after police action.

Shouting slogans against State Government, the transporters took out a procession which passed through different parts of the city. Due to procession of the transporters, traffic on Tawi Bridge, Fly-Over, Dogra Chowk, Jewel Chowk, Bikram Chowk and Asia Crossing got stranded.

Meanwhile, an official handout issued this evening said "transporters have suspended the strike with immediate effect after their meeting with Deputy Chief Minister, Mangat Ram Sharma."

"The Deputy Chief Minister impressed upon the transporters to call off their strike since the Government was seized with their demands. He said that the recommendations of the committee would be placed before the Cabinet in tomorrow’s meeting. He said that Cabinet would deliberate on these recommendations and take an appropriate decision on their demands taking care of both the Transporters and the commuters," the handout said.

The Deputy Chief Minister was accompanied by Minister of State for Transport, Raman Bhalla, Transport Commissioner, Rajan Bakshi, Commissioner/Secretary Transport, Parmodh Jain, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu, Dr S P Vaid, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu Hardesh K Singh, while as transporters team was headed by Trilochan Singh Wazir.

3 HM militants arrested with Rs 9.38 lakh hawala money

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 29: A joint team of Special Operations Group (SOG) and Army Intelligence last night arrested three Hizbul Mujahideen militants of Doda at Tarore near Bari Barahamana on Jammu-Pathankote national highway and recovered Rs 9.38 lakh hawala money, hidden in a Maruti Van.

The hawala money had been given to the militants by an international hawala racketeer Javed Ahmed Wani at Atta, Noida, Uttar Pradesh and was being taken to Doda for delivery to Hizbul Mujahideen "area commander" Maqsood Ahmed, official sources said. Wani is a resident of Ghat, Doda.

A major hawala racket has been busted with the arrests, the sources claimed after day long preliminary interrogation of the accused.

Sources identified the militants arrested from a Maruti Van No. 1505 JK02J as Shah Nawaz Ahmed son of Abdul Qayoom, Majid Ali Sheikh son of Mushtaq Ahmed Sheikh and Azad Amin son of Mohd Amin, all residents of Gath, Doda.

They said a joint team of SOG and Army Intelligence had laid three nakas on Satwari-Samba section of Jammu-Pathankote national highway last night after developing a very specific information that a hawala money transaction would be smuggled from Noida to Doda for Hizbul Mujahideen militants.

At about 11.30 pm, the joint party intercepted a Maruti Van No. 1505 JK02J at Tarore near Bari Barahamana and subjected it to checking. The militants didn’t try to escape as neither they were having any weapon nor they showed that they had anything incriminating in the Van.

However, the SOG and Army Intelligence persisted with the searches in every nook and corner of the Van and finally recovered Rs 9.38 lakh, concealed in inter-panel of the Maruti Van’s door.

Immediately thereafter, the team took all three militants into custody and seized the Maruti Van. The militants were shifted to an unidentified location for interrogation.

During their preliminary questioning, the militants revealed that they were handed over the money at Atta, Noida in Uttar Pradesh by one Javed Ahmed Wani at a pre-decided location. They didn’t know exact address of Javed Ahmed but know him by face as he too is a resident of Ghat, Doda. He had been working in a factory at Noida for last seven years. On the basis of their information, the security agencies have prepared a sketch of Javed Ahmed and were in the process of sending it to Noida police for identifying and apprehending him.

They disclosed that the hawala consignment had to be delivered to Maqsood Ahmed, an "area commander" of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit, based in Doda district.

The militants claimed that they had earlier also smuggled hawala consignments from New Delhi to Doda.

Further interrogation of the militants is on and some more clues were expected of them. A case has been registered against the accused for legal action.

Young girl helped police in arrest
Forced marriage costs Pak militant dearly

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Dec 29: Forced marriage with a Doda girl cost a Pakistani militant Asif Mohd Khan dearly. Not only the young girl, Naida Begum daughter of Mohd Iqbal, a resident of Dedni, Marmat, managed to escape from clutches of the militant but also gave Army and police some "vital information" which finally led to his arrest on Sunday night from outskirts of Bhaderwah.

