Don’t Underestimate Pakistan: Zardari

Amid escalating tensions and Islamabad’s continued denial of any links to the Mumbai attacks Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari said on a local news channel, "India should not underestimate Pakistan's military power because Pakistan is capable of thwarting any aggression from the east."

Zardari remembered to mention the direction, as Pakistan’s other border – with Afghanistan - has come in for repeated missile poundings and ground action, on at least one instance, from a side he would not dare talk tough with.

Endorsing Zardari’s statement Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said, "The military is fully capable of defending Pakistan's territorial integrity. The operational preparedness of the armed forces is at an optimal level.

The nation and the army are united to defend the country and its territorial integrity," he added.

Islamabad yet again attempted to play down the prospects of military conflict by suggesting that Indian insinuations Pakistan’s complexity in the attack are launched by New Delhi to deflect the flak it faces for an intelligence failure.

India says the issue at hand was one of terror acts on India from Pakistan and not of a war between the two countries.

On December 14, the Pakistan Air Force had complained of IAF violations over Punjab and Pakistan occupied Kashmir. On December 22 Pakistani air force jets scrambled and flew low over Pakistani cities, spreading panic and rumours that an Indian strike was imminent.

Several Pakistani papers carried reports on December 23 quoting officials saying a strike by India on Pakistan was "expected" in the next 24 hours. Army Chief General Kayani had stated that Pakistan was prepared to strike back within minutes of an Indian strike.

However, despite all these signs, former Indian national security advisor, Brajesh Mishra in an interview to Karan Thapar said he doesn't expect a war between India and Pakistan right now. But he stated that the Government could consider a tactical air strike.

"I don't think it is necessary or it is being contemplated that you immediately start an all-out war against Pakistan. I don't think that is on the cards. I honestly can't say what they are planning, but an air strike is one option of course. I don't think this Government will survive another strike unless it goes for immediate military option," Mishra told Karan Thapar.

(IBN Inputs)

Pope Prays for Peace in Middle East

The head of the Catholic Church has ushered in Christmas calling for an end to "hatred and violence" in the Middle East, while appealing to halt the abuse of children around the world who are "victims of the industry of pornography and every other appalling form of abuse, and thus are traumatised in the depths of their soul."

Leading the traditional midnight mass ceremonies at Saint Peter's cathedral in Rome, Pope Benedict XVI recalled the birth of Jesus in biblical Bethlehem and prayed for an end to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

"Let us think also of the place named Bethlehem, of the land in which Jesus lived, and which he loved so deeply," he said.

"Let us pray that peace will be established there, that hatred and violence will cease. Let us pray for mutual understanding, that hearts will be opened, so that borders can be opened."

Thousands of worshippers packed the basilica for the midnight service, with giant video screens set up in Saint Peter's Square for those unable to enter.

"Let us pray that peace will be established ... that hatred and violence will cease. Let us pray for mutual understanding, that hearts will be opened, so that borders can be opened."

In Bethlehem itself, Wednesday night saw thousands of pilgrims join celebrations in Manger Square, the site where Christians believe Jesus was born.

They were overseen by around 500 security personnel despatched from the cities of Ramallah and Jericho to protect visitors over the Christmas holiday.

"We expect about 40,000 visitors in Bethlehem this week," said Khouloud Daibes-Abu Dayyeh, the Palestinian Authority's minister of tourism.

The estimate included Christians from the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Israel and the rest of the world.

About 900 Christians from Gaza applied for Israeli permission to travel to Bethlehem for the Christmas celebrations, but only about 300 received authorisation.

In May Pope Benedict is expected to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories in the first papal trip to the region since his predecessor Pope John Paul II travelled there in a 2000 pilgrimage.

In his sermon to worshippers in the Vatican, Pope Benedict also sent out an appeal for children around the world who are abused, exploited, forced to live on the street or serve as soldiers.

About 40,000 visitors are expected in the West Bank town of Bethlehem this week."The Child of Bethlehem summons us once again to do everything in our power to put an end to the suffering of these children," he said.

Delivering his address in Italian, he pointed to the plight of "street children who do not have the blessing of a family home, of those children who are brutally exploited as soldiers and made instruments of violence, instead of messengers of reconciliation and peace."

