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July 14
THE INDO-PAK SUMMIT
Taj, Agra decked up for the General
Dozens of Archeological Survey of India workers have worked hard in the last few days to remove traces of dirt and pollution from the Taj.
I want Vajpayee to see reality: Musharraf/PTI
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said it was entirely up to him and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to be accommodative of each other and be open-minded on the core issue of Kashmir.
Pakistan has 51 Indian prisoners, ashes of 21 others
Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail Superintendent Mian Farooq told a Pakistani daily that there was a controversy between India and Pakistan over the identity of the dead persons.
Indian Army reduces 20,000 troops in Kashmir
The withdrawal of 20 army units from the Kashmir valley has brought down the army presence in the trouble torn area to the pre-Kargil days.
PM urges dialogue in non-combative atmosphere
Vajpayee said no dramatic results should be expected from the Sunday summit, but an attempt would be made to overcome the mistrust and suspicion that has built up over the years between India and Pakistan.
Pak media laments India's 'wrong priorities'
They said the Indian government and the media was 'blowing non-issues' like Hurriyat meeting Musharraf and the Confidence Building Measures announced by the Indian government 'out of proportion'.
Hurriyat not insisting on joining Indo-Pak summit: PTI
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that the Hurriyat's only demand was that when a solution to the Kashmiri issue came about, it should be with the participation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Jaswant to broach terrorism issue with Pak
A top official of the ministry of external affairs said that India is not going to mince words in asking Pakistan to stop encouraging cross-border terrorism in Kashmir.
Musharraf rules out LoC as permanent border: PTI
The general, however, said he was willing to extend his trip to India by 48 hours if New Delhi was serious about finding a solution to the dispute.
Musharraf confers with militant groups
The Pakistani president had an unpublicised meeting with militant groups during which they agreed to join a ceasefire if the Agra summit achieved a positive breakthrough.
Pandits want Vajpayee to take up issue with Musharraf
The Kashmiri Migrants' Welfare Association said that India should demand compensation from Pakistan for the pandits who have been displaced due to cross-border terrorism.
Pak media laments India's 'wrong priorities'
They said the Indian government and the media was 'blowing non-issues' like Hurriyat meeting Musharraf and the Confidence Building Measures announced by the Indian government 'out of proportion'.
Jaswant to broach terrorism issue with Musharraf
A top official of the ministry of external affairs said that India is not going to mince words in asking Pakistan to stop encouraging cross-border terrorism in Kashmir.
President's banquet to set the tone for summit
It is a power dinner that nobody wants to miss. But seats are limited and only 100 odd will sit across the dinner table with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.
Indian scribes barred from Hurriyat press meet
Pakistani officials manning the gate at the venue said that the meet was meant only for the visiting Pakistani journalists.
A Kashmiri Pandit, with a difference
Bhushan Bazaz has the unique distinction of being the only Kashmiri Pandit to have received an invitation from the Pakistani High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi to attend the 'High Tea' to be hosted in honour of Musharraf.
PM rules out 'third party' in Indo-Pak talks: PTI
Vajpayee voiced the hope that Pakistan's military ruler would bring to the summit a desire to bury the conflicts of the past.
Hope wells up in Uri's divided families
With Vajpayee announcing easier visa rules for Pakistanis visiting India, the townsfolk are euphoric at the prospect of meeting their relatives from PoK.
Digvijay to be Musharraf's 'minister-in-waiting'
The minister of state for railways was chosen by Prime Minister Vajpayee to fulfil all protocol obligations during the visit.
Thackeray says nothing will come out of Agra
The Agra unit of Shiv Sena, meanwhile, said it would wash every place visited by Musharraf during his stay in the city.
Lone to attend 'High Tea'
Senior Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone alleged that the police had put him under house arrest.
V P Singh to attend high tea
The former prime minister and Shoaib Iqbal, president of the Delhi unit of the Janata Dal Secular, will attend as part of the People's Front.
Vajpayee calls on President
Vajpayee briefed Narayanan on the forthcoming summit with General Musharraf. They also discussed the Pakistani leader's state visit.
Congress regrets Musharraf's rejection of Simla accord
Party spokesman Anand Sharma said a change in regime did not mean previous agreements could be disowned.
Pakistanis view summit with cautious optimism
Students and teachers of a school in Islamabad, currently in India at the invitation of Suchchi-Muchchi, a children's magazine, hope the talks will pave the way for strengthening ties between the countries.
