Pakistan must stop supporting terrorism for talks to succeed: Farooq Abdullah

June 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, June 4 (ANI): Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Dr. Farooq Abdullah has asked Pakistan to stop supporting anti-India militant groups if it wants the Indo-Pak dialogue to succeed.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, Abdullah said: “Controlling terrorist activities by Pakistan would benefit both countries immensely, as militant infiltration is on the rise since the beginning of the year.

“The biggest thing is to stop terrorism first. Only then will any talk with India become successful. Unless terrorism is stopped, all talks will be ineffective,” he added.

He also expressed happiness over the resolution of the Baglihar Dam dispute.

“There was a lot of commotion regarding the Baglihar issue which has been resolved now. They have agreed to Uri project (River projects). The other project, which we are making at Kargil, they have accepted that as well. Gradually, things will become better,” he said.

Members of India- Pakistan Permanent Indus Water Commission recently held talks on issues relating to the distribution of Indus waters, as Pakistan had earlier raised objections to India”s Baglihar and other water storage projects. (ANI)

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Infiltration from Pak into India obstacle to relationship: US

May 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The US has said that the continued infiltration of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and other (Pakistani) Punjab-based terrorist groups into India is one of the most important obstacles to the Indo-Pak relationship and the dialogue between the two South Asian neighbours.

“One of the most important obstacles to expansion of those relations is the continuing infiltration from Pakistan to by Punjab-based groups, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM),” Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake said yesterday.

“The United States has consistently called for greater action on the part of Pakistan to stop the activities of these groups,” Blake asserted, thus putting on Pakistan the onus of success of the resumption of the dialogue between the two countries.

The State Department spokesman also refuted reports that the US is pressurising either India or Pakistan to continue with the dialogue process, as is being reported in the American and Indian media.

“We always have an interest in seeing our two friends have peaceful relations, but we are not pressurising either side,” Blake said.

The United States has consistently said that it is up to India and Pakistan to determine how to improve their relations and that the pace and the scope and the character of whatever talks they have is really up to those two countries to decide, he added.

“But we will always stand ready to help in any way that we can, because again, we see it very much in our interest to see improved ties between these two friends of ours,” Blake said.

Pakistan, he conceded, along with Afghanistan would be one of the major issues of discussions during the next week’s strategic dialogue between India and US; which would be co-chaired by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna. Blake said during the meeting the US will welcome the announcement that has been made by the Indians and the Pakistanis that their two foreign ministers will meet in Islamabad in mid-July.

“That meeting will be preceded by a very important meeting between the home ministers that will take place in late June.

Home Minister P Chidambaram of India will be, again,

visiting Islamabad. So those are very important opportunities to try to expand relations and to reduce some of the frictions between these two friends of the United States,” he said.

The State Department official said the US would like to see two of its friends — India and Pakistan — to get back on the days of 2004-2007, when Pakistan took actions against terrorists and that laid the basis for a very significant expansion in relations between the two countries.

“But one of the first things that has to happen is for there to be visible progress in stopping this,” he said.

“I think the point that the Secretary (of State) and(Defense) Secretary Gates and the (US) President himself has made is that increasingly, these groups are all operating together as a syndicate.

So it’s very much in Pakistan’s own interest to take on these groups as well,” Blake said.

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‘US consistently pressing Pakistan to rein in anti-India terror groups’

May 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, May 29 (IANS) The United States says it has consistently pressed Pakistan to stop the continuing infiltration into India by Punjab-based terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taeba and Jaish-e-Mohammed as this was a key obstacle to improved relations between ‘two friends of US’.

‘On Pakistan, I’m sure it will be a topic of discussion’ at the inaugural US-India strategic dialogue here next week Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O. Blake told reporters Friday when asked what the US was doing to rein in Pakistan to allay India’s concerns about cross border terrorism.

Welcoming the announcement that Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers will meet in Islamabad in mid-July and Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram will be visiting Islamabad in late June, he said: ‘Those are very important opportunities to try to expand relations and to reduce some of the frictions between these two friends of the United States.’

But Blake acknowledged ‘One of the most important obstacles to expansion of those relations is the continuing infiltration from Pakistan to by Punjab-based groups, such as Lashkar e-Taeba and Jaish-e-Mohammed and others.’

