Lashkar website back after a break

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JULY 19. Was it a coincidence or design? The website of the Pakistan-based militant outfit, Lashkar-e-Taiba, which `disappeared' during the visit of the Pakistan military ruler and President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, to India is back on the screen.

Enquiries with the activists of the Lashkar about the `disappearance' of the website revealed that the site was out of action due to `technical reasons'. Every netizen who made an attempt to log on to the site (www.markazdawa.com) was greeted with a message that it was `on hold'. It appears to be back on Thursday morning.

And undoubtedly it is back with a bang. The first item on the latest edition of the site is on the Agra summit. The Lashkar chief, Mohammad Hafiz Sayeed, who was advising Gen. Musharraf not to visit India, has termed the Agra summit a `success'. He has been quoted as saying that Gen. Musharraf deserves kudos from the whole nation for raising Kashmir issue in unequivocal manner at the summit.

It said the Lashkar chief, addressing a press conference at Lahore on Tuesday, had said that Gen. Musharraf has taken a right step in the right direction by representing the sentiments of the people of Pakistan. ``His candidness has exposed the stubbornness and aggression of India starkly. He rebutted Indian allegations that the dialogues have met failure owing to the Mujahideen. This is a false notion as we had before hand prophesied that the talks can not reach a successful end because India is not interested in showing sincere posture in addressing the real issues and is playing the game of self- seeking interests.''

The Lashkar chief said the invitation to the Indian Prime Minister was an exercise in futility and only India `accepts the language of might is right. There is no other solution than Jihad for resolution of the Kashmir issue'. To a question, he said the people of Pakistan and Kashmir should brace themselves for taking the freedom movement of Kashmir to its logical end.

As per the item on the site, the Lashkar chief has ruled out imminence of war between India and Pakistan, saying that the Indian Army has lost its courage and prowess to take the risk of any war and the major chunk of the Army is engaged in Indian held Kashmir. He has been quoted as saying that escalation in dismemberment of India will further gain footing and the separatists' movement will gain strength. ``India talks of cross- border terrorism while it is involved fully in this act. Any mediation move on the Kashmir issue will not be acceptable to the people. Pakistan should not get itself involved in any attempt inviting any third party mediation.''

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Section  : International
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