Dispute may mar general's Ajmer visit: PTI
A row between the dargah management and the khadims over who will help President Musharraf pay obeisance has cast a shadow over his scheduled pilgrimage.
Chandrababu not keen to meet Musharraf
The Andhra Pradesh chief minister, however, said he supports the efforts of Prime Minister Vajpayee to normalise relations with Pakistan.
Follow-up by both leaders crucial: US experts
The overriding consensus, however, was that envisaging any dramatic breakthroughs would be wishful thinking and that it was more likely that the stalemate on Kashmir would remain.
INTERVIEW
'Musharraf only has two options -- war or peace'
Hamid Mir, editor of the Islamabad daily Ausaf, tells Sheela Bhatt that Kashmir is Musharraf's only obsession.
COLUMN
Mutually Advantageous Detente
'The real opportunity for Pakistanis and Indians alike lies in understanding that our continuing conflict is an irritant that undermines the larger opportunity -- to mount the stage of the entire world together,' says Ashwin Mahesh.
DIARY
Where's your home, Kashmiri?
How, asks Lebi Tom, do I console my friend whose eyes well up when he talks about the life he left behind?
The Indo-Pak Summit: Complete Coverage
MESSAGE BOARD
Will the Indo-Pak summit create history?
Will Prime Minister Vajpayee of India and President Musharraf of Pakistan be able to make a decisive break from a past of suspicion and conflict? Express your opinion.
THE NAGA TRUCE ISSUE
Children, youths join anti-ceasefire agitation: PTI
Security forces have stepped up patrolling to prevent any untoward incident, official sources said.
OTHER REPORTS
Clashes in Berhampur University: PTI
Irate students ransacked the Baidyanathpur police station on Thursday night after two of them were refused a lift by the driver and cleaner of a minibus.
BJP expels SC/ST panel chairman from party
Opposition leader in the Bihar Assembly, SK Modi, said a disciplinary panel found Kameshwar Paswan, a former Lok Sabha member, a habitual trouble-maker slinging mud against senior BJP leaders.
July 13
THE INDO-PAK SUMMIT
Shed narrow approach: Vajpayee
In an interview to Pakistan's official Associated Press of Pakistan news agency Vajpayee said that India was prepared to explore jointly with Pakistan constructive ways to take forward the relationship.
Pak Army endorses Musharraf's India visit
An official release said that key army officers fully endorsed the efforts of the President to bring peace and stability to the sub-continent and South Asia by trying to resolve the Kashmir dispute.
Hurriyat-Musharraf meeting likely before 'High Tea'
The Hurriyat leaders are also expected to meet the Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar after the Pakistan high commissioner's reception to welcome Musharraf.
J&K is non-negotiable, says Jaswant
The external affairs minister said the terrorism being exported by Pakistan would also figure prominently at the Agra summit.
Hopes of breakthrough fade
General Musharaf has been insisting on discussing only Kashmir to the extent of saying that confidence building measures related to any other issue won't carry any meaning unless the Kashmir dispute is solved.
Pak expresses surprise at NDA's 'High Tea' boycott
Pakistan Defence Spokesman Major General Rashid Qureshi expressed surprise over the fuss being made about extending the invitation to Hurriyat leaders.
Congress to attend Qazi's tea party
Pranab Mukherjee, however, said the Congress did not support a meeting between General Musharraf and leaders of the Hurriyat Conference.
Qazi cajoles Fernandes
According to sources the Pakistan high commissioner tried to explain his position behind sending the invitation to Hurriyat leaders to his tea party on July 14.
President finds dead man in MEA guest list
An upset K R Narayanan junked the guest list prepared by the external affairs ministry for the banquet in honour of General Musharraf and drew up his own instead.
Tight security for Vajpayee, Musharraf
A tight security ring would also be thrown around 'Pakistan House', the residence of Pakistani High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi where he would be hosting a
reception in honour of Musharraf.
Mulayam sceptical about summit
The Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav accused both Vajpyee and Musharraf of being interested in their own image than the people.
Shia Muslims seek transit facilities via Pak
Transit facilities through Pakistan to Indian pilgrims would help reduce the expenditure involved in travelling to pilgrim centres in countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia.
