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Stop cross-border raids, talks later: Atal to Pervez Almaty (Kazakhstan), June 3 (ANI): Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Monday reiterated an offer to hold "unconditional" talks with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to resolve the tense military standoff between the two nuclear-armed rivals. But India, demanding an end to cross-border raids by Islamic militants, has so far ruled out a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders during a 16-nation Asian summit in Kazakhstan. India and Pakistan have massed about a million troops along their border since a December attack on the Indian parliament which New Delhi blames on Pakistan-based militants fighting its rule in divided Kashmir. Tensions flared again after militants raided an army camp in Kashmir on May 14, killing more than 30 people. Musharraf was speaking in ex-Soviet Kazakhstan at a news briefing ahead of the summit which Atal Behari Vajpayee is also attending. Asked at a news briefing, after his talks with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, under what conditions he would be willing to talk to Vajpayee, the Pakistan military ruler replied: "Unconditional. You need to ask that question to Prime Minister Vajpayee what are his conditions. I have no conditions. Just talks." Musharraf has said he has proposed meeting Vajpayee several times without success. They last exchanged a cold handshake and a few words in Nepal in January. Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes to bring them together to end a confrontation the international community fears could set off a nuclear war. Musharraf welcomed Putin's offer of mediation between the two arch-rivals. "I would say that he is a very important personality of the world. He certainly is a dynamic leader and a very forward looking leader. Therefore he and other than that he has, Russia has always had close contacts with India. Therefore I feel that he is in a very important position to play a definitive role towards mediation between India and Pakistan," he said. Putin and Chinese President Jiang Zemin plan to meet the two leaders separately. Russia and China's conciliation attempts are part of intense diplomatic activity to calm tensions that the United States fears could derail its efforts to pursue its war on terror in the wake of September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. Meanwhile, India's Minister of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah ruled out any talks with President Musharraf during the three-day summit. "No matter what other countries opinions, are, India's opinion is very clear that is that we are not meeting Musharraf here. There is no need for us to come to Almaty to meet him. If circumstances would be right then we can meet in our country or his. The fact is that the circumstances for a meeting are not right. So no matter where we are we are not going to meet Musharraf. And it is as simple as that," said Abdullah, who is accompanying Vajpayee in Almaty. Abdullah reiterated India's demand that it wants proof, not words before any de-escalation of forces could be thought of on its tense border with Pakistan. "There will be no de-escalation on the border. If we had to de- escalate on the basis of words of Pakistan we would have de- escalated after a much better speech on January 12, If you look at Musharraf's last speech that has given us absolutely no reason on the basis of words to de-escalate. We would de-escalate on the basis of actions. As of now it is too early to suggest that any action has been taken on the ground that would necessitate a de- escalation," he told reporters. Musharraf has pledged to crack down on cross-border raids. Altogether 16 nations are taking part in the three-day Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia (CICA). The group includes Russia, China, Afghanistan, Israel, Iran, Turkey and the Palestinians. The United States, Australia and Japan have observer status.(ANI) US offers to help defuse Indo-Pak tension
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to top Washington, June 3 (ANI): The United States has offered to help defuse the Indo-Pak conflict over Kashmir as the threat of war loomed between the two nuclear rivals. It offered its assistance in arranging talks, but stopped short of saying that it would mediate in the dispute. "Our role has been to encourage dialogue and a reduction of violence that would improve the atmosphere for productive discussions," said a State Department official on Sunday, who asked not to be named. "We do not seek a mediator's role, but we would be prepared to provide facilitative assistance if the parties requested it." A US Defence Department official disputed the assertions of President Musharraf about stoppage of incursions into Kashmir. "We remain very concerned about the infiltration across the Line of Control. That is at the heart of the problem," said Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, who earlier met India's Defence Minister George Fernandes in Singapore. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has expressed the hope that a regional summit in Kazakhstan this week will be able to deter India and Pakistan from escalating their dispute over Kashmir, a report from Kiev said. Referring to the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Jiang Zemin at the Almaty conference on Tuesday, Annan said that he was "confident he (Putin) and the Chinese president will be able to dissuade Vajpayee and Musharraf from raising the level of the dispute over Kashmir. Annan said that he would be visiting Moscow on Tuesday and that he "looked forward to discussing the situation with President Putin." He said he hoped Putin "will be able to speak to both Vajpayee and Musharraf. However, Vajpayee has already ruled out a meeting with President Musharraf at the Kazakhstan conference. Annan also said the UN decision to evacuate the families of its staff from Pakistan and India should be seen as a precautionary measure and not as an indication that war is imminent. "I hope we will be able to avoid that," he added.(ANI)
