Taliban recalls fighters from Kashmir: Jaswant

By Atul Aneja

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 20. Kashmir is a definite target of the Taliban's international terror network, the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, citing Intelligence reports, told a press conference here today. The Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar, had exhorted his ``fighters'' in Kashmir to return to Afghanistan for a confrontation with the U.S.

The Intelligence agencies had received several ``inputs'' regarding the appeal, Mr. Singh said, but declined to elaborate. ``Our information based on Intelligence resources of India is that Mullah Omar has issued an appeal that allterrorists currently (operating) in Jammu and Kashmir should quickly move towards Afghanistan, come to Afghanistan to stand up against what is apprehended.''

`Musharraf under pressure'

Describing the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf's observations on India during Wednesday's televised address as ``extremely regrettable,'' Mr. Singh said they could have been triggered by ``intense domestic pressure.''

``I do not wish to say anything by way of reaction as it could further compound difficulties Gen. Musharraf faces domestically.'' The current focus was not on Indo-Pakistan relations but on terrorism. Asked to comment on the General's remarks that India should ``lay off'' Pakistan, Mr. Singh said he did not have to react to the ``flamboyant statements.''

Answering questions on the fall-out of the growing interaction between the U.S. and Pakistan, the Minister indicated that it need not have a negative impact on India. In this context, Mr. Singh read out the observations of the U.S. President, Mr. George Bush, that the present crisis might spin off benefits for resolving the West Asian crisis and restructuring Indo-Pakistan ties.

On an earlier occasion, Mr. Singh had remarked that the nature of the Pakistani State might itself be transformed as a result of its involvement in the stand-off between the U.S. and the Taliban.

He described Pakistan's readiness to join a counter-terrorism campaign as a ``good development'' - as Islamabad had nurtured the Taliban and sponsored terrorist training camps not only in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, but also in Afghanistan. On the reversal of its disposition towards the Taliban, Mr. Singh said it was as if ``a parent confronts his own child who has turned terrorist.''

Pakistan's admission into a grand coalition against terrorism would be credible only if it translated its ``declarations'' into ``action,'' Mr. Singh said. It was facing a difficult task of reckoning with the proliferation of extremist groups in the entire country.

After a conversation with Iran's Foreign Minister, Mr. Kamal Kharazzi, over the phone, Mr. Singh was hoping to speak to his counterpart in Saudi Arabia. Apart from engaging key countries in the Islamic heartland, Mr. Singh had spoken to the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Jack Straw, who ``acknowledged'' that India had been a victim of externally-aided cross-border terrorism for many decades.

The war between an international coalition of nations and ``terrorist intenrationale'' was not imminent.

The use of force was only one of the components in a ``basket of options.'' India was opposed to indiscriminate military strikes as it must target the ``perpetrators'' of terrorism alone. Replying to a query, he rejected suggestions about Iraq's involvement in the terrorist strikes in New York and Washington.

PTI reports: Mr. Singh said he would visit the U.S. at the end of the month or early next month for consultations with leaders on measures to fight global terrorism.``The Prime Minister has told me that till a clear picture emerges in the region, it would not be advisable for you to go out of the country. That is why I have postponed my visit.''

`Will consider request'

The Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, has said that India would ``consider'' a request from the U.S. to use its Air Force bases for possible air strikes on Afghanistan but felt it might not be required.

``There has been no specific request in that regard and no specific decisions have been taken by the Government. We will respond when the time arises. Our assessment is that they do not need it. If any request is made, it would be considered,'' he told Mr. Karan Thapar on BBC's `Hardtalk India.'

He was responding to a question on media reports that New Delhi could allow the use of airbases in Avantipur, Adampur and Jamnagar.

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