India tests 2nd missile, says rebels crossing border
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India carried out its second missile test in less than a week on Wednesday and said Pakistan-based militants were still sneaking into the part of Kashmir India controls. With the South Asia foes locked in a military stand-off along their border and exchanging fire almost daily, the test of the short-range Trishul missile was set to keep tensions simmering. Last Friday, India tested a new version of its nuclear-capable Agni missile, drawing criticism from Pakistan which said the test threatened regional stability. India said it had no immediate plans to scale back its military deployment on its border and a Pakistani minister was quoted as saying Pakistan could not rule out the use of nuclear weapons if attacked by India. The nuclear powers have massed a million men along the border from Kashmir down to the Arabian Sea, and India says it will not pull its soldiers back until Pakistan fulfils a pledge to stop rebel incursions. New Delhi is also demanding that Pakistan hand over 20 alleged criminals and terrorists. India's defence ministry said the naval version of the short-range surface-to-air Trishul missile had been tested on Monday and Tuesday. The missile can carry a warhead of 15 kg up to a range of 50 km. The Indian foreign ministry said there was little change on the ground in the disputed Kashmir region at the centre of the standoff after India said its forces killed five guerrillas on Wednesday infiltrating the part controlled by India. "It vindicates our continuing concern and the need for concrete and tangible action by Pakistan against terrorists groups and those individuals who have directed terrorism at India," spokeswoman Nirupama Rao said. In London, Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh said it was too soon for his country to judge the extent of Pakistan's moves against the militants. Speaking after attending Commonwealth anti-terror talks, Singh said India was waiting to see how far Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf would implement a pledge to crack down on groups suspected of violence against India. "We will of necessity judge by how it translates itself into action on the ground," Singh told a news conference. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee reaffirmed that India had no plans to scale back its huge military deployment. "There is no such proposal at this juncture," he said. A Pakistani minister was reported as saying his country could not rule out using nuclear weapons if attacked by India. Kuwait newspapers quoted Pakistani Communications Minister Javed Ansari as telling a news conference on Tuesday his country did not want to resort to nuclear weapons, but that if it were attacked by India, "we cannot give a 'no first use' guarantee". SEPARATISTS BLAMED India blames Pakistan-based Kashmiri separatists for the December 13 attack on its parliament which triggered the latest stand-off and says they were also involved in last week's attack at the American Center in Calcutta. Earlier, an Indian newspaper reported police had uncovered a plot by a crime boss accused of masterminding an attack on a U.S. cultural centre in Calcutta to link up with Pakistani-based militants for a wave of "terror strikes" across India. Citing a secret New Delhi police document, the Hindustan Times said crime boss Farhan Malik, alias Aftab Malik and Aftab Ansari, traded access to his criminal network across India for weapons and training. Some of Farhan's men were trained in Pakistan by the Lashkar-e-Taiba, one of two Islamic militant groups India blames for the parliament attack, in which 14 people died, it said. The paper said Farhan plotted to kill scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, known as "Missile Man", attack an atomic research centre in India's commercial capital, Bombay, and kidnap cricket captain Saurav Ganguly and star batsman Sachin Tendulkar. Officials say Farhan's group and Lashkar also staged last week's raid on the American Center in which four policemen died. Indian police said they killed on Monday two Pakistani Lashkar members who took part in the Calcutta killings. Calcutta police on Wednesday arrested a man in connection with the case. Under pressure from India, the United States and other nations, Pakistan banned Lashkar and four other militant groups operating on its soil and fighting Indian rule in Kashmir.
Wednesday, January 30, 2002
India cuts international bandwidth prices
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Union Telecommunications Minister Pramod said on Wednesday that VSNL had decided to reduce the annual rental of international bandwidth by 35-40 percent. "This will result in greater usage of bandwidth by Indian industry and provide a further boost to India's IT sector," Mahajan told a news conference. The rate reduction will be subject to approval by the Telecoms Regulatory Authority of India, he added. Mahajan also said a decision had been taken to allow a foreign telecom firm, FLAG Telecom, to sell bandwidth directly to Indian Internet service providers (ISPs) following the resolution of a dispute with the Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL). "The outstanding dispute between VSNL and FLAG Telecom has been resolved," Mahajan told the news conference. "FLAG can sell its bandwidth directly to ISPs with immediate effect." Mahajan also said that from April 1, FLAG will be able to sell its capacity directly to international long distance operators as well. "Access and interconnect charges will be agreed between VSNL and FLAG on a fair and reasonable basis," he said. This decision will almost double the bandwidth availability in India, he said.
Wednesday, January 30, 2002
Muslim militants sneaking into Kashmir killed
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian forces killed five Islamic guerrillas trying to sneak into contested Kashmir on Wednesday as Indian and Pakistani troops traded fire in the Himalayan region, a defence official said. A newspaper also reported police had uncovered a plot by a crime boss accused of masterminding an attack on a U.S. cultural centre in Calcutta to link up with Pakistani-based militants for a wave of "terror strikes" across India. India and Pakistan are locked in a dangerous military standoff over New Delhi's accusation that Islamabad sponsors "cross-border terrorism" against it, a charge Pakistan denies. The nuclear powers have massed a million men along the border from Kashmir down to the Arabian Sea and India says it will not pull back until Pakistan stops rebel incursions and hands over 20 alleged criminals and terrorists. The defence official also said three more separatists, members of the now-banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, were killed in another clash in Kashmir late on Tuesday. India blames Pakistan-based Kashmiri separatists for the December 13 attack on its parliament which triggered the standoff and fears of war with Pakistan and says they were also involved in last week's attack at the American Center in Calcutta. CRIME BOSS, MILITANTS JOIN FORCES Wednesday's Hindustan Times said the crime boss India accuses of masterminding the Calcutta attack had linked up with the groups and planned a wave of strikes, including assassinating India's top missile scientist. Citing a secret New Delhi police document, the daily said Farhan Malik, alias Aftab Malik and Aftab Ansari, traded access to his criminal network across India for weapons and training. Some of Farhan's men were trained in Pakistan by the Lashkar-e-Taiba, one of two Islamic militant groups India blames for the parliament attack, in which 14 people died. The paper said Farhan plotted to kill scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, known as "Missile Man", attack an atomic research centre in Bombay, and kidnap cricket captain Saurav Ganguly and star batsman Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar was to be ransomed and Ganguly held to force the release of a jailed Lashkar guerrilla. Although Farhan, subject of an Interpol arrest warrant, is based in Dubai, he is now in Islamabad, the paper quoted the Crime Branch document saying. Officials say Farhan's group and Lashkar also staged last week's raid on the American Center in which four policemen died. POLICE KILL PAKISTANIS Police said they killed on Monday two Pakistani Lashkar members who took part in the Calcutta killings. India says the five parliament attackers were also Pakistani. Under pressure from India, the United States and other world powers, Pakistan has outlawed Lashkar and four other militant groups operating on its soil and fighting Indian rule in Kashmir, the mainly Hindu but secular nation's only Muslim-majority state. But India says it has yet to be convinced of Pakistan's commitment to action. Military analysts say most of the clashes on the border in Kashmir happen as Pakistani forces try to cover infiltrators or Indian troops try to stop them. India says an average 200 guerrillas sneak into Kashmir from Pakistan each month, although numbers fall as winter sets in. About a dozen groups are fighting India's rule in Kashmir, the cause of two of the three India-Pakistan wars and where authorities say 33,000 people have died in 12 years of rebellion.
Wednesday, January 30, 2002
Rupee extends losses, hits fresh low
BOMBAY (Reuters) - The rupee extended losses on Wednesday morning to hit a fresh historic low as state-run banks, the main drivers in the market, made little effort to stem the slide, dealers said. The currency hit a lifetime low of 48.5150 per dollar and was quoted at 48.5050/5200 at 10:05 a.m., against the previous close of 48.4050/4100. In opening deals, the rupee hit 48.4550 against the previous record intra-day low of 48.43 on September 17. "With state-run banks going with the market a lot of banks would prefer to go long on dollars as they expect further dips in store," one dealer in a private bank said. Dealers said the rupee's weakness was helped by the central bank, which wanted to correct its value on a trade-weighted basis and maintain India's export competitiveness. "The euro and the sterling are losing ground to the dollar, so exporters with earnings in those currencies would want the rupee to weaken," a dealer in a state-run bank said. The rupee is overvalued by nearly three percent on its real effective exchange rate -- a basket of five currencies with which India has the maximum trade -- and the central bank would not be averse to allow the rupee to weaken gradually, they said. State-run banks, which usually act at the behest of the central bank, have been heavy buyers of dollars in recent sessions, they said.
Tuesday, January 29, 2002
Bipasha Basu
Bipasha Basu has arrived. With loads of fan mail at her doorstep, this sultry seductress of Ajnabee is quite a simpleton at home. No newcomer to stardom, Bipasha feels quite welcome in the industry. When she accidentally began her career as a 17-year-old Ford supermodel, Bipasha never knew that her dreams of a career as chartered accountant were out for a toss. After globe trotting for four years and enjoying every bit of the ramp and ad shows, she leaped into the Hindi film industry. Landing right on her feet, Bipasha is all set to be the best actress. With her next release and her first solo film, the supernatural thriller Raaz slated to hit in February, the Bengali actress shares her views on the masti and magic of movies.Everyone seems to be talking about your performance in Ajnabee. How does it feel to be accepted as an actress at such an early stage? Wonderful. People have been so nice to me that I am overwhelmed. I feel glad that my work in Ajnabee has been appreciated by my fans and industry folks alike. I was too nervous about the outcome of the film. My fan mail keeps assuring me that people like me as an actress. So this time round I am not a nervous wreck but I do have butterflies in my stomach as this is my first solo release. I have got more than I had bargained for. So tell us about Raaz? Is it a remake of What Lies Beneath? See first of all we Indians can never really copy English films as we have to keep the Indian sentiment and the masses in mind. Raaz is a super natural thriller with little reference to What Lies Beneath. It talks about this couple who is on the threshold of a divorce and goes to their farmhouse for a fresh talk. They feel there is a better chance at reconnecting with each other away from the pressures of the city. But here they come across something supernatural and their lives change. We have incorporated the superstitions tantriks, mantras etc. We have tried to make it interesting rather than spooky. The mystery unravels slowly and it is quite a surprise. There is lot of thrills rather than the irritating scary sounds in usual ghost movies. How was it working with Vikram Bhatt? Vikram made things so easy for both Dino and me that we felt we at home. He never treated us like newcomer. He guides you through a scene and then gives you full liberty to do the scene your way. Of course, if you are too off track he is once again there to bring you back to reality. But I felt that the freedom one felt with him was enormous as no pressure and dedication equals good work according to me. I learnt a lot. I don't know how I would have done Raaz if he weren't the director. Did you want to be an actress always? When I began acting I was in it for the fun of trying out something different. So people the film industry thought that I wasn't interested in acting at all. Actually it was the case in the beginning but once I got the hang of the whole acting bit, I realised this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I am glad I became an actress as I was venturing out of modeling anyways. I had gotten a bit tired of living in and out of suitcases for my ramp shows around the world. Though in films too traveling is an occupational hazard, but within limits and it isn't a necessity. I have been really choosy in accepting films as I want to try every thing before I know what I can do best. After a vampish role in Ajnabee, I am doing a supernatural thriller, can I be more varied. What was your first reaction when you learnt that Dino would be playing the hero? I was happy. But actually I already knew Dino would be in the film as I was not the first choice for the film. The producers had casted Lisa Ray but due to some problems that I wasn't aware of, they started looking for another actress. I was hoping they would find someone really nice who would suit Dino on screen. Then Vikram called me as he had seen some parts of Ajnabee and liked me a lot. So he came and gave a full narration of the film. He insisted that I do the film and I agreed because the subject was too good and I was sure the film would turn out well, as I had seen Vikram's earlier films. The whole working together thing worked out well. Dino and I never had problems working with each other as we have done several ads and photo shoots in the past. It was fun to be together for this new adventure in life. Working together helped our performances too as there were few bedroom scenes and it made me think that had there been another co-star I would not be on that comfort level as I am with Dino. What are the other projects you are doing? Lots actually. I have David Dhawan's Chor Machye Shor with Bobby Deol, which is a laugh riot co-starring Shilpa Shetty. Then there's Sanjay Gardi's Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai, which is produced by Yashraj films co-starring Uday Chopra and Jimmy Shergill. It's a romantic comedy, a light film actually. I hope both these films should release this year. I am already working on Nehle Pe Dehla with Sanjay Dutt and Ab Kya Hoga with Aftab Shivdasani. There are two more films that I am almost going to sign, but will let you know once I have.
Tuesday, January 29, 2002
Thai PM Thaksin to meet Vajpayee
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he would make a one-day working visit to New Delhi on Friday, his second trip to India in less than three months, to follow up on his talks last November. Thaksin told reporters on Tuesday he would hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on bilateral free trade and a planned regional forum, the Asia Co-operation Dialogue (ACD). "Every country befriends many others, so I need to visit India again to have them recognise us and put us in their top priorities," Thaksin said after a weekly cabinet meeting. Thaksin proposed the ACD at an international conference in Hong Kong last year. Thailand is due to hold the first ACD meeting in March when foreign ministers from India, Indonesia, South Korea, Singapore, China, Japan and Bahrain are due to discuss how Asian nations could foster more trade and investment. During Thaksin's official visit last November, Thailand and India pledged to strengthen and diversify bilateral relations. The two sides agreed to set up a joint working group to study Thaksin's proposal for a bilateral free trade arrangement. Thaksin will leave Bangkok around 8 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) on Friday and arrive back in the Thai capital at 2 a.m. the next day.
Monday, January 28, 2002
Police in Jharkhand kill Pakistanis over Calcutta attack, border tense
NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - India said on Monday that police killed two Pakistani men it accused of an attack outside a U.S. cultural centre in Calcutta as military tensions remained high between the two nuclear-capable foes. Last week, India linked Pakistan to the attack in front of the American Center in the eastern city in which four police were killed and 18 wounded when assailants on motorcycles opened fire. Home Secretary Kamal Pande called Monday's dawn raid on a guerrilla hideout in Jharkhand a "breakthrough" in the hunt for the attackers. "In the resulting shooting, two terrorists -- both Pakistani nationals -- were seriously injured and died later," he told a news conference. He said that one of the men "gave a statement before dying" that they had carried out the attack in the heart of Calcutta last Tuesday. "Further investigations are being carried out but there is hardly any doubt now about the role of Pakistani nationals and Pak-based terrorist tanzeems (groups) in this case," Pande said. Police in Jharkhand identified the dead men as Mohammed Zahid and Mohammed Salim and said they had both confessed they were members of the outlawed Pakistani-based guerrilla group Lashkar-e-Taiba. PAKISTAN DENIES INVOLVEMENT Last week, Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani said a Dubai-based member of a group with links to the Pakistan government's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency had claimed responsibility for the attack by phone call from Dubai. Advani stopped short of suggesting the ISI itself was involved, and Pakistan has said any suggestion its agencies were involved was "totally baseless", noting it had condemned terrorism in all its forms. The raid on the U.S. office in Calcutta stoked tensions between India and Pakistan, which had already mobilised their armies on the border after an attack on the Indian parliament last month, blamed by New Delhi on Pakistan-based militants. The shootings of the two suspected attackers came as Indian and Pakistani troops traded border fire in the contested Kashmir region. On Sunday, Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said the country wanted friendship with all countries but this would not be possible as long as it was a target of terrorism. His statement came after Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said in a message on India's Republic Day he wanted the countries to become good neighbours and Islamabad was ready "to engage in a serious and sustained dialogue with India". SHOOTING IN KASHMIR India has said Musharraf must deliver on a promise to end "cross-border terrorism" and military support for guerrillas fighting its rule in Kashmir before it will reduce its forces along the border. The two countries, which have fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947 over Kashmir, have massed around a million men at the border in the biggest military buildup in decades. A senior police official in Jammu told Reuters Muslim guerrillas continued to make attempts to sneak in from Pakistan. "Some attempts are still being made along the international border which is not snow-bound," the official said. Indian officials said there was no let up in routine firing between the two sides, which trade mortar and small arms fire almost daily in Kashmir. A Pakistani army official reported sporadic small-arms fire in several places on the border in the Sialkot area in Pakistan's Punjab province on Monday morning.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
India says to uproot terror, no change in Kashmir
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India vowed on Sunday to crush terrorism, saying there had been no change on the ground in the rebellion-torn region of Kashmir despite Pakistan's promise to crack down on Islamic militants. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who has ordered the biggest military build-up in decades along the border with Pakistan, said terrorism directed against India will not be tolerated. "To make us a target of terrorism, and we do not give an appropriate response, that is not possible," he said. "We will uproot terrorism from our soil," he said in a speech to the National Cadet Corps, where school students are given basic military training. The country's hardline Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani said he had not seen any change in Kashmir since Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's landmark speech on January 12 denouncing terrorism in all its forms. "It has been 15 days now, we have not see any evidence on the ground so far as India is concerned and so far as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned," he told Star Television network. The Indian leaders' comments came a day after Musharraf called for talks to end the military standoff on the borders stretching from the disputed region of Kashmir to the Arabian Sea. Musharraf, greeting Vajpayee on India's Republic Day anniversary on Saturday, said Pakistan was ready to begin a serious and sustained dialogue with its giant neighbour. DEMAND TO END SUPPORT India, incensed by an attack on its parliament last month which it blamed on Pakistan-based guerrillas, has said Islamabad must cut off support to rebels fighting its rule in Kashmir before a de-escalation could take place on the borders. "We are faced with the challenge of terrorism from outside, and from within the country, we have to defend our internal security, we have to make our borders inviolable," Vajpayee said. New Delhi has specifically demanded that Islamabad make good its promise to crack down on Islamic militancy by closing off the routes along which guerrillas enter Kashmir from Pakistan and hand over 20 men it accuses of carrying out terrorists acts. Pakistan has detained hundreds of religious extremists, shut down their offices and denounced terrorism in all its forms. It has said it would offer political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people in their struggle for self-determination. The Times of India reported on Sunday that guerrilla activity on the military control line dividing Kashmir between the two nuclear rivals had gone up in January compared with same month in the last two years. While there was no reported infiltration of militants into India's side of Kashmir in January 2000 and 2001, in the current month, 14 guerrillas had died while trying to cross from Pakistan. The newspaper did not give figures on whether there had been any change in infiltration patterns in Kashmir since Musharraf's speech this month in which he banned five Islamic groups, including two operating in Kashmir. More than 30,000 people have died since a revolt erupted in Muslim-majority Kashmir in late 1989. Separatists put the toll closer to 80,000.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Music Review of Visaal
'Visaal' is a remarkable album as it brings together two great talents, ghazal singer Ghulam Ali and poet Gulzar. Released by HMV-SaReGaMa, the album is also significant because it has come at a time when Pakistan and India are pointing fingers at each other and things are a little bit tense on the border. One hopes that this collaborative effort will prove to be another small step in improving relations between the two countries. All said and done, Indian artistes are not accorded the same kind of reception in Pakistan that their counterparts get here in India. In fact, the Pakistani government seems to be averse to improving the climate on the cultural front. The album contains eight ghazals, all written by Gulzar and composed by Ghulam Ali himself, while the music arrangement has been done by Amar Haldipur (of Amar-Utpal fame). 'Visaal' has Gulzar at his best, though one cannot say the same about Ghulam Ali. The opening ghazal, 'Khushboo Jaise Log Mile', is arguably the best of the eight tracks on the album. The composition is good and Ghulam Ali complements Gulzar's lyrics with his competent singing. 'Sehma Sehma' depicts the pain and anguish of a person who remembers his past, especially former love. Gulzar's lyrics stand out while Ghulam Ali's composition is okay. 'Mera Kya Tha' is another example of great poetry. Gulzar is at his sensitive best here while Ghulam Ali as the vocalist is able to infuse the right kind of emotion. 'Jab Bhi Aankhon Mein', like the previous tracks, searches for meaning in existence following past memories. This pathos filled track has, for a change, an apt composition to complement it. The concept behind the beautiful ghazal, 'Khushboo Gunche Talash Karti Hai', is once again about a person reminiscing about his past, a past that he wants to forget so that he can begin life afresh. While doing so, he realizes how difficult the process will be. The poetry of Gulzar holds fort, but Ghulam Ali the vocalist and Ghulam Ali the composer are decent enough. 'Shaam Se Aaj Saans Bhaari Hai' has Ghulam Ali at his best as a vocalist. Gulzar builds a beautiful imagery and lets his thoughts run wild with gay abandon. In fact, Gulzar is so impressive on this track that even Ghulam Ali is unable to let it go unnoticed and accepts the challenge. As a result 'Shaam Se Aaj Saans Bhaari Hai' proves to be one of the best tracks on the album. 'Koi Atka Hua Hai Pal' brings to mind strong sentiments of the past. This track is another example of the poet Gulzar and singer-composer Ghulam Ali sounding the right note. The lyrics are moving and Ghulam Ali's rendition is effective. 'Hum To Kitnon Ko' is a deviation in the sense that it strikes a happy note. Gulzar, as usual, is in his element, but Ghulam Ali is a little inconsistent here. 'Visaal' may not be an exceptional album but it is certainly welcome. If only Ghulam Ali had been in a better frame of mind, the result would have been magic. But this debut collaborative effort between the two still quailfies as a collector's item.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Music Review of Pyaasa
They say variety is the spice of life and this probably could be the reason for the makers of Yukta Mookhey's debut film, 'Pyaasa' to rope in four lyricists and six composers to do the music. But one wished that that they had also heard the saying 'too many cooks spoil the broth', because despite the presence of so many people, the album generally fails to impress. The six music composers are Sanjeev-Darshan, Nikhil-Vinay, Daboo Malik and Anand Raaj Anand while the four lyricists are Faaiz Anwar, Dev Kohli, Praveen Bhardwaj and Narendra Bedi. Released under the T-Series label, the album has 10 tracks. The opening track, 'Milti Hai Jhukti Hai', is a good start. Composed by Daboo Malik on lyrics by Praveen Bhardwaj this is the best track of the album. Rendered by Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik, the track scores in all departments, be it singing, composition or lyrics. The track does carry a bit of the eighties hangover but it works. 'Tere Pyaar Ka Chhaya Nasha', composed by Sanjeev-Darshan on the lyrics of Faaiz Anwar, is a routine track. Rendered by Sunidhi Chauhan and Adnan Sami, the number has nothing new to offer. Both Sami and Sunidhi fail to infuse any life into it. 'Milte Milte Sanam' has Nikhil-Vinay as the composers and Faaiz Anwar as the lyricist. A romantic ditty in the voice of Udit Narayan, this again is unimpressive. There is monotony in the singing, composition and lyrics. 'Soni Roop Di' is based on Punjabi folk. Written by Dev Kohli and sung by Punjabi folk singer Sardool Sikandar under the baton of Anand Raaj Anand, the number might not appeal to you even if you like bhangra pop because it lacks the punch to get you on your feet. 'Na Jaane Mera Kya Hoga' is another composition by Sanjeev-Darshan. Rendered by Sonu Nigam, the track is very clearly aimed at the front benchers. The composers seem to have succeeded in their endeavor despite the fact that the stuff sounds run of the mill. The next track is another version of the Sunidhi-Sami track, 'Tere Pyaar Ka Chhaya Nasha'. There is nothing to distinguish it from the earlier version except that here Abhijeet stands in for Adnan Sami along with Sunidhi. Needless to say, like the previous track, this one too fails to impress. 'Usko Pata Hai' is a Sudesh Bhosle solo. Written by Narinder Bedi, it is a humorous track, the kind one associates with Sudesh Bhosle or the kind made famous by rap artiste Devang Patel. This is stuff that you'd rather watch on screen rather than merely listen to it. 'Aankhon Mein Leke Pyaar', a dandiya number, is one of the better compositions of Sanjeev-Darshan. The singers are Kavita Subramanium, Udit Narayan and Karsan Sargathiya (who sang the popular 'Dholi Taro' number in 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'). The singers are in their element here while Faaiz Anwar's lyrics are okay. 'Iss Mohabbat Ke Siva' is another romantic song that bears a familiar note. Composed by Sanjeev Darshan and rendered by Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik it is the kind of number that one doesn't mind skipping. 'Tandav' is an interesting instrumental track. It tries to mix jazz and pop with the traditional music that one gets to hear in a temple. Sanjeev-Darshan do a decent job here. On the whole, the soundtrack of 'Pyaasa' suffers on account of familiarity. There are a couple of good tracks but the rest of the stuff is average. After 'Kitne Door Kitne Paas', this is another album where one can feel the growing influence of Nadeem-Shravan on Sanjeev-Darshan. They will have to do something different to create their own identity.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Music Review : Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai
TIPS Films and Allu Arvind present 'Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai' (KYPH), which is directed by K. Murli Mohan Rao. KYPH stars Amisha Patel who missed her hat-trick with the dismal response to 'Ye Zindagi Ka Safar' after her super successes 'Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai' and 'Gadar' - The biggest hits of 2000 and 2001 respectively. Aftab Shivdasani who also has 'Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche' and 'Pyaasa' lined up for release, plays the lead opposite her. Jackie Shroff and Anupama Verma fill in the supporting cast. By the look of the promos, KYPH seems to be an unusual love story and if one observes carefully, the logo of the movie shows a heart symbol with a cross around it instead of a conventional blooming one, as in common in the teenage love stories. Sajid Wajid get a major break as sole music directors for this TIPS movie and Jalees Rashid writes the lyrics. After the roaring response to 'Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham', Farah Khan is the Director of Choreography of KYPH as well. 'Dil Ki Nazar Mein' has a mind-blowing chorus in the start and just for this very number, one can highly recommend for KYPH. The composition is very much in the lines of the late 70's - early 80's songs sung by Kishore Kumar under Burmanda. Ajay Jhingran gives Jalees Rashid company in writing 'Dil Ki Nazar Mein' and does a good job.One just can't get bored of this wonderfully romantic number and the repeated listnings make it more and more enchanting. A very good song. Alka Yagnik sings the female version of the same number but it is Kumar Sanu's rendering of the number that haunts for long. 'Meri Tarah Tum Bhi Kabhie' is a cute romantic number with soulful lyrics and melodious music. Babul Supriyo and Alka yagnik sing this love song which is quite good to listen to. Cinematography of the song is rich and overall the song makes a very good impact. 'Pehli Pehli Baar Hai' has a trademark stamp of Sajid Wajid - Sonu Nigam combo and refers to 'Ab Mujhe Raat Din Tumhara Hi Khayaal Hai'. This melodious number has Alka Yagnik as Sonu Nigam's duet partner. 'Dil Pe Chaane Laga Hai' is of the similar style as 'Pyaar Lo Pyaar Do' from Jaanbaaz. Sunidhi Chauhan and K.K. are in their usual elements and sing at the top of their voice, hence giving the number the much needed 'dum'. Another good number. 'Aashiq Hoon' is a mix of jazz, bhangra and marathi music. It is a youthful song about a guy lost completely in love who is thinking about how to go ahead and propose to his lady love. It is a sung by Sonu Nigam and is of an average kind. 'Tujhe Dekhkar Jeeta' is another average number which has a very predictable music and lyrics. It has a few tap-dancing beats and whistling tune in between and is a 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU' kind of a song. And from Birthday wishes, it moves to 'dua maangna' for the guy getting married soon and getting successful in life!!! It has Kumar Sanu and Sonu Nigam singing the major part of the song with Alka Yagnik getting just two three lines in the middle. Sonu Nigam's 'O Mahive' has the guy craving for his love. It has a feel of a song from a private album, but effective picturization should be able to elevate it to the kind of a film song. 'Chahton Kee Duniya' ia a qawali by who else but Sabri Brothers and Iqbal-Afzal. It is a sad rendering about the lost hopes of love and denies any chances of a positive outcome after all this 'dard-e-dil' and 'gham-e-zindagi'. KYPH is a good album with lots of variety that has something for everyone. But the romantic numbers like 'Dil Ki Nazar Mein', 'Meri Tarah Tum Bhi' and 'Pehli Pehli Baar Hai' (in the same order) are the ones that keep lingering for long.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Monsoon Wedding: A feel-good trip
Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Lilete Dubey, Shefali Shetty, Vijay Raaz, Tilotama Shome, Vasundhara Das, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Pravin Dabas, Rajat Kapoor, Roshan Seth Soni Razdan, Neha Dubey, Ranadeep & others Director: Mira Nair Rating: ***1/2 Director Mira Nair has gone on record to say that Monsoon Wedding, the winner of this year's Golden Lion at the Venice Festival, is "my ultimate love song to Delhi." One wouldn't go so far as to call it a 'love song', but definitely Nair takes an affectionate, at times tongue-in-cheek, look at the contradictions that is the city of Delhi and its denizens. A quaint mixture of tradition and modernity. The director has skillfully woven her film around an arranged wedding, which becomes an excuse for relatives to reunite. The tensions in the runup to the wedding leads to a spillover of emotions, anxieties and deep secrets. The scorching Delhi heat finds resonance in the heated tensions in the house of Lalit Verma, the father of the bride. The rains, when they do finally arrive at the end of wedding, are like a balm on frayed nerves and old wounds. The wedding finally takes place amidst much merriment and joy, despite the downpour. Monsoon Weddings is actually five small stories yoked together by the wedding of Lalit and Pimmi Verma's daughter, Aditi. There is the story of Aditi (Vasundhara Das), whose marriage has been fixed to a Houston -based engineer (Pravin Dabas). Aditi, however, is still in love with her ex-boss, a married man. She pays one last visit to her ex-lover on the night before the wedding, where the duo are caught making out in the jeep by the cops and harassed. Something in that sordid episode puts off Aditi, and she tells her fiance Hemant (Pravin Dabas) all about her past. After his initial anger, he accepts her past and the soon-to-be-married couple actually start bonding with each other. For the first time, Aditi is enthusiastic about her wedding. If one the one hand, there is an Aditi who agrees to an arranged marriage, then there is also her unmarried cousin Riya (Shefali Shetty), a writer in her late twenties/early thirties, who carries a heavy baggage of sexual abuse by an older relative. The claustrophobic atmosphere of the family reunion has her spilling her guts when she finds the pedophile relative preying on her young niece. The most moving of all the stories is the tender, moving love story of Alice (Tilotama Shome), the maid and the mandap decorator Dubey (Vijay Raaz). In contrast to the love story below is the young sexual love brewing between Aditi's cousin (Neha Dubey) and the student from Sydney (Ranadeep). The brides' parents Lalit (Naseeruddin) and Pimmi (Lilete) again rekindle some of their lost intimacy as they reach out each other again. Ultimately, the film is also about Lalit standing by his neice Ria and asking Tej Puri (Rajat Kapoor), the older relative who abused Ria, to leave his house. One has to give credit to director Mira Nair for managing to hold these various strands and not allow any one to overtake the other. At the end of the day, Monsoon Wedding is a feel-good film. As lithely as a trapeze artiste, Nair touches on serious issues like paedophile without allowing it to marr the celebratory mood of the film. She has a taut screenplay going for her, witty dialogues, a great ensemble cast and and tight camerawork (handheld camera, mind you), all of which go to give Monsoon Wedding that something 'extra', thereby setting it apart from the likes of typical Bollywood 'shaadi' films of Sooraj Barjatiya and Aditya Chopra. The language is a nice mix of English and Hindi, giving the film a very natural look. If there is anyone from the cast who can be picked out as outstanding, then one will have to contend between veteran Naseer and newcomer Vijay Raaz. Naseeruddin renders a flawless, natural performance of a typical harassed Punjabi bride's father, whose world falls apart when he learns of his pedophile relative. Vijay Raaz as the mandap decorator Dubey is absolutely riveting. His is a very poignant performance. The comic-tragic shades in his character reminded one of Roberto Benigni. One must also mention Shefali Shetty and Rajat Kapoor, who made a strong impression. Mira Nair is a clever filmmaker and she has very clearly targeted her film at the international audience. It's a clever, funny, feel-good film. And it works. Any arguments?
