Sparing no efforts, Railways will fetch water from 40 km away for Pakistani guests

Munabao (Rajasthan)

31 January 2006

Elaborate arrangements have been made at the Munabao

railway station for receiving the first batch of passengers from Pakistan in 41 years. A

veritable oasis in the Thar Desert, Munabao has all the amenities befitting an

international terminus.

Attention has been paid to the last detail as would become evident from the fact that for

the benefit of the Pakistani guests, the North Western Railway has made arrangements

for fetching cool drinking water from Gadra Road, which is situated at a distance of 40

kilometres from Munabao.

The station will have 24 counters for immigration checks and another 20 for customs

checks. A train consisting of 10 coaches can be received from either side and 650 to 700

passengers can be accommodated at any given time. In sharp contrast, the "Zero Point"

station built on the Pakistani resembles a tin shed.

The renovated Munabao railway station also has a first to its credit. "Unlike the existing

system at Atari, the two trains leaving from Khokrapar in Pakistan and Jodhpur can be

dealt simultaneously," says Mr SB Gandhi, Chief Public Relations Officer of North

Western Railway.

"[At Munabao, it] is possible to clear the passengers after immigration and customs

check within three to four hours. Whereas at Atari, the trains have to be received one

after the other on the same platform [and] five to six hours is needed for customs and

immigration clearance of the passengers," he explains.

Officials say that when the train linking Sindh province in Pakistan with Rajasthan finally

resumes its journey later this month, it will travel over a railway line that was

commissioned as early as 1887. During the era of the princely state of Jodhpur, people

could travel from Karachi and Amarkot in Pakistan to Jodhpur.

Customs officials say an Indian-origin passenger over 10 years old will be entitled for

free allowance up to a value of Rs 6,000; those below 10 years old will be entitled for a

value of up to Rs 1,500. Similarly, for passengers of Pakistan origin with a Pakistani

passport, the allowance shall be of a value not more than Rs 6,000.

Chinese have a hand in train linking India and Pakistan

Munabao (Rajasthan)

30 January 2006

When Thar Express, the train linking Khokrapar in

Pakistan to Munabao in India resumes its journey after 41 years since the 1965 war, it

will not be without help from an unlikely quarter: The Chinese.

Pakistan Railways has engaged certain Chinese companies for civil construction works

and guage conversion of the railway line linking Mirpus Khas and Khokrapar in the Sindh

province of Pakistan with Munabao in the Indian desert state of Rajasthan.

Sources said Pakistan Railways has outsourced certain activities to Chinese companies

whose workers and engineers are overseeing the work of earthwork, bridges and

conversion of railway line from metre guage to broad guage.

Since Pakistan Railways had to do more of guage conversion than they could hope to

complete on time, they decided to seek men, material and machines besides expertise

from by a global single tender, the sources said.

"There was therefore scope for outsourcing to Chinese companies," the sources told this

newspaper, "Those companies are also understood to have been engaged in

procurement and supply of ballasts, rails and sleepers."

Last year, China's Railways Minister Liu Zhijun reassured his Pakistani counterpart of

his country's financial and technical help for replacing the outdated railway tracks and

signalling system in Pakistan.

China also assured its support to Pakistan connecting Gwadar seaport with the rest of

the country through rail link. Chinese-built locomotives are the newest addition to

Pakistan Railways besides modern passenger coaches from China.

No official figures of the total number of Chinese engineers and other experts based in

Pakistan are available. However, certain media reports put their number at a couple of

thousand including those who are attached to the Pakistan Railways.

The Chinese intervention comes in the backdrop of similar logistical and monetary

support to railroad projects in Myanmar. In October last year, China announced the

completion of the first railway line to Tibet.

A reliable network of rail links will make Beijing's involvement in Gwadar sea port project

in Pakistan more beneficial commercially and strategically. Extending China's east-west

railway to Pakistani cities will link Tibet with ports in Arabian Sea.

Divided families happy as Munabao gets ready to receive first train

Munabao (Rajasthan)

30 January 2006

As the swanky railway station in the sleepy hamlet of

Munabao gets ready to receive on the first train ferrying Mohajirs and others from

Pakistan, Indian Railways officials say enquiries are pouring in from divided families

living in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Bihar about the resumption of rail link between the

Sindh province in Pakistan and the Indian desert state of Rajasthan.

"We are ready in all respects, [it is] only a question of dates," Mr SB Bhattacharya,

General Manager of North Western Railway said as a 10-member delegation led by

Advisor (Traffic) Ashok Gupta in the Railway Board on Monday began two-day talks in

Islamabad to finalise the modalities of running the weekly train which that will connect

the Mohajirs in Pakistan with their kin here.

Bhikha Ram of Village Roerhi near Munabao has been working for the last eight months

as contract labour. He earns Rs 80 a day. "I helped built this platform," he says proudly

but does not know if age would permit him to travel by train. Unlike him, the much

younger Dipa Ram, whose in-laws live in Munabao, is excited. "I hope to travel one day"

to meet his relatives from the Bhil tribe, he adds.

