Train Deaths Reach 67: Pakistan Strongly Condemns Terrorist Act in India    
By Maria A Khan 'Pakistan Times' Diplomatic Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: While the death toll by Samjhota Express blast stepped up from 66 to 67, Pakistan on Monday strongly condemned the terrorist act aboard the train in India and said the incident would not affect the peace process between the two countries.

"Our position is very clear. Terrorist incidents in either country should not derail the peace process. This is our conviction," Foreign Office spokesperson Ms Tasnim Aslam told a media briefing.

The spokesperson also mentioned strong condemnation by President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz of the despicable terrorist act.

Ms Aslam said out of 757 passengers aboard Samjhota Express, more than 550 were Pakistanis. The Pakistan government has announced Rs 500,000 for each deceased and Rs 100,000 for each injured passenger.

She said the Federal Government had instructed the relevant departments and the Punjab Government to facilitate the travel of family members of Pakistani passengers to Panipat.

Special buses are being arranged to take the relatives, wishing to travel to Panipat, she added.

The spokesperson said a five-member team of officials from Pakistan's High Commission in Delhi had been dispatched to Panipat to provide relief to Pakistani nationals.

"We are in contact to bring back the injured Pakistani citizens and bodies of the victims of the terrorist act," she added.

The spokesperson said Pakistan expected the Indian Government would conduct thorough investigations into the terrorist attack, share the results of investigations with Pakistan and punish those responsible for this heinous crime in which a large number of Pakistanis had been killed.

"It is expected that measures shall be taken by the Indian authorities to ensure security of the train inside their territory," Ms Aslam said.

To a question whether the Samjhota train incident was specifically targeted, Foreign Office spokesperson declined to "pre-judge the motives" and said Pakistan would wait for the results of the investigation.

However, she did not rule out the possibility of targeting Pakistanis on the train.

She said the meeting of Pak-India Joint Anti Mechanism would take place on March 6 and the two sides were expected to exchange information to prevent terrorists’ acts.

Talibanization

About Talibanization, Ms Aslam said it was a common threat to both Pakistan and Afghanistan and Pakistan was taking all measures to counter it.

She said Pakistan was firmly committed not to allow its territory to be used for militancy and violence in Afghanistan.

"No one should have any doubt about our commitment. We have deployed more than 80,000 troops on borders with Afghanistan and maintain nearly 1000 military force on borders. More than 700 of our troops have lost their lives and we are taking further steps to control the situation with selective fencing," she said.

The spokesperson said Pakistan was seeking international assistance to remove refugee camps located close to borders to deny any hideout to militant Talibans who are also Afghans.

She termed important Pakistan's cooperation with NATO to counter the common dangers of terrorism and extremism.

"It must be emphasized that problems of Afghanistan have to be addressed inside Afghanistan. Pakistan is doing whatever is needed to counter terrorism," Ms Aslam said.

Rejecting a report attributed to NWFP Governor that North Waziristan agreement was not producing results, the spokesperson referred to the remarks by US Secretary of State who said: "Pakistan is addressing the phenomenon of Talibanization in many tribal agencies in a comprehensive approach, which combines military action with political and administrative measures and socio-economic programmes."

Foreign Office spokesperson said meeting of the foreign ministers from seven Muslim countries on February 25 in Islamabad would discuss the ways to resolve Middle East issues and the Iraq situation.

About the unity government, she said Pakistan supported the outcome of Makkah accord and reconciliation between Palestine groups and urged the international community to remove sanctions on the Palestine government.

Gas Pipeline

To a question regarding progress on Iran-Pakistan- India gas pipeline, the spokesperson said the process was being completed as the price had been agreed upon more or less, while confirmation was awaited from the two sides.

She rejected the reports that Pakistan's envoy in Iran was summoned by the high officials and said rather it was a meeting to review the situation in the region.

"We have excellent relations with Iran and counter-terrorism cooperation."

On Siachen issue, Ms Aslam said the foreign ministers of Pakistan and India in Islamabad had agreed that the officials would meet at the earliest. However no date had been finalized yet.

To a query regarding ban by Pakistan on a religious outfit which considerably contributed to the relief work after massive earthquake in Kashmir, Ms Aslam the ban could not be removed as the outfit was enlisted on UN Security Council's resolution 1267.

She said permission for the outfit to carry out its activities in the wake of earthquake was in extraordinary conditions and in individual capacity, which could not be allowed afterwards.

Blasts Toll Rises to 67

And a report from New Delhi says that the death toll in fire on the Samjhota Express, which reportedly erupted after blasts in the train in the northern Indian state of Haryana, has increased to 67.

Over 50 people have been injured in the tragic incident. The reports said that the death toll could still increase.

Two other unexploded homemade bombs were also found on the train and the track, Indian media reports said.

"It's sabotage it's an act of terrorism like the one in Mumbai," Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav told reporters, referring to serial bomb blasts in Mumbai last July that killed 186 people.

"We have recovered two suitcases with dangerous explosive devices," he said.

The coaches of the Samjhauta Express train, which connects New Delhi to Pakistan’s city of Lahore, erupted in fire near Panipat town, about 80 km (50 miles) north of the Indian capital, around midnight on Sunday (18:30 GMT).

