Forces capture Hakimullah’s hometown

WANA/PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD: After several days of siege and sporadic fighting, security forces have seized the control of Kotkai village, the second important spot after Spinkai Raghzai captured by the advancing troops since the launch of the operation Rah-e-Nijat on October 17.

Though a small village having a population no more than 6,000 with almost all the houses vacated by the residents, Kotkai was the stronghold of the militants and the native village of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud and his cousin Qari Hussain, known as the mentor of suicide bombers.

Security officials said the troops launched the assault on Kotkai in the night between Friday and Saturday and pushed back the militants after intense fighting that lasted several hours.

Sources said the militants offered tough resistance in the Shishamwam mountainous area where intense fighting was reported between the two sides. Hours long battle enabled the troops to enter Kotkai, where three security personnel and four fighters were killed.

Another three soldiers suffered injuries, while four militants were captured by the troops in injured condition. Security forces launched a search and clearance operation and recovered arms from several hideouts of the Taliban besides defusing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted along the road by the retreating militants.

After the lapse of one week, security forces are now in control of four important locations, including Kotkai, Chalweshtai, Sherwangai and Spinkai Raghzai, all small villages but important from the strategic point of view.

The fall of Kotkai is a setback for the Taliban, who were fighting tooth and nail over the past one week to defend the village of their commanders.

Kotkai was also captured by security forces during the January 2008 military operation. However, the onward advance of soldiers and guerrilla attacks by the militants caused losses to the troops and halted their progress at the time. Subsequently, the troops withdrew following a peace deal with slain TTP chief Baitullah Mehsud.

“The slow advance on Kotkai this time was meant to secure all sides as well as the hilltops which might be used by the militants for launching attacks on the troops,” said a security official.

Addressing a joint press conference with Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira in Islamabad, DG ISPR Athar Abbas said security forces had captured Kotkai after intense fighting.

“It is a big success of the Pakistan Army as Kotkai is the native place of the terrorists’ leader Hakimullah Mehsud and Qari Hussain and because of its location,” Athar Abbas said.

The Army spokesman said the place was a stronghold of the terrorists with majority of houses converted into strong bunkers, besides having a suicide bombers training camp of Qari Hussain.

“Security forces are now in the process of clearing the built-up area from IEDs, mines and booby traps,” he said.

He said security forces were also in control of Shishamwam and were in the process of securing the surrounding heights. During the exchange of fire, 21 terrorists were killed while three soldiers embraced Shahadat and eight were injured.

Quoting local resources, Major General Athar Abbas said these sources had also confirmed that during the initial stages of the operation (October 17 and 18) in Spinkai/Kund sector, 80-90 terrorists, including Uzbeks and other foreigners, were killed and 150 injured.

Quoting reliable sources, he said due to the pressure of the ongoing operation, there had been large-scale desertions amongst the rank and file of the terrorist groups. “It has been also reported that the terrorists are trimming their beards to escape from the area,” he said.

Answering a question, Athar Abbas said the Army had no accord with terrorists in Waziristan. “The accords in South Waziristan with Ahmadzai tribe and in North Waziristan with Wazir tribe are between the government and the tribal elders,” he said, adding that it was for the tribal leaders to honour the accords with the government.

Answering another question about vacation of some key check-posts by the US-led Nato forces at the Pak-Afghan border in Afghanistan, he said: “We have asked for reasons of vacating the posts.”

On the Shakai-Kaniguram axis, the military spokesman said after securing Chalweshtai, security forces were in the process of securing important height of Tarkona Narai. “This feature has a number of terraces with fortified positions and dominates the important junction on road leading to Kaniguram and Sarwakai.”

Stiff resistance was being put up by terrorists and in the exchange of fire six militants were killed, he said.

Responding to a question, General Abbas said there was no report about any assistance to the militants from across the border, adding that the area was far from the Pak-Afghan border.

Official sources said the troops had made 15-kilometre advance from Jandola towards the Taliban stronghold of Srarogha since October 17. They said the troops hoisted the country’s flag at Kotkai. A key road was closed after taking control of the village, thus disconnecting the supply routes of the militants hiding in the nearby mountains.

