Kishtwar bound bus plunges into Chenab
36 killed, 5 injured in major accident of year
*3 critically wounded airlifted to Jammu

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, May 8: In a major accident of the year, which exposed the tall claims of concerned authorities about checking the increasing menace of road accidents taking place due to the negligence on the part of drivers, 36 persons were killed and five sustained injuries, three of them critically, when a bus, they were travelling in plunged into mighty River Chenab in Kishtwar district this afternoon.

Thirty five bodies were recovered after several hours long operation launched by civil and police administration with the help of Army personnel and locals while one of the injured succumbed to injuries while being airlifted here for treatment in the Government Medical College and Hospital.

Although 11 major accidents took place in the entire Jammu province during the first four months of the current year claiming lives of 50 persons and leaving scores of others wounded, however, today’s accident claimed maximum lives of innocent passengers and shocked everyone who visited the site of accident.

The ill-fated vehicle bearing registration number JK02-2236 left General Bus Stand early this morning with 21 passengers and on way to Kishtwar several more people boarded the vehicle, official sources said, adding about six to seven kilometres short of Kishtwar town near Wardi Hasti, driver lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a sharp curve resulting into vehicle plunging into River Chenab from a height of about 200 metres.

The vehicle hit several huge boulders on the bank of river with big bang before being badly mangled. While some parts of the vehicle were lying scattered on the river bank, a major portion was seen submerged in the river.

On the receipt of information about the tragic accident, Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, Shahid Inayatullah and SP Kishtwar, Mumtaz along with teams of civil and police administration rushed to the spot. They also sought the help of troops of 26 Rashtriya Rifles, local people and some Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs) in shifting the bodies and injured persons to the District Hospital, Kishtwar.

"It was really a heart-rendering scene as several bodies were seen scattered on the bank of river while others were trapped in the damaged parts of the vehicle", Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, Shahid Inayatullah, who remained on the bank of river till all the bodies and injured were shifted to hospital, told the EXCELSIOR when contacted.

Of the six injured, four were, later, airlifted to Jammu for specialised treatment in the Government Medical College and Hospital and one of them succumbed to injuries on way to Jammu raising the toll in the tragic accident to 36. The remaining three were reportedly responding to the treatment when reports last came in.

Out of the 29 identified deceased, the bodies of 26 were handed over to their family members through different official arrangements after the post-mortem. The identification of six deceased—four males including two Sadhus and two females could not be established till late this evening.

In order to ensure that no dead body remain in the river, the Navy divers were also called and after hectic efforts, the divers conveyed to the civil administration that none remained trapped beneath the portion of vehicle in the river. However, they didn’t rule out the possibility of some passengers having been swept away in the strong currents of the water soon after the accident.

Several machines were pressed into service to pull the remains of the bus out of the river but to of no avail as in the evening the rainfall started lashing the Kishtwar district.

An alert has been sounded in all the police stations along the river Chenab downwards to search the drowned passenger if any, an official spokesman said.

In the evening, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Sudhanshu Pandey and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu, K Rajendra reached Kishtwar to take stock of the situation. Mr Pandey is understood to have directed the Kishtwar district administration to immediately prepare the cases of the deceased for compensation and provide all possible medicare to the injured persons.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is currently on tour of Karnataka, expressed extreme grief and sorrow over the tragic road accident resulting into loss of several lives. He issued instructions to the divisional administration for providing best possible medical aid to the injured both in Kishtwar hospital and Government Medical College, Jammu.

He also conveyed heartfelt condolences to the families, whose dear ones died in the accident.

Mr Azad also expressed serious concern over the frequency of road mishaps in the State and asked the Traffic Department to take adequate and stringent measures to check the recurrence of road accidents.