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Movie Review : Style
N. Chandra Productions' STYLE, directed by N. Chandra, tells the story of four teenaged boys and girls who are a hot favourite among their colleagues for their wit, sense of humour and their ability to solve any problem. They extend their help to their colleagues for anything and everything, from coming to the rescue of a rich student chasing a girl or helping someone come out of the mess with the college authorities. For this, they are showered with gifts in 5-star hotels, because of which they begin to cultivate the habits of the rich. But the two boys land in a soup one day when a rich friend plays a practical joke by vanishing from a party in a 5-star hotel, leaving them to pay the hefty bill. They are left with a twisted arm and realize the importance of money. One of them comes out with a brilliant idea to solve the problem. Instead of helping others to hook a girl, the two decide to find a daughter of a millionaire for themselves to marry. They zero down on two rich girls of their college, but the two girls hate them. How they change the opinion of the girls about them, forms the crux of the film. The film is based in a college campus and targeted at the youth. But the impression one draws as the film progresses is that there is nothing novel about the college scenes in the film, be it the ragging incidents, the dialogues or even the interaction between the students. In fact, the story does not progress at all in the first half. Besides, there is nothing novel about the manner in which they solve the problems of their colleagues. However, there are a few scenes in the first half that are enjoyable, but they are far too less to leave an impact. Post-interval, when they start thinking about their lives, the narrative does gain momentum. When the boys disguise themselves as girls and enter the women's hostel, the interest does heighten. The scenes that follow are a bit far-fetched, but they are quite interesting and keep you entertained. The story takes another turn when they are trapped in the murder of two girls. One expects the suspense to build up at this juncture, but the story drifts to mediocrity again, failing to hold one's attention. Had the director focussed on the boy-girl track instead of the suspense and the murder track, it would have been far more interesting. Besides, it would have also cut down the unnecessary length of the film. In fact, one of the major drawbacks of the film is its unwarranted length. Directorially, one does expect a lot from a director of hits such as TEZAAB, ANKUSH and PRATIGHAAT. But N. Chandra is not in complete form this time. Musically (Sanjeev-Darshan), the songs are well tuned and equally well picturised. The picturisation of 'Excuse Me' and 'Mohabbat Mohabbat' can be singled out. Cinematography is alright. Performance-wise, Sharman Joshi is likeable and delivers a convincing performance. Saahil Khan makes a decent debut. Riya Sen looks like a doll looks, but needs to brush up her acting skills. Shilpi Mudgal is not up to the mark. Varsha Usgaonker is okay in a brief role. Tara Deshpande overacts. Shakti Kapoor is wasted in a brief role. On the whole, STYLE is just about an average fare. However, it has some chances in Mumbai thanks to its city flavour. Rating- *
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Pitaah
Aryaman Films' PITAAH, directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, is loosely inspired by the Samuel L. Jackson - Sandra Bullock - Kevin Spacey starrer A TIME TO KILL (1996). PITAAH tells the story of Rudra (Sanjay Dutt), whose family comprises of his wife Paro (Nandita Das), twin sons Luv and Kush (Sagar and Samrat Thawani) and a 9-year-old daughter Durga (Tanvi Hegde). They live in a small basti in a village named Shikarpur, situated in North India. This basti and its inhabitants are a cursed lot, ordained to work under a despot named Thakur Avadh Narayan Singh (Om Puri). The Thakur's wife (Mita Vashisht) remains a mute witness to his despotic ways and tries to make him see reason whenever she can, but to no avail. The Thakur, on the other hand, instils his feudal ways into his two sons, Bachchu and Bhola, in the process making them an arrogant duo. They follow in their father's footsteps, leading a lifestyle that obviously makes them blind to the after effects of the same. The story takes a turn when Bachchu and Bhola go to a nearby village to spend the night with a mujra dancer (Mink). The next morning, while they are returning to their haveli in Shikarpur, an incident changes their fate. This one incident also changes Rudra's life and a docile father transforms into a revenge seeker! Themes that depict Thakurs and their oppression in rural India have been witnessed umpteen times before on the Indian screen. But here, in the case of PITAAH, the plot differs in the sense that it tackles an explosive issue, child molestation. Director Mahesh Manjrekar has, once again, selected a theme that tries to mirror a social evil. But watching a film on a subject like this can be far too disheartening and distressing. There's no denying that PITAAH has several poignant moments and Manjrekar has handled them with utmost care. For instance, the autocratic attitude of Om Puri and his sons is attention grabbing. Even the acquiescent personality of Sanjay Dutt in the first half has been treated with concern. The turning point, when the daughter is molested and the family rushes her to the hospital at midnight on a bicycle, is superbly executed. Ditto for the scene in the court when Sanjay Dutt shoots the two sons -- Bachchu and Bhola. However, the film is not without flaws! The director has tilted more towards realism, giving little scope to light moments and the relief factor. The music (Anand Raaj Anand) is another sore point, with almost all songs sounding routine and the placement of a few songs, mainly in the second half, looking forced. The screenplay is one of convenience! Jackie Shroff's negative character, for instance, turns positive without any cause or justification. Moreover, there's an undercurrent of tension throughout the second half and the action scenes are too brutal to be digested by ladies/families. K.K. Singh's dialogues go well with the mood of the film. Cinematography (Vijay Arora) is up to the mark. The background music (Rahul Ranade) is excellent. The sets (Nitin Desai) and production values are apt. Manjrekar has once again extracted brilliant performances from the main cast. Sanjay Dutt excels in the second half. He's underplayed the character to perfection. Nandita Das delivers a first-rate performance. Her scenes, with the advocate first and the doctor later, and also in the climax, speak volumes of her abilities. Om Puri succeeds in evoking terror. Jackie Shroff is alright. Siddharth is effective. Mita Vashisht makes her presence felt. On the whole, PITAAH has its moments of glory, but they are not enough to leave much of an impression. Its rural theme will also restrict its viewership to an extent. Average. Rating:- * *
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe opens to 81.10% in Mumbai
Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe - 1st Day in Bombay Central Plaza - 100% New Empire - 100% Premiere - 100% Galaxy - 96.85% Shaan - 50.40% Movie Star - 100% New Era - 50.85% Cine Star - 80.59% Sona - 74.98% Cine Planet - 83.85% Sahakar Plaza - 74.99% Kalpana - 76.54% Pitaah - 1st week Mumbai - 42,04,722 (53%) Ahmedabad - 5,81,037 Jamnagar - 83,360 Sholapur - 1,84,322 Delhi - 19,38,333 (24%) Kanpur - 2,61,546 (6 dy.) Lucknow - 3,83,874 Allahabad - 1,66,700 Bareilly - 1,15,461 (6 dy.) Agra - 2,02,000 Jaunpur - 40,000 Amritsar - 60,975 Calcutta - 11,67,772 Nagpur - 2,39,422 Raipur - 75,011 (6 dy.) Chandrapur - 1,11,870 Akola - 1,23,027 Jalgaon - 1,30,153
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham - 1st day in Bombay Bombay - The film opened to 100% collections (the film was full for the entire week at advance booking itself). The ticket rates at several theatres have been hiked. 3 shows are being performed everyday, instead of 4 shows. This is mainly due to the length of the film. K.T. Multivision (Boisar) - 41,680 (100%) K.T. Vision (Vasai) - 63,928 (100%) Cine Park (Vapi) - 68,493 (100%) Dreamland (Valsad) - 71,202 (100%) Vinay (Adipur) - 54,512 (100%) Jamnagar - Opening is bumper. Karnataka - The opening in Hubli, Belgaum, Dharwad, Davangere and Mangalore was fantastic. Delhi - Has opened in 22 cinema halls; full in advance at all theatres. Allahabad - All 28 shows at Vishwamitra cinema are full in advance itself. Nagpur - Has opened at 5 cinema halls, registering full collections in advance booking itself. Akola - Opened at 2 cinema halls -- Vasant: 43,600 and Krishna: 63,950, record at both the halls. Calcutta - The traffic came to a halt, the film opened with unprecedented rush in the city-suburbs. The cinegoers stood in queues from night itself to procure tickets of the next day's show. On the opening day, the film was greeted with garlands, crackers and a live band. Indore - Opened at 5 cinema halls with terrific rush. Aurangabad - Entire week is full in advance at both the theatres -- Apsara and Goldie. Bawandar - 1st week Mumbai - 5,61,094 (29%) Vapi - 1,37,845 Delhi - 6,83,794 (13%) Kanpur - 42,031 (6 dy.) Lucknow - 58,345 Agra - 68,000 Allahabad - 64,000 Calcutta - 1,10,743 Nagpur - 96,282 Raipur - 30,838 (6 dy.) Indore - 80,000 Ajmer - 21,707 Ehsaas - 2nd week Mumbai - 1,91,284 (15%) Agra - 18,000 Allahabad - 1,19,480 Bareilly - 22,298 Calcutta - 65,875 Yavatmal - 36,667 Moksha - 2nd week Mumbai - 72,881 (14 sh.) (14%) Delhi - 1,24,850 Kanpur - 28,851 (6 dy.) Agra - 1,05,000 Nagpur - 49,430 Raipur - 32,919 (6 dy.) Monsoon Wedding - 2nd week Mumbai - 4,06,914 (26%) Delhi - 42,01,513 Kanpur - 1,22,015 (6 dy.) Lucknow - 1,46,149 Allahabad - 37,421 Agra - 56,000 Calcutta - 2,83,499 Nagpur - 1,80,480 Akola - 49,000 Yavatmal - 20,208 (4 dy.)
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Box Office Summary-2001
One more year has ended. And though it's a habit with us to look forward in life, erasing the incidents that are over and done with, one must also ponder on those 365 days we spent last year. Undoubtedly the worst year for the film industry, the second half of the year was more disturbing than the first. In the first half of the year, we had four hits in one month EK RISHTAA, MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI, GADAR and LAGAAN, but the report card showed disasters from July to December. Fortunately, everything changed on December 14 with the release of K3G. The year 2001 also disproved three existing myths and trends about the box-office:- * That stars don't necessarily guarantee an opening response, * That established directorial names can bite the dust too, * That film scripts need not necessarily confirm to the existing commercial formula. For the stars, most of whom have turned producers, it was a year of looking at things from the other side of the fence. When they were mere actors, not producers, they could never feel the pangs of being a producer. But when they did take up this new responsibility, it was an eye-opening experience for most. For the exhibitors and distributors, the most-affected lot, the year 2001 was one of the most trying ones, with big-budget films taking a severe backlash at the box-office. The box-office performance of films made by Indra Kumar (AASHIQ), Rajiv Rai (PYAAR ISHQ AUR MOHABBAT), David Dhawan (KYO KII... MAIN JHUTH NAHIN BOLTA), Rahul Rawail (KUCH KHATTI KUCH MEETHI), Rajkumar Santoshi (LAJJA), Priyadarshan (YEH TERAA GHAR YEH MERAA GHAR), Shankar (NAYAK), Mahesh Manjrekar (TERA MERA SAATH RAHEN, EHSAAS) and Subhash Ghai (YAADEIN) confirmed the belief that even the mighty can fall! The failure of some much-anticipated star-studded films, which did not even get an opening, led to a wave of cynicism among distributors in the trade that stars don't necessarily guarantee an opening response. The result: Big distributors began to shy away from paying high prices for films. In certain cases, prices already paid were re-negotiated and, for the first time, stars began to get the feeling that their presence wasn't enough to send the audiences rushing to the theatres. 2001 also proved that the commercial formula wasn't always indispensable, with directors attempting new subjects in films. The success of LAGAAN and GADAR proved this point. Both were period films, both did not have the heroes dressed in designer outfits and both did not boast of fancy song picturisations at prime international locations. Another film that shocked the audiences for its hardcore reality was Madhur Bhandarkar's CHANDNI BAR. The success of this realistic Tabu starrer, revolving around a bar girl's existence, made on a shoe-string budget, with no lavish sets and no songs, showed that films did not always have to confirm to established norms in order to qualify for a success. The release of K3G in December proved that there is always a light at the end of a dark tunnel. For a change, the exhibitors woke up from their long-dejected mood, the distributors began to feel that paying a big price could work if a film was made with a lot of conviction and the audience felt the need to return to the theatres once again. All put together, it was a year that gave the film industry a new learning experience to break away from its existing moulds and adopt a new thinking pattern. The traders are now hoping that the optimism that began towards the end of December 2001, continues in the year 2002, with all the new lessons learnt. CLASSIFICATION OF FILMS 2001 - TOTAL RELEASES: 230 A11 (Super-Duper Hit) Gadar (Historic in Delhi, U.P., Punjab) A1 (Super Hit) Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham ('A11' in Mumbai, South, Overseas) Lagaan ('A11' in Mumbai, South, Overseas) A (Hit) Chandni Bar (Mumbai, South) Dil Chahta Hai (Mumbai, South, Overseas only) Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai Jodi No. 1 (better in Mumbai, Delhi, U.P.) The Mummy Returns (dub.) +B (Overflow) Chori Chori Chupke Chupke ('A' in Mumbai, South) Chhupa Rustam ('A' in Bihar; Commission Earner to Overflow in some territories) Indian ('A' in Delhi, U.P., Punjab) Kasoor (Mumbai, South) Ek Rishtaa (Mumbai, Delhi, U.P., Rajasthan) Tum Bin Good B (Commission to Overflow) Ajnabee (Mumbai, South) Albela (Mumbai, Delhi, U.P.) Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (Mumbai) Farz (North India) Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega (Mumbai) Monsoon Wedding (dub.; Mumbai, Delhi, U.P.) Style B (Coverage to Commission) Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein STATISTICS AT A GLANCE Releases: 219 Hit to Average Films: 21 (9.59%) Losers: 198 (90.41%)
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Sanjay Dutt
Clad in light blue shirt and trousers Sanjay Dutt looks absolutely dashing. A cropped short hair is his new look for Sanjay Gupta's Kaante. Having just completed a forty-day schedule of the film in the United States, the film marks Sanjay Dutt's debut as a producer. The film will release in April. Presently he is looking forward to the release of Pitaah, his third film with Mahesh Manjrekar. We corner him to speak about another of his stertling performances after Vaastav and Kurukshetra. Firstly I would like to know why are people so scared of you? I really don't know! Especially journalists think twice before striking a conversation with me. I don't know why. I try to make people feel as comfortable as possible. Okay tell us something about your forthcoming film Pitaah? Pitaah is set in rural India and is all about the oppression faced by low-caste villagers from the zamindars. Mahesh Manjrekar has given a very earthy look to the film. And to be in tune with the ambience I grew a real beard. So here I'm a low-caste villager, married with three kids, living his life peacefully till a zamindar rapes his nine-year old daughter. And he is forced to take up a fight with them for justice. This is happening in our country today! Rape a nine-year old... shooting that scene must've been horrible. Yeah! But I wasn't there when the scene was shot. You are a father in real life. Was it traumatic to play a father of a rape victim on screen? Yes it was! I don't know how the poor farmers deal with such situations in real life. It's really sad. How was it working with Nandita Das? Great! She has made valuable in-puts in the film. Vaastav, Kurukshetra and now Pitaah you and Mahesh Manjrekar have become Jodi No 1.... Yeah (laughs)! We share a great relationship. If you have noticed I have always done films with friends rather than strangers. Kaante marks your debut as a producer. How did the decision to produce Kaante come about? I had always wanted to be a producer and I thought Kaante was the right opportunity to launch my own production house. I was actively involved with Kaante right since its inception. Sanjay and I worked on the script for two years. We then decided on the music director and settled for Anu Malik. The rest of the cast and crew were also decided upon. We flew down to America to select the location for the film. wonderful experience. Contacted the technicians over there that would make our shooting schedules feasible. And see, we completed the film in 40 days flat. We use to shoot for 16-17 everyday and all the stars co-operated with us more than willingly. It was a wonderful experience. Kaante also marks Mahesh Manjrekar's debut as an actor in a Hindi film. Yeah! When I spoke to him about it, he just jumped at the offer. We told him that he'd have to colour his hair to give him a specific look. He was hesitant initially but he later agreed (laughs). In fact, all of us right from Amitabh Bachchan to Aditya Panscholi have had a specific look in the film. Was there any specific purpose to shoot Kaante in America? The pains that people take there... it is really worth the money we pay them. We wanted to complete the film at one go and that would not have been possible were we to shoot it here considering our disorganized nature. Also some of the equipments used to shoot the film are not available here so we thought it best to shoot in America. When will the film release? April. What is Vaastav-II all about? Vaastav was about Raghu, the goonda. Pratibimb is all about his son Rohit. How people react to him because his father was from the underworld. It's a very powerful script. You have played varied roles off late. Has it been a conscious decision to do so! I'm 43! At this stage you certainly don't expect me to play a typical college kid running around trees with his girlfriend. I was known as a bad boy once upon a time. Today I have grown as a person and as an actor. I keep the bad boy image just to make my fans happy.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Amisha Patel
Amisha Patel has let the success go to her head- that's the latest buzz in the industry. But this fiery actress says otherwise. "I don't have any other flaws so people picked this one to talk about me." She laughs without a care for the rumors. But one failure seems to have made no dent in that smile. Though Yeh Zindagi Ka Safar hasn't done well, Amisha is full of promises for the future. She is all charged about her next film with Vikram Bhatt's - Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage costarring Hrithik Roshan and still savoring the success of Gadar. Here Amisha dwells on her success and future.Your last release Yeh Zindagi Ka Safar was quite damper. Well, we tried our best. You win some, you lose some. My outlook towards roles has been always different. I have never signed a film because of a big banner or hero. Everyone told me not to do Tanuja's film once Govinda had opted out of it, but I had full faith in my director and the subject. I stuck with it. I was happy with the product but then it was not so successful. Well, we will try to make something better next time. The role has always been the central product. I know every time my decision won't be right, but I try to sign a film by instinct. After Kaho Naa... I got offers left, right and center but I chose only few. Like Abbas Mustan's film with Bobby, which has a fantastic role for me. You know there is no dearth of work... there is dearth of good work and good roles. Luckily for me, good work has never been a problem. How have you taken in Gadar's huge success? It has not been a surprise at all. If I had to any doubt about the film I wouldn't have signed it. The fact that I had lot of faith in the script, which is why I took a risk of playing a mother so early in my career, working with an older hero like Sunny Deol, working with a director who had been written off after Maharaja. I am happy that the devil got it's due. Has the success changed you? No. It has made me positive that the public is accepting different kind of cinema. Artistes confine themselves by thinking and calculating too much. Maybe if I had been from the industry, I would have thought that I shouldn't do an Anil Sharma. I took it as a challenge and it paid off. Other than that Gadar has made me very positive about working hard. It has taught me a lesson not to under or over estimate anyone. Anil Sharma has given a bigger hit than Sholay and here the industry writes off and writes on people too soon. Do you think Gadar could have been a better debut for you than Kaho Naa Pyar Hai? Maybe. Because then I would have shown my mark as an actress. People would have appreciated my acting abilities. On the other hand Kaho Na... had it's own charm and gave me a fresh young image. So both have their pros and cons. Kaho Naa Pyar Hai made me a star, Gadar made me an actress. Actually I wouldn't compare them. Gadar is a classic like a Mughal-E-Azam or Pakeezah, a historical, a once in a lifetime film, which can never happen to a heroine again and again. Kaho Naa... was a typical candy-floss romance, which has been created many times. You are starring with Hrithik Roshan in Vikram Bhatt's Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage. How was the experience shooting with him again? Wonderful. People are going to love Hrithik and me more than they did in Kaho Naa... The story is boy meets girl, parents oppose and how they fight. But the screenplay is totally different even though the story is a typical love story. I can assure you that Aap Mujhe would be a bigger hit than Kaho Naa... And my director Vikram is the new age guy. He is quite a smart and a person any actress can relate to. He has quite a different style of working. Though he has made huge films, he has also attempted smaller films like Kasoor. I loved working with Vikram. I would love to do a film him every year. Three films down the line, hat are your views about the industry today? Well it is a wonderful place to be in if you can handle the pressures and hold on to your own. I am taking life as it comes and enjoying my work and that seems to be working for me. I am not here for the money so if acting became like work and not an enjoyment tomorrow, I would quit. Otherwise I could keep working for the next 35 years. I am not here to be in the rat race and I don't believe in the numbers game because every Friday it is a new number. I am here for good work and the minute I felt people have stopped respecting me as a performer I would leave. I pick up things from superstars like Sunny, co-stars like Hrithik and Bobby, directors like Rakeshji, Anilji, Vikram or Tanuja. So acting is a learning process. Which are the other films you are currently working on? I have David Dhawan's film with Salman called Yeh Hai Jalwa, Rahen Na Rahen Hum with Ajay Devgan and Mahima directed by a south director Kamal, a Tips production Kya Yehi Pyar Hai with Aftab, Abbas Mustan's film with Bobby, Kranti with bobby again, Vimal Kumar's Suno Sasurjee with Aftab which is a hilarious comedy.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Manisha Koirala
In a career spanning over a decade Manisha Koirala first hit the spotlight by her soul stirring performance in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 1942: A love Story. Followed Mani Ratnam's Bombay, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Khamoshi and Partho Ghosh's Agnisakshi and the actress were practically crowned the next numero uno. Not the one to be carried away by her new found success, Manisha described it as a transient phase. "What interests me is that I get to play roles as diverse as chalk and cheese," she said. But with producers and directors not open to heroine oriented films the gamble doesn't seem to have paid off! Today Manisha has only three films on hand, Afzal Khan's Mehbooba, Ramgopal Varma's Company and Rajkumar Kohli's Jaani Dushman, while Ashok Mehta's Moksha is ready for release. Sporting a different hairstyle, black coat flung over her shoulders and perched prettily over the chair we corner the actress for a candid confab. With practically all the actresses vying to be cast in a film that marked ace cinematographer Ashok Mehta's debut as a director, how did you feel when he chose you as the leading lady over all of them? Obviously it felt good! I had done films where Ashok had been the cinematographer. He had vaguely told me about Moksha then. He had said how he planned to turn a director with Moksha. Moksha means salvation! But what does it mean to you personally? It means to me what it means to everybody! I have taken birth of a human to learn a few lessons. And once I have learnt them I evolve as a human being. That cleanses my soul. It is then that achieve Moksha or salvation. Is that what the film is all about? There is a similarity definitely! But Ashok Mehta has also kept the commercial aspect of the film in mind. What is the story of Moksha ? There is this lawyer who sees that justice here is only for the rich and reckless and not the weak and the meek. He starts an institution where the poor and the helpless would get justice but somehow his dream to have this perfect world is blocked with hindrances and obstacles, driving him to the point of frustration. He finally decides to take the law in his hands to bring the wrong doers to justice. What is your role in the film? I play this sweet bubbly girl who supports him all the time. She is childish initially but her love for lover matures her considerably. They haven't shown anything particular about her. Like this is the family or this is the profession that she hails from etc! From canteen boy to a cinematographer Ashok Mehta has certainly come a long way. So was he obsessive about his work and didn't pay any heed to what other had to say? Nothing like that (laughs)! He was stern with us at times but he never lost his temper as such on the sets. He had worked as a cinematographer in other films so he knew what he wanted from his artistes. He also had the script ready so there was no question of last minute dialogues et al. I remember when he narrated the script to me he gave me meticulous account of what the set would be like, how I would be dressed and how Arjun would behave. It was just so fabulously done! If on one hand he is the Ashok Mehta, at the same time he is a child at heart (laughs)! Was Arjun Rampal nervous while working with you? Not at all! In fact he was cool! I remember the first shot that he was to give; I was present on the sets. He had to do some action sequence and the shot was okayed in first take. And everybody was pleasantly surprised. He is an extremely hardworking and dedicated star. Coming to your career, where do you think you stand today in the industry? At this phase I'm looking out for roles that would focus on acting abilities rather than my pretty face or body. I'm not interested in doing run of the mill roles. Then I may as well take vacation to explore different places of the world. I have had my share of good films and bad films. If there has been a lull in my career it's me who is responsible for it. It was I who chosen the good or bad film. I have to move on now and wait for something substantial to happen! Have you made changes in yourself to become a better actress? You have to, otherwise you don't evolve! If I was signing films left, right and center, doing three shifts a day, being busy all the time, I would never grow as an actress. So if I want to evolve as an actress, I should do lesser films. Okay, tell us why have you sported this new hairdo? Oh this! It's for Ramu's Company. When he offered me the film he told me he wanted me to look different. Rajat, Ramu and I then sat and worked out different looks for the character I play in the film. And we concluded that this is the kind of look I should have in the film. But when I actually had to chop my hair I was panicky. I didn't know how it'd look. Now I have come to terms with it (laughs)! Do you always work out the look you should have in the film? To a large extent yes! It's important for me to look the character. Like in Moksha, I have worked towards looking a sweet young girl. What other films have on hand? There's Afzal Khan's Mehbooba and Ramgopal Varma's Company!
