M A I N   N E W S

Musharraf speaks to Vajpayee

New Delhi, October 8
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf tonight spoke to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and said the two countries should not do anything to heighten tension in the region. However, Mr Vajpayee bluntly told him that Islamabad had done nothing to capture perpetators of violence in Jammu and Kashmir.

During the 15-minute telephone talk between the two leaders which began around 9 pm, Mr Vajpayee told General Musharraf that India had never done anything to escalate tension in the region and has always been for peace, official sources here said.

General Musharraf said Pakistan stood for dialogue with India and Mr Vajpayee responded by saying that while India has always been for talks the exercise could not be meaningful if Pakistan's stand on Kashmir remained the same.

Mr Vajpayee told General Musharraf that perpetrators of violence had their base in Pakistan and Islamabad had done nothing to capture them. The Pakistani President replied: "We are looking into it."

General Musharraf said that instead of heightening tension in the region, the two countries should work together to reduce it.

The Indian Prime Minister made it clear that India had never done anything to exacerbate tension and stood for peace and meaningful dialogue. PTI

Northern Command on high alert
M. L. Kak
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 8
Soon after the American bombers rained missiles on Afghanistan, the Northern Command was put on high alert at the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. Senior officers of the Northern Command and those in Srinagar and Nagrota Corps Headquarters put their heads together today to formulate a strategy in case of any eventuality.

Informed sources said notwithstanding the fact that Islamabad is in no position to carry out any “misadventure” against India at this crucial stage, the possibility of largescale infiltration across the LoC seems to be a cause of concern for the security agencies in the state.

The government agencies expect that groups of Taliban may try to sneak into Jammu and Kashmir if the American pressure mounts in Afghanistan. Already there are over 20 lakh Afghans in Pakistan and Islamabad is loath to providing shelter to those fleeing Afghanistan.

CCS takes stock of security

New Delhi, October 8
Taliban-supported terrorist outfits may launch 'spectacular' serial attacks on Indian metropolitan cities on the lines of September 11 terrorist strikes in the USA to take revenge against the just-started "Operation Enduring Freedom" in Afghanistan.

This latest classified information, which has rattled the government, is understood to have been discussed by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) which met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee late tonight.

Sources said the CCS took stock of the latest situation in Afghanistan and its impact in South Asia as well as within the country.

The CCS was also understood to have discussed the averments of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in a press conference in Islamabad and the massive reshuffle in Pakistan army.