The deceased who have been identified are Wasim Mehraj, son of Mehraj-ud-Din of Dool, Kishtwar, Alvina Banoo, daughter of Mohd Ayoob of Bunwah, Kishtwar, Deepak of Mastgarh, Jammu, Nassir-ud-Din, son of Mohd Hussain Butt of Dool, Kishtwar, Tanveer Ahmed Mir, son of Farooq Ahmad Mir of Happy Model School, Doda, Rayies Ahmad, son of Mohd Munwar Ahanger of Suzna Palmar, Aqib Javeed, son of Javed Ahmad Nazar of Kishtwar, Romesh Gupta, son of Munshi Ram of Shaheedi Road, Kishtwar, Ashok Sharma of Bus Stand, Kishtwar, Romesh Chander (driver), Abdul Latif Zargar, son of Ghulam Qadir Zargar of Semmna, Kishtwar, Sajjad Hussain, son of Ghulam Nabi of Bunjwah, Shikha Sharma of Kishtwar, Zulafkar, son of Abdul Qadir Sheikh of Nali Bunjwah, Muni Raj Sharma, son of Kunj Lal Sharma of Zewar, Rajinder Kumar, son of Jagat Nath of Chingam, Chatroo, Gian Chand, son of Tej Ram of Naghbatna Kuntwara, Daya Nand, son of Ram Dev of Ghan Sarthal, Romesh Dogra, son of Chuni Lal of Shakti Nagar, Kishtwar, Haleema, wife of Ghulam Mohd Zargar of Kishtwar, Khushnama Tabasum of Doda, Thakri Devi, mother of Romesh Gupta of Kishtwar, Akhter Hussain Keen of Jawalpur Bunwah, Sandeep Kumar (conductor) of Punaja Bhaderwah, Ajaj Hussain, son of Mohd Iqbal of Dugga Saroor, Sham Lal, son of Gatoo of Mati Billawar, Bharat Bushan, son of Sewa Ram of Galhar, Roshan Lal, son of Bodh Raj of Sangrambhata, Abdul Rashid, son of Raju Bakarwal of Prayoot Doda and Lali Devi, wife of Prem Nath of Batkoot.

The injured admitted in Government Medical College and Hospital have been identified as Sajad Ahmed, son of Ghulam Rasool of Chili, Shafia Begum, wife of Ghulam Ahmed of Muthi Marmat, Doda and Bal Krishan, son of Prem Nath of Kishtwar.

The injured undergoing treatment in Kishtwar hospital have been identified as Mohd Rafi, son of Manzoor Zargar of Semna, Kishtwar and Sapna Devi, daughter of Fateh Chand of Garh Mati, Paddar.

Major mishaps in 4 months

Jan 11: Two persons were killed and 47 others received injuries when a bus plunged into Asher Kund near Nandni.

Jan 31: Nine persons were killed and 28 received injuries, several of them seriously, when a bus plunged into gorge near Pul Doda.

Feb 16: Two children were killed and 25 others hurt when a bus carrying marriage party turned turtle at Kaluchak.

Feb 18: 10 persons were killed and 41 others wounded as bus skidded off the road and rolled down into a gorge at Bharmal in Kathua district.

Feb 19: 30 persons were injured when a bus met with an accident at Bhaderwah.

Feb 21: Russian Tourist among six persons were killed and four others sustained injuries in collision between two vehicles at Champeri near Chenani.

March 11: Two persons were killed and 43 others sustained injuries when a bus, carrying them, rolled down at Nandni.

April 13: Four persons were killed and 20 injured when a mini-bus rolled down in Palsoo nullah in Mahore area of Reasi district.

April 18: Couple killed in mishap near Dayalachak in Kathua district.

April 20: 13 persons were killed and 30 injured when a bus rolled down in Bisleri nullah near Battery Chashma in Ramban district.

April 29: 28 persons were injured when a bus rolled down into a nullah, few kilometres short of Kishtwar town.

'Farooq Abdullah should not distort facts'
HCBA defends its no-defence policy in sex scam

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 8: Srinagar-based lawyers have defended their decision of not providing defence counsel to all accused in the infamous Srinagar sex scandal and revealed that hearing of this matter would resume in a Full Bench of Jammu & Kashmir High Court on May 12th.

Responding to the former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah's statement, HCBA revealed to a local news agency that the organization held an extraordinary meeting today to discuss the National Conference leader's allegation. As already reported, at his news conference on Wednesday, Dr Abdullah had held the Kashmiri lawyers responsible for facilitating shifting of the sex scam trial to a Chandigarh court and bringing a bad name to "all of our sisters and daughters".

