GHQ siege mastermind captured, claim police

LAHORE: Security agencies captured on Tuesday ‘Qari’ Ishtiaq, a key ‘commander’ of the Punjabi Tehrik-i-Taliban network, who allegedly masterminded the Oct 10 attack on the army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

Ishtiaq was arrested during a raid in Bahawalpur and security agents seized 400 kilograms of explosives and weapons.

He is also said to be linked to the Islamabad Marriot Hotel bombing and attacks on the Manawan Police Training School and FIA headquarters in Lahore.

Ishtiaq was arrested on information provided by Hijratullah who had been captured outside the Manawan Police School on March 30.

Seven other militants were picked up from Sargodha, Gujranwala and Mailsi on information provided by Ishtiaq.

Security was beefed up in Lahore after receiving information that two militants had entered the city with explosive-laden vehicles.

Police said that pickets and road checkpoints had been alerted about two cars (one of them LEM-4942 white Suzuki), which could be used for bombing attacks.

According to sources, the Taliban had also transported a Mazda truck a few days ago, containing 2,500kg explosives stuffed in canisters of vegetable ghee, for terror attacks in Punjab.

Capital City Police Officer Pervez Rathore told Dawn that agencies had warned police three times over the past weeks about the arrival of suspects and explosive-packed vehicles.

Intelligence reports also suggested that 15 suicide bombers, aged between 16 and 20, had entered Punjab with as many explosive-packed vehicles. Nine of the 15 vehicles were said to be white, three red and another three were silver coloured.

According to the sources, terrorists could target government buildings, sensitive installations, schools and markets. A police official, however, cautioned that not all information provided on by intelligence agencies could be correct.

He said it was not possible for police to guard all high-profile personalities, establishments, offices and places mentioned in dozens of reports issued by the agencies over the past six months because going by them the entire city would appear to be the target of terror attacks.

Pakistan, England reach settlement over forfeited test

KARACHI: The cricket boards of Pakistan and England have resolved the financial dispute that arose after the forfeited Oval test on Pakistan’s tour to England in 2006.

Umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove ruled Pakistan had forfeited the fourth test at the Oval, as the visitors had refused to come out after tea on the fourth day in protest at being docked five runs for alleged ball tampering.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) then claimed for the loss of revenue due to the early finish to the match.

According to official documents seen by Reuters, the boards have signed an agreement under which Pakistan will forfeit revenue from a Twenty20 international on their tour of England next year as a full and final settlement of the dispute.

Pakistan is scheduled to play four tests, five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches against England between next July and September for which the ECB have agreed to pay them a participation fee of $3.6 million.

‘The participation fee does not include the fee for one Twenty20 match on this tour which the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has agreed to waive as full and final settlement of the Oval test match dispute,’ a clause in the agreement stated.

Under the agreement, the PCB also received 68,000 pounds ($111,700) to settle all outstanding amounts from the 2006 tour.

Pakistan will also be playing a ‘home’ series against Australia in England next year for which the ECB has guaranteed a minimum payment of $1.9 million against ticket sales, corporate hospitality and ground advertising rights for the two tests and two Twenty20 matches.— Reuters

Pakistan, Taliban still together: Krishna

WASHINGTON: New Delhi has charged that Islamabad’s disruptive role in the Taliban insurgency alongwith aid for the Afghan Taliban provided by Pakistan’s spy agency has complicated the military situation in Afghanistan, with India’s foreign minister asserting ‘they are still together’.

‘They are a tandem,’ External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Krishna asserted that the Pakistan government has been unable to break the ties between its spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence, and the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Krishna also said India felt ‘vindicated’ after former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf said recently that some US anti-terrorism aid had been used to bolster traditional defences against India.

‘We have always been cautioning our friends, the United States, that please, please for heaven’s sake make sure that the aid you are giving to Pakistan is not directed and misappropriated to be used against India, a friend of yours,’ the foreign minister said. -Online

Security forces kill 10 Taliban in Zhob gunbattle

QUETTA: At least 10 Taliban were killed and several others injured in a clash with security personnel in the Sambaza area of Zhob district on Friday.

Official sources told Dawn that a group of Taliban attacked a security post near the Afghan border, killing one soldier and injuring two.

Security personnel cordoned off the area and returned fire.

‘We have information about the death of 10 Taliban in the fierce gunbattle,’ a security official in Quetta said.

He said the militants had taken away the bodies of their associates while escaping.

‘We found their caps and weapons used in the attack,’ the official said. He said the militants belonged to the Mullah Shamsullah group.

Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia to act against drugs, terror

TRIESTE: Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia agreed on Friday to improve cooperation on fighting terrorism, combating illegal drug production and trafficking and promoting good-neighbourly relations, regional stability and sustainable development.

The agreement was reached in a meeting held here by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi with his Afghan and Russian counterparts, R.D. Spanta and S. Lavrov.

According to a joint statement issued after the meeting, the foreign ministers discussed prospects of cooperation among the three countries.

They decided to explore the potential of cooperation in the areas of border control, exchange of information on terrorist activities and organisations, training of anti-terrorist and anti-drug police personnel, as well as promoting tolerance and inter-cultural dialogue and tripartite cultural and humanitarian exchanges.

They recognised that the terrorist threat could not be countered solely by enforcement measures, which, they said, must be accompanied by efforts to promote socio-economic rehabilitation and development of the region.

The ministers emphasised that terrorist activities were largely financed by the proceeds from illegal drug trafficking.

They expressed their conviction that the fight against drugs must be intensified and focussed on all elements of the chain: cultivation, production, trafficking, consumption and supply.

