Indian troops shell Pak. posts
Srinagar, Oct. 15. The Army today shelled Pakistani posts in the
Mendhar and Akhnoor sectors, destroying at least 11. Twelve
militants had infiltrated from Mendhar on Sunday and some others
had damaged two transformers and electric poles in the Akhnoor
sector.
Fernandes gets back Defence
New Delhi, Oct. 15. Brushing aside widespread indignation over
the Tehelka-tainted Mr. George Fernandes' return to the Union
Government, the Prime Minister Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, today
inducted the National Democratic Alliance convener into his
Cabinet as Minister of Defence. In a mini-expansion, another
former Minister, Mr. Harin Pathak, was also inducted as Minister
of State for Defence.
I have returned on PM's request
New Delhi, Oct. 15. Hours after he was reinducted as Defence
Minister, Mr. George Fernandes today said he had come back to the
Government on the specific request of the Prime Minister but felt
there was no ``moral question'' involved in his being in the
Cabinet and Defence Ministry.
Shameful, says Sonia
Lucknow, Oct. 15. The Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, today
termed as ``shameful'' the reinduction of Mr. George Fernandes
into the Union Cabinet as Defence Minister.
U.S. runs out of fixed targets
Washington, Oct. 15. In what appears to be the serious start of a
second phase in the air operations against Afghanistan, United
States' war planes targeted underground bunkers in key areas of
the country in an effort to ferret out the Taliban militia and
members of the Al-Qaeda network.
Pak. to apprise Powell of concerns
Islamabad, Oct. 15. Amid unprecedented security measures, the
U.S. Secretary of State, Gen. Colin Powell, arrived here tonight
in a bid to shore up the Musharraf Government confronted with
stiff resistance from the pro-Taliban religious parties and
groups.
A chance for India, Pak.: Farooq
Srinagar, Oct. 15. The international campaign against terrorism
presents a large window of opportunity for both India and
Pakistan to get rid of the scourge, said the Jammu and Kashmir
Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah.
Bush asks India, Pak. to 'stand down'
Washington, Oct. 15. The U.S. President, Mr. George W. Bush,
today called on Pakistan and India to ``stand down'' after they
traded fire across the Kashmir border.
Anthrax panic
Kottayam, Oct. 15. Panic prevails at Vizhickathode, near
Kanjirappally in Kottayam district, Kerala, over a letter from
Cyprus which allegedly contained a ``powder-like object''.
Daschle gets 'anthrax' letter
Washington, Oct. 15. A letter opened on Monday in the office of
U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Mr. Tom Daschle ``had anthrax in
it,'' President George W. Bush said.