According to an HCBA spokesman, it was being communicated to Dr Abdullah as well as the common Kashmiri people that it was this particular organization of the lawyers which was a party in the matter by way of filing a PIL in J&K High Court on Srinagar sex scandal in April 2006. According to the HCBA statement, members of the organization had no moral right to appear in defence of the sex scam accused at a time when its PIL was in the process of hearing before the High Court.

"It was because of this handicap and social responsibility that HCBA did not provide defence counsel to the sex scam accused which was appreciated by the (Kashmiri) people in general", HCBA statement said. It claimed that then HCBA president, Mian Abdul Qayoom, and all other lawyers resisted transferring of the sex scam hearing from Srinagar to Chandigarh but the same was shifted under orders of the Supreme Court of India. It said that HCBA did its best to take this matter to its logical conclusion by seeking legal proceedings against the accused.

The statement claimed that a Full Bench of J&K High Court, comprising Justice Nisar Ahmed Kakroo, Justice J P Singh and Justice Virender Singh would resume hearing of this matter on HCBA's petition in Srinagar on May 12th. It advised Dr Abdullah to maintain calm and refrain from issuing statements without proper verification of the facts.

President to visit J&K on 5- day visit from May 23

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 8: President Pratibha Patil, who is also supreme commander of the Armed Forces, will address Army jawans for the first time when she undertakes her maiden five days visit to the State from May 23.

Mrs Patil, who assumed the highest office in July last year, would be addressing the troops in Uri town in north Kashmir and have "bada khana" (lunch with troops).

Her predecessor Dr A P J Abdul Kalam had also addressed the troops here during his visit to the State. He had also gone to Tangdhar to see the rehabilitation work conducted in the area in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake that hit both sides of divided Kashmir in 2006.

After her interaction with the troops, the President, who would be accompanied by Army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor, will spend a day at picturesque tourist spot of Gulmarg in the Valley.

She would also visit Bhadarwah town in Doda district where she would formally inaugurate Bhadarwah campus on May 26 morning. Two academic blocks, two administrative blocks and a pre-fabricated structure have been set up in the campus. She will attend a cultural programme to be organised by Academy of Art, Culture and Languages in Bhadarwah campus.

On May 26 evening, the President would inaugurate new Chatha campus building of Sher-i-Kashmir University for Agriculture Science and Technology (SKUAST).

She would address convocation of SKUAST at Zorawar Singh auditorium in Jammu University and would present degrees to 258 students and scholars.

She also plans to pay her respects at Mata Vaishno Devi ji. However, this programme is subject to availability of logistics as the Indian Air Force chopper cannot land at the helipad at the Shrine.

The State Government has submitted a proposal for use of its State helicopter, which can land at Sanji Chat, about three kilometers from the Shrine. She was expected to be taken in a Palanquin to the shrine, sources said, adding, however, the President’s office is yet to confirm this programme.

This would be third high profile visit to the State in less than two months.

On April 12, AICC (I) president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had visited Jammu and addressed a one day women convention of Pradesh Congress. Prior to her Jammu visit, Mrs Gandhi had visited Srinagar and inaugurated Tulip Garden

Her visit was followed by a two day tour of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to Jammu on May 25 and 26 during which he inaugurated Akhnoor bridge, addressed a public meeting at Akhnoor, inaugurated Dul Hasti project and addressed convocation of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine University.

Jamiat to hold anti-terror conclave

NEW DELHI, May 8: One of the country’s most prominent Muslim bodies Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (Arshad Madani faction) today launched a frontal attack on the "secular and democratic forces" for using minorities only as a vote bank and doing nothing concrete for their socio-economic growth.

"It is unfortunate that these forces remained a mere spectator to the plight of minorities who have been subjected to harassment over the last 60 years," said Maulana Arshad Madani, president of the Jamiat which was once believed to be close to the Congress.

He was addressing a press conference called here to announce holding of an ‘anti-terrorism conclave’ in the Capital on May 10.

