Sunday, September 30, 2012

Kashmiris for cessation of all forms of violence: Mirwaiz


Chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said a line should be drawn between struggle for self determination and terrorism, adding that Kashmiris wanted an end to all forms of violence and a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir conflict.
Follow up:
The remarks were made at the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) Contact Group meeting on Kashmir in New York today, a Hurriyat spokesperson said.

“Let it be known to the entire world that Kashmiris want a peaceful resolution of the conflict, they only want redemption of their pledged right of self determination in the UN Charter,” the spokesman quoted from the speech of the Mirwaiz.

Pak-Afghan border firing dominates UN talks

ISLAMABAD: Cross-border firing and infiltration dominated interactions between Pakistani and Afghan officials on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday.

They said that Afghan officials were of the view that serious resent were found in Afghanistan over the shelling that affect the ongoing close ties between the two countries.

However, Pakistani side clarified that its shelling targets only the areas from where rockets are fired into Pakistani border areas or from where attacks against Pakistani posts are harboured.

Talks on Afghanistan rekindle peace hopes


UNITED NATIONS: The Afghan and Pakistani presidents and the British prime minister met in New York on Wednesday as the international community accelerated its efforts to achieve reconciliation in Afghanistan before the 2014 withdrawal of US and Nato forces from there.
Also, in his address to the UN General Assembly, Afghan President Hamid Karzai recognised Pakistan’s critical role in the reconciliation process but warned that the recent shelling of Afghan villages might undermine peace efforts.

President Karzai also urged the United Nations to delist Taliban leaders from its register of terrorist individuals as he was seeking reconciliation with the insurgents.

Pak-afghan-UK summit vows to work for regional peace


NEW YORK: The leadership of Pakistan, Afghanistan and United Kingdom Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to continue to work for the goals of regional peace, stability and development and for the elimination of the scourge of terrorism from the region.
Follow up:
During the 2nd round of Trilateral summit of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the UK held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, President Asif Ali Zardari, President Hamid Karzai and Prime Minister David Cameron discussed the pressing issues in the fight against terrorism.

President Zardari, while highlighting the importance of durable peace and stability in Afghanistan, underscored the need for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process in Afghanistan. He said that Pakistan supports an intra-Afghan dialogue.

The president said education, economic opportunities for the people of affected areas, and socio-economic development were effective tools to transform the environment.

President Asif Ali Zardari and President Karzai appreciated the constructive role being played by the United Kingdom.

Prime Minister Cameron reiterated the commitment of the United Kingdom to support Afghanistan and Pakistan in working out solutions for peace and stability in the region and in their quest for socio- economic development of their people.

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Zawahiri in video on ‘one-eyed’ OBL


DUBAI- Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri resurfaced for the second time in a month on Wednesday in an online video on the life of his late predecessor Osama bin Laden who he said was blind in one eye.
In the almost hour-long video, the third in a series entitled “Days with the Imam,” Zawahiri narrates stories about Osama bin Laden who was killed by elite US Navy SEALS in May 2011 at a compound in Abbotabad, Pakistan.
Dressed in a white thawb cloak and turban, Zawahiri revealed “for those who do not know” that Saudi-born bin Laden was left blind in the right eye after an accident in his youth.
He also said Osama bin Laden was a former member of the Saudi branch of the Muslim Brotherhood before being evicted for insisting on jihad against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the 1980s.
Bin Laden travelled to Pakistan to deliver cash aid to the extremists in northwestern areas but defied orders from the Brotherhood and joined the armed struggle, Zawahiri said.
Zawahiri’s latest video posted on a militant forum appeared to be around two months old as he offered greetings to Muslims for the start of the fasting month of Ramazan which ended on August 20.

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Two NATO troops killed in suicide attack


Two NATO soldiers were killed in an insurgent suicide bombing and gun battle in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, officials said.
The suicide attack was followed by small arms and rocket fire near Puli Alam, the capital town of Logar province which is less than 100 kilometres south of the capital Kabul, Afghan and NATO officials said. “There was an insurgent attack on coalition forces in east Afghanistan in which two service members were killed,” an ISAF spokesman told AFP.