‘And the United States has consistently called for greater action on the part of Pakistan to stop the activities of these groups,’ he said suggesting ‘Pakistan has done so in the past between 2004 and 2007, and that laid the basis for a very significant expansion in relations between India and Pakistan.

‘So we’d like to see these two friends get back on that same course again. But one of the first things that has to happen is for there to be visible progress in stopping this.’

President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defence Secretary Robert Gates have all made the point ‘that increasingly, these groups are all operating together as a syndicate. And so it’s very much in Pakistan’s own interest to take on these groups as well,’ Blake said,

Highlighting what he called ‘the unprecedented counterterrorism cooperation,’ between India and the US, he said they had raised the level of cooperation ‘because of the increasingly common threats that we face, particularly those in India faced by Lashkar- e-Taeba and other groups.’

Asked if the US will relay Pakistan’s concerns about India ‘training the Afghan army’, he said: ‘I’m not sure that India’s providing that much training to the Afghan army. The vast majority of the assistance that the Indians are providing to Afghanistan is in the form of economic assistance.’

And US ‘welcomed very much the assistance that India has provided and all of our cabinet-level officials have welcomed that and will continue to do so,’ he said describing it as ‘a very important part of the international effort to help stabilise Afghanistan.’

Denying reports that US is pressurising India to have its dialogue with Pakistan despite the fact that Islamabad has not taken any action against those responsible for the Mumbai terrorist attack, the official said while US ‘always have an interest in seeing our two friends have peaceful relations, but we are not pressurising either side.’

Asked where the Kashmir issue fitted into this puzzle, Blake said ‘What’s most important is first to get these talks going again and once they’ve gotten beyond the immediate counterterrorism issues, to focus on some of the important opportunities like trade’ before ‘taking up some of these more sensitive territorial issues.’

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Pak pigeon has police in flutter

May 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Amritsar, May 29 — This gives a whole new meaning to cross-border infiltration, but it’s not clear if it will add a feather in the cap of the Punjab police. In an era of spy planes and satellites, the Amritsar (rural) police have detained a white pigeon that could have been – the police claim – used as a Pakistani spy.

The pigeon was reportedly spotted in Ramdas, a tiny town close to the Indo-Pak border, with a Pakistani stamp imprinted and a Pakistani phone number written on its feathers. Excited residents took the bird to the nearest police station.

The pigeon’s fate will be decided once officials there decide what to do with it. With news of the low-tech ‘spy’ spreading, the police have kept the bird in a special cage.

It was earlier simply locked in a room. “The people of the area had come with the pigeon that had a Pakistani stamp and telephone number on it,” said Jagjit Singh, station house officer of Ramdas police station.

Pigeon races are known to be held across the border, and it was possible that this particular pigeon took a longer route in one such race and lost its way, a police official suggested.

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Militant infrastructure in Pakistan still a concern: Antony

May 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 12 (ANI): Defence Minister A K Antony on Wednesday said Pakistan”s militant infrastructure is still a matter of concern for India.

Reacting to a query about the resumption of talks between India and Pakistan at a time when there is an increase in infiltration attempts across the Line of Control, Antony said such attempts by militants are a matter of concern.

“Talks will continue, but at the same time we are very much concerned about the existence of more than 40 terrorist camps in Pakistan. And, our view is that Pakistan must take sincere and strong steps to dismantle these terrorist outfits,” said Antony after inaugurating the Controllers” Conference of the Defence Accounts Department.

Speaking about the China-India relations, the Defence Minister said that the bilateral relations between the two countries are improving, in spite of the border issue.

“Military relations are improving. We had joint exercise with the Chinese army. Again, we will have joint exercise with them. And this year, our Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar had gone there for discussions,” said Antony.

“So, on the whole, the relations are improving, even though that border dispute is still there. On the whole, our relation with China is comparatively better. Our border is peaceful,” he added. (ANI)

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Terrorism must be opposed and crushed, KNP

May 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 10 (ANI):Supreme Council of Kashmir National Party met in Watford, England to discuss issues related to the Kashmiri struggle and the KNP.

