M A I N   N E W S

Lashkar targeting N-sites
Special measures to check attacks: Pranab
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 31
Acknowledging that Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Toiba is planning strikes on critical infrastructure, military targets and religious places, Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha today that the government was taking all possible steps to ensure that such attacks did not fructify.

“Special security measures have been taken and more are under consideration to prevent the attacks by LeT on vital installations, including nuclear ones,” Mr Mukherjee said during Zero Hour.

The issue was raised by BJP’s Vijay Kumar Malhotra who quoted media reports about National Security Adviser M K Narayanan alluding to at least one of the nuclear installations being under threats of attack by the LeT.

Mr Mukherjee said that the intelligence agencies were constantly monitoring the activities of LeT and there was evidence for some time that the scope of terrorist activities in the country was on the rise.

Intelligence agencies had information that LeT modules were planning to attack critical installations, possibly nuclear ones, military targets and religious sites.

Leader of the Opposition L K Advani said this was not a small matter and sought a government response from the Prime Minister.

Mr Mukherjee said that the government has taken the information very seriously. “The House must appreciate that it is on the basis of advance intelligence that necessary steps are being taken to protect our vital installations and other high profile targets.”

India seeks SAARC help in fighting terror
Ajay Kaul

Dhaka, July 31
India today raised its concerns over cross-border terrorism at the SAARC Foreign Secretary-level talks here and sought “active cooperation” from Pakistan and other member countries to eliminate the menace.

Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran referred to the deadly July 11 Mumbai blasts and said it underscored the need for active cooperation among all countries of the region to deal with terrorism, official sources said.

Mr Saran pointed out at the meeting that terrorism was a menace and it needed to be eliminated. His view found support from other member countries.

Responding to this, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan insisted that his country was already engaged in a campaign against terrorism.

The meeting also discussed SAFTA, over whose implementation differences persisted between India and Pakistan.

At the meeting, the Pakistani side maintained its position of doing trade with India as per the agreed tariff concessions under the trade agreement “subject to import policy notified by the Ministry of Commerce”.

India had taken strong objection to Pakistan attaching conditions to trade with it under SAFTA and said Islamabad’s action was against the essence of the agreement and “contradict the commitment” made by the leaders at the 13th SAARC summit in Dhaka in November. — PTI

Saran takes up terror issue with Pak

Dhaka, July 31
Amidst the chill in bilateral relations following the Mumbai blasts, India and Pakistan tonight held here the first high-level talks, during which New Delhi raised its concerns over cross border terrorism and hoped these would be addressed properly.

Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran met his Pakistani counterpart Riyaz Mohd Khan for about 90 minutes during which the Indian side emphasised that the peace process was important for both the countries and all possible efforts should be made to see that this was not in any way adversely affected.

The two sides, however, could not decide on a date for resumption of composite dialogue which has remained stalled in the wake of the July 11 blasts in Mumbai's suburban trains.

The Foreign Secretary-level talks were to take place in Delhi on July 20 but were put off indefinitely in the view of the Mumbai incidents.

"We expressed our concerns with respect to the issue of terrorism," Saran told reporters after the informal meeting held on the sideline of the SAARC Foreign Secretaries' conference here.

Asked whether India had given evidence about Pakistani links in Mumbai blasts, Saran said, "We agreed that whatever information is available with either side will be shared."

On Pakistan's response, he said Khan had told him that Islamabad was "doing all that it can with regard to control of these elements". — PTI

Journalist held for links with LeT
Tribune News Service

Mumbai, July 31
The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the Mumbai police have arrested Danish Sheikh, a translator with a city-based Urdu daily for his alleged links with the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).

Squad chief K.P. Raghuvanshi told reporters this morning that Sheikh is suspected of assisting “subversive elements.” He, however, stated that there is no direct evidence to link the journalist with the bomb blasts.

The official said a number of brochures and booklets promoting the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) were recovered from Sheikh, who worked for the shrill Urdu Times newspaper.

The journalist was picked up some days ago from his residence at Mira Road and was under detention till his arrest earlier today.