M A I N   N E W S

1 killed, 32 hurt in two blasts
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Dec 8 — At least 30 pedestrians and a police constable were injured when militants hurled a grenade and fired at a police patrol at Shopian in Pulwama district of North Kashmir this afternoon.

In another IED explosion in the Uri area of Baramula district in north Kashmir, one person, Riyaz Ahmad Shah, was killed while his son was injured at Gohalan today, a police spokesman told newsmen here this evening. Three others, including a foreign militant, were killed in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday. Today was the 11th day of the ceasefire.

The police here said that militants hurled a grenade and followed it by firing at a police patrol at Shopian Bazar of Pulwama district around 2-45 p.m. today. Those injured were admitted to various hospitals.

The explosion at shopian took place when the people were coming out of the mosque after Friday prayers. The police party posted nearby fired a few rounds in air in self-defence.

The condition of six of the injured was stated to be serious.

The attack comes a day after the militants made a similar attack at a bus stand in Kupwara town yesterday, in which at least 24 persons were injured, of whom, three succumbed to their injuries. Those killed were Mohammad Rafiq of Lolab, Mohammad Shafi Magray of Kandi, and Ghulam Hassan Lone, a Special Police Officer or a counter-insurgent.

A foreign militant, Abu Rashid of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Hari Budha village in Mandi sector of Poonch district yesterday. The police said that the hiding militant opened fire on a patrol party of the security forces. The security forces retaliated in self-defence, leading to the death of the militant.

Militants shot dead Abid Hussain, surrendered militant of the Hizbul Mujahideen at Nathipora, Sopore in Baramula district, last evening. He succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to hospital.

The police today recovered the body of Gulzar Ahmad Khan from Tandoosa village in the Lolab area of Kupwara district. He had been abducted by some militants on Wednesday.

Pak flexible on talks

ISLAMABAD, Dec 8 (AFP) — Pakistan today welcomed India’s offer to consider allowing Kashmiri leaders to visit Islamabad and said a militant ceasefire depended on New Delhi’s attitude towards a “purposeful process” for the settlement of the Kashmir issue.

Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar also said Islamabad was prepared to be flexible on the “details” of its proposal for a three-way dialogue between the Kashmiri leaders, India and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Gen Pervez Musharraf reviewed the situation along the Line of Control (LoC), particularly in the backdrop of India’s ceasefire, at the highest level.

NEW DELHI: India on Friday responded to Pakistan’s call for ideas to resolve the Kashmir issue by pointing out that the unilateral ceasefire in the state was a positive and forward-looking “new’’ idea.

Responding to questions, a foreign office spokesman said there had been “recognisable reductiy6on’’ in firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) and attempts at infiltration have not taken place in any “marked manner” since November 19.