Wednesday, December 31, 2008

LeT's Zarar Shah confesses to involvement in 26\11 attacks

Top Lashkar-e-Tayiba commander Zarar Shah captured in the crackdown on militants earlier this month in Pakistani-occupied Kashmir, has confessed the group's involvement in the terror attacks in Mumbai, a media report saidon Wednesday. Shah has also implicated other LeT members, and had broadly confirmed the confession made by the sole capturedmilitant Ajmal Kasab to Indian investigators--that the 10 assailants trained in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and then went by boat from Karachi to ,the Wall Street Journal reported quoting a senior Pakistani security official. The paper said Pakistan's own investigationof terror attacks in Mumbai had begun to show substantive links between the LeT and 10 gunmen who took part in the Mumbai mission. Pakistani security officials were quoted as saying that a top Lashkar commander, Zarar Shah, has admitted a rolein the Mumbai attack during interrogation. The paper quoted a person familiar with investigation as saying that Shah also admitted that the attackers spent at least a few weeks in Karachi, training in urban combat to hone skills they would use in their assault. The disclosure, it said, could add new international pressure on Pakistan to accept that the attacks, which left 183 dead in India, originated within its borders and to prosecute or extradite the suspects. That raises difficult and potentially destabilising issues for the country's new civilian government, its militaryand the spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence--which is conducting interrogations of militants it once cultivated aspartners, the Journal said.
"He is singing," the security official said of Shah. The admission, the official told the paper, is backed up by US intercepts of a phone call between Shah and one ofthe attackers at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, the site of a 60-hour confrontation with Indian security forces. A second person familiar with the investigation was quoted by the Journal as saying that Shah told Pakistaniinterrogators that he was one of the key planners of the operation, and that he spoke with the attackers during therampage to give them advice and keep them focused. Shah, the paper said, was picked up along with fellow Lashkar commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi during the military camp raids in PoK. The probe, the Journal said, also is stress-testing an uncomfortable shift under way at Pakistan's spy agency -- andthe government -- since the election of civilian leadership replacing the military-led regime earlier this year. Military and intelligence officials, it says, acknowledge they have long seen India as their primary enemy and Islamist extremists such as Lashkar as allies. But now the ISI is in the midst of being revamped, and its ranks purged of those seen as too soft on Islamic militants. That revamp and the Mumbai attacks are in turn putting pressure on the civilian leadership, which risks a backlashamong the population -- and among elements of ISI and the military -- if it is too accommodating to India. " "Don't fight the ISI. It can make or break any regime in Pakistan," retired General Mirza Aslam Beg, a former army chief, was quoted as saying. The delicate politics of the Mumbai investigation, the Journal said, have given the spy agency renewed sway just when the government was trying to limit its influence. A Western diplomat told the paper that the question now is what Pakistan will do with the evidence it is developing.The big fear in the West and India is a repeat of what happened after a 2001 attack on India's parliament, which ledto the ban on Lashkar.
Top militant leaders were arrested only to be released months later, the Journal noted. Lashkar and other groupscontinued to operate openly, even though formal ISI links were scaled back or closed, the diplomat was quoted as saying. "They've got the guys. They have the confessions. What do they do now?" the diplomat said. "We need to see that this is more than a show. We want to see the entire infrastructure of terror dismantled. There needs to be real prosecutions this time." A spokesman for Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari , Farhatullah Babar, was quoted as saying on Tuesday that hewasn't aware of the Pakistani investigation yet producing any links between Lashkar militants and the Mumbai attacks. "The Interior Ministry has already stated that the government of Pakistan has not been furnished with any evidence," he said. The Pakistani security official, it said, cautioned that the investigation is still in early stages and a "more full picture" could emerge once India decides to share more information. Pakistani authorities didn't have evidence that LeT was involved in the attacks before the militants' arrest inPoK, the security official claimed. They were captured based only on initial guidance from US and British authorities.

'Kasab's letter not written by a real Pakistani'

A top Pakistani official has sought to doubt the authenticity of the letter written by Ajmal Amir Iman Kasab [Images], the lone gunman captured for the Mumbai terror attacks [Images], to seek legal aid from the Pakistan government.
Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah claimed the language and content of the letter did not "match those of a real Pakistani".
"They (Indians) have simply tried to make up a story and have even failed in that too," Shah told reporters during a visit on Tuesday to the headquarters of the National Database and Registration Authority, Pakistan's national database.
Questioning the authenticity of the letter written by Iman alias Ajmal Kasab, Shah repeated interior ministry chief Rehman Malik's contention that no records of Iman had been found in the NADRA database.
However, the database covers only 60 million of Pakistan's total population of over 160 million.
Shah also said the Indian authorities had not yet shared evidence on the Mumbai attacks with Pakistan.
"Why did the Indians not share the identity of the others accused in the attacks? They are talking just about Ajmal Kasab, who was not even arrested from the crime scene," he said.
He also said that one of the mobile phone Subscriber Identity Modules, allegedly recovered from Kasab, was issued from Austria.
Kasab's father recently admitted to the influential Dawn newspaper that the gunman whose picture was beamed round the world by the media was his son. Residents of Kasab's village of Faridkot in Punjab province too have told the Pakistani media that he belonged to the area and had told his mother during his last visit that he was going away for Jihad.

Who is the Villain of the Year?

As a traumatic year comes to an end, India has had no dearth of heroes. Ordinary folk like Tukaram Omble of the Mumbai [Images] police, who took several bullets but did not let go of the terrorist. Or for that matter the scientists who landed the moon probe Chandrayan, marking India's entry into the interplanetary journey club.
But alas, there was no dearth of blackguards and villains who did their damnedest to bring grief to Indians. While we must remember the heroes of the year, letting the villains go scot-free would be wrong. Here is an attempt to find out the villain of the year.
With bomb blasts on a regular basis and the government in deep coma or asleep (except when a Bengaluru [Images] terror suspect was caught), it is a difficult job. Heroes were easy to identify but, on the other hand, if one were to have a contest for finding the villain of the year, it will be a tough one.
With the memories of Mumbai terrorist attacks still fresh, one is inclined to think of the sole surviving murderer as a suitable candidate. But there were two problems in his case. First is if is he a human being or a low life from Pakistan, and the latter disqualifies him from the contest. A second objection is that his colleagues at Nariman House killed a pregnant woman while those at Taj Mahal hotel [Images] proved far more villainous. Alas, like the religious burial that he may not get, he also misses out on the top slot.
But for the Mumbai attack, Raj Thackeray [Images] could have easily walked away with the first position. After all, by targeting poor Bihari labourers with his henchmen, he single-handedly defamed Maharashtrians and destroyed the nationalist legacy of the great Shivaji. But alas, the Mumbai attacks and the fact that he is untraceable make his case weak.
As the head of the home ministry, with over 1400 killings in a year, the former home minister (whatsis name?) is a strong contender for the honour. But one realises that merely being stupid and inefficient is not sufficient for becoming the national villain. The former Maharashtra home minister who focussed his police forces on 'bar dancers' and left the terrorist to have a free run, also comes close to the other Patil. But again, he failed when it came to the viciousness that one expects from a genuine villain. So let us leave the ex-home minister to his chore of changing clothes and the former state home minister in search of bar dancers.
Another promising candidate for the top spot is the 'human rights brigade'. Unfortunately, presently shell-shocked by the Mumbai attacks, most of them have gone back into the woodwork. They would resurface once the terror trial begins and demand 'justice' to the terrorist, tarnish the reputation of NSG commandos who saved lives, and launch an agitation. They will again invoke the Babri masjid demolition to justify the terror acts. But all that is likely to happen in 2009 and hence they do not qualify in this year's contest.
Finally, we can cite the perfect villain in no less a person than an august Union minister. Yes, I refer to A R Antulay [Images]. Since public memory is short, let us remind the readers that he is the same person who had to resign as Maharashtra chief minister on corruption charges in the infamous 'cement scandal' many years ago, which adds to his pedigree.
When Antulay rose in Parliament and cast doubts about the circumstances of death surrounding Mumbai's three top police officers, he killed several birds with one stone. First and foremost, he came to the rescue of a beleaguered Pakistan, who now could flaunt his statement to peddle conspiracy theories of how the whole thing was a joint operation by Mossad, RAW and CIA. He also tired to divide the Mumbai police into pro and anti groups so that they should become ineffective. And finally, he pointed figures at the Armed Forces as possible conspirators in this incident as well as the Malegaon blasts. A great leap of faith indeed.
In sheer audacity and brazenness Antulay leaves behind the Gabbar Singhs, Dannys or Prans of Bolywood by miles. And like a champion villain, after doing his deed, he flashes a 'V' sign! A mark of true villain who is proud of his villainy. My vote goes wholeheartedly to Antulay as Villain of the Year 2008.
But there is a tiny doubt in my mind, Antulay's villainy is out in the open, yes, but ought we not to consider who prompted him and continues to protect him? After all, he still continues to be an honourable minister in the Union cabinet. Wouldn't his protector be the true Villain of the Year?
Colonel (Dr) Anil Athale (retd) is former joint director, war studies, ministry of defence, and co-ordinator of the Pune-based Initiative for Peace and Disarmament

National Investigative Agency becomes a reality

The National Investigative Agency Bill and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill on Tuesday became a law as President Pratibha Patil [Images] gave her assent to those legislations which were passed in the last session of Parliament.
Home Minister P Chidambaram [Images] told reporters that the presidential assent has been received today.
"The regulations have come into effect from today," Chidambaram said.
He said the NIA will get its Director General in a few days. A K Singh, an IPS officer currently with the Border Security Force, is tipped to become the first chief of of the NIA.
"NIA will be established to investigate terrorist offences. As and when any case is assigned to the NIA, it will take up investigation," he said.

