 |
Friday,
May 18, 2001, Chandigarh, India   |
Another Kargil not ruled out: US study China detains US scholar Foreign Secretary in USA for talks USA has no message for Benazir to carry |
|
|
Pakistan to upgrade MBTs Dy PM punches protester
Dosanjh voted out of
office |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Envoy holds talks with LTTE Israel bombs West Bank
areas China accused of atrocities
|
|
Another Kargil not ruled out: US study Washington, May 17
The Rand Corp, a Santa Monica-based think-tank with close ties to the Pentagon, questions if Pakistan is heading towards failure as a state.
While acknowledging that some positive steps may have been taken by the military government initially, it says the pace of reform seems to have slowed. If the military government fails, separatist and Islamic forces are in the wings, it adds.
The US study expresses concern that a failed Pakistan may both invite and compel India to react more forcefully to the next Kargil episode. In a separate chapter devoted exclusively to Pakistan, the study does not rule out the possibility of another Kargil, saying it could lead India to consider whether a more forceful response might not be advisable to solve the problem once and for all.
The primary author of the report is Zalmay Khalilzad, a Pentagon official during the first Bush administration. Khalilzad joined the National Security Council staff on Monday in a senior position that makes him a top strategist on international security.
The report says there may be a major change in opinion in New Delhi, from a relatively relaxed posture towards Pakistan to one that actively questions whether the stability of Pakistan is in India’s interests.
This view could be bolstered by a sense that Pakistan may in any case be on its last legs, says the report. In contrast to the situation in Kashmir, Pakistan has been more successful in Afghanistan, where its backing of the Taliban has enabled it to take control of almost the entire country.
However, most of Afghanistan’s other neighbours remain suspicious of the Taliban and fearful that its religious extremism will harm their stability; indeed, even Iran is hostile. “Thus, Pakistan’s success in Afghanistan has had the effect of furthering its isolation and providing Russia, China, Iran, and the Central Asian states with a motive for uniting in opposition to it.”
ANI |
|
China detains US scholar Hong Kong, May 17 Mr Li Shaomin, a US citizen who taught at the City University of Hong Kong, disappeared after crossing the border into China on February 25 to see a friend. Mr Li’s wife, Liu Yingli, said she received a telephone call on Tuesday from China’s State Security Bureau informing her that her husband had been formally arrested on charges of spying for Taiwan.
AP |
|
Foreign Secretary in USA for talks Washington, May 17 Ms Iyer, is leading a three-member team. The other members are Mr Jayant Prasad, Joint Secretary (America), and Mr Vivek Katju, Joint Secretary (Pakistan-Afghanistan). The visiting team will have a two-hour formal discussion today with the State Department team headed by Mr Marc Grossman, Under Secretary Political Affairs. Later, Mr Grossman will host a lunch for the Indian delegation, where informal talks would continue for 75 minutes. Both, Ms Iyer and Mr Grossman have taken recently other charge and this would be the first time that they will participate in bilateral talks covering issues raging US sanctions against India to Kashmir and trade and investment. Both sides described the meeting as routine foreign office consultations. Incidentally, the point person for South Asia in the State Department Ms Christina Rocca is yet to assume the office as the Assistant Secretary. She will take the confirmation hearings before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee here today. Ms Iyer is scheduled to meet Mr Gary Ackerman, former Chairman of the India Caucus and a ranking-member of the South Asia Sub-Committee of the House of International Relations Committee. The Foreign Secretary is expected to meet some Congressmen at the Capitol Hill tomorrow.