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Haan...Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya
Producer Suneel Darshan, maker of LOOTERE, AJAY, JAANWAR and EK RISHTAA, and director Dharmesh Darshan, who has RAJA HINDUSTANI, MELA and DHADKAN to his credit, team up after a gap for HAAN... MAINE BHI PYAAR KIYA, which stars Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan and Karisma Kapoor in pivotal roles. A love triangle, the look of the film reminds you of Dharmesh's previous film DHADKAN. But Suneel Darshan clarifies that the story of both the films are different. "DHADKAN and HAAN... MAINE BHI PYAAR KIYA are two different films. There is a lot of variation in this film. This love story is also much more identifiable. I won't call DHADKAN a triangle; it was more of a quadrangle since Mahima was also a part of it," he clarifies. So what's the USP of HAAN... MAINE BHI PYAAR KIYA? "The chemistry between them (Akshay, Abhishek, Karisma) is something to watch out for. Dharmesh is known for extracting the best from every artiste and in HAAN... MAINE BHI PYAAR KIYA, the performances by all three will be widely discussed in times to come. Even Sunil Shetty, who was written off before DHADKAN, walked away with an award for his powerful performance in the film." But does Abhishek Bachchan's not-too-happening career bother him? "He will be amongst the most sought-after stars after HAAN... MAINE BHI PYAAR KIYA. Even Akshay was going through a bad phase before JAANWAR. See, ups and downs are a part of every artiste's career, but that does not mean that you write them off so easily," Suneel is quick to add. HAAN... MAINE BHI PYAAR KIYA is the story of Pooja Kashyap (Karisma Kapoor), Shiv Kapoor (Abhishek Bachchan) and Raj Malhotra (Akshay Kumar). Pooja is bright and beautiful and strives to be the best. But she's also a romantic and an idealist who is willing and ready to give up her exciting career for the sake of true love. But she forgets that there is a very thin line between ardent love and obsession. Shiv is equally ambitious and competitive, but he's also a cool and laid-back sort of guy who takes life as it comes. Little does he realise that one moment of thoughtless passion will destroy all that is most precious to him and change his life forever. Raj has the world at his feet. He has money, fame, adulation. The only thing lacking in his life is love and stability. He seeks love that is tender and pure. And he is sure that one day he will get it. Pooja, Shiv and Raj. Three individuals thrown together by destiny to play the fascinating game of love in an arena full of emotional turmoil and upheaval. Three wonderful people. Three stunning interpretations of what love means to each of them. HAAN... MAINE BHI PYAAR KIYA has music by Nadeem-Shravan. The film is slated for release on February 15, 2002.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Kitne Door Kitne Paas
Mehul Kumar, whose name is synonymous with patriotic sagas such as KRANTIVEER, TIRANGAA and KOHRAM, attempts a love story this time. After working with the late Raaj Kumar (MARTE DAM TAK, TIRANGAA, KRANTIVEER), Amitabh Bachchan (MRITYUDAATA, KOHRAM) and Nana Patekar (TIRANGAA, KRANTIVEER, KOHRAM), Mehulbhai (as he is affectionately called in the film industry!) has cast two not-too-strong names in his latest enterprise, KITNE DOOR... KITNE PAAS. But the film-maker justifies his decision: "That's because the story demanded fresh faces. I signed Fardeen before the release of JUNGLE because I was highly impressed by his work. He suited the role to the T. In the case of Amrita Arora, I had seen her work on the small screen and strongly felt that she was the apt choice for this role. If the artistes suit the role, half the battle is won. When I signed Nana for KRANTIVEER, a lot of people advised me against this decision, for they felt that Nana would not be able to carry the film on his shoulders. People dissuaded me when I signed Raaj Kumar and Nana for TIRANGAA, but everyone knows who proved right eventually." The storyline: Fardeen Khan and Amrita Arora are Gujaratis settled in America. They first meet at a shopping mall in New York where they have come to do the last-minute shopping, before they fly to India, where they are supposed to get married to spouses they've never seen. Fardeen is supposed to get married to Sonali Kulkarni, while Amrita is all set to take the saat pheras with Ayub Khan. It's not love at first sight for Fardeen or Amrita. On the contrary, they end up having a scrap and hate the sight of each other. But destiny has something else in store... When they land in Delhi (they travel together from the U.S.), they happen to lose their money and find themselves in a quandary. They board a bus (their destination in Gujarat) that is reserved for married couples exclusively and pretend to be a married couple. They travel through Rajasthan before they reach their destination in Gujarat. They gradually fall in love but are so tradition-bound that they hide their feelings from their parents. In fact, they are all set to tie the knot with spouses of their parents' choice. Beena plays Fardeen's mother, while Govind Namdev and Shama Deshpande play Amrita's parents. In the climax, Fardeen is all set to take the saat pheras with Sonali, while Ayub is ready to put sindoor in Amrita's maang. Co-incidentally, both the wedding pandals are erected opposite each other. What happens eventually? Portions of the film have been shot in Australia (Brisbane and Gold Coast). The film is slated for release in mid-January 2002.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Bharat Bhagya Vidhata
BHARAT BHAGYA VIDHATA is one of those films that exposes the terrorism from across the border. The film is produced by T.P. Aggarwal and directed by Osho Raja, the team that earlier made the Dev Anand starrer RETURN OF JEWEL THIEF. "BHARAT BHAGYA VIDHATA is the story, the aspiration of today's generation. Our youth, our future, our tomorrow," director Osho Raja tells me, adding in the same breath, "It is the story of love, of respect, of fundamentals that are and should be the ideals of our children. Our children who are the torch-bearers of our destiny. The destiny of India." BHARAT BHAGYA VIDHATA tells the story of Chaitanya Suryavanshi (Vikram Aditya), a young Indian, an ideal son to his parents, India's Home Minister Mahendra Suryavanshi (Shatrughan Sinha) and Rukmini Suryavanshi (Jaya Pradha), who is the principal of a school. It is the story of Sapna (Rinku Ghosh), Chaitanya's girl friend and their friends. Unfortunately, India is going through troubled times in the form of sponsored terrorism mainly from across the border. A dreaded terrorist, Jalaluddin Ghaznavi (Tom Alter), has been captured by Major Abdul Hameed (Puru Raaj Kumar) after a fierce operation. A terrorist Shabbir Khan (Chandrachur Singh) plans an operation, whereby he can hold the country to ransom and bargain for the release of Jalaluddin and other dreaded terrorists. Will Shabbir Khan's plans materialise? Will India and its people be held to ransom by a bunch of evil-doers and their masters from across the border? A special screening of BHARAT BHAGYA VIDHATA was held for the army officials on January 11 in New Delhi. The film co-stars Asha Saini, Shadaab Khan, Satish Shah, Rakesh Bedi, Laxmikant Berde, Pramod Moutho, Vidya Sinha and Farha. Hriju Roy has composed the music. BHARAT BHAGYA VIDHATA is slated for release in February 2002.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Filhaal
Life is not easy. And is not permanent. But the experiences and emotions that we acquire through our lives are unique to each person. It is these that go on to define our personalities and thereby influence the decisions that we will make in our lifetime. Sometimes, by quirk of fate, a decision that we make goes on to entwine other people's lives and destinies with our own. Then we are compelled to play along passively as our lives unfold before us! Rewa, Dhruv, Sia and Saahil are four such people, whose lives got entangled at various levels due to a twist of fate. Rewa and Sia were best of friends, having known each other since they met in kindergarten. They were similar in so many ways... and yet different too. While Sia was ambitious and career oriented, Rewa was more of romantic, looking forward to a blissful life with a husband and children. Her dreams crystallized in Dhruv, whom she fell in love with and married. Everyone expected Sia to follow suit, especially Saahil, who had proposed to Sia three times already. But Sia was clear - just like men need to be settled in their careers before they get married, so too should women. Saahil would have to wait... Filhaal is all about how unpredictable life is. It doesn't announce itself... It just happens.You can't control what happens. You can only live it ... one moment at a time...And smile... for the moment...Because marriage is not the end of the love story, it is the BEGINNING OF A WHOLE NEW ONE... A character sketch of the principal characters of Filhaal: Tabu plays Rewa, a girl of about 27 years. She is warm and emotional, with a deep sensitive side. For her, the relationships with her dear ones are most important in life's scheme of things. She is a loving wife, as well as a friend to her husband Dhruv. They share a warm, intimate relationship that deepens as they look forward to having a child. Sia, Rewa's best friend since they were little girls, is the other important person in Rewa's life. Rewa is a loyal and devoted friend - emotionally in sync with Sia. She wishes Sia too would get married eventually and often talks to her about it. Rewa unlike Sia however, is quite an introvert, silent and subtle. Even when life twists and turns around her, she is steely in her resolve and her convictions. Sushmita Sen plays Sia in Filhaal, a warm, effervescent girl of about 27 years. She is instinctive and spontaneous... living life to the fullest, every moment of it. She is a loyal and devoted friend too, to Rewa, ever since she can remember. She lives all of Rewa's turning points in life, with her. Rewa's marriage to Dhruv and their dreams of having a child, Sia shares all their joys and excitement as if they were her own. Then there's Saahil... who is also her own. She loves him dearly but for reasons inexplicable to her and especially Saahil, she postpones or avoids the topic of marriage. She wants to establish herself in her career as a photographer first; for fear that she may have to compromise it later for her marriage. There is a child in her that endears her to all the people around her. And when fate takes a turn she takes it head-on, as the child in her watches in wondrous amazement Sanjay Suri plays Dhruv, a young man of about 29 years. He is gentle, loving, decent and caring. Very much a self-made man, a successful garment exporter at that. Very much the cosmopolitan man, he is a responsible yet understanding husband to Rewa and more importantly, her friend too. He has a tender side that surfaces in the course of their dreams to have a baby. He nurtures Rewa, pampers her. And when she hurts, he comforts her. He hurts too, when life turns on him. And he's not ashamed of his tears. Rewa's tears however, are far more precious to him. And he makes sure that he does nothing to hurt her... but always understand her and support her. Palash Sen is Saahil, the fourth corner in this square of relationships. He is also a soft, sensitive man, deeply in love with Sia and not afraid to express it, several times. He is also the understanding 21st century man, supportive of his woman's decisions, even though he may not agree with all of them. He is patient and understanding, and has a silent strength within him, because he believes in his love for Sia. He knows it can withstand any surprise fate may throw at it. So much so that he is the only member of his family, left behind in India, because that's where his love lives. And he has a toy factory... because he loves children!
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Dalai Lama flies to Bombay for medical treatment
PATNA, India (Reuters) - Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, flew to Bombay on Sunday to seek hospital treatment after complaining of stomach problems, a spokesman said. The Dalai Lama, seen by Tibetans as the reincarnation of a long line of Buddhist kings, was in the town of Bodh Gaya, near Patna, capital of Bihar, to preside over a Buddhist festival attended by some 200,000 people. The Dalai Lama's illness forced cancellation of the Kalchakra festival, said to be one of the largest Buddhist gatherings in the world, in Bodh Gaya, the site where Buddha reputedly achieved enlightenment. "Initially, His Holiness complained of a mild attack of gastroenteritis and felt weak," a spokesman for the Tibetan leader, T. Samphel, told Reuters. "Since then, he has not been responding to the drugs administered to him." He said the cause of the Dalai Lama's illness was undiagnosed and doctors advised him to travel to Bombay for more tests. The Dalai Lama walked onto the chartered plane that was ordered to take the him to Bombay, witnesses said. The Dalai Lama has been running a government-in-exile in northern India since fleeing Tibet in 1959, nine years after Chinese troops occupied the Himalayan region and overthrew its Buddhist theocracy. The Dalai Lama appeared briefly at the festival three days ago, waving and smiling to followers. He told them he would be unable to sustain the rituals which required him to sit still for at least five hours.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Vishwa Hindu Parishad steps up campaign for Ayodhya temple
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Hindu religious leaders were due to meet Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Sunday to press for his intervention in an explosive row with minority Muslims over the Ayodhya temple. Hundreds of activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad led by their seers have arrived in New Delhi in a campaign to build a temple at a site in the town of Ayodhya where a mosque was demolished by zealots in 1992. "Our religious heads had set March 12 as the deadline for removing all obstacles to building the temple, we are hoping the prime minister will settle this matter before then," Acharya Giriraj Kishore, vice president of the VHP said. More than 3,000 people died in nationwide riots after the 16th century Babri mosque was torn down by a mob of Hindu hardliners who believe the site to be the birth-place of lord-king Rama. Vajpayee's Bharatiya Janata Party shot from obscurity in the 1980s to the political centre-stage on the back of an aggressive Hindu revivalist campaign including the building of the temple in Ayodhya. But since coming to power at the head of a coalition government, the BJP has put all divisive issues including the row over the temple on the backburner. State-run All India Radio on Sunday quoted N.Chandrababu Naidu, chief minister of Andhra Pradesh and a key supporter of the coalition government as saying that no activity must be permitted in Ayodhya in line with court decision. Indian courts who are looking at the decades-old dispute over the place of worship have banned any activity at the site, and the government has said it is committed to upholding court orders. Vajpayee's partners in the ruling National Democratic Alliance met at his house on Saturday to discuss the issue which comes at a time when the country is locked in a tense military face-off with Pakistan over an attack on the Indian parliament. Federal Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan said that the NDA partners had no objection to Vajpayee meeting the Hindu religious leaders to find a way out of the tangle. "Prime Minister is free to meet delegations and hear them out, in fact we don't even know what they want," he said. VHP leaders who plan a mass rally later on Sunday in New Delhi said Hindus across the country wanted the authorities to handover land in Ayodhya so that construction of the temple could begin. "Enough time has been given to the authorities, there is no question of any extension of time beyond March 12," Kishore said referring to the deadline set by a congregation of Hindu seers last January. Political rivals of the BJP, which controls most populous Uttar Pradesh state where Ayodhya is located, said the temple issue was being revived, with an eye on the elections which are scheduled for next month. "This is a cynical vote gathering exercise, unfortunately for the BJP, people will see through them," said Ambika Soni, a spokeswoman for the main opposition Congress party. Opinion polls said the BJP is trailing in Uttar Pradesh which could have a bearing on the stability of its federal government comprising more than 20 parties.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
Director: Karan Johar Music: Jatin-Lalit, Sandesh Shandilya, Aadesh Srivastava Cast: Amitabh Bachchan,Shahrukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Jaya Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor Okay, you are going to see the biggest movie in recent cinematic history and you certainly have your expectations. You know this better stay up to your standards of thaali and guess what without playing any hard to get with the review let me announce the movie comes as a winner. A total entertainer, this movie holds every minute in its three and a half hour journey. The captain of the ship, Karan Johar has done well to tell a very thin story line in such a manner that you are busy looking at every thing except the story itself. What I mean here is that he keeps you enthralled with the drama, in your face Indian values, a mommy dearest, great production values, amazing styling, stable cinematography, very well shot songs, consistent character graphs and what have you that you forget that the film is a very small story that of one brother (Hrithik Roshan) who goes to London to ask his brother (Shah Rukh Khan) to return home. Their father had thrown him out of house many years ago. Having told you what the basic tale is about its stupid of me to go into every scene that made my day... because I know whatever my review would say you are itching in your pants to rush and see this film. So damn my ramble you please rush and watch the film. But here is a quick check of the movie and the stuff you are dying to know about the film. Does this film really have any new thing about it or is it just the same old stuff from the ones who make love by yellow flowers? Well you would be a phool to think that this is any different from those movies that had yellow flowers and pigeons. But yes, it certainly has something new to offer…and just because it's the same stuff it will also rock the box office like the other flower and pigeon stuff. Why does such stuff work? Simple because we Indians love emotions. You get me crying, you get me laughing, you get me sentimental and you can take my money. This movie does exactly that it orchestrates its flow in such a way that your sebaceous glands feel woozy. And by the end of the film they walk out of your body in revolt. True to it's name its, kabhi khushi, kabhi gham. Am I praising the film or am I panning it? Let there be no doubt about it. I am praising the film. I love the film. It so good that it even made Simi Garewal cry like a baby. Now this is serious she was in my trail and she just let her eye make up get all messed up. You now know what I mean. Then what genre would you say this movie belongs to? Its called a brand new genre that reads, " Art that has seduced commerce". Karan has not made a commercial film... he has just put down a sure shot way of doing commerce. What's the biggest offering of K3G to movie business? Now makers can never say that we don't know what works at the box office. Here is the perfect potion for a super duper hit. Which are the best scenes? The bangle scene between Kajol and SRK, the bench scene(don't you dare say: 'Not again!') where the brothers meet, Kajol and her son scene in school and yes the climax when Aby faces SRK and sort out their life. The down side? Too much orchestration... to much melodrama. To much "Come on clap for this scene too" Is that bad? Not at all its very difficult to do that... The slip shows when... When after all the parampara talks, Amitabh Bachchan belts out a " Ae kya bolti tu... ati kya Khandala". Shocking ain't it? Who scores in the acting department... please let us know the ratings in descending order... and please don't play diplomatic? 1. Shahrukh Khan 2. Kajol 3. Jaya Bachchan 4. Kareena Kapoor 5. Hrithik Roshan 6. Farida Jalal Are you serious? You bet I am. You can see the film and match the ratings. The surprise packet of the film? Aryan Khan (SRK Junior) who stuns us with his confidence and screen presence. Check out the titles for the future star. If you blink you would... Miss Jugal Hansraj in an immensely forgettable role. What shock you about this film? Vande Materam, Om Jai Jagdish have been done to death in movies... but once again when Karan plays it in the movie your goose flesh stands. What else? What else... nothing else pucker. Stop reading this review go watch the film.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Music Review : Aankhen
There are a number of firsts in Gaurang Doshi's Aankhen. First - the coming together of Triple A force - a legend called Amitabh Bachchan, Khiladi No. 1 Akshay Kumar and the hunk Arjun Rampal. It also marks the coming together of women of substance Sushmita Sen and Bipasha Basu, who is billed to be the hottest queen in Bollywood after a confident debut in Ajnabee. Another first is the debut of Vipul Amrutlal Shah as a director. Last year we had seen a whole bunch of music directors composing for a single movie. But Aankhen has not one, not two but four music directors for JUST ONE SONG. Now isn't this a First ? But the FIRST that takes the cake is this one. Have you ever seen a case when the front of the album cover displays the name of the composer who composes just three numbers whereas the composer who does six numbers are not even mentioned? Strange but true as in the case of Aankhen where the former composer is Aadesh Shrivastava and the ones missed out are not any newcomers to this field but the established Jatin-Lalit. But 'first' things first. One just can't take away the credit from Aadesh Shrivastava who impresses the most his in two numbers - The title song and Gustakhiyan. The title song by Sonu Nigam and Remo is quite impressive which is quite high on orchestra and is has both the singers sing full throatedly. The song creates an impact in the very first listening and creates a mood for the numbers to follow. The album begins in the best possible manner with 'Amitabh Soliloqi' that has him rendering the philosophy about TRUTH. The style is quite on the lines of 'Bhala Bura ' from AKS but more commercialized with a superb background music and the haunting vocals of Remo Fernandes. One can go for Aankhen for just this very number. A wonderful composition conceived by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and having lyrics by Aatish Kapadia. 'Nazron Ne Teri' is a foot tapping number composed by Jatin-Lalit and written by upcoming Praveen Bhardwaj. Though there have been countless romantic numbers like this before, it is the beats and the overall effect that make it good. 'Kuchh Kasme' is another romantic number in this album which is otherwise high on theme songs and music. This duet by Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik is very melodious and should become popular (as will the other songs of Aankhen). Jatin Lalit's music is soft and Praveen Bhardwaj's lyrics are impressive too. In 60's came 'Aankhen' with Dharmendra and Mala Sinha, which was a thriller, and then in 90's came David Dhawan non-stop entertaining action-comedy 'Aankhen' starring Govinda and Chunkey Pandey. Both the movies were smash hits. Let's see if history repeats itslelf again in the new millennium. Not many know that 'Aankhen' was earlier titled 'All The Best', but got changed later. This is the reason why the theme song and the number 'All The Best' has Remo rendering the same words. He does a superb 'Ye Hai Jalwa' act yet again which has nothing but the trademark Remo's voice effects. Jatin Lalit and Praveen Bhardwaj team up once again. 'Gustakhiyan' is an intense love song which has a superb start. The entire number is quite westernized with both Aadesh Srivastava and Vasundara(who sang Shakalaka in Nayak and was the girl whose wedding everyone attended in the recently released 'Monsoon Wedding') in full JOSH. The number is a guaranteed HIT and the presence of a solid starcast is another plus. Prasun Joshi is the lyricist. A bar number about 'Sharaab' and 'Shabaab' makes it's appearance after a long time with 'Chalka Chalka'. Though Alka Yagnik's and Javed's rendering of the number is good, but still this number by Jatin Lalit and Praveen Bhardwaj is quite chalu and seems out of place in a A Grade project like 'Aankhen'. And now the 'FIRST OF ALL FIRSTS' which has four music directors. Now isn't this creativity at its maximum here ? The number in question is 'Phatela Jeb' which is a tapori time pass song sung in the voices of Nitin Raikar, Aadesh Shrivastava and Arun Bakshi - all of them having raw voices that suit the proceedings. The four music directors are Nitin Raikar , Aadesh Srivastava themselves and Jatin Lalit. Nitin Raikar writes the lyrics which only he can write (!!!) and the end result is quite funny and entertaining. It is a light number about a few young guys whose 'haalat' is 'fateli' i.e. they are broke and are out to make some quick money. They are optimistic that one fine day their 'haalat' will improve and they too will get the all the luxuries of the world. The movie is a thriller about a bank robbery masterminded by BIG B. The songs grow on you instantaneously and is a good way to start the new year with. BUY IT AND YOU WON'T REGRET IT. And as the promos say - A DANGEROUS GAME IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Yeh Dil Aashiqaana
Aroona Irani's YEH DIL AASHIQANAA, directed by Kuku Kohli, is set against the backdrop of terrorism. It's the story of Karan (Karan Nath) and Pooja (Jeevidha), who are studying in the same college in Pune. They fall in love and everything seems to be going fine till one day Pooja's flight is hijacked by a group of terrorists, following the arrest of their leader Ashraf-ul-Haq Mallik. Ironically, this hijack has been engineered by Pooja's brother Vijay Varma (Rajat Bedi), who is in league with the terrorist head Akhmash Jalal (Aditya Panscholi). Vijay is unaware of the fact that his beloved sister is on board the same flight. When he realises this, he is unable to do anything as Akhmash forbids him from doing anything that would jeopardise their mission. Karan daringly risks his life and rescues Pooja and the other passengers, thus inviting the wrath of Akhmash and Vijay. Akhmash is now out to kill Karan. On the other hand, Vijay puts his foot down when Pooja reveals her intentions of marrying Karan. Pooja and Karan decide to escape, but they are chased and nabbed by Akhmash and his men and held captive in his den. Akhmash then tries to blackmail the Indian government by demanding the release of his leader Ashraf-ul-Haq Mallik as ransom for the lives of Karan and Pooja. Does the Indian government bow down to the terrorist's demands? Does Karan succeed in getting Pooja out of the clutches of the terrorists? Are the lovers united? Flashback December 24, 1999. An Indian aircraft is hijacked and the armed hijackers demand the release of a terrorist as ransom. This real-life incident is the inspiration for the story of YEH DIL AASHIQANAA. What could've been an edge-of-the-seat thriller (on the lines of the Harrison Ford starrer AIR FORCE ONE, which tackled a similar theme) with a romantic plot interwoven, gets diluted thanks to a screenplay that relies too heavily on cliches, predictable moments and the tried and tested stuff. There are two tracks running parallel in the first half - the romance between Karan and Jeevidha forms the main track, while the terrorists' hatching a plot to hijack an Indian aircraft, forms the other. The drama gets interesting at the interval point, when Rajat Bedi gets to know that his sister is amongst those hijacked. But the way the hijack drama unfolds in the second half, surprises you. For, the ease with which Karan, single-handedly and unarmed, rescues the hundred odd passengers from the clutches of five/six armed terrorists, is very difficult to absorb. Thereafter, the screenplay follows the wrong path completely. For, the terrorists set their sights on Karan, forgetting all about their mission and the imprisoned leader in the process. However, it must be noted that the second half moves at a vigorous pace, giving no scope for the viewer to blink an eyelid. Besides the pace, the sequences are stylishly shot by director Kuku Kohli and cinematographer Baba Azmi. The helicopter chase in the pre-climax, for instance, is brilliantly executed and one of the high points of the flick. As a director, Kuku Kohli impresses more in the post-interval portions. His handling of the dramatic sequences is creditworthy. However, he should've concentrated on making the screenplay more innovative, instead of relying on the age-old predictable formula. Baba Azmi's cinematography is first-rate. The cinematographer's contribution is evident in the pre-climax and climax of the film. Action sequences are fabulously executed. Dialogues are noteworthy. Production values are adequate. Nadeem-Shravan's music is melodious to the core. The pick of the lot are the title track, 'Ae Meri Natkathi' and 'Utha Le Jaoonga'. The qawwali, in the pre-climax, is very well picturised. The background score (Naresh Sharma) heightens the overall impact and is a major asset. Karan Nath shows promise in a role that showcases his talent. The youngster has been cast in a role that is supposed to be larger than life and, fortunately, the viewer doesn't feel dejected by his interpretation of the character he portrays. As an actor, he shows immense growth when compared to his performance in his debut vehicle. Jeevidha has the girl-next-door looks, but is a decent performer. Her expressions in the climax mainly are striking. Aditya Panscholi uplifts the film to a great extent. He is excellent. Rajat Bedi does his part well. Aroona Irani doesn't get much scope, but leaves a mark in the scene when she goes to Rajat Bedi's house to ask for Jeevidha's hand for her son, Karan. On the whole, YEH DIL AASHIQANAA has an engaging second half and a well executed climax to appeal to the masses, but that's not adequate enough for an extensive run at the box-office. However, the business at small centres should be better. Rating:- * ½.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Music Review: Pitaah
Mahesh Manjrekar plays true to form and comes out with an inconsistent album in 'Pitaah', released by Universal. Mahesh's favorite composers Anand Raaj Anand and Rahul Ranade share the credits for the compositions. The maximum compositions are of course by Anand while Ranade just gets to compose a couple of tracks. The eight-track album opens with shlokas, the rendition of which is reminiscent of the shlokas that Manjrekar had in 'Vaastav'. In fact, he seems to be carrying a hangover from 'Vaastav' as far as the treatment of the shlokas is concerned. Perhaps it was due to this familiarity that nobody has been credited for the shlokas, neither for the composition nor the rendition. The title track, 'Pitaah', rendered by Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik, is lyrically one of the better tracks on the album. Composed by Anand on lyrics by Praveen Bhardwaj, it is based on a composition that is easy to decipher. Although the theme sounds routine, Udit gives his all in rendering the track and is ably supported by Alka. 'Nadiya Kinare Aao' is a romantic duet in the voice of Kavita Krishnamurthy and Sonu Nigam. The composition here is average and the lyrics no great shakes either. If the track is worth a hearing, it is mainly because of the two vocalists, who infuse life into this run of the mill romantic number. 'Ram Bachaiye', by Rahman discovery Anuradha Shriram, is a rehash of one of Anand's own composition in 'Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai'. Anuradha justifies her choice for this dance track that has lyrics by Pravin Bhardwaj. 'Sau Bar Janaam' is a track that gives you the feeling that it will be more effective on the screen. A Sukhwinder Singh solo, it is composed by Anand on lyrics by Bhardwaj that are good. Sukhwinder shines as the singer quite effortlessly. 'Meri Jawani', a Sunidhi Chauhan solo, is an ordinary track that is a total misfit in what is supposed to be a 'period film'. The track is absolutely ineffective, with Anand's composition lacking punch and the lyrics by Bhardwaj being ordinary. Sunidhi Chauhan too goes over the top with her rendition and adds to the noise pollution. 'Humko To Ishq Aap Ka', composed by Anand and with lyrics by Bhardwaj, is rendered by Kavita Krishnamurthy. A semi-classical track, it reminds one of several such tracks, the most notable one being the Khayyam composed track in 'Umrao Jaan'. The lyrics are functional and serve their purpose. Kavita is an absolute delight to hear. 'Putra Parishta' is written by Shri Desai and composed by Rahul Ranade and Ravindra Sathe. This is another track that will have an impact when it is played out on the screen. On the whole, the soundtrack of 'Pitaah' is a mixed bag. It is unlike Manjrekar's previous soundtracks in the sense that the impressive tracks on the album are in the narrative format, the kind that are part of the storyline rather than mere fillers. In that sense, it is a soundtrack that has more class appeal than mass appeal, thereby limiting its shelf life.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe
KOI MERE DIL SE POOCHHE, written-directed by Vinay Shukla, tells the story of Mansi Devi (Jaya Bachchan) and her daughter Esha (Esha Deol). They share their hopes, their dreams, their laughter and their tears. But they also share a terrifying secret... And one fine day, Aman (Aftab Shivdasani) enters their lives. Fun-loving Aman is a final year student at NIFT with loads of friends on the campus, but no girlfriend. Aman encounters Esha. The lovely girl takes his breath away and he falls head over heals in love with her. But Esha doesn't respond to him initially. And there's a reason to it! There is a dark secret hanging over her - Sanjay Kapoor. KOI MERE DIL SE POOCHHE is an important release mainly because it marks the debut of Dharmendra and Hema Malini's daughter Esha in films. Obviously, the expectations from the film are manifold. The basic plot of KOI MERE DIL SE POOCHHE is interesting, but it is the treatment that's plain mediocre. The screenplay abounds in predictable moments, with not much effort being taken to make it look a cut above the rest. Esha's introduction should've been equally glamorous and larger-than-life, but writer-director Vinay Shukla has presented her in the most simplistic manner, as if she were just another newcomer. The hype surrounding the young actress is enormous and in that respect, her introduction should've been more stylish. The first half focuses on the mandatory light scenes and songs, although a couple of individual sequences do grab your attention, mainly the one when Esha rebuffs Aftab, who then chases her after she speeds away in an autorickshaw. The interval point catches the viewer unawares and one looks forward to an exciting second half. Sanjay Kapoor's introduction and his eccentric cum evil behaviour are the highlights of the film. His portions provide the much-needed spice to an otherwise ordinary film. But the inconsistencies in the second half again dilute the impact. The screenplay, once again, meanders on the beaten path, with the viewer fully aware what's going to happen next. Even the climax, when Jaya Bachchan mixes poison in the kheer, lacks novelty. A more appropriate climax was the need of the hour. Writer-director Vinay Shukla's intentions of tackling a different theme are praiseworthy, but he should've avoided relying too heavily on cliches and formula to move his story ahead. Music (Rajesh Roshan) is a drawback. The film has two mediocre numbers 'Deewana Tera Hai' and 'Mat Ho Udas' but they are not enough to command a repeat audience. The engagement song 'Tera Bhala Kare Bhagwan' is the best song, picturisation-wise, since a lot of drama takes place in this number. Cinematography is alright. Dialogues are well worded at places. The background music (Naresh Sharma) deserves a special mention. Esha Deol looks pleasant and delivers a sincere performance. However, she needs to brush up her acting skills and get a little more camera-friendly. Sanjay Kapoor is the surprise packet, playing an evil character to perfection. He contributes to some of the best moments in the film. Aftab Shivdasani does a fine job. He shows a marked improvement over his previous performances. Jaya Bachchan delivers yet another mature performance. Anupam Kher is repetitive. The Jaspal Bhatti - Rajpal Yadav comedy track appeals initially, but tends to get monotonous subsequently. On the whole, KOI MERE DIL SE POOCHHE is too ordinary in content and will therefore end up with ordinary prospects at the ticket window. Rating:- * ½.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Esha Deol
With her dream girl looks she could just light up the screen. Esha Deol daughter superstars Hema and Dharmendra, is all set make her debut with KMDSP a thriller that should the audience on the edge of their seats. In fact Esha was looking forward to the release of the film in December last year. 'At least I could have been nominated for the Best Debut award. Now I'll have to wait for the whole year for the awards to be announced,... she cribs. But Esha is happy that she is finally doing what has made her family a proud-act! How was it shooting for your debut film Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche (KMDSP)? Wonderful! It was an enriching experience and for a newcomer I really learnt a lot! What is your role in the film? I play Esha a girl with a traumatic past! She behaves in an unusual manner unlike the girls her age. What her past is one gets to know only towards the climax. There’s a twist. Now don’t ask me what it is all about. You must see the film if you want to know (laughs). The audience may feel why is this girl behaving like this? They will sympathise with the character only after the interval when the truth is revealed. You come from a family that has been in films for over two decades. Your brothers Sunny and Bobby are name to reckon with. So did the mantle of expectations weigh heavily on your shoulders? I have never thought about the family that I come from when I decided to take up acting as a career. It was just another girl making a career decision. But now since you mentioned it I need to seriously think about it (laughs). You must’ve been on the sets with your mother Hemaji. Were things in anyway different from what you had seen then? Not really! I knew more or less how the film industry functions. I knew these things I would have to be well versed with while some things I could afford to ignore. Was it tough to convince your parents to allow you to act? Yes! My mom warned me about the hardships one would have to go through to gain a foothold in the industry. I was more than prepared for it. I told mom this is what I wanted to do. I told her that it was her job to convince dad to allow me to act (laughs). It was a bit difficult but he finally relented. People usually are under the impression that the industry is one glamorous place to be in but isn’t. Do you agree? Yeah! It is one place where you have to work hard. You have to put on heavy make-up and shoot studios that are without air-condition! The shot takes hours to get ready. You have to rehearse. And till you don’t get it right you have to give takes over and over again. Now I know what my mother meant when she said that I knew what I was getting into. I’m here for good! Did you take any formal training in acting? Yes I did! I joined Kishore Namit’s classes for acting. I learnt my Hindi diction that I’m very bad at from Veena Mehta. Since I had learnt Odissi Nritya in childhood I didn’t have to take any dancing classes. And whether it be Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi once you are well versed with any of them you become an expert in dance rhythms and taals. I love to dance! Didn’t Dharmendraji want to launch you it under his banner? Boney Kapoor and Sri aunty had asked mom if they could launch me in their film. And mom willingly agreed. The subject of the film was good. It centred around me! And what more could a newcomer ask for. My face has been splashed in all the hoardings of the city. Sometimes I feel I don’t deserve this. I’m happy go lucky to have had this kind of debut. You know Sri aunty’s daughter Jhanvi refers to me as her elder sister. She has immense affection for me. I couldn’t have asked for a better film seriously! How was it working with Jayaji? I remember the first time I met her. We had to do a photoshoot for the film. I had to place my arms around her. And I was shivering like a leaf. "What’s wrong?" she asked me. I told her about my nervousness and she bursts out laughing telling me to take it easy. From then on she always took care of me on the sets. She’d feed me with chocolates because she knew I love them. Even during outdoor locations; I feel homesick very easily; but with her around I felt less homesick. It is my fortune that I got to work with a senior artiste like her. Which foreign locations have you shot the film in? We went to New Zealand! It’s a very beautiful place. The only thing I wanted to do was shop, shop and shop. I remember there was scene where Aftab’s trousers weren’t fitting him well. He had to go to buy a new one for the shoot. I asked the unit members if I could also go with him. When I returned they were surprised to see six-seven bags of clothes and chocolates. How I enjoyed shopping that time. How serious are you about your make-up and dress sense? Very serious! I really think about the clothes that I need to create the get up I should have for a particular film. Rocky S my designer helps me with it. His choice and my taste often match so I trust him completely where my clothes in the film are concerned. Few know but I have also learnt the art of make-up and how to style your hair. I often cut my hair myself. I have been interested in it since childhood. Even during my school I was heavily into painting and arts and crafts. I think two actresses to have made impact in 2000 are you and Kareena. I believe both of you are great friends... Yes! And we talk about those things that usually girls our age talk about. She has already passed the phase where she’d have to bite her nails before the release of her film. I’m going through that right now (laughs). Forthcoming films... Na Tum Jano Na Hum with Hrithik Roshan and there other two films with Tusshar.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Karan Johar
With K3G opening to a thunderous response in its third week, Karan Johar is having the last laugh! Those who had written off K3G soon after its release have made an about-turn on their 'predictions' about the fate of the film. "There were caustic comments galore during the first three days of the film's release. I was so disheartened. One so-called trade analyst even went to the extent of saying that the collections of the family drama would see a downward trend from the very fourth day of its release. But like they say, the box-office figures speak louder than hollow words," Karan, presently in Goa to celebrate the New Year's, tells me in a telephonic conversation. "I was so upset with the venomous talk about the length of the film. I was demoralised completely and couldn't enjoy the success of the film for the entire first week," Karan reminisces, continuing in the same breath, "On one hand we talk of the dire straits the film industry is in and when a film does manage to collect astonishing figures, we feel nonplussed instantaneously. Double standards, I tell you." Karan elaborates, "It was Shah Rukh Khan who made me come to terms with the fact that people are bound to talk filth. 'Why should people like you?,' Shah Rukh told me. 'You achieved a distinction in your very first film (KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI) and in your very second film (K3G) you assembled a star cast that was the envy of one and all. So people are bound to feel jealous and vindictive', he added," Karan states. That did it! It brought Karan out of the gloom. So what's next on the cards? "My associate director – Nikhil Advani – is directing the next film for Dharma Productions. Nikhil was the associate director in KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI, MOHABBATEIN and K3G. He deserves to go independent now. And Shah Rukh will head the cast of this film. Dharma Productions cannot imagine making a film without Shah Rukh. He's family," Karan states. This project, Karan tells me, will roll in September 2002. "It will be a 2-hero, 2-heroine subject. A thriller. Not the kind of film I specialise in. But I am writing its screenplay. I'm stepping into an altogether new territory this time," he laughs. Once this film is complete, Karan will embark on his project. "At the moment, let me chill out," Karan states. Agreed!