The main aim of the conference, which would be sequel to the one organised by Deoband recently, is to counter the wrong propaganda about Islam and Madrasas which influences the working of the Government agencies, he said.

The Maulana said India was a secular and democratic country but some divisive and communal forces were trying hard to vitiate the atmosphere by indulging in disruptive politics

"Students of Islamic Madrasas were being harassed and jailed on frivolous charges and tortured for their alleged links with terror groups. Seminaries were being described by western and communal forces as breeding grounds for terrorists, but the fact is that Muslim scholar of Darul Uloom, Deoband and other Islamic institutions played prominent role in the freedom struggle and promotion of secularism," he said.

He said the Jamiat wants to take forward the initiative taken by the country’s prominent Islamic seminary Deoband which recently organised a conference to explain the Islamic teachings and disprove their connection with terrorism.

"Islam is absolutely against any form of terror. Prophet Mohammad propagated universal peace, harmony and brotherhood among the people of various faiths,’ said Maulana Arshad.

On the contrary, there were many groups and leaders in the country who made no bones about their communal agenda and indulged in open violence against minorities, but the Government remained a mute spectator to their macabre drama, he said.

"The minorities, especially Muslims want to play an active role in the development and welfare of the country like other communities, but the only stumbling block was an atmosphere of distrust and insecurity," he said.

He said the Jamiat would be organising a series of conferences throughout the country to educate the masses who had been misled to believe that Islam was the root-cause of terrorism in the country.

"We are not responsible for those who were committing acts of terrorism outside the country in the name of Islam. They should be punished. But to harass other Muslims because of that was unjust," he said.(UNI)

Govt clears decks for prosecution of
two Chief Enggs, 5 X-Ens

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, May 8: The General Administration Department (GAD) today accorded sanction to the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) to prosecute a Chief Engineer, five Executive Engineers and two storekeepers of R&B Department. They along with Shamas-ud-Din Koka, who has retired as Chief Engineer, R&B Kashmir, his son Arshid Hussain Koka, a close relative Muzamil Kochak and some other private traders were involved in scam worth crores of rupees in R&B Department.

As Shamas-ud-Din Koka has retired from the services, his prosecution sanction was not required from the Government, official sources said.

With the prosecution sanction, decks have been cleared by the Government for the SVO to challan Koka, six Executive Engineers, two storekeepers and private traders including Koka’s son and relative involved in the purchase of material at exhorbitant rates during 2005-06 when Koka was posted as Chief Engineer, R&B Kashmir.

Six accused, whose prosecution sanction was given by the GAD today, include Altaf Ahmed Pandit, then posted as Executive Engineer, R&B division Shopian, Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Indrabi, then Executive Engineer, R&B Division Shopian, Ghulam Nabi Ganaie, then Executive Engineer Qazigund, Mohammad Ajaz Khan, then Senior Assistant (storekeeper) R&B division, Qazigund, Manzoor Ahmad Dar, then Executive Engineer, R&B Division Nowgam, Nazir Ahmad Shah, then Executive Engineer, R&B division Sopore, who later became Chief Engineer, R&B Kashmir, Noor Mohammad Sheikh, then storekeeper R&B division, Sopore and Assadullah Najar, then Executive Engineer, R&B division, Sopore.

Prosecution sanction has been accorded by the GAD today in a total of five cases—three pertaining to Shamas-Din-Koka, four Executive Engineers and a storekeeper besides private persons and two pertaining to Nazir Ahmed Shah, Chief Engineer R&B, one Executive Engineer and one storekeeper besides the private persons.

According to sources, Shamas-ud-Din Koka had placed huge amount at the disposal of accused Executive Engineers including Ghulam Nabi Ganaie, Altaf Ahmed Pandit, Syed Mushtaq Ahmed and Manzoor Ahmad Dar and asked them to make bulk purchases of various materials like florinite concrete hardener, quick setting powder and MS Pipes.

An item available in the market for Rs 30 per kg was purchased by the Executive Engineers for Rs 100 per kg. Most of the purchases were made from the private concerns of Koka’s son, Arshid Hussain Koka and his relative Muzamil Kochak.