UNI |
|
USA has no message for Benazir to carry Washington, May 17 Mr Boucher was quite categorical in his reply: “I don’t think we have any, but I will leave it at that. Not that I am aware of.” About Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage’s recent visit to India, he said: “He briefed Prime Minister Vajpayee, other senior Indian officials, on the US missile defence efforts and more broadly on the need to move beyond the Cold War thinking and to develop a new security framework.” He said India welcomed those consultations and Mr Armitage was gratified by India’s positive response. “We anticipate obviously that our discussions with India will continue,” he said. He was asked if Pakistan would not be included in the potential global defence shield since it had not been consulted on the missile defence talks. “I don’t think it is fair to conclude anything about the technology, the shield, the kind of technologies that might be developed because we haven’t finished the look at that, and the Defence Department is conducting that review, and we will look at everything,” Mr Boucher replied. “We didn’t send this team out to Pakistan, but we are discussing missile defence with them through our embassy. If we should have a visit by a senior Pakistani official, obviously we would use that occasion to discuss this, among other subjects. So there are plenty of opportunities to talk to governments, and we are talking to governments, even those that weren’t on the itinerary of these teams.” He was pressed about the “difference between a country that gets a special delegation after the speech and then a country that maybe consulted later on.” Mr Boucher was equally caustic in his response, saying that, “I don’t think we divide the world into important countries and unimportant countries. “We have interests everywhere, and we find ways to talk to friends, allies, partners, and people affected. Some of those we may do with delegations from Washington, and some of those we may do with our embassies. But it is important to us to be able to talk to a great number of countries about these things.” About General Musharaf’s remarks on missile
defence, he said the USA would be talking to Pakistanis soon. ANI |
|
Pakistan to upgrade MBTs London, May 17 An avionics thermal imaging camera had been installed for trial in one Type 85-IIAP gunner which currently had an image-intensification night sight with limited night/poor weather capabilities and UK BAE Systems, it said. Winter tests had already been completed and it was expected that summer tests would commence in June. The BAE Systems’ avionics thermal imager had been designed for installation in MBTs such as the Type 85-IIAP and claimed a detection range of 7,000 m and a recognition range of 3,000 m, the Jane’s Defence Weekly said in its latest issue.
PTI |
|
Dy PM punches protester London, May 17 According to media reports today, Mr Prescott lashed out in response to being hit in the face by the egg thrown at close range from an angry crowd of fuel protesters. The ugly fracas capped a day in which the high-profile launch of Labour’s manifesto was overshadowed by a series of episodes in which senior politicians from all parties faced public abuse and hostility. Prime Minister Tony Blair later said Mr Prescott “regrets the whole incident ever happened”. “He felt a blow to the side of the head and reacted instinctively,” he told Labour Party’s regular morning press conference, pleading for return to the “real and serious issues”. Mr Blair, Tory leader William Hague and Home Secretary Jack Straw all felt the anger of voters. Their ordeals were verbal, but the election campaign for the June 7 poll turned violent last evening with the ambush of Mr Prescott as he arrived to address a Labour rally. Mr Blair was harangued by a woman about the National Health Service (NHS) at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Edgbaston, and Mr Straw was heckled and jeered as he addressed the police federation annual conference in Blackpool. Opposition Tory leader William Hague and his wife Fion also encountered angry hecklers in Wolverhampton.
PTI |
|
Dosanjh voted out of office Toronto, May 17 With it has ended the 10 years rule of the New Democratic Party (NDP) in the third largest Canadian province for the first time in 37 years giving the Liberals a majority to form the government. Projections based on early results suggested that the Liberals under the leadership of Mr Gordon Campbell were set to win a majority of more than 70 of a total of 79 seats in the provincial legislature. Mr Campbell had easily won his seat from Vancouver-Point Grey riding (constituency) by 46.3 per cent votes against his Green Party rival Varya Rubin, who received 25.3 per cent votes. Mr Dosanjh, the first Indo-Canadian to reach such a high government position, might go into political wilderness despite his assertion that he would like to be the part of the rebuilding process of his party. Mr Dosanjh was elected leader in February last year. His two predecessors Mr Glen Clark and Mr Michael Harcourt had to resign amidst talk of scandals and corruption. That played havoc with the party even though Mr Dosanjh tried his best to distance himself from his predecessors. When he called elections last month, the NDP had a three seats majority in the legislature and now, from all indications, it might not secure even four seats to get the opposition party status. As to Mr Dosanjh saying that irrespective of poll results he wanted to be
involved in the rebuilding of his party, experts said that would be a long haul. It could be up to eight to 10 years before the NDP could hope to come back nearer power, said Mr Miachel Prince, University of Victoria political scientist. “I think they will have to pay penance out in the wilderness for a while.” Some analysts said Mr Dosanjh was in a hurry to assume power when he knew his stay in office would not last till June 2001, the end of the five years constitutional mandate of the legislature. The strength of the Liberals in the current provincial campaign was repeated assertion by Mr Campbell that he would reduce personal taxes dramatically. Mr Dosanjh spent a greater part of his campaign accusing the Liberals of being too close to business community and called their plan for massive tax cuts “reckless.”