The Supreme Council after detailed discussion unanimously declared that:

Terrorism must be opposed and crushed. It hurts innocent people; and it is seriously hurting interests of Muslims around the world, especially those living in the Western countries.

In this regard government of Pakistan and its agencies have a great role to play and have to be honest with what they claim. They have to stop this distinction of ‘good terrorists’ and ‘bad terrorists’; and revisit its policy because terrorists could not be strategic asset, as they have their own agenda which is against Muslims and hurts innocent people of other religions as well.

They have also to stop infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir as it hurts people of Jammu and Kashmir on both sides of the Line of Control; and create tension and hatred in the region.

Government of Pakistan must stop its endeavours to annex Kashmiri territory of Gilgit Baltistan, and give people of the region their fundamental human rights.

Government of Pakistan must stop its meddling in affairs of Pakistani Administered Kashmir and immediately abrogate Act 74, which has practically made this territory a colony of Pakistan; and has allowed Pakistan to plunder and exploit our resources.

The Supreme Council strongly condemned action of puppet government of Gilgit Baltistan in which Shafqat Inquilabi and other leaders of APNA were not allowed to hold a peaceful public meeting in Gilgit on 28 April; and were expelled by force from the region.

This action of puppet government is flagrant violation of human rights of these people; and makes mockery of the much claimed democracy in Gilgit Baltistan imposed by Islamabad.

The Supreme Council, in line with its declared policy and constitution, set up Parliamentary Candidates Selection Board to select candidates for the next elections in Pakistani Administered Kashmir.

Dr Shabir Choudhry has been appointed Chairman of PCSB with the following people as members: Masoom Ansari, Ch Mohammed Ayub, Ifzaal Sulehria, Mahfooz Tahir and Yasin Anjum.

In this regard Abbas Butt, Chairman of the KNP will soon visit Pakistani Administered Kashmir to finalise these matters, and examine progress of various projects including progress of challenge to Gilgit Baltistan Ordinance currently waiting hearing in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The Supreme Council declared that KNP wants to work with other like minded people and parties to promote a common agenda, but this goodwill gesture cannot continue when members of other nationalist parties show immaturity; and some with mischievous character spew venom against senior KNP leaders, as happened few weeks ago.

KNP leaders welcomed resumption of talks between India and Pakistan, but emphasised that the Kashmir dispute is not a bilateral dispute, and could not be resolved by bilateral talks. They said there is no military solution to the Kashmir dispute and violence must end that lives could be saved and the peace process could be resumed.

They reiterated their position that unification and independence of the entire State is their ultimate goal; and that APHC does not represent people of the State. They said Kashmir dispute is not religious in nature, and those who are trying to link it with Pan Islamic Movement are not well wishers of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, because movement based on religion will divide the State by provoking communal, sectarian and regional rivalries.

The Supreme Council appreciated the work carried out by Diplomatic Committee; and directed its head Dr Shabir Choudhry to work on new targets decided by the Supreme Council.

The Supreme Council strongly condemn government of Pakistani Administered Kashmir for harassing and starting unfounded cases against KNP Zonal President Ifzaal Suleria. They also condemn arrest and illegal detention of Shafqat Inquilabi who was illegally expelled from his home district.

KNP leaders congratulated all those British Kashmiri politicians who have been successful in the British elections, notably Mr Khalid Mahmood, Shabana Mahmood, Mr Chishti who have become Members of House of Commons; and Ali Adalat, Ghulam Hussain and others who have won local council seats.

The following people addressed the meeting: Abbas Butt, Nazam Bhatti, Masoom Ansari, Nawaz Majeed, Javed Shah, Asim Mirza, Ch Abdul Razaq, Ch Abdul Aziz, Aurnagzeb, Anis Ahmed Abdul Majeed Ch, Mohammed Shabbir Awan, Zil- e- Shah Naqvi and Dr Shabir Choudhry. (ANI)

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Border forces of India and Pakistan agree to restrain firing

March 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Amritsar, Mar. 31 (ANI): The Border Security Force (BSF) and officials of Pakistan Rangers on Wednesday concluded their four-day bi-annual meeting in Amritsar with the mutual agreement to restrain firing incidents from either side.