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Hafiz Saeed accuses Obama of religious war on Muslims


ISLAMABAD: A hardliner cleric on Wednesday accused US President Barack Obama of starting a religious war against Muslims over his handling of the anti-Islam video.
Hafiz Saeed, accused by India of masterminding the 2008 attack by Pakistani gunmen on India’s financial capital Mumbai, said Obama should have ordered steps to remove the film from the Internet instead of defending freedom of expression in America. “Obama’s statements have caused a religious war,” Saeed told Reuters in an interview. “This is a very sensitive issue. This is not going to be resolved soon. Obama’s statement has started a cultural war.” The Obama administration has condemned the film, which ignited Muslim protests around the world as “disgusting”.

But Western countries remain determined to resist restrictions on freedom of speech and have already voiced disquiet about the repressive effect of blasphemy laws in Muslim countries such as Pakistan. “Obama has said he cannot block the film,” said Saeed. “What does that say?” He said the United States should take tough action against the makers of the film. “If not, then hand them to us,” he said, flanked by bodyguards.
“So, what right does America have to put a bounty on my head? I have told America to start a case against me in court. So I can give my point of view. This is terrorism by putting a bounty on people’s heads,” he said.


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IED blast kills two soldiers in NWA


PESHAWAR: An improvised explosive device (IED) targeting a convoy of the Frontier Corps left at least two soldiers dead and 14 wounded in North Waziristan Agency on Wednesday, an ISPR official said.
The convey of the Frontier Corps was on its way to Sheva from Spinwam when it was hit by a remote-controlled bomb, killing two security forces personnel.
The bomb was planted along the route of a convoy of the Frontier Corps in Spinwam area about 40 kilometres north of Miranshah, the main town in the North Waziristan region. “It was a remote-controlled device and the target was a military convoy,” a security official in Miranshah said. One vehicle in the 20-truck convoy was hit in the blast, which killed one soldier on the spot, while another later succumbed to injuries in hospital, he said.
There are 14 other injured soldiers receiving treatment in the hospital, some in a serious condition, he added. The security forces cordoned off the area and started a search operation to nab the culprits. Troops responded by launching a house-to-house search for terrorists while military helicopters shelled suspected hideouts, another official in Peshawar said, confirming the death toll.

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US believes it has Pakistan’s ‘tacit consent’ for drone strikes: WSJ


LAHORE: About once a month, the Central Intelligence Agency sends a fax to a general at Pakistan’s intelligence service outlining broad areas where the US intends to conduct strikes with drone aircraft, the Wall Street Journal quoted US officials as saying.
The Pakistanis, who in public oppose the programme, don’t respond.

On this basis, plus the fact that Pakistan continues to clear airspace in the targeted areas, the US government concludes it has tacit consent to conduct strikes within the borders of a sovereign nation, according to officials familiar with the programme.

Representatives of the White House’s National Security Council and CIA declined to discuss Pakistani consent, saying such information was classified. In public speeches, Obama administration officials have portrayed the US’s use of drones to kill wanted terrorists around the world as being on firm legal ground. In those speeches, officials stopped short of directly discussing the CIA’s drone programme in Pakistan because the operations are covert.

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40 cross-LoC trade firms suspended