"The Multi Agency Centre that was established as the nodal centre on all intelligence relating to terrorism has not fully achieved its objectives," he admitted.
"We have established a new and mutually beneficial arrangement under which all agencies share intelligence on a real time basis," he explained.
Asked if he had met the chiefs of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Interpol, he said he had met the latter and "I told him that the Mumbai terror attack is under investigation. It is not obligatory to give evidence to the Interpol chief."
A committee of two retired high court judges will go though the evidence collected in the Mumbai terror attack probe and decide whether the evidence is good enough for prosecution, he informed the mediapersons.
"I don't think this will delay the trial," stated the Home Minister.
Chidambaram told mediapersons that the work is in progress to set up 20 counter insurgency and anti-terrorism schools in the country which will train personnel to tackle cases involving terrorists.
The Home Minister also announced that a round the clock information gathering and sharing centre on terrorism has come into effect from today.
He said the Ministry will soon bring before the Cabinet a note on establishing National Security Guards hubs in four main cities of the country and more such hubs will be set up in other cities as well.
Asked about the cooperation from Pakistan in investigation of Mumbai terror attacks , Chidambaram said, "They are in a state of denial. Everything that we will give will be denied."

He said the father of Ajmal Kasab ,the lone surviving terrorist in the Mumbai attack, has appeared on the television saying that he (Kasab) is his son.
"Kasab himself has written to the Pakistan government seeking legal help. What more evidence does Pakistan need," he said.
Chidambaram said new appointments will be made in paramilitary forces for the new NSG hubs coming up in the four cities.
On the execution of Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru, he said the ministry was examining the case.
"There are 27 persons on death row. Afzal Guru is one among them. We are examining it," he said.
Asked about the Home Ministry's course of action in the cash-for-vote scam case, which was referred to it by the Lok Sabha Speaker, he said the ministry will look into the report and decide on how to go about it.
He said he was 'not aware' whether the report has reached the Ministry.

Tata, Ambani, Mittal to take part in Vibrant Gujarat 2009

Ahmedabad: Industry captains Ratan Tata, Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Bharti Mittal would attend the inaugural session of Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit (VGGIS), officials sources said.
According to the officials, who are coordinating with the industry representatives, Tata, Ambani and Mittal have confirmed their presence in the summit, which will be held on January 12-13 at the Science City here.
"We have received a number of confirmations from the various industrialists, including Ratan Tata of Tata group, Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries and Sunil Bharti Mittal of Airtel," said a senior official in the industry department, adding more confirmations are awaited.Apart from these, local industrialists like Gautam Adani of Adani group, Janmenjay Vyas of Dishman, Sudhir Mehta of Torrent, Pankaj Patel of Zydus Cadila, Karsan Patel of Nirma have also confirmed that they would be am part at the event.
Apart from top industrialists, a number of foreign diplomats and delegations will also attend the two-day summit that is organised by the state government every alternate year, sources added."We will have delegations from Italy, Japan, Kenya, Uganda and many other countries," the official said.The state industry department, which is a nodal agency for the summit has sent as many as 20,000 invitations to the industry, foreign diplomats, MNCs and others for the summit.During the summit, the state government would ink many MoUs with various firms regarding investments in the state.
"We are very buoyant after shifting of Tata's Nano car project to Gujarat and expect many big projects to come to the state during Vibrant Summit," said a Saurabh Patel, Minister of State for industry.He added that many announcements regarding upcoming projects will be made during the summit.

Pay Rs5 mn or see house blown up, Dhoni told

Ranchi: Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was provided the highest "Z category" security cover by the Jharkhand government after his family was sent a threatening letter, Wednesday received another threat to blow up his house here unless he pays a gangster Rs.5 million.Ranchi Superintendent of Police Richard Lakra told IANS: "Dhoni has received another threatening letter."According to sources close to the cricketer's family, the letter says: “Do not approach the police. We will blow up your house. In the past we killed a contractor who refused to pay levy."Police officials said Dhoni's family received an extortion letter Monday. The letter, allegedly sent by gangster Taslim, who claims to be a close associate of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, stated that the Indian skipper's family will face dire consequences if he does not pay Rs.5 million.The family handed over the letter to police here Tuesday night. Soon after, Dhoni's security was beefed up. "Dhoni has been provided Z category security," said police spokesperson S.N. Pradhan.The cricketer, who earlier had "Y category" security cover - the second most stringent category - is now being guarded by 45 security personnel. He arrived here Tuesday. Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police Sampant Meena told reporters: "Taslim, whose name is mentioned in the first letter, has a criminal background. At present, he is not in Ranchi. We have constituted a team to investigate the case." The investigation team is led by Hatia Assistant Superintendent of Police A. Vijay Laxmi.When Dhoni was last in Ranchi, he was not happy with his constricting security cover and travelled from his home to the airport without any bodyguards.However, with renewed concern about his security, Dhoni has applied for a prohibited bore (PB) arms licence. He already has a non-PB licence. According to sources close to his family, Dhoni plans to buy a 9 mm pistol after obtaining the licence. The PB licence is issued only in special circumstances by the central home ministry.

Time for Australia to pass the champions baton: Roebuck

Sydney, Dec.31 (ANI): Well known cricket columnist Peter Roebuck believes that Australia's period of cricketing domination is over, and therefore, it needs to pass the champions baton to the South Africans.
With Australia losing its series to South Africa two nil, Roebuck says that the matches at Perth and Melbourne showed the hosts letting go of advantages after securing powerful positions.
"Although the official rankings will grant them a few weeks' grace, the unavoidable fact is that Australia has been beaten by a better side," Roebuck says in an article for the Sydney Morning Herald.
"At such times, it is tempting to examine the causes of the collapse. Perhaps it is simply that Australia ran out of great players and luck, a combination that often goes together. Perhaps, too, it is better to remember the numerous glories of the past 15 years and not their limitations," Roebuck adds.
He, however, acknowledges that Australia has played attractive cricket under Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting,, scoring quickly, encouraging leg spin, fielding balanced attacks, scorning stalemates and not sledging quite as much as might be imagined.
"Australia was ruthless, sometimes unscrupulous, but seldom dull. Taken as a whole, the teams have enhanced the game, especially its five-day format," Roebuck says.
"Australia may not have been liked but it has commanded respected, sometimes amounting to fear...Nothing lasts forever and now it is someone else's turn. The game will go on. Australia must lick its wounds and fight back," he concludes.

U.S. vacates Baghdad palace ahead of handover

U.S. officials withdrew on Wednesday from the vast Saddam Hussein-era palace they have occupied in Baghdad since 2003, a sign of the historic change of power when their troops come under Iraqi authority at midnight.
The U.S. force in Iraq, now more than 140,000 strong, has operated since 2003 under a U.N. Security Council resolution which expires at midnight on New Year's Eve. From Jan. 1, U.S. troops will operate with authority granted by the Iraqi government under a pact agreed by Washington and Baghdad.
The pact -- viewed by both countries as a milestone in restoring Iraqi sovereignty -- requires U.S. troops to leave in three years, revokes their power to hold Iraqis without charge and subjects contractors and off-duty troops to Iraqi law.
Iraq also reached a deal with Washington's main ally Britain on Tuesday giving its 4,100 troops until the end of July to depart. Small contingents from Australia, El Salvador, Romania, Estonia and the NATO alliance will also leave in 2009.
U.S. and Iraqi officials are planning a ceremony for the morning of New Year's Day to formally hand over control of the Green Zone, the heavily fortified central sector of the capital that houses Western diplomats and Iraqi government offices.
In recent weeks U.S. diplomats have gradually moved into a newly-built compound, the world's largest U.S. embassy, leaving behind a sprawling yellow marble palace of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein which looms over the Tigris River.
"The palace will be in the possession of the Iraqi government from January 1, 2009," U.S. embassy spokeswoman Susan Ziadeh said of the ornate building, where diplomats worked beneath garish frescoes depicting Saddam's arsenal of missiles.
SYMBOL
U.S. officials ruled Iraq directly from the palace for more than a year after toppling Saddam in 2003, and it has remained a symbol of what many Iraqis consider a military occupation even as their nascent elected government has gained confidence.
Iraq's security spokesman for Baghdad, Major-General Qassim Moussawi, said Iraqi forces would take immediate responsibility for patrolling and guarding the Green Zone, with U.S. troops acting in support.
After years of extreme sectarian violence, Iraq has become far less bloody over the past year, although militants still launch bomb attacks frequently targeting civilians.
A car bomb killed four people and wounded 45 on Wednesday at a crowded market in the northern Iraqi town of Sinjar, mainly populated by the minority Yazidi sect, police said.
But only five U.S. soldiers have died as a result of hostile action in December, the lowest monthly total since the war began.
The Iraq Body Count website, which monitors media reports of violent deaths, says 2008 was the least deadly year of a war which killed at least 90,000 Iraqi civilians. An average of about 25 civilians were still killed per day in 2008, mostly in the first half of the year.
The government still requires U.S. military support to fight al Qaeda and other Sunni militant groups, mainly in the north, as well as remnants of Shi'ite militia in the south.
Under the bilateral pact which takes effect from midnight, U.S. combat forces will withdraw from Iraqi towns and cities by mid-2009 and all troops must leave by the end of 2011.
They will remain under U.S. command but will require authorisation from a joint U.S.-Iraqi committee to carry out military operations and can arrest people only with warrants from Iraqi judges.
Some 15,000 prisoners held at vast U.S. military detention camps must either be charged with crimes under Iraqi law or set free, although the procedure for doing so may take many months.
Contractors working for U.S. troops will be subject to Iraqi criminal law, and U.S. soldiers can be tried in Iraqi courts in narrow circumstances for serious crimes committed off duty.