Chief Commercial Manager S Kala talks fondly of a subordinate staff, an inspector, who

has married off his two daughters into families of his relatives living in Pakistan. "He is

very excited [about the train service.] He can afford to meet his daughters now," Mr Kala

recalled the father as telling him. "This train will serve to connect families like his at an

emotional level," Mr Kala observes.

An air of expectation is already palpable across the border where the Muttahida Qaumi

Movement (MQM)'s Member of National Assembly, Mr Kunwar Khalid Yunus, has

expressed similar sentiments. Media reports quoted him as saying that the people of

Sindh were worried about the delay in restarting the train. He also wants the Indian

consulate to open in Karachi soon.

The train is expected to have a carrying capacity of 350 to 400 passengers. "In the first

month, we anticipate 50 to 60 per cent occupation [of seats]," an official says. However,

pointing out the lack of infrastructure on the Pakistani side, he feels the facilities made

available at Munabao may not be available at the "Zero Point" station being built by

Pakistan a 10-odd feet away from the Zero Line.

Israel invites Indians to write Bible in Hindi

New Delhi

27 January 2006

To reach out to Indians, Israel has undertaken a unique project of

inscribing the Bible in Hindi. The "People of the World Inscribe the Bible" is part of an

international project where individuals from different countries across the globe inscribe

verses from the Bible in their own language.

The first verse of the Bible was written in Hindi during the inaugural ceremony of the

project at the Book Fair at Pragati Maidan on Friday. Israel's Ambassador to India David

Danieli and Pastor Isaac J Shaw, Executive Director of Delhi Bible Institute were present

on the occasion.

Mr Dan Oryan, head of literature section in the division for cultural and scientific affairs,

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, said the idea was "to open Israel to public" in

collaboration with countries of the world. The individuals who inscribe the Bible will be

entitled to a certificate of honour.

"The complete collection of the original inscriptions from all over the world will be

deposited in the House of the Bible, which is to be constructed in the Valley of the Bible

in Israel," he told this newspaper.

The Bible Valley, spread over 25 thousand acres, is estimated to take a decade to be

built. Visitors can have the "Biblical experience" in terms of dress, trees and herbs, food

and building methods employed in ancient times. A Bible Valley brand of wine is also

planned.

"We hope to bring Hindi to the Bible Valley when the inscribing is complete," Mr Oryan

said. He added that the Lalit Kala Academy has been approached to design the cover

and select pages of the book. There is also a plan to inscribe the Bible using certain

regional Indian languages like Marathi and Tamil.

A similar exercise was held in October last year at the Frankfurt Book Fair. The project of

inscribing the Bible will be taken to the London Jewish Book Fair in the United Kingdom

in February and then to France, Lithuania, Geneva in Switzerland and Buenos Aires in

Argentina.

Former diplomat writes to PM on Bofors case

New Delhi

26 January 2006

A former Indian ambassador to Sweden has said he is "stunned" by

the UPA Government's approval for defreezing Ottavio Quattrocchi's accounts in a

London bank and urged the Prime Minister to take appropriate action in the matter.

In a January 12 letter to Dr Manmohan Singh, Mr BM Oza, who served as the Indian

envoy to Stockholm between 1984 and 1988 when the Bofors deal was signed, wrote that

allowing Mr Quattrocchi to withdraw the Rs 21 crore from his bank accounts was

"irregular and illegal."

Mr Quattrocchi, Mr Oza wrote, was a "fugitive from Indian law" as there is an arrest

warrant against him. The Italian businessman has not presented himself for prosecution

and therefore could not be given a 'clean chit' yet.

"What has been done is irregular and illegal as is evident from the Supreme Court order

asking for maintaining status quo and ensuring that Quattrocchi did not withdraw

money," the former envoy said. "His (Quattrocchi's) involvement is unmistakable," Mr

Oza said.

The Centre has since replied that the money was withdrawn on January 16.

Along with the letter, Mr Oza appended three pages from his book, Bofors: The

Ambassador's Evidence, to substantiate Quattrocchi's involvement in the Bofors deal

and his connections with certain politicians in India.

The pages 102 to 104 of his book, which was published in 1997, elaborate on the

"obvious link" between Quattrocchi and the Bofors deal.

Ottavio Quattrocchi is one of six accused in the Bofors case. Four of the accused -- the

late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, Win Chadha, Martin Ardbo and SK Bhatnagar -- have

since passed away. The Hindujas were tried and acquitted by the Indian courts. A court

case is pending against Quattrocchi.

India, Saudi Arabia join hands against terrorism

New Delhi

25 January 2006

India and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday declared their intent repeat

intent to become partners in the fight against global terrorism when both countries

signed a memorandum of understanding on combating crime.

On the occasion, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud observed that he was against any

support -- financial or moral -- to terrorism and said that the long-term struggle against

terrorism would be carried on until this scourge was completely eliminated.

