America's General
Pakistan takes its most crucial decision since the 1971 war — to side with the US against the Taliban. The clerics may protest, but Musharraf has few options.

ECONOMIC IMPACT
Where Are We Going?
Fear and uncertainty stalk the Indian economy as early damages begin to show.

Ready For Battle
Where will the US strike, with what and how? A report on the military options before the global coalition that the Americans are building against terrorism.

Shifting Stance
Indian foreign policy is in a flux following the terrorist strikes in the US, metamorphosing in tandem with the tectonic shift in the geopolitical landscape of the world.

Menace In The Mind
People like bin Laden are not so much politicising religion as religionising politics.

CAPLOOKS

Power Vacuum

Bhubaneswar: Corridors of power don't normally remain deserted. But in the state secretariat at Bhubaneswar, they do. There just aren't enough ministers around. First, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik did away with three ministers by unceremoniously dropping them. Several of those who remain are too unwell to attend office. They include Forest Minister A. P. Singh and Mass Education Minister Bhagabat Behera. No wonder the Naveen Ministry seems a little under the weather.

Other Battles To Fight

Delhi: Congress leaders are upset that Sonia Gandhi stayed away from the all-party meeting convened by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to discuss the situation arising out of the terrorist attacks in the US. The official reason for the leader of the Opposition absenting herself was that she had received a special briefing two days earlier. But party circles say the real reason she did not attend the meeting was that she was recouping from a whirlwind tour of the south and resting in preparation for the long haul in Uttar Pradesh.

Unifying Terror

Kolkata: The Dalai Lama and China finally agree on something. Last week, when the Buddhist spiritual leader was asked for his reaction to possible US aggression against Afghanistan, he replied, "I have written to President Bush that using violence might not be appropriate." So does he support China's position in opposing the use of force by the US? "If China has really opposed war, then I support it," the Dalai Lama said. But he had an observation: "In China's case, it's always a question of saying something and doing something else." So much for coming together.

Humble Pie For His Money

Chandigarh: After giving up a futile fight for Khalistan, Jagjit Singh Chauhan has now decided to pocket his pension arrears as a one-time legislator of the Punjab Assembly. The former state minister and deputy speaker has approached the Vidhan Sabha secretariat to claim the pension he is entitled to since 1987. He is expected to get arrears of about Rs 4 lakh besides a monthly pension of Rs 3,000. "Why should I give up my pension dues ?" asks the ageing Khalistan leader. Why indeed?. Especially if it's the Indian Government that's paying.

Constant suspicion, poverty, ill-health and lack of work dog Afghan asylum seekers in India. INDIA TODAY's Principal Correspondent Anna M.M. Vetticad meets some of them.
Living On The Edge