Two fidayeen killed near Manmohan's rally venue

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Nov 17: Security forces today averted what could have turned into a major catastrophe, killing two suicide militants yards away from the venue of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s first ever public meeting in Jammu and Kashmir. Though the PM’s programmes were delayed by about three hours, Dr Singh kept his schedule of addressing the rally at the same venue on Sher-e-Kashmir International Cricket Stadium in Sonwar Bagh................more

Siachen withdrawal after Pak delineates boundary
Troop cut to be in phased manner: Pranab

NEW DELHI, Nov 17: Troop reduction from Jammu and Kashmir would be carried out in a "phased" manner and the numbers would be flexible depending on the ground situation in the militancy-hit State, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said here today.......................more

CPM backs PM's Kashmir visit

NEW DELHI, Nov 17: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today expressed hope that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir would build a conducive atmosphere for restoration of peace in the Valley and said his gesture of reducing troops there was "a significant move"...............more

De-induction of troops begins

SRINAGAR, Nov 17: Coinciding with the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Army today began reduction of troops in Kashmir moving the first column out from Anantnag district...............more

Formal proposals after debate: Pak

ISLAMABAD, Nov 17: Pakistan has said it was "minutely" examining the response to President Pervez Musharraf’s formulation to resolve the Kashmir issue and would go by public opinion while chalking out the formal proposals.......................more

Pak awaits India's response

ISLAMABAD, Nov 17: Pakistan has proposed December 21 and 22 as dates for the Foreign Secretary-level talks to discuss Kashmir and other contentious issues under the second round of composite dialogue process and awaited India’s response in this regard.............more

BJP cautions against laxity in J&K

NEW DELHI, Nov 17: The Bharatiya Janata Party today welcomed the peace process initiated by the United Progressive Alliance in Jammu and Kashmir, but cautioned against any laxity while dealing with terrorism and secessionist forces in the State..........more