Civilian killed; LeT OGWs arrested
Distt Comdr among 2 militants gunned down

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Mar 2: Two Al-Badr militants were killed in Kashmir valley where a civilian was shot dead by an unidentified militant and two Over-Ground Workers (OGWs) of the Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit were arrested.

An official spokesman said troops of 34 Rashtriya Rifle (RR) alongwith Budgam Police received a specific information about the presence of some militants in the house of former Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) outfit in Chewdara area near Beerwah town.

Subsequently, a search operation was launched in area and the house of former HM militant Abdul Rashid Bhat, where the militants were hiding, was cardoned by the security forces.

Finding presence of troops around the house, the hiding militants opened indiscriminate firing which was effectively retaliated by the security forces. In the seven hours long gunbattle, both the hiding militants were gunned down.

The slain militants have been identified as Janabaz Ahmed Khan, son of Nawaz Ahmed Khan of Kotli Dak Mohalla near Mirpur, Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) and Imtiyaz Ahmed Dar, code Janbaz, son of Ghulam Ahmed Dar of Churpora, Beerwah.

From the site of encounter, the security forces recovered 2 AK rifles, six hand grenades and other ammunition.

In the encounter, two residential houses and three other structures got damaged.

According to the official spokesman, Janbaz was made district Budgam commander of the Al Badr outfit after the killing of top militant of the outfit Shota Bilal last year. He said that since the operation was carried out in most professional manner there was no casualty of the civilian or security forces personnel.

Meanwhile, an unidentified militant gunned down a painter at Warpora on Sopore-Bandipora road. The victim identified as Riaz Ahmed War, son of Ghulam Mohd War was moving on the road when he was intercepted by an unidentified militant, who shot dead the civilian.

Soon after killing the civilian, the militant managed to escape from the spot.

The spokesman said that security forces today arrested to Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of the Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit in Chakora area of Pulwama district.

The OGWs have been identified as Sajjad Ahmed Bhat, son of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat and Riyaz Ahmed Shah, son of Mohd Yousaf Shah, both the residents of Chakora.

They were intercepted by the security forces at a naka at Pulwama.

The spokesman said that security forces smashed a militant hideout and recovered some arms and ammunition in the frontier district of Kupwara.

Acting on a tip off, troops of 8 Raj Rif launched a search operation in Marwa-Augam and recovered one AK rifle with bipod, its six magazines, 190 rounds, one 62 mm bomb, a remote IED circuit box and a blanket from the hideout, the spokesman said.

Govt withholds allotment of flats to 180 migrants
KPs from camps, non camps demonstrate

By Avtar Bhat

JAMMU, Mar 2: Kashmiri Pandits from different camps and non camps staged a protest demonstration in front of the main gate of Abhinav Theatre were the allotment of newly constructed quarters was being made in favour of the displaced Pandits from the Valley.

The protesting migrants raising slogans against the Government and relief authorities alleged that the irregularities were made while making the allotments of the quarters and some genuine migrants were dropped who were still putting up in the quarters.

Alleging that allotments were not transparent, Chaman Lal Koul, president Welfare Association of Displaced Kashmiri Pandits Muthi Camp Phase IInd whose organization spearheaded the demonstration demanded a probe through a High Court judge into the allotments.

The demonstrators including some women said that there was no transparency in the allotment of quarters. "There is no logic in denying me the quarter" said a terrorism victim, Veena Sapru wife of Late Tej Nath Sapru, resident of Dabvakura, Ganderbal district in Kashmir valley.

"My husband has been killed by terrorists in Valley and our family was also denied the Government job under SRO 43 after migration and now I have been denied the quarter also", she sobbed. Though earlier I was allotted a quarter at Muthi Camp Phase II after our migration from Valley but this time it has been denied for unknown reasons", she added.

Santosh Tickoo another militancy victim of Bijbihara and presently putting up in Muthi Phase II whose husband Shamboo Nath Tickoo was also killed by militants in 1990, said her name also does not figure in the list of newly allotted quarters.

