11NEWSGreater Kashmir Srinagar | December 03, 2013, Tuesday

Salman Bashir sees 'light at end of tunnel' with IndiaNew Delhi, Dec 2: Pakistan's outgoing envoy to New Delhi Salman Bashir said Monday he saw “light at the end of the tunnel” in diplomatic relations and pre-dicted the improvement would survive next year’s Indian elections. High Commissioner Salman Bashir said calm had returned to the neighbours’ de facto border in dis-puted Kashmir after a deadly flare-up earlier in the year and both sides were committed to improving ties. “I do not want to sound over-op-timistic or exaggerate but what I am saying is that there is light at the end of the tunnel,” Bashir told a farewell press conference in the Indian capital. “We have constantly worked for the

improvement in relations between the two countries and at this point of time I am per-sonally optimistic that we will be on the upward trajectory in the coming months.” But Bashir said the outcome of the Indian elections was “not material”

to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s stated goal of improving ties. “The improvement in relations with India is very emphatically a state policy. We believe it’s in our interest and we believe it’s in the interest of the region,” said the high commissioner. “Our prime minister is on record as having very emphatically stated that improvement of relations with India is a priority. “An improvement in relations with Pakistan is also something that is of impor-tance to India and the Indian leadership.” Bashir refused to be drawn on the impact of a Modi premiership, saying Pakistan would “respect whatever is the decision of the people of India”.

Salman Bashir

SC seeks states response on media briefing by police

New Delhi, Dec 2: The Supreme Court today sought response from all states and the union territories (UT) about the mechanism followed by their police to brief media in criminal cases during the probe and the trial. A bench of justices B S Chau-han and S A Bobde issued notices to them and sought their replies within four weeks. The bench, which referred to its earlier order of August 23 in which it had orally raised few questions to be addressed by the Centre and the CBI, said it would also like to have answers from the state gov-ernments and the UT administra-tions on those issues. The questions on which the states were asked to respond were whether their permission is required by police to speak on cer-tain pending criminal cases, ones related to terrorism or in sensitive cases such as riots when the name of a community may not be disclosed. The bench was concerned on the rank of official who could speak to media as it had observed "we see even head constables and sub-in-spectors telling the Press about the progress of investigation?" Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra submitted that though the Centre, CBI, NHRC and Uttar Pradesh Government are before the court, there was a need to issue notices to all state governments. The News Broadcasting Asso-ciation (NBA) formed for the self regulation of electronic media is also involved in the matter. The NHRC said though it was preparing by collecting materials about the norms practiced in other

countries, it can finally respond to the court only after the Centre and other parties supply documents to it. The court was hearing a PIL filed in 2008 in the wake of media cover-age of Aarushi and Hemraj double murder case in Noida in which den-tist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar are facing trial for the murder of their daughter and servant. The petition alleged the media and the investigating agency had indulged in character assassination of the dead girl. The plea was filed by advocate Surat Singh seeking a series of direc-tions to protect the reputation of the accused in a sub-judice matter. The petitioner had in the PIL said caution is required in report-ing such cases as "it is not only the reputation of a person but a person is held guilty before the trial in the case takes place". During the last hearing on November 1, the Centre had tried to dispel the impression that even a low-rank police official talks to the media in high-profile criminal cases, saying IPS officers of the rank of DGP and IGP designate the com-petent officers to brief the press. The apex court had expressed con-cern that even an official low in police hierarchy talks to the press immedi-ately after the arrest of an accused. The Union Home Ministry briefed the apex court with guide-lines in dealing with the media which said that in the cases where national security is at stake, no information should be shared with the media till the whole operation is over or until all the accused have been caught. PTI