The sources said the militants would now not be able to travel in vehicles. Instead, they would be using long and mountainous routes to go from one place to another, they added. They said the next key objective was the capture of Srarogha, which would cut all supply routes of militants hiding in the mountains.

Local sources said security forces launched a search operation in Badar and Chalweshtai area and a huge cache of arms had been found in Khaisoora village.

Officials said 11,080 families, who arrived in Dera Ismail Khan by August 31, had been registered while registration of 9,792 recently-arrived families since October 13 had also been completed.

They said food baskets for two months and non-food items had already been distributed among the previously displaced people, while distribution of one-month ration and non-food items among the recently-arrived population was underway.

PCB announced team against NZ Tour

After a lull in international assignments over the last two years, Pakistan suddenly find themselves embarking on a schedule that will keep them in action until February next year. They first play three one-dayers in Abu Dhabi starting November 3, followed by two Twenty20s in Dubai before heading off to New Zealand for a three-Test series. Following that, they move to Australia where they have another three-Test series and a series of five ODIs as well as a T20I. The large squads, in part, reflects the heavy schedule.

 

Squads

Tests: Salman Butt, Khurrum Manzoor, Imran Farhat, Younis Khan (capt), Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Fawad Alam, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal (wk), Danish Kaneria, Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer, Abdur Rauf, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmad

One-dayers: Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Khalid Latif, Younis Khan (capt), Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal (wk), Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamer, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Wahab Riaz

Twety20: Khalid Latif, Imran Nazir, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi (capt), Kamran Akmal (wk), Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamer, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Saeed Ajmal, Imran Farhat, Fawad Alam, Sohail Tanvir

Misbah axed from all three formats

Misbah-ul-Haq's international revival seems to have come to an end, after he was left out from the squads in all three formats for Pakistan's upcoming series of ODIs, T20Is and Tests against New Zealand in the Middle East and New Zealand. Pakistan's selection committee have seemingly covered as many bases as possible in the three formats, recalling several forgotten names and forming an usually large 18-man Test squad.

Misbah's form has been poor in all three formats over the last year, in contrast to 2007, when he reignited his dormant international career in sensational fashion at the World Twenty20 in South Africa and then on a tour to India. The emergence of Umar Akmal as a middle order prospect has, for now at least, brought Misbah's second innings to a close.

However, chief selector Iqbal Qasim hoped Misbah would regain form before the tour to Australia later this year. "He has been given rest because we think he is under pressure and needs time to regroup himself," Qasim said.

The other major theme to the squads is the return of opener Imran Farhat, who ends a two-year exile after his stint in the Indian Cricket League by being picked in all three squads. Pakistan's last few squads have lacked specialist openers; at the Champions Trophy, only Imran Nazir was a specialist in the position.

Alongside Farhat returns another left-handed opener, Salman Butt; he was dropped after a poor series in Sri Lanka this summer but is back in both the Test and ODI squads. According to the selectors, the left-hander was brought back to avoid reliance on makeshift openers. "Opening is a specialized field and we want to hand over this job to regular openers," Qasim said.

Nazir is retained in the Twenty20 squad. Khalid Latif, in imperious domestic form, has also been recalled to Pakistan's ODI and Twenty20 squads, offering another opening option.

There will be disappointment at the non-selection of fresh faces performing well in domestic cricket, particularly batsmen, but the selectors have recalled left-arm pacemen Sohail Tanvir and Wahab Riaz. The pair make up for the absence of Mohammad Asif from the first limited-overs leg of the tour; because of his deportation last year from Dubai, Asif is unable to travel back and so has been picked only for the Test squad.

Seven players - the Akmal brothers, Saeed Ajmal, Farhat, Shoaib Malik, Umar Gul and Mohammad Aamer - find a place in all three squads. Younis Khan, after resigning and coming back in the last week as captain, will lead the Test and ODI side, and Shahid Afridi remains the Twenty20 captain.

Clinton vows US support for Pakistan’s ‘courageous’ fight

WASHINGTON: As Pakistan pushed its battle against militant stronghold in South Waziristan amid continuing retaliatory terrorist attacks, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton voiced US solidarity and support for the nation’s ‘courageous’ anti-terror fight.

Speaking at US Institute of Peace, Clinton also noted that the recent terrorist attacks against government and military targets do not pose a threat to Pakistan’s nuclear command and control or access.