POONCH, Sep 24: State government today suspended 40 business firms from conducting cross-LoC trade after they failed to do any business for more than past six months via Poonch in the Jammu region.
“40 firms were suspended from trade via Chakkan-Da-Bagh (Poonch) as they did not conduct any trade for more than six months period,” official sources said, adding that show cause notices were sent to them individually under registered covers and they did not respond.
Their reply was sought again before September 25, as to why the names of their firms should not be struck off from the "List of registered traders of Cross-LoC-trade" from Chakan Da bagh, Poonch. Many of them did not respond and those who did not respond were debarred from the list of registered traders.
Nishu Gupta, a trader, said that the department had issued him notice and asked him to tell why he did not carry any trade in last six months. He said trade is performed for profit and there is no profit in this trade as most of the items were banned. “Then why should they carry on this trade just for loss as there are no profitable items in this trade,” he questioned. He also raised a question mark on the action of authorities saying that when their firms were registered there was no law to debar them from conducting trade.
Cross LoC Traders Association termed this as a revengeful treatment of the authorities. Pawan Anand president of association trade while interacting with KTNS said that this was a vindictive attitude of the authorities. He said authorities wanted to sabotage this trade and that is why they are doing all these tactics. The authorities did not inform Cross LoC Traders Association about this move and termed it totally injustice with them.
“We have called a meeting of core group of Cross LoC Traders Association and in the meeting we will chalk out our strategy. There is possibility of suspension of trade after the meeting as some debarred traders are pressurizing the association to suspend trade,” Anand added.
Trans-LoC trade between J&K and PAK started on October 21, 2008 via Salamabad-Chakoti route in the Valley and via Chakan-Da-Bagh Poonch-Rawalakote from Jammu province.

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People of Kashmir have peacefully chosen their destiny: Mathai


India has rebutted Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s remarks on Kashmir at the United Nations, asserting that the Kashmiri people have “peacefully chosen their destiny” in accordance with democratic practises.
Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the country’s position on the issue is well known.

“We have seen the reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the statement of the Pakistan president. Our principled position on the issue has been consistent and is well known,” he said on Wednesday when asked to comment on Mr. Zardari’s remarks.

Geelani out to destabilise democratic system: NC

Blaming hardcore elements of the Jamait-e-Islami (JeI) for the killing of panches and sarpanches in the Kashmir valley, outspoken additional general secretary of the ruling National Conference Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal today also pointed a finger at former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

Kamaal, who is Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s uncle, also made a jibe at coalition partner Congress, especially J-K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz for indulging in “dirty politics” over the killing of panchayats members.

Kamaal gave this statement a day after some political parties targeted Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his alleged failure to protect panchayat members.

Pranab on 3-day visit to J&K


President Pranab Mukherjee arrived on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir this afternoon.
He was received at the Srinagar airport by Governor N N Vohra, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand.

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen K T Parnaik, Director General of Police Ashok Gupta, Chief Secretary Madhav Lal were also present at the airport to receive the President.

This is Mukherjee’s first visit to the state since he became President in July this year.

He had earlier visited Kashmir on the last leg of his presidential campaign on July 15 to seek support from the ruling National Conference, which is also an alliance partner of the UPA government at the Centre, and other political parties, including the main opposition PDP.

In the evening, the Governor and Chief Minister had separate meetings with the President. Vohra briefed the President about various aspects of the growth and development of the state and the overall security situation.

The Chief Minister in his meeting with the President discussed the state’s political and developmental issues.

During his three-day visit to the state, the President will chair the convocation ceremony of the University of Kashmir. He will hand over medals and certificates to meritorious students at the 18th convocation of the University tomorrow.

The President will be returning to the Capital on Friday morning.

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NATO, Taliban joust over state of Afghan war


NATO says its troops have reversed momentum of insurgents’ campaign:
* Taliban say attacks decrease as enemy limiting its presence, movement

KABUL: The Afghan Taliban on Tuesday dismissed NATO figures showing a decrease in insurgent attacks, saying the statistics reflect troop withdrawals and a “cowardly” avoidance of contact.

NATO said the decline in attacks showed that its troops had been able to “reverse the momentum” of the insurgents’ campaign, an interpretation that Taliban “strongly and categorically” denied.

NATO’s latest official figures show attacks on its forces dropped by five percent in the first eight months of this year compared to 2011, but are still running at about 100 a day.

In August alone, attacks decreased by nine percent compared with the same month last year, NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.

But even without Taliban’s bombastic claims the statistics covering attacks on ISAF forces alone do not paint an overall picture of the state of the war.