Same were the views of Gudi Bhagati whose family had earlier been allotted a quarter at Muthi Phase II way back in nineties but was ignored this time. Mrs Bhagati, whose husband is ailing for a couple of years and is undergoing treatment in AIMS, New Delhi said "we have temporarily shifted to city for the treatment of my husband and there was no logic in denying the quarter to me".

Besides them there were several protesters who alleged that they too have been denied the allotment of quarters by the Government and termed the decision unjustified and illogical.

All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) general secretary, Shiban Dooda while terming the allotment of newly constructed flats a welcome step however urged the relief authorities to maintain transparency in allotments. He in a statement issued here, today said that deserving migrants should not be dropped from allotments.

Meanwhile, Intelligence agencies have detected 180 Kashmiri migrants, who despite being in possession of their own houses, were trying to take newly constructed two room flats at Purkhoo, Muthi and Nagrota.

Some of them were "very influential persons" and had even settled in New Delhi, official sources said.

The Government has constructed 1024 two room flats for the migrants at Purkhoo, Muthi and Nagrota. All these flats are to be allotted to deserving migrants before March 31.

The Relief Department today allotted 276 flats to the migrants in first phase at Muthi-II.

When contacted, Relief Commissioner, Vinod Kaul confirmed that allotment of flats to 180 Kashmiri migrants has been stopped.

"We have with them the evidence to show that the 180 migrant families had their own houses in Jammu, New Delhi and other places. We have even identified the houses where the migrants were putting up", he said, adding "we have obtained photographs and numbers of the houses to substantiate our claim".

Still, the Relief Commissioner said, these flats are being kept as reserved. "For the time being, we are not allotting these flats to anyone. We are going to give enough time to the migrants to produce evidence to support their claim that they don’t possess their houses. If they do that, they will get the house. If they failed, they will lose their right on the flats", he added.

40 killed in Pak fidayeen attack
*Tribal council meeting targeted

ISLAMABAD, Mar 2: At least 40 people were killed and 35 injured in the restive Northwest Pakistan today when a young suicide bomber blew himself up at a tribal council meeting which was to formally announce a decision not to shelter foreign militants.

The grand Jirga or Council at Darra Adam Khel was convened to discuss the security situation and steps to restore peace in the region, which has witnessed a spurt in activities by pro-Taliban militants in recent months. A crowd of about 500, including tribal elders, their supporters and some local politicians, had assembled for the council.

Reports said most the dead were tribal elders. Two politicians who contested the February 18 general election were also killed, witnesses said.

The blast occurred just after the Jirga had ended. People were dispersing when the suicide attacker, who was aged about 18 years, entered the venue and blew himself up, eyewitness Khwaja Jan told reporters.

Pakistan army soldiers cordoned off the site and began patrolling the area, including the nearby strategic Indus Highway, which was blocked by angry tribesmen. The severed head of the bomber was found by the security forces.

Personnel of the local Khasadar Militia and Levy force too reached the spot and helped transport the injured to hospitals in Darra Adam Khel and nearby Kohat, which are small and not properly equipped to deal with so many casualties. The seriously injured persons were taken to the North West Frontier Province capital of Peshawar.

The suicide attack created tension in the region as members of five prominent tribes - Zarghoon Khel, Pastikhel, Akharwal, Samar Khel and Turi Khel - had gathered for the Jirga.

No group claimed responsibility for the bombing but such attacks are usually blamed by the Government on pro-Taliban militants operating in the NWFP and nearby tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

The Jirga was convened to discuss measures against militants in the area, locals said. Tribal elders were scheduled to announce a formal decision that no tribesman would shelter foreign fighters and militants.

The elders were also set to decide that the homes of any one who sheltered foreigners or militants would be burnt in keeping with tribal traditions.

"Tribal elders had been holding talks with the Government. The Government had told the elders to establish peace otherwise tough action could be taken against them," witness Khwaja Jan said.