The first State visit by a Saudi monarch to India in 51 years also presented both sides

with the opportunity to review regional isues including India's relations with her

neighbours besides energy security and trade matters.

In his talks with the monarch, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said India "[looked] at

Saudi Arabia as a very important partner in combating global terrorism" and hoped that

the agreement will further strengthen cooperation.

King Abdullah, in turn, underlined his desire to move this "special relationship" forward

for the benefit of both countries and felt there was a need to work together on terrorism.

The spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said the one-on-one discusions

between King Abdullah and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh lasted about 45 minutes.

Delegation-level talks also took place in the morning.

"[The discussions] consisted of a full review of bilateral relations as well as an overview

of regional issues, international issues, global concerns which are of interest both to

India and to Saudi Arabia," the spokesman said.

"India's relations with [her] neighbours were also discussed. Energy security was

another theme which was discussed in the one-on-one [discussions between Dr Singh

and King Abdullah,]" the spokesman observed.

India-Pakistan relations, he elaborated, were discussed. Saudi Arabia mentioned that it

was interested in a better relationship between India and Pakistan. "They were also

briefed on the current process," the spokesman added.

Dwelling on India's current economic status, Prime Minister Singh also told the Saudi

delegation to take advantage of current reforms particularly in the gas, petroleum,

infrastructure and fertiliser sectors.

Officials from both sides also discussed the possibilities of funding of infrastructure

projects in India. The two countries have decided that appropriate mechanisms be

devised so that this could be further explored by experts.

India responds: Don't link Iran vote to nuke deal

New Delhi

25 January 2006

New Delhi has responded to Washington's terse message by saying

that it rejected any attempt by the Bush Administration to link the position it will take on

the Iran nuclear issue to the ongoing negotiations on the civil nuclear energy

cooperation between India and the United States.

An extraordinary meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency will be held in

Vienna on February 2 and 3 on the Iran nuclear issue. Washington has called for a vote

against Tehran.

In response to queries regarding US Ambassador to India David C Mulford's remarks,

the spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said: "The position that India will take

on this issue at the IAEA will be based on India's own independent judgement."

"We categorically reject any attempt to link this to the proposed Indo-US agreement on

civil nuclear energy cooperation, which stands on its own merits," the spokesman went

on to state.

"With regard to negotiations on the proposed agreement, India will proceed on the basis

of its own national interests, as acknowledged by the US Ambassador himself," the

spokesman added.

Naushad will not lose his eye, assures Saudi Arabia ahead of King's visit

New Delhi

23 January 2006

Ahead of Saudi Arabia King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz's visit, the Saudi

Arabian ambassador to India has conveyed to Union Minister of State for External Affairs

E Ahamed that Abdul Latheef Naushad, an Indian national languishing in a jail in Saudi

Arabia for causing a local to lose an eye, will be saved from facing the sentence of his

eye being gouged out.

Naushad had caused a Saudi national to lose an eye during a scuffle at a petrol pump

over money payment three years ago. Naushad was imprisoned and a local Shariat

court gave an "eye-for-an-eye" verdict as punishment.

"The ambassador said they have assured that Naushad's eye will not be gouged out but

said certain procedures had to be followed," Mr Ahamed said. The minister broke the

good news to Abdul Latheeef Naushad's wife Suhaila who called on him this morning.

Suhaila reached New Delhi from Kollam in Kerala on Sunday to call on the King and seek

pardon for her husband. It could not be confirmed whether Naushad has been pardoned.

The minister said there was no official confirmation in this regard.

However, some reports suggested a 'compromise' has been endorsed by the Shariat

court in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. It is understood that the compromise could be reached

due to intervention by the governments of the two countries.

Mr Ahamed said he explained to Naushad's wife who met her about steps taken by the

government so far and assured that efforts were being made to save the eye of her

husband.

"I am happy, I think I will get back my husband fit and fine. I think my prayers have been

and answered," Suhaila said. Relief was writ large on her face as her fervent appeals for

saving her husband's eyes bore fruit, turning months-long despair and agony into a

state of happiness. Our whole family has been praying for his safety as we had no other

option but to pray, she said as her weekend journey proved to be fruitful.

Naushad has two children. While the youngest one Asna has never seen her father after

birth, the elder one Nasif keeps asking about his father, she added.

Saudi women shatter myths, excel in business and arts

New Delhi

21 January 2006

When Dr Afaf Jamil Khogeer, associate professor of English literature at Umm Al-Qura

University in Makkah Al-Mukarramah (or Mecca, as it is popularly known) rose to speak

on issues considered taboo in Saudi Arabia, she shattered many a stereotype about

Saudi society in general and women in particular.

Although the largely male gathering which had assembled for the "National Dialogue"

was not condescending, the millions who watched it live on national television were not

quite prepared for what they heard. "Did you really say that? I was asked. People

couldn't believe it," she recalls.

In that singular act of standing up for herself, the world may have seen the Saudi woman

turn a corner.

