Air attacks resume as casualties mount
The bodies of three Pakistan soldiers were handed over to Pakistan by an Indian Army officer with due military honours at a post in the Kargil sector.
India, Pakistan rule out war
"It is the responsibility of leaders on both sides not to allow the situation to slip out of their hands," Nawaz Sharief said.
Officers Vishwanathan, Vikram cremated with state honours
Lt Col Viswanathan's body was cremated at his native village Eroor, near Cochin. Captain Vikram's body was cremated within the premises of his house at Panniyankara near Kozhikode.
India rejects Pakistani date for talks
An external affairs ministry spokesman merely said the date was unsuitable. Meanwhile, the army today displayed the identity cards and other documents of three Pakistani soldiers who were killed in Batalik.
Nawaz Sharief warns of war
"India is not serious about holding peace talks," the Pakistani prime minister said, and accused New Delhi of violating the Lahore Declaration.
Army produces evidence of Pak intruders
For the first time in 11 days, no air strikes were carried out on the heights occupied by the intruders because today's army plans did not require them.
Vajpayee ignores clamour for Fernandes's head
Fernandes has been the PM's constant companion, adviser and political trouble-shooter in the past 14 months. Moreover, he feels shifting the defence minister at this juncture will give the impression that the Kargil operation was a miscalculated move.
Intruders' bodies spark panic in PoK
Pakistan has asked women and children to vacate areas near the LoC, apparently to prevent panic among the people because of the arrival of the bodies at Skardu.
Pak may 'prolong crisis till September'
"They won't go out so easily... They have taken big guns up the hills, built helipads... In September, the United Nations General Assembly is going to meet and Pakistan will raise the issue there," said Congress leader K Natwar Singh.
'Strong' US support for Indo-Pak talks
"Ending the fighting can only be accomplished through direct engagement by India and Pakistan," state department spokesman James Rubin said.
Congress welcomes US stand on LoC
Spokesman Kapil Sibal said India would not tolerate any efforts to legitimise the Pakistani act of aggression and the only option for them is to vacate the occupied territory.
A Hero Returns Home
Photo feature on Flight Lieutenant K Nachiketa's return to Delhi from Pakistan's captivity.
Pakistan expects to up the nuclear ante and draw in the UN, US as mediators
'India has the option of escalating the war to other sectors, notably Muzaffarabad where Indian guns can pulverise the crucial highway. The Mangla dam (that produces half of Pakistan's electricity) is also within range. Both actions can bring Pakistan to its senses,' says Colonel (retired) Anil Athale.
The entire top brass in Islamabad are hardliners when it comes to Kashmir
Both army chief General Pervez Musharrif and ISI chief General Ziauddin are Nawaz Sharief's appointees, reveals Dr Savita Pande, a leading expert on Pakistan. Therefore, to say the Pakistan government was unaware of the army's plan to send in armed intruders into Kargil is completely wrong.
Need For A Mission Statement
'The Security Council had side-stepped India's complaint and instead leaned on Pakistan's counter accusation that India had attempted to undo the Partition scheme and acquired Kashmir's accession by fraud and violence... Is there any remedy in international law against such deflection and distortion of the plaintiff's complaint?' Arvind Lavakare continues his Kashmir: The Real Story series.
Bhatia files 'FIR' against chief secretary
The document charges Arun Bongirwar with illegally approving contracts worth Rs 20 million for road construction while serving as Pune municipal commissioner.
Runaway youngsters return home
Gayatri Ramnath, Adesh, and Vinanthi Pathak, who had gone away with their Tae Kwon Do teacher Daniel George more than six weeks ago, finally returned to their anxious parents.
THE REDIFF COLUMN
On her majesty's service
Arjun Singh by publicly raking up the issue of Sonia's security at a specially convened press conference has derailed the tentative contacts that were established between the LTTE and Sonia's representatives. Capital Buzz. Gossip from the Delhi Durbar.
THE REDIFF DIARY
Ifs and buts about laying bets
What is more amusing is the way the bookies have rated South Africa, well ahead of the competition, as the overwhelming favourites to take the trophy.
Army closing in on Pak intruders in Drass
The army has recovered the bodies of three Pakistani soldiers from the Batalik sub-sector and they are likely to be shown to the media in Srinagar.