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AJK Council budget More tax less development


ISLAMABAD, Sept 24 : The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AKJ) Council presented its Rs9.59 billion budget for the year 2012-13, here Monday, and the major expenditure amounting to Rs6.18 billion is the disbursement of income tax to AJK Government, while the development projects of AJK Council for current fiscal year is Rs1.91 billion.
The Council budget was presented by Chaudhry Muhammad Mehboob, member AJK Council in the 47th session of the AJK Council, presided by Speaker and acting President of AJK, Sardar Ghulam Sadiq Khan.

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Drone attacks harming US interests: American report


ISLAMABAD: A research and investigation report by the leading Stanford Law School and New York University School of Law in the United States has rejected Washington’s narrative about the use of drones in Pakistan and concluded that the strikes are counterproductive and damaging, kill innocent civilians, constantly terrorising the people of tribal areas, depriving children of education and even targeting rescuers.
To be released on Tuesday, the report, which is the result of nine months of research by the International Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Clinic of Stanford Law School (Stanford Clinic) and the Global Justice Clinic at New York University School of Law (NYU Clinic), seeks a review of the drone policy.

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Bilawal Bhutto loves Hina!


Pakistan is abuzz with reports of a steamy love affair between Bilawal Bhutto and foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, a Bangladeshi tabloid claimed.

Bilawal is said to be in deep love with Hina, who is 11 years older than him. Both of them have planned to leave Pakistan and settle in Switzerland post their union, the report said.

As per The Blitz, President Asif Ali Zardari is vehemently opposed to Bilawal's keenness to enter into marital relations with Khar, who is already married and is mother of two children. Zardari fears that such a move by his son will not only jeopardize Bilawal's political career but also cause political doom for the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP).



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Delhi court issues non-bailable warrants against Raj Thackeray


New Delhi: Fresh non-bailable warrants were issued against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray today by a Delhi court as he failed to appear before it to respond to two complaints that accused him of making hate speeches against North Indians, particularly Bihar natives, in 2008.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Manish Yaduvanshi ordered issuance of NBWs, returnable by November 17, against Mr Thackeray after he failed to appear before the court in response to summons issued on August 31 and sought exemption from personal appearance.

Kashmir situation improving: President


The situation in Kashmir is improving, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Thursday after winding up his two-day visit to the valley during which he interacted with a cross-section of the population besides being briefed by Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abduallah.

"I got a good impression that things are improving," he told journalists on board the IAF aircraft on his way back from Srinagar when asked about his assessment of the situation.

BJP amends constitution for Gadkari to get a second term


Bowing to the wishes of the RSS, BJP on Friday amended its constitution enabling the party president, state and district unit chiefs to get a second term, which paves the way for Nitin Gadkari to seek another term for the top post after he completes his present tenure in December.

Senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh moved the resolution to amend Article 21 of the party constitution and the proposal was seconded by M. Venkaiah Naidu. The National Council approved the resolution unanimously.

US, Pakistan called off military talks due to protests: US


WASHINGTON: A planned meeting between US and Pakistani military chiefs was postponed this week due to a wave of violent anti-American protests, the top-ranking US officer, General Martin Dempsey, said on Thursday.

Dempsey revealed at a news conference that he had scheduled a discreet trip to Pakistan to meet chief of the army staff, General Ashfaq Kayani, but the two agreed to call off the talks amid unrest on the streets of Pakistani cities.

Ninteen killed as Everest-bound plane goes down in flames


A plane flying 19 people towards Mount Everest came down in flames on the outskirts of the Nepalese capital Friday, killing everyone on board including seven Britons and five Chinese, police said. The twin-engine Sita Air craft had just taken off from Kathmandu and was headed to the town of Lukla, gateway to the world's highest mountain, when it plunged into the banks of a river near the city's airport around daybreak.

U.S. court orders imprisonment for anti-Islam filmmaker


A federal judge on Thursday ordered a California man behind a crudely produced anti-Islamic video that inflamed parts of the Middle East to be detained because he is a flight risk.