Most people in Darra Adam Khel earn their livelihood from gun manufacturing factories that turn out everything from anti-aircraft guns to pen guns. The Pakistani army halted its drive against Taliban-linked militants in Darra Adam Khel in late January after a peace Jirga requested the suspension of operations.

The security forces had clashed with the militants near the strategic Kohat tunnel, which was briefly captured and damaged by the militants. The authorities later closed down the tunnel, which serves as the primary link between Peshawar and other parts of the NWFP.

The NWFP has witnessed some of the most deadly suicide attacks that have occurred in Pakistan in the past few months. On Friday, nearly 50 people were killed at Mingora town in the province when a suicide bomber blew himself up amidst hundreds of mourners attending the funeral of a police officer slain by militants.

The federal interior ministry stepped up security across the country in the wake of today’s suicide attack. Security was also stepped up for top political personalities, including PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, PML-Q leader and former Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman. (PTI)

Govt Deptts plagued by 33,000 vacancies
*5000 gazetted posts too lying vacant

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Mar 2: Notwithstanding nearly 40,000 appointments made in different Government departments during last two years, as many as 33,000 vacancies including 4978 Gazetted cadre, are lying vacant in different Departments which could easily affect their working.

Official sources told Excelsior that the Government has made 39,235 appointments during last two years in different departments which include 1200 Gazetted officers.

Despite this, as many as 33,000 posts in Government departments were still vacant.

The vacant posts include 4978 Gazetted cadre, 22,116 non-gazetted posts and 6359 Class-IV vacancies, sources said.

However, out of 33,000 vacancies, nearly 12,000 were under process of selection at different levels. Among them 2953 were Gazetted officers, whose selections were being made by Public Service Commission (PSC), 7151 non-gazetted officers, for which appointments are to be made by Subordinate Services Recruitment Board (SSRB) and 2213 Class-IV vacancies for which divisional and district committees were in the process of making selections.

Among 39,235 appointments made by the Government during last two years, 1200 selections of gazetted cadre officers were made by PSC and 6616 by SSRB while 12,199 Anganwari workers/helpers were appointed across the State.

In Police Department, 9414 appointments were made which include some Special Police Officers (SPOs). As many as 1395 Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers were appointed during last couple of years while 3227 youths were appointed under Rehbar-e-Ziraat.

The Government made 4096 contractual appointments while 1064 youths got jobs under SRO-43 as compassionate appointments. Twenty four outstanding sports persons also managed to get jobs during last two years, sources said.

According to them, 1299 gazetted posts have been referred to PSC by the Government during last two years which were in addition to the posts already pending with the Commission.

The PSC, they said, has finalised selections on 1200 posts during two years from among the posts pending with the Commission.

It may be recalled that Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has recently announced that the Government proposed to set up fast track recruitment boards at district level to complete selection process of nearly 30,000 vacancies in next six months. The special selection officers were to be appointed for expediting the recruitment process only for these specific posts.

According to sources, the process for setting up fast track recruitment boards was likely to be set in motion shortly.

Two women among 6 held with arms in Doda

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 2: Police today arrested a recycled militant and his five associates including two women from outskirts of Doda town when they were smuggling a consignment of arms and ammunition from Kulgam to Doda district. The arms were being smuggled for a divisional commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit.

Official sources said a Doda police party during a naka laid on Doda town’s outskirts intercepted a TATA Sumo No. 0087 JK14A and subjected it to searches. Police had a specific information that arms were likely to be smuggled from Valley to Doda for the LeT outfit. On the basis of input all vehicles entering Doda were being subjected to thorough searches.

Sources said the TATA Sumo had been specially fabricated to hide two AK rifles besides one magazine and 30 rounds, which were seized by police.

All five Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of the militants, who were smuggling the consignment from Qazigund in Kulgam to Doda, were arrested by the police from the TATA Sumo vehicle. They have been identified as Abdul Kabir son of Ghulam Mohd Lone, Rafiqa Begum wife of Abdul Kabir and Mohd Hanief son of Ghulam Mohd Lone, all residents of Hasti, Trehgam in Kishtwar district, Mohd Amin son of Ahad Dar and Rubeena Begum wife of Mohd Yusuf, both residents of Bergam, Qazigund.