Bangla soil won't be used for terror against neighbours: Hasina

Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina, who favours strong ties with India, on Wednesday vowed not to allow Bangladesh's territory to be used for terrorism against its neighbours, two days after her grand alliance swept the country's first general election in seven years.
The 61-year-old charismatic leader said that "continued good relations with neighbours", particularly with India, would be a major agenda of her government.
"The Bangladeshi soil will never be used to carry out any terrorist act against our neighbours," Hasina, whose grand alliance bagged 262 seats in the 300-member parliament, said in her first post-victory press conference.
Her remarks came in response to a question about New Delhi's assertions in the past that the Bangladeshi territory was being used for carrying out terrorist attacks on India.
"When we were in power we took a strong position on this (terrorism) and we will do that in the future. I have always maintained that we want peaceful relations with our neighbours," Hasina said.
Proposing formation of a South Asian task force to fight terrorism in the region, Hasina said "I want continued improved relations with the neighbours...
"It is crucial to combat terrorism and (carry out) development of the region. The (proposed) task force could end the mutual blame-gaming (on terrorism issue) between the countries in our region," she said.
Replying to a question from a Chinese journalist, Hasina said her government would seek to develop further ties with Beijing, particularly in the economic field, along side with another next door neighbour Myanmar for mutual benefit. She also demanded the release of Myanmar's detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Inaugural Committee warns Of "crush-Level" crowds

Washington, Dec.31 (ANI): The Congressional Inaugural Committee has warned of "crush-level" inaugural crowds on January 20, the day on which Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th US President.
According to a CBS News report, street closures throughout Washington, D.C., will make traveling by car or taxi very difficult.
Bridges from Virginia crossing the Potomac River into Washington, D.C., as well as major roadways from Maryland into Washington, D.C., may be closed to all but bus traffic.
As far as the D.C. subway system is concerned, it will be running a 'rush-hour' service all day, but is expecting 'crush-level' crowds. Therefore, be prepared to wait for space on a train for long periods of time, during which you will have to stand in close proximity to several thousand people.
"While the actual swearing-in will take place shortly before noon, the formal program begins at 11:30 a.m., the musical prelude and seating will begin much earlier. Security checkpoints will open for ticketed guests at 8:00 a.m., and the committee advises arriving no later than 9:00 a.m. to ensure that you are through the checkpoints by the time the program begins. Screening will end when the program begins at 11:30 a.m. and late arrivals will not be able to enter the grounds," the committee said in a statement.
In the remaining weeks before the 56th presidential inaugural, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) will be issuing a series of advisories to help people who plan to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
In addition to the 240,000 ticketed guests, a million or more people are expected to view the inauguration from the National Mall between 4th Street and the Lincoln Memorial, along with hundreds of thousands of others who plan on watching the Inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue.
A security perimeter will be established around the U.S. Capitol and the parade route on or before January 20, 2009. Subway stations, bus stops, and streets within that perimeter will be closed.

Burney asks Pak govt to clarify on Kasab's nationality

Rezaul H Laskar Islamabad, Dec 31 (PTI) Stating that "confusion" over Ajmal Amir Iman's nationality was bringing a "bad name" to Pakistan, leading rights activist Ansar Burney has asked the government to clarify whether or not the lone gunman captured for the Mumbai attacks is a citizen of the country. In a letter written to Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah, Burney said the silence of Pakistani authorities on the issue of Iman's nationality is creating doubts and uncertainty given that the media has already released "sufficient material and evidences" identifying him as a national.
He said that the "confusion (over Iman's nationality) is bringing a bad name to the country and nation at large and has also become a source of disunity between the two atomic powers". "The Pakistani media has already released sufficient material and evidences identifying (Iman) as a Pakistani national and this silence from the ministry of interior on the subject.
Is creating and spreading doubts and also inviting uncertainty in the region, which in no way is a good.
approach," the letter said.
Indian authorities have said Iman alias Ajmal Kasab belongs to Faridkot village in Okara district of Punjab province. Iman's father has also told the Dawn newspaper that the gunman whose pictures were flashed around the world by the media was his son.
He said the "understanding between the two countries has already been damaged, and the situation demands improvement otherwise the same would ultimately become a source of disaster for the region".

Bush urges India, Pakistan to show restraint

Washington, Jan 1 (DPA) US President George W. Bush telephoned Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari Wednesday in an attempt to ease tensions following the November terrorist attack in Mumbai.
Bush urged both sides to cooperate in fighting terrorism and called on Zardari to do the same in helping India investigate the Nov 26 attacks that left more than 170 people dead.
'All three leaders ... agreed that no one wanted to take any steps that unnecessarily raise tensions,' Gordon Johndroe, a White House spokesman, told reporters in Crawford, Texas, where Bush is vacationing.
India has blamed the Mumbai attacks on militants based in Pakistan and both nuclear powers have placed their armed forces on alert, prompting worries of a military conflict between the two adversaries.
Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Pakistan's own probe had linked militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) with 10 fighters with the Mumbai attacks.
An unamed Pakistani security official told the newspaper that at least one top LeT commander, Zarar Shah, has admitted to a role in Mumbai during interrogation.

Indian Muslims under pressure in Mumbai aftermath

In a government morgue in Mumbai lie the bodies of nine Islamist militants responsible for killing 179 people in a bloody attack on India's financial hub.
The deadly rampage happened in November, but India's Muslims have refused to bury the gunmen, distancing themselves from the killings in a country where Hindu nationalists often whip up anti-Muslim sentiment after such attacks.
"We strongly believe terrorists have no religion and they do not deserve a burial," said Maulana Zaheer Abbas Rizvi of the All India Shia Personal Law Board, a body for framing Muslim laws.
Leaders of India's 140-million-strong Muslim community have denounced the Nov. 26-29 Mumbai attacks and thousands of Muslims have marched in protests against the bloodshed. It has been the strongest rejection yet of Islamist violence by Indian Muslims.
"We have lost our children in the Mumbai attacks too. And we, as Indians, share a common grief and demand justice," said Maulana Mehmood Daryabadi, general-secretary of the All-India Ulema Council, one of the biggest groupings of Muslim sects.
In Muslim neighbourhoods in the capital, residents observed low-key celebrations during an Islamic holiday in December.
Imran Ahmed, a book-seller, did not buy any new clothes for his children during the festival and did not distribute kebabs to neighbours as he does each year.
"So many people were killed by the terrorists. How could I celebrate?" asked the bearded book-seller, sitting outside his shop in the narrow, congested streets of Old Delhi.
TENSION
For now, the issue of burial of the militants has been averted as Indian officials say the corpses are still needed for their investigation. At the same time, contacts are underway to convince Pakistan to take the bodies, so far to no avail.
Tension between India and Pakistan has flared in the wake of the attacks, blamed on the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.
As the two rivals bicker, India's Muslims have been caught in an uncomfortable position in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks, which have intensified their feelings of being under siege even though Muslims make up about 13 percent of India's population.
Indian Muslims lag in health care, literacy and income. Official figures show Muslims are underrepresented in government jobs and the judiciary. Yet they are overrepresented in the prison populations in many Indian states.
Until recently India boasted that its Muslims, at least outside troubled Kashmir, had not embraced Islamist extremist violence of the type promoted by al Qaeda.
That has changed in recent years, with Indian Muslims thought to have carried out a series of bomb attacks on Indian cities this year and last.
Centuries of rule of Hindu-majority India by mediaeval Muslim invaders drove a wedge between the two communities, a suspicion that has only grown since the blood-soaked birth of Pakistan, carved out from Muslim-majority areas of India in 1947.
Alienation of Muslims has partly been fuelled by communal riots in the western state of Gujarat in 2002, when around 2,500 people, mostly Muslims, were hacked and burnt to death. Little has been done to catch the culprits despite a national outcry.
But the Mumbai attacks have generated a groundswell of public anger across religious and political fault lines against Pakistan for providing refuge for militants on their soil.
That anger is mixed with fear of a backlash.
"At the moment, Muslims are feeling very insecure. They have always felt as if they were under suspicion for all attacks on India," said Kudlip Nayar, a political commentator.
"In every terror attack in the past, Indian Muslims were suspected to have played some role, so now with a clear Pakistan hand emerging in the Mumbai attacks, the Muslims are reiterating that Indian Muslims are united and they had never supported terror acts," Nayar added.
Some Muslims are apprehensive about a new terror law that India's parliament passed recently, allowing police to hold suspects without filing charges for up to 180 days.
Human rights groups say a similar law was used in the past to round up innocent Muslims, detain them indefinitely or even torture them. Some fear that abuse of the law could stoke up more outrage against the Indian government among Muslims.
"Laws against militants must be strict, but there should be enough safeguards to stop people from misusing it," said Maulana Abdus Salaf Salfi, leader of the Jamiat Ahle Hadees group.
Meanwhile, the squabble over the burial of nine of the 10 Mumbai attackers -- one was captured -- is far from over.
"They have committed a crime against humanity and people who kill innocent people cannot be buried, not in Indian soil at least. Let Pakistan take them back home," said Rizvi.

