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US sets Dec 2004 deadline for Kashmir solution

          Islamabad, May 1: The United States has set a deadline for permanent solution of the thorny Kashmir dispute between Pakistan and India at December 2004, according to General Jay Garner, American administrator in charge of reconstruction of Iraq. "We will ensure that a permanent solution of the perennial Kashmir problem is in place by December 2004 at the latest," he said at an exclusive dinner in Gen Garner's honour in Kuwait City two days before he landed in Baghdad.

          A Pakistani, who was the only invitee from Pakistan to the dinner, told the News that the high-profile retired American General told him in an open conversation with him that the US government has decided to "solve this problem once and for all." "South Asia is the world's most volatile region, especially because of the proven weapons of mass destruction it possesses," Gen Garner told the Pakistani. "It is even more dangerous than North Korea because of the history (of war in the region)," he added. Gen Garner went on to concede that the move was aimed at "rooting out the weapons of mass destruction because these constitute the gravest aid to terrorism."

          Asked if he meant Pakistan's nuclear weapons, Gen Garner replied, "It is Pakistan's official policy to see South Asia as a nuclear weapons-free zone." Pressed to dilate further on what type of Kashmir initiative was to be undertaken, Garner refused to elaborate but revealed: "A Kashmir roadmap will follow in the wake of the Middle East roadmap aimed at resolving the Palestinian issue on a permanent basis." Asked if he would lead the Kashmir initiative or have any other role to play in it, Garner said no. "I'll have my hands full in Iraq and anyway, it is Pakistan and India that understand the importance of resolving the issue between themselves and let their region be rid of terrorism," the Pakistani quoted the American general as telling him.

          It is significant that barely days after this conversation, Prime Minister Vajpayee offered "a hand of friendship" to Pakistan and in response Zafarullah Khan Jamali over the weekend telephoned Vajpayee and invited him to Pakistan. On May 7 two top ranking officials of the US State Department after Secretary Colin Powell - Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca - along with Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs Paul Kelly are arriving in Pakistan. When contacted, official sources in Islamabad said that the main emphasis of the talks between this high-level US delegation and Pakistan will be "on early resumption of dialogue between Pakistan and India."

Offer stands, says Jamali (Go To Top)

          Karachi, May 1: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has again offered Atal Behari Vajpayee to visit Pakistan. Talking to newsmen here on Wednesday, Jamali said his previous offer to Vajpayee during telephonic conversation still stands, adding, he is ready to go to India to ensure peace in South Asia if Vajpayee cannot come to Pakistan. Denying any change in Pakistan's Kashmir policy, Jamali said he wanted to hold talks to settle all outstanding disputes, including the Kashmir issue. He said he has not yet received any formal rejection of his offer to the Indian premier to visit Pakistan, adding, he hoped that the future of this region would be bright.

Damascus 'smuggles' Saddam aides out of Syria (Go To Top)
-by Ioannis Solomou

          Nicosia, May 1: While US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Wednesday urged Iraqis to help capture senior members of Saddam Hussein's regime, Damascus, according to Western intelligence sources, has been smuggling Saddam's aides out the country. Following US threats against Damascus, President Bashar Assad has reportedly ordered senior aides and members of Saddam's family to leave Syria.

          In a message to the Iraqi people broadcast on radio and television, 40 days after the launch of the war in Iraq, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said: "The coalition has taken into custody a number of senior leaders from Saddam Hussein's regime. We need your help to capture the rest of them. We also need to get rid of foreign fighters from neighbouring countries who are seeking to highjack your country for their own purposes." Rumsfeld stressed that there was an imperative need to find the remnants of the regime and to remove the influence of the Baath party. Also he urged Iraqis to give the coalition forces any information concerning officials of Saddam's regime and foreign fighters.

          As Pentagon hawks have set their sights squarely on Damascus, which has been accused of providing assistance to Iraq and of sheltering top members of Saddam's regime, Syrian President Bashar Assad apparently decided that he could not risk antagonise the US. Intelligence sources say that the Syrian government has provided travel documents and placed a number of top cadres of the Iraqi regime as well as Saddam's wife Sajida and her three children on passenger flights to other countries, like Libya, Belarus and Lebanon.