U.S. Central District Chief Magistrate Judge Suzanne Segal said Nakoula Basseley Nakoula should be held after officials said he violated his probation term for a 2010 cheque fraud conviction.

King: Stop abusing religions, prophets


Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has urged people the world over to confront those who try to abuse divine religions and prophets of God.

Addressing princes, ministers, religious scholars and other citizens who came to greet him at Taiba Palace on Tuesday night, King Abdullah urged Muslims to defend their Islamic faith and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

He congratulated Saudis on the occasion of the National Day, marking the unification of the Kingdom by King Abdul Aziz and emphasized the unity and solidarity of Saudi people.

Maoist hardliners 'ban' Indian cars, movies in Nepal


KATHMANDU: Hardline Maoists ordered Indian-registered vehicles out of Nepal on Thursday and demanded that cinemas stop showing Bollywood movies in protest over New Delhi's influence in the Himalayan nation.

The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), a breakaway faction that split from the ruling Maoist party in June, said the move would end Nepal's dependence on its powerful southern neighbour. 

Weapons seized near LoC


Army on Thursday said it has found over 100 assorted weapons of Chinese make near the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector of Kashmir.

“More than 100 weapons, including 98 pistols, have been seized near the Line of Control in Keran Sector of Kupwara district,” an army spokesman said.

He said the recoveries included 10 AK rifles and two assault rifles of other makes.

“The weapons are of Chinese make and the packing material like newspapers are also Chinese,” the spokesman said.

He said a possible tragedy has been averted due to high vigil of the army along the LoC as “the adversary is trying to push in maximum warlike stores before winters“.

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Charge sheet filed against Abu Jundal

The Delhi Police charge sheet against Abu Jundal, a key handler of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, accuses him of being involved in terror activities across India to avenge atrocities against Muslims, particularly those committed during 2002 Gujarat riots.

The charge sheet filed by the special cell says that the 2002 anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat motivated Jundal into joining the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group which radicalised and indoctrinated him into Jihadi philosophy.

According to the charge sheet, filed in the court of chief metropolitan magistrate, Vidya Prakash, Jundal disclosed that he along with LeT chief Zaki-ur-Rehman alias Lakhvi monitored the 26/11 attacks from a control room in Karachi.

The charge sheet also names as suspect Fasih Mohammad, who is accused of conspiracy in bomb blasts in Bangalore and Delhi.

Fasih, who hails from Darbhanga district in Bihar, is presently in detention in Saudi Arabia. Besides him, the charge sheet names Iqbal and Riyaz Bhatkal and 17 others as suspects.

Jundal said 10 persons had left for Mumbai in September 2008 as well but the boat in which they were travelling broke down and they returned to Karachi .


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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Don’t give terror tag to innocent minority people: Supreme Court


No innocent person should be branded a terrorist and put behind bars simply because he belongs to a minority community, the Supreme Court has told the Gujarat Police.

Police must ensure that no innocent person has the feeling of sufferance only because “my name is Khan, but I am not a terrorist,” a Bench of Justices H.L. Dattu and C.K. Prasad said on Wednesday.

Yemen president offers dialogue to militants


SANAA: Yemen’s president offered dialogue to militants including Al-Qaeda yesterday, but said they must agree first to put down weapons and reject support from abroad.

Restoring stability to Yemen has become an international priority given fears that jihadi fighters could entrench themselves in a country and threaten world No. 1 oil exporter Saudi Arabia next door and important world shipping lanes.

Arrested Indian workers in Kuwait safe, says official


Indian embassy in Kuwait has sought the intervention of the Kuwaiti authorities to ensure the welfare and safety of more than 1,000 Indian domestic workers who were arrested in a crackdown on September 19.

Vidhu P Nair, Charge de'Affaires said they are hoping that all those arrested Indian workers with valid residency will be released soon.

Nair said the arrested workers are safe and there are no complaints or any cases of harassment.He said no one has been deported so far. He also said Indian workers are held in 40 police stations in addition to the deportation and detention centers.