They were subjected to sustained questioning during which they revealed that they had received the arms consignment from Lashkar militants at Khullar, Sopore and asked to transport them to Doda. The arms consignment was meant for LeT divisional commander Shabir Itoo alias Abu Yasir, presently operating from Gundna, Bharat in Doda.

The OGWs had to deliver the consignment to a recycled militant Zakir Hussain, who was an active militant till 2001 and was released on bail. However, he had rejoined the militancy.

Police raided a hide-out of Zakir Hussain and apprehended him.

The OGWs have admitted that they had themselves fabricated the TATA Sumo for concealing arms and ammunition and hawala money from Kashmir to Doda. They also confessed that they had two months back smuggled Rs 2 lakh hawala money from Kashmir and delivered it to Abu Yasir, LeT’s divisional commander and Mohd Iqbal, operational commander of LeT through Abdul Latief Parray son of Abdul Gani Parray R/o Gundna.

Arrests were made by a police party led by SHO Doda Chanchal Singh under the supervision of SP Operations Randeep Kumar.

The hawala consignment was smuggled by Abdul Kabir.

Sources said the recycled militant and OGWs are being subjected to sustained questioning by police to ascertain identity of more LeT militants. Troops of 10 Rashtriya Rifles and 8 Rashtriya Rifles have also launched search operations in different parts of Doda to apprehend militants and their OGWs.

Special training for teachers mooted
Govt wakes up to strengthen elementary education

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Mar 2: Finally, the State Government has woken up to the need of strengthening elementary education in the State which remained ‘out of focus’ so far despite being aware of the fact that elementary education lays the firm and strong foundation of human resource.

Till now, the successive State Governments’ area of focus remained confined to the opening of the schools, colleges and university campuses without any thrust on strengthening elementary education in tune with the modern practices.

The intensity of ‘blind eye’ towards the elementary education in the State so far can be gauged from the fact that the State Government has allowed around 150 Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) Institutes to operate in Jammu and Kashmir despite being aware of the fact the same have been creating prospective teachers for neighbouring States like Punjab, Himachal, Haryana and Rajasthan where there have been two cadres of teachers—elementary and secondary.

Even while giving permission for these institutes, the Government didn’t find it appropriate to consider such trainings to strengthen the teaching of elementary education in the State.

Authoritative sources told EXCELSIOR that after representations from certain quarters about the need to strengthen the elementary education, the better sense prevailed upon the Government which has now decided to introduce the Diploma in Elementary Education (DEEd), both for inservice teachers and unemployed graduates.

"The syllabus for the one year diploma course has been finalised in consultation with the experts of the State Board of School Education (BOSE) and in tune with the modern practices", they said, adding "the training for the diploma course will be imparted by all the District Institutes of Education Training (DIET) across the State".

There will be a provision of 75 per cent seats for the in-service teachers while for the remaining 25 per cent seats the applications will be invited from unemployed graduates, the sources disclosed.

When contacted, Secretary School Education K M Wani confirmed that Diploma in Elementary Education (DEEd) is being introduced shortly for inservice teachers as well as unemployed graduates with the sole intention to strengthen elementary education in the State.

"Since we cannot spare large number of in-service teachers for one year training, 25 per cent seats will be available for the unemployed youth which will give them weightage while applying for the posts of the teachers in the Government as well as private schools", he said.

To a question, he said that Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) Institutes could not provide any fruitful benefit to the State as in Jammu and Kashmir there are general line of teachers instead of elementary and secondary level teachers in the adjoining States.

Mr Wani also disclosed that the Government has also started special verification of the ETT institutes following receipt of several complaints with regard to glaring violations by majority of them. "We have received complaints that such institutes have not been providing adequate infrastructure to the students besides required number of teachers", he said.