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Sanjay spotted having fun with a babe in Goa
We recently spotted Sanju with an unidentified female. Sanjay Dutt was in Goa to shoot for his forthcoming film Nehla Pe Dehla starring Sanjay Dutt, Saif Ali Khan and Shakti Kapoor. Sanjay was seen with a beautiful babe at Taj Exotica in Madgaon, Goa where he was staying. The staff of Taj was rather surprised to see Sanjay getting drunk and roaming around that girl in a golf car with that babe. Sanjay stayed in a beautiful chalet overlooking the beach where he stayed along with that beautiful babe.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
THE HERO
The mahurat of THE HERO, starring Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta and Priyanka Chopra, was performed on January 15. Produced by Dhirajlal Shah, Pravin Shah and Hasmukh Shah and directed by Anil (GADAR) Sharma, the film co-stars Amrish Puri, Kabir Bedi, Rahul Dev, Shahbaaz Khan and Parvin Dabas. Uttam Singh will score the music. The film will be shot in Canada extensively, tentatively from March 2002 and is scheduled to be completed by August 2002.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam Soundtrack launched
"It took six years for this movie to make - but is finally made ready" said Salman Khan which sums up why this movie took such a long time. While K.C. Bokadia has barely made his mark in the recent times, he could get lucky with this movie. The story is about Shah Rukh and Madhuri who are married couple until friend Salman starts liking Madhuri. Both Salman and Shah Rukh sat together giving interviews to the television media. Salman even whispered in Shah Rukh’s ears "Picture ka kya naam hai?" Salman kept staring at the MC Radio Jockey, Siddharth Kannan while the album was launched. Perhaps he liked Sid K’s voice a lot and perhaps the way he introduced Sallu. Pritish Nandy too was there to grace the occasion besides Amrish Puri. Madhuri only came late after the album function was over. Madhuri looked sexy in her bare back blouse – she was accompanied by her secretary Rikku Nath who kept bossing around with journalists and only allowed her to speak limited. Rikku was upset with one TV journalist from Aaj Tak when he was asking some questions to Madhuri and where he mentioned one of her movies as flop. Bali Brahmbhatt was the pal of the day as he mingled with the crowd and gave interviews to the press. Nikhil-Vinay were there too, and as for their music must say that their title song of Hum Tumhare Sanam is already make big waves. Rashesh Shah, son of Bharat Shah was also present at the album launch. About the Soundtrack: It contains 10 numbers with one instrumental composition. Side A opens with the title track sung beautifully by Anuradha Paudwal and Udit Narayan with music given by Nikhil Vinay. The sad version is rendered by Sonu Nigam. "Gale Mein Laal Taal" is a naughty track rendered by Kuamr Sanu and Bela Sulakhe. "Aa Gaya Aa Gaya" by Udit is passable. "Taaron Ka Chamakta" is a fast and pacy, foot tapping number. "Sab Kuchh Bhula Diya" comes in two versions. The track is slow, heart-rendering. For dance freaks there is Sonu’s "Dil Tod Aaya"
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Now a statue for Shah Rukh
First it was Amitabh Bachchan, now it is Shah Rukh Khan. The star's fans in north Kolkata have decided to install a statue of the Shah Rukh Khan. Amitabh Bachchan have previously done similar thing by installing an entire museum and dedicated to Big B. Shah Rukh himself has agreed to inaugurate his own statue provided it does not clash with his shooting schedules.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Maa Tujhe Salaam looks good !!!
The press on Saturday night was called for a special gathering to launch the book for the movie Maa Tujhe Salaam directed by ace action director from Bollywood Tinnu Verma. But to all the pres reporters surprise it turned out to be a notebook launch with pictures of the movie endorsed on it! But the press was in for surprise since they had a chance for a sneak preview for the forthcoming flick. The makers almost showed about 30 minutes of the movie and from what we saw – we felt that this movie will work well at the box office. With Tinnu Verma’s action winning style (Screen Award for Gadar in the category of Best Action) and then the magic of Indian and Gadar could be back for Sunny Deol. The cinematography done by Raju Kaygee, the music score is average with average soundtrack music of Sajid-Wajid which sticks with the theme of the movie which is patriotism. Sunny has always been a winner with action flicks though some scenes do look very plain, but overall it comes out well. Tabu has a very sexy image portrayed and considering that this movie has been targeted at the masses – those item numbers are well justified! The movie will click with the masses in the name of patriotism plus the good star cast. Arbaaz Khan who has earlier not given that dynamic performance is looking good in this movie. There is loads of action in this movie and with the patriotic flavour during tense times between India and Pakistan, this movie will surely attract the masses and hopefully the national box office.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Tragedy for Kajol, Ajay Devgan
While the talk of the stork visiting the Devgan household was running hand in hand with talk of Kajol splitting with Ajay, the Devgans nevertheless were an ecstatic lot when they learnt that daughter-in-law Kajol was six weeks pregnant. This was at the beginning of December. But unfortunately for them, their joy was short lived. Last weekend, the actress complained of acute pain and had to be rushed to Breach Candy Hospital way past midnight. She suffered a tragedy as she lost her two-month old child. The eight-week old fetus, which was lodged in a precarious position, had to be surgically removed in an emergency operation. Reacting to the tragedy, Ajay is obviously sad. Evidently, the 'ectoscopic pregnancy' is encountered only once in 400 cases, and because of it Kajol's life was in danger. As soon as the doctors informed the Devgans that they would have to operate, both Ajay as well as Kajol are reported to have given their consent. The actress was reportedly shocked when she learnt of the risks involved in her pregnancy but she took solace in the fact that her hubby was there to comfort her and helped her in taking the decision to undergo surgery. Kajol has been advised a fortnight's bed rest before she gets back on her feet. If there is any bright side to the situation, it is that it is that Kajol's life is safe. The actress is now recuperating at home after being discharged from the hospital earlier this week. Ajay has cancelled his shootings to spend time with her at home. The tragedy has strengthened the bond between the young couple and help them iron out the few differences they have reportedly had during the past few months. Incidentally, 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham', is said to be Kajol's swansong as far as her film career is concerned. The actress maintains that she has acted in her last film. She has no other films on hand at the moment. But looking at the way she has come out trumps in the film, with good reviews as the loud Anjali from Chandni Chowk, one wonders why she wants to quit. According to insiders at Dharma Productions, Karan Johar is keen in doing another film with her but the actress has refused to take up the offer.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Vasundhara Das: Wedded to Music And Films
Vasundhara, who is a couple of films, a couple of songs and one private album old, has proved her versatility. "In this film, I play Aditi, the confused bride. She agrees to marry on the rebound after an aborted love affair with her former boss," Vasundhara says, "a confusion she portrays with conviction." Talking about her experience as an actress, Vasundhara says, "Hey Ram' was like studying in a primary school. Kamal Haasan taught me what acting was all about. In Mira Nair's film, I feel that I have grown as an actress." Vasundhara admits to having a great time on the sets of 'Monsoon Wedding'. "The entire cast got to know each other and we were very comfortable. It was like a bunch of friends working together." Talking about Vasundhara the singer, she says, "I always wanted to be a singer. But I took it up seriously only after graduation." Hailing from a Brahmin family of Bangalore, Vasundhara trained in classical music at the tender age of 10. Her first guru was her grandmother and then Parmeshwar Hegde, a veteran musician, put her through her paces. "I studied at Mount Carmel and am fortunate that my school promoted extra-curricular activities like singing. That helped me a lot", she says. Participating in a national-level competition, Vasundhara managed to surpass her seniors in the field through her vocal prowess. In college, she was part of an all girls' band. "I used to stand in for the drummer when needed", she recalls. Vasundhara owes the maturity in her voice to listening to veteran singers regularly. "I used to attend umpteen concerts. I also visited musicians and that helped me understand more about my art." Spanish music is something Vasundhara enjoys and it was through it that she made herself visible in the album-cutting race. "When a corporate show required a Spanish song, I made up one. To my surprise, it went off well. Then I thought, why not give it a serious thought? Who has been her inspiration? "Aziz Mustafa is my idol. He handles various kinds of music and instruments," comes the quick reply. Vasundhara also has a degree in music under her belt. "I took an year off from college where I was studying mathematics." Then the commercial bug hit her. "I went to Chennai in search of records companies and Magnasound turned out to be the first and last," she says. Vasundhara's song 'Shaka Laka Baby' marked her commercial debut in films and was a major hit in south India. Soon after, she was offered a role in 'Hey Ram'. "Kamal Haasan offered me the role and it was too big to turn down. I got noticed, and people started saying nice things about me", she preens. Her first Tamil commercial film, 'Citizen', with Ajith, was an instant hit. She has also done a Malyalam film called 'Ravana Prabhu' with superstar Mohan Lal. 'Monsoon Wedding' happened when she came to Delhi in connection with her debut album, 'Meri Jaan'. Vasundhara "doesn't ask for much" in a role. "I just look for a certain amount of strength in the character, that doesn't limit me to looking pretty." I prefer to wait for roles rather than go on a signing spree. For me, at the end of the day, satisfaction is what matters. Box-office success comes only second." Despite an impressive track record, Vasundhara insists that acting is not her first love. "I am a singer first, films just came along," she explains. Although her debut album, 'Meri Jaan' has flopped, Vasundhara is unaffected. "I enjoyed singing in 'Aks' and 'Rehna Hai Terre Dil Mein'." She is full of praise for the two-week workshop that Naseeruddin Shah held for the cast of 'Monsoon Wedding'. "Hey Ram' had been a sort of primary school for me," she says. "Kamal Haasan's style of filmmaking is more about extracting spontaneous reactions for the camera. On the other hand, Mira has a method approach. Her film, and particularly the workshop, happened at a time when I really stared discovering myself as an actor. We were taught to 'be the character' rather than 'act it'." Vasundhara is pragmatic when you ask her about the future. "There are so many talented newcomers out there," she points out. And she knows that good roles for actresses are few and far in between. "But then, sooner or later we all get scope to prove ourselves." For now, however, she's comfortable balancing her two lives as singer and actress.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Hrithik-Amitabh to clash again
Just last week, we broke the news of the clash of the titans, An Amitabh Bachchan flick (AANKHEN) clashing with a Hrithik Roshan starrer (AAP MUJHE ACHCHE LAGNE LAGE) on 5th April. The news created quite a commotion, with everyone within and outside the film industry discussing the prospects of the two films. But wait, there's more to follow! The month of April will see the actors coming face to face once again. The Amitabh starrer KAANTE and the Hrithik starrer NA TUM JAANO NA HUM will be released on the same date, April 19. Yes, the dates have been finalised and it remains to be seen who emerges triumphant on both the occasions.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Amitabh on for Ravi Chopra's next
Well, reportedly Ravi Chopra has signed Amitabh Bachchan for his next film Bagbaan. Last heard, the director was negotiating with the Big B and Tabu for his project. But now the deed has been done. The Big B is on. Chopra is now looking out for another hero and heroine for his project, which get off the ground by mid February, March.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Armed forces clear BBV
MAA TUJHHE SALAAM was okayed by the Defence Ministry last week and now, the armed forces gave the green signal to BHARAT BHAGYA VIDHATA, produced by T.P. Aggarwal and directed by Osho Raja. It may be recalled that the script of the film was okayed by the army and only then were the makers given the go-ahead to shoot at the army base. The film will now be submitted to censors either on Friday or Monday. While on BBV, its producer, T.P. Aggarwal, is all set to start a film with action composer Ravi Dewan as director. The film, titled HINDUSTAN ZINDABAD, will star three top heroes in the lead. Watch this space for details!
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Raveena: Not in love
Raveena Tandon clarified that she was not going steady with cricketer Rahul Dravid. "Work is my priority," she asserted. She admitted that she had met Rahul Dravid through common friends. "That's it! I have not been out with him at all. I don't know how these rumours began," she said. She further continued, "Now it would get awkward if we bump into each other," she said. After winning the Best Supporting Actress award for her sizzling performance in Aks, you can't blame Raveena for concentrating too much on her career, can you? Her next goal is to win the best actress award for one of the performances from the variety of films she is doing this year.
Saturday, January 26, 2002
12 Pak soliders killed in border firing
JAMMU: Twelve Pakistani soldiers were killed and 10 army bunkers destroyed Saturday when Indian forces shelled Pakistani positions across the border in Kashmir, Army officials said. "In retaliatory action against Pakistan army posts and bunkers that aided infiltrators and indulged in unprovoked shelling on Indian villages and posts, the Army destroyed 10 such bunkers ... killing 12 Pakistani soldiers," Army spokesman Major Animesh Trivedi said. The officer said the incident occured in the Akhnoor sector, 95 km northwest of Jammu. Cross-border shelling between India and Pakistan commenced Friday after a lull of 11 days and coincided with a test of India's nuclear-capable Agni missile, which provoked an angry response from Pakistan.
Saturday, January 26, 2002
Agni II steals show on R-day
NEW DELHI: The country's newest and most sophisticated weapon system agni II missile was on public display for the first time at the Republic Day parade on Saturday which was shorn of traditional display of military might. Amidst unprecedented security, the 90-minute parade was pared down in view of troop deployments on the Indo-Pak border and the route cut down by three kms skipping the traditional connaught place as the parade unfolded the rich cultural diversity. President K R Narayanan saluted the marching contigents from an elevated dais at central Rajpath as contingents of para-military forces -- Assam Rifles, BSF, CRPF, ITBP and CISF, railway protection force and coast guards -- made up for the absence of the marching contingents and mechanised formations. Thousands of spectators braved the early morning chill to witness the parade on the occasion of the 52nd republic day anniversary after going through a spate of security checks amid a tight aerial surveillance. Striking a colourful note were the tastefully decorated tableaux of various central organisations and states showcasing the cultural diversity of the country with Gujarat's "rising from the rubble' tableau providing a grim reminder of the devastating quake this day last year. Held amidst unprecedented security in the wake of terrorist threat, the celebrations began on a solemn note with the president decorating three security personnel, including a crpf woman constable, who had laid down their lives during the December 13 attack on parliament, with Ashok Chakra. Memories of the attack on the country's citadel of democracy, just a few hundred metres away, came alive when relatives of Rajya Sabha watch and ward staff M S Negi and J P Yadav and constable Kamlesh Kumari's kin walked to the dais to accept the honour on their behalf. The fourth decoration of the highest peace time gallantary award was also posthumous, conferred on Naik Rambeer singh of rashtirya rifles for counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Stealing the show, however, was the prototype of the indigenously-built unmanned surveillance aircraft Nishant and AGNI-II intermediate range ballistic surface-to-surface missile, a shorter range version of which was successfully test-fired at balasore yesterday. The unmanned aerial vehicle nishant, with a flight endurance of four and half hours is touted as an instrument for battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance. Equipped with cameras and thermal sensors, it can carry a payload of 45 kgs and fly upto 185 kms/hour at an altitude upto 3600 metres. Also on display was DRDO's Sarvatra, a mechanically launched state of the art multi-span mobile bridging system capable of bridging widths upto 75 metres within 100 minutes and of withstanding the heaviest of military traffic including tanks. Leading the parade as usual was the general officer commanding, Delhi area, Major General N S Pathania, a highly decorated soldier, followed by his deputy and the living legends of armed forces, the paramvir chakra awardees, the highest war time gallantary awards. As the contingents marched down the resplendent Rajpath, four MI helicopters showered rose petals from a height of 200 feet as a mark of respect for the head of the state and his Chief guest Mauritian President Cassam Utteem. Before the President, who arrived with the guest of honour, took position on the saluting dais, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee paid homage to the brave soldiers by laying a floral wreath and observing a two-minute silence at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India gate. A ceremonial tri-services contingent commanded by wing commander O P Gupta presented the "salami shastra" or general salute followed by the "shok shastra" or reversing of arms as a mark of respect to the "immortal soldier". As the president unfurled the National flag, a 21-gun salute was presented by gunners of the 81 field battery of the 12 field regiment using 25 pounders -- guns of second world war vintage. They are now only used for ceremonial purposes. Following the living heroes of the armed forces was a contingent from 61 cavalry, the only horsed cavalry in the world today which also has the distinction of having led one of the last cavalry charges in history during the first world war. Decorative bands of para-military and other auxillary forces like assam rifles, indo-tibetan border police, railway protection force, crpf and Delhi police regaled the audience with patriotic tunes like "sare jahan se achcha and kadam kadam badhaye ja". Representing the future generation were the youthful NCC contingents, including senior division of the boys who marched for the first time in newly introduced commando fatigues. Reflecting the promise held by the new generation were the 12 girls and 13 boys honoured with this year's National bravery awards. They were cheered by the audience as they passed by the saluting dais riding caprisoned elephants. Providing a dash of colour and gaiety to the show were tableaux from 16 states and 12 central ministries and departments with chattisgarh making its maiden entry. Sweet and Sour moments What's a terrorist? NEW DELHI; Six year old Parul who turned up for the R-day parade patiently got herself frisked every five metres before entry into the viewer's gallery. But at the last stop, she finally asked what the hullabaloo was about? Her mother calmly told her that that the drill was to keep away the terrrorists, who might enter the venue in the garb of "common people like us." Pat came the next question, " What's a terrorist ma?", making it difficult for the mother to give an easy answer and describe what a terrorist looked like. Parul, interestingly, had turned up to see what she described as "public day". No 'fair' concessions Nothing was left to chance at the lawns of the boat club, which were turned into a veritable fortress for the R-day parade. The fairer sex, in fact, ended up in longer queues as women were subjected to intense checking, including their heeled shoes. No 'fair' concessions this time.
Saturday, January 26, 2002
Militants blow up TV transmitter in Kashmir
SRINAGAR: Suspected militants blew up a television transmitter in Kashmir Saturday in an attack coinciding with Republic Day celebrations, police said. Armed with AK rifles, several militants descended on the village of Garoora near Bandipora, 60 km north of Srinagar, and attacked the low-power transmitter that aired programmes of Doordarshan. The militants blew up the mobile van that contained the transmitter at about 3.00 am (2130 GMT Thursday), police said. Separatist militants have in the past carried out attacks on Republic Day against security forces and official celebrations. Two militant groups, al-Badr Mujahedin and al-Umar Mujahedin, have threatened attacks this Republic Day.
Saturday, January 26, 2002
India tests nuke capable Agni missile
NEW DELHI: On the eve of the Republic Day, India successfully test-fired a ''short-range'' variant of the Agni ballistic missile. With a range of around 800-900 km, this nuclear-capable ''Agni-I variant'' seems to have been specifically designed keeping Pakistan in mind. The surface-to-surface missile was launched from the Island Test Range off the Orissa coast at 8.45 am. Significantly, this solid-propellant Agni-I variant can be fired from road-mobile launchers. ‘‘This launch is significant for operational aspects of our (nuclear) deterrence posture...And the designing and manufacturing of a new road-mobile launcher for this missile is noteworthy because it confers operational advantages in movement, deployment and launching,’’ said Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses director K Santhanam, who witnessed the launch. Prime Minister Vajpayee, while congratulating the defence scientists, asserted that the development of this Agni missile system was an ‘‘ongoing’’ programme and part of ‘‘several steps’’ taken to bolster the country’s security. With only the Prithvi-II, a relatively primitive missile with a range of 150-250 km depending on the payload, actually being inducted into the Army so far, defence experts say India sorely needs such a missile to bridge the gap in range between the Prithvi and the Agni-II missiles. The rail-mobile Agni-II missile, with a 2,500 km range, has already entered limited series production after successful tests and the Army is raising a new missile group to handle this land-based nuclear deterrent. ‘‘Agni-III, which is in the development stage, will also be rail-mobile with a range of 3,500-4,000 km. Its first test may be in late 2003,’’ said Santhanam. Experts say the Agni-I variant should successfully fill the void in range between the Prithvi-II and Agni-II missiles. ‘‘Moreover, since it is road-mobile, it can also easily be taken to forward areas ahead of the last rail-head,’’ said an expert. Analysts point out similar efforts by Pakistan, whose 750-km range ballistic missile Shaheen-I, basically a derivative of the Chinese M-9 missile, is already in the ‘‘production\operational phase’’. ‘‘Pakistan also tested its Ghauri-I (1,300-km range) and Ghauri-II (2,000-km range) missiles in 1998-1999. They are also developing Shaheen-II and Ghauri-III missiles,’’ said an expert. There are reports saying that Pakistan recently ordered 100 mobile launchers from China. China, in turn, is continuing with its modernisation programme of building new land-based solid-fuel mobile ICBMs like ‘‘DF-31’’ (8,000-km range) and another one with a range of 12,000-km.
Thursday, January 24, 2002
Keep off Aishwarya, police tell Salman
MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Salman Khan was on Wednesday questioned by the Crime Branch over a complaint filed by the actress Aishwarya Rai’s father. Khan allegedly threatened Aishwarya last week after damaging her car at a film shoot. The complaint states that there is a threat to Aishwarya and her family and that none of the family members could be held responsible for any untoward incident or accident involving Khan. Clad in jeans and a grey T-shirt, Khan presented himself before Assistant Commissioner of Police Ambadas Pote at the office of Crime Branch Unit-VII in Bandra this evening. Sources said he was questioned for more than 30 minutes and then warned to be on good behaviour. Pote said Khan was asked several times about his alleged threats to Aishwarya and her family members. He was also grilled on some previous assaults on the actress, Pote added. Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai were not available for comment. Her father Krishnaraj Rai also refused comment. Last week, Khan allegedly damaged Aishwarya’s car during the shooting of an unnamed Rohan Sippy film at Film City in Goregaon. The actor apparently rammed his Pajero into her car. Eyewitnesses recalled that Salman was furious when Aishwarya was reluctant to leave the spot with him. Khan, they say, in a fit of anger, smashed his car into the stationary vehicle. Salman’s aggressive behaviour attracted the ire of other members of the unit and many of them tried to chase him. The actor, however, managed to beat a hasty retreat. The Salman-Aishwarya pair was the toast of Bollywood before it ran into rough weather after repeated instances of his alleged bad behaviour. The actress once appeared in public with a black eye, sparking off rumours of physical abuse. Ayshwarya, however, has consistently scotched such rumours. The Bollywood grapevine has it that she has cooled off relationship, but Khan will not take no for an answer. Khan reportedly told Crime Branch officers on Wednesday that he was desperate to meet Aishwarya, and that he had to force his way into her house on a couple of occasions. There were unconfirmed reports last year of Khan having broken down the main door of her flat. The police officers could believe him, sources say, as there were tell-tale scars on his muscular forearms. The actor, sources add, tried to barge into Aishwarya’s flat by smashing her window last week. The Rai family, say sources, is now worried that Khan might deliberately get himself into situations dangerous to his life and then blame it on Aishwarya. Sources said that her father, Krishnaraj Rai, after much debate over it, eventually registered a non-cognisable complaint at the Bandra police station about this. It is not the first time Salman was questioned by the cops. He had earlier been questioned by the Crime Branch in connection with Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, the film financed by MCOCA accused Bharat Shah. The Mumbai police have strong reasons to believe the film was being financed by Dubai-based Chhota Shakeel, Dawood Ibrahim’s righthand man. Salman was also questioned after a string of attacks on movie stars starting with the murder of Gulshan Kumar in 1997.
Thursday, January 24, 2002
Insat-3C launched succesfully
BANGALORE: In yet another milestone in India's space programme, its third generation communication satellite Insat-3C was successfully blasted into space by Europe's Ariane-4 rocket from Kourou Space Station in French Guyana on Thursday. After a 54-minute delay, Ariane-4 majestically soared into space carrying the 2,750 kg Insat-3C, the lone passenger on board, and hurtled it into space 21 minutes after the lift-off. Within half-an-hour after the satellite was injected into a geo-synchronous transfer orbit, the master control facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka took control of the spacecraft and acquired the telemetry signal from it. The Rs 250 crore Insat-3C with a designed 12-year mission life, built by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), would replace the ageing satellites like Insat-2C, and give a an impetus to India's telecommunications, broadcasting, business communication and mobile services. Anxiety caused by the delay in the lift-off gave way to cheers to ISRO top scientists led by chairman K Kasturirangan present at the Jupiter Centre, the nerve centre at the launch station, as the rocket, in an exclusive launch for Insat-3C, ejected it into space. In a post-launch briefing, an elated Kasturirangan said initial evaluation of performance of the satellite "appears to be satisfactory". He expressed delight over the successful launch and thanked the Ariane team which "made success one more to an already very successful list". Ariane space president Jean Marie Luton said it was another success for India which had once again proved its skills in satellite technology. Insat-3C's launch on Thursday was the first commercial launch of any satellite in the world this year, Luton said.