Government may increase defence budget
External affairs ministry officials said an important worry for the world now is how to ensure that Pakistan behaves responsibly with its nuclear weapons, since it has already given Stinger missiles to the infiltrators.
Nachiketa is raring to go on next sortie
The flight lieutenant, who came across the Wagah check post with his head held high, told waiting reporters in a choked voice: "I am fine and happy to be home".
Air strikes continue
Fierce fighting was reported in the Batalik sector where the army has already made substantial gains.
Sartaj sparks row on LoC
The Pakistani foreign minister said he was ready to hold talks with his Indian counterpart on Monday.
Clinton writes to Vajpayee on Kargil
The US president informed the PM that he had also written to Sharief and called upon him to take immediate steps to defuse the crisis and respect the LoC.
Hold talks, US tells India, Pak
Spokesman James Rubin confirmed that Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had called the Pakistani PM and the Indian external affairs minister.
Aziz lists his agenda for talks
About the Indian offer of safe passage for the militants, he said, "We have nothing to do with it. If the mujahideen are across the LoC, then it's for them to decide what to do or how to react to the Indian offer."
States told to maintain utmost vigil
The Union home secretary asked police chiefs and his counterparts in the states to be prepared to handle any fallout of the Kargil conflict.
Nawaz Sharief faces domestic flak
More and more people in Pakistan are questioning the logic of taking up the cause of Muslims elsewhere when Sunnis and Shias within the country 'cannot even go to mosques safely'.
THE REDIFF SPECIALS
Braggadocio can never substitute for professionalism
'Civilian control over the defence services should be limited to ensuring that the services don't interfere in politics or nurture political ambitions. Thereafter, they should be left to do their job as they see fit,' says Wg Cdr (retd) C M Jaywant.
Soldiers are not expendable commodities
'We cannot have a soft approach towards the intruders. We have to clear them by the middle of September before it gets snowbound again. We need to finish this problem. Another Hazratbal kind of behaviour towards them will be a show of weakness.' Lieutenant General (retd) Kuldip Singh Brar on Operation Vijay.
How India's losing the PR war
'When will the wise men in Delhi understand that a war is not fought just militarily but through the media as well,' asks Chindu Sreedharan.
The Fact of the State's Constitution
Despite its utter failure in getting Pakistan to vacate invaded territory, the Security Council chose to believe that some three-fourths (of the state population) should be left to wallow in an uncertain future while the remaining one-fourth stayed an isolated captive of the original invaders. Arvind Lavakare continues his Kashmir: The Real Story series.
THE REDIFF COLUMNIST
Technology doesn't lie
'Satellite coverage of South Asia has been increasing. Those pictures refute fibs about [Pakistan] not sending troops,' says T V R Shenoy.
When time stood still
The only clock in the room was static, unmindful of the passing time. Time stood still in 1997 in one of the calendars, but it had reached April 1999 in another one. Did the Kerala chief minister want to stop cruel Time, which never waited for anyone?
Andhra Pradesh: Minister among 12 killed in rail mishap Goa:70 per cent vote in assembly election
Jaswant, Aziz to meet next week
But the date is yet to be finalised. "We want to ensure that the positive international response is not lost after the talks. Therefore, we need time," an external affairs ministry official told Rediff On The NeT.
Government believes nukes for Pak navy is bluster
A defence ministry official said Pakistan lacks the capacity to translate its intention into action, and the assertion was made only to try and unnerve India.
Lieutenant colonel among 3 officers killed
Troops mounted a flushing-out operation in the Batalik area late on Wednesday to clear some strategic posts after the area was pounded by jet fighters through the day. But they encountered heavy automatic fire from Pakistani infiltrators hiding in underground bunkers.
'We need 10 soldiers to kill one intruder'
"It may be a low-cost war for them. But it is a high-cost one for us," said a senior army official referring to the difficult terrain and hostile weather.
Tale of a journey in the war zone
"I was never more scared than I was on Wednesday. It was a relief to drive into Kargil. It is calmer here than it was on the way."
Villagers flee from frying pan to the fire
The villagers at Matayan, Pandrass and Drass have only one complaint: that the administration collapsed the day shelling began.
The story of Siachen
Operation Meghdoot, when India moved into the glacier, was not exactly well thought out. Initially keen on staying only the winter, the Indians soon realised that it was easier than done, unless they wanted to hand over the area to Pakistan.