They called upon the international community to take additional steps in cooperation with the Kabul government to combat the drug threat.—APP

Pakistan, Sri Lanka in ICC World T20 final today

LONDON: Pakistan and Sri Lanka will contest the World Twenty20 final at Lord’s today.

Pakistan, who beat favourites South Africa by seven runs in Thursday’s semi-final, have bounced back in style at this tournament.

They will face unbeaten Sri Lanka in the final after their Asian rivals thrashed the West Indies by 57 runs at the Oval on Friday.

Despite the events in Lahore, Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said relations between the two sides had remained friendly.

“What Lahore really brought home to us was we are just the same as anyone else,” he said.

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 19 runs in a Super Eights match earlier at this tournament but Sangakkara said: “We’ve played Pakistan many times before but in T20 you must take every game in isolation. Different players come into form at different times.

“Hopefully, we can put in a good performance and walk away with a trophy.”

The dangerous Shahid Afridi produced a brilliant all-round display in Pakistan’s semi-final triumph, scoring 51 and then taking two wickets for 16 runs with his leg-spinners.

“He is a guy who can take the game away in few overs, but we can’t just concentrate on him,” said Sangakkara.

In Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, Sangakkara has two star spinners of his own although Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal should not be disregarded.

“Mendis, the way he’s bowled in the middle overs had been a charm,” Sangakkara said. “Even Pakistan watch him closely, they know he can get their wickets.”

Sri Lanka’s semi-final victory was built on a brilliant innings from Tillekaratne Dilshan, the leading scorer at the tournament with 317 runs, who carried his bat for 96 not out in a total of 158 for five.

Then came a sensational first over in the West Indies’ reply, which saw seam bowler Angelo Mathews take three wickets as Xavier Marshall, Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Bravo all played on for ducks.

Chris Gayle made 63 not out but none of the West Indies captain’s colleagues could stay with the left-handed opener long enough to mount a serious chase as Sri Lanka won with 14 balls to spare.

Dilshan decided not to employ the ‘Dilscoop’ shot where he flicks the ball over the wicket-keeper’s head and settled for more orthodox strokes.

“Now we’ve one more match, hopefully I can stay strong. I think I’ll keep the paddle for the final,” Dilshan explained.

Sangakkara, who said he expected something special from veteran batsman Sanath Jayasuriya in the final, added: “I have run out of superlatives for Dilshan. He is a pioneer stroke-maker in Twenty20.

“The best thing is that he understands his role and has become very responsible and mature. He has finally understood how good he is.”

And as for Mathews, the captain said: “It’s Mathews’s first major international tour and you can’t ask for much more than three wickets in the first over.

“Now we will take this confidence into the final against Pakistan.”

Pakistan, who lost by just five runs to arch-rivals India in the inaugural 2007 World Twenty20 final in Johannesburg, are desperate to go one better this time.

The dark horses of this tournament, they have justified veteran coach Intikhab Alam’s belief that they would be at their best when it mattered most.

“We want to make people back home happy,” Pakistan captain Younus Khan said. “Winning the title will mean a lot to them and that will inspire us in the final. One more game and the World Cup will be ours.”

West Indies captain Chris Gayle said: “You couldn’t ask for a better final, they are two quality teams.”

Pakistan, Sri Lanka in ICC World T20 final today

LONDON: Pakistan and Sri Lanka will contest the World Twenty20 final at Lord’s today.

Pakistan, who beat favourites South Africa by seven runs in Thursday’s semi-final, have bounced back in style at this tournament.

They will face unbeaten Sri Lanka in the final after their Asian rivals thrashed the West Indies by 57 runs at the Oval on Friday.

Despite the events in Lahore, Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said relations between the two sides had remained friendly.

“What Lahore really brought home to us was we are just the same as anyone else,” he said.

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 19 runs in a Super Eights match earlier at this tournament but Sangakkara said: “We’ve played Pakistan many times before but in T20 you must take every game in isolation. Different players come into form at different times.

“Hopefully, we can put in a good performance and walk away with a trophy.”

The dangerous Shahid Afridi produced a brilliant all-round display in Pakistan’s semi-final triumph, scoring 51 and then taking two wickets for 16 runs with his leg-spinners.

“He is a guy who can take the game away in few overs, but we can’t just concentrate on him,” said Sangakkara.

In Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, Sangakkara has two star spinners of his own although Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal should not be disregarded.

“Mendis, the way he’s bowled in the middle overs had been a charm,” Sangakkara said. “Even Pakistan watch him closely, they know he can get their wickets.”

Sri Lanka’s semi-final victory was built on a brilliant innings from Tillekaratne Dilshan, the leading scorer at the tournament with 317 runs, who carried his bat for 96 not out in a total of 158 for five.

Then came a sensational first over in the West Indies’ reply, which saw seam bowler Angelo Mathews take three wickets as Xavier Marshall, Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Bravo all played on for ducks.

Chris Gayle made 63 not out but none of the West Indies captain’s colleagues could stay with the left-handed opener long enough to mount a serious chase as Sri Lanka won with 14 balls to spare.

Dilshan decided not to employ the ‘Dilscoop’ shot where he flicks the ball over the wicket-keeper’s head and settled for more orthodox strokes.

“Now we’ve one more match, hopefully I can stay strong. I think I’ll keep the paddle for the final,” Dilshan explained.

Sangakkara, who said he expected something special from veteran batsman Sanath Jayasuriya in the final, added: “I have run out of superlatives for Dilshan. He is a pioneer stroke-maker in Twenty20.