WISH YOU HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

A Very Happy New Year -2009 to all ....
May happy and prosporus New year for all

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

The terrorists could have come from our soil: Pakistan

After weeks of denying the possibility, Pakistan turned around on its position -- admitting to CNN-IBN that some or all of the terrorists who carried out the 26th November attacks on Mumbai -- could have been Pakistani nationals. In an exclusive interview to the channel's India at 9 show, Pakistan's National Security Advisor Mahmud Ali Durrani said Pakistan was examining the letter written by the lone arrested attacker Ajmal Kasab.
When asked if he would admit that Kasab [Images] and some or all of the 10 attackers could have been Pakistani, Durrani said "could be�could be- that's all I will say as of now, while the investigations are still being completed". Durrani's comment comes a day the Pakistan government softened its war rhetoric. Durrani said categorically that no extra troops mobilization had occurred on the Pakistani side of the border and the Line of Control [Images] in the last few weeks.
Clling for calm, Durrani appealed for India and Pakistan to work together to "remove the menace of terror" from this region of the world.
The full transcript of the interview with Anubha Bhonsle and Suhasini Haidar: Q: You are saying it's time to calm tensions- but Pakistan is doing the opposite with its statements on 26-11- today you say no evidence- but even the evidence India gives publicly is not enough- a letter from Kasab appealing for recognition is ignored, despite his parents owning up to him- don't you think this adds to the mistrust from New Delhi [Images]?
A: We have got that letter. I have seen that letter. We have been provided some intelligence information and based on these intelligence information we are working out. We are trying to investigate on our own, we are looking at what you have given us and trying to connect the dots but it takes time and to convict somebody if there is proper proof in the court of law you need more than this that all I don't think there is denial. There is nothing wrong everything is right that's not true we have this problem between our two countries there could be possible connection and we are looking at that could be ill not say more than that because we don't have to say this but we don't have proof. Q: A possible connection -- much of the heartburn has been Pakistan's outright denial that the Mumbai [Images] attacks were planned in Pakistani- Will you at least admit at this point that some if not all the attackers could have been from Pakistan?
A: "Could be�could be- that's all I will say as of now, while the investigations are still being completed". Q: Mr. Durrani, that is the big news point you are giving us. We also saw the Foreign Minister Quresihi today telling India to de-escalate - to stand down from bases- but the impression worldwide and in Delhi is quite the reverse- that Pakistan, not India has moved troops to its eastern border, diverted airstrike capability, and raised the war alert? I think what happens is the situations like this truth becomes the casualty. Bottom line is Pakistan does not want confrontation with India because it is neither in the interest of India nor in the interest of Pakistan. We in Pakistan want to cooperate with India to get rid of the region of terrorist agenda and I think it is mandatory if we don't play in the hands of the bad guy. Q: You say truth is the casualty- then will you say categorically tonight that Pakistan has not mobilised troops at all in the past few weeks?
Well, I would like to say that we are not mobilised we are not on a high alert... yes some elements of our military would be on high alert because the worry is that probably there has been limited amount of mobilisation from India this is our assessment and to protect our self there was a level of alert not more than�It was a reaction more than an action. Q: Can you understand the frustration in New Delhi though? Since 26-11 we have seen several U-turns, including the arrest of Maulana Masood Azhar, confirmed by your defence minister, denied a week later. How do you expect New Delhi to trust Islamabad [Images]?
No, no, I think that is a bit of an unfair comment. I think Indian people are like people of Pakistan they have been violated by terrorists. I can see their anger but all I am trying to draw attention of the Indian nation that Pakistan has been violated far more aggressively by terrorists, So pushing Pakistan into a corner is only going to play in the hands to bad guys in the hands of terrorist we need to cooperate we need to work together we need to we need get over on mistrust that have been haunted us for years. Q: You have asked for the dialogue between India and Pakistan to be resumed- given the levels of trust is that at all likely?
Lets not fool us sometimes what distrust does it you put 2 n 2 together and instead of making 4 you make 22 unfortunately that is what happening now.
For example, take Masood Azhar now genuinely we want to take hold of him but he has vanished we don't know where he is what is wrong in that I mean you don't you trust us in that . Similary there are other you know lot of things are said in Indian media particularly your kind of media and so people react here and similarly there is something said there people react there but really I think what we need to cool down little bit and see what the problem is. The problem is terrorism and they are enemies of India and they are enemies of Pakistan. We need to put our heads together, we need to join our hands to get rid of this menace from the region of the world. Don't push Pak into a corner and work with them. I mean let us cooperate. Q: Many say Pakistan's new softened position is really because the international community putting pressure- isn't it true Pakistan is in financial trouble and can't afford a war? No that again is an unfair assessment I think Pakistan has an economic problem and that happened because of the energy fuels the prices going up food crises so this government even it came in it was hit by two-three things and these have people worried. We want to get out of this, it is a global phenomena and nobody is pushing us � they are independent issues so why are you connecting them.

Proteas win second Test, Australia lose home series after 15 years

Melbourne, Dec 30 (IANS) Australia's domination of world cricket seems to be nearing the end as they lost their first home series since 1992-93, following South Africa's nine-wicket win in the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here Tuesday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match rubber.
Graeme Smith hit a cool 75 while Neil Mckenzie made an unbeaten 59 as South Africa reached the winning target of 183 just 55 minutes after lunch on the final day, losing only one wicket on the way.
The visitors can snatch the top ranking from Ricky Ponting's side if they sweep the series 3-0 with victory in the Sydney Test starting Saturday.
The main architect of South Africa's first series win Down Under was fast bowler Dale Steyn, who was adjudged the Man of the Match for his match haul of 10 wickets.
Steyn also scored a valuable 76 and along with Jean Paul Duminy (166) helped South Africa make a stunning comeback to score 459 in the first innings in reply to Australia's 394. The fast bowler then wrecked the Australian batting in the second innings with 5-67 as the home side crumbled to 247 to take an overall lead of 182 runs.
Rain on the last day was Australia's only hope to keep their chances of levelling the series in Sydney alive, but despite some drizzle early in the morning play started on time. Resuming at the overnight 30 for no loss, Smith continued his attacking strokeplay as the bowling attack led by an injured Brett Lee wilted with time.
Lee, who has been ordered to rest for six weeks after this match because of a stress fracture on his left foot, bravely opened the Australian bowling but lacked penetration and ended up conceding 49 runs from 10 overs. He left the field half an hour before the game ended.
Ponting relied more on Lee and novice Peter Siddle on the fifth morning by ignoring the in-form Mitchell Johnson. And when Johnson came on to bowl there was little he could do against Smith who was on song. Johnson gave away 36 runs from his 11 overs.
Smith belted 10 fours from 94 balls and was trapped leg before the wicket by off-spinner Nathan Hauritz shortly before lunch after the opening stand with McKenzie yielded 121 runs. Hashim Amla (30 not out) and McKenzie then took South Africa home.
For Australia, the loss was not just an indication of the decline of their strength at home, but also the transition the team is going through due to the loss of some great cricketers, who played a crucial role in their dominance of world cricket for over a decade.

Proteas win Melbourne Test, and series

Melbourne, Dec.30 (ANI): Australia have lost a Test series at home for the first time since 1992-93, following South Africa's nine-wicket victory in the second Test at the MCG on Tuesday.
Captain Graeme Smith typically led the way with 75 as South Africa claimed their first Test-series win on Australian soil.
According to The Age, the tourists can snatch top ranking from Ricky Ponting's side if they sweep the series 3-0 with victory in the Sydney Test that starts on Saturday.
Set 183 to win and resuming at 0-30, the Proteas reached their target one wicket down, 55 minutes after lunch on day five to claim a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Smith hit 10 fours from 94 balls and was out leg before wicket to off-spinner Nathan Hauritz shortly before lunch after an opening stand of 121 with Neil McKenzie.
McKenzie was 59 not out with Hashim Amla made an unbeaten 30.
Pacer Brett Lee, who has been ordered to rest for six weeks after this match because of a stress reaction in his left foot, bravely opened the bowling for Australia and took 0-49 from 10 overs.
Lee left the field half an hour before the game ended.
Australia's woes deepened on Tuesday with the news that 12th man Shane Watson will be unable to bowl for six months because of stress fractures in his back.
The Queenslander's latest injury complicates Australia's selection for Saturday's third Test in Sydney.
Watson had been touted as a replacement all-rounder for the struggling Andrew Symonds, who is also battling knee soreness.
Ponting, whose captaincy tactics have been questioned during the second Test, produced a fine double of 101 and 99 with the bat for Australia.
South Africa paceman Dale Steyn took match figures of 10-154.teyn, who has claimed 74 wickets this year, took four of the first five wickets to fall on Monday. They included out-of-form pair Matthew Hayden (23) and Symonds (0).
The 102-Test career of Hayden, 37, appears almost over

