The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Thursday, March 14, 2002, Chandigarh, India

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India rejects Sattar’s offer to visit Delhi
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 13
India today rejected Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar’s offer to visit New Delhi for talks on an extradition treaty between the two countries.

Responding to a question, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Nirupama Rao said India had already clearly enunciated its policy that any bilateral talks would be possible only after Pakistan positively responds to its long-standing demands, including concrete action on the list of 20 terrorists and criminals.

Ms Rao reiterated that the Pakistan offer was only “delaying tactics” on the list of 20 terrorists.

On another question on Iraq and Washington’s moves to drum up international support for forming a coalition for launching military action against Iraq, the spokesperson said India was against “further destabilisation” of the situation.

The US-led international manoeuvres against Iraq have intensified following Iraq’s recently announced decision not to allow return of international inspectors for inspection of its military facilities.

Sekhon removed as Southern Command AOC-in-C
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 13
Air-Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command, Air Marshal Manjit Singh Sekhon, was today removed from his present posting for taking recourse to extra constitutional methods to promote his career in the AF.

Summoned by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal S. Krishnaswamy, for a meeting, Air Marshal Sekhon was later attached to Air Headquarters in Delhi pending an inquiry against him for his actions. His second-in-command is now officiating as the AOC-in-C, Southern Air Command.

Sources in the IAF said that the Air Marshal might either be dismissed after the completion of the inquiry or be given an honourable discharge from service as the Chief of Air Staff had taken exception to the letter written by him.

Air Marshal Sekhon had written a letter on his official letter head to the then Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, in October last urging him to talk to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to move him to Western Air Command as AOC-in-C.