‘We don’t think that those attacks pose a threat to the nuclear command and control or access.’

‘We have been reassured about the security of the nuclear weapons stockpiles and facilities. But it is obviously a matter that we are watching very closely,’ she said in reply to a question about nuclear safety and the threat of proliferation in the wake of last week’s deadly attacks in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Washington, she said, remains in touch with Islamabad over these issues.

Clinton’s remarks came as Pakistanis braved an unprecedented wave of terrorist bombings to fight a high-stakes battle against militants in the tribal area of South Waziristan bordering Afghanistan, where the US-led forces are struggling to contain an expanding Taliban insurgency.

‘We are supporting the Pakistani Government in their courageous efforts against these extremists, which, to us, is one of the most important steps they can take to make sure that these questions that you raise are going to be answered satisfactorily.’
In answer to another question, the top US diplomat said the Obama Administration saw the ultimate passage of the $7.5 billion five-year economic assistance package, called Kerry Lugar Bill, as a ‘great milestone in our relationship.’


‘I believe we have gone a long way in answering and putting to rest a lot of those misperceptions. As you know, Foreign Minister (Shah Mahmood) Qureshi made a special trip here last week and met with members of Congress, certainly Senator (John) Kerry and Congressman (Howard) Berman and others, to make clear what the intent of the legislation was. And on his recent trip in the region, Senator Kerry, in between helping us very significantly answer concerns raised in Afghanistan, made a trip to Islamabad where he reiterated our approach.’


Clinton said the US will try to do a good public diplomacy job in responding to misperceptions about its position on various issues and underlined that the ‘United States is hoping to be a good partner for not just the Government of Pakistan, but more importantly, the people of Pakistan.’—APP

Illegal Afghans given 72 hours to leave Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik has issued a 72-hour notice for illegal Afghans living in Islamabad to leave the capital.


The interior minister issued the ultimatum following today’s militant attack on a senior military official in Sector G11, a residential area that is located near an illegal Afghan settlement.

Rehman Malik has also ordered a door-to-door search in five major sectors of the capital, including G9, G10 and G11. The objective of this search is to hunt down illegal Afghans and terrorists.

The interior minister has also said certain Pakistani money exchange agencies and their foreign sources are involved in terror financing.

Rehman Malik said the government has taken serious notice of these reports. He has directed the FIA to conduct a full fledged investigation. He added that anyone found guilty of terror financing, will be charged under the Anti-Terrorism act.

Terrorism biggest problem for Pakistan, says Nawaz

Sharif expressed these views while addressing workers at the residence of MNA Begum Tehmina Daultana after expressing condolence on the demise of her husband Zahid Anwar Wahla.

Shairf said that democracy can steer the country out of troubles and put it on path to prosperity and development.

He expressed concerns that democracy was derailed time and again in the past, and termed it the main factor behind troubles confronting the country. Pakistan could have earned the status of a developed country by now had there been no derailment of democracy, said Nawaz.

Mian Nawaz Sharif highlighted the need for overpowering the energy crisis, adding that load shedding had affected the country’s industrial and agriculture sectors.

He said that our country was obtained after offering numerous sacrifices, and that the lively nation of Pakistan can overcome all problems.

He said that Pakistan can emerge as a developed country by virtue of rule of law, independent judiciary, justice, merit and democracy.—APP

Sudan UN peace mission head assassinated in Islamabad

SLAMABAD: Suspected Taliban militants shot and killed a Pakistani army brigadier and his driver in the capital on Thursday as the military continued a major offensive against the insurgents in their strongholds near the Afghan border.

Militants shot and killed Brigadier Moin-ud-din Ahmed, deputy force commander of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), who was on vacation in Islamabad.
'Everyone in the mission is very shocked,' Kouider Zerrouk, UNMIS spokesman told Reuters. UNMIS, one of the world's largest UN peacekeeping missions with around 11,000 personnel, was set up to monitor and support the 2005 peace deal than ended the two-decade civil war between Sudan's north and south.

Ahmed, whose rank is equivalent to a US brigadier-general, one step below a full one-star general, is the second senior officer to be killed in less than two weeks following a commando-style raid on army headquarters in Rawalpindi.