Wednesday, January 23, 2002
Jawans to get anti-terrorist training from US
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 22: THE United States will train Indian soldiers in anti-terrorist operations under a comprehensive programme. The training capsule, details of which are being worked out is expected to begin shortly. The US and India are also working out a mechanism to share military intelligence on terrorist activities on a real time basis. The US training is expected to focus on the use of technological aid in gathering intelligence and launching counter-measures, according to highly placed sources in the army headquarters. The US and India will also ‘‘share experiences’’ in combating terrorism. The US has already offered to train 100 Indian defence personnel in the US each year, and sources say the initial focus will be on learning new ways of intelligence gathering and counter-terrorist operations. While India’s focus on combating terrorism has been using large number of troops on ground, the US is expected to train the defence officials on the use of high technology - like signal interceptors, wireless jammers, sensors, night vision devices and other sophisticated equipment to have a bigger edge on terrorists. The Defence Policy Group (DPG) has discussed the broad outlines of the training programme and the details are expected to be worked out during the forthcoming visit of the executive steering group (ESG). While the DPG is led by defence secretary, the ESG interaction is between the vice chief of the three services and their US counterparts. The Chief of Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) Vice Admiral Thomas Wilson has been holding discussions with Lieutenant General O.S. Lochab, Director General of Military Intelligence (DGMI) on charting the course for intelligence sharing on Islamic terrorism in the past two days, sources added. Wilson was briefed on counter-measures taken by the army during his Sunday visit to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). ‘‘The Pakistan-sponsored proxy war in J&K was the subject of discussion. Wilson was briefed by Lt Gen J.B.S. Yadava, corps commander Nagrauta based 16 Corps on the counter measures taken by the army,’’ said an official. ‘‘Intelligence is a weapon to counter terrorist activities. Wilson and Lochab discussed the broad framework for intelligence sharing on a real time basis. General S. Padmanabhan, chief of the army staff (COAS) will be visiting the US and interaction on counter terrorism will be a part of the agenda,’’ he added.
Wednesday, January 23, 2002
India alleges Pakistan linked to US office attack
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has alleged Pakistan is linked to gunmen who attacked a U.S. cultural centre in Calcutta, intensifying the tense military standoff between the nuclear foes. Four police guards were shot dead on Tuesday outside the centre, which housed the press attache, a trade office and a popular American library near the U.S. consulate. No Americans were hurt. Police in Calcutta, India's most densely populated city, rounded up scores of people for questioning and made random checks of guesthouses, airports, railway stations and bus terminals. Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani said a Dubai-based member of a group with links to the Pakistan government's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency had claimed responsibility for the attack, by phone call from Dubai. The foreign ministry said the caller, known as Farhan or as Aftab Malik, might also be linked to the militant Harkat-e-Jihad-e-Islami group, which Calcutta police said had also claimed responsibility. Advani stopped short of suggesting the ISI itself was involved. A Pakistani spokesman said in Islamabad: "These are totally baseless charges. As you know, Pakistan has condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations." New Delhi blamed a December 13 raid on its parliament, in which 14 people died, on Pakistani-based militants fighting its rule in divided Kashmir. It demanded Islamabad crack down on militant groups and hand over 20 alleged terrorists. There are two Harkat-e-Jihad-e-Islami militant groups based in Pakistan-administered Kashmir: the Jammu and Kashmir wing, which has denied involvement, and the International, which has not spoken. TALIBAN ALLIES Harkat-e-Jihad-e-Islami International fought alongside the Taliban and says 85 of its men died in the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. It was not clear which group India was referring to. U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation chief Robert Mueller was in New Delhi on Tuesday for talks on combating terrorism. "I have to wait to see what the facts bear out to see responsibility and motivation for the attack," he said. "I am unaware of specific information in recent days relating to attacks on particular (American) facilities." India and Pakistan have rushed troops, tanks and missiles to their border and an estimated one million men are now dug in along the tense and now heavily landmined 3,310 km frontier from Kashmir in the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea. Pakistan has denounced terrorism, banned five militant groups -- including the two India blamed for the parliament attack -- and rounded up about 2,000 people. But India says it has yet to see proof of Islamabad's sincerity and says separatists are still crossing from Pakistani territory into Indian Kashmir, where the two armies exchange mortar and small arms fire almost daily. The hostile neighbours have fought three wars -- two over Kashmir -- since independence in 1947, when Britain divided its South Asian empire into Islamic Pakistan and mainly Hindu but secular India.
Tuesday, January 22, 2002
Attack outside U.S. office in Calcutta kills four
CALCUTTA (Reuters) - Four policemen were killed and at least 14 injured in a dawn attack by unidentified gunmen outside the U.S. information office in Calcutta on Tuesday, police said. No staff of the U.S. Information Service office were injured in the attack on the heavily guarded building located on one of Calcutta's busiest streets, Gordon Duguid, press attache in the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi told Reuters. "Nothing happened inside the centre. We are waiting for the Calcutta police to provide us with more details," he said. He said embassy officials were in touch with police in Calcutta to get more details of the shooting. Police said the two gunmen, riding motorcycles, sprayed the front of the building with bullets. The centre houses offices to promote American culture and education and a library that is very popular amongst residents of the city. Security outside American establishments throughout the country has been tightened since the deadly hijacked aircraft attacks on the United States in September.
Tuesday, January 22, 2002
Key Army commander replaced
The Army has replaced a key commander involved in the military build-up on the Western Front. Lt.-General Kapil Vij, general officer commanding 2 Corps, has proceeded on leave. Army Headquarters rushed in a replacement on Thursday in Lt.-General PS Thakur. The Military Secretary at Army Headquarters has ordered the attachment of Lt.-General Thakur, chief of staff Army Training Command, with 2 Corps Headquarters pending confirmation of his appointment in this position by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. The Army spokesman denied that Lt.-General Vij had been asked to go on leave, and instead suggested that the senior officer opted out because of personal reasons. Lt.-General Vij had completed his tenure as corps commander, and for personal reasons requested that he be allowed leave, Colonel Shruti Kant, the Army spokesman said. But keeping in view the Operation Parakram, it was not desirable to keep the corps headless. Hence, the attachment of Lt.-Gen. Thakur, who was cleared for appointment as a corps commander, Col Shruti Kant informed. The Ambala-based 2 Corps is one of the three strike corps of the Indian Army. A strike corps is an elite formation, comprising up to one lakh combat troops and a substantial armoured element, trained and equipped for offensive operations inside enemy territory in the event of war.
Tuesday, January 22, 2002
Work on temple construction to begin around March 12: VHP
Ayodhya, Jan 21 The VHP's final stage of agitation for the construction of Ram Mandir at the disputed site here, kicked off with the launch of 'Sant Chetawani Yatra' to Delhi this morning, even as the Sangh Parivar outfit declared it would begin building the temple from any date around March 12. Amidst chanting of 'Jai Sri Ram', hundreds of religious leaders, including 90 saints from Nepal, led by Shankaracharya of Bhanupura Peeth Swami Divyanand Saraswati and VHP international working President Ashok Singhal left for Lucknow in a cavalcade escorted by police and personnel of the Provincial Armed Constabulary. "The temple will be constructed at any date around March 12, " VHP International Secretary General Pravin Bhai Togadia told. "We cannot wait beyond a point. Now, it will be a fight to finish", Togadia said. The week-long yatra (warning march of Hindu religious leaders) would reach Delhi on Jan 26, while a delegation of religious leaders led by Singhal would meet Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Jan 27. "The yatra is aimed at expressing the legitimate demand of Hindus that the Government hands over the entire land to Ram Janam Bhoomi Nyas (trust) to facilitate the construction of the temple at the earliest and we will be putting the same demand before Vajpayee," Togadia said. While the VHP had faith in the PM's assurance that the vexed issue could be sorted out by March 12 deadline of the VHP, the organisation was not part of any dialogue with muslim organisation on the issue, Togadia said. The VHP, he said, would suspend its agitation only in the event of a war and consequent postponement of the election to the four state assemblies. In order to avoid any controversy that the VHP agitation was being organised with an eye on the UP polls, he said "We will leave UP before withdrawal of nominations and return only on February 24 after the elections, for the Purnahuti". During the month-long Purnahuti to mark the conclusion of VHP's earlier programme, Ram-Nam-Jap-Yagya (uninterrupted chanting of Lord Ram's name) would be performed by pilgrims. At the 'Dharam Sabha' on the banks of river Saryu yesterday, VHP leaders, including BJP MP from Faizabad Vinay Katiyar, had adopted an aggressive posture saying the temple would be constructed on our own strength and not by any court's verdict. Earlier, this year, the VHP had organised 'Jalabhishek' (offering of holy water to lord Shiva) and Ram-Nam-Jap programmes across the country to create mass awareness. The Ram Janma Bhoomi Mandir Samiti would meet in Delhi on Januuary 26 followed by a meeting of VHP's apex decision making body, the Marga Darshak Mandal on January 27. Crucial decisions are expected to be taken at these meetings.
Tuesday, January 22, 2002
Three arrested over Poonch massacre
JAMMU: Police on Monday arrested three persons in connection with the killing of 11 Muslims in Poonch district even as they said preliminary investigations showed the motive behind the slayings could be family feud. Inspector General of Police (Jammu) P L Gupta said preliminary investigations had brought another dimension to the killings and the motive behind this could be family feud. The IGP, who visited the scene of massacre in village Salva-Bherah, said out of four suspects, three -- Anwar, Mohammad Smarief and Mohammad Taj -- had been arrested. A hunt was on for the fourth suspect, who is a former Special Police Officer. A case had been registered at Mendhar police station and further investigations were on, Gupta said. Police earlier said suspected foreign mercenaries gunned down 11 members of three Muslim families, including eight children and a woman, and seriously wounded two in Poonch district on Sunday night. Minister of State for Home Najib Suhrawardy and DGP A K Suri too visited the village and consoled members of the bereaved families. Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah condemned the killings describing these as "most dastardly and barbaric". He said perpetrators of such heinous crime would not go unpunished and conveyed his heart-felt condolences to the bereaved families.
Tuesday, January 22, 2002
Give us your list, we'll act on it: India to Pak
NEW DELHI: Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh on Monday said if Pakistan sent a list of Pakistani criminals hiding in India, they would be found and promptly sent back. The minister's statement comes two days after Pakistani Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said his country would submit such a list to India. "Were any list was to be provided by Pakistan about any Pakistani criminals hiding in India, I can assure you we will work double time to send them promptly back to Pakistan," Singh said. However, external affairs ministry officials said Pakistan would find it difficult to put such a list together. "It will be extremely difficult for Pakistan to even try and match-up the criminal records of the terror list of 20 submitted by us", said a senior MEA official, who requested anonymity. "There can be no Pakistani terrorist in India who can be more of a criminal than Dawood Ibrahim, Tiger Memon or Chotta Shakeel. Rest assured, if and when Pakistan submits a list, we will respond in a hurry," the official said. Out of the 14 non-Pakistanis sought by India, as many as 10 have international Interpol warrants against them. Masood Azhar, Ibrahim Athar, Yusuf Azhar, Mistri Ibrahim, Sayeed Akhtar and Shakir Mohammed, all co-accused in the IC-814 hijack are also wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. MEA officials are even open to the possibility of Pakistan never submitting such a list as the realisation that it has made a diplomatic blunder sinks in. "For one, if Pakistan does submit a list finally, and India immediately acts on it, Pakistan too will have to respond," said another diplomatic source. Some observers said Pakistan has resorted to its own list for extradition to "wriggle out" of a tense situation. Never in the history of Indo-Pak relations has Pakistan made noise about anti-Pakistan terrorists holed up in India or accused India of cross-border terrorism, the officials said. While the Pakistani foreign minister has said that Islamabad will submit its list "in due course of time", an MEA spokesperson told Times News Network on Monday that there has been no official intimation by the Pakistani government about the names of the people it wants India to arrest and hand over. Union Minister Pramod Mahajan on Sunday dismissed the demand for a list by Pakistan. "It is a stalemate," he said. "We cannot take this (Pakistani) list seriously. Pakistan, even as a joke, had never made an allegation that India was sponsoring cross-border terrorism. So how can we take this seriously?" Mahajan said of Sattar's weekend announcement. Meanwhile, the latest demand by India that Pakistan submit a list of infiltrators in Kashmir as well as the statement by Home Minister L K Advani that handing over Dawood would go a long way in easing tensions between the neighbours, are further attempts by the government to end the deadlock, sources said. MEA sources added that in the days to come, India would put more pressure on Pakistan to furnish the list it seeks, or else act on the list of 20 submitted by India.
Tuesday, January 22, 2002
India to sign infotech MoU with Israel
NEW DELHI: Israel could be the next hot spot for India’s infotech and electronics wizards. New Delhi is set to sign a MoU with Tel Aviv on Tuesday for closer co-operation in these two areas. The MoU will be signed by communications and IT minister Pramod Mahajan, who is in Israel as part of his search for new (non-US) markets for Indian expertise in these sectors. India is looking at a two-way flow of investments, technology and manpower. This would promote Israeli investment in telecom, networking and research and development in India and allow Indian biggies like Infosys and Wipro to set up shops there. One advantage Israel would have over Germany, China and Korea is the number of people speaking English there.
Monday, January 21, 2002
More Firing as India Questions Pakistan Effort
ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India and Pakistan traded small arms fire along their disputed border Sunday, as New Delhi complained its Muslim neighbor had not done enough to rein in Islamic militants and warned its patience was limited. Despite signs of progress on the diplomatic front since a landmark speech by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and the visit of Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) last week, India says it is not ready to withdraw troops from the front line. With about a million soldiers standing eyeball to eyeball, both sides reported small arms fire at several places along their border and a cease-fire line in the disputed Kashmir (news - web sites) region Saturday night and Sunday morning. ``Indian machinegun and light machinegun fire continued throughout the night,'' a Pakistani army official said in the town of Sialkot, although Indian officials in the state of Jammu and Kashmir described the firing as ``routine and nothing abnormal.'' Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes said Pakistan had not yet acted on its pledge to crack down on anti-Indian Islamic militants despite Musharraf's promises in his January 12 speech. Fernandes, in Washington to meet U.S. defense officials, told Fox News-TV that New Delhi would stick to its decision not to withdraw troops from the front line with Pakistan until Islamabad ends what India calls cross-border terrorism. ``The mere words of crackdown doesn't take us anywhere. We are facing trans-border terrorism on a daily basis. Nothing has changed,'' Fernandes said in the interview, excerpts of which were aired on Indian TV news channels. ``He (Musharraf) made that speech on the 12th of this month but in terms of delivering there hasn't been anything.'' And the country's junior foreign minister said India's patience was limited. ``We are reasonable enough to know that these things cannot be done overnight,'' Omar Abdullah told a news conference in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-ruled Jammu and Kashmir state. ``We have also conveyed it to Pakistan that our patience is not endless,'' he said. GUNBATTLES IN THE HIMALAYAS Musharraf won praise for the speech in which he condemned terrorism and banned five militant Muslim groups, including two blamed by India for an attack on its parliament last month. Since then, his government says it has rounded up almost 2,000 suspected militants and closed down 650 offices belonging to the banned groups. But clashes have continued in the troubled Indian-ruled part of Kashmir, a stunning land of snow-capped peaks, lush green valleys and picturesque lakes. Indian police said 10 militants and a soldier were killed in separate gunbattles in the Himalayan state late Saturday and Sunday. Three of the guerrillas belonged to the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group while two were members of another banned Pakistani group, Jaish-e-Mohammad, police said. NEW OPPORTUNITY Powell ended his visit in New Delhi Friday saying he believed the two nuclear-armed rivals were ready to try to avert war, although he said he could not totally dismiss the possibility of conflict. Newspapers on both sides of the border say they see a new opportunity to resolve the impasse after Powell's visit. ``It may not be correct to say that the Powell mission has been a resounding success -- far from it,'' Pakistan's Dawn newspaper said in an editorial. ``But even the most die-hard skeptics would concede the American secretary of state left South Asia a safer place than when he arrived.'' Canadian Deputy Prime Minister John Manley was due in New Delhi Sunday from Islamabad as the international community keeps up the pressure on the hostile neighbors to resolve their differences by dialogue rather than by war. India and Pakistan have gone to war three times since independence from Britain in 1947, twice over disputed Kashmir. LIST REMAINS STUMBLING BLOCK Musharraf said Friday it was up to India to make the next move to resolve the stand-off, after his efforts to curb Islamic militant groups. But India is insisting Islamabad also hand over 20 ''most-wanted'' men New Delhi alleges are criminals and terrorists sheltered by Pakistan. ``Therefore, it is one thing to feel optimistic for the simple reason that diplomatic efforts are on, but it is another thing to see that General Musharraf delivers,'' Fernandes said. Pakistan says it will consider handing over Indian nationals who have taken refuge in its country but not Pakistanis. It has also come up with a list of its own most-wanted criminals who it says have taken refuge in India and says it intends to ask New Delhi for action in return for cooperation on India's list.
Saturday, January 19, 2002
Murthy in Time world's top 25 business people
WASHINGTON: Time magazine has included N R Murthy of Infosys among the world's top 25 business people. It said that Murthy (55) was among India's richest men and Infosys, the company he founded in 1981, was the first Indian firm to be listed on Nasdaq, the US stock exchange for tech firms. "Murthy, says the magazine, "has not sold his soul for money and success. One of the country's most admired men, he is vigilant about his employees' well-being - granting stock options, building exercise facilities and spreading values as much as wealth."
Saturday, January 19, 2002
India, US military chiefs to exchange visits
WASHINGTON: Top military brass from India and United States will exchange visits over the next few weeks amid signs that the revival and expansion of the defence relationship between the two sides could evolve into a long-term strategic alliance. The US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Richard Myers will visit India in February. Gen Sunderrajan Padmanabhan, India’s Chief of Army Staff whose comments last week on the border situation with Pakistan caused a flutter in strategic circles, will make a reciprocal visit to the United States in April. Defence Minister George Fernandes, who held wide-ranging talks on Thursday with US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, also invited the latter to India saying his half-day November 2001 visit was all too short. Rumsfeld accepted the invitation but the dates are yet to be decided. The Defence Policy Group (DPG) and the Joint Technical Group (JTG), the institutional mechanism that oversees the strategic and nuts and bolts aspects respectively between the two sides will also meet over the next few months, well ahead of the yearly schedule. Such a flurry of exchanges – the most intense in Indo-US history, say officials – points to an agenda that goes far beyond the immediate crisis in the region which has been the focus of attention. Mandarins from both sides are coy about using the term alliance for its implications, but the broad sweep and scope of talks between Fernandes and Rumsfeld suggest more than just casual interest. When Fernandes, wearing a crumpled khadi bandgala, walked into the Pentagon on Friday morning for his meeting, the first thing Rumsfeld did was wave a sheet of paper detailing the contacts between the two sides since the Bush administration took office and marvel at its intensity and depth. A separate sheet listed further exchanges, including visits to India in the next few weeks by Christine Todd Whitman, a cabinet member who heads the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Undersecretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky. "The United States and India have a growing and healthy relationship on a military-to-military basis. In the coming months, we have an ambitious schedule of meetings on counter-terrorism, on service-to-service exercises, further strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the world's two largest democracies," Rumsfeld later told journalists. "Today this relationship is qualitatively different from the days of the Cold War," Fernandes, a former socialist with a pronounced antipathy towards Washington during his younger days, said. As a first step in establishing good faith in the sphere of military procurement, US defence officials offered specific assurances that they had cleared the sale of the Phalcon airborne early warning system by Israel to India. They said a cable to this effect had already been sent to Tel Aviv last week, although there continued to be reservations in the State Department about the timing and publicity accompanying the transaction. Encouraged by this, the Indian side pressed for a revival of cooperation over the Light Combat Aircraft project, a suggestion the US team readily agreed. The LCA project originally began as a cooperative venture in the 1980s before the US trailed off. Ironically, when Fernandes went to the state department to meet Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage with the LCA as one of the items on the agenda, one oldtimer recalled that it was Armitage who handled the venture as a lower level US official some two decades back. US officials also promised to speed up the clearance of pending items, including LCA-related equipment, gun locating radars, and thermal imaging gizmos, that were held up because of the sanctions, and continue to be so despite the passage of three months since sanctions were lifted. Such experiences are illustrative of just how painful India’s military transactions with the US have been and why some sections of the Indian defence establishment continue to be deeply sceptical of a relationship they suspect will have more form than substance. Licenses for the sanctioned items were apparently issued in October but they remain stuck in the welter of State Department bureaucracy. Indian officials chasing down the paper trail are often wryly told "we have a bureaucracy that matches yours." But Fernandes and senior Indian officials feel US attitudes are changing and New Delhi needs to keep working on building a strong overall relationship instead of focussing on specific item- or event-related incidents. "September 11 and December 13 has changed everything. We are now in a different world altogether and the commonality of interests is undeniable," Fernandes said, recalling that for all the complexity of US decision making, the Kennedy Administration had made a snap decision to provide military aid to India in the 1960s.
Saturday, January 19, 2002
India-Pak tensions easing up: Musharraf
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musahrraf has said that tension between India and Pakistan has shown signs of easing during the past one week due to the vibes coming from India and the diplomatic efforts undertaken by the United States. He urged Prime Minister A B Vajpayee to take fresh initiative to kick start a new round of talks between the two countries. In an interview to CNN telecast on Saturday morning, Gen. Musharraf said he was under the impression that 'tension began easing' between the two countries as a result of diplomatic efforts during the past one week and believed that there was desire on the part of Vajpayee to take the dialogue forward to address all issues including Kashmir. Replying to a question whether there was any change in the situation as the two countries were on the brink of war two weeks ago, he said, "I would agree. I think if you are talking of one week, yes". With the passage of time, the vibes coming from India and the efforts of secretary of state, Colin Powel has changed the environment. Asked why he would not call Vajpayee over the phone to ease the tensions further, he said he has been taking a lot of initiatives for some time. "it is high time that he (Vajpayee) takes some initiative also," he said. To a question whether he was optimistic about having fruitful talks with India, he said, "I am quite optimistic". "There has to be a desire from Indian side for a dialogue. I can not say for sure, but since I went to Agra and I met Indian leadership and met Prime Minister Vajpayee, my reading, which I still hold is that there is a desire in Prime Minister Vajpayee, on moving forward on dialogue...having a dialogue with Pakistan and also addressing all issues including Kashmir." Reacting to a question, that why there was no response from Indian leaders to his direct appeal to Indian people few days ago saying that he wanted peace and ready for talks, Gen. Musharraf said the lack of response was due to extraneous factors like immediate elections which influenced the minds of Indian leaders. "Lot of extraneous factors influencing the minds of the Indian leaders specially due to the elections (UP state assembly polls) round the corner. I see a visible disharmony in India's ruling coalition," he said, adding "I do not think there is harmony in their (Indian leaders) judgements and thoughts. That is the reason they have not decided whether it (his appeal) was much more or enough." Gen Musharraf said, "we do not want war. We want to reduce tensions. And we want to de-escalate. This is what we want. "There should be similar willingness and assurances from the other side. For dialogue to start between India and Pakistan, there must be desire from both the sides," he said. He however said that the Indian response to his January 12 speech banning the militant outfits and initiating measures against terrorism in Pakistan continues to be guarded and cautious. "At first the Indian response was very guarded, very cautious. I do not see much of a change in their response to my speech," he said. Gen Musharraf also took strong exception to Indian leaders' statements saying that they were judging his actions. "However, I would like to comment that the comments from their side that they are judging what we are doing and that I have to show more action after this speech. I do not have to show anything to them, really. I take strong exception to these statements. We are not being judged by them and I am not doing anything to show them. I am doing something for Pakistan," he said. He also sounded tough on the Indian list of 20 wanted criminals and terrorists for deportation. "They have a list of 20. I said as far as Pakistanis are concerned, we are not going to hand over any Pakistani and if at all we get evidence we will try them here. Now as far as non-Pakistanis are concerned I do not know anybody in the list. We do not have them." His comments followed reports that India has handed over more evidence to Powell during his just concluded visit to New Delhi and the US Secretary of States remarks that Pakistan need to take "some action" on the Indian list at least about moving against the Indian nationals figuring in it. On the military front, Gen Musahrraf said Pakistan was capable of defending itself despite the numerical superiority of the Indian army. Asked whether Pakistani troops were not out numbered by the Indian army, he said Pakistan army has identified the deterrence to be followed to overcome the numerical strength of the Indian army. "Numerically we maintain a ratio which is far better than the force required to successfully defend itself. Our ratios are far better than that. So our force is not only very much capable of defending but undertaking offensive also," he said. "That is the quantum of force we maintain. So with a proper strategy it is not the numbers alone. World is full of examples of smaller force beating larger force. So we are confident with the ratios that we have worked out." About the use of nuclear weapons, Musharraf said it was the biggest concern of the world. "We are sensible enough not to undertake action not only for the sake of the two countries but also to the world," the Pakistani president said.
Friday, January 18, 2002
Powell to meet Vajpayee, has ideas for peace
NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell meets Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Friday hoping to build on signs India and Pakistan want to pull back from the brink of a fourth war. In talks planned on Friday with Vajpayee, Powell said he would offer ideas on reducing tensions with Pakistan. "The situation has been very dangerous and continues to be dangerous," he told U.S. television network ABC. Powell, who earlier visited Islamabad and Kabul on his South Asia peace shuttle, said he hoped diplomacy would end the crisis, triggered by an attack last month on India's parliament and blamed by New Delhi on Pakistan-based Kashmiri separatists. A bomb killed one person and injured eight in a busy market in Indian-ruled Kashmir around the same time as he arrived in India on Thursday. Close to a million men are mobilised on each side of the Indian-Pakistani border in the most high-risk military buildup since the two countries -- which conducted nuclear tests in 1998 -- won independence in 1947. Pakistan has already won praise from Powell for its recent efforts to appease its hostile neighbour and on Friday he hopes to nudge India to take matching steps towards peace. "...the way to move forward is to have political and diplomatic action and not let this slide into war," Powell said. "I think I discern a commitment on both sides that that is how they want to solve it." A HARD SELL Convincing Vajpayee of Pakistan's resolve to defuse the crisis could be a hard sell. India is demanding Pakistan shut down militant groups fighting its rule in Jammu and Kashmir, its only Muslim-majority state and where tens of thousands of people have died since a separatist revolt broke out in 1989. Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has already arrested large numbers of militants, shut down hundreds of their offices and denounced terrorism in all its forms. India says it wants more done to stop extremists attacking its forces in Kashmir and elsewhere. The neighbours, which jointly control about 80 percent of Kashmir, have deep passions for the Himalayan region, over which they have fought two of their three wars since independence. In a sign that India may be more open to dialogue, Indian External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh said on Thursday New Delhi would respond as soon as Musharraf delivered on a promise to curb Islamic militants. "As soon as we see demonstration on the ground, we will respond adequately and fully. Be assured of that," he said at a joint news conference with Powell. In a landmark speech last weekend, Musharraf said no one could launch attacks on other countries from Pakistan and banned five militant Muslim groups, including two India blamed for the deadly December 13 parliament attack. New Delhi has also demanded Pakistan hand over men on a list of 20 wanted in India -- comprising Kashmiri and Sikh rebels and those with alleged links to the Bombay underworld. Powell said Musharraf suggested Pakistan might consider returning non-Pakistanis on the list. While Powell talks peace in New Delhi, Defence Minister George Fernandes was in Washington. The minister and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld signed an agreement under which their countries would protect technology secrets involved in any arms sales between them. The Bush administration recently lifted military and other sanctions against India and Pakistan.
Wednesday, January 16, 2002
India still waiting for action by Pakistan
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India said on Tuesday it was still waiting for action by Pakistan to curb "cross-border terrorism" and hand over 20 alleged "criminals and terrorists" sought by New Delhi. "We are looking forward to and we do expect action in regard to curbing cross-border terrorism and preventing infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir and also action in regard to wanted criminals and terrorists," Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh told reporters after a cabinet meeting on security. Singh, however, said only three days had passed since Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had pledged to crack down on Islamic extremists and prevent Pakistan from being used as a base for international terrorism. "We'll see what progress is made. We're awaiting first steps," Singh said. Regarding the list of 20 alleged criminals and terrorists India believes are in Pakistan, he said: "Our aim is straightforward, we want these people back." India and Pakistan have mounted a huge military buildup sparked by an attack on India's parliament that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militants fighting its rule in disputed Kashmir. India has said all options are open, including war, if Pakistan fails to clamp down on militants it says are supported from the Pakistani side.
Wednesday, January 16, 2002
Pak militants forced underground, dismiss crackdown
With their very existence threatened, Islamist militants in Pakistan are altering their identities and reorganising their movements into underground cells but have vowed to continue to fight in India, dismissing President Pervez Musharraf's promised crackdown, according to group leaders and government officials. "We have learned the lessons from the blunders made by Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Those will never be repeated in Pakistan," a report in 'The Washington Post' quoted a 22-year-old former Karachi University student as saying. The student, who gave his name as Abu Hafsa, said "In the future, each one of our registered activists will use a cover name." Hafsa said he belonged to Jaish-e-Muhammad and bragged that he had participated in five guerrilla raids against the Indian army in Baramulla and Anantnag areas of Kashmir. "I have seen my Pakistani and Kashmiri friends giving their lives in Kashmir," he said. "Who is President Musharraf to stop me from waging holy war against India?" he asked. Khurshid Ahmad, vice president of Jamaat-e-Islami party -- which has close ties to Hizbul Mujahideen, said the new government restrictions against Kashmiri rebel groups would not prevent them from pursuing their cause. "Musharraf can never stop the freedom movement in Kashmir. No one can," said Ahmad. "The Kashmiri struggle will not cease. It may have ups and downs, but it will not stop." For years, the militant organisations active in Jammu and Kashmir have operated in plain sight inside Pakistan. But as the government has moved to rein them in, several groups have relocated their bases to secret locations.
