Vancouver businessman Ripudaman Singh Malik, 56, and Kamloops millworker Ajaib Singh Bagri, 53, each pleaded innocent to eight counts, including conspiracy, attempted murder and murder in connection with the June 23, 1985, bombing of Kanishka flight, off the coast of Ireland, while it was enroute to New Delhi from Vancouver.

The men had set another bomb for another Air India plane but it went off prematurely in Japan’s Narita airport, killing two baggage handlers.

The trial, which began almost 18 years after the bombing incident, is the most expensive and complex in the Canadian history.

Only six families of the victims were in court for the start of the trial. The two accused sat behind a bullet-proof glass while several of their family members sat on the opposite side of the courtroom, listening intently as lead prosecutor Robert Wright outlined the evidence that would be presented over the next 10 months.

In his opening statement Mr Wright told British Columbia Supreme Court judge that Malik and Bagri were guilty by “evidence of conspiracy, and a motive.

Mr Wright told the court that in 1997, Malik “quietly confessed to his participation” in two bomb explosions on opposite sides of the world in 1985, to a woman who worked at a Sikh parochial school.

Malik told his friend that he purchased two tickets that were used to put the bombs aboard two airline flights and that he arranged to have the tickets picked up, Mr Wright said.

Describing Bagria a “militant Sikh terrorist,” Mr Wright said the bombing was revenge by Sikh separatists for the 1984 action by Indian forces on the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

“Their motive was so strongly felt that they were prepared to murder hundreds of innocent people,” Mr Wright said.

He also said a third man Inderjit Singh Reyat, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the case, would testify along with his wife Satnam Kaur Reyat.

Mr Wright said Bagri went to a woman friend’s house on the night before the bombs in the luggage were placed on the planes to ask to borrow her car.

The court would hear that Bagri told the woman the bags were going on the aircraft, but he was not. “This is precisely what happened,” he said.

Bagri also admitted he was responsible for the bomb explosions to an American witness, who had already received $ 300,000 from the Canadian authorities to give his testimony in Canada, the prosecutor said. PTI

Bilateral ties ran into trouble last year after India accused the ruling Nationalist-Islamist coalition in Bangladesh of sheltering anti-Indian insurgents and permitting Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) to set up training camps for the rebels.

The talks, termed crucial by both sides, are being held between visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal and his Bangladeshi counterpart Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury. Mr Sibal is expected to renew New Delhi’s demand for dismantling the alleged insurgency training camps along the two country’s common border, Indian diplomats said.

The Bangladesh Government has strongly denied the presence of any shelter or training camps on its territory assuring the Indians that it will not allow any third country to operate against New Delhi from its soil.

The talks coincided with an ongoing meeting in Dhaka between the chiefs of the Paramilitary Border Forces of the two countries on measures to halt illegal migration, trafficking of women and children, arms smuggling and other cross border crimes.

Relations also cooled in January when India blamed Bangladesh for allowing unemployed citizens cross the border in the hope of finding work.DPA

While they welcomed the chances of revival of dialogue process between India and Pakistan, some of the parties were also intrigued by the timing of PM Jamali’s quick positive reciprocal action as the initiative came in the middle of their talks with government to limit President Pervez Musharraf’s powers.

The Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) headed by self-exiled former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has welcomed the prospects of India-Pakistan talks.

Reacting to Jamali’s phone call PPP spokesman, Senator, Faratullah Babar said “We welcome any unconditional talks”.

Mr Jamali spoke to Mr Vajpayee yesterday minutes ahead of his crucial second round of talks with the Opposition leaders to work out a compromise on Mr Musharraf’s constitutional amendments.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q, too welcomed Jamali-Vajpayee talks.

It asked Mr Vajpayee to reciprocate the initiative if he sincerely wanted good relations with Pakistan. PTI

“The Chinese side welcomes and appreciates the positive attitude shown by the Indian and Pakistani sides, which is conducive for the resumption of dialogue between them,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said.

“The Chinese side has always maintained that India and Pakistan should settle their disputes through dialogue,” he said responding to a question on telephonic talks between Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and his Pakistani counterpart Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali yesterday.

“We hope the two sides will follow the principle that ‘peace is valuable’ and would take further measures to improve their bilateral relations,” he said.

“This is not only in the common interest of the two countries, but also to the peace and stability in the region,” the spokesman said. PTI

Pakistan denied the inspection had anything to do with a suspected chemical weapons programme. Reuters

The ASEAN countries would like China’s premier Wen Jiabao to announce and impose strict measures, including pre-departure checks at airports and ports across the region, sources said here. PTI