INTERVIEW
'Any agreement will be weighed against the memories of Kargil'
'Musharraf has said he would like this occasion to change history.' Dr Rifaat Hussain, chairman, department of defence and strategic studies at the Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, speaks to Ramesh Menon.
SPECIAL
A solution for Siachen
India and Pakistan could take a leaf from world history and jointly administer Siachen until the larger issues are resolved. The question, says Claude Arpi, is whether Vajpayee and Musharraf will be bold enough to take such a step.
GUEST COLUMN
The only solution
'Unless there is a geopolitical restructuring of J&K that provides territory and political authority to the Kashmiri Pandits, their return in a dark and uncertain situation may not be possible,' says Ashok Pandit.
MESSAGE BOARD
Will the Indo-Pak summit create history?
Will Prime Minister Vajpayee of India and President Musharraf of Pakistan be able to make a decisive break from a past of suspicion and conflict? Express your opinion.
THE NAGA TRUCE ISSUE
Nagas threaten violence on truce issue
The leaders of the United Naga Council from Manipur met the Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani and asked him to not buckle under pressure from a small faction of Manipuris.
Manipur students pay tributes to martyrs
About 3,000 students Thursday defied prohibitory orders, marched in a procession and paid floral tributes to 15 persons killed so far in police action in the ongoing anti-ceasefire agitation in Manipur.
OTHER REPORTS
Mazagon Dock to build India's first stealth warship
The keel for the first ship of the Project-17 class of frigates was laid on Wednesday by Mumbai Port Trust Chairman Arun Kumar Mago.
Nawaz Sharief to relocate to London
The former prime minister of Pakistan is increasingly feeling suffocated in Saudi Arabia, where he has been debarred from engaging in any kind of political activity.
Opposition parties lash out at Kumaratunga
Say the president's decision to prorogue parliament is a devious and unethical move to stifle the rights of members of parliament.
Bandh throws life out of gear in Nepal
Most of the shops and educational institutions were closed and very few government vehicles were seen moving in the streets.
Militants kill two in Tripura
Four armed NLFT militants attacked the house of one Krishna Singh, an employee of the state agriculture department, and shot him dead.
PTI REPORTS
Malleswari gives birth to boy
Malleswari, who became the first Indian woman ever to win an Olympic medal, will miss this year's Goodwill Games and the inaugural Afro-Asian Games in November but is expected to be back in action for the 2002 Asian Games at Pusan.
23 killed in J&K
Six security personnel, three women and 12 militants were among those killed in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since Wednesday evening.
Blackwill approved as US envoy to India
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee also approved of Wendy Chamberlin as the ambassador to Pakistan, among other diplomatic appointments.
T R Prasad to continue till next October
The Union Cabinet had in June decided to amend the service rules to enable the government to grant extension in service to the cabinet secretary in public interest for such a period as it considers appropriate.
Blast in Mushkoh valley kills four soldiers
The blast took place on Tuesday night when an Army column was patrolling the area.
DIARY
You are inhuman and I love you
Wow, Mr Rain, writesBhavna Giani you've had quite a night.
July 12
THE INDO-PAK SUMMIT
Musharraf apprises China on summit
Pakistan Information Secretary Syed Anwar Mahmood said that this is part of the consultations with friendly states.
Premature to expect breakthrough: Musharraf
Alleging that India has been endeavouring to sideline the Kashmir issue the Pakistan President said he will talk to Vajpayee with frankness and sincerity.
NDA decides to boycott Qazi's 'high tea'
Convener George Fernandes pointed out that Pakistan's high commissioner had not invited any official of the Jammu & Kashmir government, though he had sent out invitations to Hurriyat Conference leaders.
Govt nervous about media hype
Politicians and officials are worried about the skyrocketing expectations arising out of the media hype surrounding the upcoming Indo-Pak summit.
Invite to Hurriyat a non-issue: Congress
Manmohan Singh, however, said his party agrees with the government's view that the separatist organisation has no role to play at the Agra summit.
'Involve true representatives of J&K in talks'
Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir G M Shah on Wednesday said the Kashmir issue cannot be solved bilaterally by India and Pakistan.
Visas: Abdullah asks Pak to respond positively
Expressing hope that the Agra summit would help the process of normalisation of relations between the neighbours, he said nothing big should be expected at the first meeting.
Shubha Mudgal to sing for Musharraf
The cultural programme is being organised by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations at the summit venue.