Tuesday, January 15, 2002
No troop pull-back before Pakistan acts
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Defence Minister George Fernandes said on Monday that India would not pull its troops back from the border with Pakistan until it delivered on its promise to crack down on Islamic militants. But Fernandes also said India was not aiming to use force for now to deal with a crisis in relations with Pakistan triggered by an attack on the Indian parliament last month. He told a news conference India would wait to see if Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf could deliver on a weekend pledge to ensure his country was not used as a base for attacks on India. "There is no way we are going to pull out the troops unless there is action on the promises that have been made by General Musharraf," he said. Close to one million men are mobilised on either side of the border of the nuclear rivals in the most powerful build-up since the two countries won independence in 1947. Fernandes said the attack on parliament, blamed by New Delhi on Pakistan-based Kashmiri separatists, would be etched forever on the minds of the people of India. "There is no way India can accept such acts of terrorism any more," he said. India was waiting to see if Musharraf could bring an end to what New Delhi calls "cross-border terrorism" -- the infiltration of militants from Pakistan into the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, he said. LINE OF CONTROL This should include an end to firing across the Line of Control, a military ceasefire line which divides disputed Kashmir, Fernandes said. India has accused the Pakistan army of firing across the Line of Control to provide cover for militants to cross into Jammu and Kashmir to join a revolt there against Indian rule. Pakistan in turn has often accused India of starting the shooting. Fernandes said the Pakistan army had fired across the Line of Control on Sunday but said it would be unfair to have expected them to stop immediately, joking that perhaps they were just trying to get rid of their ammunition. He declined to set a timeframe for Musharraf to deliver on his pledges, but said India was not going to wait forever. "I'm sure he is aware that he has to do it fast, particularly because troops from both sides are on the front line," he said. "He is at the moment on trial," he said. In the meantime, however, India was hoping diplomacy rather than force would produce an end to the crisis. "We are not looking at the use of force. We are at the moment looking to resolve this through diplomatic efforts," he said. Fernandes also reiterated India's policy that it would not be the first to use nuclear weapons in the event of a war with Pakistan. "We look at the nuclear weapon as a deterrent and nothing beyond that," he said.
Tuesday, January 15, 2002
Zhu Rongji begins India talks, Pakistan a focus
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji on Monday began talks with Indian leaders in which he was expected to try to reassure New Delhi of a more even-handed approach to the region after years of backing Pakistan. China, which borders both India and Pakistan, has repeatedly called on the two nuclear rivals to end a military stand-off triggered by an attack on India's parliament last month which New Delhi blames on two Pakistan-based militant groups. Zhu, the first Chinese premier to visit India in a decade, was given a ceremonial welcome at the red sandstone Rashtrapati Bhavan. He was to hold talks later with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, amid signs that a weekend pledge by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to crack down on Islamic militants might have brought some reduction in tension with India. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Sunday that Musharraf's landmark address on Saturday showed Pakistan's willingness to settle the stand-off with India through dialogue. India and China, which fought a border war in 1962, have in recent years sought to improve ties to end decades of mistrust. The two sides have made slow progress in resolving the dispute over their 4,500 km Himalayan border which is considered central to ties between the Asian giants. China also holds about 20 percent of the disputed territory of Kashmir. This comprises a small area which New Delhi says Pakistan ceded illegally to Beijing and the Aksai Chin area further to the northeast which India also claims. China claims large parts of the northeastern Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. Its policies towards Pakistan have long been regarded with suspicion in India, which saw it as using Islamabad as a means of distracting New Delhi's attention from its border with China. India has been concerned about what it says are Chinese military supplies including missile transfers to Pakistan. Both India and Pakistan conducted nuclear tests in 1998 and have since been trying to develop missiles able to deliver nuclear bombs. U.S. INFLUENCE But analysts said Beijing may be keen to end years of distrust to offset growing U.S. influence in South Asia -- where Washington has been playing a lead role in defusing tensions between India and Pakistan -- and in Central Asia. "The Chinese seem to be fully aware of our foggy ways," wrote V.V. Paranjpe, a former Indian diplomat, in the Hindustan Times. "They are aware that the present government is tying itself up too closely to America and that it may not be for India's good." C. Raja Mohan, strategic affairs editor of The Hindu, said that Washington had built close ties with India and retained its influence in Islamabad, forcing the Chinese and the Russians to settle for a secondary rule in the region. "Within the subcontinent, the Russians and the Chinese are constrained by the lack of political credit with both rivals. Beijing has little leverage in New Delhi and Moscow less in Islamabad. That has left the field open to Washington," he wrote. Indian officials said they expected "forward movement" in political and economic fields during Zhu's visit. His six-day trip will also take him to the financial centre, Bombay, and Bangalore, which drove the country's software boom.
Tuesday, January 15, 2002
Pakistan Arrests More Militants
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistani police arrested hundreds more Islamic militants and sealed dozens of their offices Monday in a crackdown on anti-India extremists as India refused to pull back troops from their tense border until militant operations are stopped. Pakistan likewise said it would keep hundreds of thousands of troops along the frontier, prolonging a monthlong standoff between the two nuclear powers. More than 1,500 extremists have been arrested since Saturday, when President Gen. Pervez Musharraf banned five militant organizations - including two accused of terrorism in Indian-controlled Kashmir (news - web sites), said an interior ministry official speaking on condition of anonymity. About 800 activists were arrested in the heavily populated Punjab province, with other arrests occurring in Sindh and the North West Frontier provinces, the official said Monday. India welcomed Musharraf's announcement of a crackdown. But comments by India's defense minister Monday suggested that it would not immediately defuse the crisis. Since a Dec. 13 attack on India's Parliament that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan, the two nations have massed up to 1 million troops along their border in the biggest mobilization since their 1971 war. Defense Minister George Fernandes said in New Delhi that ``there is no way we are going to pull out the troops unless there is action on the promises made by President Musharraf.'' ``Any effort at de-escalation can come only, repeat only, if and when the cross-border terrorism comes to a stop,'' Fernandes said before leaving for meetings in Washington. ``The entire nation is fed up with terrorism and looks for a permanent solution to this problem. We are keen to resolve things peacefully, but if it does not work we will be left with no option.'' On Monday, Indian Border Security Forces said Pakistani troops fired grenade launchers and heavy artillery across the Line of Control that divides the disputed Kashmir province. The Indian troops retaliated and firing went on for about an hour, an Indian army official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. It was the largest exchange of fire since the crackdown on extremists was announced on Saturday. Maj. Gen. Rashid Quereshi, Musharraf's spokesman, responded to Fernandes' statement by saying: ``Pakistan is constrained to keep what it requires for its defense close to the border,'' as long as the Indian buildup remains in place. ``We expect the Indian forces to move back to their peacetime position and thereby reduce tensions,'' he said. India accuses Pakistan's spy agency of backing two Islamic militant groups - Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and Jaish-e-Mohammed - in the Parliament attack, which left nine Indians and the five attacks dead. Pakistan and the two groups deny the Indian accusations. India also says Pakistan is waging a ``proxy war'' against it through more than a dozen Islamic groups fighting India's rule over two-thirds of Kashmir, a Himalayan territory both countries claim. Pakistan denies giving the groups material support. In his speech Saturday, Musharraf underlined Pakistan's support for the cause of breaking Kashmir away from Indian rule, but said his country would not allow militants to conduct terrorist acts in the name of Kashmir. He banned Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and Jaish-e-Mohammad and three other Islamic extremist groups. The nuclear powers have fought three wars since their independence from Britain in 1947, two of them over Kashmir. Islamabad wants a vote in Kashmir in line with U.N. resolutions to decide whether its residents want to join Pakistan or stay with India. India rejects the proposal and calls Kashmir its indigenous part. The United States and its allies hailed Musharraf's ban. Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) called it ``bold and principled,'' and hoped for a reduction of tensions between the two South Asian powers. Powell leaves Washington for the region on Tuesday to try to defuse the crisis. An influential Muslim leader in Pakistan condemned the crackdown on militants and called for a massive anti-government protest Jan. 27 in Peshawar, 75 miles west of Islamabad. ``Jihad runs in our blood, and it can't be eliminated just by banning few groups in the country,'' said Maulana Samiul Haq, chief of Afghan Defense Council, a coalition of 35 Islamic militant groups. The council organized violent protests in October against Pakistan's decision to back the United States and its allies in the Afghan conflict. More than a dozen people died in the rallies. Musharraf's ban on extremist groups does not extend to all Kashmir guerrilla organizations. More than a dozen are allied in an umbrella organization, the United Jihad Council. Its chairman, Sayed Salahuddin, said Sunday that the ``armed freedom struggle'' would continue because the groups are indigenous and can operate without Pakistani support, a claim India rejects.
Tuesday, January 15, 2002
NLFT ultras gun down 16 in Tripura
NLFT ultras gun down 16 in Tripura ADVERTISEMENT AGARTALA : In a daring attack, militants of the National Liberation Front of Tripura on Sunday gunned down 16 people, including a seven-year-old girl and two women, at a market in West Tripura district. Superintendent of Police (Operations) Dhurjati Gautam said that two groups of NLFT ultras, surrounded the Singicherra Bazar and sprayed bullets on the people who had gone there for marketing on the occasion of Makar Sankranti on Monday, killing 12 people on the spot and injuring 13 others. Two persons died on way to hospital, two others succumbed to their injuries at the G B Hospital in Agartala, Gautam said, adding, nine more were admitted. DIG Range A K Shukla rushed to the spot with a large contingent of Tripura State Rifles and launched a massive search operation has been launched in the area to nab the ultras, who were clad in olive green uniform. The ruling CPI-M condemned the incident and called a dawn to dusk bandh on January 15 in Khowai subdivision to protest the massacre. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar visited the G B Hospital. The deceased have been identified as Shreema Nath Sharma (7), Abu Nath Sharma (36), Megh Shabar (30), Balai Shabar (32), Mantu Paul (40), Malati Paul (45), Binod Paul (52), Nagendra Paul (65), Manindra Nandi (40), Paritoh Das (30), Babul Goswami (32) and Swapan Kotal Das (42).
Monday, January 14, 2002
Chinese premier arrives in India amid tensions
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji arrived in India on Sunday as New Delhi urged China's old ally Pakistan to take decisive action to end their border standoff. Zhu -- the first Chinese premier to visit India since 1991 -- has publicly called on Pakistan to show "maximum restraint" and is expected to deliver the same message to India during his six-day visit. But with tensions simmering between fellow nuclear powers India and Pakistan, he is expected to be grilled about reports of big Chinese arms shipments to Pakistan in recent weeks. Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh told reporters: "You will see for yourself on Zhu Rongji's visit that there will be significant further movement on economic, political and in other regards, and common agreements are to be signed." Zhu arrived in Agra about noon and visited the Taj Mahal. China has supplied arms to Pakistan for years and military analysts say it is likely to have supplied the know-how behind Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. "Although China has taken a rather objective position on the tension -- advising restraint on both sides -- reports of weapons supplies to Pakistan at this juncture will cause a lot of concern," said Kalim Bhadadur, South Asian professor at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University. INDIA'S RESPONSE Zhu's visit comes a day after a major speech by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf pledging to crack down on Pakistan-based militants suspected of attacks on India. But Singh said Pakistan must stop all such incursions before India stood down from what has become the biggest military build-up on both sides of the border since both countries became independent in 1947. Pakistan has denied a report in its biggest English-language newspaper, The News, that it received five shiploads of military hardware from China, including dozens of combat jets and a missile system. Analysts say the denial may be cosmetic. China also has distanced itself from a statement by Musharraf's press secretary saying China had pledged to support Pakistan "in all eventualities". A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said the comment was simply a commitment to bilateral ties and did not amount to a pledge to back Pakistan in case of war. The China-Pakistan axis has long served as a strategic counterweight to India, the only country besides China with more than a billion people. But relations between India and China, which fought a border war in 1962, have warmed lately amid concern in Beijing that Muslim extremism in Pakistan could spill into China, which already has problems with its own Islamic militants. The Press Trust of India news agency on Saturday quoted Zhu, on a visit to neighbouring Bangladesh, offering to boost China's cooperation with India in battling terrorism.
Monday, January 14, 2002
Indian army kills seven Kashmir rebels in shootouts
SRINAGAR (Reuters) - The Indian army killed seven rebels on Friday in two gunbattles in revolt-racked Kashmir which is at the centre of a high-tension standoff between nuclear-capable foes India and Pakistan, police said. Also on Friday, unidentified rebels hurled a grenade at an army vehicle in the heart of Srinagar, summer capital of the Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir, but missed their target and caused no damage or injuries, a police statement said. "Terrorists lobbed a grenade towards a security force vehicle...which missed the target and exploded on the road without causing any damage," the statement said. Five separatist guerrillas were killed in a fierce gunbattle in the Anantnag district south of Srinagar, police said. In another shootout, soldiers killed two militants including a Pakistani national in the neighbouring Kapran area, police said. One civilian was killed in the crossfire. Tensions have soared between India and Pakistan after an attack on the Indian parliament last month that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based rebels fighting its rule in Kashmir. India, which accuses Pakistan of stoking the rebellion in Kashmir, has demanded that Islamabad crack down on Islamic militants operating in its territory. Pakistan, which says it provides moral support to Kashmiri "freedom fighters" seeking self-determination, has rounded up more than 200 Islamic militants. Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is working on a speech expected to outline fresh curbs on anti-Indian militants but India has said it is sceptical about how far Islamabad would go. India's army chief G. Padmanabhan said on Friday that the country was ready for either a conventional -- or if need be -- nuclear war with Pakistan. Nearly a dozen militant groups are fighting New Delhi's rule in Jammu and Kashmir, India's only Muslim-majority state. Authorities say more than 33,000 people have been killed in the strife-torn region since a revolt erupted in 1989 but separatists put the toll closer to 80,000.
Monday, January 14, 2002
India to annex Pakistan Kashmir if there is war: minister
Kolkata, Jan 13 India will annex the Pakistan-administered Kashmir if a war breaks out, an Indian minister has said. Minister of State for Communications Tapan Sinha told reporters in Murshidabad district, some 200 km north of here, that an "undeclared war" was currently raging with Pakistani troops along the border in Jammu and Kashmir. "The Indian military is awaiting the orders for an assault. But we don't want war," Sikdar said. "However if there is a war, we will permanently take Pakistan-held Kashmir. India and Pakistan are locked in a military standoff since terrorists said to belong to two Pakistan-based groups attacked the Indian Parliament last month. India controls the southern two third of Kashmir and Pakistan the northern third. Both countries dispute the ownership of the picturesque Himalayan state.
Sunday, January 13, 2002
Lashkar vows holy war will continue in Kashmir
KARACHI: Pakistan-based Kashmiri militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba vowed Saturday to continue its "holy war" in Kashmir despite being banned by President Pervez Musharraf. "The government of Pakistan has no right to ban us as we are a Kashmir based group fighting against the Indian forces and we will continue our jihad (holy war)," Lashkar spokesman Abdullah Sayyaf told AFP. "Our struggle for Kashmir will continue," he said by telephone from an unknown location. Lashkar has been banned without any evidence of its involvement in terrorism, he said. "We have never been involved in act of terrorism and have always condemned the killing of civilians." He also denied the organization carried out the December 13 attack on the Parliament.
Sunday, January 13, 2002
Musharraf cracks the whip on terror groups
NEW DELHI: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday came down heavily on religious extremism and said he wanted a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue through a process of dialogue. In an address to the nation televised live, Musharraf stated, Kashmir runs in our blood and declared that Pakistan would never budge an inch from our principled stand on Kashmir. But no organisation would be allowed to indulge in terrorism in the name of Kashmir, he said. "K ashmir runs in our blood. No Pakistani can afford to sever links with Kashmir. The entire Pakistan and the world knows this" Addressing Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the military ruler recalled the Indian leader’s recent statement that mindsets have to be altered and historical baggage has to be jettisoned. I take you on this offer and let us start talking in this spirit, he said. "We should never use mosques for political gains," he said. "We have given the Imams of the mosques total freedom, but if they do not show responsibility, we'll take away that freedom," he said. He said he would not allow Pakistani territory to be used by terrorists henceforth, while at the same time seeking a greater role of the UN and Amnesty International in solving the Kashmir issue. Musharraf also banned Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. The two groups have been held responsible for the December 13 attack. He touched upon three "fundamental issues", which were responsible for Pakistan's state of affairs. They were Kashmir, conflicts in which Muslims of the world were involved, and internal conflicts. He said that the "Kashmir cause" should be solved only through peaceful methods. The Pakistan government would continue to provide moral, diplomatic, and political support to Kashmiris. Referring to the list of 20 people India wants apprehended for various crimes, Musharraf said Pakistani nationals among those will not be extradited to India. For the others, India has to provide the proof, he said. "T here is no question of handing over any Pakistani. This will never be done. If we are given evidence against those people, we will take action against them in Pakistan under our own laws." Musharraf had tough words for India. He said any attempt by India to cross the border would be met with "full force". As the commander of the armed forces of Pakistan, he warned that the Pakistani forces were completely ready to "fight till our last drop of blood". Musharraf said Pakistan could deal with external aggression. "We too have the missiles," he said. What, he said, Pakistan needed "was to fight the strife within". "The Armed Forces of Pakistan are fully prepared and deployed to meet any challenge. They will spill the last drop of their blood in the defence of their country" Musharraf again justified Pakistan's cooperation with the US on Afghanistan, and outlined Pakistan's stance against religious fundamentalism. "No one pressured us. We decided to support the international coalition against terrorism in our own national interest." "My intention was clear and, so, God made us successful. Unfortunately, certain fundamentalist parties opposed this for their narrow interests." Coming strongly on religious fundamentalism, he said these people (fundamentalists) are responsible for the Afghan crisis. "They are not contractors of Islam," he said, noting fundamentalism has been going on for years. He said he tried to impress upon the Taliban to leave the path of terrorism. However, "unfortunately, we did not succeed". "They (US) must play an active role in solving the Kashmir dispute for the sake of lasting peace and harmony in the Region" "Do we want to make Pakistan a theocratic state or do we want to make it a welfare state? We have decided to take this country on the path of progress," he said. He said Pakistan must rid itself of "sectarian hatred and terrorism", noting the common man in Pakistan was fed up of religious fundamentalism, which has led to the "destruction of Pakistan's international image". "Sectarian terrorism has been going on for years, everyone of us if fed up of of it," Musharaff said. "The day of reckoning has come," he said. He said that it also led to great economic losses, with lots of units closing down because of Pakistan's negative image being projected by international media. He also said the warring factions in Afghanistan -- the Taliban and Northern Alliance -- never thought about the welfare of the State. He reminded Pakistan that father of the nation, Jinnah, had preached religious tolerance to the country and expressed his unhappiness of the fact that even Muslims in the country were killing each other. "I f we do not believe in education, are we following the teachings of Islam or violating them? We must ask what direction are we being led into by these extremists?" In a cynical statement, he said "we tell the world that Islam is a way of life" but do not follow it ourselves. He said that some mosques of the country had made a "state within a state" and were acting on their own. He also urged the militants to stop following the path of violence since that "is not going to produce results". Mentioning the names of religious gurus of Islam, he said that all of them brought about change through "personal examples". Taking a dig at the jehadis, he asked them whether they had ever contemplated a jehad against poverty, hunger, or illiteracy. He said that Pakistan now required the biggest jehad, the jehad against illiteracy. The General said the madrasas, schools, and colleges in Pakistan should now focus on modern education to bring about a revolution through the mother of all jehads. For that, he said that he had chalked out a strategy wherein all madarsas at least taught mathematics, science, and English to bring the children into mainstream if he chose to. Talking tough, the Pakistani president said that no organisation within the state was above law, and militancy, fundamentalism, and violence would be brought to an end. "Pakistan comes first," he said, saying that there is no reason why Pakistanis should meddle in the affairs of other countries.
Sunday, January 13, 2002
Musharraf must stop cross-border terrorism: Advani
NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister L K Advani called on Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to deliver on a promise to crack down on terrorism by preventing any militant from crossing into India to launch attacks. In the first reaction by a minister to a major policy speech by Musharraf on Saturday, Advani said Pakistan must stop militants crossing either the Line of Control or the border to attack Indian targets. "I am told that...he has even said that terrorism cannot be a part of the Kashmir cause, this is what General Musharraf has said," Advani, currently visiting the United States, said. "Then it becomes all the more imperative that he should not facilitate or allow anyone to cross the Line of Control, cross the international border and come inside India and commit acts of terrorism," he added, according to remarks broadcast by the Star News. Musharraf said on Saturday that, "no organisation will be permitted to engage in terrorism under cover of the Kashmir cause".
Saturday, January 12, 2002
Fire still raging in Udasar depot
BIKANER: Fire fighters on Saturday continued their efforts to douse the flames leaping from an oil depot in Udasar army area where 60 ammunition laden trucks of a convoy were gutted on Friday setting off explosions and missiles which hit several residential complexes and a hospital killing two people, 10 km from here, police said. An attender of a patient and an unidentified person were killed and a nurse was injured when two missiles hit the cancer ward of the PBM hospital. Eleven other civilians were injured when splinters, rockets, missiles, bombs and other explosives hit several areas, police said. Police said though the fire had subsided yellow flames and thick black smoke could still be seen over the depot. Two houses were damaged and window panes of houses in 10 localities were shattered due to the deafening blasts which triggered panic among people, they said. People of 24 localities were shifted to safer places last night as fire fighters from neighbouring Churu, Hanumangarh and Suratgarh struggled to put off the 200 feet high flames. Police said the situation was returning to normal but the residents have not yet been advised to return. Traffic on Jaipur-Bikaner and Bikaner-Suratgarh highway, suspended last night as a precautionary measure, is likely to resume later this evening. Initial reports had said an electric spark in one of the 250 trucks hired to move heavy ammunition from Bhatinda in Punjab to Ganganager-Bikaner had triggered the explosions and the fire.
Saturday, January 12, 2002
Sabotage not ruled out in Bikaner ordnance fire
BIKANER: Sabotage was not ruled out in the fire that devastated 80 ammunition trucks of an Army convoy near here on Friday as Defence Minister George Fernandes visisted the site and said that this aspect would also be probed by the comprehensive court of inquiry orderded into the mishap. Fernandes, who made an on-the-spot inspection of the fire site along with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday morning, said that Gehlot also suspected sabotage behind the incident. A series of explosions in the 250-strong convoy carrying tank ammunition to forward formations claimed two lives and destroyed 1000 tonnes of ammunition laid atop 80 trucks, which were completely gutted. Fernandes and Gehlot spent over two hours going round the mishap site, accompanied by top ordnance experts, hours after leaping flames from ammunition trucks had been doused by over 30 civil and Army fire tenders. The two leaders also visited the nearby villages, where large number of people who had fled in panic were returning to their homes. According to initial reports, highly placed Army sources here said that an electric spark in one of the 250 civil trucks hired to move heavy ammunition from Bhatinda in Punjab to Ganganagar-Bikaner in northern Rajasthan frontier had triggered massive explosions in the parked convoy gutting as many as 80 ammunition trucks. The convoy was part of the movement orderded in connection with the Operation Parakrama, as the current Army mobilisation is codenamed. The convoy was parked in an Army cantonment bay for a short rest when a truck caught fire and the bursting ammunition engulfed all the nearby trucks. Huge explosions echoed round the area with flames leaping as high as 60 to 70 feet sending hundreds of villagers living around the area fleeing in panic. Top Army and civil officials, who rushed to the spot, managed to get the 170 ammunition-laden trucks comprising the bulk of the convoy, to drive away to safety as fire tenders were pressed into service. The sabotage theory had come to surface as the pattern in the mishap was the same as what happened near the Suratgarh ammunition depot last year, Army officials said. At Suratgarh, an Army ammunition convoy carrying tank ammunition after joint Indian Air Force and Army exercise 'Operation Poorna Vijay' had caught fire gutting over 2000 rounds of armoured ammunition. A court of inquiry into the incident is yet to submit its report. Friday's incident incidentally is the third major fire near a forward ammunition depot in the Ganaganagar-Pathankot-Bikaner belt. A mysterious fire at Mamoon near Pathankot towards the end of 2000 had gutted large volumes of tank ammunition after conclusion of forward armoured exercises. Security officials said that there had been reports of intrusion by Pakistani agents in these border belts and over the past three years a number of arrests had been made.
Saturday, January 12, 2002
Advani meets Clinton
NEW YORK: Home Minister L K Advani had a 45-minute meeting with former US President Bill Clinton last evening but no details were available. The meeting, held in Clinton's office in Harlem here, was described as 'private' and even photographers were not allowed to snap the two leaders together. The security barred accompanying journalists and photographers from entering the building. Advani did not make any comment when he emerged from the meeting. Advani was accompanied by Indian Ambassador to the United States Lalit Mansingh, Consul General Shashi Tripathi and Home Secretary Kamal Pandey.
Saturday, January 12, 2002
Advani visits Ground Zero
NEW YORK: Home Minister L.K. Advani visited Ground Zero, site of the collapsed twin towers of World Trade Centre, and said that the destruction wrought by terrorists strengthened the resolve of his government to stamp out terrorism. Standing in a steady cold drizzle, he spent almost 15 minutes on Friday looking in silence at the ruins of the once majestic twin towers, symbols of America's financial success, as an officer of mayor's office Irene Halligan explained the direction from which the plane came and how terrorist crashed them into the building. Advani said that he felt sorry when he saw the destruction on TV and he felt more sorry now that he had actually seen the destruction. But, he said, this showed the need for resolute effort to stamp out terrorism. "It strengthens my and my government's resolve to stamp out terrorism. It steels our resolve," he asserted. Advani then went to the temporary memorial where names of more than 80 countries whose nationals died in the terrorist attacks are inscribed. He placed a wreath at the spot where 'India' is inscribed as accompanying officials showered flowers to pay homage to those killed. The Home Minister wrote his name on the left side of 'India'. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had inscribed his name on the right side when he went to ground zero on November 11 during his visit here for the United Nations summit. Indian ambassador to the US Lalit Mansingh and council general Shashi Tripahti accompanied the minister who went to ground zero within minutes of his arrival here.
Saturday, January 12, 2002
'Toxic Texan' Bush praises tough-talking Advani
WASHINGTON: Greeting India’s Home Minister L.K.Advani with southern charm and praising his candour with disarming words, US President George Bush on Thursday firmly but discreetly committed his administration’s support to the Indian campaign to force Pakistan into fully renouncing terrorism. While the diplomatic outcome of the meeting - US backing for India’s drive against Pakistani terrorism - was widely anticipated given Secretary of State Powell’s remarks yesterday, it was the political message from Bush that came as a surprise. "Your reputation precedes you Mr Home Minister. I believe you are very direct and blunt. I like that," Bush told India’s second ranking cabinet member and putative successor to Prime Minister Vajpayee, after breezing into the latter’s meeting with National Security Adviser Dr Condoleeza Rice that was barely five minutes old. The President spent 20 minutes with Advani, and some of his remarks suggested the administration recognised both Advani’s status and his hard-line views and was at ease with it. While it was obvious Bush had been briefed about Advani by the NSC staff and U.S ambassador to India Robert Blackwill (who was present on the occasion), he used his own unique Texas brand of humour to send home some messages. At one point, Bush joked that he too had been once called a "Toxic Texan" but the responsibility of power had seen him act with great care and deliberation. It was not a good day at the office for Bush. Dark clouds of impropriety wafted over his administration this morning vis-a-vis the bankruptcy of Enron, the Texas firm with close connections to Bush and the Republican Party. But like his predecessor, Bush appears to have the ability to compartmentalise the problems. There was little hint of tension or worry in the 20 bonhomous minutes he spent with Advani. The US President told Advani about his favourite world leader - no, not Tony Blair, but Russia’s Vladimir Putin. The two got along so famously during Putin’s visit to the White House last November that Bush, with an earnest earthiness that has become his trademark, told the Russian leader, "You're the kind of guy I like to have in a foxhole with me." While the Indian leadership is still far from acquiring the foxhole companionship status, Advani emerged quite pleased from the meeting, and told newsmen that he was happy about the assurances from the "highest executive" that Pakistan would be pressed to renounce its policy of terrorism against India. A wire service story reported that Bush said that he expected the Pakistani President to "take all necessary steps in fighting terror ... and abandon terror as an instrument of state policy.'' But officials said the US President was more circumspect and did not directly endorse the Indian view that Pakistan uses terrorism as a "state policy." However, that now appears to be a mere semantic smokescreen. Implicit in remarks by Bush and other senior officials during Advani's visit is an acknowledgement and acceptance of India’s position that Pakistan has been waging a proxy war against it and that ought to stop. Also significant is the fact that there has been no reference by U.S officials about the so-called "Kashmir issue." The clear message out of Washington is that Pakistan has to roll back its militaristic approach to the problems with India. The administration has now settled into a pattern of praising General Musharraf for what he has done and then saying he needs to do more. It is also asking India to fully explore all diplomatic and political moves before considering other options, something New Delhi itself has committed to without any prompting. "The President told Minister Advani that he has urged President Musharraf to take appropriate steps against extremists operating in and from Pakistan," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said. "The President also stressed the importance of solving the India-Pakistan differences through diplomatic and political means."