This way the State exchequer was put to losses to the tune of nearly Rs 1.5 crore.

The Vigilance Organisation investigated the case after registering three separate FIR Nos. 17/2006, 18/2006 and 21/2006 on April 15, 2006 in the case. All accused were subjected to questioning, some of them were arrested for interrogation, during which charges against them were established, sources said.

Similarly, Nazir Ahmad Shah and Assadullah Najar, during their postings as Executive Engineers, made bulk purchases of plastic water storage tanks, paints, primer, varnish, distemper, repidite and reflective road studs from selected dealers on highly exhorbitant rates during 2005 causing losses to the State exchequer worth several lakhs of rupees.

In this connection, the SVO had registered two separate FIR Nos. 26/2005 and 27/2005. During investigations, the misappropriation of funds was established.

Nazir Ahmad Shah was later trapped by the Vigilance Organisation taking Rs 20,000 corruption from a contractor red handed.

Sources said the prosecution sanction has paved the way for the SVO to present challan against the accused. The challans will be presented as and when an Anti-Corruption Judge takes over in Kashmir as the post is lying vacant for last two months. Besides these challans, 20 other challans will also be filed before the court after the post is filled.

With today’s five sanctions, a total of 31 prosecution sanction have been granted by the GAD to the SVO to produce challan against the Government officers this year so far, sources said. Last year, a total of 70 prosecutions were sanctioned.

Army chief to visit Valley

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 8: Army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor is visiting Kashmir valley for three days from May 9.

He would be accompanied by Mrs Kirti Kapoor, president Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA).

The Army chief will visit various formations, engaged in counter infiltration and anti-terrorism operations in the Valley, and review the situation. He will also dedicate Baghbela hostel in Tangdhar to the people on May 9.

Gen Kapoor will be briefed by the commanders at various level about prevailing security scenario on Line of Control (LoC) and hinterland in the Valley.

Mrs Kapoor is scheduled to review various AWWA activities and visit few Army goodwill schools.

IAF jawan commits suicide

SRINAGAR, May 8: A jawan allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself at Air Force headquarters in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir today, a police spokesman said.

Krishan Kumar, a Radar Fitter in unit 3005 squad hanged himself to death at Air Force headquarters at Koil, the spokesman said.

He said the jawan was found dead this morning inside his room which was locked from inside.

Suicides among Army and other Paramilitary forces have shown an alarming increase over the past couple of years prompting the authorities to take special classes to minimise stress which was said to be the major cause for the suicides.

However, Kumar’s death is the first such incident in recent times in the Valley where the situation has appreciably improved to a large extent after nearly two decades of violence.

Suicides among the civilians is also on increase in the Valley.(PTI)

Army to fix mobile jammers on IB

NASHIK, May 8: The Indian Army is planning to set mobile jammers near Punjab border to avoid leak of information through mobile towers errected by Pakistan near it.

Interacting with newspersons at Gandhi Nagar airstrip, about 3 kms from here this morning, Lt. General Nobel Thamburaj of southern command told that some towers errected by Pakistan near the border are intended for observation and other purposes.

When asked that pilots are being trained at Combat Army Aviation Training School (CATS) here with old helicopters like cheetah and chetaks during their one-year-long course, he said the schools are providing them basic training of aviation to make them strong.

After their postings in operation units, they get good experience and become trained pilots there, he said.

He added that Army has plans to include new and modern helicopters in its fleet.

Thamburaj, who was here to attend the parade of 41 officers who completed the course of CATS, said southern command is one of the strongest commands and recently conducted one and half month excercise in desert in which 103 foreign delegates from Army and Air Force took part. (PTI)

Two officers transferred

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 8: Government today ordered transfers and postings of two officers with immediate effect.

Ram Rattan Sharma, Project Officer, DRDA Udhampur has been transferred and posted as Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Bhawan, Katra.

Dr Bharat Bhushan, DPO Kathua has been transferred and posted as Project Officer, DRDA Udhampur vice Ram Rattan Sharma.