'Congress to take own line on summit'
The Congress chief has deputed Natwar Singh, a former external affairs minister and Dr Manmohan Singh, former union finance minister, as the party representatives in the Pakistan high commissioner's tea-party.
UP ministers in scramble for invitation to banquet for Musharraf
The ministry of external affairs has told Shastri, the official host, to restrict his guest list to 25.
Marwar-Sindh rail link may be revived
Before the 1965 Indo-Pak war, a thriving rail link existed between Munabao Junction in Barmer district of Rajasthan and Khokharapar in Pakistan's Sindh province.
Iran wants Musharraf to discuss gas project with India
The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Syed Mohammad Hosein Adeli met Musharraf on Tuesday and delivered a letter from Iranian President Syed Mohammad Khatami requesting the military ruler to discuss the proposed 2670-km overland gas pipeline India.
Naqvi not to attend tea party if Pak invites Hurriyat
BJP National Secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said it was not appropriate to involve the Hurriyat or any other organisation from Jammu and Kashmir in the summit at this stage, as this would obstruct the peace process.
No PoWs in Pak jails, claims Pak
Pakistan's Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider said that a check by his epartment found no Indian prisoners of war, but said that he will take appropriate action if any such prisoners were found.
Gujral accuses Musharraf of being aggressive
The former prime minister accused the Pakistani president of virtually 'holding a pistol to our head' by asking India to discuss Kashmir at the Agra summit.
NDA not optimistic on summit
The ground realities are complex and a breakthrough is a remote possibility, Samata Party leader George Fernandes admitted.
Kashmir MP's brother shot dead in Pattan
Militants also tried to disrupt a function that was to be addressed by Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, firing a rifle grenade at the venue.
UP ministers in scramble for invitation to banquet for Musharraf
The ministry of external affairs has told Shastri, the official host, to restrict his guest list to 25.
Govt bucking under pressure: Panun Kashmir
Panun Kashmir chief Dr Ajay Charangoo said the government has granted major concessions to Pakistan even before the summit meeting between Vajpayee and Musharraf has taken place.
Pak high commission keeps Musharraf's kin waiting
The Pakistan president's cousin in Lucknow is still awaiting a formal response to his request for an audience with Musharraf.
SPECIAL
When India and Pakistan almost made peace
Morarji Desai, say his friends, reached an agreement with Pakistan's Zia ul Haq on Kashmir.
COLUMNS
The voices of reason
'Will the summit hand over a future of peace or will it succumb to petty squabbles where every citizen is in fear of being wiped out in a nuclear holocaust? The world will be watching,' says Admiral (retd) J G Nadkarni.
The Agra tea party
'If India and Pakistan can reach some agreement on cross-border trade in narcotics alone, the whole show would have been worth it,' says T V R Shenoy.
MESSAGE BOARD
Will the Indo-Pak summit create history?
Will Prime Minister Vajpayee of India and President Musharraf of Pakistan be able to make a decisive break from a past of suspicion and conflict? Express your opinion.
TURMOIL IN TAMIL NADU
Centre not taking speedy action on arrests: Karunanidhi
Flatly denying any role in the Rs 1.2 million 'Flyover Scam' former Tamil Nadu chief minister Karunanidhi said that neither the investigating officer probing the case nor the Madras corporation commissioner had provided any proof in the court to show his involvement in the scam.
OTHER REPORTS
Pak Singer Adnan Sami seeks Indian citizenship
According to home ministry sources, Sami, who is based in London, approached Home Minister Advani asked him for Indian citizenship.
Sri Lanka releases 22 TN fishermen
A Tamil Nadu government press release said the Sri Lankan Navy will hand over the fishermen to the Indian Coast Guard authorities.
Two Bangladeshi infiltrators killed in Assam
Patrolling along the Indo-Bangla border in the Mankachar sub-division was intensified following the April 16 killing of 15 BSF personnel by Bangladesh Rifles.
In future, men may have no role in making babies
The discovery has already prompted debate in the international scientific community and raised fears that it could result in genetic abnormalities.
India may now take tourists into space!
Indian scientists have designed a reusable space plane, Avatar, which they say can launch satellites at an extremely low cost and also take tourists on a ride into the space.
Armed forces ready to assist flood affected Orissa
The state government had sought army assistance and requested it to remain on standby for relief and rescue operations.