Both the parties discussed matters relating to border management, including border crimes, drug-smuggling, counterfeit currency notes, infiltration bids, illegal border crossings, defence constructions, during the meeting.

The Pakistan Ranger delegation was led by Major General Mohammed Yaqub Khan, while the BSF was led by Director General P. P. S. Sidhu.

“There have been instances of firing from either sides and we have mutually agreed to restrain, and at the same time we have mutually agreed to be more vigilant on either side of the border so that such incidents are not repeated,” Gen. Khan said.

“We are making all the efforts that the terrorists are not allowed to carry out any such activity which disturbs the peace and tranquillity, particularly on the joint check post of Wagah.”

“I must say one thing more, that terrorism has no borders. Terrorists are all over the world and they can carry out acts of terrorism anywhere, but on our side we have made very elaborate arrangements and we are very confident that inshahallah they”ll never be able to carry out any such activities there,” he added.

On allegation by General Khan that incidents of liquor smuggling were pretty common from the Indian side of the border, General Sidhu said that the points have been noted down.

“Well, they are mentioning it. We have agreed that we will take whatever measures are necessary to put a stop to any kind of smuggling, which is taking place. We are apprehending heroin and fake currency which is coming in. We have had some very good catches in the recent past and efforts will continue,” Sidhu said.

Besides officials from the border guards of India and Pakistan, the representatives of Narcotics Control Bureau, Survey of India and Public Works Department (PWD) also attended the four-day-long meet. (ANI)

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Outgoing Army Chief expects enhanced attempts of infiltration

March 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Mar. 31 (ANI): Outgoing Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor on Wednesday expressed confidence that security forces would be able to thwart infiltration attempts by militants from across the Line of Control (LoC) during the summer.

“We do expect enhanced attempts at infiltration this summer and the trend for that are already obvious,” said Kapoor after paying homage at the Amar Jawan Jyoti in New Delhi.

“The infiltrations are aided and abetted by our western neighbour but we are quite sure that the security forces would be able to take care of any such attempts at infiltration and would be able to ensure a degree of peace and stability in the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir as has been the trend for the last year and a half and two years,” he added.

Intelligence officials say Pakistan-based militant groups have stepped up efforts to infiltrate the region across the Line of Control (LoC) or military ceasefire line after snow started melting on the high Himalayan mountain passes.

General Kapoor, who is retiring as the Army Chief on Wednesday was accorded a guard of honour.

General V K Singh has formally taken over as the country’s 26th Army Chief. (ANI)

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Army Chief feels infiltration continues due to repeated attempts made by militants

March 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Mar 30 (ANI): Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor said on Tuesday that militants become successful in infiltrating into the Indian side of the Line of Control because of their continued attempts.

General Kapoor made the statement after handing over the baton of Chairman”s office in Chiefs of Staff Committee (COC) to Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik here.

“This is a matter of understanding that if infiltrators continue to make their attempts to enter the Indian side, as they are being supported by their organisations, they will become successful at some point of time. But whenever they tried to infiltrate, we detected them,” he said.

“Almost eight militants got killed during the encounters by our deployed troops. The rest of the militants fled towards the other side of Line of Control. So this is a good job done by our security forces. The militants would continue with their infiltration attempts. We would be able to take actions only if they would come towards us,” he added.

Eight militants of the Laskhar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen were killed during an encounter on March 23 in Kern sector of Jammu and Kashmir”s Kupwara district. (ANI)

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Indian Army sounds terror alert in J-K

March 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Mar 29 (ANI): The Indian Army on Monday sounded a terror alert, claiming that as many as 400 infiltrators are attempting to sneak into Jammu and Kashmir.

“This is going to be hot summer terrorism-wise in Kashmir as approximately 300 militants are active in the valley while another 400 are waiting in the wings in PoK to cross over to this side to step up violence,” said Brigadier General Staff, 15th Corps, Gurmeet Singh.

Singh added that there was no need to worry, as the troops were well prepared to confront any challenges.

He, however, claimed that the weapons, ammunition, equipment, food items, medicines and also some video-clips and photographs recovered from the killed militants showed signs of a high degree of terrorists anxiety.