“The best thing is that he understands his role and has become very responsible and mature. He has finally understood how good he is.”

And as for Mathews, the captain said: “It’s Mathews’s first major international tour and you can’t ask for much more than three wickets in the first over.

“Now we will take this confidence into the final against Pakistan.”

Pakistan, who lost by just five runs to arch-rivals India in the inaugural 2007 World Twenty20 final in Johannesburg, are desperate to go one better this time.

The dark horses of this tournament, they have justified veteran coach Intikhab Alam’s belief that they would be at their best when it mattered most.

“We want to make people back home happy,” Pakistan captain Younus Khan said. “Winning the title will mean a lot to them and that will inspire us in the final. One more game and the World Cup will be ours.”

West Indies captain Chris Gayle said: “You couldn’t ask for a better final, they are two quality teams.”

Pakistan, China vow to fight terrorism

SANYA (China), April 17: President Asif Ali Zardari and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao agreed on Friday to jointly fight terrorism and resolved to strengthen bilateral ties in economic, defence and energy sectors.

President Zardari met the Chinese leader after he arrived here from Tokyo to attend the annual Boao Forum.

Premier Wen Jiabao said China would help Pakistan safeguard its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

President Zardari and Premier Wen Jiabao discussed a range of strategic and economic matters.

President Zardari said Pakistan and China enjoyed a high degree of mutual trust, understanding and convergence of views on bilateral, regional and international issues and called for translating the deep strategic partnership into a robust trade and investment relationship.

During his three-day stay, President Zardari will deliver a keynote speech at the plenary session of the BFA on ‘Asia: managing beyond crisis’ and hold meetings with several leaders.

Premier Wen said it was high time to address the global economic crisis and find a way to counter its impact on developing economies.—APP

Miliband hails Zardari, Nawaz to defuse crisis

LONDON: Britain welcomed Monday the reinstatement of Pakistan’s deposed top judge and the cancellation of an opposition march as signs of “real political leadership” to defuse a threatened crisis.

“The steps taken to defuse the political crisis in Pakistan show real political leadership by all concerned,” said Foreign Secretary David Miliband in a statement.

President Asif Ali Zardari’s decision to reinstate Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and former premier Nawaz Sharif’s response in calling off the Long March “demonstrate that both men are willing to put the interests of Pakistan first.

“I hope that all parties will now quickly come together around a common agenda to consolidate the political steps made, and to agree measures that will strengthen democracy and impartial justice in Pakistan,” Miliband said.

source : jang.com.pk

Pakistan says Taliban beaten back in border region

KHAR, Pakistan – Pakistan has beaten the Taliban in a major stronghold close to the Afghan border, is close to victory in another and expects to pacify most of the remaining tribal areas before the end of the year, commanders said Saturday.

The upbeat assessment of conditions in the arid, mountainous regions of Bajur and Mohmand follows international criticism of Pakistan for accepting a cease-fire with militants behind a bloody campaign in Swat Valley, just next to the tribal regions.

Many analysts also fear that growing political turmoil between the government and opposition could distract attention from the fight against al-Qaida and the Taliban just as Washington wants more concerted action.

The United States and independent analysts have praised the offensive in Bajur, saying it has helped stem the passage of militants from Pakistan into Afghanistan, where violence against American and NATO troops is running at its highest level since the U.S. invasion in 2001.

Pakistan’s tribal regions are believed to be a likely hiding place for Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaida leaders. Foreign governments fear extremists there could be plotting attacks on the West.

Maj. Gen. Tariq Khan, commander of the paramilitary Frontier Corps, said the insurgency had been “dismantled” in Bajur after six months of battles between well-armed militants and soldiers backed by tanks and helicopter gunships.

He said 1,600 militants had been killed and 150 civilians had died. Both figures were impossible to verify independently.

“Their resistance has broken down. We control the roads,” he told reporters flown to the northwestern region by helicopter. “They have lost.”

Col. Saif Ullah, commander in the neighboring region of Mohmand, said troops had repelled insurgents from most of the territory and it would soon be cleared.

“There are no more no-go areas. The militants are running away,” he said.

The army took reporters to witness a ceremony marking the victory over the militants conducted by tribal elders and military commanders close to a Bajur town that was the site of a major battle last week. Rows of shops selling household goods and furniture were destroyed, and tanks were parked amid the debris. Residents — most of whom fled before the battle — had not returned to the town in a valley leading to Afghanistan.

American commanders say the Afghan province of Kunar which borders Bajur is still one of the most treacherous areas for their soldiers. The U.S. has earmarked it for some of the thousands of reinforcements being deployed to Afghanistan this year.

Khan said the defeated insurgents were mostly Afghans and Pakistanis, with some Uzbeks and a few Arabs caught in the early days of the offensive.

He said the army had failed to capture any insurgent leaders and that they had most likely fled into Afghanistan. Asked why, he said it was the job of special forces or intelligence agencies — not the army — to capture individual suspects.

Khan said the army had done its job of restoring government rule to the region, predicting military operations in the five of the seven tribal areas under his command “would be over by the end of the year.”

He did not discuss conditions in the North and South Wazirstan regions which are not under his command. Both areas are considered major al-Qaida and Taliban strongholds and are frequently hit by missiles fired by unmanned U.S. aircraft.

The display of Pakistan’s military gains in the area came as it faces criticism for failing to dislodge militants from the nearby Swat region, where troops and insurgents are observing a cease-fire while the commander of the Taliban considers a proposed peace deal. The United States and NATO worry a deal could turn the scenic region into a militant haven.