He did not however specifically mention the issue of lawsuits and other complaints brought in the US and elsewhere by Catholics who allege they were sexually abused by priests when they were youngsters.

Stop Anti-Pakistan "Propoganda," Says Islamabad

In an apparent effort to negate effects of the battering suffered by its international image, in face of the diplomatic measures launched by India in the aftermath of the terror strikes in Mumbai, Pakistan on Wednesday urging the world community to pressurize India to shut down what it terms terror cells and to stop its anti-Pakistan "propaganda."

A resolution, moved by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Malik Ahmad in the National Assembly (NA) "urged the global community to press India to close terror hubs and stop anti-Pakistan propaganda", The News reported on its website.

The resolution further said that Pakistan wants peace and stability in the region and the end of tension with India.

"The resolution stated that Mumbai attacks reflected the failure of Indian intelligence; therefore, India should stop blaming Pakistan," The News said.

The assembly session was adjourned after the resolution was passed.

India is now set to seek the support of Saudi Arabia to pressurize Islamabad to act against terror havens, when Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal's visits New Delhi on Friday.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is expected to share with his Saudi counterpart information establishing a clear link between Pakistan-based elements and the Mumbai terror attacks, say official sources.

New Delhi will seek Riyadh's support in putting pressure on Islamabad to initiate firm steps against terror outfits usng Pakistani territory to launch attacks inside India.

Prominent on New Delhi’s to do list is a clamp down on those bankrolling terror activities some of whom are known to employ Saudi charities and other fronts to generate funds.

Also on the agenda will be media reports appearing in a section of Saudi media, fed by the Pakistani propaganda machinery, which are critical of New Delhi but sympathetic toward Islamabad.

Firing yet another salvo, former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif has said he would personally request President Asif Ali Zardari to initiate "stern action" if New Delhi proved a Pakistani connection in the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai that killed over 170 and wounded hundreds of others.

Sharif said that "he believed the Pakistan government had no link to the blasts", The News reported Wednesday.

He further "warned" the Indian and Pakistani leaderships against making "irresponsible statements" as this would "further aggravate the situation".

"He said if the Indian government did not have any evidence, then it should avoid creating tensions in the region through fake allegations," The News reported.

Sharif, a onetime ally of Pesident Zardari, is counting on escalating tensions in the region to oust the Zardari led coalition government from office by playing up the controversy and blocking US support to Islamabad apart from counting on US missile strike induced anti incumbencies to catapult himself into power.

Meanwhile, US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen has admitted that the Mumbai terror attacks have jeopardised operations against the Taliban in the remote parts of Pakistan.

The attacks were a tactical operation that had strategic effects, said Admiral Mullen while speaking to reporters on the flight home after a visit to Pakistan.

It placed progress against Taliban extremists using safe havens in Pakistan's remote areas in jeopardy, he said.

Before the attack in Mumbai, the Pakistani government began operations in Bajaur on the border with Afghanistan, Mullen pointed out.

During his trip, Mullen met top military and intelligence officials in Pakistan including army chief General Kayani, and the top boss of Inter-Services Intelligence Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha and apparently held parleys over the Mumbai strike.

"It was a good, positive meeting, and it continues our relationship," Mullen said, according to a report on the US defence department website. "I'm not going to get into specifics of what we discussed, but I am encouraged."

US officials believe extremists from the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Tayeba used the safe havens along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, to finance, plan and train for the Nov 26 Mumbai terror attack.

(IANS Inputs)

Bout Seven: J&K Votes out Boycott Calls

The seven phase polls to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly concluded on Wednesday, as voters braved biting cold and boycott calls by secessionists to average a total of 63 percent voting in what authorities say will go down as the most credible election in the state.

Of more than 48 lakh eligible voters, over 30 lakh keyed in their choice, the officials said.

Despite sporadic incidents of violence during the seven phase polls that lasted over a month, the exercise remained by and large peaceful in the state.

