New Delhi - India-Mammoth Islamic Meet-Uttar Pradesh Seraimeer town of Azamgarh district in eastern Uttar Pradesh will witness one of the biggest congregations on December 29, with hundreds of thousands of Muslims from across the globe expected to participate in a mammoth Islamic meet.
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http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0712277799172613.htm
Police recover six crude bombs in bus (India)
Dec. 26
RAIGANJ - The police recovered six crude bombs from a Raiganj bound bus on NH 31 near Panjipara under Goalpokhar police station of North Dinajpur district this morning. The bus was travelling from Siliguri.
According to the North Dinajpur police superintendent Mr SB Purnapatra, the police had prior information that criminals were importing arms and ammunition to North Dinajpur district from Siliguri to commit a major crime. “Accordingly, the police conducted the raid and recovered the bombs from an abandoned bag in the bus. The bombs have been defused.
Interrogating the bus driver and conductor, the police learnt that the bomb carriers got down from the bus near the Islampur bus terminus. There is rumour, however, that Maoist militants or some Naxalite groups may have been behind the act of importing the bombs to the district. The rumour has gathered force since Maoists posters urging the people to avenge the Nandigram killings were found all over Raiganj town last night.
The North Dinajpur SP, however, ruled out the possibility of Maoist involvement behind the recovery of the crude bombs today. The SP emphasised that it was the handiwork of criminals. “The police are sparing no means but to identify the carriers and arrest them,” he assured.
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=10&theme=&usrsess=1&id=182685
This is even more likely after the murder of Benazir Bhutto. But the military is still talking about educational and employment initiatives, as if they will make the jihad go away. This despite the fact that study after study has shown that jihadists are generally better educated and wealthier than their peers. "US military beefs up Pakistan force," by Bruce Loudon for The Australian:
US Special Forces are to increase their presence in Pakistan amid assessments that the country is to become the central battlefield for al-Qaida as it is driven from Iraq. "Pakistan should be carefully watched because it could prove to be a significant flashpoint in the coming year," US think tank Strategic Forecasting said in an evaluation of al-Qaida's tactics as the Islamist group comes under mounting pressure in Iraq.
With the "rapid spread of Talibanisation" in Pakistan's insurgent northwest, the country would become "especially important if the trend in Iraq continues to go against the jihadis and they are driven from Iraq", the assessment said. "As the global headquarters for the al-Qaida leadership, Pakistan has long been a significant stronghold on the ideological battlefield. If the trend towards radicalisation continues, the country could become the new centre of gravity for the jihadi movement on the physical battlefield."
The Stratfor assessment coincided with reports from Washington suggesting US Special Forces would expand their presence in Pakistan in the new year.
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http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/019343.php
On MEMRI TV: Hamas TV Children Show Features Hamas Bee Nahoul Weeping For "Martyred" Family, Host Sara: This is Your Wedding, Oh Martyr
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