Political developments in the desperately poor country of 170 million people have also concerned the West.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court banned opposition leader Nawaz Sharif from elected office, triggering violent protests by his supporters. Sharif says he will join demonstrations later this month by lawyers who helped bring down former military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

Aside from fears the confrontation will undermine the anti-terror fight, it is also raising worries about possible military intervention, a frequent result of political turmoil between civilian leaders in Pakistan.

source : news.yahoo.com

NWFP 7 senate general seats’ candidates elected unopposed

ISLAMABAD: North West Frontier Province (NWFP) seven candidates on senate general seats have been elected unopposed.

Sources said that Zahid Khan, Abdul Nabi Bangash, Haji Adeel of ANP, People’s Party’s Gulzar Ahmad Khan, Waqar Ahmad Khan and Sardar Ali Khan, while JUI’s Haji ghulam Ali were elected unopposed unofficially.

In all 18 candidates were in the field for NWFP’s 11 senate seats. Pakistan Muslim League-N’s three candidates yesterday had withdrawn their papers, which included ML-N Central Secretary General, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra from general seat and Saeeda Ilyas from women seat, while Abul Razzaque from technocrat seat.

source : jang.com.pk

Blast damages NATO oil tanker in Pakistan: official

PESHAWAR: One person was killed and two wounded in northwest Pakistan on Saturday when a bomb exploded near a fuel tanker destined for NATO forces in Afghanistan, an official said.

The remote-controlled bomb was planted on the main highway linking Peshawar city with the Torkham border crossing, local official Fazle Akbar told by telephone.

The blast partially damaged the oil tanker, but its driver escaped injuries, Akbar said, adding a passer-by was killed and two local men were injured. A security official also confirmed the incident but gave no casualty figure.

The explosion occurred in the troubled tribal district of Khyber, where Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked insurgents have carried out a series of attacks on NATO vehicles and terminals outside the northwestern city of Peshawar.

The NATO and US-led forces in landlocked Afghanistan are hugely dependent on Pakistan for their supplies and equipment, around 80 percent of which are transported through the neighbouring country. Militants earlier this month blew up a key bridge on the main supply route for NATO forces and torched several trucks bringing goods from the southern port of Karachi for forces battling a Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan.

source : jang.com.pk

President wants Chinese model of agriculture in Pakistan

WUHAN: President Asif Ali Zardari Saturday said that Pakistan wants to benefit from Chinese experience and technology in the field of agriculture for enhanced production that will help his country in overcoming the grain shortage.

“I am very impressed with China’s development in Agri-sector and we want to emulate the same success in Pakistan,” President Zardari said here in his address to China Hubei-Pakistan Agriculture and Water Resources Cooperation Forum.

The president said that Pakistan and China have always enjoyed cordial relations and expressed the hope that his visit will further strengthen these ties particularly in the fields of agriculture and hydro electricity sectors.

He said the prime objective of his visit, the second in four months, was to learn from Chinese model of agriculture and development of hydro electricity projects.

source : jang.com.pk

Sri Lanka reach 120-2 at lunch in first test

KARACHI: Kumar Sangakkara and Malinda Warnapura hit half-centuries to help Sri Lanka reach 120-2 by lunch on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan here on Saturday.

Sangakkara was unbeaten at the break on 51 with skipper Mahela Jayawardene on five not out after Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat on a flat pitch.

Warnapura earlier steadied the innings with a brisk 48-ball 59 to help his team recover from the early loss of debutant opener Tharanga Paranavitana, who was dismissed for a first-ball duck.

Pakistan’s frontline paceman Umar Gul struck with the fourth ball of the innings when he forced left-hander Paranavitana to edge into the slip where Misbah-ul-Haq took a smart catch.

Warnapura and Sangakkara added 90 for the second wicket before first-change Yasir Arafat provided the breakthrough. Warnapura, who hit nine boundaries, edged Arafat to Haq who held a low catch in the slip.

The 32,000-seater National Stadium wore a deserted look as policemen outnumbered the spectators in the first session of the Test, the first in 14 months that Pakistan has participated in.

source : jang.com.pk

Pakistan for ‘widest possible consensus’ on UNSC expansion

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan called for reforming the UN Security Council “through negotiations and widest possible consensus” as the General Assembly on Thursday launched negotiations aimed at making the 15-member body more effective and more representative to meet the 21st century challenges.

“Our positions will conform to the principles of sovereign equality of states and equitable geographical distribution,” Pakistan’s U.N. Ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon told an informal meeting of the 192-member assembly where talks began on five key issues, including the size, composition and power of an expanded council.

“We shall work for a reform model that is responsive to the substantial increase in the number of developing countries in the UN membership since the 60s,” in an obvious reference to dominance of the big powers in the council. “We would prioritize regional interests over individual interests, through accommodation of positions of all member states and regional and other groupings, including in particular Africa and the OIC.”

The council’s reform, which got underway some 16 years ago, was backed by the 2005 world summit held at UN Headquarters in New York. There is widespread support for revamping the U.N.’s most powerful organ to reflect current global realities rather than the international power structure after World War II when the United Nations was created. But all previous attempts, starting in 1979, have failed because rivalries between countries and regions blocked agreement on how to expand the council.

source : jang.com.pk

Afghan president postpones Pakistan visit

ISLAMABAD: Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s scheduled visit to Islamabad has been postponed due to bad weather.

Karzai was due on Thursday to hold talks with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. The schedule of next visit would be released later.

source : jang.com.pk

Militancy great threat to democracy: President

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has stressed the need for standing united against the militancy and militants, which is a great threat to democracy.

