'It is a second chance for Pak.'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 1. Within a week of describing India's unilateral Ramzan ceasefire offer in Jammu and Kashmir as `Lahore-II', the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, today asked Pakistan to seize the initiative as it provided yet another chance to Islamabad to resume the stalled bilateral talks. But militants in the Valley continued to strike terror effecting a series of blasts and grenade attacks, injuring 11 persons.

(Two bombs were set in cars in Srinagar's busy Jehangir Chowk area and an equal number of grenades were detonated at two places - one in Srinagar, and another in Pattan, Baramulla district.)

Undeterred by efforts by militants to undermine the ceasefire, Mr. Advani appealed to Pakistan to consider the ceasefire seriously and ``end cross-border terrorism'' as it would ``help resume bilateral talks''. He was speaking at a Raising Day parade of the Border Security Force.

The Home Minister said Pakistan has been isolated in the international community due to its active support and aid to cross-border terrorism. ``The Lahore bus yatra by the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, had provided it an opportunity to come out of this isolation. But Pakistan lost even that opportunity when it sent its forces into Kargil last year,'' Mr. Advani said.

Calling upon Pakistan to give up the path of violence, Mr. Advani repeated that India only wanted it to accept its small demand of ending cross-border terrorism that would help in the resumption of dialogue between the two countries. ``At this crucial juncture, Pakistan should keep the Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration in mind and end terrorism to develop friendship with India.''

``Terrorism is a crime against the whole humanity and not only against a particular country. The whole world has recognised this and decided to isolate the countries supporting terrorism.''

Mr. Advani also presented the President's police medals for gallantry and distinguished service to BSF personnel.

Bombs go off

By Shujaat Bukhari

JAMMU, DEC. 1. Militants set off a string of blasts and launched grenade attacks in Kashmir on the fourth day of the ceasefire, injuring at least 11 people, three of them seriously, and damaging two cars. In other incidents one former militant was killed and a civilian shot at in the city.

Unidentified militants hurled a grenade at an Army vehicle in Pattan market on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway. The grenade missed the target and exploded on the road, injuring 11 civilians. However, as during the last three days, there was no retaliatory action from the security forces, even as panic gripped the area and shops were closed.

Two blasts were triggered in Jehangir Chowk in the heart of Srinagar in the afternoon. Police said the bombs were kept in two cars; though the cars were damaged there was casualty. Police are trying to ascertain the origin of the cars.

(According to PTI, militants used tactics similar to the August- 10 bombing when 15 persons were killed, mostly police personnel and a photo-journalist. They first blasted a car in Jehangir Chowk to invite the attention of security personnel, but failed. As the forces prevented curious onlookers from moving towards the blast site, another car packed with explosives nearby blew up 15 minutes later.)

Police said a former militant of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Noor Mohammad Bhat, was shot dead by unidentified militants in Chanpora. One civilian, Bashir Ahmed, was shot at by unknown assailants outside the Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar.

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