IANS |
|
Envoy holds talks with LTTE
Colombo, May 17 According to reports received from Wanni, Mr Solheim, accompanied by Norwegian Ambassador John Westborg, crossed over to Mallavi today. Their departure, originally scheduled for yesterday, was delayed by a claymore mine blast which hit the convoy of LTTE’s political wing leader S.P. Thamilchelvam yesterday. Mr Thamilchelvan escaped unhurt. One LTTE trooper was killed and two were injured in the blast, says a Tamil Net report. While the Tigers blamed the Army for the incident, defence ministry expressed surprise and rejected the allegation. It is not known whether LTTE surpemo Velupillai Prabhakaran was present during the talks with the Norwegian Ambassador. However, reports indicated that Mr Thmilchlevan was leading the rebel delegation. Mr Solheim is understood to have conveyed to the LTTE leaders the government’s stance on the cease-fire and the Memoradum of Understanding (MoU) on the lifting of the embargo on essential items to Wanni in northern Sri Lanka.
UNI |
|
Israel bombs West Bank areas Jenin, West Bank, May 17 Israel also used artillery in the attacks, but there were no reports of injuries, Palestinian sources said. Buildings of Palestinian leader Mr Arafat’s security officers and the office of the Governor of Jenin were damaged, they said yesterday. Electricity was shut down by the attack, plunging the city into darkness and hindering rescue efforts. The Israeli army said the buildings they attacked were used for production of weapons and mortar grenades which were used against Israel. The army also attacked police buildings in the Jebalia refugee camp in northern gaza, where they said “many attacks are planned and implemented”. The Palestinian Authority, on Wednesday gave an “unreserved yes” in accepting recommendations of former US Senator George Mitchell to end the conflict with Israel. Mr Mitchell has suggested a plan of gradual steps, including a stop to building new residential areas for Israelis within the Palestinian territories. Israel has rejected Mr Mitchell’s suggestion on settlements, but has accepted the rest of the plan as a good basis for returning to the negotiating table. Mr Mitchell’s plan also calls for a ceasefire that will last for months before talks begin again. Meanwhile, unrestricted violence continued earlier on Wednesday. A 15-year-old Palestinian boy was shot to death in clashes with Israeli soldiers at Netzarim junction in the West Bank. The boy, who had been throwing stones, was shot in the chest.
DPA |
|
China accused of atrocities Washington, May 17 Citing a finding by the International Commission of Jurists the Bill said the Chinese regime had committed acts of genocide in Tibet in an attempt to destroy the Tibetans as a religious group. Tibet was at least a de facto state till 1951, it added. The Bill, sponsored by 36 Congressmen and led by Representative Tom Lintos (California Democrat), has since been referred to the House International Relations Committee for consideration. The introduction of the Bill coincides with the arrival of the Dalai Lama in Washington and his meetings with top US leaders.
UNI |
BUSH’S DAUGHTER PLEADS NO CONTEST JAILED FOR HITTING CANADIAN PM 8 STUDENTS KILLED
3 TITANIC VICTIMS TO BE EXHUMED SPECIAL AWARD FOR
OMAN ALLOWS WOMEN
S. LEONE REBELS FREE 110 CHILDREN |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 121 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
