These news clips are sponsored by the Indian American Center for Political Awareness.

--- South Asian News, October 18, 2002 ---

American officials say that Pakistan was a major supplier of equipment for North Korea's clandestine nuclear weapons program. In other Pakistan related news, Pakistan follows India in troop withdrawal from the border and American General Tommy Franks is to meet President Musharaff ahead of the joint military exercises. In India, the federal government assumed direct rule over India's portion of Kashmir until a coalition government is formed, to avoid a political crisis. In the editorial section, read about the political crisis in Pakistan after the mixed electoral verdict and what it means to Pakistan and President Musharaff for the future.

Top Stories

* Pakistan follows India's withdrawal (Wall Street Journal) (Houston Chronicle) (NY Times) (LA Times) (Washington Post) (Washington Times) (Boston Globe) (USA Today) (News Day) (Las Vegas Sun) (Sunspot.net) (Burlington County Times) (Philadelphia Inquirer) (Hampton Roads Daily Press) (Herald Sun) (Reuters Alertnet) (Chicago Sun Times) (Oakland Tribune) (CBS News) (ABC News) (/spacer.gif) (Fox News) (Detroit News) (Star Tribune) (Indianapolis Star) (Sun Sentinel) (Charlotte Observer) (Seattle Times) (SF Gate) (/spacer.gif)
* Pakistan gave technology to North Korea (Wall Street Journal) (NY Times) (Washington Post) (Dallas News) (Financial Times) (Tampa Tribune) (Mercury News) (Seattle Times) (ABC News) (Hampton Roads Daily Press) (FortWayne News) (Sanluisobispo.com) (Sun Herald) (The State) (Centre Daily) (Rutland Herald) (Times Argus) (Star Tribune) (Philadelphia Inquirer) (Charlotte Observer) (SF Gate)
* Unmanned U.S. spy plane crashes in Pakistan-police (Wall Street Journal) (NY Times) (LA Times) (Washington Post) (Boston Globe) (Las Vegas Sun) (ABC News) (Star Tribune) (Seattle Times) (MSNBC)
* Top U.S. General to meet Musharraf (Wall Street Journal) (Washington Post) (News Day) (Access Atlanta) (SF Gate) (Star Tribune) (Seattle Times)
* Deported Northern California man released by Pakistani officials (SF Gate)
* More India-Pakistan de-escalation sought by U.S (ABC News)
* UN welcomes India Pakistan pullback (Reuters Alertnet)
* Pakistan, India forces trade fire despite vow to pull out (Wall Street Journal)
* India: Pakistani withdrawal not enough to lead to talks (Wall Street Journal)
* Indian Kashmir under federal rule (Wall Street Journal) (NY Times) (LA Times) (Washington Post) (Las Vegas Sun) (Reuters Alertnet) (CNN.com) (SF Gate) (News Day) (Star Tribune) (Seattle Times)
* Twelve rebels among 16 killed in Kashmir shootouts (Washington Post) (ABC News)
* India takes temporary control of Kashmir on election impasse (Wall Street Journal)
* India rules out talks with Pakistan (Reuters Alertnet)
* Politicians to meet following federal rule over Kashmir (Wall Street Journal)
* Sri Lanka to hold donor meet for aid to back peace (MSNBC)
* Curfew reimposed in eastern Sri Lanka town (MSNBC)
* Bangladesh army crackdown on crime nets 300 suspects (NY Times) (Washington Post) (MSNBC)

Editorial/Op-Ed

* Sorting out the mess in Pakistan (Business Week)

Business/Technology

N/A

Other Stories

* Pakistani teenager sentenced in Florida bomb plot (Washington Post) (ABC News) (Boston Globe)

Top Stories

* Pakistan follows India's withdrawal

Pakistan said on Thursday it would withdraw its forces from the border with India to peace-time locations as tension between the nuclear neighbors over the disputed Kashmir region began to ease. India on Wednesday announced a partial withdrawal from their common border, although it said its pull back did not apply to the disputed frontier in Kashmir itself.