A shopkeeper, Naveed Haider, said he saw a man running, his face covered with a yellow cloth, before he heard gunshots.

'A man with a motorbike was waiting for him on the street. He sat on it and they fled,' the witness said before taken away by police for questioning. Police said Brig. Haider's driver was also killed and a bodyguard wounded.

Waziristan after militants rocked the country with a string of bomb and suicide attacks, killing more than 150 people.


Analysts have warned of the possibility of more urban attacks as the militants are squeezed out of their strongholds, with the Taliban hoping bloodshed and disruption will cause the government and ordinary people to lose their appetite for the offensive. -Reuters

Troops face stiff resistance in South Waziristan

LADDAH: Troops and militants were locked in fierce clashes in several Mehsud areas of South Waziristan on Tuesday and the army said that 12 Taliban fighters had been killed since Monday night. Four security personnel lost their lives.

Troops trying to dislodge militants from their positions and take control of hilltops and strategic locations were facing stiff resistance.

According to an official of the political administration, the four security personnel, an army major among them, were killed in clashes in Toor Ghundai. Four soldiers were injured in Sherwangi.

Heavy clashes were reported from Nawazkot and Makin areas. The official said the Taliban had suffered heavy casualties in Toor Ghundai, but he was not sure about the number of casualties.

Sources said that militants had repulsed an attack in Kotkai area.

The Inter-Services Public Relations said that troops had seized a large quantity of weapons and ammunition and were consolidating their positions in Sherwangi after securing important heights.

In the Jandola-Sararogha axis, troops are consolidating their positions and extending the perimeter of security around Kaskai and Shisanwam. Terrorists attacked security forces from surrounding heights with rockets and small arms.

According to the ISPR, 21 mortar bombs, 22 grenades, five RPGs, two heavy machineguns with 600 rounds, one 75mm RR, 14 107mm SBRL rockets, 27 82mm mortar bombs, 100 rifle rounds, seven rockets, 900 machinegun rounds and 11 IEDs were seized in Sagarzai, Spinkai, Nazarkhel, Tarakai Ridge, Spin Ghara, Kund and Kalkalle areas.

Three vehicles allegedly used by terrorists were destroyed. The village of Khasura is being cleared of IEDs and mines.

Relief work: About 134,477 displaced families have been registered at six camps in Dera Ismail Khan and Tank districts. Five IDP camps have been set up in Nairela, Runhpur, Sheikh Yousaf, Mufti Mehmood and Muryali areas of D.I. Khan and one in Tank.

Pazir Gul adds from Miramshah: Security forces in North Waziristan arrested five suspects at a checkpost in Dangeen, near Razmak, on Tuesday.

Officials said the suspects belonging to the Mehsud tribe were coming in a car from South Waziristan. They were taken to Miramshah, the regional headquarters, for interrogation.

Ijaz defends Younis, retains him as captain

(PCB) has retained him as captain for an unconfirmed period, keeping his fitness as the only condition in order to resolve the issue that arose last week after the captain tendered his resignation as a result of being interrogated by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee for Sports.

While addressing a crowded press conference after the Governing Board members’ meeting here on Monday, the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt said: ‘I did not accept Younis’s resignation, which means he is still the captain and I hope he retains the post for a long time such as till the 2011 World Cup, provided he keeps himself fit.’

Younis had resigned in protest of a statement by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports’ Chairman Jamshed Dasti, alleging the match against Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy was fixed. But he then, surprisingly, tabled his own demands before Ijaz in order to withdraw the resignation.

According to reports, Younis wanted to remain captain for a long-term besides having a two-member touring selection committee comprising captain and coach only and no role of the manager, associate manager and vice-captain.

To make things more confusing for the media, the chairman was not ready to give a clear statement over the issue.

He also volleyed questions about Younis’ leading the team against New Zealand in Dubai and Abu Dhabi next month. He said that he was the captain and would be leading the team, while pretending that everything was just fine with no major crisis since last week.


When asked if the PCB would accept all of Younis’ demands, he did not say much except: ‘If two people meet for two to three hours, they must have taken some decisions.’

Ijaz held a meeting with Younis at his private office last week in order to defuse the situation and reduce the tension by convincing him to withdraw his decision.