Hillary Clinton faces tough Mideast challenge

Israel's attacks on Gaza could test Hillary Clinton's mettle as the next top U.S. diplomat mediating between Israelis and Palestinians.
As incoming President Barack Obama's secretary of state, she will have to overcome a view of some in the Arab world she is more interested in supporting Israel than being even-handed.
Once she stops being a U.S. senator from New York to take her new job, Clinton could find herself pursuing the same Middle East peace that eluded her husband, former President Bill Clinton, in the final months of his presidency in 2000.
University of Maryland professor Shibley Telhami said opinion polls he conducted earlier this year in Arab countries indicated Clinton was viewed as someone who, like her husband, would work to advance Middle East peace.
"Bill Clinton had a much more positive image in the Middle East (than George W. Bush) and Hillary is seen in a similar light," he said, adding that her past support for Israel would not necessarily count against her.
But even if Clinton were ready to take on the role of peace broker early on, the upsurge in violence and Israeli and Palestinian elections expected over the next two months, would likely delay meaningful discussions.
"There is too much blood spilled for this to end quickly." said Telhami.
Aaron Miller, who advised six secretaries of state in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, said Clinton was respected in the region and disputed that she was viewed as pro-Israeli.
He said Clinton's personal and political battles as a former U.S. presidential candidate, made her tough and resilient -- desirable attributes in Middle East diplomacy.
More important than her prowess as a mediator will be how high a priority Obama makes the Israeli-Palestinian issue among the many challenges facing his new administration.
"She will have to do the heavy lifting but she must be empowered and backed up and supported by the president," said Miller, who is now at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington.
NOT YET TESTED
Clinton, who lost the Democratic presidential nomination to Obama, needs to maintain a strong relationship with the new president to be effective, he added.
While well-versed in foreign affairs, Clinton has yet to be tested in a crisis, such as the Israeli offensive against Gaza to suppress Palestinian rocket fire against its citizens.
"She (Clinton) does not have a lot of experience in the Byzantine negotiations in the Arab world," said Jeffrey White, of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
The Bush administration has so far backed Israel's actions in Gaza and demanded the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas stop firing rockets into Israel and agree to a lasting cease-fire.
Edward Walker, former U.S. ambassador to Israel and Egypt, said Clinton should go the region early. Her confirmation hearings are expected in mid-January and she could take office immediately after Obama's Jan. 20 inauguration.
"What the administration needs to do is to say that we consider Israeli-Palestinian peace a priority but that we cannot force the parties into an agreement unless they are prepared for an agreement," Walker said.
Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who has spoken to Clinton since the latest violence erupted, made Israeli-Palestinian peace a priority in her past two years.
She has said both sides are closer than ever to an agreement, but Hamas was always left out of negotiations because it refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist. Washington regards President Mahmoud Abbas who rules the West Bank as the sole legitimate Palestinian representative.
Experts say it is unlikely there will be any dramatic shift in U.S. policy toward Hamas, which has been isolated and sanctioned by Washington and its close allies.
"There will not be a turnaround in U.S. policy. They are going to have the same problems and that is how do you put Humpty Dumpty back together again?," said Walker.

Fog fallout: huge delays in flights, train services

New Delhi, Dec 30 (IANS) Flights and train services in the capital stayed awry Tuesday, a result of the thick fog that enveloped the region in the morning. Over 100 flights to and from Delhi were delayed and nine cancelled since midnight, an airport official said late in the afternoon.
Nine early morning flights to Mumbai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Srinagar, Bhubaneshwar, Leh and Bangalore were cancelled. Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways and Air India faced most cancellations. Low-cost carriers Indigo, Jetlite and GoAir were also hit.
About 19 flights were cancelled and nearly 200 flights were delayed by fog Monday. Meteorological department officials said foggy conditions would continue for two to three days more.
The runway visibility range (RVR) at the capital's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport dipped to less than 50 metres in the morning, below the required minimum of 100 metres for flight operations. The general visibility condition in the area also fell below 100 metres, the airport official said.
The fog lifted by noon, but the delays continued as airport and railway authorities struggled to clear the backlogs.
The minimum temperature was 8 degrees Celsius Tuesday, while the maximum temperature was 20.8 degrees Celsius.
'On this day last year, the maximum temperature was 22 degrees Celsius and the minimum 4 degrees Celsius,' a meteorological office spokesman said.
So far, the coldest day of this winter has been Dec 13, with the minimum temperature dipping to 6.4 degrees Celsius.
Train services and road traffic also suffered due to the reduced visibility in the morning. The woes of passengers at the airport and railway stations were compiounded as the authorities failed to update them on the extent of the delay, keeping thousands of people on tenterhooks.

Pak given "confessions" that may force it to nail militants linked to Mumbai carnage

Washington, Dec 30 (AN): There are reports that Pakistan has received some "confessions" which confirms the involvement of Pakistan-based militants in the Mumbai attacks, the Dawn reports.
"The evidence might force Pakistan to catch at least some of them. We may see some action soon," the Dawn quoted a US official, as saying.
Meanwhile, worried by the redeployment of forces from the Afghan border to the Indian border by Pakistan, the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called the Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to discuss the issue.
"Rice reminded Pakistan that it's high time for Islamabad to catch those responsible for the Mumbai attacks, while urging India to show restraint," the Dawn quoted a US official as saying.
"Pakistan has made some positive steps but the steps need to be continuous, and we need to have both sides work together to find the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks," Rice added.
India has accused Pakistan of doing very little towards dismantling the terror network on its soil, and trying to deflect international condemnation over Pakistan's reluctance to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai carnage to book.
Both Britain, as well as the Us have also handed over 'evidence' to Pakistan, proving the links of the Mumbai terrorists with terror operatives in that country, bur Pakistan has said that such evidence would no stand the scrutiny of the country's courts.

Satyam goes for a spin as investors plan takeover

The spirit of at least 50, 000 employees of the Satyam Computer Services may be at its lowest ebb. The current crisis might even force a few at the Satyam to look for other jobs. But many have vowed to stick with the company and pledged that the company comes first rather than chairman B. Ramalinga Raju who brought the company to its knees with his exit plan.Shock and aweIn a shocking move the Raju family Monday informed Bombay Stock Exchange that the promoters — founder of Satyam Ramalinga Raju, his wife Nandini Raju, his brother and co-founder of Satyam Rama Raju and wife Radha Raju — of the company wishes to liquidate its shares. The market watchers were only too glad that the Rajus are on their way out hoping that institutional investors who own 51 per cent of the company will bring in fresh investment and possibly a new management.At the moment Satyam board which has planned a meeting on January 10 may not take any major decision after three more directors — Vinod Dham, Krishna Palepu, M. Rammohan Rao — followed Managalam Srinivasan by resigning.

Mangalam Srinivasan is the longest serving member and had quit on Christmas Day taking moral responsiblity for the fiasco over the Maytas acquisitions that raised questions about the role of independent directors and corporate governance issues.Earlier this month, Satyam had announced the acquisition of two companies promoted by the Rajus, but had to call off the deal within hours follwing investors' dissent. The ‘crisis’ has been planned for the past couple of years after the promoters formed a holding company called SRSR Holding Private Ltd and transferred all their shares (around 8.5 per cent of the s hares of Satyam) to this entity. The shares were transferred through a deal of 1.96 crore Satyam shares when the price was at Rs809 per share. That was in 2006 and market watchers watched in amazement and speculated that Rajus were planning an exit which they naturally denied. And Raju siblings put out a briefing that the plan was only way to handle their scattered holdings. But it was actually to consolidate their shares and later pledged to institutional investors for loans to raise funds to buy land and real estate. No one clearly knows for how much the Rajus pledged.

The institutions to whom Rajus pledged their shares were only too happy to lend the money but after the financial meltdown hit the markets trouble began.The lenders smelt trouble the moment Satyam shares plummeted and naturally they asked Rajus to make up for the losses which the promoters could not as the money invested in real estate and land were also went down.Speculation is that Rajus might be shown the door, with institutional investors seeking a greater role in the day-to-day affairs of the firm.Institutional investors such as ICICI Prudential, Aberdeen Asset Management and Fidelity hold at least 60 per cent.

Infosys in top 20 of world's most admired firms

New Delhi: Infosys Technologies has been recognized amongst the top 20 global companies to be listed in the Most Admired Knowledge Enterprises (MAKE) study, 2008. Infosys has won this award for organizational learning for its concerted effort over the last decade to provide an integrated knowledge management (KM) solution to meet the knowledge needs of the organization through content sharing, collaboration and professional networking.India's second largest IT services company has been a five-time Global MAKE Winner.The Most Admired Knowledge Enterprises (MAKE) research program was established in 1998 by Teleos, in association with the KNOW Network to recognize companies that create shareholder wealth by transforming enterprise knowledge into superior products, services or solutions. The 2008 Global MAKE awards were chosen by a panel of Fortune Global 500 business executives, leading knowledge management and intellectual capital experts.