http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB-search,00.html
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/world/1620904
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Pakistan-India.html
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-pakistan-india1017oct17,0,3298907.story
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/AOct17.html
http://washingtontimes.com/world/.htm
http://www.washtimes.com/world/.htm
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/290/world/Pakistan_pledges_to_withdraw_t%3A.shtml
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/-pakistan-troops_x.htm
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-pakistan-india1017oct17,0,5590265.story
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/w-asia/2002/oct/17/101709754.html
http://www.sunspot.net/news/nationworld/bal-te.pakistan18oct18,0,4810885.story
http://www.phillyburbs.com/%2E%2E/apNews/apstory.asp%3FArticleNo%3D79777
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/local/4304990.htm
http://www.dailypress.com/news/nationworld/ats-ap_top11oct17%2C0%2C7677092.story
http://www.herald-sun.com/firstnews/37-277893.html
http://www.newsalert.com/bin/story?StoryId=CpA41WbebCgfRAxn0yw4TAw5KAweTC3bVD
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-pak18.html
http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82%257E1865%257E933407,00.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/10/17/world/main525935.shtml
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/reuters20021017_112.html
http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/south/10/17/india.troop.withdrawal/index.html
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,65924,00.html
http://www.detnews.com/2002/nation/0210/18/a08-615587.htm
http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/3372941.html
http://www.indystar.com/article.php?indopak18.html
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/search/sfl-aindopak18oct18.story
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/4311481.htm
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apasia_story.asp?category=1104&slug=Pakistan%20India
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/10/18/MN7406.DTL
http://www.msnbc.com/news/821920.asp

* Pakistan gave technology to North Korea

New York -- American officials have concluded that Pakistan was a major supplier of equipment for North Korea's clandestine nuclear weapons program, The New York Times reported in its online edition late on Thursday. Pakistan provided North Korea with equipment, which may include gas centrifuges used to create weapons-grade uranium, as part of a deal made in the late 1990s, the paper said, citing current and former senior American officials.

http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,BT_CO_20021017_013173,00.html
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/news/news-arms-pakistan-report.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/AOct18.html
http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/stories/101802dnintnkorea.3ef3f.html
http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer%3Fpagename%3DFT.com/StoryFT/FullStory%26c%3DStoryFT%26cid%3D%26p%3D
http://www.tampatrib.com/MGAWIMGMF7D.html
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/4312774.htm
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/91787_iraqnkorea18.shtml
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/reuters20021018_6.html
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E932645,00.html
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/4310924.htm
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/4310924.htm
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/4310924.htm
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/4310924.htm
http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/4310924.htm
http://rutlandherald.nybor.com/News/Story/54789.html
http://timesargus.nybor.com/Story/54805.html
http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/3373276.html
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/4309893.htm
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/4311338.htm
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/10/18/MN200762.DTL

* Unmanned U.S. spy plane crashes in Pakistan-police

Karachi, Pakistan -- An unmanned U.S. spy plane crashed in southern Pakistan on Thursday just after it took off from a military air base, police said, but the U.S. military's Central Command said it had not lost any spy plane. According to a senior Pakistani police official, who asked not to be identified, the Desert Hawk plane took off from Jacobabad air base in southern Sindh province early on Thursday, but crashed soon afterwards.

http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,BT_CO_20021017_004792,00.html
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Pakistan-Spy-Plane.html
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-pakistan-spy-plane1017oct17,0,6605517.story
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/AOct17.html
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/290/world/Unmanned_U_S_spy_plane_crashes%3A.shtml
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/w-asia/2002/oct/17/101709144.html
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20021017_727.html
http://www.startribune.com/stories/670/3371404.html
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apasia_story.asp?category=1104&slug=Pakistan%20Spy%20Plane
http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters.asp?reg=ASIA

* Top U.S. General to meet Musharraf

Islamabad -- A top American general was in Pakistan to meet with President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and observe joint U.S.-Pakistani military exercises, the first since Washington lifted sanctions on Pakistan earlier this year, the U.S. embassy and Pakistani officials said Friday. Gen. Tommy Franks arrived late Thursday at Chaklala air base, near Islamabad, the U.S. Embassy said.

http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,BT_CO_20021018_001165-search,00.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/AOct18.html
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-pakistan-us-military1018oct18,0,7883984.story
http://www.accessatlanta.com/partners/wsbtv/news/ap_story.html/Intl/AP.V1142.AP-Pakistan-US-Mil.html
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2002/10/18/international0443EDT0476.DTL
http://www.startribune.com/stories/670/3373520.html
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apasia_story.asp?category=1104&slug=Pakistan%20US%20Military

* Deported Northern California man released by Pakistani officials

Islamabad -- A Northern California man who was deported to Pakistan after a terrorism investigation that ended without charges has been released by Pakistani authorities.Nasir Ali Mubarak, who ran a small plane repainting business in Corning, had been held incommunicado by Pakistani officials for several weeks at an undisclosed facility. Stephanie Mubarak, an office worker in Corning, had feared for her husband's life. "It's like a big weight has been lifted," she said Thursday about his release. "At least he is free. It is quite a relief." U.S. authorities arrested Mubarak in June for overstaying a student visa. He was held without bail because he had an association with a man later convicted of terrorism.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/10/18/MN202051.DTL

* More India-Pakistan de-escalation sought by U.S

New Delhi -- The United States is happy India and Pakistan are pulling back their troops from their border and hopes the nuclear rivals will take more steps to ease tension, Washington's envoy to India said on Friday. Islamabad said on Thursday it would withdraw its troops from the border with India, a day after New Delhi announced a partial troop withdrawal from their frontier, lowering the 10-month standoff that pushed the neighbors to the brink of war.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/reuters20021018_68.html

* UN welcomes India Pakistan pullback

United Nations -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan Thursday welcomed the decision by India and Pakistan to partially withdraw troops from their border areas. In a statement he expressed hope "this reduction will result in a significant de-escalation of tensions in Kashmir" and called for resumption of dialogue.

http://www.newsalert.com/bin/story?StoryId=CpA41WbebCgfRAxn0yw4TAw5KAweTDw4TC3

* Pakistan, India forces trade fire despite vow to pull out

Islamabad -- Pakistani and Indian forces Thursday traded artillery fire in Forward Kahutta, a town in Bagh district near the border, according to police officials. There were no casualties or damages in the hour-long skirmish. The border skirmish occurred as Pakistan matched India on Thursday in pledging to withdraw hundreds of thousands of troops from the border, beginning a mutual stand-down after months of heightened tension that had brought the South Asian nuclear rivals to the brink of war.

http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,BT_CO_20021017_008183,00.html

* India: Pakistani withdrawal not enough to lead to talks

Islamabad -- A spokesman for India's Foreign Ministry said Thursday that Pakistan's decision to match its withdrawal of troops along the nations' shared border still wasn't enough to lead to talks. "What is needed to start a dialogue with Pakistan is a complete and visible end to cross-border terrorism and we have seen no change in this," Navtej Sarna said. India accuses Pakistan of sponsoring attacks by Islamic militant groups, a charge Pakistan denies.

http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,BT_CO_20021017_004722,00.html

* Indian Kashmir under federal rule

Srinagar, India -- The federal government assumed direct rule over India's portion of Kashmir on Friday after state lawmakers failed to agree on a coalition government following inconclusive elections. The temporary move seeking to avoid a political crisis put the top federal representative in Jammu-Kashmir state, Gov. Girish Chandra Saxena, in charge until the leading parties agree on a new government, the governor's office said.

http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,BT_CO_20021017_012707,00.html
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Kashmir-Federal-Rule.html
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-kashmir-federal-rule1018oct17,0,5612107.story
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/AOct17.html
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/w-asia/2002/oct/17/101700585.html
http://www.newsalert.com/bin/story?StoryId=CpA41WbebAw5KAweTA2fZAg1PCI1ZCg90
http://asia.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/south/10/17/kashmir.govt.ap/index.html
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,5312953%255E401,00.html
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2002/10/17/international2104EDT0895.DTL
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-kashmir-federal-rule1018oct17,0,3651697.story
http://www.startribune.com/stories/670/3372888.html
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apasia_story.asp?category=1104&slug=Kashmir%20Federal%20Rule

* Twelve rebels among 16 killed in Kashmir shootouts

Jammu, India -- Sixteen people, including 12 separatist guerrillas, were killed on Thursday in fresh shootouts in India's Jammu and Kashmir state, police said. The violence came as India and Pakistan announced they would withdraw troops deployed along their India, ending an almost year-long military standoff that brought the nuclear-armed neighbors close to war over disputed Kashmir, the trigger of two of their three wars.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/AOct17.html
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/reuters20021017_277.html

* India takes temporary control of Kashmir on election impasse

Srinagar, India -- The federal government assumed direct rule over India's portion of Kashmir on Friday after state lawmakers failed to agree on a coalition government following inconclusive elections. The temporary move seeking to avoid a political crisis put the top federal representative in Jammu-Kashmir state, Gov. Girish Chandra Saxena, in charge until the leading parties agree on a new government, the governor's office said.

http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB-search,00.html

* India rules out talks with Pakistan

New Delhi -- Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Singh said Thursday that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will travel to Islamabad to attend a regional group meeting in January but there won't be any India-Pakistan peace talks. Both India and Pakistan have announced a partial withdrawal of their troops from their shared border ending a 10-month-old bitter military standoff.

http://www.newsalert.com/bin/story?StoryId=CpA41WbebAw5KAweTCgfRAxn0yw4TC3bVD

* Politicians to meet following federal rule over Kashmir

Srinagar, India -- Political party leaders will meet Friday to discuss the imposition of federal rule over India's portion of Kashmir. The federal government assumed direct rule over Jammu-Kashmir state Friday after state lawmakers failed to agree on a coalition government following inconclusive state elections.

http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,BT_CO_20021017_013143,00.html

* Sri Lanka to hold donor meet for aid to back peace

Colombo -- A donor's conference will be held in Norway late next month to attract aid to underpin a peace process with Tamil Tiger rebels to end 19 years of war in Sri Lanka, a cabinet minister said on Thursday. The government and rebels made economic development the focus of an initial round of talks in Thailand, agreeing to set up a joint task force for humanitarian and reconstruction activities to build confidence in the peace.

http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters.asp?reg=ASIA

* Curfew reimposed in eastern Sri Lanka town

Colombo -- A curfew was reimposed in an eastern Sri Lankan town on Thursday afternoon to prevent tension in the ethnically divided region from flaring into violence, a police official said. Clashes and violent demonstrations have plagued the east for more than a week since the deaths of seven Tamils in the bloodiest skirmish since the government and Tamil Tiger rebels signed a truce in February to end nearly two decades of war.

http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters.asp?reg=ASIA

* Bangladesh army crackdown on crime nets 300 suspects

Dhaka -- Bangladeshi troops deployed across the country on Thursday to help police rein in runaway crime killed one man and detained at least 300 suspected criminals, police said. The man was shot in northern Bogra district after soldiers detained several activists of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and their supporters countered with a protest.

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/international/international-bangladesh-army.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/AOct17.html
http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters.asp?reg=ASIA

Editorial/Op-Ed

* Sorting out the mess in Pakistan

When General Pervez Musharraf took over the presidency of Pakistan in a coup on 1999, he promised general elections in three years -- but not for his own office. On Oct. 10, he kept that promise. But with no clear winner and no clear mandate, the outcome is unfolding in ways the army ruler never expected.

http://businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/oct2002/nf20021018_9298.htm

Business/Technology

N/A

Other Stories

* Pakistani teenager sentenced in Florida bomb plot

Miami -- A Pakistani teenager living in Florida who plotted bomb attacks on electrical power substations and a National Guard armory in southern Florida was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Thursday, officials said. Imran Mandhai, 19, was sentenced to 140 months by U.S. District Judge William Dimitrouleas after pleading guilty in August to a charge of conspiracy to damage and destroy property through fire and explosives, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/AOct17.html
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/reuters20021017_526.html
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/290/nation/Pakistani_immigrant_gets_nearl:.shtml

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