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Tuesday,
December 25, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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USA clears
sale of Israeli AWACS to India Suicide
bomber had explosives in his shoes: FBI Hindi
films cast a spell on Afghans |
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Kabul
seeks India’s help to compose anthem Maoists
bomb house of minister
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USA clears sale of Israeli AWACS to India Jerusalem, December 24 Washington’s approval, which ends months of cautious optimism in New Delhi and Tel Aviv on the $1 billion deal, has been conveyed to the Israeli Defence Ministry, the Haaretz said in a report on Monday. Israel, in turn, has informed Washington of all the particulars of the evolving deal, under which the Israel Aircraft Industry plans to supply three Phalcon systems to India. Sources in the Israeli Defence Ministry told IANS that the two sides had been conducting negotiations on the Phalcon for a long time. “These are in advanced stages and have not yet been finalised.” The impending sale, the sources said, “constitutes another important layer in defence ties between Israel and India and sources in the American Administration are aware of their current status.” India plans to mount the Phalcon system, probably the most advanced airborne radar system, on Russian-made Il-76 aircraft. The Phalcon, developed jointly by the USA and Israel, can simultaneously track up to 60 targets over an 800 km circle to support defensive and offensive operations. Haaretz quoted sources in the US administration as saying that Washington took “a positive view of the developing relations between Israel and India ‘in a range of fields.’” “The sources added that they were pleased that Jerusalem had coordinated matters with Washington beforehand (in the Phalcon deal),” the report said. India was struck off the US list of “risk countries” to which strategic arms sales had been banned months ago. Despite this development, doubt had persisted about the proposed Israeli sale to India. This was largely because of the Pentagon’s opposition to transfers to third countries of strategic arms and military hardware jointly developed by Israel and the USA. There was also an underlying rivalry to the deal from American arms suppliers. “The USA does not expect to be informed of all details of arms deals between India and Israel, but does want to be updated in advance on sales of strategic significance, such as those involving early-warning aircraft that would extend the Indian Air Force’s range of action,” the report said. “Washington also wants to maintain stability between India and Pakistan.” The Phalcon sale was discussed in August this year when an Indian delegation visited Israel. Talks were continued last month when the Director-General of the Israeli Defence Ministry, Reserve General Amos Yaron, visited New Delhi. Contrary to persistent Israeli media reports, Israeli defence sources categorically denied that there was any connection or linkage between Indian and Israeli bilateral defence industry cooperation and the cancelled sale of Phalcon plane to China under American pressure last year. Beijing is demanding that Israel either uphold its contract or, according to unconfirmed figures published in Haaretz, pay China $1.26 billion as compensation. This figure includes $232 million paid as advance for the first plane, $1 billion as compensation and $28 million as interest on the advance payment. The situation is complex, say Israeli Foreign Ministry sources, who want Tel Aviv to reach a compromise so as to soften the blow to relations between the two countries.
IANS |
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Suicide bomber had explosives in his shoes: FBI Washington, December 24 “Preliminary analysis by the FBI laboratory in Washington has determined that there were two functional improvised explosive devices recovered from (the suspect’s) sneakers. Additional tests are being conducted,” the US Justice Department said in a statement yesterday. In London, the Scotland Yard reportedly identified the 28-year-old man, now being held in the USA, as a British citizen named Richard Reid. They also feel he might be going by others names and is also probing
whether he holds Sri Lankan citizenship too. There are also reports that the man had converted to Islam and is also named Tariq Raja and Abedel Rahi. The suspect, now in FBI custody in southern Massachasetts, has been charged of assault and interfering with a flight attendant but they could be upgraded to more serious charges now following confirmation that he was
carrying explosives. Reports from Paris quoting the French police say he had tried to board the same flight a day earlier (Friday) but was turned away as according to the police he was “behaving bizarrely, was agitated and had a worrying look”. Meanwhile, American investigators are trying to determine whether the man with explosive device in his shoes had any connection with the Islamic terrorist organisations or was acting alone. The investigations are being carried out in the USA, Britain and Europe.