Friday, January 11, 2002
Violence in Kashmir escalates, 16 killed
SRINAGAR (Reuters) - Sixteen people, mainly rebels were killed on Friday in fresh separatist violence in Jammu and Kashmir which is at the heart of a military standoff between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, police said. Also on Friday, unidentified rebels hurled a grenade at an army vehicle in the heart of Srinagar, summer capital of the Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, but missed their target and caused no damage or injuries, a police statement said. "Terrorists lobbed a grenade towards a security force vehicle...which missed the target and exploded on the road without causing any damage," the statement said. Six separatist guerrillas were killed in a fierce gunbattle in the Anantnag district south of Srinagar, police said. In another shootout, an Indian soldier, a civilian and two militants including a Pakistani national were killed in the neighbouring Kapran area, police said. Elsewhere four militants, an Indian paramilitary officer and a civilian were killed in separate shootouts in the Valley, police said. Tensions have soared between India and Pakistan after an attack on the Indian parliament last month that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based rebels fighting its rule in Kashmir. India, which accuses Pakistan of stoking the rebellion in Muslim majority Jammu and Kashmir, has demanded that Pakistan crack down on Islamic militants operating from its territory. Pakistan, which says it provides moral support to Kashmiri "freedom fighters" seeking self-determination, has rounded up more than 200 Islamic militants. Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf due to address the nation on Saturday, is expected to outline fresh curbs on anti-Indian militants but India has said it is sceptical about how far Islamabad would go. Indian army chief S. Padmanabhan said on Friday that the country was ready for either a conventional -- or if need be -- nuclear war with Pakistan. Padmanabhan said there had been no reduction in separatist violence in Kashmir over the past several months, despite the global war on terrorism which Pakistan has supported. "There has been no great diminution, a lot more will have to be done in terms of restraining them (militants) in their home country," he said. Authorities say more than 33,000 people have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir since the revolt erupted in late 1989 but separatists put the toll closer to 80,000.
Friday, January 11, 2002
Day one in DC: Advani's hardtalk hits home
WASHINGTON: Union Home Minister L K Advani got New Delhi's message out loud and clear on Thursday saying that General Pervez Musharraf cannot be let off the hook with his ``double-standards'' on terrorism and India would not accept ``another betrayal'' from Pakistan. Advani's hardtalk seemed to pay off, securing from US Secretary of State Colin Powell a call to Pakistan to do more to adhere to India's demands for ending cross-border terrorism. And later, an ``assurance'' from US President George Bush himself, who dropped in during Advani's meeting with National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice. Bush is said to have told him what Washington expects Islamabad to do. Speaking at a joint press conference with Advani, Powell, who leaves for India and Pakistan next week, said: ``He (Musharraf) has arrested the leaders of the JEM (Jaish-e-Mohammed) and the LET (Lashkar e-Taiba) but, I think there is room for additional work on his part.'' ``We are looking forward to the speech he will be giving later this week, which I think will be a powerful signal to his nation and to India and the rest of the world. But it is not just the speech. We will be looking to see what additional action he has taken,'' Powell said. Advani, who met US Attorney General John Ashcroft prior to his meeting with Powell, said that his talks were ``extremely useful, extremely fruitful.'' Sources said he invited Ashcroft to visit India, which the Attorney General accepted. On a chilly day in Washington, with temperatures below freezing point, Advani had a hectic schedule, meeting several senior officials, including, Richard Haas of the State Department's policy planning group and a visit to the CIA headquarters in Virginia. There he met CIA chief George Tenet and his team, including the State Department's director of counter-terrorism, Francis Taylor. Advani is said to have handed over to Tenet intelligence reports suggesting Pakistan's funding of Maoist rebels in Nepal and a list of terrorists India is keen to get extradited from Pakistan. The Minister was accompanied on his rounds by India's Ambassador Lalit Mansingh, Home Secretary Kamal Pande, and Director, Intelligence Bureau, K B Singh. In the evening, Advani, addressing the media at the Indian Embassy, was emphatic and forceful in his indictment of Pakistan's involvement in terrorism in India. Reiterating Prime Minister Vajpayee's earlier statement after the December 13 attack on the Parliament, that terrorism has ``breached the limit of our endurance,'' he warned: ``We shall not take another betrayal this time around...Pakistan must act sincerely, decisively, demonstrably and speedily.'' He listed four demands India wanted Pakistan to act upon immediately: hand over 20 terrorists hiding in Pakistan, including mafia leader Dawood Ibrahim; close training camps, stop direct and indirect help to terrorists; stop infiltration of arms and men from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere in India; and renounce, ``categorically and unambiguously'' terrorism in all its manifestations and wherever it exists. Coming down hard on what he called Pakistan's sustained campaign of disruption, Advani said ISI-sponsored terrorism had claimed the lives of 60,000 people in India. He also criticized the double standards of Pakistan in overtly helpng the US in its fight against terrorism, while covertly harming India. ``In a logic that flies in the face of every norm of civilized international behavior,'' Advani said, ``Musharraf again indicated at the SAARC summit in Kathmandu last week that the terrorist acts in Jammu and Kashmir and by corollary elsewhere in India are a part of a legitimate freedom struggle in Kashmir...What type of freedom fighters are these who set off serial bomb blasts in Mumbai, hijack a civilian airliner and routinely conduct mass killing of innocent civilians, carry out a terrorist attack on the J&K legislative assembly and strike at India's Parliament?'' Advani said that India had ``experienced Pakistan for two decades now in the context of terrorism and it has gone out of the way.'' He derided Pakistan for terrorist infiltration into India's terrorism, and then feigning lack of knowledge about it. ``Infiltration is impossible without facilitation from one side,'' he said. ``Not even a stray dog can cross the LOC (Line of Control). You can't have, as President Bush has said, good terrorists and bad terrorists. President Musharraf seems to think otherwise. He would like the world to believe that there are good terrorists at work in furtherance of Pakistan's stand on Kashmir.'' Recalling the assassination of Indira Gandhi due to terrorism that fomented in Punjab, Advani vowed to stamp out terrorism in Kashmir saying that the episode of December 13 had steeled India's resolve to ``take our battle against cross-border terrorism to the finish.'' Replying to a question on what course of action would he take if Pakistan baulked in stemming cross-border terrorism, Advani made no bones of the fact that he was wary of Pakistan's motives and intentions. ``I am not confident though (of Pakistan),'' he added at the end, after saying that he hoped Pakistan would abandon terrorism as ``state policy.'' Advani said that in the last three years, ``106 ISI cells'' had been found in different parts of the country outside of J&K. ``I have not come here to seek any assurances. I have come here to share our information, to share our concerns,'' he said. ``I believe they (the US) too are concerned about rooting out terrorism.'' At night, attending a reception hosted by Mansingh at a hotel and speaking in Hindi to about 800 members of the Indian community, Advani said that the December 13 attack was the last straw. ``Raavan lakshman rekha paar kar gayaa (Raavan crossed the sacred line).'' After his meeting with Rice, Advani is also slated to meet several analysts and think-tank group members, besides meetings with editorial boards of The Washington Post and the conservative daily, The Washington Times.
Friday, January 11, 2002
Powell, Advani disagree on Musharraf
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Colin Powell will visit India and Pakistan next week amid realisation here that tensions in the region are not about to abate. Hopes that Pakistan’s military ruler Pervez Musharraf would meet all round expectations by acting on terrorism in all forms on all fronts are being whittled down following indications from Islamabad that it will continue its Kashmir offensive. Visiting Home Minister LK Advani has also made it clear that as long as Pakistan maintains that strategy, it leaves India with no option but to maintain pressure on the border and be ready for retaliation in the event of another terrorist attack. Given such a stand-off, Powell, who has been on the phone with Musharraf almost daily, has now decided to give personal diplomacy a shot. The Secretary of State decided to go himself after New Delhi make it known it was averse to a special envoy of emissary. Following talks with Advani at the State Department, Powell said he would visit India and Pakistan, and perhaps other places in the region, to consult with my colleagues in those two countries and see if I can make a further contribution toward resolving the situation that currently exists. The Powell-Advani talks saw an almost total convergence of views on what constituted terrorism and US recognition of the situation – including the mounting domestic public pressure – India was facing. But the two sides continued to differ on Pakistan’s military ruler Pervez Musharraf, his compulsions, and what he could deliver. Powell argued that Musharraf was making a strategic change in Pakistani foreign policy post-September 11. But Advani countered that it was merely tactical and opportunistic switch, as any reading of his utterances, especially with regard to the issue Jammu and Kashmir, would indicate. In his post-September 11 speech, Musharraf quoted Islamic scriptures to announce support to Washington’s war on terrorism not on grounds of conviction, but because the US was lesser of the two evils and sometimes one has to sup with the devil. The home minister also listed out what he called Pakistan’s betrayals in response to India’s peace overtures, and later, at a press conference, said, We shall not take another betrayal this time around. At the same time, Advani also sought to disabuse the perception here that India was taking an aggressive position and there was danger of a nuclear war. He reminded an agitated American questioner that India had a policy of no-first use of nuclear weapons and it would not give up that responsible position. Powell, a great supporter of Musharraf who has been relentlessly praising him in public and pressuring him privately, now appears to be veering around to the view that Pakistan is not about to give up on its terror campaign against India although it is meeting all of Washington’s benchmarks. Powell will be in India around January 16 en route to an Afghan conference in Tokyo, just about the time Defence Minister George Fernandes, who has publicly criticised the lack of US responsiveness to India’s concerns, leaves for Washington for talks with Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and the US military establishment. Comments and statements by leaders and officials on both sides show a refreshing candour and respect for each others position despite some differences. adds: L K Advani has said that his talks with US leaders in Washington have given him a measure of assurance that the US wishes to stand by its promise to eliminate terrorism wherever it exists in the world. "After yesterday's and today's discussions, I believe that America is keen to carry out its role insofar as its pronouncements are concerned," Advani here said. Advani emphasised that that if terrorism was a crime when engaged in in Afghanistan, it was also a crime when conducted against India. Asked whether India was worried that the US had moved "closer to Pakistan" as a result of its support to the US-led war in Afghanistan, Advani said that he did not think so. He said that immediatey after the September 11 attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon when the US consciously wooed Pakistan, he had told the US Ambassador in New Delhi that it was the right approach. Geography and strategy dictated it as well as the need to ensure that the battle against terrorism does not become a battle between two religions, he added. Asked how much of a threat Pakistan poses to India, Advani said that for nearly two decades Pakistan has been promoting terrorism in India. In the first ten years the focus was mainly on Punjab and in the last ten years it has been on Jammu and Kashmir. But in both these decades, Advani said, it has in fact been spread all over the country and so "it is a war of a different kind". "We have faced wars from Pakistan thrice earlier. This is a war of a different kind, a war which reached its climax as two organisations based in Pakistan (Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba) sent terrorists to attack the Indian Parliament."
Friday, January 11, 2002
RBI alerts banks against transactions of 23 terror outfits
New Delhi, Jan 10 Reserve Bank of India's communication to the Chief Executives of public sector and other banks to guard against transactions of 23 terrorist outfits has dampened the spirits of the banks in intensifying their customership drive. A senior official of a bank said the RBI's notification is bound to slowdown the customership drive amid intense competition amongst banks to corner greater market share, though the banks are committed to guard against transanctions of terrorist outfits. The watchlist of the RBI includes outfits such as Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Jammu and Kashmir Islamic Front, Manipur People's Liberation Front, LTTE, Student Islamic Movement of India and Deendar Anjuman. The Chairman of State Bank of India, Janaki Ballabh said the bank had already taken precautions against possible transactions by any of the terror outfits. Ballabh told that the bank managers and other senior officials of his bank are on the guard against any such activities. Asked whether this would affect the customer acquisition strategies, Ballabh quipped "the bank doesn't want any member of these or other such organisations as its customer". The SBI chairman said the bank had received a communication from the RBI, asking it to guard against any shady transactions by 23 terrorist outfits.
Thursday, January 10, 2002
UN rejects Pakistan's request to intervene in Indo-Pak crisis
United Nations, Jan 10 United Nations Security Council has virtually rejected Pakistan's request that it intervene to defuse Indo-Pak tension and asked Islamabad to crackdown on terrorist groups operating in Kashmir. There is no support for Pakistan's request among the Security Council's 15 members who stress that it is a bilateral issue and needs to be resolved between the two countries, Council diplomats said. The immediate issue is the need for Pakistan to crackdown on terrorist groups which have been operating in Kashmir and killing innocent people, they said, adding fighting terrorism is the current priority. Pakistan's Ambassador to the United Nations, Shamshad Ahmed Khan, had sought the UN Security Council's intervention to ease Indo-Pak tension during a meeting with Council President for the current month, Ambassador Jugdish Koonjal Dharmachand of Mauritius. Dharmachand briefly mentioned about his meeting with Khan during a closed door meeting under "other matters" after the Council had finished the day's business late Tuesday. Council diplomats said there was no discussion as none of the members showed any interest. Dharmachand mentioned the meeting as the President always briefs the Council members about his meetings and if members show interest, there could be a discussion. The response of members to the mention by the President was silence and the issue was over in less than one minute, the Council diplomats said.
Thursday, January 10, 2002
How the ASI will dress the Taj in tarpaulin
AGRA: If a war ever drops out of the sky on Agra, it may miss the luminous, not-so-white dome of the marble monument to love for the trees. The Taj Mahal would be dressed in green and black striped tarpaulin, its shining marble coated with dust and its minarets covered with leaves and branches. Amidst the mundane hum of tourists and tour guides, an Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI) operation to cover up the Taj is proceeding in right earnest. Two ASI officials _ director K P Punhacha and assistant director D V Sharma _ will be visiting Agra tomorrow to review the security arrangements. The rope to secure the cloth that would cover the Taj has already been purchased. The rope, of the kind used to tug heavy vessels and made from coconut fiber, has been made to order at nearby Mathura with very specific directions: white in colour, 80 feet long, no joints and soft on the hands. The only time the Taj was ever swathed in this fashion was during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, said ASI officials. In fact, it's the favourite story of tour guides on the beat these days: how the Taj had to be shut for 19 days, how it was covered in green tarpaulin from the dome down to its floors to save it from possible air raids, how the marble floor was camouflaged with sand and the minarets with bushes and branches to hide the reflection from the stone. The ASI is now dusting and re-reading its files to relearn the lessons of 1971. The exercise began soon after December 30, after the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's office received an alleged Lashkar-e-Toiba e-mail threat to blow up the monument. The terrorist outfit subsequently denied the threat, but the ASI isn't taking any chances with its biggest cash cow in Agra. Of course, the 1971 file needs considerable upgrading: then, 8,500 kgs of cloth were purchased from the Central Ordnance Depot in Agra Cantonment for Rs 20,000. The 1971 file even details how many needles and nails were used to secure the tarpaulin: 63 and 600 kilos respectively. This time, the budget is Rs 3.5 lakh. Natthi Lal, who is in charge of the shoe racks within the premises, says, ``I climbed atop the Taj and helped cover it. I was much younger at the time.'' It took them two days to wrap the Taj in tarpaulin. Lal remembers how it all started off: an Indian Air Force pilot based in Agra rang the warning bell and said the Taj could be spotted from high up in the sky. ``After that, the cloth lay in storage for years and was eventually thrown away.'' Now, the cloth is much more easily available at Chhipee Tola, which was known as the Urdu bazaar in Mughal times and which supplied army cloth during Akbar and Jehangir's rule. The hazardous procedure of securing the rope to the highest points would be carried out by êibankatasêr, who specialise in scrambling up to the corners of any monument for maintenance. The ASI already has five such êibankatasêr employed to work at the Taj, and they say many more can be summoned if the need arises. But even as the ASI goes about protecting the Taj, it has a more pressing task at hand: stopping the rumour mills from churning out stories of the Taj being closed down as a security measure. The elaborate exercise is just a precautionary one, they say, tourists can still get their pictures taken on the Love Seat as before.
Thursday, January 10, 2002
Pakistan has not done enough: Advani tells US
WASHINGTON: Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani remained unconvinced after talks with US officials on Wednesday that Pakistan had acted sufficiently against anti-India extremists, but said he still hoped diplomacy could avert war. "Pakistan has so far neither shown any sincerity in wanting to end cross-border terrorism against India nor has taken adequate demonstrable and effective steps in that direction," Advani told a news conference. He said that his government, under US and other international pressure, had been patient in waiting for Islamabad to act but he could not say how long that patience might last. A bloody December 13 attack on India's Parliament "has steeled India's resolve to take our battle against Pak-sponsored cross-border terrorism to the finish, guided by the objective of bringing it to a decisive end," Advani said. He spoke after talks with Secretary of State Colin Powell, who has announced plans to visit India and Pakistan next week in an attempt to cool tensions between the two nuclear rivals. The US has been dragged into keeping a lid on the conflict while it continues its search for Saudi militant Osama Bin Laden across the Pakistani border in Afghanistan. The South Asian nations launched their biggest military buildup in years after the attack on India's Parliament, which India blamed on Pakistan-based militants. Advani said that the assault "is as grave a challenge to India's sovereignty just as the (September 11) terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center Towers were to the US'." "We are both victims of terrorism," he said, describing India and America as the "twin towers of democracy." Advani also held separate meetings with CIA Director George Tenet and Attorney General John Ashcroft and was due to hold other talks with national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and congressional leaders. He was also expected to see President George W. Bush. Advani insisted Pakistan met four demands, including handing over to India 20 extremists whose names have been given to the government in Islamabad and closing all terrorist facilities in Pakistan and in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Also, Pakistan must stop the infiltration of arms and men from Pakistan to Kashmir and issue a "categorical and unambiguous renunciation of terrorism in all its manifestations and wherever it exists, irrespective of the cause it seeks to further," Advani said. With Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf expected to soon announce new anti-terror moves, Advani, apparently referring to US officials, said "some people are confident" that Musharraf will "abandon terrorism as an instrument of state policy." "I'm not that confident. I can only hope," Advani said. He said that he was satisfied with his US meetings and felt that American officials had understood the threat India faced from extremists and its response - thus far - to it.
Thursday, January 10, 2002
India says shoots at unmanned Pakistan spy plane
JAMMU, India (Reuters) - The Indian army said on Wednesday it had fired on an unmanned Pakistani spy plane in Indian Kashmir which then returned to Pakistani territory as tensions remained high between the nuclear-capable foes. "We fired at it but it crossed over to the other side (Pakistan)," a senior defence official told Reuters. "It was at a high altitude and the gunfire could not reach the target." It was the second time in a week India had reported firing on an unmanned Pakistani spy plane flying over its territory. Last Sunday, India and Pakistan accused each other of losing an unmanned spy plane in the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir. The defence official described the spy plane's intrusion on Wednesday as a "regular exercise along the borders on both sides to monitor the troop and equipment deployment of each other. There's nothing to panic about these forays by enemy spy planes." There have been fears that the tense standoff between the South Asian neighbours could erupt into war.
Wednesday, January 9, 2002
Jaish threatens to target Air Force, Navy
SRINAGAR: The Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammad militant outfit on Tuesday threatened to intensify its activities targeting Air Force and Navy besides Army and paramilitary forces. "Our target now will be the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy besides Indian Army and paramilitary forces," JeM chief in Jammu and Kashmir Abu Hijrat told a local news agency, 'NAFA' in a telephonic interview. "The crackdown by Pakistani government on the JeM and Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) will not make any difference as far as jehadi organisations are concerned," he said. "We are silently watching the developments and cannot comment on the happenings at the moment," Hirjat said. Denying JeM's involvement in the December 13 strike on Parliament and October one attack on the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Hirjat disowned Gazi Baba, a Pakistani national who has been named by the Delhi police as the mastermind behind the attack on Parliament. "Baba is not a member of the JeM," he said. When asked about the outfit's claim after the attack on the state Assembly and hasty withdrawal later, he said, "The question of owning the responsibility for the acts we have not carried out does not arise." Replying to a question, Hijrat said, "Pakistan government has changed its policy towards jehadi groups, but the change will not make any difference on the activities of jehadis. "We have not jumped into the jehad for the sake of fame or fun, but we have launched jehad to implement the law of God in his land," he said. Hirjat claimed that the JeM has three to five thousand suicide squads in addition to more than 12,000 militants. Asked what would be the role of militants in the event of a war between India and Pakistan, Hijrat said, "The wars are not fought for longer periods. If you want to judge the role of militants during war, remember Kargil. "But the guerilla war will continue and JeM will intensify its activities and target Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and Military," he said. However, he did not elaborate saying it would be premature to say anything about the future plans. Asked to comment on the statements of some separatist leaders questioning the presence of foreign militants in Kashmir, Hijrat said, "They (the separaitist leaders who said so) do not know the philosophy of jehad. Jehad is compulsory for every Muslim. There is no ban or restriction on jehad as to who will fight where. There is no restriction of territory. "Numerous Kashmiri youths fought in Chechnya against Russians. That is why non-Kashmiris are fighting in Kashmir," he added.
Wednesday, January 9, 2002
Pakistani, Indian military talk on hotline - report
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Senior Pakistani and Indian military officials have been in contact by telephone hotline raising hopes that war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours can be averted, a Pakistani newspaper reported on Wednesday. Both countries' Director-General of Military Operations spoke on Tuesday, "hinting that war clouds were now not gathering even if they might take some more time to completely thin out", the newspaper said, citing official sources. The paper provided no details of the talks and Pakistani military spokesman were not immediately available for comment. Indian and Pakistani forces have been locked in a tense standoff on their border since a December 13 attack on India's parliament in New Delhi that India blamed on Pakistan-based guerrillas battling Indian rule in disputed Kashmir. There have been daily exchanges of fire across the border and dozens of people -- both soldiers and civilians -- have been killed and wounded on the Pakistani side of the frontier, Pakistani officials say. One Pakistani policeman was wounded by Indian small-arms fire across the border on Tuesday night in the Neelam Valley area of Pakistani-ruled Kashmir, police said. There was also sporadic small-arms fire on the border in the Kotli district of Kashmir and near the town of Sialkot in Pakistan's Punjab province, police and witnesses said. There were no reports of casualties in those clashes. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since their independence from Britain in 1947, two of them over the divided Muslim-majority Himalayan region of Kashmir.
Monday, January 7, 2002
Israel offers India expertise in tackling terrorism
JERUSALEM/MUMBAI: Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres has said there are similarities between India and Israel in terms of threat perceptions emanating from terrorism and since "Israel has unfortunately become an experienced country in this domain (countering terrorism), we can offer our expertise" to India. Peres arrived in Mumbai on Monday. Later, he was expected to fly to Delhi, where he will initially hold talks with Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani and Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh. Before leaving for India, Peres said there were "some characteristics which are equal to all terrorists." Seeking New Delhi's support "to advance the (Middle East) peace process," the former prime minister said that Israel supported "full-heartedly the acceptance of India" in the United Nations Security Council as also its inclusion in North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) as it has sided with the US and Europe in war against terrorism. Peres said in order to fight terror, "we have to ask countries that harbour terror to stop it. What is clear today (is) that you cannot have high-tech unless you have an upper hand, you can not have terror unless you have a dishonest government because the terror starts beginning by terrorising their own people. "Today, the world is divided (between) terror and anti-terror," he said, adding there was an instinct coalition against terrorism, "a coalition without a choice because no country democratic or otherwise can forgive or be indifferent to the dangers of terrorism." Asked whether terrorism had a different definition in different context, Peres said there were some differences but similarities were obvious. "First of all, contrary to resistance organisations, or guerrilla (groups), modern terrorism kills children and women and men without discrimination. Guerrilla warfare is against armies. Terrorists are against everybody. "Secondly, they (terrorists) use modern means which are more and more dangerous. They are not State-bound, there are States that can close their eyes. But terror is a State within a State. Nobody has a right to kill a child," Peres said. In the Middle East "we saw that all the agreements that we made including the agreement with Egypt was without terror. Palestinian could have achieved much more," he said. Describing India as a combination of fascinating factors, Peres said India is an important country in Asia, a very good friend of Israel and that Tel Aviv is seeking New Delhi's support "to advance the (Middle East) peace process." He said after establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Israel, New Delhi's voting pattern at United Nations and other multilateral forums on issues involving Israel was "mixed" one. "But recently, there is an improvement." Peres, the principal architect of the 1993 Oslo peace accords which initiated a process of Israeli withdrawal from West Bank and Gaza territories, said Israel wanted the Kashmir issue to be settled within the framework of the Shimla agreement.
Monday, January 7, 2002
Military pilotless plane crashes near Jammu
JAMMU: A military pilotless remote-controlled vehicle (PRV) crashed near here following a technical snag shortly after take-off on Sunday evening, official sources said. The PRV developed the snag after take off from an airbase and crashed in Chatta area some 10 km from here, the sources said.
Monday, January 7, 2002
Pak sent 2 drones, one shot down
JAMMU: Indian troops on Sunday shot down one of the two unmanned Pakistani spy aircraft which intruded the air space in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, even as one of India's unmanned aerial vehicle crashed near here. Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said the first Pakistani unmanned aerial vehicle transgressed 8 km inside the Indian territory at around 1400 hours and the other at 1515 hours. While one plane went back to Pakistan unharmed, the other was was engaged by the ground forces and hit by the anti-aircraft guns. The debris of the plane hit by Indian anti-aircraft battery fell on the Pakistan side of the Line of Control, Abdullah said. The spy drone hovered on the Indian airspace for about 15 minutes and was fired upon by anti-aircraft batteries, defence sources said. The shooting down of the plane came amid tensions between India and Pakistan and military buildup on both sides of the border. A Indian military pilotless remote-controlled vehicle crashed near here following a technical snag shortly after take-off this evening, official sources said. The PRV developed the snag after take off from an airbase and crashed in Chatta area some 10 km from here, the sources said. In Islamabad, a Pakistani defence spokeman denied the shooting down one of its spy planes and accused India of unleashing a "propoganda to cover up" the loss of its own UAV. "This propaganda is totally baseless and concocted," Pakistani army spokesman Brigadier Saulat Raza said. "Actually they themselves have lost one remotely piloted vehicle. We haven't lost any aircraft, neither have we violated Indian-held airspace," he said, adding, "They lost one and just to cover it up they said we did it." Saulat said that the Indian aircraft had come down in Jammu.
Monday, January 7, 2002
Advani heads for US on Tuesday
WASHINGTON: The security dialogue between India and the United States will be taken to the broadest and deepest levels in their history over the next ten days with the back-to-back visit to Washington of Home Minister L K Advani and Defence Minister George Fernandes. Widely perceived as the most "hawkish" members of the Vajpayee cabinet, the engagement with the two ministers will mean the Bush administration would have met almost the entire Indian Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). Prime Minister Vajpayee, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Finance Minister Yashwant Singh have already logged Washington visits. Officials from both sides say there has never been such a sustained security dialogue in Indo-American diplomatic history. Coming amid a world in turmoil, not to speak of the tensions in South Asia, the visits could be something of landmark in defining US policy in Asia. Home Minister Advani's visit starting Tuesday is important not just in the context of the ongoing debate on terrorism but also for the fact that he is seen as a successor to Prime Minister Vajpayee. Pronounced as a hard-line politician by the American media, the administration will be keen to see and hear first hand the man they could well be dealing with at a higher level in the future. Diplomatic doyens were hard put to recall when an Indian Home Minister last visited Washington, much less with such a broad, deep, and heavy agenda. Advani will be accompanied with the top honchos of the Indian security establishment, including Home Secretary Kamal Pande, Intelligence Bureau chief K P Singh, and a host of other unnamed and shadowy officials who manage India's security framework. Although a guest of Attorney General John Ashcroft's, Advani is also expected to meet Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice. There are also chances that President Bush might "drop-in" during the latter meeting -- a regulation diplomatic put-on perfected by the White House to signal a special warmth or importance to an occasion. While the top spooks of the two sides will meet away from public eyes, Advani himself will have a dialogue with Attorney General John Ashcroft, a man whose own hard-line, conservative reputation here makes him an ideal alter ago. Some South Asia mavens have characterised the upcoming exchange between the two kindred souls as "Mullah Ashcroft meets Mullah Advani". Levity aside, broadening and sharpening the scope of Indo-US security ties with emphasis on what Washington calls "homeland security" is a major part of the Home Minister's agenda. The United States has only recently woken up to the decades-long battle India has waged against terrorism on the home front. Advani and his team are expected to brief US officials about their experience with intelligence gathering and counter-terrorism while seeking to learn from the US too. There will several identifiably action plans, including agreements on cyber-terrorism, cooperation between forensic labs in the two countries, and a mutual legal assistance treaty. As one of the better communicators in the Indian political set-up, even if not entirely sound byte-savvy, Advani is expected to make a few of television and think-tank appearances. Also on the cards are the regulation meetings with the India Caucus. Indian officials agree that public relations has never been New Delhi's strong suit and this is one or two visits that could turn the tide for better -- or worse. Defence Minister George Fernandes arrives here next week just as Advani leaves for home (ensuring, one official joked, that there won't be a war for at least the next two weeks). The American establishment is as keen to have a first-hand exchange with the maverick minister, whose resume shows him to be a leftist who took to the right and an anti-nuclear pacifist who turned a hawk. The fact that Fernandes is a former minister -- in the catholic sense -- turned trade unionist turned politician should also reassure some of the more Christian conservative types here that the Indian ruling party is not comprised of trident-wielding Hindu fanatics. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has already met Fernandes once, and there again, there would appear to be some commonality of views about the security paradigm in Asia, considering both establishments see China as a source of concern, if not a future threat. During his stay, Fernandes will also sign the awkwardly-acronymed GSOMIA, or General Security of Military Information Agreement. GSOMIAs are negotiated by the United States with a foreign government and obligate each government to provide protection to each other's classified information. In a sense, the agreement is a prelude to a high-degree of confidential security cooperation.
