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Farooq backs Musharraf’s views on Kashmir
Advani wins over many a Pakistani heart
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India backs peace process in Sri Lanka
Maoists kidnap 1,000 students, teachers
US may close Guantanamo Bay prison
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Farooq backs Musharraf’s views on Kashmir
Islamabad, June 9 “We want Kashmir to be divided on geographical grounds. We don’t want Kashmir to lose its identity and integration. We don’t want to further separate Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims,” Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said in an interview to ‘Daily Times’ newspaper. Farooq is currently on a visit to Pakistan along with six other members of the conglomerate, JKLF leader Yasin Malik and a representative of another Kashmiri separatist leader Shabbir Shah. They had met Musharraf two days ago. Last month, Musharraf told a conference of South Asian Parliamentarians here that, “we do understand the Indian sensitivities of their secular credentials, therefore, it (solution to Kashmir issue) cannot be on any religious basis. “Therefore it should on a people basis and on regional basis. To identify a region, allow maximum self governance to the people, de-militarise and take some actions to make border irrelevant.” Making it clear that the amalgam did not want a resolution that would separate Kashmir’s regions, Farooq said the Hurriyat leaders, however, had sought more time from Musharraf to think over his proposal of demilitarising Kashmir after dividing it into seven separate regions. “It is not necessary for us to agree to everything proposed by President Musharraf, but we support his approach. We had some ideas on resolving Kashmir and we discussed them with him,” he said. About India’s unwillingness to have tripartite talks on Kashmir, Farooq said the Indian Government knew that its position would “weaken if Kashmir and Pakistan came together on the same negotiation table.”
— PTI |
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Advani wins over many a Pakistani heart
Lahore, June 9 While not ready to forget their history lessons that Advani is among those charged with conspiracy to kill Jinnah, or he is the person who led a campaign that ended in the destruction of the Babri mosque at Ayodhya, the educated youth and many journalists are full of admiration for the Indian opposition leader's courage in attempting to set the record straight about Jinnah and his place in history. If Railway Minister Lalu Prasad won over the young and old alike in this old bustling city with his earthy humour and appeal for the masses, youngsters in particular are all praise for Advani's oratorical skills. Advani's emotional "outburst" and repentance of instances in the past, such as involvement in the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, while evoking some scepticism about his sudden change in image from a hardline Hindu to a moderate has nonetheless struck the right chord with the masses too. "It is about time if India wants to really make peace with Pakistan", was the common refrain one heard from the man on the street. After former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with his bus diplomacy and moves towards building peace bridges between the two countries, Advani appears to have made the right moves in Pakistan. Right from the Wagah border to Lahore and on to Islamabad, one can hear praise for Advani, which is much more than the media coverage of the Hurriyat leaders on a visit to Pakistan to ensure a place for themselves in the bilateral talks on Kashmir. The media coverage of Advani's visit far surpassed that of the Hurriyat. The growing bonhomie between people from both sides may well only be on the surface as many a Pakistani is not too sure how far the tensions and intrinsic mistrust between common people across the border may be dissipated by the high-profile visits.
— IANS |
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India backs peace process in Sri Lanka
Colombo, June 9 “The government and people of India remain firmly committed in their support for efforts being made by the government and people of Sri Lanka to consolidate the processes of peace and to promote development in their country,” External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh said in a statement on his arrival here on a three-day visit. “India’s support for an outcome that accommodates the concerns and aspirations of all groups that constitute Sri Lanka’s multi-ethnic pluralistic society, while upholding and preserving the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country, remains undiluted,” he said. The Foreign Minister will tomorrow call on President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajakapse and lead the Indian delegation for the meeting of the India-Sri Lankan Joint Commission to discuss ways to advance bilateral cooperation on matters pertaining to finance, trade and investment, education and culture, science and technology. He said such cooperation was “tangible evidence” of India’s commitment to Sri Lanka’s economic development and progress, and the strengthening of the democratic and inclusive nature of Sri Lankan society. The visit is made in the backdrop of a rift in Sri Lanka’s ruling coalition over President Kumaratunga’s plan to share tsunami aid with Tamil Tiger rebels. Kumaratunga travelled to India last week to seek New Delhi’s support for her government’s peace moves with the Tigers. — PTI |
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Maoists kidnap 1,000 students, teachers
Kathmandu, June 9 The rebels kidnapped students mainly from Class IX and X and two teachers from each school in Jajarkot district, The Rising Nepal daily said. Maoists forcefully took away 150 students and two teachers from Shankar Secondary School at Bahun Thana of Jajarkot district yesterday, the daily said quoting a teacher of the school. They have taken other 850 students and teachers from 11 schools of the district towards unknown destination. Meanwhile, the daily reported that the south-eastern district of Chitawan is in grief four days after the landmine blast triggered by the Maoist that killed at least 40 and wounded dozens travelling on a bus. Although the Maoist top leader Prachanda has apologised for the incident saying that it was a mistake, members of the victims’ families are not satisfied, it said.
— PTI |
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US may close Guantanamo Bay prison
Washington, June 9 "We are exploring all alternatives as to how best to do the main objective, which is to protect America. What we don't want to do is to let out somebody that comes back and harms us," Bush told Fox News Channel last night when asked about the prospect of closing the facility, which holds around 540 terrorists and terror suspects. The President's comments surprised many in the Administration and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld seemed to shoot down the notion, telling reporters flying with him to Europe that he is unaware of any consideration being given to shutting down Guantanamo Bay, the Washington Post said today.
— PTI |
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