However, he gave out a clear message to confirm that Younis’ second demand about the two-member touring selection committee was also accepted although with a slight change when he said that from now on the chairman of the selection committee (Iqbal Qasim), coach and captain would be included in the committee.

However, Ijaz announced that Yawar would be a part of the team management, despite his having announced that the recently-concluded ICC Champions Trophy was his last one.

‘I have again requested Manager Yawar Saeed to do the job in the series against New Zealand and he has accepted my request,’ he said.

It may be mentioned here that Yawar had decided to quit his job after the last series against Sri Lanka but had continued till the ICC Champions Trophy on Ijaz’s request.

As manager, Yawar, one of Ijaz’s close friends, had accomplished nothing remarkable except for triggering a controversy in Sri Lanka when he had failed to stop some bookies from making contact with the Pakistani players. And the hotel floor of the team had to be changed as a result of that.

Moreover, he avoided taking strict action against Fawad Alam for his indiscipline both in Sri Lanka and South Africa (ICC Champions Trophy).

He did not even report the incident involving Fawad in his managerial report for the tour of Sri Lanka and he could only impose a Rs10,000 fine on him for the South African episode.


Surprisingly, although Ijaz has also announced Yawar as his next manager he was unclear about the fate of the other members of the team management, mainly associate manager Shafqat Rana.

When asked if Shafqat Rana would be retained as associate manager, he said no decision about the team management was taken as yet and it would be finalised in a couple of days.

Sources say that Ijaz would now try to have Yawar Saeed on the next Governing Board to be formed after the existing board completes its two-year tenure on Nov 9.

Meanwhile, the chairman defended Younis in taking a firm stand against Dasti’s statement saying that his reaction would have been the same had he been in the captain’s place.

‘Nobody can bear such allegations and Younis was right in his action,’ Ijaz went on to say.

Ijaz, however, couldn’t defend Younis in the face of the good number of questions about his attitude and short temper due to which he also quit his captaincy in the past. He could only ask the media why they were so against the captain.

‘After all, Pakistan won the recent Twenty20 World Cup under Younis’ captaincy. We also reached the Champions Trophy semi-final under his leadership. A majority of the nation believes that Younis is a better captain even though the media may have other views,’ he retorted.

When asked what would happen if Younis quit his captaincy during a match, Ijaz said that the PCB would then announce another captain.

Pakistan urges Nato to seal Afghan border

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday urged Nato troops stationed in Afghanistan to share intelligence and seal the border as it mounts a massive offensive against Taliban militants in the lawless northwest.

Nearly 30,000 troops are pressing a three-pronged push in South Waziristan, part of the Al-Qaeda-infested tribal district bordering Afghanistan. There are more than 100,000 foreign troops under US and Nato command in Afghanistan.

Pakistan unleashed the offensive after a recent string of spectacular attacks including a 22-hour siege on the army headquarters. Pakistani troops are up against about 10,000 Tehreek-e-Taliban fighters.

Pakistan Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman General Tariq Majid made Tuesday’s call during talks with Britain’s armed forces chief Jock Stirrup, a military statement said.

Appreciating the efforts and contributions made by British forces in Afghanistan, Majid stressed the need to effectively seal the border on the Afghan side to prevent militants escaping out of Pakistan with weapons, it said.

The general also called for ‘synchronization of effort on both sides and sharing of real time intelligence with reference to the ongoing operations’ in South Waziristan.

Stirrup expressed ‘solidarity and full support’ to Pakistan but warned against negative fall out in the southwestern province of Balochistan which borders Afghanistan and Iran.

Previous offensives against militants in the northwestern tribal belt have had limited success, costing the lives of 2,000 troops and in general ending with controversial peace agreements allowing militants to re-arm.

Stirrup’s visit coincides with twin suicide blasts at a Pakistani university campus that killed five people.—AFP

Islamabad twin blasts kill 4 persons

A double suicide bombing at Islamabad’s International Islamic University on Tuesday killed up to seven people, including the two bombers, an administration official said.

‘Seven people, including two suicide bombers are dead, and 29 injured in the two attacks. Among the dead is one female,’ a senior administration official, Rana Akbar Hayat told AFP at the scene of the attack.

Police investigators confirmed that both were suicide attacks.

