M A I N   N E W S

No IAF bases offered to USA

New Delhi, September 19
India today dismissed as “totally incorrect” reports that three IAF bases had been offered to the USA for launching an attack on terrorist targets in Afghanistan.

“External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Nirupama Rao said.

The report suggested that three air bases — Avantipora (Jammu and Kashmir), Adampur (Punjab) and Jamnagar (Gujarat), besides port facilities in the western sector, had been kept ready as India’s offer for operational support to the USA. UNI 

Russia not to join strikes

Moscow, September 19
Russia today categorically ruled out a joint military strike with the USA on terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan.

“Russia never participated, nor is planning to take part in the military actions of the USA,” chief of Russian General Staff Anatoly Kvashnin was quoted as saying by the government-run ‘Ria-Novosti’ news agency.

Kvashnin, who is currently touring Tajikistan to inspect the preparedness of Russian 201st motorised division deployed in Dushanbe, said he does not see any immediate Taliban threat to the CIS.

He, however, said in case of threat to the territorial integrity of Tajikistan, the provisions of 1992 Tashkent collective security pact would be invoked to defend it.

Meanwhile, Secretary of Russia’s National Security Council Vladimir Rushailo also said the USA was not negotiating a military assistance from Moscow. PTI