Lashkar threatens to step up activities

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, AUG. 7. The Lashkar-e-Taiba has threatened to step up activities in Jammu and Kashmir to counter what it termed the ``intensified Indian army action in the Valley''.

Addressing a news conference at Quetta, the Lashkar chief, Mr. Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, alleged that the Indian forces had increased their ``brutalities and repression'' against Kashmiris after the Agra summit and the situation called for greater activity by the Mujahideen (militants).

He said the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf's ``bold and firm stance'' on Kashmir at Agra had brought the Kashmir issue into world focus. The Lashkar which was opposed to Gen. Musharraf engaging India in a dialogue has said that in the Agra Summit ``India has been thoroughly exposed for its persistent intransigence at the talks''.

Mr. Saeed said the failure of the Agra summit made the entire world realise that New Delhi was not serious in finding a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue and wanted to crush the ``freedom struggle'' by force.

Condemning the deployment of U.N. observers in Afghanistan, the Lashkar-e-Taiba chief said that it was ``another plot'' of the U.S. and its allies against Afghanistan, as they wanted the Afghans to die of starvation. He urged Pakistan to adopt a `firm policy' in this regard and ensure that Pakistani territory was not used against the ``brotherly neighbour''.

Army rescues 11 boys

PTI reports from Srinagar:

The Army gunned down three militants and rescued 11 boys from their clutches while they were being forcibly taken to Pakistan- occupied Kashmir for arms training in Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.

A boy was killed and another wounded during the operation, undertaken on a specific information, in Razdan Pass area near the Line of Control.

Elsewhere in Jammu and Kashmir, 11 people, including four militants and three securitymen, were killed and three militants apprehended since Monday evening.

Security forces also smashed two militant hideouts and recovered 30 kg of explosives besides a large quantity of arms, the spokesman said.

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