For Dr Afaf, who studied in the United States, women's empowerment is not about

mundane issues. "The Hijab is not an issue, whether women are allowed to drive or not

is also not an issue. Those are not obstacles in women's progress," she says. The

Saudi woman, she believes, is playing for higher stakes like freedom, choice and

opportunity.

Fatin Yousef Bundagji can't agree more. She and six other women did something

extraordinary when they decided to run for the municipal election in 2003. Women

contesting an election is Haraam in Islam, they were told. "We decided to justify our

presence nevertheless," she recalls.

In India as part of a delegation comprising members of Saudi civil society, Ms Fatin

does not rue that they did not get elected; instead, she is proud that she and the six

other women succeeded in getting the government to agree to women's participation in

the 2009 election.

"That," she says referring to their collective courage, "was the critical tipping point." Ms

Fatin is the director of women empowerment and research department at the Jeddah

Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She has helped 150-odd women set up their own

home-based businesses.

"Economic empowerment of women through employment and business creation, access

to the same choices and opportunities as men ... that is needed. There has been

resistance from scholars, so change needs to be brought about as subtly and gradually

as we can," says Ms Fatin. She is willing to wait.

Besides becoming entrepreneurs, many women have taken to art and design in a big

way and some like Nabila Al Bassam run an art gallery. An artist and designer, Ms

Nabila was born in Pune and has studied in Mumbai. She is a founding member of a

businesswomen's group.

Ms Nimah Ismail Nawwab's is an "English" writer, poet and photographer. She delivers

lectures internationally and edits a magazine. Unlike Nabila Al Bassam or Fatin Yousef

Bundagji, she grew up in Saudi Arabia. ("Growing up in Saudi Arabia was wonderful," she

wants you to know.)

The first Saudi woman poet to be published in the United States, Mr Nimah's poetry has

been translated into numerous languages and taught at schools and colleges in Saudi

Arabia, the United States and Japan. She has written a book, The Unfurling, and is

currently working on two anthologyies on women and youth.

However, this mother of two teenaged children chooses to describe herself as a person

who is in the business of documenting change. "There is so much change happening in

my country [that] there is a need for recording this change. I document the change [in my

work,]" she observes.

She agrees a licence to drive is not the main issue. She will concede Saudi Arabia are

Qatar are two countries where women still need to be chauffered but she assures you it

is employment, poverty and the population of the aged (and the aging) that are at the

core of the debate on women's issues.

Having progressive women in the Royal family has helped but, as she and Dr Afaf

explain, the opposition to reform from within women themselves is no less virulent than

the resistance offered by menfolk or scholars. "There are parents who do not want

daughters to drive or work," they say.

There is another issue that is troubling Ms Nimah: Young people and their aspirations.

"Their voice is not being heard," she observes. "Kids are global and politically-minded;

they have internet, technology; they watch MTV and satellite television," she adds for

that reason, welcomes the recent idea of hosting a "Youth Forum".

Four Afghan Sikh refugee women become Indian citizens

New Delhi

21 January 2006

After struggling for survival in a land their forefathers left several

decades ago, they can finally call India their home. Four Afghan Sikh women of a family,

who spent a decade and more as refugees in New Delhi, are now proud citizens of India.

The women, Waz Devi, Arjit Kaur, Anita Devi and Gurdarshan Kaur, recently received the

much-awaited certificates from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The certificates, which

came after four years of painstaking documentation and procedural delays, declared

them as naturalised citizens of India and conferred on them all the rights under the

Citizenship Act.

All the four women were registered as refugees by the United Nations High

Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in India. Sources said the Ministry of Home Affairs

issued the certificates in their names after Waz Devi and the others took the oath of

allegiance to the Constitution of India in the presence of the sub-divisional magistrate

concerned.

This is the first time since the UNHCR began collaborating with a non-government

organisation for legal counselling purposes that the government has agreed to confer

citizenship on the Afghan refugees registered with the UN refugee agency. There are

about 10 thousand Afghan refugees registered with UNHCR in India.

Over 700 applications have been filed since May 2003. "Five more Sikh Afghan refugees

including three of a family are also expected to become naturalised citizens soon. They

had applied in 2002 and they only need to take the oath. By March they hope to get their

certificates," the official said.

Most Afghan refugees came to India in the early 1990s and became eligible for an Indian

citizenship around the year 2002. (A refugee must have stayed in India for at least 10

years. That criterion has since been revised to 12 years.) Most of them therefore could

begin filing their applications only in 2003.

Most Sikh Afghan refugees live in clusters in Tilak Nagar while the Hindu Afghan

refugees have made Faridabad their home. The NGO started a project to facilitate the

naturalisation of Afghan refugees in association with UNHCR in January 2003 and has

helped many to process their applications since then.

India focusses on terrorism, Pakistan says CBMs not enough; both sides agree to start bus, truck service

New Delhi

18 January 2006

India on Wednesday came out of the "substantive

dialogue" on Jammu and Kashmir telling Pakistan that it would become

difficult to take the bilateral peace process forward if cross-border terrorism

was not seriously addressed. Pakistan, for its part, maintained that

confidence-building measures were not enough and concrete issues need to

be addressed.