“Approximately, 42 training camps were intact across the border. Of them 34 are active and 400 militants are waiting for an opportunity to cross over to this side from 20 launching pads,” said Singh, adding that the army had prior information about the recent infiltration attempts in Kupwara district”s keran sector.

“We were prepared for this and eliminated 8 terrorists in keran sector between March 24 to March 28. The mixed group of militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen comprising eight terrorists were eliminated,” Singh said.

Singh further said the operation against the terrorists was still on in the region and the area is being extensively searched to avoid any untoward incident. (ANI)

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Don’t expect miracles from India-Pakistan dialogue: Antony

March 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Panaji, March 17 (IANS) Defence Minister A.K. Antony Wednesday said Pakistan ‘was not taking serious steps’ to destroy 42 terror camps on its soil. Stating that India was ‘exploring all possibilities’, Antony also said he did not expect any ‘miracles’ from the dialogue with Pakistan.

‘All the terror camps in Pakistan are active. Pakistan has not taken any serious steps to destroy these camps,’ Antony told a press conference on the sidelines of the launch of Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) offshore patrol vessel (OPV) Vishwast at the port town of Vasco, 30 km from here.

Antony said India was one of the important targets for terrorist groups and that there were 42 terror training camps in Pakistan which were aimed at creating violence in the country.

Reiterating that Pakistan had not taken serious steps to control the terror apparatus directed at New Delhi, Antony said that despite this, India would continue to talk to Pakistan.

‘However, I do not expect any miracles,’ Antony said. The foreign secretaries of the two countries had held talks last month, in the first structured dialogue since 26/11.

Pakistan has in the past routinely denied allegations that it arms, funds and trains anti-India terrorists.

Speaking on the issue of infiltration by militants from Pakistan into India, the defence minister attributed it to Jammu and Kashmir’s fast-paced return to normalcy.

‘Kashmir is becoming normal. Violence is less. This situation cannot be tolerated by forces inimical to India,’ he said, adding that since ‘normalcy was coming to Kashmir fast, infiltration was increasing’.

He said the Jammu and Kashmir Police had now become ‘efficient and committed’.

Earlier, ICGS Vishwast was commissioned by Antony in the presence of the director general ICG, Anil Chopra, and Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.

The 90-meter long ship is a state of the art vessel with infra red surveillance system, which enables it to detect targets at night and is designed to carry one helicopter and five high-speed boats for search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, exclusive economic zone surveillance and marine pollution response missions.

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No increase in Chinese incursions: Army Chief

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Chennai, Sep 19 (ANI): Chief of Army staff General Deepak Kapoor said on Saturday that there has been no increase in Chinese incursions along the Sino- Indian border.

“I would say that the Prime Minister made a statement yesterday itself that there has not been any more incursions. The number of incursions is at the same level as last year so there is no cause of worry,” General Kapoor told reporters here.

” I would request the media to maintain restrain and not outplay the issue,” he added.

Commenting on the Pakistani infiltration along the Line of Control (LoC) General Kapoor said: “There have been ceasefire violations, but we have a mechanism in place where the issue is addressed immediately with a hotline functioning on both sides. Also, border personnel meetings are held where the issue is resolved.”

He confirmed that the reports of infiltration along the LoC and international border (IB) were correct, but added that Indian forces are well deployed to keep infiltration under check.

On Friday Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said India had a very long border with China and he had no information about anything serious happening there.

Regarding a media report on Chinese incursions he said, the government information system may be faulty and that could be the reason for the media playing up reports of incursions. The lacunae would be rectified soon, he added.

He also said the Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yan had met National Security Adviser M K Narayanan and had discussions about the situation prevailing along the border. (ANI)

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Jammu and Kashmir on high alert following border firing from Pakistan

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Akhnoor (Jammu and Kashmir), Sep 18(ANI): Security was beefed up in the Akhnoor sector and in the Jammu region on Friday following an incident of border firing from the Pakistani side.

Further, all entry and exit points were sealed and vehicles were being checked.

Earlier on Thursday, at least two Border Security Force (BSF) jawans were injured in a cross border firing from the Pakistani side. The incident took place at the Pargwal Post in the Akhnoor Sector.