Naida Begum along with her friend Mubina daughter of Atta Mohd, also a resident of Dedni, Marmat, falling in upper reaches of Doda district had gone to collect woods as usual when they were kidnapped by two top militants including Asif Mohd Khan son of Mohd Sharief, a resident of Rawlakote, Pakistan and Mudassar son of Fazal Hussain, a resident of Krewa, Bhagwa. The kidnapping took place in the month of June this year.

Despite objections by the two girls, the militants forcibly took them to their hideout in upper reaches of Marmat. After sometime, the militants shifted to Krewa in Bhalla area of Bhaderwah, where they had a concrete hideout. It was in this hideout that both the militants married the girls. The Pakistani militant forcibly married Naida Begum and Mudassar married Mubina on August 20,2004. Later, they also took the girls to widely revered Dedni Mata Mandir.

Naida Begum finally managed to escape from clutches of the Pakistani militant sometime back. She somehow reached her house. Her family members immediately sounded local police and Army.

On the basis of clues gathered by police from a recently arrested Pakistani militant Rashid Pakistani and Naida’s family members, several hideouts of Asif Mohd Khan and his associates were identified by the security agencies. The militants shifted most of their hideouts.

However, the Pakistani militant fell to a cordon laid by the troops of 4 Rashtriya Rifles and Bhaderwah police when he visited the house of one of his overground contact Mohd Iqbal on outskirts of Bhaderwah town on Sunday night.

Army and police have also recovered one voter identity card from the possession of Asif Mohd Khan. According to official sources, the identity card had been made on the name of one Pawan Kumar son of Girdhari Lal R/o Pul Doda.

The identity card was genuine, they said, adding it had been issued by the Revenue authorities.

It may be recalled that another Pakistani militant Rashid Pakistani, arrested by the security forces and Doda police on October 20 this year, was also in possession of identity card issued by Tehsildar Doda. His card was also genuine.

"It’s very strange that two top Pakistani militants had managed to get the identity cards in Doda, which had helped them many a times to escape from security forces nakas by displaying their identity", the sources wondered.

The sources, however, denied that a card of Intelligence Bureau (IB) was recovered from the arrested militant.

Albeit Asif Mohd Khan was a top Pakistani militant operating in Doda district for last more than two years and was involved in a series of subversive activities, yet sometimes he used to move in Doda and Bhaderwah towns without weapons to carry out recee of the areas. He used to display the voter identity card whenever he was subjected to checking at security forces or police nakas.

The militant has disclosed during his preliminary questioning that he had also cast his vote in May Parliamentary election for Udhampur-Doda constituency. He said he cast his vote in favour of a national political party.

As reported, the militant was involved in a series of killings, blasts and attacks on security forces.

While some of overground contacts of Rashid Pakistani and Asif Mohd Khan have been arrested, many others are yet to be apprehended.

Aziz satisfied with talks

ISLAMABAD, Dec 29: Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has expressed satisfaction over ongoing dialogue process with India and said that Islamabad was committed to the process aimed at creating a conducive atmosphere between the two countries to resolve all contentious issues including Kashmir.

Aziz told the Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran during their meeting here yesterday that an agreement to run the bus services between Srinagar and Muzafarabad to connect Kashmir on both sides of the LoC in accordance with the wishes of people of Kashmir would constitute an important CBM between the two countries.

For the process to move forward, it is imperative that progress on Jammu and Kashmir should move in tandem along with progress in other areas," he was quoted by the official APP newsagency as telling Saran.

He stressed the need to address the existing trade deficit between India and Pakistan particularly the non-tariff barriers in India.

The two sides also discussed the issue of gas pipeline between Iran-Pakistan and India and expressed the hope that further progress in this regard will be possible in the near future, it said.

Aziz also expressed Pakistans concern over delay in resolution of the Baglihar dam issue and said that there was a need for an urgent bilateral meeting, to amicably address the issue.

