Afghan opposition Northern Alliance soldiers run and jump as they return from a front line position after battle near the town of Charatoy in the northern of Afghanistan  on Wednesday. Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban gave Osama bin Laden free rein to wage holy war on the USA as Washington said its war planes had the run of the Afghan skies. — Reuters photo

Plot to target Advani unearthed
New Delhi, October 10
The Mumbai police has unearthed a plot to cause harm to Union Home Minister L.K. Advani with the arrest of six gangsters of the Chhota Shakeel gang, Home Ministry sources said here today.

Jaswant agrees to visit Pak
New Delhi, October 10
External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh has accepted an invitation to visit Pakistan, but it is not expected to take place in the immediate future.

Nation page: SGPC’s offer to Afghan Sikhs Video: Three Sikh Afghan families reached India to seek refuge. (28k, 56k)

OIC backs limited strikes
Doha, October 10
Islamic nations today opposed the spread of the US-led onslaught on the Taliban regime in Afghanistan to any other Arab or Islamic country.

• Fund to aid Afghans

Taliban have 30 active Stingers?
New Delhi, October 10
Of the 80 to 100 dreaded Stinger missiles that are believed to be in the possession of the Taliban, some 30 may still be operational, according to an assessment of the Ministry of Defence here.

Fire breaks out in Pak army HQ
Islamabad, October 10
A major fire broke out in the high security Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters in Rawalpindi in the wee hours today, injuring one person and destroying buildings, furniture and paper. The cause of the fire was attributed to a short circuit, defence officials said.

Edit page: The label of ‘Rogue Army’
Musharraf’s problems after American action 
A number of Western newspapers like the New York Times carried announcements labelling the Pakistan army a “Rogue Army” during the Kargil conflict. These announcements noted that the Pakistan army had killed more of its own citizens in its operations against its own people in Bangladesh, Baluchistan, Sind and the Northern Areas than any other armed force in contemporary history, except perhaps that of Cambodia’s Pol Pot.

4 doctors booked for removing kidney Bathinda, October 10 The police today registered a case against Dr Ramesh Thukral, owner of a private hospital, Dr Sham Lal Thukral, Dr R.P. Singh (both employees of local civil hospital), Dr Rakhi Juneja and nurse Jasvir Kaur allegedly for removing the kidney of a woman while she was operated upon for the removal of a tumour from spleen. The case was registered under Section 338 of the IPC for causing injuries to the patient due to negligence.