Top Stories
US dismisses India's concerns
over F-16 supply to Pakistan
What is India News Service,
Saturday, 26 March 2005, 1900 hrs IST
Dismissing India's
concerns over supply of multi-role F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, US said
there was "no contradiction" between encouraging Islamabad to
advance towards democracy and seeking a military relationship with that nation.
"There is no
contradiction between encouraging Pakistan to advance towards democracy and
seeking a deeper military relationship with that nation", Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice said in an interview to the Washington Post yesterday.
Rice "dismissed
concerns" (of India) that the sale of F-16s to Pakistan would send a
contradictory message in view of the fact that Pakistan's government came to
power in a coup and the country has developed nuclear weapons.
Such ties could help
anchor Pakistan in the ranks of the world's democracies, she said.
The US decision to
transfer the aircraft to Pakistan was conveyed by President George W Bush over
telephone to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last evening. Singh expressed India's
disappointment over the US move which could have "negative
consequences" for New Delhi's security environment.
Pakistan bought 40
F-16s from the United States during the 1980s, but Congress halted the sales in
1990 because of Islamabad's efforts to develop nuclear weapons in defiance of US
nonproliferation policy.
"Pakistan has
come a long way" since then and that under (President Pervez) Musharraf at
present, the country is "on a better trajectory than it's ever been,"
Rice said.
We
are disappointed: Manmohan: The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, today
conveyed India's "great disappointment" at the American decision to
transfer F-16 fighter aircraft to Pakistan.
Modi
cancelled trip after specific threat to his life: Gujarat Chief
Minister Narendra Modi cancelled his visit to the UK because of credible
information gathered by central intelligence operatives about a "specific
threat to his life", according to top official sources.
Gujarat
sticks to its stand: The Gujarat Government has joined issue with the Prime
Minister's Office over its denial that Dr. Manmohan Singh called up the Chief
Minister, Narendra Modi, advising him to postpone his visit to the United
Kingdom.
Major-Gen
challenges seniority list: The
armed forces is in for another controversy over promotion, a Major-General has
approached the Delhi High Court after he was shown as a Brigadier in a seniority
list prepared by the Army allegedly to prevent him from being promoted to the
rank of Lt-General.
'Smart
Card' for PIOs: Persons of Indian origin (PIOs), who migrated abroad after
January 26, 1950, will soon be able to apply for a "Smart Card",
entitling them practically to all facilities of dual citizenship barring the
right to vote.
Where
is the Taj case heading?: Confusion
prevailed in the CBI as the agency swung into action after the information
leaked out that the team looking after the sensitive Taj Heritage Corridor case
was being dismantled. It was reliably learnt that the top three members of the
team were moving out of the investigations - the SP, the DIG and the Joint
Director.
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Governor
calls ULFA for talks: The Assam Governor, Ajai Singh, today again asked the
banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to come forward for talks.
Zaheera\92s
brother to restart Best Bakery:
More than three years after the Best Bakery
carnage, prime witness Zaheera Sheikh\92s elder brother Nafitullah has taken up
the bakery\92s renovation to restart the family business again.
States
Hooda
may amend mining policy: Encouraged
by the success of its excise policy, which aimed at breaking monopoly, the Hooda
Government in Haryana is likely to amend its mining policy also.
Naxals shoot TDP activist, kill Congress worker:
The ultras shot dead TDP activist Chinna Yellaiah in Nalgonda district suspecting him to be a police informer and killed a Congress worker Parvathalu at his house
'No
tigress in Sariska since 2001': In a revelation that can put the
management of Sariska Tiger Reserve in the dock, the Special Investigation Team
(SIT) of the CBI, headed by Deputy Inspector General BK Sharma has found that
the sanctuary was playing host to male tigers only.
Bangarappa
rally draws huge crowd: Samajwadi Party leader and Uttar Pradesh Chief
Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav on Friday declared that the party would emerge as a
formidable force in Karnataka and former chief minister S Bangarappa, who joined
the party quitting the BJP recently, would be its chief ministerial candidate in
the next polls.
Communal
clash in Mangalore: Several
persons were injured and about 15 vehicles, including a police jeep, damaged in
a communal clash in the city last night, the police said today.
Suspend
Brar, says PPCC:
The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC)
today passed a resolution urging the party high command to suspend Mr Jagmeet
Singh Brar from the party immediately and also expel him from the organisation
subsequently.
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Neighbours
Sulking
Geelani unsure of meeting Pak PM:
After boycotting Pakistan Day celebrations at the Pakistan High
Commission in New Delhi, sulking pro-Pakistan separatist Hurriyat leader Syed
Ali Shah Geelani on Friday said he was not sure of even meeting President Parvez
Musharraf during his visit next month.
Nepal-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission meeting on March 29:
The two-day meeting will discuss all the gamut of bilateral issues including matters concerning finance, industry and commerce, health, communication, tourism, forestry and civil aviation.
Pak plans nuclear handover to IAEA
: Pakistan is considering sending its nuclear
centrifuges to the IAEA to determine the prototypes of the same being used by
Tehran.
Religion
column back in Pak passport: Pakistan's government approved the
controversial restoration of a section identifying people's religion in the
country's new passports on Thursday, in a move seen as a surrender to Islamic
radicals.
View from abroad
Indian
doctor's wife murdered: The wife of a prominent Indian physician and
community worker was found murdered at their residence in the Great Falls area
of Washington.
Overall
US said it would sell F-16s to Pakistan:
India
is disappointed at the decision, and feels it could affect the balance of power
in South Asia.
Pakistan put religion column back on passport: It is seen as a move to
appease Islamic hardliners.
Bangarappa made a statement: His first big rally after he joined the
Samajwadi Party drew huge crowds.
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