Friday, August 8, 2008
United States wary of Pakistani appeal for more cooperation
Bush administration officials have responded with skepticism to an appeal by visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani for increased intelligence cooperation, which he said would help his country attack militant groups and terrorist encampments near its border with Afghanistan.
"The problem from our perspective has not been an absence of information going into the Pakistani government," said one Bush administration official familiar with discussions between the two governments. "It's an absence of action."
Both governments stressed that their meetings have been cordial, and public statements underlined a shared commitment to counter terrorism. President Bush, in an appearance with Gilani after a White House meeting on July 28, twice noted U.S. respect for Pakistani sovereignty. In an interview on July 29, Gilani emphasized Pakistan's desire "to maintain excellent relations with the United States."
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
"The problem from our perspective has not been an absence of information going into the Pakistani government," said one Bush administration official familiar with discussions between the two governments. "It's an absence of action."
Both governments stressed that their meetings have been cordial, and public statements underlined a shared commitment to counter terrorism. President Bush, in an appearance with Gilani after a White House meeting on July 28, twice noted U.S. respect for Pakistani sovereignty. In an interview on July 29, Gilani emphasized Pakistan's desire "to maintain excellent relations with the United States."
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: Afghanistan, border, Bush administration, cooperation, militant attack, Pakistani government, Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, terrorism, United states
Monday, June 23, 2008
Thousands of Hindus begin trek to Amarnath
Thousands of Hindu pilgrims chanted hymns as they set off to Amarnath shrine deep in Kashmir on June 17, despite fears of a possible militant attack on them.
Hundreds of policemen and soldiers were deployed along the 350-km ( 217.48 miles) route which runs through forests and mountains before reaching the shrine.
"We have made foolproof security and other arrangements for the pilgrims this year," Gulchain Singh Charak, a minister in the strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir state said on June 17.
Pilgrims have been targeted by Muslim militants several times since a violent rebellion against Indian rule broke out in Kashmir in 1989.
Last year, a shopkeeper was killed and dozens of people were wounded in two separate attacks on pilgrims.
During the two-month-long annual pilgrimage, devoutee Hindus walk and ride ponies or palanquins to the cave - situated at an altitude of 3,800 meters, to pray to Lord Shiva.
Kashmiri political separatist groups have said they will protest against a decision by the government to transfer nearly 100 acres of forest land to the Hindu shrine trust, Amarnath Shrine Board, for erecting shelters for the pilgrims.
"I want to make it clear to New Delhi that we won't allow anybody to occupy our land and we will fight it tooth and nail," Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Kashmir's chief cleric and chairman of All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference said.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Hundreds of policemen and soldiers were deployed along the 350-km ( 217.48 miles) route which runs through forests and mountains before reaching the shrine.
"We have made foolproof security and other arrangements for the pilgrims this year," Gulchain Singh Charak, a minister in the strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir state said on June 17.
Pilgrims have been targeted by Muslim militants several times since a violent rebellion against Indian rule broke out in Kashmir in 1989.
Last year, a shopkeeper was killed and dozens of people were wounded in two separate attacks on pilgrims.
During the two-month-long annual pilgrimage, devoutee Hindus walk and ride ponies or palanquins to the cave - situated at an altitude of 3,800 meters, to pray to Lord Shiva.
Kashmiri political separatist groups have said they will protest against a decision by the government to transfer nearly 100 acres of forest land to the Hindu shrine trust, Amarnath Shrine Board, for erecting shelters for the pilgrims.
"I want to make it clear to New Delhi that we won't allow anybody to occupy our land and we will fight it tooth and nail," Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Kashmir's chief cleric and chairman of All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference said.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: Amarnath, begin, devotees, forest, Hindu pilgrims, kashmir, Lord Shiva, militant attack, security, trek
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