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War against terrorism includes J&K: Powell

New Delhi, September 22
The US-led campaign against global terrorism also means war against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere, US Secretary of State Colin Powell has said.

General Powell (retd) told the BBC in an interview that the USA viewed terrorism as a curse and its campaign would be against Kashmiri, Irish and Basque terrorism.

Asked whether the war against terrorism would include terrorism in these regions, he said, “I think that is correct. Any organisation that is interested in terrorist operations to overthrow legitimate governments, or governments that represent the will of their people, is a threat. We should go after them...’’

The Secretary of State hoped that incidents like those of September 11 would be reduced by going after terrorist organisations, but expressed doubt if the USA would be successful in stopping terrorist activities from taking place anywhere.

Referring to the September 11 terrorist attacks as an assault on democracy, civilisation and the right of innocent people to live, he said the USA was embarking on the campaign with a great deal of information and intelligence. It was not just a war in the sense of a military conflict, he added.

“It is a campaign that is much financial, political, diplomatic public diplomacy, infrastructure ripping up,’’ General Powell said.

He said all nations that face this kind of threat would have to be ever vigilant from now on. “We have to be vigilant, but not terrified. We have to have security, but not live in bunkers. We are a free and open society...We are going to do everything we can to protect our citizens and our society and work with many countries around the world,’’ he added. UNI

Explosions rock border area
5 ultras among 13 killed in valley
Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 22
A series of bomb explosions rocked the border area at Beli Azmat village in the Kanchak area, near here, early this morning.

Official reports said the Pak Rangers or militants had planted high-grade explosives on the zero line of the international border in the Kanchak area which were triggered off this morning.

A temporary barbed wire fence, installed to check straying of cattle into the Pak territory, was damaged in the explosions. There was, however, no loss of life.

As BSF jawans heard the sound of the explosions they opened fire to foil any attempt of infiltration.

Government sources said the explosions were intended to disrupt the border fencing. Last month, 14 bombs were exploded in the same area. The sources said the Pak Rangers had already received reports that the BSF had pooled all its resources in raising the fence in the Kanchak area to prevent infiltration into the Jammu city and hence they had been trying to disrupt the project.

A senior BSF officer said, “Notwithstanding firing and explosions by the Pak Rangers and militants, the fencing project will not be suspended.” The project of fencing the 187-km long international border is expected to be completed within two years. The officer admitted that the pace of work on the fencing had slowed down on account of intermittent Pakistan firing and explosions.

He said Pakistan troops were also attempting to provide fire cover to the militants to enable them to cross into the Jammu sector. He said, “Our forces are on high alert and round-the-clock patrolling is on to foil any Pakistan game plan.”

Meanwhile, a report from Srinagar said 13 persons, including five militants and two girls, were killed while four militants were arrested and another surrendered in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours.