Terror is single biggest threat to region: PM

Colombo 2 August Days after the Bangalore and Ahmedabad blasts, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday that terrorism remains the “single biggest” threat to South Asia’s stability।

Addressing the 15th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit, Singh stated that terrorists and extremists know no borders। “The recent attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul and the serial blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad are grim reminders of the barbarity that still finds a place in South Asia.”

The PM called for joint action and determination to fight the scourge of terrorism। “We must defend the values of pluralism, peaceful coexistence and the rule of law.” Singh said the ideology of hatred and fanaticism could destroy the social fabric in the region.

Terror dominated the summit agenda with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa taking a tough line against the menace। Both countries are grappling with terrorism and civil strife. While the Taliban are resurgent in Afghanistan, in Sri Lanka, the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are locked in battle with the armed forces.

Karzai was blunt in referring to the involvement of a neighbouring country in aiding and abetting the Taliban insurgents as well as other active terrorist groups। Terrorism, he said, was receiving institutional support from countries like Pakistan. “In Pakistan, terrorism and its sanctuaries are gaining a deeper grip as demonstrated by the tragic assassination of shaheed (martyr) Benazir Bhutto,” Karzai said at the summit in the presence of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. He added terrorism might prove to be the most destabilising factor in the region and that his country was facing the brunt of it.

“While existing on the absolute fringes of our tolerant and peace loving societies, terrorists in our region receive institutional nurturing and support। It is this embedded nature of terrorists that make it a much more sinister threat,” he said.

Interestingly, Gilani in his address called for joint action against terrorism without referring to the allegations that Pakistan’s ISI was behind the July 7 suicide attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul.

DNA tests to identify train victims

Hyderabad: A day after the fire on a train in Andhra Pradesh’s Warangal district killed at least 31 passengers, the authorities faced a tough job identifying bodies that were charred beyond recognition।

Even 36 hours after Gautami Express caught fire near K-Samudram railway station in Warangal district on Friday, only two bodies were identified। Forensic experts sifted through the charred remains, looking for clues to identify the dead.

The passenger train, which was going from Secunderabad to Kakinada in Andhra, apparently caught fire due to a short circuit।

A sense of gloom descended at MGM hospital in Warangal where the skeletons of 29 persons were packed in gunny bags and placed in the mortuary for postmortem। “We will be able to identify them after post-mortem though their gender, age and height. If required, we will send the bodies for superimposition, provided we receive the victims’ photos,” explained Kakatiya University forensic professor Dr Hemanth Rao. He added if there is a further dispute over the identities, the skeletons would then be sent for DNA tests.

A team of forensic experts headed by Dr Rajamohan Lal and Dr Ismail were performing postmortems on the skeletons। The work is likely to be completed by Sunday morning.

The bodies of Dr Sarita, 25, and G V Bhagyalakshmi, 37, who were the only ones identified, were handed over to their families।

Meanwhile, authorities said sabotage was ruled out in the incident. with inputs from ians.

New CBI director favours joint ops with foreign countries

New Delhi, Aug 2 (DNS) With increasing number of crimes having international links, the CBI today favoured joint operations with foreign agencies against criminals setting up global syndicates। "CBI's role is not limited within the boundary of the country.

We want to have joint operations, investigation, joint prosecution even with other countries," new CBI Director Ashwani Kumar told reporters after assuming charge here। Kumar said Indian criminals were being prosecuted even in other countries for different crimes, including illegal money transfer.

"Our assets -- illegal money -- are being transferred to other countries। So our task is how to bring that money back and catch the criminals," he said.

Asked whether the CBI would be able to arrest key accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts Dawood Ibrahim, believed to be in Pakistan, during his tenure, Kumar said an Interpol Red Corner notice has already been served against the gangster and he was hopeful that Dawood would be brought to justice। "We will be successful.

I hope we will be successful in bringing him back to the country। I hope we will not only be able to arrest him but also other criminals," he said.

The 58-year-old Kumar also favoured close coordination between state police forces and the CBI to deal with different crimes। "The state police forces have a major role to perform and the CBI can assist them.

When the Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) had visited Ahmedabad (following the serial blasts), he announced that there would be joint operation, joint investigation," he said.

SAARC should allow trade in more goods: CII

New Delhi (DNS): SAARC countries should allow trade in more goods under South Asia Free Trade Agreement to enhance the trade among the member countries, industry body CII said।

Enhancing trade among the SAARC countries -- India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal -- in a time bound manner would hasten the process of SAARC integration, the chamber said।

In a five point agenda, CII asked the government to enhance trade and investment flows, integration of infrastructure, promotion of tourism and greater people-to- people contacts, and Cooperation in agriculture and SME development।

Export Promotion Zones and Special Economic Zones should also be set up in each SAARC member country to enhance the investments between them, CII said।

CII also said that to encourage the intra-SAARC investments, all the member nations should frame a regional policy for the purpose and a South Asia fund on Climate Change should also be set up to increase cooperation।

Since making borders irrelevant is an important initiative towards integration, CII suggested to set up an integrated south Asia transport network for easier movement of goods, services and people।

For greater cooperation in agriculture and small and medium enterprises development, a South Asian centre for agriculture research and extension services should be set up which would go a long way in modernising agricultural operations in the smaller economies, it added.