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Another Al Qaeda attack imminent; US shuts missions in Saudi Arabia (Report)

Indo-Pak discussions to be step by step: Sinha
-by Trevor Barnard

          London, May 21: Although some kind of agenda has emerged for discussions on relations between India and Pakistan, further progress will be taken step by step, without any set time table. This is the view of External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, who shared his thoughts with Indian journalists in London, where he has attended the latest meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG). Exchanges with Pakistan since Prime Minister Vajpayee made his historic olive-branch speech at Srinagar have put five items on the immediate agenda, in Sinha's view. Vajpayee proposed an exchange of high commissioners and freedom of air space, while Prime Minister Jamali suggested the restoration of road and rail links and exchanges of sporting engagements. Nothing else was on the agenda at the present time, and these items would be taken up step by step.

India only for joint monitoring of border

          New Delhi, May 21: India on Wednesday ruled out a suggestion by Pakistan that international monitors could be asked to monitor the common border to verify claims on infiltration. Foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters in New Delhi that a joint monitioring was possible if there was mutual trust between the neighbours. "Pakistan has talked about bringing in international monitors, to say, let us monitor the Kashmir situation. In that situation we have told them that there is nobody who knows this terrain better than India and Pakistan, so there is a possibility of joint monitoring, if sufficient amount of trust can be built," Sarna said.

          India's reactions come in the wake of Pakistan Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali's statement that cross-border incursions in Jammu and Kashmir were outside Pakistan's purview but that it was ready to extend a helping hand to India. Jamali said this after a thaw in relations between the nuclear- armed rivals.

Pak must dismantle terrorist camps: Swami  (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, May 21: Pakistan should dismantle terrorist training camps to carry the peace process forward, I.D. Swami, Minister of State for Home, said on Wednesday. "If Pakistan wants to make the talks successful, it has to change its mindset. The terrorist infrastructure and terrorist camps across the border must be dismantled. Whatever promises Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has made to the people of Kashmir, Pakistan and the international community, he should fulfil it," Swamy said in an interview after a function here to mark the 12th death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi.

           Pakistan this month announced restoration of full diplomatic ties and an easing of curbs in transport links after Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said he would extend a hand of friendship to Pakistan, his third peace bid since 1999. While Islamabad is eager to call another summit, New Delhi has preferred to take a step-by-step approach.

Little impact of strike in most cities (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, May 21: Government workers across India went on strike on Wednesday to protest against economic reforms, but the action had little impact in most main cities beyond closing state banks and disturbing financial markets. The strike hit government offices and state firms, including banks, but other businesses opened as normal in New Delhi and Bombay and public transport was running in most states.

          National Confederation of Bank Employees claimed in New Delhi that about 50 million workers, roughly equal to the population of South Korea, were on strike. This could not be independently verified. India's coalition government is trying to boost growth and efficiency by selling state firms, freeing up imports, cutting red tape and reforming labour laws.

          Tens of thousands of police fanned out across the financial capital, Bombay, to provide extra security and small protests were held in Bombay, New Delhi and other cities. In Kerala banking services were almost crippled. Some of the employees said they had resorted to strike as a last resort. Several people were arrested at one protest in the national capital, but there were no reports of trouble around the country. Bond trading picked up and volumes were close to normal after a slow start because of the impact on state banks, traders said. But currency trading was badly hit with traders estimating volumes at around 20 percent of usual. Stocks were unhurt. In Calcutta and Tripura, streets were largely deserted, offices and shops were closed, and no taxis and buses were running. Trains across West Bengal were hit.

Minister involved in Bihar doctor's kidnapping: Police (Go To Top)

          Patna, May 21: Patna police on Wednesday said they suspected the involvement of a Central minister and a state law-maker in the kidnapping of a neurosurgeon, who was rescued early in the day. DP Ojha, Director General of Police, told reporters in Patna that the main accused in the abduction case had talked to Central minister CP Thakur on his cell phone. Ohja said the printouts of the conversation were available with them. "The only way that CP Thakur's name comes in the investigations is that, day before yesterday the accused had had a telephone conversation with him, which we found out when we checked the printouts of the conversation," Ojha said. Ojha also said that the accused were linked to Sunil Pandey, a state law-maker.

          The doctor was rescued from the kidnappers at Naubatpur, about 30 kms from Patna, on Wednesday morning. Six persons were arrested. The eminent neuro-surgeon was kidnapped on May 17 from near his residence in Patna. The case evoked strong protests from the medical fraternity throughout the state. Government doctors had on Tuesday announced a statewide indefinite strike starting on Wednesday. Opposition leaders also condemned the incident and the NDA had announced a one-day bandh.

          Chandra's abduction was the second kidnapping of a doctor in the last three months. Recently there has been a spurt in kidnappings in one of the country's most lawless and unruly states. Businessmen allege a nexus between kidnappers, local politicians and the state police. But police say not many cases are reported and the relatives prefer to give ransom to kidnappers thus encouraging criminals. Bihar and Uttar Pradesh figure high on the crime graph.

Osama safe, survived `six US strikes' (Go To Top)

          New York, May 21: Osama Bin Laden, the most wanted man on earth, managed to escape unharmed although a series of US strikes was conducted to eliminate him last month, it was reported on Wednesday. Quoting a report published in an Arab website used by Al Qaeda leaders and monitored by US intelligence agencies, the website mirror.co.uk said, "six separate strikes failed to hit him last month". "He hid himself in a deep shelter near Jalalabad in Afghanistan". The missile-proof den lies between two mountain peaks. The report added that while the US strikes were carried out, Osama was being treated for severe exhaustion in a mountain cave. A doctor from Egypt was specially called to attend on him and he was treated for low blood pressure. Later, Osama broadcast a message that he was safe.

Another Al Qaeda attack imminent (Go To Top)

          Washington, May 21: The FBI has warned that Al Qaeda is planning "something terrible" in the United States or abroad, a view also echoed by the Saudi ambassador in Washington. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters on Tuesday that senior US officials would decide whether they needed to raise the terror threat level following the warning. The alert level now stands at yellow, two steps below the highest level, red. It was lowered from orange last April 16. Yellow represents "an elevated risk," orange a "high risk," and red a "severe risk," reports Dawn.

          In another development, the State Department relayed a warning from the US embassy in Riyadh that more terrorist attacks might be "imminent" in Saudi Arabia. The embassy and US consulates in Dhahran and Jeddah have been closed following the threat warning. The embassy's website says officials have received credible information that further attacks are being planned against unknown targets in Saudi Arabia. The FBI alert bulletin says that communication intercepts of Al Qaeda suspects abroad indicate a possible terrorist attack in the US.

          Earlier, the Saudi ambassador in Washington told reporters that during a recent visit to the kingdom he also heard of "high- level" communication intercepts about a possible terrorist attack in the US. "My gut feeling tells me something big is going to happen here or in America," said Ambassador Bandar bin Sultan. Britain and Germany also said they were closing their embassies in Saudi Arabia. "We have received credible information that further terrorist attacks against unspecified targets in Saudi Arabia are being planned and may take place imminently," a Foreign Office spokeswoman said in London.