Notwithstanding their different points of view, both sides reaffirmed their

commitment to move forward the peace process in a meaningful way during

the third round of the composite dialogue process. Also, they agreed to start a

bus service between Poonch and Rawalakot and a truck service on

Muzaffarabad-Srinagar route for trade in permitted goods, according to the

joint statement issued.

After conclusion of delegation-level talks with his Pakistani counterpart,

Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said he conveyed "friendly and frankly" New

Delhi's concerns about terrorism. "Pakistan is not doing enough [to curb

terrorism.] Terrorism cannot be bargaining chip. The infrastructure continues

to exist. It should not hang like a question mark over the peace process," he

said.

At a separate news conference, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad

Khan sidestepped the issue of terrorism and terrorist outfits saying Pakistan

was part of the international community against terrorism. He went on to say:

"We may not be as satisfied with the pace [of talks.] CBMs by themselves do

not present a rosy picture. We must not learn to live with the problem."

"We must not attend to symptoms alone, we must attend to the malaise [too.]

There are challenges ahead and we must address concrete issues," Mr Khan

said. India's vision, as articulated by Mr Saran, was that the CBMs were an

integral part of the process of finding a final settlement within the "political

limitations" on both sides. Let there be celebration of cultural affinity, he was

to say later.

Foreign Secretary Saran said Pakistan did raise the issue of self-governance

and demilitarisation. Both sides also exchanged views on Siachen. While

India had an "open mind" on certain issues, Mr Saran reiterated New Delhi's

position that there could be no redrawing of boundaries and no territorial

adjustment and also conveyed India's "more ambitious" proposal of thinning

the deployment of armed forces at the border.

"Why limit it to the Line of Control, we would like to see as thin a deployment

as possible at the border too," Mr Saran said. He said India received from

Pakistan a document setting out an understanding on inadvertent crossing of

LoC and border, prevention of incident at sea and agreement on navigation of

vessels and aircraft. "India is looking at those proposals," he observed.

In return, India gave some "fresh ideas" to Pakistan like an understanding on

averting a nuclear accident, operationalising a bus service between Kargil

and Skardu and also between Jammu and Sialkot. Also proposed was

operationalising of at least two of five meeting points at the LoC and

developing "enclosures" on the LoC for people from either side to cross and

meet.

The two countries have also reached a broad understanding on the dates for

the technical- and expert-level meetings which will take place till July besides

agreeing to initial a memorandum of understanding on narcotics, amending

the 1975 shipping protocol and allowing consular access to prisoners and

exchanging them at an early date.

Day One of foreign secretary-level talks: How about not having new new defence posts at LoC? India asks Pakistan

New Delhi

17 January 2006

Making "positive assessments" of overall improvement in bilateral

relations and the "reduction of trust deficit", India on Tuesday presented two "non-

papers" to Pakistan in which she proposed an understanding not to develop new posts

or defence works along the Line of Control and holding of brigade commander-level flag

meetings.

India also proposed unilaterally to extend the soon-to-be-launched Thar Express

between Khokrapar in Sindh province of Pakistan and Munabao in Rajasthan up to Ajmer

besides upgrading communication links between respective directors-general of military

operation.

The spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs told reporters New Delhi could

announce some new confidence building measures on Wednesday after the talks

between Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and his Pakistani counterpart, Mr Riaz

Mohammad Khan, concluded.

"Some possible new CBMs [could be anounced]," he said. The Pakistani side, in turn,

shared "some ideas on nuclear confidence building measures", he observed. Terrorism

and drug trafficking were discussed with New Delhi placing its "overall concern" on the

table. Jammu and Kashmir will be taken up on Wednesday.

On the draft memorandum of understanding for the reduction of nuclear accident or

unauthorised use of nuclear weapon, handed over to Pakistan, he said, "Pakistan is

studying it. They have given preliminary observations. A detailed response [is expected]

before the expert-level talks in the first half of this year."

The Ministry of External Affairs spokesman said the Pakistani side raised the issue of

India's statement on Balochistan. "The [Indian] foreign secretary responded to that [and]

said that [the statement] spoke for itself. A situation developing in our neighbourhood [is]

of concern to us and [he] rejected the unfounded allegations of Indian interference," he

said.

Both sides discussed the opening of respective consulates in Mumbai and Karachi. "We

discussed the difficulties [faced by Pakistan] and offered them all support in approaching

the state government and facilitating renting of appropriate premises," the spokesman

said in response to a question.

While reviewing the progress of the second round of the composite dialogue process,

the two sides also discussed civil aviation links. The spokesman said both sides had

already agreed in principle to increasing the number of flights to 24 and adding one more

destination.

The two foreign secretaries exchanged dates of the expert- and technical-level meetings.

The Pakistani foreign secretary called on Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed

in the aternoon after the two-and-half-hour delegation-level talks.