“A great threat to democracy comes from militancy and militants who want to impose their political and ideological agenda through bullet instead of ballot. We must stand united and not let them succeed”, President Zardari said in his message on the first anniversary of February 18 elections.

“Tolerance, reconciliation and dialogue have illumined our path on the road to democracy after the February 18 elections last year.

“We will continue to be guided by these principles in our long haul in dealing with all those who will respect the Constitution and rule of law and who seek to bring change through ballot instead of bullet,” the President stated.

President Zardari complimented the people of Pakistan particularly all political parties and workers who waged a heroic struggle and offered huge sacrifices to force the dictatorship hold elections.

“On this occasion our thoughts go to those hundreds of martyrs of democracy led by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who laid down their lives for the cause. Their cause was to make the usurper relinquish power and give it back to the people.

“They are our heroes and heroines who will continue to shine on the canvas of time and inspire generations even in a distant age and clime. But for their sacrifices we may not have witnessed democracy as is witnessed today”, he added.

The President reiterated the commitment to preserve, protect and enhance democracy; not to let anyone usurp the rights of the people and not to let dictatorship strike again.

“On this day let us reiterate our commitment to preserve, protect and enhance democracy. Let us vow not to let anyone usurp the rights of the people; not to let dictatorship strike again.”

The President said this requires rededication to the principles of parliamentary democracy, constitutionalism and rule of law, adding, “We all must join hands to make the Parliament the embodiment of the will of the people truly strong and supreme.”

source : jang.com.pk

US in contact with Pakistan over Swat agreement: State Deptt.

WASHINGTON: The United States State Department had no specific comment to offer on the Swat peace agreement, saying it is in contact with the Pakistani government to learn about the full strategy.

“We are in touch with the government in Pakistan, we are discussing the issue, but that is all I have for you at the moment,” a State Department spokesman said at the daily briefing in his cautious response to questions on the development that Pakistan said would help bring peace to its restive valley in the northwestern province, bordering Afghanistan.

Spokesman Gordon K. Duguid, asked to comment on enforcement of Shariat-based justice system in Swat said, “As I understand that Islamic law is within the constitutional framework of Pakistan, so I don’t know that is particularly an issue for anyone outside of Pakistan to discuss.”

Pressed if Washington saw the agreement as a good or bad development, he said “We have seen these sorts of actions before, what is important is that we are all working together to fight terrorism, and particularly to fight the cross-border activities that some Taliban engage in, in attacking in Afghanistan.”

Asked if the United States shared NATO’s comments on the possible impact the agreement may have in terms of providing sanctuaries for militants, he said: “We are a part of NATO, I saw those comments, I did not see the full context of them, however. So I won’t, I don’t have anything further to offer on that.

source : jang.com.pk

Karzai due in Pakistan tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: Afghan President Hamid Karzai is scheduled to visit Islamabad for top-level talks Thursday aimed at strengthening ties between the neighbours, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said.

“I can confirm that Mr Karzai is coming to Pakistan on a short visit tomorrow (Thursday),” foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit told a foreign news agency on Wednesday.

“Mr Karzai will meet President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani,” he said.

“It is part of our democratic government’s efforts to enhance our relations with Afghanistan in all areas.”

Karzai’s visit comes with the United States conducting a massive review of policy in the regional fight against extremists in South Asia. Both Afghanistan and Pakistan have been invited to contribute to the review.

US President Barack Obama has decided to send 17,000 more soldiers to fight an escalating Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan, where government officials demanded that the new troops deploy along the porous Pakistan border.

source : jang.com.pk

Pakistan to seek 4.5 billion dollars from IMF

KARACHI: Pakistan is to ask for an additional loan of 4.5 billion dollars from the International Monetary Fund to patch up an economy wilting under a widening trade deficit, an official said Tuesday.

The request will be on top of a 7.6 billion dollar advance already agreed with the IMF, and comes as Pakistani officials meet creditors to review how the cash is being spent. At the talks in Dubai, which are due to last until February 26, Pakistani and IMF officials will assess financial targets set for the country to qualify for the second installment of the loan, a finance ministry official said.

“During that meeting, Pakistan will ask for an additional loan of 4.5 billion dollars,” the official told on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized by the government to release the information. It was not immediately clear whether the IMF would grant the request.

Pakistan got 3.1 billion dollars in the first tranche of a 23-month standby IMF loan last November, with subsequent payments dependent on Islamabad’s fulfilling targets set by the international fund. Among other tight demands, the IMF wants a reduction in Pakistan’s deficit and huge borrowing from the central State Bank. The country approached the IMF last year for a rescue package as it grappled with a 30-year high inflation rate and fast-depleting reserves that held barely enough to cover nine weeks of import bills.

source : jang.com.pk

German ambassador meets Mian Nawaz Sharif

RAIWIND: A five-member delegation of the German Parliamentarians headed by German Ambassador in Pakistan Dr Michael Koch called on PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif at Raiwind farm.

Mian Nawaz Sharif during the meeting said Pakistan itself is a victim of terrorism but despite that is putting efforts for the restoration of global peace. PML-N is struggling for free judiciary and social justice.

Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif was also present during the meeting. German ambassador Dr Michael Koch said Germany wants to provide assistance for human development projects in Punjab.

source : jang.com.pk

Cold, dry weather continues across country

ISLAMABAD: The spell of cold and dry weather continues across the country however, cloudy weather is expected in upper and northern areas during next three to four days.

Meteorological Department forecast cold and dry weather in most parts of the country during next 24 hours.

