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Talks with Musharraf
positive, says PM
What is India News Service,
Monday, 18 April 2005, 1500 hrs IST
The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and the
Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, on Sunday committed themselves to
increasing the frequency of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service and
operationalising the Munabao-Khokhrapar rail link by the end of December. The
talks lasted over two-and-a-half hours.
While the Prime Minister
described the talks as "very positive, fruitful and forward-looking,"
Gen. Musharraf said progress had been made in the discussions at Hyderabad House
during which all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, came up.
Both Dr. Singh and Gen.
Musharraf met the Indian and Pakistan cricket teams just before the one-day game
got under way at the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium this morning. They watched the
game for some time before proceeding to Hyderabad House.
The Foreign Secretary, Shyam
Saran, told presspersons that the sides had decided to "revive" their
Joint Commission, intensify work in the private sector Joint Business Council
and discuss obstacles to free trade at the Commerce Secretary-level Joint Study
Group on economic issues.
Mr. Saran quoted the Prime
Minister as saying that he was willing to travel the road to "lasting
peace" with Gen. Musharraf. Dr. Singh also stressed the importance of
thwarting the actions of militant elements responsible for the April 6 attack on
passengers of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service.
The condemnation of the act
revealed that there was a greater degree of congruence in the views of India and
Pakistan on the issue.
'If
terrorism not fought, ultras will take over': Pakistan President
Pervez Musharraf on Sunday admitted that if terrorism was not fought then
extremist elements would take over. President Musharraf's candid admission came
during his meeting with the Leader of the Opposition LK Advani.
Involve Kashmiris in peace process: Hurriyat: The Pakistan President,
General Pervez Musharraf, met the leaders of the separatist All Parties Hurriyat
Conference (APHC) for nearly three-and-a-half hours at the Pakistan House here
on Sunday night.
Hurriyat
hawk slams Pak for ignoring Kashmir issue: Hardline separatist leader
Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Sunday expressed his displeasure over Pakistan's steps
to strengthen relations with India, "ignoring" and downplaying the
Kashmir issue.
Neighbours keen on
better economic ties: India and Pakistan today decided to enlarge economic
and commercial ties aimed at making South Asia a dynamic pole in Asia and the
world without undermining the difficulties in dealing with the Kashmir problem
as well as other ticklish bilateral issues
Hurriyat
leader raises Balochistan issue: The hardline Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Shah
Geelani, raised the Balochistan issue with Gen. Musharraf, during his meeting.
He also questioned the handling of the Dr. Shazia rape case.
Kashmir
'dispute' can erupt again, warns Musharraf: Pakistan
President Pervez Musharraf on Monday asserted that unless the Kashmir
"dispute" was resolved it can "erupt" in the future under
"different leadership and different environment" in the two countries.
CBMs
concessions to India, Geelani tells Pervez: The
two factions of the Hurriyat Conference met the Pakistan President, Pervez
Musharraf, here today. The moderate group led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq expressed
its appreciation of the Confidence Building Measures, while the hardline leader
Syed Ali Shah Geelani termed these as \93concessions to India\94.
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RSS,
BJP ties under strain: The ties
between the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party are at
the crossroads as the umbilical cord between the two is under strain threatening
to be severed. Sources said the RSS at its three-day annual meeting in Mangalore
in March this year served an ultimatum to its political outfit that it would no
more send its \91pracharaks\92 to the BJP.
Sonia
accepts invite to Pak: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf invited UPA
chairperson Sonia Gandhi to his country when the two met on Sunday. Ms Gandhi
accepted the invitation, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said, adding the
dates of the tour would be worked out through diplomatic channels
Kalam
gives Musharraf food for thought: Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on
Sunday urged his Pakistani counterpart, Pervez Musharraf, to place all peace
measures in the incubator and watch them grow into good eggs..
Pervez
tucks in kachoris, Hyderabadi biryani
States
No
non-academic duties for Punjab teachers: The
Punjab Government has decided that schoolteachers should not be put on
non-academic duties during schooltime. It also decided to continue the PTA funds
in the schools. Mr Harnam Dass Johar, School Education Minister, said since
there was a shortage of teachers, deputing them for duties in the field by
various departments caused a loss to studies.
Paswan
back to singing Muslim CM tune: Lok
Janshakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan on Sunday sought the formal opinion
of various political parties on his old proposal of having a Muslim Chief
Minister in Bihar. In an apparent bid to develop his own separate Muslim-Dalit
(MD) electoral support base, the LJP supremo expressed his intention to start a
movement to secure social and political justice for Muslim and Dalit
communities.
Leela
Samson takes over as Kalakshtetra director: "There
cannot be a present without a past, or a past without a present," said S.
Rajaram, handing over charge of the Kalakshetra Foundation to noted
Bharatanatyam exponent, Leela Samson. "Leela and I are one."
Neighbours
Aziz
backs Sindh's law, order efforts:
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Sunday said that the federal
government would supplement efforts of the Sindh government to improve law and
order and reduce street crimes.
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Taliban
hit trucks taking oil for US forces:
A bomb planted by Taliban militants
destroyed five trucks carrying oil for the US military in Afghanistan and
wounded three drivers, a senior Afghan army official said.
Maoists
bomb school in Nepal: Two days after executing 10 villagers in the south
western district of Nawalparasi, Maoist insurgents Sunday bombed the biggest
school in the mid western town of Nepalgunj.
Nepal
king inaugurates WHF Silver Jubilee: King Gyanendra inaugurated the Silver
Jubilee of the World Hindu Federation (WHF) amid a special function at Bansbari,
Kathmandu, on Sunday. Her Majesty Queen Komal...
View from abroad
US
unlikely to back India's UNSC bid:
The United States has
indicated to India it may not support its efforts to join the UN Security
Council as a permanent member, though avoiding a direct no to the Indian
request.
Overall
Manmohan said talks were positive:
He met Pakistan President Musharraf
and discussed many issues, including Kashmir.
Geelani raised Balochistan with Musharraf: The separatist Hurriyat leader
spoke to the Pakistani president about separatist trouble on Pakistani
territory.
Maoists bombed school in Nepal: Insurgents targeted the biggest school in
western Nepal.
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