"The embassy is also in close contact with the External Affairs Ministry back in India and the Rajasthan state government," he said.

Kuwaiti authorities have been calling up sponsors and asking them to take their workers back.

Nair said the embassy is evolving a new attestation mechanism for screening newly-recruited domestic laborers from India.

"However, the process will take a long way which will help eliminate the maltreatment of domestic workers," he said.

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King: Stop abusing religions, prophets


Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has urged people the world over to confront those who try to abuse divine religions and prophets of God.

Addressing princes, ministers, religious scholars and other citizens who came to greet him at Taiba Palace on Tuesday night, King Abdullah urged Muslims to defend their Islamic faith and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Maoist hardliners 'ban' Indian cars, movies in Nepal


KATHMANDU: Hardline Maoists ordered Indian-registered vehicles out of Nepal on Thursday and demanded that cinemas stop showing Bollywood movies in protest over New Delhi's influence in the Himalayan nation.

The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), a breakaway faction that split from the ruling Maoist party in June, said the move would end Nepal's dependence on its powerful southern neighbour. 

Weapons seized near LoC


Army on Thursday said it has found over 100 assorted weapons of Chinese make near the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector of Kashmir.

“More than 100 weapons, including 98 pistols, have been seized near the Line of Control in Keran Sector of Kupwara district,” an army spokesman said.

He said the recoveries included 10 AK rifles and two assault rifles of other makes.

“The weapons are of Chinese make and the packing material like newspapers are also Chinese,” the spokesman said.

He said a possible tragedy has been averted due to high vigil of the army along the LoC as “the adversary is trying to push in maximum warlike stores before winters“.

For more news visit our page : MagazineUrdu News, asianaffairs

Charge sheet filed against Abu Jundal


The Delhi Police charge sheet against Abu Jundal, a key handler of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, accuses him of being involved in terror activities across India to avenge atrocities against Muslims, particularly those committed during 2002 Gujarat riots.

The charge sheet filed by the special cell says that the 2002 anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat motivated Jundal into joining the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group which radicalised and indoctrinated him into Jihadi philosophy.

According to the charge sheet, filed in the court of chief metropolitan magistrate, Vidya Prakash, Jundal disclosed that he along with LeT chief Zaki-ur-Rehman alias Lakhvi monitored the 26/11 attacks from a control room in Karachi.

The charge sheet also names as suspect Fasih Mohammad, who is accused of conspiracy in bomb blasts in Bangalore and Delhi.

Fasih, who hails from Darbhanga district in Bihar, is presently in detention in Saudi Arabia. Besides him, the charge sheet names Iqbal and Riyaz Bhatkal and 17 others as suspects.

Jundal said 10 persons had left for Mumbai in September 2008 as well but the boat in which they were travelling broke down and they returned to Karachi .

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France to expel anyone who threatens security in name of Islam: minister


STRASBOURG: France will expel anyone who threatens security at home or abroad in the name of Islam or does not respect the country’s secular traditions, Interior Minister Manuel Valls said Thursday.

France will be “intransigent… and I will not hesitate to expel those who claim to follow Islam and represent a serious threat to public order and as foreigners in our country do not respect our laws and values,” he said at a ceremony to inaugurate a grand mosque in the eastern city of Strasbourg.

Sandeep Patil appointed selection committee chairman; Amarnath sacked



New Delhi: World Cup-winning 1983 team member Sandeep Patil has been appointed as the chairman of the national cricket selection committee on Thursday.

Srikkanth (South Zone) and fellow-selectors Narendra Hirwani (Central), Raja Venkat (East) and Surendra Bhave (West) have completed their term and are not eligible to continue as per the Board`s norms.

No problem is resolved by violence: Pranab Mukherjee


On his first visit to Kashmir as President, Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday said no problems are ever resolved by violence and the healing process must be nurtured with love, compassion and patience while important issues need speedy resolution.

Touching on the urgent need for greater tolerance in society, he said there are grievances and many important issues need deft handling and speedy resolution.