Hurriyat plea for Indo-Pak talks resumption Go to top Srinagar, June 3 (ANI): Abdul Ghani Bhat, chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference (APHC), said on Monday India and Pakistan should resolve their outstanding problems peacefully. APHC is a conglomerate of 23 organisations fighting New Delhi's rule in Kashmir. The APHC favours tripartite talks involving India, Pakistan and people of Kashmir to resolve the 54-year old dispute, over which the two neighbours have fought two of their three wars since their independence from British in 1947. Bhat urged both Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who are in Kazakhstan to attend a security conference, to resume talks. "My best wishes are with Musharraf and Vajpayee. I want that the President of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of India, keeping in mind the wishes of their people do not talk of war but find ways of peace, solve the problems and strengthen the future of their people," Bhat told reporters in Srinagar. "This is the only desirable way to walk on. If we do not opt for it, then I fear we will be treading on a dangerous path," he added. The world community is hoping that the unofficial meeting between the two leaders might help in defusing armed standoff between two nuclear rivals. Vajpayee has said there was "no plan" to meet Musharraf. Musharraf said at a stopover en route to Almaty that he would welcome such a meeting but would not renew the offer if Vajpayee kept rejecting it. Jammu and Kashmir is at the centre of the dispute between the two South Asian neighbours to which both lay claims. India and Pakistan, who have massed a million troops on their border, have been trading heavy fire since the middle of last month as tensions soared over a raid on an army camp in Jammu by suspected Pakistan-based militants. India, which controls about 45 percent of Kashmir, accuses Pakistan of funding and training Kashmiri separatists, a charge Pakistan denies. Pakistan, which holds over one-third of Kashmir, says it only provides diplomatic support to what it says freedom fighters. The remainder of the Kashmir is controlled by China. Almost a dozen militant groups are fighting for independence or merger with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir. Sources say the decade-old rebellion has claimed more than 30,000 lives. Unofficial reports put the toll at more than 80,000.(ANI)
Security tightened at Jammu railway station
Go to top Jammu, June 3 (ANI): Security was beefed up on Monday at the Jammu railway station, fearing an attack by militants. At least 11 people were killed and 30 injured when militants in fatigues stormed Jammu railway station and sprayed a passenger coach with gunfire last year. "Entry exits will be banned and we have also established commando posts. Vintage points are being manned by sharp shooters. I am sure we will not allow any repeat of last year and anybody who makes an attempt has to lose his life," said S.P. Vaid, Jammu's Deputy Inspector General of Railway Police's Crime Branch. Vaid said Jammu was more vulnerable to militant attacks because of its close proximity to international border with Pakistan. "As you know railway track from Lakhanpur through Jammu at some places is just 5 kilometres from International Border and most of it comes very close to IB (International Border) and taking advantage of that militants just sneak in. It takes them one and a half hours to plant a bomb and go back. So we are keeping strict vigil," Vaid said. He said close-circuit cameras have also been installed at vantage points to monitor the militants, movements. Vaid said the passengers are being frisked regularly and their luggage checked. India and Pakistan have massed about a million troops along their border since a December attack on parliament which New Delhi blames on Pakistan-based militants. India has demanded an end to what it calls cross-border terrorism. Pakistan has denied the charge and has vowed to crack down on raids by militants into Indian territory, but New Delhi wants hard evidence to show Islamabad is doing this.(ANI)
Departing foreigners blame media hype
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top New Delhi, June 3 (ANI): Dozens of foreign nationals gathered on Monday at the international airport here to leave the country following instructions from their governments worried about the prospects of an Indo-Pak war. Most of the foreigners going back home said they felt safe here and that their departure was just a precautionary measure. According to Mark Simon, a British academician, said the situation in the Indian subcontinent has been hyped by the media and there was no panic. "I think that the situation is more hyped in the media than I see in Delhi. I think Delhi is very calm from what I am seeing but I understand the situation--that the national governments need to take this precaution to protect their citizens. It's their duty just in case," Simon said. Others at the airport echoed similar sentiments. "Although the tension on the ground in India isn't that strong at the moment, I think it's just a waiting game and hopefully things won't come to a head...but just don't know," said Phyllis Harrison, a tourist. The US State Department has also urged its citizens in the subcontinent to leave the area. The statement said the reasons for the withdrawal of some consular staff from India were different from those which prompted staff reductions last week in Pakistan, where there had been threats from militant groups. Japan, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand have also issued similar warnings to their nationals residing in the Indian subcontinent.(ANI)
Tough living apart, education suffers in Jammu relief camps
