Tense and expectant, over 31 lakh voters in Jammu and Kashmir go to the polls soon to elect a new Legislative Assembly. Much more than the fate of 517 candidates, vociferous and unsparing as they storm the constituencies, is involved in the battle that will culminate in the formation of a new government. It is which of the two contesting parties, the National Conference or the Congress (I) will rule the state for the next five years.
India and Pakistan moved closer towards normalising their relations when the first meeting of their joint commission agreed to reduce postal rates, provide easier travel facilities for passengers both ways and promote trade, commercial and cultural contacts. Early conclusion of a treaty on avoidance of double-taxation, exploring the possibility of a new trade agreement and bilateral cooperation in planning, agriculture and other fields were among the major recommendations of the commission co-chaired by foreign ministers P V Narasimha Rao and Yaqub Khan.
The Chief of Army Staff, Gen K V Krishna Rao said that the criteria for selection of an army officer to the top post was a combination of seniority and merit and urged all concerned not to politicise the appointment of his successor Lt Gen A S Vaidya. Talking informally to reporters, the Army Chief described Lt Gen Vaidya as “a competent officer with a lot of battlefield experience.”
Over 40 persons are reported to have been killed in the heavy fighting that broke out in eastern Lebanon between supporters and opponents of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Arafat, who had been in Lebanon for over a week, left for Romania rather mysteriously. Palestinian rebels opposed to Arafat said in Damascus that their positions near Baalbek in eastern Lebanon had been shelled by “suspicious elements” but they had not fired back.