Bangladeshi train arrives in India after 36 years
Initially, the train would run between Sealdah (Calcutta) and Bangabandhu Setu, from where the passengers would be transported to Dhaka by bus.
Body of Manorama photographer recovered
Victor George, chief photographer of Malayala Manorama, had been missing since Monday after a landslide at Udumbannur in Idukki district.
Army to retire Vijayanta tanks by 2007: PTI
The 2,141 tanks will be replaced with Ajeya, the locally built Russian-designed T-72 M1, and the newly acquired Russian T-90s.
50 killed in 3 road mishaps
At least 40 people were feared drowned when their bus fell into an overflowing nullah near Batiagarh village in Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh.
July 11
THE INDO-PAK SUMMIT
Discuss terrorism, LoC firing: RSS
RSS spokesman M G Vaidya, however, ruled out Kashmir as an issue for discussion.
Hurriyat, Mulayam confrontation averted
Hurriyat Conference chairman Abdul Gani Bhat made an intervention after party spokesman Abdul Majid Banday drafted a press release ridiculing Mulayam Singh's secular credentials after he had said that all parties should boycott Pakistan High Commissioner's tea-party if Hurriyat attended it.
Musharraf-Hurriyat meet no big deal: George
We are not conferring upon the LoC any other status other than the one which exists at present, said external affairs ministry spokesperson Nirupama Rao.
Visa rules doesn't change LoC status
We are not conferring upon the LoC any other status other than the one which exists at present, said external affairs ministry spokesperson Nirupama Rao.
'Involve Kashmiris or talks will fail'
The 23-party Hurriyat conference said that it considered the Kashmir problem as a core issue, which cannot be solved without the involvement of representatives of Kashmir.
Easing Visa Regime 'Peripheral': Pak
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said that India must realise that Kashmir is the source of tension between the two countries and its resolution was a must for peace.
India to focus on cross-border terrorism
Prime Minister Vajpayee will agree that Kashmir be discussed first, but he will insist that the focus should on be stopping cross-border terrorism, said a senior external affairs ministry official.
JKLF to boycott Musharraf-Hurriyat meet
In a statement the acting chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Bashir Ahmad Bhat ridiculed the leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference for their decision to attend the party.
Hurriyat to have closed door meeting with Musharraf
The reception is likely to be attended by six out of the seven executive members of the Hurriyat Conference as Yaseen Malik, who represents Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, is away in London.
Husain's painting to be gifted to Musharraf
The noted painter M F Hussain said that the painting shows two horses, one in saffron reins and the other in green, denoting India and Pakistan respectively.
'Pak should stop cross-border terrorism'
The recommendations of India- Pakistan bilateral conference will now be forwarded to the Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf for their consideration before the summit starts.
Relatives of PoWs demonstrate
Maninderjit Singh Bitta, chairman of All India Anti-Terrorist Front, who led the demonstration accused the present and previous governments of failing in their duty to raise the issue with the Pakistanis in last thirty-six years.
Mr President, will you free my daddy?
Thirty-year-old Vipul Purohit's father Flight Lieutenant Manohar Purohit was shot down by Pakistani gunmen during 1971 war and is languishing in a Pakistani prison since then.
Pak continues to push for US mediation
Praising General Musharraf's 'great leadership', Maleeha Lodhi said he had taken several steps to promote restraint and resume talks 'despite the initial negative response'.
'Musharraf has more cause to fear failure'
The Henry L Stimson Centre, a leading American think-tank, asked if Musharraf is now ready to chart a new course for Pakistan's betterment. 'If so, can he deliver?'
Musharraf's escort car meets with accident: PTI
The president of Pakistan escaped being involved in the accident. The driver of the escort vehicle and a bodyguard were injured.
INTERVIEW
'The summit is not a
tamasha'
'Vajpayee chose to invite the person who refused to greet him at the Wagah border. This speaks volumes of the strength of the Indian State and democracy,' says Tarun Vijay, editor of the RSS weekly Panchjanya.
COLUMN
Labyrinth of indifference on J&K
'But who cares for the ignorance, really? Whatever it is, the hype and the hoopla of D-Day are all that seem to matter to men who ought to know better. Alas and fie on that,' says Arvind Lavakare.
MESSAGE BOARD
Will the Indo-Pak summit create history?