Monday, January 7, 2002
Condemn terrorism, Blair to tell Musharraf
NEW DELHI: British Prime Minister Tony Blair was flying Monday to Islamabad to press Pakistan's government to make an unequivocal condemnation of terrorism as a step toward defusing a dangerous showdown with India. Blair joined India on Sunday in pressing for such a Pakistani statement, implicitly rejecting Pakistan's recent crackdown on Islamic militants as insufficient. Pakistani authorities have announced mass arrests of militants for the past two weeks, including the leaders and other members of two groups - Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed - which India accuses of the December 13 assault on Parliament. Fourteen people were killed in the attack, including the five assailants. Pakistani police said Sunday that security forces arrested 42 militants in eastern Punjab province, raising to 300 the number of detainees held in the crackdown against terrorist groups. "We've welcomed some of the actions that have been taken by Pakistan over the past few days, but there's no doubt what needs to happen," Blair said at a joint news conference with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee following an hour of talks Sunday night. "There must be a complete rejection of the types of terrorist actions carried out on the 1st of October and the 13th of December," Blair said, referring to attacks on the assembly of Jammu and Kashmir and Parliament, both blamed on Pakistan-based militants. "There is no halfway house for that," said Blair. After Blair met Vajpayee, he spoke on the phone for 15 minutes with US President George W. Bush, a spokesman for Blair said Monday. Bush and Blair agreed terrorism should be renounced and a settlement to the India-Pakistan crisis should be negotiated, the spokesman told reporters, using customary anonymity. He declined elaboration about what Blair had told Bush. During Blair's three-day visit to India, planned long before the December 13 attack, he has strongly sided with Indian demands that Musharraf crack down hard on Islamic militants and disavow any support of violence in regard to Kashmir. In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, Blair had joined the United States in wooing Musharraf to support the military campaign in Afghanistan. At his news conference with Blair, Vajpayee said he had met Musharraf briefly at the end of the South Asian summit, in the same room with the other five leaders, and he said there was no discussion about opening negotiations. "While we were waiting there, I did refer to the speech made by Gen. Musharraf ... and I pointed out that in the entire speech the word 'terrorism' had been avoided. He did not reply," Vajpayee said. "It was a very big omission." Blair and Vajpayee signed a joint declaration which equated the two attacks in India with the September 11 terrorist strikes in New York and Washington, calling them "deliberate attempts to shatter the peace of our peoples and to undermine democratic values". "We reject the arguments of those who attempt to justify terrorism, which in all its forms must be condemned unambiguously and eradicated wherever it exists," said the so-called New Delhi Declaration. Blair again stressed that Britain was calling for dialogue between India and Pakistan, but first, he said, Pakistan needed to unequivocally denounce terrorism.
Monday, January 7, 2002
No question of talks with Pak: Jaswant
NEW DELHI: India on Monday said Pakistan had adopted double standards in its stand against terrorism. Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh also ruled out talks with Pakistan till it corrected its policy. "Where is the question of dialogue when there is no change in attitude (of Pakistan)", Singh told reporters here after a two-hour meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee The foreign minister said: "There has been no change in Pakistan's attitude towards terrorism. Its approach towards fighting terrorism in the West and Afghanistan is very different from its policies towards India." "This is unacceptable," he said. Singh also said one Pakistani drone had been shot down on Sunday by Indian forces. The spy plane, he said, fell in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. An Indian drone had also crashed because of technical snags, he said.
Monday, January 7, 2002
Peres visits India as security agendas converge
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres begins a three-day visit to India on Monday focused on the increasingly common security worries of two countries which only established formal relations 10 years ago. India, locked in a standoff with nuclear-armed neighbour Pakistan, and Israel, battling a 15-month Palestinian uprising against occupation, are both demanding that their adversaries renounce "terrorism" before entering peace talks. Although Peres -- who is due to meet India's prime minister, defence minister and foreign minister -- will also discuss economic ties, Israeli officials expect convergent security priorities to feature prominently in talks on closer relations. "There is no one major issue on the agenda," an Israeli government source said. "But we can clearly say that Israel and India share a lot of common issues these days, particularly in the field of counter-terrorism." India wants Islamabad to crack down on Pakistan-based militants it blames for a suicide attack on its parliament last month and a bombing wave in the disputed province of Kashmir. Israel, meanwhile, has accused Palestinian President Yasser Arafat doing too little to crack down on militants carrying out attacks on Israeli targets. Indian and Israeli officials met in Jerusalem on Sunday to swap ideas on fighting terrorism, Israel's foreign ministry said. The Israeli source said Peres would press India to convert this shared outlook into support in international organisations, where India has in the past tended to align itself with nations condemning Israel for using force against Palestinian civilians. "Some of India's patterns of voting in the United Nations General Assembly were not to our satisfaction," the source said. Indian and Israeli newspapers have also reported that a deal could soon be reached on the sale of an Israeli-built Phalcon airborne early warning radar system to India. Israeli defence officials declined to comment. Pakistan, which has exchanged fire with India in Himalayan Kashmir almost daily over the past month, has said previously that any Indian-Israeli defence collaboration involving such advanced weaponry should raise concerns across the Islamic world.
Sunday, January 6, 2002
20 more Pak troops killed
Jammu, January 5 In a day-long fierce gunbattle, at least 20 Pakistani bunkers were destroyed and 20 Pakistani soldiers killed across Poonch when Indian forces retaliated with artillery guns, including Bofors, after two Army men were killed and several others wounded in unprovoked Pakistani shelling. Reports reaching here from Poonch said the Pakistani troops started firing and shelling at 9 a.m. today and by afternoon several Indian bunkers were partially damaged in heavy shelling. The Indian troops retaliated and destroyed at least 20 Pakistani bunkers, including some posts in Langoor and Bakri. The reports said extensive damage was caused to the Pakistani forces and some of their arms dumps caught fire in the Bofors shelling. More than 4,000 persons have fled to safer places and have taken shelter in Geeta Bhavan, Islamia School, ITI and several government school buildings. These premises are overcrowded and have caused a problem for the district administration to provide them instant relief. Defence Ministry sources said the Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling on 10 border villages in Poonch sector. Several houses were partially damaged and two civilians, Tarif Hussain and Mohammad Khalil, were critically wounded in mortar shell explosions in Pony Dhara and Khari Karmara. Several other Indian border villages in Poonch sector, including Durga post, Ze Pad, Gulpur, Nakarkot, Solkar and Maldana were hit by the Pakistani mortar shells. The sources said the Indian troops, using automatic grenade and rocket launchers and other heavy-calibre weapons, pounded scores of Pakistani posts and bunkers across Poonch and Mala Bela in Akhnoor sector. Several Pakistani bunkers were also destroyed across Rajouri sector. In the light of the heavy military build-up and the continued Pakistani firing on the Indian border villages and posts, the Army today took over the responsibility of guarding vital installations, communication channels and bridges right from Akhnoor to Poonch.
Sunday, January 6, 2002
Vajpayee says had courtesy meet with Musharraf
KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said on Sunday he had a courtesy meeting with Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf during a South Asian summit, but nothing substantive had come out of it. "There was an exchange of courtesy. Nothing significant was discussed," he told reporters after addressing the Indian community in Nepal following a summit of South Asian leaders. Musharraf earlier said he had no one-on-one talks with Vajpayee at the summit but hoped "the informal will lead to a formal interaction in the future". After days together with Vajpayee, "we had an informal interaction and we look forward to formalising the interaction the future", Musharraf told reporters. The summit had been overshadowed by a massive military standoff between Pakistan and India, sparking fears across the world that the nuclear-armed foes may be on the brink of war.
Sunday, January 6, 2002
Vajpayee urges Musharraf to crush terrorism
KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee welcomed Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's dramatic handshake gesture at a South Asian summit on Saturday but urged him to convert it into concrete action quickly. The summit has been overshadowed by a massive military standoff between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, sparking fears across the world that they may be on the brink of war. But Musharraf's gesture appeared to take the edge off the tension. "I am glad that President Musharraf extended his hand of friendship to me," Vajpayee told the summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). "I have shaken his hand in your presence, now President Musharraf must follow this gesture by not permitting any activity in Pakistan or any territory in its control today which enables terrorists to perpetrate mindless violence in India," he added. India accuses Pakistan of fomenting rebellion in disputed northern Kashmir but Islamabad says it only extends moral and diplomatic support to a struggle for self-determination. "We now have an international coalition against terrorism which accepts that terrorism has to be countered in a global and comprehensive manner," Vajpayee said. "India has been a victim of international terrorism for two decades now." Vajpayee added that events in Afghanistan showed that sponsorship of terrorism could create a monster.
Thursday, January 3, 2002
No option but war if Pakistan does not act, warns Vajpayee
Lucknow, Jan 3 In his harshest statement to date, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Thursday warned that war would be the only option if Pakistan failed to take quick action to stem terrorism directed against India. Vajpayee, however, told reporters before leaving for Kathmandu, to attend a South Asian summit, that New Delhi did not favour a military showdown and that he had no plans of meeting Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in Nepal. But he made it clear in unambiguous terms that he was not happy with the steps Pakistan says it has taken against terrorist groups that were blamed for the attack on the Indian Parliament and for acts of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a press conference here before the inauguration of the 89th Indian Science Congress, he said: "I am not satisfied with the measures claimed to have been taken by Pakistan to stop terrorism. "We are not interested in war. We want this whole issue of terrorism to be resolved through diplomacy. But if we see that it doesn't work, then there is no option but war. Yet we would make every attempt to prevent war. "So far we have not been communicated anything officially. Whatever we know is through newspapers and reports sent by the Indian high commission in Pakistan. "India would like to know how many terrorists have been arrested by the Pakistani authorities, who are these people, what crimes are they being charged with. "We would also want to know whether any of these arrested were in some way connected to the attack on Parliament and whether any of them were also thought to be involved in previous terrorist attacks in India. "Further, Pakistan must spell out what future steps it proposes to take to bring an end to terrorism." Vajpayee's comments - his most outspoken on the subject -- came amid growing border tensions between Pakistan and India, which has blamed Islamabad for the continuing acts of terrorism in India. New Delhi says the five terrorists who stormed the Indian Parliament December 13 and were killed were Pakistanis. Vajpayee added: "From whatever has been done by Pakistan so far, it appears that Pakistan is still not ready to separate itself from terrorism." Asked whether he would meet Musharraf if he made an offer to talk, he said: "This is a hypothetical question." Vajpayee claimed international support for India's war against terrorism. "Almost every nation has condemned the attack on the Indian parliament and said this must stop." He said the question of terrorism would be raised at the summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) beginning in Kathmandu Friday that was earlier meant to discuss regional economic issues. "But because each of the SAARC countries has been suffering due to terrorism, it will have to be a salient subject of discussion there." Asked whether he would raise the question of Pakistan's role in perpetuating terrorism in India, he said: "There is no separate issue relating to any particular country. But there has to be a broader discussion on the issue. "We have to see that the U.N. resolution on curbing terrorism is implemented in true letter and spirit."
Thursday, January 3, 2002
Lashkar-e-Taiba deny threat to Taj Mahal
MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan (Reuters) - A Muslim militant group fighting Indian rule in disputed Kashmir on Thursday dismissed as lies an Indian official's accusation that the group had threatened to blow up India's famous Taj Mahal monument. "The Indian allegations are total lies," Abdullah Sayyaf, a spokesman for the Lashkar-e-Taiba guerrilla group, told Reuters in Pakistani-ruled Kashmir. "We never issued such a threat. It is the handiwork of Indian intelligence to defame our group," he said. "Why should we blow up monuments? How could it help us? What could we achieve by that?" A senior government official in Uttar Pradesh, where the Taj Mahal is located, told Reuters on Wednesday that the Lashkar group, blamed by India for an attack on its parliament last month, has threatened to blow up the Taj and other monuments. Security at the 17th century marble monument to love was tightened following an email threat sent to the state's chief minister from the Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Indian official said. Pakistani and Indian forces are facing off in the biggest military buildup along their border in nearly 15 years, with India demanding Islamabad take action to stop what it labels cross-border terrorism. India blames the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad groups for the December 13 attack on parliament in which 14 people, including five attackers, were killed. Both groups deny the accusation. The Taj Mahal was draped with olive green cloth to camouflage it during the last India-Pakistan war in 1971 and the Archaeological Survey of India plans to repeat this in the current tension between the two nuclear neighbours. The Taj Mahal, built by Emperor Shahjahan in Agra as a tribute to his beloved second wife, Mumtaz Mahal who died in childbirth, is a huge draw for tourists.
Thursday, January 3, 2002
Musharraf rules out handing over terrorists to India
Islamabad, Jan 2 Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today ruled out handing over any terrorist wanted by India but said Islamabad would act against them if any credible evidence was provided by New Delhi and prosecute them under Pakistani laws. Musharraf told a joint meeting of National Security Council (NSC) and Cabinet that his Government would act against any of the terrorists if India provided satisfactory evidence. "If there is any allegation against any of the individual, the evidence should be provided to us. The Government of Pakistan will examine the evidence and act against those elements under the law of the land," Musharraf said. Briefing newsmen about the meeting, Pakistan Information Secretary, Anwar Mehmood, quoted Musharraf as saying that the question of handing over anyone to India does not arise. Musharraf also told the meeting that "Pakistan wants peace and de-escalation but should a mistake of attacking Pakistan be made they (India) would regret their decision." "Our deterrence is complete in all respects, on the ground, air or high seas," Musharraf said. "If attacked, Pakistan can respond more adequately," the President said, adding "they (India) would not like to bear the damage which we would be able to cast on them." Musharraf also informed the NSC and the Cabinet about the latest position of troops deployment by India. The Council and the Cabinet were given a detailed presentation about what could be the likely scenario. The meeting was informed that Pakistan has taken all necessary measures to defend and safeguard its interests, Mehmood said. He said the four-hour meeting had one point agenda of reviewing the current situation. The Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Muhammad Aziz and Foreign Secretary Inamul Haq were among those who briefed the meeting about different aspects of the situation including state of civil preparedness. Musharraf also chaired another meeting convened to discuss sectarian extremism and a programme for bringing Madarasas in the mainstream of national education under a voluntary programme. The law and order situation was also reviewed. The meeting discussed National Strategy to deal with the issue of extremism and some decisions were taken which the President would announce on his return from Kathmandu.
Thursday, January 3, 2002
Jehad Council opposes extradition of 20 terrorists to India
Islamabad, Jan 2 The United Jehad Council (UJC), an umbrella organisation of some Pakistan based militant outfits, has strongly opposed extradition of 20 terrorists demanded by India from Islamabad. "If it happens, everything would be finished," UJC Chairman and Hizbul Mujahideen leader Syed Salahuddin said and hoped Pakistan would not not go to such an extent. He said UGC would re-evolve its future strategy in the next few days in the wake of Pakistan government's crackdown on militants. The government action was "disappointing." Salahuddin said his organisation condemned the arrest of former leader of Lashkar-e-Toiba Hafiz Saeed and Maulana Masud Azhar, leader of Jaish-e-Mohammad and other Jihadi leaders. He said he understood Pakistan's compulsions but in general the government's actions had disappointed him.
Thursday, January 3, 2002
India has completed deploying reinforcements
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has completed deploying reinforcements to forward areas along its border with Pakistan, but the troops are not in battle positions, Defence Minister George Fernandes said on Wednesday. India still wanted to resolve its latest row with its nuclear neighbour through diplomacy, including international pressure, Fernandes told Reuters in an interview. But he could not say how long New Delhi would wait before trying tougher measures, including possible military action. "The forces are on the border, but they are not in battle positions," Fernandes said. "Such troops as the army wanted up front, I think it has already completed." Fernandes said the troops had been deployed just short of the border and moving them up if needed would take time. India, declaring it does not want a fourth war with Pakistan, is demanding Islamabad wipe out anti-Indian militants operating from its soil and New Delhi has not ruled out military strikes. Fernandes said India would consider talks to demilitarise the heavily-defended ceasefire line separating Indian and Pakistani troops in the dispued Himalayan region of Kashmir, but only after Pakistan ended its suppport for Islamic militants fighting Indian rule there. India accuses Pakistan of cross-border terrorism and waging a proxy war by sponsoring about a dozen Pakistan-based Kashmiri separatist groups. Pakistan denies the charge, but says it does give moral support to freedom fighters. The two sides have fought three wars -- two over Kashmir -- since they were formed when Britain partitioned the subcontinent in 1947.
Thursday, January 3, 2002
Kashmir rebels vow fresh attacks on Indian forces
SRINAGAR (Reuters) - A Pakistan-based Kashmiri militant group, accused of a recent assault on the Indian parliament, has threatened in a statement published on Wednesday to carry out "new deadly attacks" on Indian security forces. "We are in possession of more deadly and sophisticated weapons and they will be fully used against the military and paramilitary forces of India in the coming days," the Jaish-e-Mohammad militant group said in a statement printed in local newspapers in the Indian-ruled state. "The new deadly attacks would weaken the resolve of the Indian government to take on the Mujahideen and victory will be ours," the statement said. India has said the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad groups and Lashkar-e-Taiba were behind December 13 attack on parliament in which 14 people, including five attackers, were killed. Both groups have denied involvement in the attacks. The Indian government has said all options -- including war -- are open if Pakistan does not crack down on Islamic militants operating from its soil against India.
Thursday, January 3, 2002
Government cuts Kashmir long-distance phone links
SRINAGAR (Reuters) - The government has stopped long-distance calls from all public telephone offices in revolt-racked Kashmir to prevent militants from communicating with each other, a telecoms official said on Wednesday. The official, who did not want to be identified, said facilities had been withdrawn from about 2,500 public phone offices run by state-owned telecoms giant Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL). "Any anti-national element can misuse the facility at this point of this time and we don't want to take a chance," the official said. India is battling a long-running revolt against its rule in its portion of Kashmir and New Delhi accuses Pakistan of fomenting the violence by arming militants and sending them across the border. Ties between the neighbours have plunged since last month's attack on the Indian parliament that New Delhi has blamed on Pakistan-based militants. The attack has led to a massive military build-up along the border of the nuclear-armed neighbours. "The STD (subscribers trunk dialling) and international subscriber dialling facility of public call offices has been suspended on the directives of higher authorities," another official, from BSNL, said. The official said long-distance phone connections for individual subscribers, organisations and offices were not affected. Mobile phone services are not available in Kashmir for security reasons. Residents and newspapers said Internet connections had also been withdrawn in the troubled region, but BSNL officials denied this, attributing the service disruption to a technical fault. Internet cafes in Srinagar, where nearly a dozen militant groups are fighting New Delhi's rule, were deserted on Wednesday. "The withdrawal is a part of the series of decisions taken by the cabinet committee on security in its recent meetings," Greater Kashmir, Kashmir's leading newspaper, quoted official sources as saying. Authorities say more than 30,000 people have been killed in the region since a bloody rebellion broke out at the end of 1989. Separatists put the toll closer to 80,000. Islamabad says it only gives moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people's struggle for self-determination.
Wednesday, January 2, 2002
Anthrax scare in Mumbai post office
MUMBAI: The city's post office had an anthrax scare on New Year's eve when two workers complained of giddiness, uneasiness and chest pain after handling a packet containing a pouch with white powder and a photo of Osama Bin Laden, police said on Wednesday. The suspected anthrax powder pouch was on Tuesday sent to the Haffkine Institute for analysis. The preliminary results were expected on Thursday, sources at the institute said. The two postmen were admitted to a hospital here. The postmen, identified as Abdul Aziz Maldaar (36), a resident of Vikhroli, and G K Wadekar (46), a resident of Dindoshi, were working at Camballa Hill post office and were admitted to the Nair hospital on December 31, hospital sources said, adding both of them were under observation. Police said that a female postal worker came across a packet from which a photo of international terrorist Osama Bin Laden, and the pouch, were recovered. She informed the two postmen about this, who tried to examine the packet, and in the process, a little amount of the powder spilled, police added. Meanwhile, details of the addressee on the envelope were being investigated, they added. However, Usha Baweja, Director of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, told Times New Network that there was no information as yet about it. Of the 300-plus samples of white powder received earlier at the peak of the anthrax scare, all had tested negative, she added. She also said though anthrax was an endemic disease in many parts of the country, there have been no reported cases of inhalation anthrax, which is the most deadly form of the disease.
Wednesday, January 2, 2002
Sonia Gandhi prepares to take Uttar Pradesh by storm
New Delhi, Jan 2 Congress president Sonia Gandhi will address dozens of campaign rallies in India's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh in a desperate bid to shore up the fortunes of her party in assembly elections next month. Although the Congress is not expected to do too well in the battle for the 403-seat legislature, party sources said Gandhi was intent on improving the party's showing, with probably larger stakes in mind. Gandhi will address up to 35 campaign meetings in Uttar Pradesh, much more than the number put together in Punjab, Uttaranchal and Manipur which also will go to the polls February and where the Congress has better chances of winning. In contrast to the decades when the Congress was the dominant player in sprawling Uttar Pradesh, the party has increasingly become a poor also ran since the late 1980s. It won only 33 seats in the 1996 assembly polls. The Congress has only eight Lok Sabha MPs from Uttar Pradesh. One of them is Gandhi, who won her first parliamentary election, from Amethi constituency, with the highest victory margin in the country. Gandhi's plans for Uttar Pradesh is prompted by predictions that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in dire straits and that a possible BJP defeat could destabilise Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's coalition government. If that were to happen, the Congress could try to make a grab at power in New Delhi, as Gandhi did on a previous occasion in 1999 after Vajpayee lost a trust vote in the Lok Sabha. "It is true the Congress has not been winning in Uttar Pradesh for more than a decade," party spokesman S. Jaipal Reddy told Wednesday. "But we can always re-emerge on its political scene to play an important role." Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state - with a population of 150 million and an electorate of 100 million - and sends 80 MPs to the 545-member Lok Sabha. The 403-seat Uttar Pradesh assembly is India's largest legislature. As analysts are predicting a hung legislature in Uttar Pradesh, the "important role" Reddy speaks of could mean propping another party in the state. Already the Congress and the Samajwadi Party of former chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav - the main player in Uttar Pradesh - have moved close to one another in recent months. Reddy denied the Congress would explore an electoral tie-up with the Samajwadi Party. Analysts say the two would gain little by teaming up now but, depending on the election results, could band together. "Sonia Gandhi is trying to revive her party's fortunes in Uttar Pradesh as she knows a win in that state can boost her chances to gain power in New Delhi," said analyst G.V.L. Narasimha Rao. "If the Samajwadi Party emerges with the largest numbers, supporting it would become a political necessity for her." The Congress is buoyed by its successes in assembly polls in many states since 1998 in contrast to the poor showing of the BJP and its allies. Although Sonia Gandhi rejected the principle of alliances only three years ago, her party has since done a turnaround and joined coalition governments in some states.
Wednesday, January 2, 2002
Indian, Pakistani troops fight in Kashmir
JAMMU, India (Reuters) - Indian and Pakistani troops fired mortars and heavy machineguns at each other across the frontier in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir overnight as the nuclear rivals struggle to avert war. Indian police said on Wednesday the exchanges were intense across both the Indian-Pakistan border and also the ceasefire line dividing the two armies in the frontline state. "It was an unprovoked firing from across the border last night to which our troops responded effectively," a senior police official told Reuters, adding no deaths were reported. Several people have been killed in daily firefights in Kashmir since tensions flared after the December 13 suicide attack on India's parliament, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based Islamic militants fighting its rule in Kashmir. Both sides have heavily reinforced their 3,310 km (2,070 mile) border stretching from Kashmir to the Arabian Sea and India has not ruled out military strikes if Pakistan does not meet its demand to wipe out the two Kashmiri groups blamed for the parliamentary attack. India has welcomed Pakistan's detention of two key leaders and several other members of the rebel groups, but it is not yet clear if that will be enough to defuse the crisis which has raised fears of a fourth war between the regional giants. Leaders from both nations are due in Nepal for a regional summit from Friday, but it remains unclear if they will meet separately on the sidelines over the latest crisis.
Wednesday, January 2, 2002
Musharraf to fly to Nepal via China - source
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf will fly via China on his way to a January 4-6 regional summit in Nepal to avoid an Indian airspace ban, a Foreign Ministry source said on Tuesday. The source said General Musharraf would go to Beijing on Thursday and was likely to meet Chinese leaders before flying on to the Nepali capital, Kathmandu. India has banned Pakistani overflights from January 1 as part of diplomatic and political sanctions against its nuclear rival, as relations worsened over last month's suicide attack on the Indian parliament building in New Delhi. New Delhi said on Friday it would allow Musharraf to fly to Kathmandu despite the ban but a Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday Musharraf would not take up the offer and would not overfly India.
Wednesday, January 2, 2002
Pakistan sees continuing Indian troop build-up
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan said on Tuesday that India was still building up forces along their tense border despite an apparent cooling of a war of words and was prepared to deal with any threat from its giant neighbour. But the Indian Defence Ministry denied the allegation, saying the mobilisation was "more or less complete". "As far as Pakistan is concerned, India continues to build up its capability," Islamabad's military spokesman Major-General Rashid Qureshi told a news briefing. "All along the border ... in Kashmir, there is continuing Indian military build-up," he said. "There is concentration of forces far in excess of what we have seen in the past. The closeness to the border and to the Line of Control poses a threat to Pakistan." He said India had also fully activated its forward air bases and "there is also information about naval movement". But a defence spokesman told Reuters in New Delhi that the Indian build-up was purely "a precautionary measure". PAKISTANI RESPONSE Qureshi said: "Pakistan continues to very, very closely monitor each movement that the Indian armed forces make and continues to take appropriate defensive measures so Pakistan is not surprised and is not caught unawares." Indo-Pakistan ties -- cool since the two countries were carved out of the subcontinent at independence from Britain in 1947 -- have nosedived since a December 13 suicide attack on India's parliament that New Delhi blames on Pakistan-based militants fighting it in disputed Kashmir. The two countries -- both nuclear-capable -- have fought three wars since independence, two of them over Kashmir, about 45 percent of which is ruled by India and a little more than a third by Pakistan. The remainder of the territory is held by China. The two nations have massed forces along the border to the largest level in nearly 15 years after India accused two Pakistan-based guerrilla groups of carrying out the parliament attack to try to wipe out its political leadership and accused Pakistan of backing them. But New Delhi on Monday welcomed Pakistan's detention of the leaders and activists of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad groups as "a step forward". INDIAN LIST OF WANTED PEOPLE New Delhi on Monday also handed Islamabad a list of alleged anti-Indian "terrorists" it said were operating in Pakistan and demanded they be handed over. But a Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman said India had not provided any evidence against the people listed. "We will certainly take action on that if evidence is provided," he told a news briefing. "The list does not contain any evidence against those people and ... in the absence of evidence it is very difficult to take action against any individual or group." Asked if Pakistan would give India a similar list of suspects it wanted, Qureshi said: "We do not make allegations without proof." But he said there appeared to be a foreign hand in a big arms cache seized last week near the southwestern city of Quetta and a bid to sabotage a rail track near Karachi.
Tuesday, January 1, 2002
3 Army men killed in militant attack
JAMMU/GURDASPUR: Three Army jawans were killed and five others injured when a group of heavily armed militants attacked an Army party in a firing range at Damtal near the Punjab-Himachal Pradesh border early Tuesday. Three militants struck opening indiscriminate fire from AK 47 assault rifles on an advance party of Army personnel numbering 6 to 7 persons who were preparing for the daily exercise, official sources said. They were installing sign boards and other equipment in a firing range area fallilng under Indwara Police Station in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh bordering Pathankote area of Punjab, they said. When they were busy in carrying out the preparations for a two-day long firing drill, the militants appeared from hill tops around the firing range and fired rockets and automatic rifles at them. The identity of the attackers, who fled after the incident, was not not immediately known but police suspected the hand of Kashmiri militants in the attack. ( )
Tuesday, January 1, 2002
Bandh in Poonch over killings
JAMMU: A bandh called to protest the killings of six Hindus in Mangnard village crippled normal life in border towns of Poonch and Rajouri on Tuesday even as people refused to cremate the bodies and held protest demonstrations, official sources said. As the bodies of the six Hindus reached Geeta bhawan in Poonch town from the village, all shops and business establishments downed the shutters and vehicular traffic went off the roads, the sources said. People, who had assembled at Geeta bhawan shouted anti-state government and anti-police slogans and said they would not cremate the bodies until Home Minister L K Advani or some other central minister visits them, the sources said. In Rajouri, Sunderbani, Kalakote and Mendhar, people observed partial bandhs in protest against the killing. However, the situation was under control, the sources said. ( )
Tuesday, January 1, 2002
Lashkar strikes again, kills six of a family
JAMMU: An infant and an eight-year-old boy were among the six persons of a Hindu family killed in a gruesome massacre by Lashkar-e-Taiba militants in a village in the border district of Poonch, official sources said on Tuesday. In the second attack against minorities in the last three days in the Rajouri-Poonch belt, an unspecified number of militants wearing combat fatigues swooped down on the home of an ex-serviceman in a remote moutainous village, Mangnard, and fired indiscriminately at the family a little after midnight on Monday. The militants first cordoned off the village and barged into the house of Baldev Raj after breaking open the front door, the sources said. Five members of Baldev's family were killed in the firing and two others seriously wounded. The sources said that Lashkar militants were behind the massacre. One of the seriously wounded, Ashok Kumar, died on way to Poonch hospital while an injured woman was being airlifted to GMC hospital here. The sources said Baldev Raj was severely tortured with sharp edged weapons before being gunned down by the militants, the sources said. Suspected Lashkar militants killed four members of a Hindu family in Kathal area in Rajouri district last Saturday. ( )
Tuesday, January 1, 2002
Lashkar chief won't be extradited to India: Pak
NEW DELHI: Pakistan has ruled out handing over Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Hafiz Muhammad Saeed to India, saying his detention was a "domestic affair". "The detention of the Lashkar leader is a domestic affair as part of the government drive to eliminate sectarian violence and to maintain public order," the Frontier Post quoted Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan as saying. Khan said the detention was one of the several steps, including a ban on display of arms in public, the government was taking to "make the Pakistani society free of arms". India has submitted to Pakistan a list of 20 terrorists it wants action against. Since the December 13 terrorist attack on Parliament, New Delhi has been demanding that Pakistan take action against the Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba for their involvement. Last week, Jaish chief Maulana Masood Azhar was detained by Pakistan. India on Monday welcomed these measures as a move in the right direction.