India will give proof, but Pak must act: Pranab

New Delhi: India on Tuesday accused Pakistan of creating war "hysteria" in a bid to divert attention from the Mumbai terror attacks and demanded that it should dismantle terrorist camps estimated to number over 30 along with handing over fugitives of Indian law.
Rejecting Islambad's contention that India had mobilised its army and air force, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in New Delhi that there was no no question of such mobilisation. Only normal winter exercises conducted every year had taken place.Telling Pakistan that "there is no no need of creating an atmosphere or some sort of hysteria", the minister said that there was no no tension as was borne by the fact that India was releasing some 67 Pakistanis detained for visa violations.Moreover, like in the past, India and Pakistan will be exchanging information on nuclear confidence building measures on the New Year's day, he told PTI in New Delhi.Mukherjee was clear about what India wants from Pakistan--dismantling of terrorist camps, taking action against those involved in terror attacks and handing over of fugitives of Indian laws like the chief of the banned Jaish e Mohammed (JeM) Masood Azhar.Disagreeing with suggestions that India should recall its High Commissioner from Pakistan and put economic squeeze on Pakistan, he said while it cannot be "business as usual" with Islamabad, "I do feel still we should continue to put pressure diplomatically through international community to achieve our objectives." India was now now in the final stages of completing its investigation into the Mumbai terror attacks. That would be shared with Pakistan and others, Mukherjee said.Pakistan, he emphasised, will have to act on evidence India gives to it. "And there has to be credible evidence that they are acting on it."While maintaining his stand that India was keeping all options open, the External Affairs Minister recalled that he had stated in Parliament that war was not not a solution.India would continue to put pressure on Pakistan through diplomacy and "we would like to see what is the final outcome of it".Refuting suggestions that diplomatic efforts had failed, Mukherjee said that New Delhi had been able to create awareness all over the world. "We shall have to make these efforts, howsoever strenuous they may be....We shall have to build up the pressure on Pakistan."Mukherjee said Pakistan continued to be in denial mode and as of now now India has not not seen any action on its part on its demands. "If simply they deny and go into denial mode how does it help," he asked.Asked about the number of terrorist camps in Pakistan, the minister disclosed that "the latest information" given by India to that country shows that the number was 30 plus. "Sometimes they change their names, sometimes they change their locations but the persons are the same."When asked if India would be satisfied by the Pakistan government putting to trial the fugitives it wanted, Mukherjee remarked that even the probe into the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was not not handed over to Pakistani authorities but to the UN.

Air India announces fare cut up to 82 percent

New Delhi: A day after Jet Airways reduced fares on domestic routes, state-owned operator Air India Tuesday announced fare cut up to 82 percent in at least 20 sectors, mostly on metro routes, a senior airline official said.
"The new fare cut comes into effect today (Tuesday). We have cut fares on 20 sectors by up to 82 per cent. This will largely benefit passengers on metro routes," an airline spokesperson told IANS.India's leading private air carrier Jet Airways Monday reduced fares on its domestic routes by up to 40 percent with immediate effect.Another leading carrier, Kingfisher Airlines, Sunday announced fare cut from Jan 1. However, it has not announced the quantum of fare cut.Low cost carriers are also expected to follow suit, said an industry official. The fare cuts comes in the wake of slackening demand in the post-peak season and continued decline in fuel prices.Over the past four months, there has been a sharp decline in aviation fuel prices. While some air carriers earlier this month reduced the fuel surcharge on the ticket price by Rs.200 to Rs.400, they did not touch the base fare.Oil companies have reduced aviation fuel prices seven times since September. The fuel is now sold at Rs.32,691.28 per kilolitre in Delhi after prices were slashed by Rs.4,208.37 in the first week of December.

Pranab: How can India 'de-escalate', without escalating?

Rejecting Pakistan's contentions, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Tuesday that there had been no escalation of tensions on the part of India and that its military movements were routine winter exercises.Reacting to his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi's statement that India had deployed ground forces to forward positions and activated forward airbases, Mukherjee said that there had been no no such action on the part of India to escalate tension.The Indian army has made it clear that it's military movements were a "normal winter exercise", the minister told PTI. Mukherjee said that in response to India's demand that it should dismantle terrorist infrastructure, Pakistan was making an attempt "to divert the attention, to create tension". "We have not not created any tension....first there should be escalation from Indian side, then the question of de-escalation will come. We have not not escalated anything," the minister said. He pointed out that the army had stated that whatever they were doing was a "normal winter exercise" which is done every year. "There is no no question of mobilisation or escalation of tension," he said.

Monday, December 29, 2008

'Time of war' with India has passed, believes Pak

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani establishment now believes that the "time of war" with India is over and the recent telephonic contacts at the highest military level have led to reduction in tensions generated in the wake of troop build up following the Mumbai terror attacks.
"The time of war has gone and even India cannot dare mount surgical strikes primarily because of the uncertain response," an unnamed top official told The News daily after the Directors General of Military Operations of the two countries spoke on their hotline over the weekend.
The contacts between the DGMOs had not been suspended after last month's terrorist attacks in Mumbai and that the two officials remained in touch, officials said.
The DGMOs discussed the situation along the Line of Control and the international border and other issues, Dawn News channel reported. It quoted sources as saying that the conversation was part of "routine contacts" between the two top military officials.
Inter-Services Public Relations chief Maj Gen Athar Abbas too confirmed the talks between the DGMOs.
The DGMOs usually make contact on Tuesday on a routine basis but they spoke to each other over the weekend in an "extraordinary move", The News said.
"That was only possible with the consent of top military leaders of both the countries. Apparently, this helped lower the tension," a source told the newspaper.
It also quoted unnamed defence analysts as saying that war "never breaks out when forces on both sides of the border are prepared".
Though there was "some kind of panic at the lower tiers", President Asif Ali Zardari and army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani acted "tactfully with no element of panic", the report said.
Many people also questioned the role of the US and leaders of the outgoing Bush administration, as many of them "used their influence in favour of the Indians", the report said.
"No one in Pakistan trusts the Americans and their moves... they behaved like friends of the enemy and they put their weight behind Delhi only to test our nerves," said a senior official.
Pakistan last week redeployed close to 20,000 troops from the Afghan border to the eastern frontier with India after scaling down operations against the local Taliban in the tribal belt.

Hot Shots: Jiah 'Ghajini' Khan

Even as you read this, the 20 year old is sizzling on a thousand screens across India, with her "Lattoo" number from 'Ghajini'. She adds to the GQ (Glamour Quotient, for the uninitiated) in her movies and puts the mercury tubes to fire!
Let the sirens go off! Here comes Jiah Khan!!

Jiah Khan is the daughter of Rabiya Amin, a yesteryear actress. She is a resident of Chelsea, London.
Jiah Khan made her debut in Ram Gopal Varma's 'Nishabd' opposite Amitabh Bachchan. The film was loosely based on Vladimir Nabokov's book 'Lolita'.
Jiah's second film was opposite Aamir Khan in 'Ghajini'. She played a medical student in the psychological thriller. The movie which released on Dec 25 has been declared a super-hit.
Jiah Khan has been trained in dance forms like Reggae, Lambada, Jazz, Samba, Kathak, Belly dancing and Salsa.
Her future projects include 'Yahoo' opposite Shahid Kapur and 'Housefull' opposite Akshay Kumar.
Says Jiah Khan on her sex appeal, "I guess I was just born sexy. But it sure is hard work, pretending to be sexy".
Jiah is the brand ambassador of the international denim brand Wrangler Jeans.
Rumor hawks have it that Jiah Khan will be seen in 'Dhoom 3'.
She has done an item number "Lattoo" in 'Ghajini'.
Jiah Khan has written, composed and sang "Take Lite" in 'Nishabd'.

'Ghajini' garners Rs 40 crore in 4 days!!


After Shah Rukh Khan’s successful run with 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi', it’s Aamir Khan who is bringing in all the earnings for Bollywood this year with Ghajini raking in Rs 40 crore in the first four days of its inauguration.
This means, 'Rab Ne…' and 'Ghajini' together are likely to contribute over 20 per cent to the overall box office collections of top 50 Hindi films released in calendar 2008. Trade pundits estimate that 2008 will now generate Rs 900 crore to Rs 1,000 crore, or about 15 per cent more than last year’s collections.

Before the release of both 'Rab Ne…' and 'Ghajini', box-office collections of top 50 Bollywood films was estimated at Rs 700 crore, about Rs 150 crore short of the collections of 2007 films, say trade experts.

Now the Aamir-starrer remake of Tamil film by the same name, 'Ghajini', is pegged to generate about Rs 100 crore within three weeks of its release on December 25, while Shah Rukh’s 'Rab Ne…' has already crossed collections of Rs 100 crore, including those from the overseas market.

“I do not expect any significant dip in the weekday’s collections of 'Ghajini'. The box office report is overwhelming…,” Aamir Khan said on a television channel on Sunday.

According to a Mumbai-based trade analyst, 'Rab Ne…' has already generated profits of Rs 35 crore for Yash Raj Films, while 'Ghajini' will do the same for its producers Geetha Arts and its Indian distributors.

Earlier this month, leading box-office analysts, including Komal Nahata and Taran Adarsh, had told us how these two films were most likely to bring back audiences to the theatres after the Mumbai terror attacks at the end of November.

“The weekend shows were mostly booked well in advance in our Mumbai and Delhi-NCR multiplexes. We expect a similar response the second weekend,” a senior marketing executive of a leading multiplex chain said.

In January, the focus will shift from Aamir and Shah Rukh to Akshay Kumar, who will be starring in 'Chandni Chowk to China' another awaited film for which the expectations are high.

Let us fight terror together: Pak to India

Pakistan today asked India to "review its stance" and cooperate with it to meet the common threat of terrorism as it cautioned that "any coercion or threat of use of force" would be counter-productive.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi emphasized Pakistan's position to "resolve all its issues with India peacefully" and referred to the country's "constructive proposals to India for serious, sustained and pragmatic cooperation to deal with the region-wide problem of terrorism".
Qureshi said he hoped that India would "review its stance and cooperate with Pakistan to meet the common threat of terrorism", said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.
"Any coercion or threat of use of force will be counter-productive," Qureshi said.
Pakistan said India had "failed" to respond to its offers to defuse tensions in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks [Images].
Qureshi made the comments during a meeting with visiting Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yahei, who has been dispatched to Islamabad [Images] by Beijing [Images] to help defuse regional tensions.
Pakistan had made specific proposals to India, including one for a joint investigation of the Mumbai incident, Qureshi said.
"Unfortunately, India had failed to respond to Pakistan's positive and constructive offers," Qureshi was quoted as saying.