Will Prime Minister Vajpayee of India and President Musharraf of Pakistan be able to make a decisive break from a past of suspicion and conflict? Express your opinion.
CRIME IN CYBERSPACE
Lashkar web site hacked
The hacker who calls himself 'True Indian' said that the site had been Domain Name Server hacked by him as it contained inflammatory details about India and Kashmir.
Hackers of Bombay police web site arrested
Both of them are marine engineers and were caught after police managed to track down their Internet Protocol (IP) address.
SPECIAL
War in Cyberspace
Indo-Pak animosity is entrenched deeply in virtual space. As in the real world, Kashmir is the bone of contention online too.
TROUBLE IN MANIPUR
Manipuris adopt wait-and-watch approach
The United Committee of Manipur, which is spear-heading the agitation in the state, has vowed to keep the pressure on the central and state governments till the Naga ceasefire in its present form is not actually revoked.
Protests continue in Manipur
Defying prohibitory orders thousands of people on Tuesday held sit-in protests, hoisted black flags and took out rallies across Manipur.
TURMOIL IN TAMIL NADU
Maran, Baalu ought to be sacked: Jaya
The Tamil Nadu chief minister, in a ten-page statement, has sought to answer the issues raised by the arrest of her predecessor and two Union ministers.
OTHER REPORTS
Kumaratunga suspends parliament till Sept 7
The midnight announcement was a drastic measure to get over the political impasse created by the opposition's no-confidence motion that endangered the survival of the Peoples Alliance regime.
Trial run for Indo-Bangla rail link on Wednesday
Regular services are expected to start later this year after completion of the general elections in Bangladesh.
OIC promises funds for Hurriyat
The former Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said the foreign ministers of Organistion of Islamic Conference at a recent meeting in Mali had spoken in favour of a grant for relief and rehabilitation of people affected by violence.
India ranked 115th, Pakistan 127th
Pakistan, which finds place among low human development nations, is way down at 127, closely followed by Nepal (129), Bhutan (130) and Bangladesh (132).
Plea to PM on journalist's safety
Human Rights Watch and The Committee to Protect Journalists fear for the safety of Vineet Narain, who has been summoned to Srinagar for contempt of court.
No confirmation yet of Bush's India visit: PTI
White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said no such travel had been announced.
More pilgrims leave for Amarnath: PTI
The pilgrims will trek along the Pahalgam and Baltal routes to the shrine situated at a height of 3,880 metres in the Himalayas.
DMK names film star Sarat for RS: PTI
He will contest the seat being vacated by V P Duraiswamy, party chief M Karunanidhi said.
DIARY
From Hell, On Bail
Ramesh Menon has not seen Sadhna in ages. But he remembers her often. Fondly...
July 10
THE INDO-PAK SUMMIT
Pak ready to discuss other issues
It also announced that a small delegation will accompany President General Pervez Musharraf to India, leaving out the interior and commerce ministers.
Invitation to Hurriyat hardens Indian stand
The Pakistan High Commissioner's invitation to the Hurriyat leaders despite our request not to invite them is the final straw for us, said a senior external affairs ministry official.
India proposes dialogue on security concepts
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had on July six instructed that such a dialogue be proposed to Islamabad as part of measures to build confidence and trust.
Bus service between two Kashmirs likely
The bus service, either from the Jammu side or through the Valley, would be subject ultimately to the outcome of the Agra summit, a senior official said.
DGMOs meet unlikely before summit: Pak
The official Pakistani news agency quoted the Pakistan defence spokesman Major General Rashid Querishi dismissing reports of the Director General Military Operation's visit as 'incorrect and speculative'.
Thackeray opposes Jinnah House as Pak consulate
Tomorrow, the Pakistanis may ask for Taj Mahal or Qutub Minar said the Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray.
Traders upset over Musharraf's Old Delhi visit
They complain that their business has suffered ever since it became known that Musharraf might visit the area, thanks to the hectic work in progress to give the Pakistani president's ancestral home a facelift.
Kashmiri pandits seek compensation from Pak
The Kashmiri Pandit leaders, who met the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, also demanded a separate homeland for Pandits in the Kashmir valley.
DGMO calls for early meeting
Highly placed defence sources said New Delhi was pinning for a meeting on Wednesday and awaiting Islamabad's reply.