Plebiscite Commitment is Conditional and Illegal
'Nawaz Sharief conveniently forgot that the Security Council resolutions had laid down that the proposed plebiscite would come only after... "the demilitarisation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir".' Arvind Lavakare continues his Kashmir: The Real Story series.
House of Dementia
'If Pakistan were to ask for it [safe passage], India could "consider" the request. But Pak cannot ask, for that amounts to accepting its violation of the Simla Pact. However, if Pakistan does ask, and restores the status quo ante, and returns Nachiketa, and fulfils other such perfectly reasonable conditions, we must yield. War should be the last option,' says Varsha Bhosle.
Sonia Gandhi is Indian by choice
'By asking Sonia to continue as Congress president, Sangma and Pawar have conceded that the vast majority of the people of India regard her as one of us,' says Vir Sanghvi.
OTHER REPORTS
Framing of charges against Jaya deferred again
The framing of charges against the former Tamil Nadu chief minister and five others in the TANSI land deal case was today put off for the fifth time, to June 8, due to the pendency of a writ petition filed before the Madras high court by former minister Mohammad Asif, one of the accused.
Influx spawns subversion, demographic change
The Centre, in a recent report, has pointed out that massive infiltration from Bangladesh has changed the demographic pattern along the border areas alarmingly and led to a serious security threat.
BBC interview provoked Sethi's arrest
The Friday Times editor, who was released on Wednesday after nearly three weeks in custody, was asked just one question by the Inter-Service Intelligence: "How many times did you visit India?''
THE WEATHER
West Coast may receive heavy rainfall
Heavy rain is likely to fall at isolated places in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Konkan, Goa and coastal Karnataka in the next 48 hours.
Advani, Jaswant oppose 'safe passage' proposal
"It is a momentary solution. And it is sad that the defence minister is seeking short-cuts to resolve a conflict of this proportion," an external affairs ministry official said.
Military up in arms against 'safe passage'
Changing tack, George Fernandes said he had not offered safe passage to the intruders but only stated that should Islamabad raise the question, New Delhi would consider it.
Experts scoff at 'safe passage' option
"What kind of a message are you sending your ground troops and airmen if you consider this," asked Air Chief Marshal (retd) S K Mehra.
The going is tough in Kargil
The intruders, a pilot said, have camouflaged their tents well. "Surprisingly, they are using dark clothes and dark tents," he added. "But they have built snow walls around their tents to make them difficult to spot."
Pak Navy to get nuclear bombs
The disclosure was made by a naval spokesman in Karachi, according to Voice of Russia.
Diplomatic efforts on to free Nachiketa: PM
The PM felt the bus diplomacy he had initiated in February had not failed. "This is a temporary setback for India-Pakistan relations," he said, "but it will not be like this in the long run."
Casualties rise to 50
The army's concern about casualties is stronger since Monday. "Heavy casualties" were reported in the Batalik region in overnight operations on Sunday, which spilled into the next day and are still continuing.
Air strikes on for eighth day
Reports said there were still some positions where the intruders are getting reinforcements from Pakistan.
Drass sees off bus-load of hope
In all more than 10,000 residents have fled to Kargil and later to Sanku, 20 kilometres away.
ITBP commandant cremated
Joy Lall, who had served in the PM's security and the peace-keeping force in Bosnia, was killed in a militant-triggered landmine blast in Gund, Kashmir, on May 30.
Talks 'meaningful' only if crisis ends
The external affairs minister said the proposed talks with Sartaj Aziz would give him an "opportunity to convey the sense of outrage at the manner in which Pakistan has blatantly violated international norms".
Home ministry fears internal sabotage
Wireless messages intercepted by the security forces have revealed that the Inter Services Intelligence has been instructing its "contacts" in India to unleash disorder and mayhem.
Minister's rare gesture for dead sergeant
Union Minister of State for Coal Dilip Ray donated Rs 100,000 from his personal account to the father of airman Raj Kishore Sahu who was killed in Kargil recently.
But The Men Die
'I would much rather have Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja back than some mountains. For I know this much: without our Ahujas, without life, those mountains are no more than piles of rubble,' says Dilip D'Souza.
THE REDIFF SPECIALS
Kargil may bring about new direction in Indo-US relations
'If India plays its diplomatic cards well, Kargil could become a seminal turning point in its often rocky relationship with the United States,' says Seema Sirohi in Washington.