Indians in Iran swing between hope and despair

New Delhi

14 January 2006

It's business as usual for Indians and Iranian

nationals of Indian origin living in Tehran, despite fears of a confrontation

between Iran and the West.

About 200 Indian families live in Iran today.

The community feels it is "too early to tell" what impact the threat of

referring Iran to the United Nations Security Council will have on their

businesses or lives.

"First let the cat-and-mouse game between the Western powers led by the

United States and Iran play itself out," says Mr Amarjeet Singh Sahni, who

runs a factory with his Iranian partners outside of Tehran. Mr Sahni's wife,

Neena, does not share his stoicism; she fears things could get worse.

Mr Sahni, however, admits if the situation worsens and ports are closed

or restrictions placed on imports, it will affect business. "Certainly my

Iranian partners are worried. Their main worry is how to bring raw material

if the port is closed," he says. Mr Sahni's company imports raw material

from Japan, South Korea and India.

"On September 24 (when India voted against Iran), I was with my friends

and they wanted to know why India did so. People you met in the streets

may have upset for a few days but all was normal soon enough," he

narrated over the telephone and hoped India-Iran relations will remain on

an even keel irrespective of how India votes again.

Mr Mohinder Singh Patwalia, who holds a British passport, is the

secretary of the Gurudwara founded in 1941 by Bhai Ganga Singh Sabha

at Avenue Hidayat, Avenue Tonkabon, opposite Iran Hospital, in Tehran.

Mr Patwalia says, "There could be some effect on our living conditions

but otherwise there is nothing to fear." He is enthused by US President

George Bush remarks, who has said that the Iran issue should be

resolved peacefully.

An Iranian national, Mr Surinder Singh, echoes Mr Patwalia's sentiments.

However, Mr Rajinder Singh Shahpuri, an importer of tyres, is

circumspect; "Cannot predict," he quips in response to questions about

the likely turn of events.

Iran issue: India sees hope in Rice, Annan remarks

New Delhi

13 January 2006

If Washington's endorsement of EU3's decision on

Iran has caused some anxiety in New Delhi, United States Secretary of

State Condoleezza Rice's remarks -- that the target is the government of

Iran, not its people and "this [issue] should not be about Iranian people" --

would have come as a relief for South Block.

Dr Rice has said it is still to be decided how a "strong message" can be

sent out "without affecting people". While placing the blame for the

escalating diplomatic crisis squarely on the Iranian regime, she observed

that the Iranian people deserve better.

Also, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has called for giving

diplomacy time to resolve the issue. After a telephonic conversation with

Chief Iranian Negotiator Ali Larijani, who has reaffirmed that his country is

interested in negotiations but within a time frame, Mr Annan said,

"Basically, I called him to urge him to avoid any escalation, to exercise

restraint, to go back and give negotiations a chance and that the only

viable solution lies in negotiations."

Observers say the threat of economic or other sanctions against the

world's second largest oil producer could have had a cascading effect on

oil prices and caused India's oil bill to spiral up. According to reports, oil

prices on Friday were lower in Asian trade, easing back as there was

some hope that Iran was prepared to show some flexibility.

Observers also said that it was still not certain if Iran will be

referred to the UN SC immediately and/or sanctions imposed on

Tehran. They said the second round of talks between Russia and

Iran is scheduled for February 16. Also, the five major powers will

meet in London soon to decide appropriate action.

Energy Security: China surges past India, takes 'Great Game' to Africa

New Delhi

12 January 2006

As Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Mani

Shankar Aiyar courts the Chinese in Beijing, the communist nation has

taken the battle for securing hydrocarbon reserves to Africa.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing is on an eight-day, six-nation tour

of Africa that will taken him to Cape Verde, Senegal, Mali, Liberia, Nigeria

and Libya. He will scout for additional oil and gas supplies to meet

China's growing appetitie for energy besides cementing ties with

countries that have had relations with Taiwan.

Coinciding with the minister's visit, Bejing also released its Africa Policy

Paper, which details China's proposals for cooperation in international

affairs including the Unined Nations in addition to exchanges in the

military sphere. This is the first time China has issue a paper elaborating

its policy toward Africa.

The Chinese foreign minister will also attend the January 16 inauguration

of the President-elect of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleif, the first woman to

be elected President on the continent of Africa. United States First Lady

Laura Bush will also be leading a delegation that includes Secretary of

State Condoleezza Rice to attend the inauguration.

The Indian ambassador to Liberia, Mr Amarendra Khatua, told this

newspaper that there was no word yet from New Delhi about who would

represent India at the inauguration of Ms Ellen Johnson-Sirleif. "Although I

have met the President-elect personally, I have not yet presented my

credentials therefore I possibly would not be in a position to atend her

inauguration," he said adding that New Delhi has not deputed any one

else.

Mr Khatua, however, observed that India has "a presence" in Liberia

(Mittal Group) and neighbouring countries and exuded confidence that

there will be achievements to show in the field of oil and gas also.