Visa for Pakistanis at Indian check posts soon
Additional check posts will be opened at Munabao in Rajasthan, and at designated points along the international border and the line of control in Jammu & Kashmir.
Kashmir not sole focus of summit: Vajpayee
Defence and External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh told the all-parties meeting on the summit that the no-war pact proposed by Pakistan would have no meaning until cross-border terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir is stopped.
Hurriyat expects one-to-one meeting with Musharraf
The Hurriyat Chairman Abdul Gani Bhat said that the modalities of Hurriyat's participation in the Pakistan Embassy reception were still being worked out.
Hurriyat confirms receipt of Pak invitation: PTI
Former Hurriyat chairman Umer Farooq said the invitation had been extended to all seven executive members of the organisation.
Pak erred in making Kashmir core issue: Bhutto
The former prime minister said talks must be held on Kashmir as well as on other issues. But she questioned Musharraf's credentials to hold the talks.
MESSAGE BOARD
Will the Indo-Pak summit create history?
Will Prime Minister Vajpayee of India and President Musharraf of Pakistan be able to make a decisive break from a past of suspicion and conflict? Express your opinion.
TROUBLE IN MANIPUR
PM's assurance fails to calm Manipur
While anti-ceasefire protests continued in Manipur, political parties and leading NGOs in Nagaland warned the Centre's decision to review the ceasefire with the NSCN (I-M) could scuttle the peace process in the state.
Anti-ceasefire stir intensified in Manipur
Thousands of protestors marched through the streets of Imphal on Monday carrying placards with messages decrying Centre's offer to review the ceasefire.
Militants storm Manipur speaker's house
Police said about 20 gunmen came to the speaker's residence at about 2145 hrs on Sunday. While some of them took guard at the gate, others entered the house and opened fire.
TURMOIL IN TAMIL NADU
Stalin, others appear in court, sign register
Responding to reporters' queries on whether he would file a petition seeking quashing of the FIR in the flyover case, Stalin said legal experts would be consulted on this.
Karunanidhi to boycott Raman's inquiry
The former chief minister was discharged from hospital on Monday, looking much better than he did last week.
COLUMN
Ticket to Madras, by
George!
'Most galling is that men such as Fernandes and Vajpayee take the moral high road and even pretend outrage at Jayalalithaa's antics. After all, it is their connivance that helped her get to where she is,' says Dilip D'Souza.
OTHER REPORTS
Chohan seeks meeting with Vajpayee
Jagjit Singh Chohan, the 'Khalistan' ideologue, considered Vajpayee a 'real statesman' and said issues could be resolved amicably by having discussions with him.
BJP turns a blind eye to faux pas
The editor of 'BJP Today' Prafulla Goradia in a article on his China trip had printed a map of India that showed portions of Jammu and Kashmir as part of China and Pakistan respectively.
Orissa CM sacks three senior ministers
Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik sacked Parliamentary Affairs Minister Nalinikant Mohanty, Health & Family Minister Kamala Das and Rural Minister Prashant Nanda.
Eight drowned in Kushinagar boat mishap
At least 32 persons, mostly women, took a small boat and tried to cross the turbulent Narayani on Sunday in the district. But because of overloading and the strong current, the boat capsized.
Fire at SHAR Centre extinguished totally
The GSLV and PSLV were launched from the site. SHAR Centre Director K Narayana said that fire was a recurring problem during the summer months.
4 Oriya families convert to Christianity
Three priests brought from Ahmedabad by a relative of the four families carried out the conversions. The priests left after the conversions.
Heavy rains disrupt life in Bombay
Trains on both the Western and Central Railway lines were running at least an hour late, while the Harbour line was shut down by flooding of tracks.
Jaya names comedian for RS seat
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa also nominated former member of parliament, P G Narayanan, and two loyalists, S Kamaraj and Gokulchandra for three more seats.
3000 Pak soldiers died in Kargil: Benazir
The former Pakistani prime minister said post-mortem reports of many of the soldiers showed that they had been eating grass because service lines were cut and they were abandoned.
Powell to visit China later this month
Announcing Powell's visit from July 28, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said the US leader will be the guest of Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan.
DIARY
Cops, my shorts and a moonlit night
Lindsay Pereira remembers the rather embarrassing occasion when he and his friends were caught by a police patrol...