The Plebiscite Virus
The biggest hurdle to resolving the Kashmir issue has been that business of 'plebiscite' which Pakistan as well as other India baiters (including Indians!) have often raised. Arvind Lavakare continues his Kashmir: The Real Story series.
TMC breaks off as DMK joins BJP front
Despite his leanings towards the Congress, Moopanar may be left to fend for himself in the event of the revival of the AIADMK-Congress tie-up.
Security tightened in TN districts
As many as 181 Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam workers have been taken into preventive custody in the southern districts.
LTTE denies plot against Sonia
We are shocked and deeply distressed to learn that Indian newspapers have... highlighted this malicious and baseless story, an LTTE statement claimed.
Expelled Indian had 'no role in espionage'
US Energy Secretary Bill Richardson clarified that a few Indian scientists had been dismissed from American laboratories because of the sanctions.
THE REDIFF DIARY
On board the INS Mysore
The function was well organised, but the rains played spoilsport. Just as Vajpayee stood up to make his speech, it began pouring.
Government's handling of Kargil dismays defence forces
George Fernandes, who made headlines in January by dismissing a naval chief, has now created history by compelling the army top brass to brief a political party.
Centre failed to act on intelligence warnings
Senior officials said the government also erred in not subjecting Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja's body to a post-mortem by an international jury according to the Geneva Convention.
Major Adhikari becomes second officer to die
The major inflicted heavy casualties on the intruders and forced them to withdraw before succumbing to injuries in the Drass sub-sector. He was to have celebrated his first wedding anniversary on June 9.
Air strikes continue
The infiltrators are now occupying four or five key positions in the Batalik sub-sector, three in Drass, and small pockets in the Mushkoh valley.
Propaganda nails Pak lies
Though Islamabad has denied having provided any support to the 'rebels', the Pakistani PM has called them 'freedom fighters'.
500 intruders killed: Fernandes
The defence minister reiterated that the Pakistani PM had no idea about the planned infiltration at the time of the Lahore Declaration.
Mi-17 chopper proves IAF's hero
"Despite a huge numbers of sorties carried out, so far we have only lost one and that too due to unfortunate circumstances. But the amount of destruction the helicopters have caused among the enemy is fantastic."
Congress backs Operation Vijay
The party, however, blamed the government for its 'criminal negligence and complacence resulting in breach of national security'.
THE REDIFF COLUMNIST
Operation Vijay will be long and difficult
'As the Air Force and Army batter these intrusions on the Indian side of LoC but very close to it, can Pakistan watch idly by?' asks Major General Ashok Mehta (retd).
THE REDIFF SPECIALS
'If we get provoked we will give Pakistan the leverage they require'
"This campaign will be very long and expensive. My experience of these mountains tells me that very conservative assessments of time and very deliberate actions will produce results." Lieutenant General (retired) Ashok Joshi on Operation Vijay.
Alert in Kerala as cops seize bombs
Several bags of explosives were hurled from the Cochin-Kurla Express, forcing the police to probe whether the militants were trying to do a Coimbatore in Mangalore, where Advani arrives on Wednesday.
Vajpayee delinks talks from air strikes
The PM has consented to a summit of foreign ministers in New Delhi on the condition that India will not stop the air strikes till the infiltrators are completely flushed out.
India at a disadvantage in high-altitude war
"We should raise more mountain divisions since the Kashmir problem will not be resolved overnight. And Pakistan can never match India in the number of men."
IAF deploys Mirages to bomb out Pakistanis
With the intruders having dug in deep on the higher reaches on the Indian side of the LoC, the government has realised that dislodging them may take longer than it had thought.
West cold-shouldered Pak into talks
Officials said the contention of the US, the UK, France and other NATO countries that Pakistani infiltrators have occupied Indian positions has shocked Islamabad.
India refuses to discuss anything but Kargil with Aziz
Yet, even for Pakistan, India agreeing to the talks represents a victory of sorts. Once the talks begin, the international spotlight will return to Kashmir, something Islamabad wants desperately.
Army foils infiltration attempt in Jammu
Three infiltrators were gunned down while trying to sneak into India and a big cache of arms and ammunition, including anti-tank guided missiles, was recovered.
Russia blasts Pak for nuclear threat
Referring to the statement that "Pakistan possesses enough nuclear weapons to defend itself", Voice of Russia reminded Islamabad of 'India possessing it too in its store "in plenty".