China is the second largest oil consumer. It gets a third of its oil from

Africa. Only recently, China's largest oil company, CNOOC, signed a deal

to buy Nigerian oil and gas. Incidentally, CNOOC's success owes itself to

India's decision to not purchase the oil field. In December last year, the

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs shot down ONGC's proposal to

acquire a 45 per cent stake in the oil and gas field.

India-Pakistan: Common power grid as a CBM? Some certainly think so

New Delhi

11 January 2006

As Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern gets ready for a

weeklong visit to India, analysts like the Washington-based Ambassador

Teresita Schaffer have suggested common electricity grid like the one

being designed for Ireland as a cofidence building measure for India and

Pakistan.

Ambassador Schaffer, who was in New Delhi last week, recommends in

her report titled "Kashmir: The Economics of Peace Building" that a

common electricity grid for Jammu and Kashmir including Pakistan

Occupied Kashmir could further the cause of peace between India and

Pakistan.

Sources told this newspaper that a Norwegian company, Nordpool, is

designing the new integrated Ireland market. "[This] single electricity

market [will] integrate the Republic of Ireland with Northern Ireland. This

will also have a peace making [or] integrating effect," they observed.

The sources said Nordpool is also engaged in the Southern African Power

Pool, which is a project for connecting all countries in the Southern Africa

into one single, integrated electricity market.

"Nordpool has designed the market, and the Southern African Power Pool

is currently in the phase of procuring the software for setting up the power

exchange in Harare, Zimbabwe," the sources said.

"The idea behind the Southern African Power Pool is not primarily to

secure peace, as there are no conflicts except Congo, but rather to share

sparse resources. [However,] trade and dependence of trade [could] lead

to integration and peace," they added.

Incidentally, the Oslo-based Nordpool is collaborating with National

Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) on a project for developing a power

exchange among other things for India.

The Irish premier, Mr Ahern, will be accompanied on his India visit by by

over 100 trade officials and business leaders. He is expected to focus on

leveraging India's burgeoning market and its expertise in ICT and

biotechnology.

G-4 re-tables resolution for UNSC expansion

New Delhi

6 January 2006

The G-4 countries including India on Thursday repeat Thursday "re-

tabled" a draft resolution in the United Nations General Assembly seeking permanent

seats in an expanded Security Council.

The resolution, earlier tabled in the previous session of the UN General Assembly which

expired in August last year for want of action, was re-tabled for consideration in the

ongoing 60th session.

"The objective of re-tabling the G-4 resolution is to instil positive dynamics into the

process of Security Council reform, which had been emphasised in the Outcome

Document of the World Summit held in September 2005," sources said.

The sources said the G-4 was watching the outcome of the January 23-24 summit of the

53-member African Union on the issue of UN reforms. "It remains to be seen what the

next course of action of the AU will be," they said.

They explained that the G-4 was with the AU and that the G-4 resolution should in no way

be seen as "competing" with that of the AU. A resolution, if put to vote, should be

supported by at least 128 countries.

The resolution of the G-4, which also includes Brazil, Germany and Japan, seeks

expansion of the UN Security Council from 15 members to 25. This includes addition of

six permanent members.

Significantly, Japan was not present when the resolution was moved although it had

participated in preceding discussions and endorsed its re-tabling, the sources said

adding that Tokyo has said it remained committed to the G-4.

The AU resolution is broadly similar to that of the G-4. The difference between the two is

on number of members to be added in the Security Council and veto power. The AU

resolution wants expansion with addition of 11 members and insists on grant of veto

power immediately.

The G-4 resolution, while pressing for equal rights for new and old permanent members,

does not insist on immediate grant of veto to newcomers, saying that it could be

discussed over the next 15 years.

India, Pakistan agree to run Thar Express from Feb 1

New Delhi

6 January 2006

After two days of talks between their railway delegations, India and

Pakistan on Friday agreed to commence weekly broad-guage train operations between

Munabao in Rajasthan and newly established "Zero Point" station near Khokrapar in

Sindh from February 1.

"This passenger train between the two countries will be called the Thar Express. Both

sides discussed a draft Agreement pertaining to the modalities of the running of the train.

An Indian delegation will visit Pakistan before the end of January 2006 for the signing of

this Agreement," said a joint statement.

The rake for this service will be provided alternately by Indian and Pakistan Railways on

a six monthly basis. For the first six months, the Pakistan train will cross into India to

Munabao. Thereafter, the Indian train will cross into Pakistan to Zero Point Railway

Station near Khokrapar. This six monthly process will be repeated alternately.

Mr Ashok Gupta, Adviser Traffic in the Ministry of Railways told reporters the frequency

of The TharExpress will be weekly initially. "Depending on traffic requirement [both sides

can] mutually decide to augment [the service]," he said at a joint news conference with

Mr Saleem-ur-Rahman Akhoond, general manager of Pakistan Railways.

Mr Gupta said the fare for the the Thar Express will be "similar" to the Samjhauta

Express already plying between the two countries. He said that the agreement to be

signed later this month will be valid for the next three years. The custom and

immigration checks will be carried out at Munabao station on the Indian side and Zero

Point station on the Pakistani side.

