Help USA uproot terrorism: Farooq

Sept 16, 2001

Forest cover shrinking in Himachal
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 15
About 440 sq km of dense forests in Himachal Pradesh have vanished in the past three years, whereas over 245 sq km of forest cover in the four districts of Shimla, Kulu, Kangra and Hamirpur has been lost during the period.

Kangra tops the list where forest cover in an area of 105 sq km has been lost in two years between 1997 to 1999. This is followed by Kulu where 70 sq km forest area has gone out of the screen in the satellite data. There was a loss of 35 sq km of forest cover each in the districts of Shimla and Hamirpur.

The loss of forest cover in Shimla district is reported to has been caused because of apple orchards replacing the natural green cover.

According to a report of the Forest Survey of India, 8901 sq km area is covered under dense forests in Himachal Pradesh and 3859 sq km is open forest.

Help USA uproot terrorism: Farooq Tribune News Service Shimla, September 15 The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, said today there would not be a better opportunity than now to stem out terrorism and Pakistan or any other country which did not support action against terrorists would be rendered outcaste in the world community. India should be in the forefront to extend all help in this regard. Dr Abdullah, during his brief stopover at the Shimla airport while on his way to the tribal area of Reckong Peo to inaugurate the Buddha festival, told newspersons that if Pakistan did not wholeheartedly come out against terrorism by allowing the USA to use its air space, it would get isolated. He said every action against the terrorists would have to be carefully worked out and the menace had to be finished. He hoped that the USA, which has woken up after the second 'Pearl Harbour', would remain awake to eradicate terrorism from the world. The entire world community and the United Nations was with the USA at this juncture and India should take the lead. It was not an easy task and difficulties would come in the way, he said. Referring to the Taliban threat to repel any military action and refusal to hand over Saudi fugitive Osama bin Laden, Dr Abdullah said he would love to see their retaliation against the world community. The obvious inference of the Taliban threat could be drawn somewhere, he added. Dr Abdullah said during the past three days terrorist violence had come down in Jammu and Kashmir as Pakistan was afraid of the possible fallout. This was a good signal and if the world stood united against terrorism, the menace could be uprooted. Pakistan was under tremendous pressure and it had no option but to accept the conditions put forth by the USA, he added. Asked about the possible fallout of the US action against the Taliban, Dr Abdullah said things were still under investigation and any fallout would be known only after the action. He said India, which has been facing terrorism for the past 12 years, had been warning the world that today was its turn, but tomorrow it could be any other country and its apprehensions had come true. Dr Abdullah ruled out early Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir saying that his government still had one year in office. However, he was keeping his powder dry and would not say anything in advance even if there was any such move, he added.

Farooq inaugurates Buddha festival Tribune News Service Shimla, September 15 It was a colourful start to the two-day Buddha festival, which was inaugurated today by the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah in the tribal area of Reckong Peo. The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, presided over the function. Dr Abdullah flew to Reckong Peo this morning along with his daughter, Ms Safia, to inaugurate the function, which is being organised by the Tourism Department of the Centre and the Himachal Pradesh Government to strengthen cultural bonds, spread the message of peace and promote tourism in the tribal areas. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Dr Abdullah said Kashmir was an integral part of India. He said all religions taught peace and unity and respect for other religions. He lamented that certain countries were misusing religion for their selfish ends. The 12-year-long terrorism in Kashmir was the mischief of Pakistan, which had faced defeats on war front in the past and had resorted to such heinous tactics to achieve its selfish motive. He wanted that its nefarious designs would not be allowed to succeed. Dr Abdullah said due to terrorism Jammu and Kashmir had been left behind in the matter of development. He warned that Pakistan would be destroyed if it did not stop perpetuating terrorism in Kashmir. Dr Abdullah said he was impressed with the progress made by Himachal Pradesh, especially in the field of hydel power. He said Jammu and Kashmir would like to take power from Himachal Pradesh till it was in a position to generate its own. Mr Dhumal, said Himachal Pradesh was a repository of Buddhist religion and had age-old relations with it. The state had centuries' old Buddhist monasteries and the government had also offered to set up a statue of "Bamyan" in the state, he added. He said the Dalai Lama also considered Himachal Pradesh as his own home. Mr Dhumal stressed the need to fight the challenge of terrorism unitedly and expressed happiness that today the whole world had realised this. He expressed hope that terrorism would soon be finished once and for all. He said the state government had brought normalcy in the flood ravaged Kinnaur district by restoring damaged roads and bridges.