The lowest minimum temperature recorded in Gupis was –8 degrees centigrade, Lahore and Islamabad 6, Karachi 13, Peshawar 7, Quetta –2 and Muree and Muzaffarabad 2 degrees centigrade.

source : jang.com.pk

Germany names envoy for Afghanistan, Pakistan

BERLIN: Germany on Monday followed the lead of the US and Britain in announcing the appointment of a special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The appointment of Bernd Muetzelburg, currently Germany’s ambassador to India, to the role will “further intensify Germany’s diplomatic engagement in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” the foreign ministry in Berlin said.

Germany is currently raising troop levels in Afghanistan to around 4,500 under the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Most of Germany’s soldiers are based in the relatively peaceful north.

Last Monday Britain appointed Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles as its envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

source : jang.com.pk

Swat situation affected entire country: Holbrooke

NEW DELHI: U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke Monday said the Swat situation affected the entire country.

Talking to journalists after arriving here, Holbrooke said he learned about the Nizam-e-Adl accord and Swat ceasefire when he was in the plane and therefore has very limited knowledge on the new developments. I would talk to the U.S. Ambassador on the ceasefire agreement, he added.

Richard Holbrooke said he could not go to Swat during his recent Pakistan visit and added that not only the people of Swat are facing hardship due to the bad situation there but the entire country including Karachi and Islamabad is also being affected.

source : jang.com.pk

Senate elections: Scrutiny of papers completed in NWFP

PESHAWAR: The Election Commission NWFP here today declared valid the nomination papers of further nine candidates for the Senate elections. Thus, the scrutiny of the nomination papers of all 24 candidates has been completed.

In all, 24 candidates had filed their nomination papers for the 11 vacant seats of the Senate for NWFP.

On Saturday, the Election Commission scrutinized the nomination papers of 15 candidates. It rejected the papers of PPP candidate Adnan Khan and declared other 14 papers valid while on Sunday, it declared valid the papers of nine more candidates.

These nine candidates are Mohammad Zahid Khan and Abdul Nabi Bangush from the Awami National Party, Ubaidullah Anwar from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Sardar Ali Khan from People’s Party, Ali Gohar, Sardar Hussain Bacha and Sardar Tanveer Ilyas – joint candidates from Muslim League and People’s Party (Sherpao) and independent candidate Mohammad Ali Tarkai.

In all, 23 of the 24 nomination papers filed for NWFP seats in the Senate have been declared valid and thus the second phase of the Senate elections has been completed.

source : jang.com.pk

Musharraf says surge in support for extremists

ISLAMABAD: Former President Pervez Musharraf has said that support for the Taliban and Al-Qaeda is increasing in Pakistan. He said terrorism and extremism pose serious threat to the security of the country.

Talking to journalists here, Musharraf said the government would have to effectively deal with extremism and terrorism. The former president said he is being invited from various global think tanks to deliver lectures. Musharraf said he would visit India next week.

Over the continued US drone attacks inside Pakistan, he said there was no tacit agreement or understanding with the US to launch drone attacks inside Pakistan.

source : jang.com.pk

Pakistan terror a direct threat: Indian FM

NEW DELHI: Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that terrorism in Pakistan poses a direct threat to India and global peace.

Responding to Pakistan’s admission about part of the Mumbai terror attacks conspiracy hatched on its soil, Mukherjee said that we will not rest until the terrorists behind Mumbai terror attacks are brought to justice.

Addressing the parliament, Mukherjee said that the Mumbai attacks were a crime committed against India.

We made it clear to Pakistan that terror from its soil is a direct threat to India, he said. He blamed that primary onus of 26/11 responsibility lies with Pakistan.

source : jang.com.pk

Pak-SL-BD triangular series cancelled

KARACHI: The triangular series between Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh scheduled for April this year in Dubai has been cancelled.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief operating officer Saleem Altaf told Geo News that Sri Lanka team is not available in April for the series and thus the event has been cancelled.

He further said that the Pakistan cricket team would tour Australia in the beginning of the next year to play a series of Test matches and One-day Internationals against the hosts.

source : jang.com.pk

MoF allows relief under IAS section 39

KARACHI: The ministry of finance in consultations with the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has allowed relief under International Accounting Standard (IAS) section 39 to the stock listed companies on financial results.

Sources close to the ministry of finance (MoF) said that relief would be given under IAS specified sections on the financial results, while the stock listed companies would be allowed to transfer their 100 percent profit and loss account to equity.

It may be recalled that the local stock listed companies were demanding amendment in IAS section 39.

source : jang.com.pk

Pak must end Mumbai attacks investigations logically: Mukherjee

NEW DELHI: Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Pakistan first time acknowledges for the first time that the Mumbai attacks were partly planned in Pakistan and now Pakistan should end Mumbai attacks investigations logically.

In a statement issued regarding Mumbai attacks, Mukherjee said Pakistan should dismantle terrorists network.

source : jang.com.pk

Pakistan urged for reforms in industrial, export sector: ADB

ISLAMABAD: Asian Development Bank (ADB) has stressed upon Pakistan for introducing reforms in the industrial and export sectors for boosting its exports.

ADB fact-finding mission in a meeting with the Planning Commission, Deputy Chairman here, underlined the need of Pakistan undertaking extensive reforms in the industrial and export sectors. The mission said that special measures would have to be taken for booting exports from all sectors including textile products for strengthening the country economically.