Mr Akhoond, in turn, said the Pakistan Railways finished the task of guage conversion

from metre guage to broad guage in a record time of eight months to "reciprocate the

Indian gesture". He said this work would usually have taken between 18 to 20 months to

accomplish.

An estimated 400 passengers will be able to travel on the Thar Express. Mr Gupta said

this number can be increased depending on the number of visas issued by both sides.

"The number of passengers has not been decided. It will depend on the issuance of

visas and the demand," he said.

The Thar Express will travel 2.5 kilometres from Munabao to the international border and

reach the Zero Point station, a few hundred metres away, where the custom and

immigration checks will be carried out. The train will then travel eight kilometres to reach

the Khokrapar station from where connecting train services onwards to Karachi or

Hyderabad will be available.

Israel behind India's vote against Iran: Cohen

New Delhi

6 January 2006

Close on the heels of United States Secretary of State Condoleezza

Rice's remarks that the past year has been spent on seeking the backing of Russia,

China and India to refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council at a time of

Washington's choosing, a US analyst has said that "Israel was a factor" in New Delhi's

decision to vote against Tehran in the September 24 meeting of the International Atomic

Energy Agency board of governors.

"Israel also pressured India not to vote for Iran," Stephen Philip Cohen, senior fellow at

the Brookings Institution, told this newspaper. He also alluded to the opposition from the

US Congress, which is still to approve civilian nuclear energy cooperation with India,

and New Delhi's need to balance its relations with countries in the region to characterise

New Delhi's response to the vote on Iranian nuclear programme.

On demilitarisation in Jammu and Kashmir, Cohen said, "any [Indian] government would

be insane to do that. Why would anybody including terrorists be allowed to to step in to

fill the vacuum?" He observed that confidence building measures alone were not enough

to overcome the "deep distrust" between India and Pakistan.

Observing that a lot depends on India's separation of her civilian and military nuclear

facilities, Cohen said New Delhi ought to "size its military programme". "It is a legitimate

question to ask whether India has a large weapons ambition and what those ambitions

are," he said and wondered, cryptically, "why was the Congress party in a hurry to push

the nuclear deal, was it because of depleting uranium reserves or to overcome a

psychological hurdle?"

On Washington's position on democracy in Pakistan, he said, "I am disappointed with

Bush Administration and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. I have not heard

anything [on a democratic Pakistan] from them since she (Rice) made a statement in

Pakistan." The US, he noted, was not doing enough or putting enough pressure on the

Pakistan military to democratise.

Cohen said Leader of Opposition LK Advani's controversial remarks on Jinnah were

"amazing" and "a major step" that could have transformed India-Pakistan relations. "It

was a reinterpretation of Pakistan and of Jinnah. Stating that Pakistan was not an eternal

enemy hurt him politically but he reminded me of [Israeli Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon,

who has changed the situation [in West Asia]," he said.

Report on Siachen demilitarisation has few takers

New Delhi

3 January 2006

A joint project on the "demilitarisation of Siachen" by

retired Indian and Pakistani army officers has found not many takers in

the Indian strategic community.

While Brig (Retd) Gurmeet Kanwal, who co-authored the report with Brig

(Retd) Asad Hakeem of the Pakistani army after a study at Sandia National

Laboratories in the United States, felt it was "senseless" fighting over a

piece of land that was "not of strategic significance" to India and therefore

advocated that demilitarisation could be done to the satisfaction of both

armies, the strategic community led by Mr MK Rasgotra, convenor of

National Security Advisory Board, questioned the wisdom and the "hurry"

to push through the proposal in the absence of a climate of trust.

The report titled "Demilitarisation of the Siachen Glacier: Implementing

and Monitoring the Process" by Brig Gurmeet Kanwal, Brig Asad Hakeem

and Dr Mike Vannoni observes that "disengagement is operationally

feasible" and "disengagement in the Siachen Conflict Zone will serve as a

precedent for the entire LOC (Line of Control)."

Questioning the "flawed" assessment, Mr Rasgotra observed that

demilitarisation can be considered only if certain basic minimum

requirements were met. "It will have to be within the Jammu and Kashmir

framework and [Pakistan] will have to accept de facto position in rest of

Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

A retired army officer, in turn, wondered, "If [our presence in Siachen] is

not hurting us, why should it be demilitarised? We need to make

determinations seriously. If political benefits will accrue, then it is an

option worth considering but if there is no strategic advantage, then it is

not worth it."

However, it was generally agreed that demarcation of Actual Ground

Position Line should be conducted jointly, that China should be factored in

and that there was no scope for any role by any third party including the

United Nations.

Outlining the approach to demilitarisation, the report recommends that

India and Pakistan formalise the ceasefire understanding and establish a

core "uninhabited zone" around Siachen and the Saltoro Range with a

"civilian zone" adjacent to it and a Joint Liaison and Monitoring Centre

where the LOC crosses the Shyok River.