The two sides agreed that they should encourage their respective banks to open branches in each others’ countries. They also agreed that an increase in number of flights will encourage travel and tourism and facilitate people to people contact.

The Prime Minister said that SAARC needs to be energised to play a role for enhancing cooperation between the member states. The SAARC secretariat should be strengthened to implement decisions taken by the organization from time to time.

He said he was looking forward to his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the SAARC summit Dhaka in January 2005.

He also expressed heartfelt condolence over the loss of life in south India and offered assistance to help the affected people.

The Indian Foreign Secretary conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and said India deeply appreciated the messages of sympathy sent by the President Pervez Musharraf and Aziz over the recent tragedy that struck India following the earthquake and the tidal waves, the report said.(PTI)

30 killed in Baghdad explosion

BAGHDAD, Dec 29: A powerful explosion killed 30 people, six of them police, as Iraqi security forces searched a home of suspected foreign fighters in western Baghdad that was apparently booby-trapped, an Interior Ministry official and witnesses said today.

The police raided the home in Baghdad’s Squalid Ghazaliya district late yesterday, and were still inside when a massive blast ripped through the house, the Interior Ministry officer said.

Thirty people died, six of them police, along with 25 wounded, including four of them policemen, while another four policemen were still missing, the officer said.

Police had surrounded the home thought to harbour "terrorist elements" yesterday at 0030 IST, an Interior Ministry officer said.

"When the police force stormed the house at 0115 IST, a huge explosion destroyed the house and some surrounding homes," he said.

Police believed fighters had rigged the building with explosives, the officer said on condition of anonymity.

Residents in the district said foreign Arab nationals, including a Sudanese, lived in the home and a pair of vehicles, packed with weapons, had pulled up to the house two days earlier, raising suspicions about the inhabitants. (AFP)

Cabinet meeting today

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 29: The State Cabinet will meet here tomorrow with Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed in the chair.

According to the authoritative sources, the Cabinet will ratify holding of Municipal Corporation and Local Bodies elections from January 29 to February 17 in the State, the dates for which have already been announced.

The sources said that with the Cabinet approval of holding these polls, the notification to this elect will be issued on December 31.

Apart from according approval to holding of Municipal Corporation and Local Bodies polls, there will be routine matter on the agenda, which include certain departmental promotions, the sources said.

No transfers in Police or in administration will be discussed or approved during tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting, the sources added.

India, China reach consensus

BEIJING, Dec 29: India today said it has reached "consensus" with China to expand military-to-military ties and enhance cooperation in combating non-traditional threats, specifically international terrorism during the just-concluded landmark visit by Army chief General N C Vij.

"There was consensus on enhancing military exchanges and cooperation at different levels. Both sides also discussed cooperation in facing non-traditional threats, particularly against international terrorism," the Indian Embassy said in a press release on Vij’s visit, the first by an Indian Chief of Army Staff (COAS) to China in over a decade.

"The visit of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is an important element of the expanding military contacts between our two countries as part of the overall development of bilateral relations," it said on Vij’s December 22-29 visit.

Vij’s visit to China was the first in over a decade by a COAS. The last COAS to visit China was Gen. B C Joshi in July 1994.

"Both sides attached importance to improving relations and more cooperative exchanges between the two militaries. They noted with satisfaction that peace and tranquillity continues to be maintained in the border areas," the release said.

During his first visit to India's largest neighbour, Vij was given a red carpet welcome by the PLA, which opened up many of its defence facilities as part of the conscious effort by Beijing to enhance mutual trust and understanding. The visit of the Indian Army chief comes ahead of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's expected visit to India in March 2005.

Vij was "satisfied" with the substantive exchanges he had with the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) leadership in Beijing and also at different levels in various locations he visited.

He noted that such interaction helps in furthering understanding and promotes cooperation between the two armed forces, the release said, adding that the PLA Chief of Staff, Gen. Liang Guanglie has accepted Vij’s invitation to visit India "to carry forward the cooperation between the two militaries."

