July 14, 2002

New York City Medical Examiner Charles S Hirsch faces historic challenge of trying to identify nearly 20,000 body parts recovered from Sept 11 terrorist attack on World Trade Center; human remains recovered at disaster site and landfill are brought to medical examiner's building and examined by succession of experts--pathologist, forensic dentist, fingerprint analyst, DNA specialist--all in search of something distinguishable; remains of 1,229 of estimated 2,823 victims, nearly 44 percent, have been identified through laboratory analyses, computer wizardry and old-fashioned detection; photos (L)

Iraqi Opposition Meets Former Iraqi military officers who have defected over the years and opposition leaders met in London, prompted by American calls to overthrow Saddam Hussein. PAGE 10 Attack in Kashmir Suspected Islamic militants killed more than 20 Hindus, mostly women and children, in the region disputed by India and Pakistan. PAGE 6

Large number of new recruits to real estate sales, including refugees from Wall Street and downsizing corporations, are enlisting in training courses in preparation for licensing in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut; photos (M)

Pakistan has become laboratory for how American power could be used to combat terror; American law enforcement agencies are working with American military in Pakistan in hunt for Al Qaeda fighers who fled sanctuaries in Afghanistan and hope to revive their group; FBI agents are helping local police in Pakistani cities to break up what senior American intelligence and law enforcement officials regard as depleted but still dangerous network that carried out deadly attacks against Westerners in Karachi and Islamabad in recent weeks; never before have traditionally independent military and law enforcement organizations worked so much in concert; similar, if smaller, American operations appear to be unfolding in Philippines and Yemen; photos; map (L)

Plans for expansion of Staten Island Children's Museum at Snug Harbor Cultural Center described; drawing (S)