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Sardar Asif Ali on this occasion said that Pakistan needs grants more than donors’ loans. He underscored the need of taking recourse to alternative sources instead of taking loans for improving the economy and rescuing the country from financial crisis.

source : jang.com.pk

Pakistan says tri-series in Dubai cancelled

KARACHI: Pakistan cricket received a further blow Friday with the cancellation of a tri-series in Dubai scheduled for late March due to the unavailability of the Sri Lankan team, a top official said.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief operating officer Salim Altaf told that the event would be scrapped. “We have been told by organisers that the tri-series has been cancelled because, I believe, the Sri Lankan team is unavailable,” said Altaf.

The third team was to be Bangladesh. Altaf said he did not know why Sri Lanka could not participate. The event was part of a nine-million dollar deal with Dubai Sports City last year, which was to provide Pakistan with cricket at neutral venue after foreign teams refused to tour the country over security fears. Pakistan did not play a single Test last year after Australia postponed a tour in March citing security risks. They rescheduled the tour in two visits — for one-dayers in 2009 and Tests in 2010.

But they refused again to tour Pakistan after Canberra refused permission over fear that players could be targeted because the Australian army is among international troops deployed in neighbouring Afghanistan. The series will be played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from April 24 to May 7.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) also withdrew the eight-nation Champions trophy from Pakistan after three teams refused to tour. The ICC will decide the new venue in April. Pakistan cricket suffered another setback when India refused to send its team across the border following heightened tension in the wake of the Mumbai attacks. Pakistan has admitted that part of the planning for the attacks, which killed 165 people, was done inside Pakistan.

source : jang.com.pk

Outgoing Spanish envoy pays farewell call on President Zardari

ISLAMABAD: The outgoing Ambassador of Spain, Jose Maria Robles Fraga Friday paid a farewell call on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Presidency.

The President appreciated the services of the outgoing ambassador in further cementing the ties between the two countries and wished him good luck for his new assignment. The Ambassador said the four years he spent in Pakistan were an important part of his life and thanked the government of Pakistan for facilitating him in performing his duties and further enhancing relations between the two countries.

source : jang.com.pk

Pakistan arrests ‘main operator’ in Mumbai attacks

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan acknowledged for the first time that the Mumbai terrorist attacks were launched from its shores and at least partly plotted on its soil, saying Thursday that it had arrested most of the chief suspects including one described as “the main operator.”

Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik said Pakistan has started criminal proceedings against eight suspects — some of them also named by India as the masterminds of the attacks — but he reiterated that authorities needed more evidence from New Delhi to secure convictions.

The revelations suggest Pakistan is serious about punishing those behind the November attacks, which killed 164 people and stirred fear that the nuclear-armed neighbors could slide toward war and that Pakistan might be distracted from its struggle against the Taliban and al-Qaida.

India and the U.S. have pressed Pakistan hard to dismantle Lashkar-e-Taiba, a banned Pakistan-based group fighting Indian rule in the divided Kashmir region that is widely blamed for the Mumbai carnage. Islamabad and New Delhi have fought two out of their three wars since 1947 over the region.

India’s Foreign Ministry called Pakistan’s announcement “a positive development” and said it would consider Islamabad’s request for further information.

Malik said investigators had traced a boat engine used by the attackers to sail from Pakistan to India and busted two hideouts of the suspects near the southern city of Karachi.

Other leads pointed to Europe and the United States, and Malik said Pakistan would ask the FBI for help.

“I want to assure the international community, I want to assure all those who have been victims of terrorism that we mean business,” Malik said, waving a copy of Pakistan’s initial findings at reporters gathered inside his ministry.

“We will continue our investigation, but we want tenable evidence from India. We want full cooperation from India so that this kind of ring be smashed.”

India says all 10 gunmen — only one of whom was captured alive — were Pakistanis and that their handlers in Pakistan had kept in close touch with them by phone during the three-day assault.

New Delhi provided a dossier of evidence to Islamabad, testing Pakistan’s insistence that it would do all in its power to punish those responsible — and that it has truly abandoned its past sponsorship of Islamist militants including the Taliban.

In Pakistan’s first detailed response, Malik said criminal cases had been opened against eight suspects on charges of “abetting, conspiracy and facilitation” of a terrorist act.

He said six of them were in custody, including Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Zarrar Shah, both Lashkar-e-Taiba leaders named by India as the masterminds of the attack, and a person who sent an e-mail claiming responsibility for the attacks.

Indian media said at the time that they received an e-mail in the name of the previously unknown Deccan Mujahideen — a name which suggested an Indian rather than Pakistani group was behind the attacks and which now appears to have been a decoy.

Malik said the culprits were “non-state actors,” a phrase used by Pakistani authorities to counter allegations that its intelligence agencies had a hand in the attacks.

Malik said the assailants used three boats to travel from Pakistan to Mumbai.

He said detectives had traced an engine recovered from one of the vessels to a shop in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi. He said the shopkeeper had provided the phone number of the buyer which led to a bank account in the name of Hammad Amin Sadiq.

Malik said authorities had arrested Sadiq and obtained from him information that led them to bust two “hide-outs of the terrorists,” one in Karachi and one about two hours drive away.

He described Sadiq, a 37-year-old who had been living in Karachi, as “the main operator” but didn’t elaborate.

He said the detainees had told of how the group used a spot on the Pakistani coast to practice their sea-borne attack.

To stiffen its case, Pakistan was sending 30 questions to India about the attacks, Malik said. Among the additional details sought are the DNA of the 10 gunmen and information on intercepted phone conversations between the militants and their handlers.

He also asked New Delhi to investigate what contacts — and help — the attackers had inside India. The terrorists also used phones with Indian SIM cards, he noted. Their two suspected handlers are still at large.