Arms, explosives recovered

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, May 8: Army and police today recovered a large quantity of arms and explosives during two different search operations in Poonch and Rajouri districts.

Official sources said police and Rashtriya Rifles recovered two AK-56 rifles, two pistols, five AK magazines with 150 rounds, two pistol magazines with 120 rounds and some incriminating documents during a search operation in Shoo forests between Jharan Wali Gali (JWG) and Bhimber Gali (BG) in this district.

The consignment of arms and ammunition appeared to have been dumped by the militants in forest area to shift it to their hide-out at an opportune time.

In another search operation at village Ans in Budhal area of Rajouri district, troops of 60 Rashtriya Rifles recovered 79 detonators, 13 UBGL grenades, 14 hand grenades and some other items.

N deal virtually dead: Left

NEW DELHI, May 8: The Left parties today contested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s optimism on the Indo-US nuclear deal and soaring inflation saying the N-pact was "dead for all practical purposes while his assertion that inflation will come down in three months is devoid of any logic."

However, they favoured evolving a consensus on Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament and abandoning of the "obstructionist approach" by certain political parties which have mass base.

The top Left leaders’ observations came a day after Dr Singh said he was hopeful that "good sense will prevail" as he was "negotiating in good faith and that there is a consensus in the Cabinet on the Women’s Reservaiton Bill. On soaring inflation rate, the Prime Minister said the current rate of 7.5 per cent will come down heavily in three months."

CPI(M) senior leader Rup Chand Pal and Forward Bloc National Secretary G Devrajan commented the N deal "is dead for all practical purposes" while CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan said, "It is at the moment lying invalid, but it is not yet dead as the US administration will go to any extent to promote its vested interests through the deal."

Mr Bardhan cautioned that the US administration would do every thing to clinch the deal. "They will change rules to see that the deal goes through to protect their business, geo-political and strategic interests."

However, Mr Pal and Mr Devrajan said the deal "is practically dead as the next meeting for discussions at the UPA-Left panel is on May 28 during which the process of US Presidential polls will get finalised. "During that period, the US administration cannot take any policy decision. The new administration will be in place in January only," they added.

On price rise, Mr Bardhan, the veteran Communist and freedom fighter, said the Prime Minister was relying on bumper Rabi crop this season. "Dr Singh is on Ram Bharose ( at God’s mercy)."

Mr Pal, the CPI(M) Chief whip in the Lok Sabha, said Dr Singh’s optimism "is misplaced" even as the Government had suspended future trading in chana( gram), refined soya oil, potato and rubber with immediate effect and the steelmakers agreeing to roll back prices.

"These steps might have some marginal effect: For substantial decline in inflation, the Government will have to act upon the Left suggestion of putting a ban on all the 25 food articles, strengthen the public distribution system (PDS), withdrawal of duties on petrol and diesel," the CPI(M) leader said.

On the Women’s Reservation Bill, Mr Bardhan observed that certain political parties, which have influence among the masses, did not see the merit of the Bill. "Therefore, they will like to have changes in it and move amendments. As Parliament is a sovereign body, they are free to do so, but they should not indulge in obstructing debate and discussion on the same."

Stating that the Bill was "controversial and complicated", the CPI veteran said efforts must be made to come to a solution acceptable to all.

Mr Pal said, "The Bill had now been referred to the Standing Committee. Let it scrutinise the Bill and come out with certain recommendations."

Mr Devrajan, however, maintained that there was no consensus on the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament. "This is the responsibility of the Government to evolve this," he added. (UNI)

Pak says it does not want another war on Kashmir

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan does not want another war with India over Kashmir, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar has said while describing the current status of bilateral relations as the "best" the two countries ever had.

"We are having a very nice relationship with India, the best of the relationship we have ever had. The confidence-building measures are working very well and I think the defence of Pakistan today is much safer than five years (ago)," Mukhtar, senior leader of the Pakistan People’s Party that heads the ruling coalition and one of Pakistan’s leading industrialists, said.

Ruling out the possibility of a war on the Kashmir issue, the Pakistani minister said the two countries had shown flexibility in their traditional stand on the issue.