July 9
TOP STORIES
Invites issued to Hurriyat: Pakistan Radio
The confirmation of invitations being issued comes even as India expressed its strong objection a couple of days back to the Pakistani foreign office after it was reported that Musharraf had written a letter to Hurriyat leaders inviting them for talks.
Centre to Review Naga Ceasefire
Centre's interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah will meet NSCN (I-M) General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah shortly to discuss the ceasefire agreement.
DGMO likely to visit Pakistan on Tuesday
Lt. Gen. Sihota, to be accompanied by senior Army officials, would meet Maj. Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and take up a whole range of issues, including cross-border terrorism in J&K.
SHAR fire: TN fire tenders pressed into service
SHAR sources today told PTI that there was no threat to any installation, including the launch pad.
6 killed, 40 hurt in train-bus collision in UP
The victims included five passengers travelling on the roof of the 191-Down Pawan Express and the bus driver, according to an official report.
INDO-PAK SUMMIT
Vajpayee convenes all-party meeting on summit
The prime minister will consult other parties on Monday ahead of his meeting with President Musharraf.
A room with a view for Musharraf
All the 106 rooms of Amar Vilas hotel have a stupendous view of the Taj Mahal, the reason why the Vajpayee government selected it for Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.
July 8
INDO-PAK SUMMIT
Meeting with Hurriyat depends on India: Musharraf
The Pakistani President said meeting the Hurriyat leaders was not a priority at the moment, but they would definitely have to be involved later.
'I'm the first Pak leader to be invited by India'
The Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf talking to a news agency said that Kashmir is going to be the core issue of discussion.
India, Pak should give up confrontation: Advani
Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani said that India and Pakistan should embark on a path of cooperation that will benefit everybody.
Farooq to be back before summit
Earlier reports had said that Dr Abdullah would return only in the last week of July in view of the Vajpayee-Musharraf summit.
MESSAGE BOARD
Will the Indo-Pak summit create history?
Will Prime Minister Vajpayee of India and President Musharraf of Pakistan be able to make a decisive break from a past of suspicion and conflict? Express your opinion.
THE NAGA CEASFIRE
100 injured in protests, Swami returns
Union Minister of State for Home I D Swami had to be airlifted to the airport as protestors blocked all roads leading to it.
Manipur legislators threaten to quit by July 31
All Manipur legislators have come together under a new forum to fight for the withdrawal of Naga truce extension.
Nagas oppose truce extension revocation
The United Naga Council of Manipur and the All Naga Students Association of Manipur supported the government's move to extend the ceasefire.
TURMOIL IN TAMIL NADU
Judicial probe into Karunanidhi's arrest
The one man commission headed by the retired Madras High Court judge A Raman has been asked to submit its report within three months.
Maran meets Advani on TN situation
Commerce Minister Murasoli Maran is understood to have discussed the threats being faced by Madras Principal Sessions Judge Ashok Kumar.
Security for 'flyover scam' judge beefed up
An assistant commissioner of police and two constables have been provided to Ashok Kumar, in addition to the existing four police officers.
Stalin released from jail: PTI
Principal Sessions Judge Ashok Kumar had on Friday granted bail to the son of former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi.
PMK exit not to affect AIADMK front: TMC
The Tamil Maanila Congress President G K Moopanar said that he did not know why PMK had chosen to leave the front saying we did not invite him to join us.
Shekhawat denies reports of governorship
He brushed aside reports that the move had the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party high command for electoral gains.
OTHER REPORTS
Lashkar asks Amarnath pilgrims not to fear
The Lashkar-e-Tayiba had decided to intensify suicide attacks in the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, to target security forces.
ULFA militant arrested from top cop's house
Gajen Bhuyan was arrested by the army from the official residence of Additional Superintendent of Police Bidyut Buragohain.
Copter crash-lands near Amarnath shrine
The chopper carrying senior police, civil officials on way to oversee Amarnath yatra arrangements crash-landed after developing a 'technical snag'.
Pallone belatedly condemns Musharraf
Frank Pallone, founder and former co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India condemned General Musharraf's decision to become president.
INTERVIEW
Pakistan should learn to forget Kashmir'
'The only part of Kashmir we can discuss is Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.' Seshadri Chari, editor of the RSS weekly Organiser, discusses the Indo-Pak summit.
GUEST COLUMN
Exchanging life for a toilet paper?
'Use less paper. Otherwise, forget forests and animals, your life and mine,' says Maneka Gandhi..
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