India’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the government will consider Islamabad’s request. “After that examination, we will share whatever we can with Pakistan,” the statement said.

On Thursday, Malik also suggested a wider international dimension to the crime.

One suspect, Javed Iqbal, had been “lured” back from Barcelona, Spain, where he had been living, and was now in Pakistani custody. While in Spain, Iqbal had arranged Internet telephone accounts used in the attacks and bills had been paid in Italy, Malik said.

Suspects also used a digital teleconferencing system whose service provider is based in Houston, Texas, while a Thuraya phone was issued in a Middle Eastern country, he said.

Other bills were paid by a company in Islamabad and two people have been arrested as a result, Malik said.

“It is not only Pakistan, but the system of the other countries has also been used,” Malik said.

source : news.yahoo.com

PM orders termination of appointments of 3 ambassadors-at-large

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani directed the Foreign Office on Wednesday to discontinue the appointments as Ambassador-at-large of Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, Ahsanullah Khan and Hameed Asghar Qidwai.

Geo News correspondent Rauf Kalasra quoted well placed sources as saying that prime minister has terminated the appointments of three ambassadors-at-large and a notification to this effect has been issued.

Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada has been working as ambassador-at-large, a portfolio that is equivalent to that of a federal minister since 1996.

Earlier, the spokesman of the Aiwan-e-Sadr in an official handout said that President Asif Ali Zardari did not appoint Pirzada as ambassador-at-large. Ahsanullah Khan served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to United Arab Emirates, he is also a close aid to former President Pervez Musharraf. Hameed Asghar Qidwai is a former banker whose name has been cited in Mehran Bank scandal.

source : jang.com.pk

No decision to make Pirzada ambassador-at-large: Aiwan-e-Sadar

ISLAMABAD: Sharifuddin Pirzada is working as ambassador-at-large, equivalent to federal minister,r since 1996 while spokesman of the Aiwan-e-Sadar said that President Asif Ali Zardari has not decided to appoint Pirzada as ambassador-at-large.

In an official handout, the spokesman said that it has not been decided by the President of Pakistan to make Sharifuddin Pirzada as the ambassador-at-large and there is no truth in reports that Pirzada has been appointed as minister of state.

source : jang.com.pk

Flour price increased in Balochistan

QUETTA: Flour price has been increased in Balochistan and the price of 20 kg bag of flour has gone up to Rs50.

Flour bag of 20 kg is being sold at Rs650 to Rs700 in various districts of Balochistan including Quetta for the last two days whereas the same flour is available at fair-price shops at Rs530.

Flour dealers said that the government has abolished quota for bringing flour from Punjab due to which they are not getting flour from Punjab.

Owners of flour mills in Quetta have refused to lift flour from government godowns saying that wheat imported from Ukraine is sub-standard.

Meanwhile, Director Food Balochistan said that reserves of wheat for two months is available in government godowns and there is no scarcity of flour in the province.

He said that an action would immediately be taken against those increasing the prices of flour in the province.

source : jang.com.pk

Bomb wounds Pakistan Taliban commander: officials

PESHAWAR: A Pakistani Taliban commander and key aide to tribal warlord Baitullah Mehsud was wounded Monday in a bomb attack that killed his driver near the Afghan border, officials said.

A remote-controlled bomb exploded by the side of a road in the Tanga area of South Waziristan, a semi-autonomous tribal district, when Noor Syed Mehsud was passing in a vehicle en route to Jandola village.

“According to reports received here Mehsud was slightly injured, while his driver died in the bomb blast,” a security official in Wana, the main town of South Waziristan, told. Another security official confirmed the incident. Preliminary reports attributed the bombing to factional fighting between Baitullah Mehsud’s men and loyalists of Abdullah Mehsud, he said.

Abdullah Mehsud, 32, became leader of Pakistani Taliban insurgents based in South Waziristan in 2004, after Pakistani government forces launched military operations to clear out extremists from the troubled tribal region. He was accused of having links with Al-Qaeda and spent 25 months in the US-run prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba until his release in March 2004. Abdullah was wanted for the 2004 kidnapping of two Chinese engineers in Pakistan and he blew himself up with a hand grenade in July 2007 to avoid capture by security forces.

Baitullah Mehsud took over command of the Taliban militants after Abdullah and formed the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) umbrella group. Pakistan’s former government accused Baitullah of plotting the assassination of ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto in December 2007.

source : jang.com.pk

Dr. Qadeer, other decisions made in Pak interest: Musharraf

ISLAMABAD: Former President General (Retd.) Pervez Musharraf Sunday said he is proud of achievements and success of Pakistan in its atomic programs.

In an interview, he said he made all the decisions including that about Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan keeping in view country’s interests.

“Pakistan is self-reliant in connection with his atomic programs,” Pervez Musharraf asserted.

source : jang.com.pk

Sonia’s tirades against Pakistan in Lok Sabha election campaign

NEW DELHI: Indian ruling party Congress Chief, Sonia Gandhi has kicked off her campaign for Lok Sabha elections by hurling tirades against Pakistan and vowed giving befitting reply to the cross border terrorism.

Addressing Congress Convention here, the ruling party chief, Sonia Gandhi said that those, who were helping the terrorists, they would be dealt with severely. Sonia Gandhi said that terrorism was a big challenge for India and the cross border terrorism would be thrashed effectively.

She urged upon the people to renew their confidence in Congress and added that her party wanted the people’s mandate for fighting out divisive elements in the society.

source : jang.com.pk