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Nation & States
Pakistan
demand leaves Saarc
foreign secretaries at a loss
What is India News
Service, July 19, 2004, 1700 hrs IST
The two-day SAARC foreign secretaries' meet in Islamabad began on a contentious note with Pakistan raking up the issue of the need for expansion of the
council's charter to include bilateral disputes and peace and security in the region.
Though Pakistan had raised the subject in the past, other member-states were at a loss to understand the reasons behind Islamabad's decision to speak about it in the SAARC Standing Committee forum.
The main objective of the Standing Committee meeting, attended by
foreign secretaries of seven-member countries, is to finalise the programme for the Council of Ministers meeting beginning July 20.
According to the agenda, the foreign ministers will review the progress on
decisions taken at the January SAARC Summit here in Islamabad.
ISI
wants softliners roped in: As the fate of Centre-Hurriyat talks remained uncertain, Pakistan\92s ISI
is exerting pressure on hardliners to expand their base by roping in moderates, and using militant groups like Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) to terrorise pro-dialogue leaders.
No
split in D Company: Underworld don and global terrorist Dawood Ibrahim is funding all legal expenses of his
alleged collaborator in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, Abu Salem, presently lodged in jail in Portugal.
Ex-militant, wife gunned down: Even as unidentified gunmen, suspected to be militants, have killed a couple in Shopian area,
police and security forces killed at least two militants in Kulgam area of south Kashmir.
Pak
bought missile tech from
N. Korea: Pakistan's
former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on Sunday said her country had
bought long-range missile technology from North Korea following a
visit she made to Pyongyang in 1993.
US,
Pakistan N safety talks:
A team of
Pakistani nuclear scientists left for home on Sunday after
participating in the first-ever talks on nuclear safety between
Pakistan and the United States.
Afghanistan
releases 66 Pakistanis:
Afghanistan has released 66
Pakistani prisoners who had been in jails since the US-led war
toppled the hardline Taliban regime in late 2001, officials said on
Sunday.
Two
Taliban
officials arrested:
The Afghan
defence ministry has arrested two members of the former Taliban
regime here, a spokesman for Nato-led peacekeeping forces said on
Sunday.
Tehran
says suspects may have crossed illegally: Iran said on Sunday that suspected Al Qaeda
members involved in the Sept 11, 2001, attacks may have passed
through its territory, but insisted they would have done so
"illegally".
People's
War ready for talks: The Communist Party of India
(Marxist-Leninist) People's War has said it is not averse to holding
negotiations with other state governments, as it has with Andhra
Pradesh, provided "they give up their repressive
measures."
Centre
asks states to approach SC: In a tight spot over Punjab's unilateral action on the
Sutlej Yamuna water accord, the centre has advised the Rajasthan and Haryana
chief ministers to challenge the legislation in the Supreme Court.
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Sonia
visits fire victims: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday
visited survivors of Friday's school fire in Kumbhakonam. The
tragedy claimed 90 lives.
Offices
set ablaze: Five Government offices were set ablaze by agitators
continuing protests against the killing of a woman allegedly by the
Assam Rifles personnel in
Manipur where an indefinite curfew
continues to be in force.
Warrant
for Shibu Soren: The tainted ministers issue will return
to haunt Parliament on Monday after a Jharkhand court on Saturday
issued an arrest warrant against
Union Coal Minister Shibu Soren in
a three-decade-old massacre case.
Indigenous medicine colleges
raking it in: Colleges offering Indian systems of medicine and allied medical courses have a unique 30:70 seat-sharing ratio in which
70 per cent is filled by the college managements.
MP Veerappa is dead:
Ramachandra Veerappa, India's oldest MP at 96, died in Karnataka. He
was known for his Gandhian values of honesty and simplicity.
Overall:
Saarc meet began in Islamabad: But
Pakistan brought up an issue that wasn't on the agenda.
Dawood
is funding case: The terrorist is helping co-accused Abu Salem
fight his case, contrary to the view that they have split up.
Naxals said they would talk: A prominent group, which has
made peace in Andhra Pradesh, says it is willing to talk to other
state governments as well.
Benazir said N Korea had
helped: The former Pakistan
prime minister said she had negotiated and bought missile technology
from North Korea in 1993.
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