26/11 attackers wanted terrorists freed: Digvijay

New Delhi: The Congress may be in for some rough weather again because of a senior’s leader’s conspiracy theory about the Mumbai terrorist attacks.
Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh has claimed that the terrorists who attacked Mumbai demanded the release “of certain terrorists” but the Government refused them.
"During the incident the terrorists had taken some people to hostage and demanded release of certain terrorists. But the Government bluntly denied such demands," said Singh in Indore on Sunday
"We did not compromise, rather we went ahead and eliminated them (the Mumbai terrorists)," said Singh, who didn’t name the terrorists whose release was sought.
The former Madhya Pradesh chief minister made the claims just as his party was trying to douse the controversy created by Minority Affairs Minister A R Antulay’s statements.
Antulay created a storm in Parliament by demanding a probe into the death of Hemant Karkare, the Maharashtra police office officer who was gunned down by terrorists on November 26.
Antulay claimed Karkare was investigating the Malegaon blast case, in which radical Hindu groups are suspects, and there was “more” to his death.
The minister’s statements were embarrassing for the Congress, as he appeared to be shooting his mouth just when the country was speaking out against terrorists and India was demanding that Pakistan crack down on militant groups in its terrorists.
Antulay may have spoken mindlessly but Singh's statements seem to be a clever political plot. His target is the BJP, which was in power at the Centre when the government had to release terrorists to assure the safety of passengers of an Indian Airlines flight hijacked and taken to Kandahar in December 1999.
Singh seems to convey to the public that the Congress didn’t give in to terrorists’ demands but the BJP did.

Need to avoid conflict with India: Pak army chief

Pakistan's army [Images] chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Monday emphasised the need to avoid a conflict with India in the wake of the Mumbai [Images] attacks as China launched a diplomatic initiative to ease tensions by dispatching a top diplomat to Islamabad [Images].
Kayani's comments, believed to be his first on the situation, came during his talks with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei, who is in Islamabad.
"The army chief highlighted the need to de-escalate and avoid conflict in the interest of peace and security," said a brief military statement, which was issued after He Yafei's talks with Kayani and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Tariq Majid.
Kayani claimed that Islamabad has been exercising restraint, but at the same time insisted that his country reserved the right to defend itself in the event of any aggression.
Kayani and Majid described as baseless allegations levelled by India against Pakistan, the reports said.
He Yafei, the Vice Foreign Minister of Pakistan's all-weather ally China who arrived in Pakistan on Sunday, also met interior ministry chief Rehman Malik, a day after his talks with Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir.
He Yafei's visit here came days after Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jeichi spoke to his Indian and Pakistani counterparts, Pranab Mukherjee [Images] and Shah Mahmood Qureshi respectively, on the situation in the subcontinent.
Yang pressed both countries to move ahead with the peace process and maintain stability in the region.
He Yafei on Sunday called on India and Pakistan to work together to defuse tensions. He also stressed the need for maintaining peace and stability in South Asia and said escalation of tensions was not in the interest of India or Pakistan.
The Chinese minister was told by his interlocutors that Pakistan is ready to carry out a joint investigation into the Mumbai attacks and will take action against anyone found involved in the terrorist incident if New Delhi [Images] shared evidence with Islamabad, Daily Times newspaper reported.
He Yafei is scheduled to meet Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani [Images].
Over the past few days, China has stepped up efforts to defuse tensions between Pakistan and India.
The Chinese minister has assured his interlocutors that his country will remain in close contact with Pakistan in pursuance of peace and stability.

ICICI to cut home, auto loan rates

Housing, auto and personal loan customers of ICICI Bank [Get Quote] will get their new year gift in the form of a cut in interest rates, its CEO and managing director K V Kamath said on Monday.
"We are looking at cutting interest rates very early in January for our housing and other loan customers," Kamath told PTI over telephone from Mumbai.
"The lowering of interest rate would be in new year," he said when asked if the bank was all set to give a new year gift to its customers.
The extent of the rate cut is being calibrated and would be announced soon, he said when asked if the rate could be more than 100 basis points.
ICICI had earlier this month reduced home loan rates for new customers by up to 1.5 percentage point.
There are indications that the fresh cut in interest rates would benefit both existing and new customers.
The prime lending rate of the bank currently stands at 17.25 per cent. The bank last revised the benchmark lending rate by effecting 75 basis points hike in August this year.
SBI [Get Quote] has cut its prime lending rate by 75 basis points to 12.25 per cent with effect from January 1.
Home loan major HDFC [Get Quote] has also cut its prime lending rate by 50 basis points, while a number of other private and public sector lenders such as HDFC Bank, Punjab National Bank [Get Quote] and Bank of Baroda [Get Quote] have also announced rate cuts.
Earlier in the day, two leading public sector lenders Punjab National Bank and Bank of Baroda said they would reduce their prime lending rates by 50 and 75 basis points respectively, with effect from January 1.
Besides, PNB also announced a reduction in its peak deposit rate by 100 basis points to 8.5 per cent for deposits of one year to less than three years beginning 2009.
Earlier this month, the bank had reduced its peak deposit rate to 9.50 per cent from 10.5 per cent.
Separately, Bank of Baroda said: "The bank has decided to reduce its prime lending rate by 75 basis points from existing 13.25 per cent to 12.50 per cent with effect from January 1, 2009."
The PLR of PNB would stand reduced to 12 per cent, from the existing 12.50 per cent, effective from January 1.
PNB has also reduced interest rates on various retail lending schemes like floating rate housing loans, car and education loans by 50 bps.
"The interest rates on fixed rate housing loans have been reduced by up to 175 bps with effect from January one," the bank added.
Further, the bank has introduced a housing loan scheme -- PNB Special Housing Loan Scheme-- for new accounts from January 1, 2009 till June 30, 2009.
Under the fixed housing loan of up to Rs 500,000 for maximum period of 20 years, PNB would charge interest rate at 8.5 per cent.
Also fixed rate housing loans of above Rs 500,000 to Rs 20 lakhs (Rs 2 million) for a maximum period up to 20 years would attract interest of up to 9.25 per cent.
"The interest rate will be subjected to reset on July 1, 2014 for the scheme," PNB added.
State-owned lender Union Bank of India [Get Quote] has also reduced its deposit rates and Canara Bank [Get Quote] has cut its deposit as well as MSME lending rates.