The Government has also received complaints that instead of providing regular training some of these institutes have been allowing the candidates to go back to their home States and collect the final certificate by indulging in overcharging, the sources disclosed.

Govt to brief Parliament on n-deal

NEW DELHI, Mar 2: Amid continued nudging by the US to conclude the civil nuclear deal at the earliest, the Government is expected to spell out its plans on the issue tomorrow in Parliament when External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee makes a statement.

Mukherjee, who will be making the statement on ‘Foreign policy issues’, is expected to speak about the Government’s intent on the civil nuclear deal and the progress made in this regard, sources said today.

He will indicate the status of the negotiations with the IAEA on the safeguards agreement, which is a key step under the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Negotiators of India and IAEA concluded the fifth round of talks on the safeguards agreement on Thursday last and reported "considerable progress" towards the agreed text.

It is, however, not clear how far the two sides have been able to resolve the differences over issues like India’s right to build strategic fuel reserve and acknowledgement of its military nuclear programme by the global atomic watchdog.

The US has been pressing India to conclude the agreement with IAEA at the earliest, with Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns setting the March-end deadline for it.

Contending that it was now or never for India to get such a deal, Washington has been maintaining that if the agreement does not come before the US Congress by May-end or early June, it would be difficult to get it passed because of lack of time in the Presidential election year.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently told a group of influential US Senators here that there were "difficulties", apparently referring to the Left parties’ stiff opposition to operationalisation of the deal.

The Left parties have warned the Government of serious consequences if it operationalised the deal and have demanded that the agreement with IAEA be signed only after it was approved by them.

The External Affairs Minister is also expected to talk about the status of ties with Russia and France in the backdrop of recent visits by their leaders here. An update on ties with China is also expected to be briefed.

Mukherjee is also likely to refer to Pakistan, where a change of guard is in the offing after general elections. He is likely to spell out India’s approach towards the country in view of the latest developments.

He is also expected to speak on the relationship with other countries like Nepal, where crucial Constitutional Assembly elections are scheduled next month. (PTI)

Separatists dismayed by Zardari

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Mar 2: Separatists in the State have voiced their dismay over Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s statement expressing his readiness to set aside the Kashmir issue to focus on other aspects of Indo-Pak relations.

India and Pakistan could foster friendly ties, "But cannot do so by suppressing the Kashmir issue. It is imperative they resolve it as per the wishes and aspirations of its people," JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik said today.

He said the past 18 years in Jammu and Kashmir have seen thousands widowed and orphaned and "their sacrifices cannot be forgotten".

Zardari had said in a TV interview in Islamabad telecast yesterday that India and Pakistan should not be held "hostage" to the Kashmir issue and they could wait for future generations to resolve it in a mature manner.

Former Hurriyat Conference Chairman Abdul Gani Bhat said a delay in resolution of the issue would have "serious ramifications" and pose a potential threat to nuclear peace in the south Asian region.

"Zardari or any other person has to bear in mind that survival of the whole region is inescapably linked with resolution of the Kashmir issue," Bhat, a known supporter of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, said.

Shabir Ahmad Shah, who recently joined the Hurriyat Moderates, said it was "premature" to react to Zardari’s statement as "it is not known under what context it was made".

The PPP had not formed Government in Pakistan yet and would have to take into confidence its alliance partners before making such a policy decision, Shah said. Going a step further, Kashmir High Court Bar Association Nazir Ahmad Roonga called the statement reflects Zardari’s "political immaturity" and a shift from the Kashmir policy of his wife, late Pakistan Prime Minister and PPP President Benazir Bhutto.

Elite SPG to get wings

NEW DELHI, Mar 2: The Elite Special Protection Group (SPG), guarding the Prime Minister and certain other VVIPs, will soon have an aircraft of its own to meet professional requirements.

The 3000-strong force has been pressing for an aircraft for long in order to meet its needs for carrying out security-related operations ahead of a VVIP visit.