An eyewitness Pakistani passenger Salahuddin Qaimkhani said that a loud a loud explosion was heard before the blast and then it was all smoke.

Railway authorities at Wagah border said that the unaffected coaches of the train were allowed to resume journey to Atari from near Panipat.

Express to Continue

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Monday said that train service between Pakistan and India would continue unaffected despite the Sunday night’s tragic incident.

Addressing a press conference, he said the motive behind the incident, which caused huge casualties, was yet to be ascertained. He said Pakistan was not yet officially intimated about the accident by India.

However, he urged that a comprehensive inquiry should be held into the incident to find out the facts behind this heinous act.

He said provision of safety and security of the train and its passengers up to Atari railway station was the sole responsibility of India.

Answering a question, the minister said only the enquiry report would reveal whether it was sabotage or not.

He said President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz are being constantly informed about this incident and the Prime Minister has directed him to personally visit Wagah border to receive the train.

He said the Prime Minister would announce financial compensation for the victims of the train.

Pak HC's Emergency Office

And, the High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi has set up an Emergency Office at the Chancery to respond to all queries relating to the affected Pakistani passengers in the blasts that took place in Samjhota Express last night.

Following are the contact numbers: Javaid Iqbal 0091-9818004323 - Mobile number 0091-11-26872304 - Direct 0091-11-26110601 Extension, 234

Mohabat Khan Afridi 0091-9818102262 - Mobile Number Muhammad Khalid Jamali 0091-9810399500 - Mobile Number Dr. Iftikhar Gul 0091-9818143399 - Mobile number

A team of the officers of the Pakistan High Commission has already reached the site of the tragedy to provide all assistance to the Pakistani affectees, says a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here on Monday.

A team of the High Commission officers has also visited the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi to enquire the welfare of some of the Pakistan nationals injured in the tragic incident who are being treated there.

India on Explosives

And in New Delhi, Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil said that the twin blasts on the India-Pakistan peace train represent 'a new trend' in terror strikes as it involves 'low-grade explosives' and use of petrol to enhance impact.

'It appears to be a new trend in terror strikes. The terrorists had used some low-grade explosives with sulphur content to trigger the blast. Besides, petrol cans were also found in the two coaches, apparently used to enhance the effect of the strike,' he told journalists.

That explains why the bogies of the train were not ripped apart following the explosions and it instead caught fire due to toxic sulphur and sulphur dioxide, said Patel, adding telltale yellow stains inside the two burnt compartments, due to the use of sulphur in the explosives, have added to the certainty.

Foxed by this 'new trend', police and security agencies have been restrained in guessing the identity of the terror group behind the blast.

At least 67 people, mostly Pakistanis, were killed when the blasts ripped through two compartments of the special train to Attari that links up with the Samjhauta Express to Lahore.

Red Alert in New Delhi, Bombay

Security forces went on red alert in New Delhi and Bombay after the Samjhauta Express blasts which killed 66 passengers including Pakistani nationals.

According to official sources here the number of injured has risen to 50 who have been shifted to three hospitals—Safdarjang hospital in New Delshi, Panipat Hospital, Patiala Hospital.

All Parties Hurriyat Conference has expressed deep grief over the tragic incident and described the heinous act as an attemdpt to derail the peace process between India and Pakistan.

Two explosions were occurred in the Pakistan bound train around 1154 hours on February 18.

UK Condemns

Raza Mumtaz 'Pakistan Times' Executive Editor/UK Bureau Chief adds from London; The British Government on Monday condemned the bomb attack on the Samjotha train near the Indian city of Panipat and described it as 'utterly shameful act'.

Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells in a statement offered British Government assistance to bring to justice the perpetrators of this brutal attack.,

He expressed his shock at the loss of life following bomb blasts on a train heading from New Delhi to Atari in Pakistan and said: 'I extend my condolences to the family and friends of those killed and injured and condemn utterly this shameful act.

I would also like to offer the Governments of India and Pakistan whatever assistance they require, to bring to justice the perpetrators of this brutal attack.'

Meanwhile, the members of the British Pakistani community have also condemned the attack which killed almost 67 persons and injured scores of other.

Lord Nazir Ahmad, MPs Muhammad Sarwar, Khalid Mahmood, Shahid Malik and Siddiq Khan, Lord Altaf Sheikh,Mayor Farooq Qureshi of Walthamstow in their statements called it a 'despicable act' and urged swift investigations into the tragedy so that those responsible could be arrested and punished.

Recap

To recap the comprehensive stories on the train tragedy, as were reported by Pakistan’s first ISSN-certified daily E-newspaper, ‘Pakistan Times’ in its edition of Monday, February 19, 2007, Click Here:

http://www.pakistantimes.net/2007/02/19/top.htm
[Pakistan Condemns: Blast in Samjhota Express Kills 66 ]

http://www.pakistantimes.net/2007/02/19/top9.htm
[Hindu pilgrims’ departure through Shamjhota Express put off]

http://www.pakistantimes.net/2007/02/19/top13.htm
[Musharraf condemns blast in Samjhota Express; Kasuri to visit India]

http://www.pakistantimes.net/2007/02/19/top16.htm
[Indian security, paramilitary forces go on highest alert]●