AK Sarolia, Inspector General of Border Security Force (BSF) Frontier Jammu, said on Friday that a flag meeting with the Pakistan side has been arranged and a protest has been lodged against the border firing.

“We will actually respond as per the situation according to the law. Actually firing came on our check-posts from three or four sides. Illyas (post) is just behind from where the firing came on our jawans. We are having a flag meeting and we are lodging a protest,” Sarolia said.

“Reason, may be their frustration or desperation to intrude into our territory. This sort of actually assault on our jawans cannot take place without the connivance of the establishment on the other side,” Sarolia added.

Sarolia further said that barbed fence along the border was checked and there is no indication of infiltration.

“I can reasonably tell that so far it doesn’t look like that there has been crossing. But, we are taking all precautions. We have checked, there is no breach of fence, there are no tell-tale marks or any other indication of crossing so far,” he said. (ANI)

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Pak Minister Malik invites Chidambaram for an open debate on 26/11

September 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Sep.11 (ANI): Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik has invited his Indian counterpart P Chidambaram to an open debate on investigations into the 26/11 terror attacks.

Addressing a press conference here, Malik said Pakistan was sincere in the investigations into the Mumbai attacks, adding that it had filed the charge sheet in the court within 76 days, whereas the Indians took more than 90 days to prepare the charge sheet.

Malik said he is ready for the debate anywhere India, Pakistan or wherever Chidambaram likes.

Malik acknowledged receiving the six Indian dossiers, but added that New Delhi appeared to be confused about who was the mastermind behind 26/11 — Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi or Hafiz Saeed.

Rehman’s open debate challenge to Chidambaram came as the latter met US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington and reportedly briefed her about Pakistan’s inaction against the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks

Chidambaram, who wraps up his four-day visit to the United States today, told Clinton that Pakistan simply has not taken any action against the perpetrators of 26/11, and its mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

Chidambaram also told US officials that infiltration from Pakistan has increased since May this year.

Drawing disparity between India and Pakistan’s approach to the investigations, he said, “I think the US understands the difference between the way India has approached the post 26/11 situation and the way Pakistan has approached the post 26/11 situation. I think it is enough to draw attention to the difference and leave it there.”

On the resumption of talks between India and Pakistan, Chidambaram said: “I think India’s position has been made clear by the Prime Minister in parliament and there is no need for me to add anything to it or clarify.” (ANI)

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Pak jittery after Chidambaram meets Hillary Clinton

September 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Sep 11 (ANI): Pakistan today claimed it had arrested two more terrorists in connection with the 26/11 attacks, moments after Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram met US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington to brief her about Islamabad’s inaction against perpetrators of the Mumbai carnage.

Chidambaram, who wraps up his four-day visit to the United States today, told Clinton that Pakistan simply has not taken any action against the perpetrators of 26/11, and mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

Chidambaram has also told US officials that infiltration from Pakistan has increased since May this year.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik today informed about the two arrests made in regard to the 26/11 case, and said that details will be provided later.

Chidambaram’s visit to the US has apparently made Pakistan jittery, with Malik asking India to respect Pakistan’s probe into the Mumbai terror attacks.

Malik asked India to refrain from leveling allegations against Pakistan, and again asked India to provide the information on the 26/11 attacks.

Malik going back to his old rhetoric also asked India to provide information about Samjhauta blasts.

Earlier, the US had asked Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the 26/11 attacks to book at the earliest.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake said that Pakistan should make concerted efforts to stop cross-border terror.

Blake’s comments are significant as they come at a time when Chidambaram met with the top brass of the Obama Administration to study US counter terrorism measures that can possibly be adopted by India.

Blake said it is important for Pakistan to take some confidence building measures so that India and Pakistan can restart peace talks. (ANI)

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Chidambaram briefs Hillary on Pakistan’s inaction against 26/11 perpetrators

September 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Sep 11 (ANI): Home Minister P. Chidambaram met US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington to brief her about Pakistan’s inaction against perpetrators of Mumbai terror attacks

Chidambaram, who wraps up his four-day visit to the United States today, told Clinton that Pakistan simply has not taken any action against the perpetrators of 26/11, and mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

Chidambaram has also told US officials that infiltration from Pakistan has increased since May this year.