On Vij’s meeting with Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong here today, it noted that the senior Chinese leader expressed support for an even greater role for India in world affairs.

"China supports an even bigger role for India in international and regional cooperation issues," Zeng told Vij.

Zeng also highlighted the importance China attaches to developing friendly cooperation with India in all fields including in political, economic, trade, science and technology, culture and military.

"The development of Sino-Indian relations is the need of times, and the common aspiration of the people of both countries as well," Zeng was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

Bilateral ties between China and India have developed rapidly in recent years. Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee visited China in June 2003 and signed a historic joint declaration to help the settlement of the border and other issues between the two countries.

China and India last year held their first-ever joint naval exercises. Chinese Defence Minister Gen Cao Gangchuan visited India this March. Vij, who kicked off his visit on December 22 in Shanghai, China’s largest city and commercial hub, visited the local military garrison and held talks with senior officials.

He also visited the eastern port city of Qingdao and the northwestern city of Xian, touring PLA facilities in those cities and exchanging views with local garrison chiefs. The Indian Army chief arrived in Beijing on December 26 and visited the Great Wall the same day. On the next day, he visited a local PLA Garrison and exchanged views with Chinese military officials.

On the same day, he was accorded a ceremonial welcome and a tri-service guard of honour at the PLA Headquarters. This was followed by talks with the Vice Chief, Lt. Gen. Xiong Guangkai and a banquet.

On December 28, Vij visited the PLA’s National Defence University here and exchanged views with members of the Chinese military think-tank.

Yesterday, he called on Chinese Defence Minister, Gen Cao Gangchuan and held wide-ranging talks with his Chinese counterpart Gen Liang Guanglie, agreeing to deepen defence ties. The Chinese Defence Minister said it is in the fundamental interests of Chinese and Indian people to maintain the long-term stable and sound bilateral relations. China-India military ties constitute an important part of the bilateral relations, said CAO, also Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission said. (PTI)

Musharraf planning important speech

ISLAMABAD, Dec 29 : President Pervez Musharraf is planning an important speech to the nation, a senior Government official said today, amid speculation he will explain why he has decided to renege on a promise to step down as Chief of the Army by the end of the year.

Musharraf will make the address on radio and television tomorrow, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. He would not say what the speech will be about.

In an interview with a Pakistani Television Channel earlier this month, Musharraf said he planned to explain to the people why he has changed his mind.

"I will remain in uniform," Musharraf said in the Dec. 17 interview with Pakistan’s Kawish Television Network. "I will speak to the nation in a few days and tell them some reasons, and tell them the truth."

Loyalist lawmakers from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Party, which has a majority in Parliament, passed a law earlier this month that allows Musharraf to remain as President and Army Chief through 2007. (AP)

Two terror suspects, civilian killed in Riyadh shoot-outs

RIYADH, Dec 29 : Saudi security forces shot dead a gunman in Riyadh early today in a fresh shootout as they combed the district where a terror suspect and a civilian were killed in a clash the previous night, the Interior Ministry said. The gunman opened fire from the car he was driving and hurled a bomb at security men, slightly injuring four of them, said a Ministry statement reported by official media.

"Security forces at the scene chased the car and encircled it, trading fire with the driver, who was killed on the spot," the statement said.

The incident occurred as security forces were combing the scene of last evening’s clash in the Saudi Capital in which a suspected militant and a civilian were killed, the Ministry said.

Security forces also arrested "a suspected member of the Deviant Group" in the Red Sea City of Jeddah today, the Ministry added, using the official term for suspected Al-Qaeda militants.

They have killed more than 100 people and wounded hundreds more since launching a wave of bombing and shooting attacks in May 2003.

Many militants and security men have been killed in clashes since the wave of attacks began. Hundreds of suspects have been rounded up.

The man was wounded "while resisting security forces and attempting to flee," the Ministry said, promising to release more details later. (AFP)

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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