Keeping this in mind, the budgetary proposal of the elite protection group accounts for an increase of 45 per cent in the next fiscal. This is the highest-ever increase in the budgetary allocation for the force.

Earlier in 1997-98, it was Finance Minister P Chidambaram who had proposed an increase of 40 per cent hike in SPG’s budget.

The SPG, which guards Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his immediate family members, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and her children and former Prime Ministers, has already started looking for an aircraft in Europe and certain other markets to allow it to carry out Advance Security Liaison (ASL) teams ahead of a VVIP visit, official sources said.

The SPG, which was earlier known as Special Protection Unit, used to take the aircraft from Aviation Research Centre (ARC) of Research and Analysis Wing but has been facing some problems of late.

The budgetary proposals for SPG, which has been bringing in modern equipment, for this fiscal has been pegged at Rs 170.79 crore as against Rs 117 crore for the previous year.

The SPG is entrusted with providing proximate security to the Prime Minister, former Prime Ministers and members of their immediate family. Protectees of SPG include former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra.

The sources said that with the general elections round the corner, the Prime Minister or other VVIPs would be requiring excessive travelling for which the teams would have to be dispatched in advance for sensitisation of the area.

The SPG came into being on April 8, 1985 with S Subramaniam, the then Joint Director (VIP Security) in the IB assuming its charge. Creation of the SPG required an elaborate exercise in order to clearly delineate responsibility of various agencies concerned with the security of the Prime Minister and others.

The air wing would add another chapter to the 23-year-old force which needs immediate attention in view of increased threat perceptions from various terror outfits. (PTI)

Dushyant posted as DySP Crime

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 2: Director General of Police (DGP) has ordered transfer and postings of three Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySPs).

DySP Dushyant Sharma, posted in Police Control Room (PCR), has been transferred and adjusted as DySP Crime and Railways Jammu in place of Tabassum Parveen.

Tabassum has been transferred and posted as DySP in Indian Reserve Police (IRP), 15th battalion, an all women battalion.

Amit Bhasin, DySP IRP 9th battalion, already working in PCR, has been adjusted at the same place, an order issued yesterday, said.

Woman ends life in Valley

SRINAGAR, Mar 2: Yet another woman allegedly committed suicide in Kashmir as there was no impact of fatwa by the Muslim Ulemas against taking such extreme step.

Official sources said a woman identified as Razia Bano allegedly consumed some poisonous substance in her house at Sultan Dakhi Uri here. She was immediately rushed to hospital where she died.

The trend of committing suicide, particularly by women, in the Kashmir valley has not shown any decline even though the Muslim Ulemas have issued a Fatwa against it. Suicide is an un-Islamic Act according to fatwa. (UNI)

India ready to resume peace process with new Pak Govt: Pranab

NEW DELHI, Mar India "stands ready" to resume the composite dialogue process with Pakistan "as soon as" a duly constituted Government is in place in the neighbouring country, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee informed the Lok Sabha today.

Observing that the recent elections in Pakistan had enabled its people to express their "wishes clearly and in a democratic manner," Mr Mukherjee said India remained hopeful that the two countries would resolve their differences through peaceful negotiations.

"It remains our hope that we would be able to resolve outstanding issues and build a mutually beneficial relationship with Pakistan in an atmosphere free of violence and terrorism," the Minsiter said in a suo motu statement on foreign policy-related developments since the conclusion of the winter session of Parliament in December.

On the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto at an election rally in a "despicable terrorist" attack, he said India shared the anguish of the people of that country. (UNI)

India not bound by Hyde Act: Pranab

New Delhi, Mar Questioning certain statements from the US, India today made it clear that its rights and obligations on civil nuclear cooperation came only from the bilateral 123 Agreement and it was not bound by the controversial Hyde Act.

New Delhi’s reiteration of its position came from External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha in the wake of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s recent statement that the Bush Administration would not support changes in the guidelines of the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) sought by India that were in contradiction with the Hyde Act.