          Moreover, in order to appease the Americans, Syria has turned over to the US one of Saddam's sons-in-law and an intelligence agent suspected of attempting to kill former President George Bush in 1993.

Arunachal minister, MLA arrested (Go To Top)

          Itanagar, May 1: A minister and an MLA of Arunachal Pradesh have been arrested, according to official sources. They were allegedly involved with the National Socialist Council Of Nagaland. The two men were T Wangham, Minister for Rural Works, and T L Rajkumar, MLA. They were taken into custody on Wednesday under the Arunachal Pradesh Control for Organised Crime Act. After being produced before the sessions judge, they were freed on bail. However, another accused in the case, L Wanglat, former Finance Minister in the previous Gegong Apang government and sitting legislator, is reportedly absconding.

Sars cases mount to 20 in India, no death; More die in China  (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, May 1: Union Health Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday admitted to laxity in handling Sars cases by "some" medical authorities but added that there was no need for panic. Health officials had to track a Sars patient to New Delhi all the way from Mumbai where he was tested for the deadly virus but released three days before his Sars-positive blood sample reports were received.

          Bhaskar Murthy, 32, a driver with the De Silva family whose three members were found infected with the virus, is now undergoing treatment at an infectious diseases hospital in New Delhi. "It is a mistake and a very big mistake. The hospital authorities and the Director General, Health Services, Maharashtra, both have accepted it. It was clearly stated that no patient even remotely suspected of Sars should be allowed to leave the hospital before a complete clearance is issued, " Sushma Swaraj said.

          The number of Sars cases in India doubled to 20 on Wednesday when nine medical workers in Pune who had treated Sars patient tested positive. Health workers worldwide who have looked after Sars patients have been particularly vulnerable to the illness that can be spread through droplets released by coughing and sneezing. Authorities in Pune maintain that the situation is under control.

          There have been no deaths in India from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome which appeared in China late last year and has spread to 29 countries, killing more than 370 people and infecting nearly 6,000. Some doctors fear Sars could reach epidemic proportions in India where people live in congested cities and health services are overburdened. Government officials played down the risk.

          Meanwhile, China reported 11 new Sars fatalities on the mainland, raising the nationwide toll to 170, while another five people died in Hong Kong with 11 new cases of the disease. The Health Ministry in China announced 187 new infections in the country, raising the total to 3,647. In Beijing, there were 122 new cases of infection, increasing the capital city's number to 1,570. There were seven new fatalities, bringing its death toll up to 82.

Former judge remanded to 7-day CBI custody (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, May 1: Former Delhi High Court Judge Shameet Mukherjee was on Thursday sent to CBI custody for seven days by a court in connection with the DDA scam. Mukherjee has been remanded to custody till May 7 to facilitate interrogation. The CBI had registered a fresh case against Mukherjee and four others on April 29 for alleged abuse of official position and entering into a criminal conspiracy to pass an order in favour of a particular party. Others named in the FIR included sacked DDA vice-chairman Subash Sharma, alleged middleman Dharambir Khattar, suspended DDA official Ashok Kapoor and hotelier Vinod Khatri.

Rival rallies mark 'Gujarat Diwas' (Go To Top)

          Baroda, May 1: Gujarat on Thursday celebrated its creation day as 'Gaurav Diwas' or Pride Day. More than 1,000 people, mainly minority Muslims, were killed in religious violence across the state last year in reprisal killings after 59 Hindu pilgrims were burnt in a train carriage by suspected Muslims. Huge rallies were organised in Baroda and Gandhinagar, state's capital, by ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and main opposition Congress party, respectively, on the occasion. Several cultural programmes were organised arcoss the state to mark the 43rd anniversary of the state.

150 killed, 300 injured in Turkey quake (Go To Top)

          Ankara, May 1: At least 150 people died and more than 300 were injured when an earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale hit Turkey's eastern province of Bingol early on Thursday. Official sources said considerable damage had been wrought in the province. They said around 15 school students were buried after their school building collapsed at a place nearly 12 km from Bingol province. According to the sources, tremors were also felt in several neighbouring provinces at around 3:27 a.m. Even as several villages were inaccessible and the electricity was cut off, a large number of people were hospitalized.