The first phase held November 17 saw 64 per cent of electorate exercising their franchise. The polling in 10 constituencies in the Muslim dominated Kashmir Valley, the Hindu majority Jammu region and the mainly Buddhist Ladakh proved a turning point for other parts of the region vying for peace and development.

The second round November 23 saw even a higher turnout, with 65 per cent voters casting the ballot in two constituencies of the Kashmir Valley and four in the Jammu region.

The third phase recorded a voting of 62 per cent in the five constituencies, which went to polls on November 30. Fifty-five percent of the electorate voted December 7 in the fourth phase of the elections.

The fifth phase on December 13, which saw some violence and the killing of an anti-poll protester, witnessed 59 per cent of the electorate participating in the exercise.

The sixth round of balloting on December 17 ended peacefully with about 63 per cent of the electorate turning out to vote.

In the last phase of elections on Wednesday, the people in Jammu and Kashmir again defied boycott calls to queue up in large numbers even in the summer capital - Srinagar, which remains the hub of the secessionist movement.

At least 52 per cent voting was recorded in 21 constituencies that went to polls in the last crucial round of balloting.

The summer capital Srinagar recorded its highest voting percentage of 20 in the last 19 years, officials said.

No constituency in Srinagar had recorded even 10 per cent voting in any election since 1989 when the separatist campaign began. But the script on Wednesday was an absolute contrast.

Election results will be declared on December 28. The main contest is between the National Conference, Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Pak Heightens Troop Movement along Border

Pakistan has heightened troop deployment across the international border with India, say BSF officials. Coming in the midst of an ongoing war of words and escalating tensions the movement is significant as India continues to use it offices to push Islamabad to initiate action against terror havens operating from its territories.

"A lot of military movement is being noticed in districts just across the international border for the last few days, which is not normal," RC Dhyani, DIG of Rajasthan frontier BSF, was quoted as saying by PTI.

"Patrolling across the border has intensified while defence personnel are constantly on vigil from watch towers," he said.

"It was not a normal practice some days ago and after escalation of tension between two countries Pakistan has deployed more troops across border," he added.

Dhyani added that the situation was under control and that his troops were prepared to meet any eventuality.

BSF ADG UK Bansal visited the border posts in Barmer, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur districts on Wednesday and is understood to have taken stock of the troop movement across the border.

Later, on Wednesday night, BSF Chief ML Kumawat rubbished media reports suggesting the Centre had ordered the evacuation of several Rajasthan villages bordering Pakistan.

He added that a strict vigil was being maintained by the BSF, while adding "Such reports are only designed to create panic where there is none."

He said he had spoken to Rajasthan chief secretary on the need to maintain calm.

About reports that Pakistan had allegedly massed troops along the Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan, Kumawat said, "BSF is fully alert and is maintaining tight vigil along the border. There is no need to panic at all."

Party to Blame for Delhi, Rajasthan Losses: Advani

In a sneak preview of what the Bharatiya Janata Party campaign could be for the Lok Sabha polls next year, party stalwart LK Advani lampooned the Congress led UPA for its soft stance on terror while acknowledging that Delhi and Rajasthan Assembly battles were lost due to the party’s own faults.

In a strong message to party colleagues, Advani said the party has to remain "objective" while selecting candidates and the "yours or mine" factor should not come into play.

Advani’s statements were viewed as tacit acceptance that the Right wing outfit failed to distribute party tickets in an "objective" manner and the selection of candidates on the basis of favouritism and factionalism lead to the defeat.

He also warned party leaders to exercise caution while appearing on TV or releasing statements to the press.

Lauding the successful campaigns in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, Advani said the victories were significant as traditional anti-incumbency factors did not work against party governments in these states.

The BJP is scheduled to kick off its ticket distribution exercise for the Lok Sabha polls from January 8 when the central election committee meets in New Delhi, decided office-bearers' in a meeting on Wednesday.

The party has also identified its senior central leaders to deal with allies and seat sharing in various states.

Arun Jaitley will deal with Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Sushma Swaraj will look after Punjab and Haryana and Venkaiah Naidu will handle Maharashtra, Orissa and Assam.

In UP, Jaitley has already been working to bring Ajit Singh's RLD and other smaller parties into the NDA fold.