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top Jammu, June 3 (ANI): As streams of villagers head towards make- shift relief camps in Jammu and Kashmir, perplexed children huddle together, hardly aware of tensions between India and Pakistan. Intensified shelling from both sides in the last two weeks has forced thousands of villagers to move to safer areas in the interior. In most places, like R.S.Pura sector, classrooms in school buildings have turned into emergency shelters. Those who arrive late have to stay in the corridors, hardly any place for living and studying. "Because of the shelling at night in our village, we came to this temporary home. But because we did not get a room here, we are staying outside," said Gurdeep Singh Nagra, a nine-year old boy. "Officials who had come here told us that we would get food, edible oil and a place to stay. Now, we are told that we will be given tents, not rooms. But, we haven't got that either till now. We don't even know whether we will get it or not," he added. For dozens of children housed in the Kotli Shah Daula School building, it was a forced holiday which they cannot enjoy. The relief camp is overcrowded with no water supply and little sanitation. Evidently the authorities are not able to cope with the enormity of the problem. As the stand-off continues and migrant population swells each day, the people have begun to complain of scarcity of food. "We have a lot of problems here. We can't go to school and neither can we play. We have to travel back to our village to get food. So, there should either be war or we should be able to return home," said Shaam Kumar, a young boy. And the parents are worried about the children's studies which has come to a grinding halt because of the current tension. "There is no arrangement of education here. That has become dead. The kids have lost their system of education. There is nobody to teach them here. Even their books have been left behind. How will they study," Rajinder Kumar, a parent, lamented. India and Pakistan massed a million men on the borders and fears of war mounted after New Delhi blamed Islamabad-based militants for frequent attacks in its territory. Pakistan denies the charge. (ANI)
More tourists in Amritsar, say no tension in the air
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to top Amritsar, June 3 (ANI): Tourists continue to pour into this holy city despite the India-Pakistan stand-off which has generally evoked fears of a war. The city houses Golden Temple, the most revered shrine of the Sikhs where hundreds of thousands of people of all faiths flock every year. At a time when tourism industry has been badly hit in most parts of the country, Amritsar, situated only 25 kilometres from the international border, has seen a substantial rise, reportedly 35 per cent, in domestic tourist inflow during the last fortnight. Visits by foreign nationals have dropped marginally. Said Mukesh Kumar Chaurasia, a first-timer at the temple, "The tension on the border has not affected our travel plans. In fact, even after coming to Amritsar, there is no feeling of tension in the city." Avinash Kumar Singh, another tourist, commented: "No, we can't feel any tension. As it is, one should not be scared of death. It has to come to every person some day." However, because of the rapid and ominous developments in the subcontinent after the attack on Paliament house on December 13 last year, the USA and several other countries have advised their citizens to leave the troubled region. Many western nations also asked their non-emergency embassy staff to move out of India, but there is no panic. Steven, a tourist from Holland, said he is not deterred by the growing tensions between the two nuclear rivals. "No, I am not going to cut short my trip. There is no reason. It's safe," he asserted. Meanwhile, an official of the Golden Temple Committee, the main body entrusted with the job of 'mandir' maintenance, said the number of arrivals were high because people did not apprehend war. "We haven't seen a big change in the number of visitors to the town yet. I think that is because people believe there won't be any war. This is the time of summer vacations in schools and colleges and therefore, there is a huge crowd at the weekends. Moreover, the people are not scared of the rumblings of war and their morale is very high," said Narendra Pal Singh, assistant information officer of the committee.(ANI).
Parrikar sworn in Goa CM again Go to top Panaji, June 3 (ANI): BJP legislature party leader Manohar Parrikar was sworn in second time as Goa Chief Minister here Monday. Governor Mohammad Fazal administered the oath of office and secrecy to Parrikar and his 12 cabinet colleagues at a simple ceremony at Raj Bhavan. The new cabinet includes two members of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), two of United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP), and one Independent. There are six new faces in the cabinet - Sudin Dhawalikar and Pandurang Madkaikar of the MGP, Mickky Pacheco and Atansio Monseratte of the UGDP and Vinay Tendulkar and Dayanand Mandrekar of the BJP. Parrikar is the 17th chief minister Goa. Later, speaking to reporters, Parrikar said the new government would be "more stable". The Assembly is likely to meet before June 15 to pass the vote on account. "That itself will be my confidence vote," Parrikar said. In the 41-year long political history, Goa has had as many as 13 chief ministers in 13 years. The state has been hit by political instability even as several combinations have been made and broken. (ANI)
Russia calls Pak missile tests " a provocative gesture" Go to top London, June 3 (ANI): Russia on Monday criticised last week's nuclear missile tests by Pakistan, amid escalating tension in the region. Interfax news agency quoted Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov as saying, "Against the background of the conflict Pakistan's testing of nuclear rockets was a provocative gesture." Ivanov said: "The testing of nuclear weapons when there is extremely high tension and suspicion is wrong." The comments from the minister came as Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf arrived in Almaty for a regional security conference.
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