Price Of A Deal
Musharraf may have bent backwards in a bid to make his country the standard bearer of the US in the region. Of course, there are financial rewards for Pakistan, but the fear of a fundamentalist backlash continues to keep the nation on tenterhooks.

Circle Of Death
Violence fuelled by bigotry and foreign money brought the Taliban to power. Now as things come full circle the Islamic militia may meet an equally brutal end.

Afghanistan 1978-2001
Its women once enjoyed social freedom, and there was joy and peace. It is now a country perverted by the missionaries of a grim utopia. A social history in pictures.

NEWSNOTES

ASHOK GEHLOT

The Rajasthan chief minister on his party's defeat in the Tonk by-poll

Q. What are the factors responsible for the
Congress' defeat?
A. Gurjjars and Muslims were both upset over communal incidents in Bhilwara district. The BJP's disinformation concerning the support price for millet also contributed to the defeat.

Q. What about the fallout of the hike in power tariffs?
A. This has caused short-term hardship to the people but I could not have delayed it. Any delay would have caused the power sector in Rajasthan to suffer.

Q. Will you slow down the reforms because you have to face elections after two years?
A. We will educate people about the benefits. We have added 750 MW to our generation capacity and will add 1,000 MW more in the next two years. In comparison, in the 50 pervious years, generation had reached a meagre 3,350 MW.

Q. Are there any other reforms or corrective measures in the offing?
A. I have worked out a plan to see what happens at the grassroots level. I will visit each of the 32 districts unannounced. En route, I will make surprise visits to hospitals and other places to get first-hand information about what's happening.

Q. Will you do something to improve the worsening PCC-Government relations?
A. We contested elections together and will strengthen this togetherness.

—Rohit Parihar

MetroScape

Fort Of Arms
In the 16th century, a Portuguese governor fortified a strategically located house to defend ships in the harbour of an island on the west coast of India acquired from the Sultan of Gujarat. Mumbai grew first into a fort and then into a city from here.
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Looking Glass

Delhi Photography:
Pradeep Bhatia

Delhi Music Concert: Pandit Ram Chatur Mallick Dhrupad Foundation

Delhi Sculpture: Sculpter Hemi Bawa