Drawing disparity between India and Pakistan’s approach to the investigations, he said, “I think the US understands the difference between the way India has approached the post 26/11 situation and the way Pakistan has approached the post 26/11 situation. I think it is enough to draw attention to the difference and leave it there.”

“India and US would take their relationship to a next level, where they will work together on a host of other issues, apart from Pakistan,” Chidambaram told reporters here.

“The next level does not mean leaning on Pakistan. The next level means means, working together on security related matters,” he added.

On the resumption of talks between India and Pakistan, Chidambaram said, “I think India’s position has been made clear by the Prime Minister in parliament and there is no need for me to add anything to it or clarify.

Commenting on the second question about level of intelligence sharing, he said: it has been pretty good. Even today, when there is actionable intelligence, which is, shared by US agencies with Indian agencies. …We share any intelligence that we have vis-’-vis the United States this will continue.”

Besides getting an in-depth understanding of the functioning of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Chidambaram also took a look at the functioning of the New York Police Department.

Impressed with the NCTC, he said he would like to set up a similar kind of an operation.peaking out on the Gujarat affidavit controversy, the Home Minister said there was nothing wrong with it.

He said it was only meant to be an intelligence input, not conclusive proof of guilt, much less a reason for killing anyone in cold blood.

The home ministry’s affidavit does not weaken the Congress Government’s attack on the Government of Gujarat in the Ishrat case, he said.

“What is wrong with the affidavit? To the best of my knowledge the affidavit says that intelligence inputs were shared with the Gujarat government. That affidavit must be read in context. You cannot read into it what it does not say. I think it is self-evident that intelligence inputs are not evidence, much less conclusive proof,” he added. (ANI)

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Family grieves death of soldier in an encounter in Poonch

September 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Poonch (Jammu), Sep 9 (ANI): A pall of gloom enveloped the household of the Army major who was killed in an encounter with the militants in Mendhar sub-sector of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.

Major Akash Singh was killed while trying to foil an infiltration bid across the Line of Control (LoC) in Sonagali area.

He gunned down two militants before being hit by a bullet while aiming at the third.

His friends remembered him as a brave and courageous young man.

“We got this news suddenly in the morning. I had gone to drop off my kids at the bus stop when his (Akash Singh) father got a call from his CO (Commanding Officer). Since his father was not able to decipher what was being said, his brother, who was with me, rushed to take the call. He was informed that around 3 in the morning, they had set up an ambush for the militants, where he (Akash) killed two militants but got hit by a bullet while aiming at third and he is no more,” said Avdhesh Raina, friend of Akash Singh.

Singh is survived by his wife and two children.

The infiltration comes despite a ceasefire between the two armies and a three-metre-high barbed wire security fence along most of the 742-km LoC. (ANI)

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Indian Army chief says ceasefire violations by Pakistan have increased

September 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Sep 4 (ANI): Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor on Friday said that if Pakistan tries to disrupt the peace and tranquility in Kashmir and violates the ceasefire, India would not hesitate to retaliate.

Talking to reporters here, General Kapoor said, “Pakistan will be able to tell whether they want to maintain ceasefire but as far as their intention are concerned, whenever ceasefire is violated we will definitely retaliate. We try to follow restraint as far as possible but if there is a violation automatically at some stage there will be retaliation from our side.”

He also said infiltration from Pakistan is on the rise with the winters setting in but added that Indian troops at the border are alert.

“The attempts of ceasefire violation have increased because this enables infiltration to be carried out when the firing is on and can be used as a diversionary tactic. Their attempt is to infiltrate more and more people during ceasefire violations but we understand their tactics and take appropriate steps,” he added.

Earlier, General Kapoor had said that Pakistan was going beyond the degree of deterrence needed for its own protection, if reports of its nuclear weapons stockpile were true and this was a cause of concern for India.

Since July, 30 people have been killed in firefights along a military Line of Control and 14 infiltration attempts have been made, double than last year during the same period. (ANI)

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‘Fifty to Sixty Pak militants waiting to infiltrate into India’

September 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Sep. 2 (ANI): About 50 to 60 Pakistani militants have positioned themselves to infiltrate into India, and the Indian defence forces are fully prepared to foil any such attempt, a top military brass has revealed.