Army chief's US visit to focus on Afghan drawdownNew Delhi, Dec 2: Withdrawal of Ameri-can troops from Afghan-istan and the issue pro-curement of ultra light howitzers are expected to be high on the agenda of Army chief Gen Bikram Singh during his four-day visit to the US starting today. During the three-day tour, Gen Singh would also be inducted in the US Army War College 'Hall of Fame'. He had done a course from there in 2004, Army officials said here. "The visit assumes special significance in the light of enhanced defence cooperation between the two countries over the last few years and rap-idly increasing defence engagements under the new framework for India-US defence relations," an Army release said. During the India visit of his US counterpart, Gen Singh had raised the issue of withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and the resul-tant security situation in the region after that. He had expressed his concern over the emerging security scenario there. The Army chief is also expected to discuss the ongoing defence procurement cases between the two sides including the procurement of M-777 ultra light howitzers which are being bought from the US. Noting that present cooperation between the two sides was on a rise, the Army release said it "encompasses equipment procurement, exchange of delegations, training and conduct of joint exer-cises. It is notable the US undertakes maximum number of joint exercises with India amongst all nations." During his stay, the Army chief will visit important establishments of the US military and meet a number of high- ranking defence and civilian officials. PTI

Gen. Bikram SinGh

Iran breaks the ice with Saudi Arabia

Country can't have 2 Constitutions,

Article 370 has to go: VHPallahabad, Dec 2: In an apparent disapproval of BJP prime ministe-rial candidate Narendra Modi's attempt to soften the party's stand on Article 370 of the Constitution, VHP today asserted that "a country can not have two Constitutions and any provision which allows this has to be abolished."

"The Article 370 enables the state of Jammu and Kashmir to have its own separate Constitution. That is tantamount to the notion of having a separate country within Bharat. This cannot be accepted at any cost and the Article must be abolished without dithering," VHP international working president Pravin Togadia told PTI over phone from Gujarat.

Togadia also sought to revive the issue of a uniform civil code, which Sangh Parivar hardliners have often accused the BJP of having ignored under pressure from its political allies.

"There is a separate civil code in place for Muslims of the country. This too is not acceptable. Muslims living in India are as much the citi-zens of the country as others and hence it is imperative to have a civil code which is applicable to members of all communities," he said.

Modi at a rally in Jammu yesterday had said it should be debated whether the constitutional provision has been beneficial for the state and even hinted that it (BJP) might give up its demand for abrogation if such a view emerges. PTi

Jeddah, Dec 2: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that his country wanted stronger ties with Saudi Arabia, as it seeks to ease con-cerns among Gulf neighbors about a potential resurgence in its influence following a nuclear deal with world powers. Zarif, on a tour of Gulf states, said after talks in Kuwait that no date had been set for an expected visit to Riyadh. He suggested the nuclear deal reached in Geneva on Nov. 24 should not be seen as a threat. “This agreement cannot be at the expense of any country in the region,” Zarif, said at a news conference after discussions with his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Sabah Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. “We look at Saudi Arabia as an important and influen-tial regional country and we are working to strengthen cooperation with it for the ben-efit of the region,” Zarif said. “Be assured that the nuclear deal is in favor of the stability and security of the region,” Zarif said. Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmi said his country

is ready to initiate a dialogue between Gulf states and Tehran. “I am ready to meet any request from GCC states to pre-pare the ground for such talks with Iran if required,” he said while stressing that Cairo would not take a position that would negatively affect the national security of Gulf countries. The Islamic republic struck a landmark deal in Geneva with six Western powers on Iran’s disputed nuclear program. Relations between the GCC and Tehran have dete-riorated because of Iran’s support for Syria’s Bashar Assad regime. Zarif said Iran was look-ing to open a new page in relations with the Gulf. He is also visiting Oman during his current tour. Zarif said the Geneva deal does not satisfy all of Iran’s demands or “the goals of the other party, but it is important to implement it … we will implement the deal and are convinced that implementing it will build the trust.” ArAb News

Aasra Welfare Society organizes cultural programme

Aasra Welfare Society organized a cultural programme in South Kashmir Qazigund in an effort to promote the culture and heritage among the people. The programme included Kashmiri folk music and Raouf. Mushaiara was also conducted on the occasion.” The Society had been organizing various programmes throughout the year in different districts of Valley.