In his eight-page statement, Mukherjee touched on relations including with China, Pakistan and other neighbouring countries.

"The Hyde Act is an enabling provision that is between the executive and the legislative organs of the US Government," Mukherjee said in a suo motu statement on foreign policy-related developments.

"India’s rights and obligations regarding civil nuclear cooperation with the US arise only from the bilateral 123 Agreement that we have agreed upon with the US," he said.

The Minister referred to some statements by US officials regarding the applicability of the Hyde Act to the nuclear deal but did not elaborate.

New Delhi has held that the Hyde Act contains prescriptive clauses that includes cessation of all civilian nuclear cooperation in case India tests a nuclear weapon and also restricts reprocessing of spent fuel.

Rice had emphasised that changes in the NSG guidelines, required by India to open up international nuclear commerce, will have to be "completely consistent with the obligations of the Hyde Act".

India has to firm up a safeguards agreement with the IAEA and secure the nod of the NSG to end over three decades of nuclear isolation.

"This will open the door to civil nuclear cooperation with various countries, including Russia, USA, France, UK etc with many of whom the necessary enabling bilateral agreements for such trade have been discussed and are in various stages of finalization", Mukherjee said.

This development would signify, finally, an end to unfair technology denial regimes and sanctions that India has been faced with for over three decades.

"We will continue to seek broad political consensus within the country to take forward our engagement on this issue with other countries," he said.

On relations with China, he said India has "clearly" conveyed to Beijing that Arunachal Pradesh is an "integral part" of the country.

Noting that Beijing has expressed "regret" on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh in January, he said the trip was to "assure our citizens that Government is mindful of their developmental needs, and is ready and willing to assist them through concrete projects".

"The fact that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India has been clearly conveyed to the Chinese side by the Government," Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee said he would be visiting Beijing this year and his Chinese counterpart would also visit New delhi.

On relations with Pakistan, he said India "stands ready to resume the composite dialogue process as soon as a duly constituted Government is in place" in that country.

Mukherjee said "it remains our hope" that outstanding issues with Pakistan would be resolved and a mutually beneficial relationship built in an "atmosphere free of violence and terrorism".

"India wishes to see Pakistan develop and prosper in a stable democratic order," he said.

He said India has followed the significant developments in Pakistan and shared anguish of the people at the tragic assassination of former Premier Benazir Bhutto in a "despicable terrorist act".

Voicing concern over the recent upsurge in violence and conflict in Sri Lanka, he said the way forward lay in a peacefully negotiated political settlement within the framework of a united Sri Lanka acceptable to all communities, including the Tamils.

"The interests of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka are a matter of particular significance to us in our dealings with Sri Lanka," he said.

Noting that Nepal was undergoing a "critical transition", he said India is committed to assist in every possible way in that country becoming a democratic, stable, peaceful and prosperous.

Describing the security situation in Afghanistan as a matter of concern, he, however, said this would not be allowed to affect India’s commitment to the reconstruction of the trouble-torn country.

He said the international community must stand firmly with President Hamid Karzai as they face up to combat twin challenges of terrorism in the form of Taliban. (PTI)

Loan waiver to be extended to other sectors in J&K

NEW DELHI, Mar The waiver of agricultural loans announced by Finance Minister P Chidambaram would be extended to horticulture, animal husbandry and other sectors in Jammu and Kashmir where not many small farmers have taken loans from banks.

This was conveyed to Union Water Resources Minister and Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress chief Saifuddin Soz by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar when the latter met him today, official sources said.

The same concessions would be extended in respect of waiving of loans in horticulture, animal husbandry and other similar sectors in Jammu and Kashmir, including the loans disbursed by institutions like Irrigation and Rural Development Bank, they said.

Soz would be visiting Jammu and Kashmir on March 5 to address a joint rally with state Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad of party workers, small and marginal farmers.

The Finance Minister announced a Rs 60,000 crore loans waiver for farmers in the Union budget 2008-09 presented on February 29. (PTI)