We did not lose any positions: intruders
The claim came close on the heels of the Indian Army's statement that the infiltrators had been pushed back in all sectors.
Pakistan denies pilot's murder
The allegation has been made "to gain public sympathy and divert world attention from the atrocities that the Indian armed forces are committing in India-held Kashmir", said Brigadier Rashid.
Vajpayee contradicting himself, says Natwar Singh
The Congress today said the air strikes to clear the infiltrators should continue even if Pakistani Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz arrives for talks.
THE REDIFF INTERVIEW
'India should have begun the air strikes earlier'
Early retaliation would have reduced the shelling of civilian populations, in India and across the border, says Qamar Ali Akhoon, Kargil's guardian minister.
THE REDIFF SPECIALS
Pak misadventure in Kargil: The road ahead
'Pakistan's operation so far has been a well-planned one. The only thing that went against them is that we detected their presence on our soil earlier than they expected. Their full game plan is not yet revealed to us. They appear to be fully prepared for all-out war!' says Wing Commander R V Parasnis (retd).
The escalating war in Kashmir
'Today, thanks to nuclear weapons, India stands helpless in the face of Pakistani provocation. The dangers of escalation and the potential for internationalisation of the Kashmir dispute out of concern for nuclear
instability have forced India's political and military establishment to wage a limited and defensive operation,' says Gaurav Kampani.
Waffling over war
Six hundred armed foreigners, replenished by cross-border bases, are indulging in hostile action on Indian soil, and where else in the world but in this country can it be called 'infiltration' and not war, asks Anil Nair.
Majority in Maharashtra CLP backs Pawar
Thirty-nine of the party's 77 MLAs and 14 of its 26 MLCs have decided to support the Nationalist Congress Party. Prominent among them are Padamsinh Patil, Digvijay Khanvilkar, Balasaheb Khopekar and Shankar Kolhe.
Lankan court sentences three to death
The trio, who robbed, raped and killed Indian beautician Rita Manoharan last October, was also awarded 30 to 40 years in prison.
WW II veterans demand freedom-fighter status
Second World War veterans from India and their widows, who number about 100,000, are paid a measly old-age pension ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 750 by various state governments. This is less than half the pension paid to freedom-fighters.
Laloo appears before CBI court in fodder scam
Besides him, former Union minister Chandradev Prasad Verma, former state minister Bhola Ram Toofani and Congress legislator Jagdish Sharma also appeared before the court.
4 top Hizbul militants killed in encounter
This group of terrorists was responsible for the twin blasts on May 28 and 30 in which seven persons, including three ITBP jawans and the son and daughter of an army officer, were killed and 18 others injured.
Cholera claims 9 children in J&K's Doda district
Seven people died yesterday while two died today. Angry villagers alleged that there was no doctor in the village and it took eight to 10 hours to reach Kishtwar hospital on foot.
France, India agree on NATO action
Convergence of views on the issue is seen as the biggest achievement of External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh's visit to Paris earlier this week.
Koreans spark bomb scare in Cochin
Two Koreans were arrested after they buried four oval-shaped plants with Chinese inscriptions near the Southern Naval Command.
65 per cent of Indian men use tobacco: WHO
Data suggests that tobacco will cause more deaths worldwide than those caused by HIV, tuberculosis, maternal mortality, motor vehicle accidents, suicide and homicide put together.
Najam Sethi charged with anti-state activities
His wife, Jugnoo Mohsin, said the government has framed false charges against her husband to punish him for criticising its policies in his publication.
Man with loaded gun arrested at Sharief's rally
Police refused to say whether it was an assassination attempt, but Maqbool Ansari, an activist of the right-wing religious group Jamiat Ulema Islami, had the gun hidden in his shirt.
THE REDIFF COLUMNIST
Ridiculous comparisons
'The more her sycophants speak of Sonia Gandhi as a second Annie Besant, the more her deficiencies show up,' says T V R Shenoy.
THE REDIFF DIARY
World Cup Diary
'Why does this team swing so rapidly, so unpredictably, from the ridiculous to the sublime? I don't know about you, but I find myself, time and again, ready to forget the exasperation, to forgive the occasional horrors they inflict on us, simply because this team is also capable of giving us such sublime moments,' says Prem Panicker.
Madhya Pradesh: Ex-CM Sakhlecha dies at 69 Orissa: 3 killed as police fire on fishermen Archives