"I am sure that both the countries are showing flexibility from their traditional positions. We don’t want to fight a war," Mukhtar told Dawn News channel in an interview.

He said the issue will be resolved only through the opening up of the borders and greater inter-mingling of Kashmiris from both sides.

"Today is the time for economic wars and we must prepare ourselves. There are other problems in Pakistan and India there are food shortages, the oil problem, the electricity problem and these problems can’t be solved if we are at war with each other."

Pakistan, he said, was "trying to help India" in the economic field. "We are saying that we would like to buy gas from Iran and that pipeline will go to India, which is a big market. They will benefit and we will also benefit," he said.

"We are looking at these kind of measures. We are giving them assurances that once you get the gas through the (pipeline), nobody would ever stop it. And if we are assuring them that it will never happen, nobody will stop it, that means that we have no intentions of going to war," the minister said.

Mukhtar, who was tipped for the post of prime minister before Yousuf Raza Gilani was chosen for the slot, also said India and Pakistan need "to have confidence in each other".

"And that confidence people will only develop once they start opening up and doing business with each other. This will take time, it will not be done overnight. The situation is not what it was five years ago or 10 years ago, it is much better," he pointed out.

"More and more people are crossing through the Wagah border, parliamentarians can go without any visas and business is being done. We recently imported 1.5 million bales (of cotton) worth a billion dollars from India and these are the measures which are going to bring the two countries together. One day finally, we may not be in a state of war."

Replying to a question on resolving the Kashmir issue, he said: "This issue will be resolved only once you have a lot of people communicating with each other."

Mukhtar said more border points and travel routes like the Jammu-Sialkot road should be opened up.

The Kashmir issue would be settled once Kashmiris from both sides start meeting each other, "inter-mingling and having marriages", he said.

"Once they open up the borders for them, I am sure that this issue will come to a very, very low point and would never be a flashpoint," Mukhtar said.

Asked if Pakistan needed to keep defence expenditure at a high level if its ties with India were improving, Mukhtar said the country would "have to bring our armed forces to that capability level where nobody could, either on the conventional or nuclear side, bother us".

The military is "strong enough to defend the borders" and "we hope that the nuclear side is never used", he said.

"I wish and pray that we don’t have to fight even a conventional war but spending of money...Is very important," Mukhtar added.

"Our neighbours know they can’t just bulldoze us and we know that we can’t bulldoze them. This realisation is (leading) to a very nice relationship with each other."

Mukhtar also said Pakistan was not facing any major security challenges "except for the problems we are having on the border with Afghanistan, where the other party is complaining that people are crossing over".

"The CBMs with Afghanistan are not all that strong."

The Defence Minister also dismissed concerns about the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, which he said is in "the safest of hands".

A committee of political leaders, including the Prime Minister and the President is overlooking the management of the nuclear weapons and the "world should not fear", he said. (PTI)

BSF foils infiltration bid along Pak International Border

JAMMU, A major infiltration bid by militants from across the border was foiled by the Border Security Force in Samba sector of Jammu and Kashmir by appropriately retaliating the heavy firing resorted to by the intruders.

The incident last night prompted the BSF today to lodged a strong protest with Pakistani Rangers.

A group of 10 to 15 militants from Pakistani side managed to cross the border and advanced towards fencing in Benglard area of Samba sector at around 2230 to 2245 hours last night, BSF Deputy Inspector General of Police (Jammu Frontier) J B Sangwan told reporters here.

Among the militants, four to five reached near the fencing but alert troops challenged them and opened fire, he said adding the militants resorted to firing and also lobbed grenades.

However, the BSF personnel continued the firing forcing the militants to retreat to the other side of the border, he said.

This was also evident from the trail of foot track observed in the area that militants had entered from Pakistan, Sangwan said.

About 450 empty cartridges of AK series weapons were recovered from the spot.

There was no casualty or damage on Indian side during the firing and hurling of grenades. Three unexploded grenades were also recovered from the area.

BSF authorities have taken note of the incident and lodged a strong protest with Pakistani Rangers at a Company Commander level flag meeting held at Bangalard border outpost this morning. (PTI)