Speaking at the capital’s main hospital, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said there were six dead…

US must allay Pakistan concerns over KLB

The Pakistani civilian and military leadership, in spite of belated and hurriedly inserted clarification in the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act 2009 (Kerry-Lugar Bill), clearly told the visiting Chairman US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator John Kerry that the US must take cognisance of public sentiments in Pakistan and seek to address them.

Senator Kerry was clearly told that Pakistan would never compromise on its sovereignty and core national security interests.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif and COAS General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in their separate meetings with Senator Kerry made it very clear that the bill was a matter of concern as it still failed to remove the apprehensions that the conditionalities had created. The senator also met President Asif Ali Zardari and ISI chief General Shuja Pasha.

Interestingly, the statement from the Presidency did not make any mention of what stand President Asif Ali Zardari had specifically taken regarding the bill in his meeting with Kerry and whether he had expressed concerns, if any. There was, however, a mention that the issue was raised in the meeting.

President Zardari expressed the hope that ROZs legislation would soon be approved by the US and counter-productive labour provision will be softened. He said that Pakistan looked forward to enhancement of area as well as product coverage in the ROZs scheme. He said that ROZs should not be seen as trade concession measures but an effective instrument to quell militancy and extremism.

The General Headquarters through a terse four-line statement issued by the ISPR barely acknowledged the meeting saying, “The visiting dignitary remained with the chief of Army staff for some time and discussed matters of mutual interests”.

DG ISPR, General Athar Abbas, when asked if the “clarification” added to the bill and the meeting between Kayani and Senator Kerry had changed the views from what it held publicly after the last corps commanders meeting, said: “We said at the time that it is up to the government and parliament to decide about the bill. Today, despite the ‘clarification’ and the meeting at the General Headquarters, our stance remains the same that it is up to the government and parliament to decide,” he told The News.

Senator Kerry, meanwhile, in his meetings stressed that the controversy over the Kerry-Lugar Bill was unfortunate, saying it was a genuine effort on the part of the US to build a long-term partnership between the two countries by investing $7.5 billion in the next five years in the socio-economic development of the people of Pakistan. Others who met him quoted him as saying that Pakistan was free to reject the aid if it so desired.

In his meeting with Gilani he once again stressed and hoped that the joint explanatory statement has successfully allayed the misgivings of the concerned circles in Pakistan. In all his meetings he tried to clarify that he wanted to reassure the leadership about the real intent of US Congress and administration to help Pakistan through the Kerry-Lugar Bill legislation.


Interestingly, Gilani has only recently, and that too under public pressure, talked about the intrusions that this bill contains. He, however, knows well that legally it is not possible to make any changes because it is now a law and has been signed by the US president.

The prime minister nevertheless stressed that Pakistan will never compromise on its sovereignty and core national security interests. He pointed out that the US administration should channel the assistance under the Kerry-Lugar Bill through the trust funds for uplift and reconstruction in the districts of Malakand Division and added that through Benazir Income Support Programme it could reach out the poor segments of society.

While underlining the importance of support of the masses for decisive victory, the prime minister highlighted the imperative of development aspect in his government’s strategy to gain the sustained support of the nation on this issue.

The prime minister apprised Senator Kerry of the dislocation of people that had already started and is expected to rise in the coming weeks. He urged the US and friends of Pakistan to come forward wholeheartedly to provide adequate financial assistance to cater to the needs of the dislocated persons. He emphasised that financial support was urgently required for the reconstruction of the affected areas in Malakand and Swat.

The prime minister said Pakistan would remain constructively engaged with the international partners including the US to promote the shared objectives of peace, security and development in Afghanistan. Pakistan looks forward to continued cooperation with the new elected government of Afghanistan in the best interest of peace and security of the region.


He also underlined the need for provision of market access for Pakistani products and for expeditious passage of ROZs Bill in this regard.

Nawaz Sharif stuck to the stand that his party had taken all along and in a luncheon meeting with the visiting senator reaffirmed that the bill, with its conditionalities, continues to cause concerns, which needed to be addressed to establish a relationship of trust and confidence between the two countries.

According to a statement from the party office, Sharif urged the senator to consider suitable measures to allay the doubts and misgivings that had arisen in Pakistan.

Sharif hoped that conditionalities would never come in the way of the US at any stage in fulfilling its commitments to Pakistan in the Kerry-Lugar Bill. This would be the real test of US credibility, he added.