Pakistan could sink into chaos and anarchy

Pakistan is a martial nation with an outstanding reputation for its military prowess and a well deserved pride in its armed forces. However the Pakistan military and intelligence service have played a disproportionately influential role in mainstream politics over the last 60 years.
Democracy does not appear to flourish in this militaristic state and this has played a significant part in Pakistan's appalling human rights record. However it is Pakistan's long standing support for Islamic militants that has rightly seen the regime in Islamabad [Images] condemned by many observers as a home of terrorism.
Infamous intelligence service
Pakistan's infamous Inter-Service Intelligence agency has not only armed and trained generations of Islamic extremists in Kashmir and Afghanistan, it is also believed to have directed many of their terrorist attacks in both territories, and in the crowded streets of India's major cities.
The ISI is a protege of the Central Intelligence Agency and a child of an even larger worldwide political conflict; the Cold War. Created in the US agency's image, it has been regularly used to great effect by Washington in this troubled region.
At one time or another India, Iran, Afghanistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka [Images] have all reportedly been the victims of aggressive intelligence operations on behalf of the CIA and the support shown for terrorist groups by the ISI for reasons of their own..
After the Soviet invasion of 1979, Afghanistan became a major theatre of operation for Pakistan intelligence. Both al Qaeda, and the Taliban [Images] were to benefit hugely from ISI's comprehensive level of support.
Throughout the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and the war on terrorism, the Iraq occupation and the growing confrontation with Iran, relations between the US and the Pakistani intelligence communities have apparently remained close.
War on Terrorism [Images]
However, the forces within the ISI who sided with Islamic extremism, supplied them with weapons, training and intelligence remain highly influential and despite repeated denials by former President Pervez Musharraf [Images] and the current weak civilian administration, the Taliban's military revival has much to do with the ISI's continued clandestine support.
It is a bitter irony that Pakistan has achieved this position of importance in the US-led coalition by providing bases and support for the campaign in Afghanistan, while on the other hand the ISI is still offering aid to those same terrorists.
Pakistan's perceived long-term self-interest is more than sufficient for it to covertly sanction actions that directly result in the deaths of US, UK and NATO soldiers serving in Afghanistan. Whether this is with the full approval of the government in Islamabad or simply that the ISI remains a law unto themselves is a matter that remains open to question.
This despite repeated claims by ministers that the ISI and the military has been cleansed of its more extreme officers and no longer provides support for terrorist or insurgent movements.
There is a widely held belief that Pakistani intelligence remains a virtual state within a state. Its actions either ignored or even secretly condoned by the military regime.
The al Qaeda connection
It must remain highly questionable whether Pakistan has any real commitment to the War on Terrorism and there are many observers who believe that the government in Islamabad is clandestinely providing cover for leading al Qaeda terrorists.
Indeed if the highly respected journalist Dan Rather of the US CBS network is to be believed, Pakistan's Army [Images] was actively sheltering Osama bin Laden [Images] on September 11, 2001.
At the very time Al Qaeda [Images] crashed loaded passenger jets into the WTC twin towers and the Pentagon [Images], America's 'Enemy Number One' was reportedly receiving life-saving kidney dialysis treatment at a military-controlled hospital in Rawalpindi.
Yet bin Laden was allowed to walk free, to disappear apparently without trace in the tribal border lands between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is this same troubled area that has seen the recent truce signed between the Pakistan security forces and the militant Islamic tribes.
This alone may have effectively secured bin Laden's continuing freedom of action as well as that of al Qaeda itself and a resurgent Taliban.
It is significant that the ISI, Special Operations Forces and other elements within the army, paramilitary units and police are believed to still provide logistic support and training for militants.
Pakistan undoubtedly deserves to be placed high on the American government's list of those countries guilty of state sponsorship of terrorism along with Syria and Iran. Indeed, Pakistan makes use of the Kashmir militants in much the same way as Iran uses Hezbollah; as a powerful political bargaining chip and to fight a proxy-war against a more powerful neighbour.
Pakistan stares into the abyss
Pakistan can rightly be described as a failing state. Its internal unity has dissolved into open warfare in significant parts of the country and its relations with India, its heavily armed and nuclear capable neighbour, are in tatters.
Even the patience of its long suffering ally, the United States is now wearing decidedly thin.
Pakistan has a militaristic society that has grown tired of its generals playing politics and instead placed in charge a civilian government that soon appeared to be virtually incapable of tackling head-on the main issues threatening to tear apart the fabric of the nation:
The growing influence of Islamic extremists in the FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas), Pakistan-administered Kashmir and many of the northern cities in particular.
The devious role played by the ISI as highlighted by what appears to be solid evidence that it is still supporting terrorist activity in Afghanistan, Kashmir and most significantly within India itself.
The degree to which extreme Islamic beliefs have been wholeheartedly accepted within large parts of the regular army and the junior ranks of the officer corps in particular.
There can be little doubt that besides shoring up the world's shattered economy and dealing with a potentially nuclear armed Iran, high on the list of priorities for the incoming Barack Obama [Images] administration will be the fear of a meltdown in Pakistan some time in 2009.
Obama's choice of Hillary Clinton [Images] as his secretary of state is a highly significant move in relation to South Asia and has been broadly welcomed by many observers in New Delhi [Images].
Clinton developed a close working relationship with both India and the Indian-American community back home during the eight years her husband Bill Clinton [Images] served as US President.
It is unlikely that the new US administration will or would want to continue to excuse Pakistan's wanton unwillingness to at least attempt to deal with the rising tide of Islamic extremism threatening both the integrity of the nation and the stability of an already troubled region.
Pakistan's options
In response to the growing chorus of international criticism Pakistan has hinted at a variety of responses, but looked at carefully these would appear to be largely empty gestures made by an increasingly panicked and confused government in Islamabad.
The Pakistan Army presently deploys at least four regular infantry divisions (including the 7th, 9th, 14th and 23rd) in the FATA, the vital region that borders Afghanistan. Islamabad quickly made it known that in response to any sabre-rattling by New Delhi, it would be forced to move these units back to their old defensive positions on the border with India.
This in theory would expose the Western forces inside Afghanistan and their long supply route which sees some 350 trucks carrying over 7,000 tons through Pakistan every day to even greater danger from Islamic insurgents. The recent attack that destroyed over 100 US and NATO supply vehicles on Peshawar's outer ring road merely served to highlight this threat.
However, as many seasoned observers quickly pointed out, the Pakistan Army with a severely restricted logistic capability would not be able to achieve this massive redeployment quickly or effectively.
Indeed, as many of the army units currently deployed in the FATA have shown little or no interest in actually combating the local insurgency, the withdrawal of one or all of these divisions would probably not have a significant effect on the overall border security situation.
Recently some Pakistan officials have felt it necessary to quietly remind New Delhi -- and the world in general -- that it is a nuclear power. However, there must still be some doubt as to how many usable nuclear devices Pakistan actually has. Some estimates have been as low as just two 20 kiloton warheads.
Whatever the correct figure may be, Washington's studied indifference to Islamabad's implied nuclear warning goes some considerable way to confirming reports that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is very closely monitored, if not actually controlled in some way by the United States.
It is quite possible that any attempt to move these weapons, let alone deploy them would result in a swift US response and their total destruction.
No change yet
Pakistan is also once again going through the pantomime performance of publicly arresting a few leading members of the Islamic extremist groups that proliferate inside their borders.
Short of these prisoners now being handed over to the Indian authorities along with many others listed as terrorists, New Delhi and an increasingly impatient Washington are likely to remain largely unimpressed.
There has still been no serious attempt by the Pakistan authorities to disarm the militants, close down their training camps or dismantle the organizational structure that provides both new recruits and financial support.
The Lashkar-e-Tayiba [Images] and other such militant groups with a long track record of carrying out attacks in both Kashmir and India remain very largely untouched and free to continue planning the next terrorist outrage.
The ISI apparently continues to covertly arm, support and train Islamic militants, and some observers have claimed that they may even play a significant role in planning and directing attacks such as those on Mumbai [Images].
Despite the replacement of Lieutenant General Nadeem Taj as head of the ISI on October 1 by the reportedly more moderate Lieutenant General Ahmed Shujaa Pasha, seen by some as an attempt to placate Washington, little of substance has altered and the ISI seems as firmly wedded to its pro-Taliban, pro-Kashmir, anti-Indian stance as before.
The Pakistan Army also appears content to remain on its path toward radicalization, providing yet more training and -- according to some sources -- playing a large role in protecting and maintaining the militant infrastructure.
However, this level of semi-official Pakistan involvement with national and international terrorism may finally bring significant problems for the government in Islamabad.
India's options.
Despite Indian Premier Manmohan Singh [Images] once stating that "Unless Pakistan takes concrete steps to implement the assurances it has given to prevent cross-border terrorism against India from any territory within its control, public opinion in India, which has supported the peace process, will be undermined", India has remained hamstrung by governments that appear to suffer from some form of strange rictus that prevents anything more than studied inaction and an overwhelming willingness to compromise.
Only may now following the outrage in Mumbai may it be forced to at least consider a positive and if left with no other alternative, a military response.
However if the present Congress party government is removed in the upcoming elections, its replacement by the more nationalistic Bharatiya Janata Party would probably be far more likely to launch a serious military strike at Pakistan.
The BJP has long accused Congress of being insufficiently aggressive in combating terrorism and now argues that the Mumbai attack was in part a result of this failure.
If the killing of over 170 civilians, police and military in Mumbai proves to be India's September 11, 2001, then it will not be long before New Delhi now finally accepts that one of the most important ways to protect its citizens is to be viewed as willing to retaliate against those who openly sponsor, house, arm and train terrorists.
This could be by way of limited air strikes and commando raids on the scores of Islamic terrorist camps and arms dumps most likely within Pakistan-administered Kashmir, initially.
Some sources have even suggested that the outline of a suitable plan was shown to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice [Images] recently. Rice is reported to have quietly commented that while the United States was strongly opposed to a full-scale war between India and Pakistan, it might not be totally averse to some form of limited counter-terror operations.
Risk of greater confrontation
However, a lack of serious and successful crackdowns on Islamic extremist groups within Pakistan by the government of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, or the repetition of major terrorist acts against Indian targets, could lead to a far wider and more significant confrontation.
Under those circumstances New Delhi may have no alternative but to launch major punitive military operations across the border into Pakistan itself.
It is possible that a clearly exasperated United States may even sanction this as a much-needed salutary lesson for Islamabad that it must take responsibility for the actions of its citizens and for any extremist groups based safely within its national borders.
A military assault is not, of course, the only means of applying pressure on Pakistan. Other punitive measures have been aired ranging from an Indian naval blockade of Karachi and the coast to the withdrawal of large amounts of vital financial aid used to shore up Pakistan's crumbling economy.
Pakistan's uncertain future
Pakistan is rightfully a proud country, but has little to be genuinely proud about in its current situation. It is a nation that has been constantly let down by a succession of weak civilian governments and heavy-handed military dictatorships.
It now faces economic meltdown, a chaotic political situation, widespread extremism and the growing disaffection of significant numbers of the middle class, civil service and the military.
Some experienced observers have openly suggested that tanks and armoured vehicles may once again be seen on the streets of Pakistan's cities as the military takes back power from yet another failed civilian administration.
Normally this might have been greeted by a resigned and cautious welcome in Washington. However, this time it might just be that militant Islamic elements within the officer corps are staging a coup.
The real fear then is of an unstable Pakistan sinking into chaos and anarchy and vast amounts of territory, weapons and perhaps nuclear materials falling under the control of Islamic extremists linked to al-Qaeda.
This would without a doubt be the United States and India's worst nightmare. Indeed it might turn out to be the last act before decisive foreign military operations to neutralise Pakistan began in earnest.
Pakistan is potentially a powerful ally in the "war on terror" and a firm friend of the West. Sadly it has chosen to play the devious game of running with the fox and hunting with the hounds for far too long.
Islamabad's continued deceptions are having a caustic effect on its international relations and dangerously increasing tension with India.
Having lived by the sword for so long, Pakistan now risks dying by it as well.