AFP, PTI |
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Hindi films cast a spell on Afghans Kabul, December 24 But this is hardly a deterrent for Hindi film crazy Afghans who flock to the city’s two functional cinema halls in numbers that increase by the day. Drawn by the magic of Hindi films, Afghan males of all ages have been trekking from even distant villages despite explicit warnings by U.N. spokesperson Stephanie Bunker that “the bombs will explode if they are touched or moved.” At the dilapidated Park cinema on Shehr-e-Naw street, the Ajay Devgan-starrer “Vijaypath” has been drawing full houses despite the steep 5,000 Afghani (50 cents or Rs. 24) ticket price, the grainy picture quality and a crackling sound system. “I have seen the film five times,” said young Jamshed, a trader, as he waited with his jean-clad friends outside the hall to see the film yet again. “The Afghan people love Indian films and Hindi film music. Even during the Taliban period, we managed to secretly listen to Hindi music cassettes,” Jamshed said in Hindi, a language he learnt from Bollywood movies. Cinema manager Jan Agha said one of the first acts of the Taliban after they seized control of the city in 1996 was to close down its 15 cinema halls. “Life was boring. Now we are free. We can see films,” exulted Basheer, as he came out of the hall with his precocious five-year old son Rafiullah. “Ajay Devgan is the best,” declared Rafiullah, delivering the verdict with the aplomb of a professional. Agha said he had imported Pakistani films in the past but these hardly drew any audiences. “Pakistanis can’t act or sing. Their films are poor imitations of Hindi films. Why should we import them now when we can get Hindi films?” he asked. The shabby walls of the cinema hall’s lounge are papered over with posters of films to come - “Krodh,” “Hum Bhai Bhai” and “Gunaon ka Devata.” At the only other functioning hall, Bakhtar, “Kali Ganga” starring Govinda and Dimple has also been drawing huge crowds for the three shows daily at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. “Amitabh Bachchan has become old but he is still popular,” middle-aged Mustapha said, adding that “my favourites are Akshay Kumar and Rani Mukherjee.” Outside the hall, young Zia was doing brisk business peddling picture post cards of Hindi movie stars. The new Afghan government might have two women in the cabinet but the fair sex is still not allowed into cinema halls. “We hope women also will be allowed in once the situation improves,” said Jamshed, who had closed his shop early to catch the show. “We have no objection if women come to see the movies,” said manager Agha. “Why should we object? We will get more business.” He is not wrong, because Afghan women love Hindi films and their music even more than the men do. For the moment though, the first priority of people like Agha is to spruce up the halls so that going to the movies can become as pleasurable as it once was.
IANS |
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Kabul seeks India’s help to compose anthem Kabul, December 24 The SOS by the Afghan Cultural Ministry sent today said the country had only one recorded cassette of the new national anthem, which was not in proper format. It asked New Delhi to despatch a set of musical instruments for professional recording of the anthem. The
musical instruments asked by Kabul include a set of harmonium, tabla, sarod, sitar, tanpura, surmandal, sarangi, violin, guitar, pakhwaj, piano, flute, banjo drum and a traditional dhol. India is the only country to have been approached by the Afghan regime with Cultural Ministry officials saying the SOS has been despatched as New Delhi and Kabul had common cultural heritage. Afghanistan’s new national anthem has been played only once, just before the commencement of the swearing-in ceremony of the new government and the lone cassette was reported to be of a poor quality.
PTI |
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Maoists bomb house of minister Kathmandu, December 24 The attacks occurred yesterday night. Property worth Rs 100,000 was destroyed at the house of Minister for Housing and Physical Planning Chiranjibi Wagle. Mr Wagle’s residence is the third target in a series of attacks by the rebels against important figures in Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s government, which declared the rebels “terrorists” three months ago. Parliamentarian, Eknath Ranabhat’s house is reported completely destroyed by the attack. “I am ruined by this, who will compensate it?” the vernacular daily Rajdhani quoted Mr Ranabhat as saying. Maoist rebels want the government to draft a new Constitution and form an interim government that allows them to join mainstream politics. The six-year-old Maoist insurgency in Nepal has taken over 2,500 lives. Mr Deuba, who is facing harsh criticism from within and outside his ruling Nepali Congress for imposing emergency in the country, held an all-party meeting yesterday to garner support for his move.
IANS |
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