“There are approximately 50 to 60 terrorists in various locations operating in Jammu, Smabha, Kathua. And they are waiting on time to infiltrate. However, we are keeping a clear watch of the situation and any attempt by the terrorist to infiltrate will be foiled by the forces deployed along the border. We have absolute synergy in this aspect by the border security force to prevent infiltration,” said Lieutenant General E M Nair, GOC 9 Corps.

The GOC mentioned that Pakistan is building fortifications along the border and more than 50 militants who are operating from various locations along the border could infiltrate.

The 9 Corps with its headquarters at Yole Cantonment oversees the defence operations in the Jammu region overlapping Himachal Pradesh.

Corps is the major formation responsible for a sector under an operational command and the 9 Corps functions under the Northern Command. (ANI)

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S.M Krishna says meaningful dialogue with Pakistan not possible till terror ends

August 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug 24 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna on Monday said that India has made it clear that a meaningful dialogue with Pakistan would only be possible following the fulfillment of Islamabad’s commitment not to allow its territory to be used for terrorist activities against India.

Addressing at the second Conference of Heads of Indian Missions here, he said: “Pakistan must honour the pledges made in this regard. Following the Mumbai attacks of November 26, 2008, Pakistan has taken some steps under the pressure of evidence presented to them. However, we are still to see Pakistan take effective steps to end infiltration and dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism.”

“We wish to address our differences with Pakistan through dialogue. On several occasions, we have conveyed to the Pakistani leadership our desire to engage in meaningful discussions and to develop our bilateral relations in a positive manner,” he added.

Speaking on India’s relations with all the countries in the Indian subcontinent, he said, “We share a special affinity and common destiny with our neighbours. India has strongly supported Nepal’s transition to a democratic polity. We have also been providing humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka and hope that the IDPs would be rehabilitated soon. An encouraging development in our neighbourhood has been the return of Bangladesh to multiparty democratic politics.”

About Afghanistan where Presidential elections were held last week, he said: “We have stood firm behind the Government of Afghanistan’s efforts to stabilise the country. This is natural given our age old ties, our responsibility to a friendly country in our region and given our national security interest in a stable, independent and peaceful Afghanistan which will remain a priority.”

Terming China as largest trading partner, he said that there is congruence in our views on many global issues,but there are outstanding bilateral issues that should be resolved peacefully through dialogue.

Informing that India’s relationship with Japan has entered a new phase in the last few years, he said, with ASEAN, we have signed a Free Trade Agreement. It is another milestone in our Look East policy.

“We are adding significant elements of political, economic and security cooperation to our relationship. A new South-South partnership is being built in the IBSA framework with South Africa and Brazil,” he added.

Speaking on India’s relations with Russia and the United States, the Minister said India’s relations with Russia are time tested and we are giving them a contemporary definition in areas such as nuclear energy, space and defence.

“With the United States, we are going to build on the positive momentum of the last few years. Our new dialogue architecture would reflect the increasingly global character of our bilateral dialogue. India’s established capabilities in high technology and our unimpeachable record of using these technologies in a responsible and transparent manner are creating opportunities for upgrading our access to high technology from the major powers,” he added.

On the Doha Round of negotiations, he said: “I would like to stress that timely and successful conclusion of the Doha Round on the basis of its development mandate is even more important today particularly in the backdrop of the global economic and financial crisis to restore confidence in the global economy and markets, as also to guard against emerging protectionist tendencies and to protect the livelihoods of the poor and marginalized, particularly in our rural sectors.”

Underlining the main purpose of India’s foreign policy, he said the aim is to assist in the fulfillment of these goals (development, inclusive economic growth and alleviation of poverty) by providing an enabling external environment which ensures our security, promotes trade, nurtures our key bilateral relationships, safeguards our national interest and enhances our influence in the world.”

The Minister stressed that ‘economic work of our Missions abroad is increasing in importance as India’s engagement with the world has deepened and our global trade has grown substantially in recent years. (ANI)

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