In Punjab and Haryana, Swaraj will have to coordinate with Shiromani Akali Dal and Chautala's INLD, while Naidu will deal with AGP in Assam, Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and BJD in Orissa.

Economic recession and terrorism will retain focus as main election issues for the Lok Sabha, party chief Rajnath Singh, in his address, mentioned that the economic measures taken by the government to deal with the crisis have failed to create impact at the ground level, especially in rural areas.

Attacking the UPA on terror, Advani reiterated that the Antulay controversy and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's inability to rein in one of the cabinet ministers, whose statement has weakened India's fight against terror and dealing with Pakistan, reflects that the Congress-led government is still falling for vote bank politics.

In a resolution, the party came out strongly against the government saying, "It was evident that the compulsions of vote bank politics paralysed the Congress once again despite great national cost and prestige (Mumbai attacks). Taking a tough position externally relating to Pakistan and meekly surrendering before vote bank politics domestically cannot go hand in hand. BJP demands that A R Antulay be sacked and the Congress apologize to the nation for this."

Lampooning the Prime Minister, BJP said, "If Dr Manmohan Singh cannot firmly deal with an ‘erring’ cabinet minister, to what extent can he be expected to deal firmly against terror."

With Left parties vowing to refrain from lending support to a Congress led government and the emerging contest in Uttar Pradesh seeming set to percolate into a no-holds-barred fight between the BSP and the Congress, 2009 may well turn out to be the year Advani has been waiting for.

Tight Security in Orissa for Christmas

The Centre on Wednesday prodded the Orissa government to maintain law and order and ensure the safety and security during Christmas celebrations, the Center’s appeal came as members of the minority community continued to remain apprehensive over their safety and that of their places of worship.

Earlier several organizations had called for a statewide shutdown to press for the arrest of those responsible for the assassination of noted anti-conversion activist and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Lakhmananda Saraswati.

According to a statement, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram spoke to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on two occasions, saying the situation in Orissa had been engaging the attention of the Centre in the last two weeks.

The State government has arrested seven people in connection with the murder and had also been able to persuade Right wing organisations to withdraw the bandh call.

“The Chief Minister has also assured me that there will be no bandh on December 25,” the Home Minister said. He asked the chief minister to keep him informed of the developments and offered him further assistance, if required.

Chidambaram appealed to the people of Orissa to maintain peace and harmony among different communities. “Christmas is celebrated in many countries of the world, including India, as a day of joy, happiness and peace. I am confident that the government of Orissa will ensure that December 25, 2008 and the days following will be marked by peace and harmony,” he said.

The Centre, according to a statement, has provisioned central forces to assist the State government maintain law and order. Apart from 24 companies of Central Reserve Police Force deployed on a long-term basis, the Centre sent dispatched an additional 49 companies of CRPF and 4 Rapid Action Force companies.

On Wednesday, the Centre provided the State a helicopter for patrolling over the communally sensitive Kandhamahal and Sambhalpur districts.

Kolkata Metro on Red Alert

A red alert has been sounded at the Metro Railway this evening after the police received information about a possible terror attack at any of the stations between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.According to police, a phone call by an anonymous person was received by a media house whose name police refused to divulge.

The caller spoke of possible terror attack in any of the stations between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. A journalist of the media house immediately informed a senior police officer of the phone call. Police took no chance and immediately passed the information on to Metro Railway authorities.

Bomb squad officials rushed to the Metro Railway stations with sniffer dogs and conducted a thorough search of the belongings of the passengers.

Police posted anti-sabotage teams at the Metro Railway stations. Police personnel were also deployed outside the stations.

Extra security deployments were arranged for all metro stations. "Our senior officers are visiting the Metro railway stations to supervise the checking job being conducted in every Metro Railway stations," said Vineet Goyal, deputy commissioner Kolkata police.

Goyal further said police were trying to identify the caller. Police said they would not relax the security measures in Metro Stations even though the call is proved to be a hoax call.

"Tomorrow being Christmas, lakhs of people will take the Metro and we cannot afford to take any chance," a senior officer said.

More than 2,500 additional policemen will be deployed in the city tomorrow. Security measures have also being beefed at important installations.

A senior official of Metro Railway said that the security system in both ends of the Metro Railway route had been beefed up and additional police and Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel deployed to keep close watch on all Metro stations.

Following the threat call, frisking in all stations has been intensified and there is no need to get scared, he added. He also requested all the commuters to inform the Metro officials, RPF personnel on duty if they find any thing suspicious.

(Internet Inputs)

Blast on Assam Tracks, Close Shave for Rajdhani Exp.

Passengers aboard the Tinsukia - bound super fast Rajdhani Express had a close shave as, minutes after a powerful explosion missed the train by a couple of minutes, a portion of the railway track was damaged in the blast, which took place in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, officials said.

A police spokesman said the blast took place at around 0100 hours near Khatkhati village in the eastern Karbi Anglong district, some 300 km Guwahati.

"The Rajdhani Express had just crossed Khatkhati when the explosion took place. Probably it was a remote controlled device and those who triggered the blast failed to execute, thereby averting a tragedy," a police official was quoted as saying over telephone from Diphu, the district headquarters of Karbi Anglong.

A railway spokesman said a stretch of the track was damaged in the blast.

"We shall be able to resume normal train service soon as repair work is going on," the railway official said.

The Rajdhani Express was bound for Tinsukia in eastern Assam from New Delhi, with nearly 700 people on board.

"Definitely the target was the Rajdhani Express as the blast took place two minutes after the train passed the explosion site," the police official said.

Police blamed the All Adivasi National Liberation Front (AANLA), a rebel group fighting for a separate homeland for the tea plantation workers community in Assam.

"The blast was probably in retaliation to the arrest of five top AANLA leaders, including their chief, from Jharkhand recently," the official said.

The five arrested include Mangra Oraon, the outfit's self-styled commander-in-chief. They have been brought to Assam and remanded to police custody. The five AANLA rebels were accused of triggering a blast on the Rajdhani Express in December 2007 in which five people were killed in Karbi Anglong.

BSP MLA Thrashes PWD Engineer to Death

In just the kind of incident that Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supreme Mayawati could do without ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, party MLA Shekhar Tiwari and his supporters brutally assaulted an executive engineer, of the Uttar Pradesh public works department (PWD), leading to his death.

The macabre incident took place in the Aurraiya district of the state in the wee hours of Wednesday.

Later in the evening, DGP Vikram Singh, in a hurriedly called press conference, claimed the BSP MLA had been arrested. Ironically, it was only two days ago that the police chief had drawn a rosy picture of the state's law and order situation.

The cause for the BSP MLA's anger against the executive engineer, Manoj Kumar Gupta, was his alleged refusal to cough up money for UP Chief Minister Mayawati's birthday bash next month.

According to Shashi Gupta, wife of the deceased engineer, two unidentified men entered their house in Gail Vihar in Dibiapur at around 0100 hours and started thrashing her husband.

“When I protested and tried to raise the alarm, they slapped me and locked me in the bathroom and continued beating my husband,” she was quoted as saying to reporters in Aurraiya.

When Gupta was badly injured and almost unconscious, the BSP MLA reportedly arrived at the scene. He along with his men allegedly dumped the seriously injured engineer outside the police station. The cops rushed the engineer to a hospital where he was declared brought dead at around 3 am.

The slain engineer’s brother and father accused the BSP MLA of repeatedly harassing Gupta to pay a sum of Rs 10 lakh as contribution to the Chief Minister's birthday fund.

According to an official release, the Chief Minister has ordered a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the deceased’s kin and a government job to his wife.

Later, PWD engineers in the state proceeded on an indefinite strike. Uttar Pradesh Engineers Association president AK Farouqui declared that if the government failed in taking stern action against the legislator in a day or two, engineers of all government departments would join the strike.

A release issued by the state government termed the killing of the engineer as “unfortunate” and that orders had been given to take punitive action against the guilty.

A case was registered under Sections 342, 323, 457, 364, 302 of the IPC and Section 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act.

The incident is a huge embarrassment for the Mayawati government as it comes at a time when, the BSP stalwart is looking to springboard the BSP into power at the Centre.