The issue of Pakistan’s fight against militancy and terrorism also came up during Kerry’s meetings and he was informed by the civilian leadership that there was national consensus of all political forces in the country to eliminate terrorism and extremism on the basis of which military action is under way in South Waziristan.

Online adds: Talking to Senator Kerry, President Asif Ali Zardari again made it clear that Pakistan wants strong and stable relations based on principles while seeking timely reimbursement of over $1 billion on account of Coalition Support Fund (CSF) to Pakistan.

Briefing media, Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said in his meeting with US Senator John F Kerry matters relating to Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009, bilateral relations, fight against militancy and terrorism and regional situation were discussed.

President Asif Ali Zardari thanked the US leadership for supporting democracy in Pakistan and said he looked forward to Secretary Clinton’s visit to Islamabad and holding of US-Pak Strategic Dialogue.

The president asked the US Senator to use his influence for timely reimbursement of over $1 billion on account of CSF. Senator John Kerry said that as laid in the Joint Explanatory Statement, the core intent of the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act is to demonstrate the American people’s long-term commitment to the people of Pakistan.

He hoped that this long-term assistance would help in bringing about qualitative change in the lives of the people of Pakistan, especially in the areas worst hit by militancy, through direct investment in needed areas such as infrastructural development, schools, roads and medical clinics.

Senator Kerry thanked the President for meeting him and assured that US would continue to provide all possible assistance to the democratic dispensation in Pakistan in strengthening democracy, rule of law, sustainable economic development and its capability to effectively take on militants.

The meeting at the Presidency was also attended by US Ambassador Anne W Patterson, senior officials of the Embassy and US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin and Interior Minister Rehman Malik.

Up to 320 Civilians Killed in Pakistan Drone War

How many civilians have been killed in the U.S. drone war in Pakistan? The number could be as high as 320 innocents, according to an analysis released today by the New America Foundation. That’s about a third of the 1,000 or so people slain in the robotic aircraft attacks since 2006.

Reliable information from the drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal areas is incredibly hard to come by. The government not only keeps news organizations out, it also blocks aid groups, like Doctors Without Borders. So analysts are forces to rely only press reports, which are themselves relying on second-hand accounts. The result: wildly different estimates of who has died in the attacks. In April, the News of Pakistan claimed that Predator and Reaper attacks had only killed 14 militants; the rest were bystanders. Last month, the Long War Journal estimated that about 10 percent of the casualties were civilian. The New America study, lead by long-time terrorism researcher Peter Bergen, comes down somewhere in between.

CIA director Leon Panetta told an audience last May that the drones were “the only game in town in terms of confronting or trying to disrupt the Al Qaeda leadership.” But the New America study contends that the terror group’s chieftains make up just a tiny percentage of the unmanned aircraft’s victims. “Since 2006, our analysis indicates, 82 U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan have killed between 750 and 1,000 people. Among them were about 20 leaders of Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and allied groups, all of whom have been killed since January 2008.” The rest have been footsoldiers in the militant organizations, or civilians.

Perhaps the most frequent target of the drone strikes was Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud. Since President Obama took office, 15 of the 41 reported attacks were specifically aimed at Mehsud.He was finally killed on August 5th, along with one of his wives and her father.

All of which leads Jane Mayer, the New Yorker reporter who revealed so much of what we know about the abusive treatment of detainees, to take aim at the drone program. “The embrace of the Predator program has occurred with remarkably little public discussion, given that it represents a radicall new and geographically unbounded use of state-sanctioned lethal force. And, because of the CIA program’s secrecy, there is no visible system of accountability in place, despite the fact that the agency has killed many civilians inside a politically fragile, nuclear-armed country with which the U.S. is not at war,” she writes in the magazine’s current issue.

In July 2001… the U.S. denounced Israel’s use of target killing against Palestinian terrorists… The CIA, which had been chastened by past assassination scandals, refused to deploy the Predator for anything other than surveillance purposes… George Tenet, then the agency’s director, argued that it would be a ‘terrible mistake’ for ‘the Director of Central Intelligence to fire a weapon like this.’

…Seven years later, there is no longer any doubt that targeted killing has become official U.S. policy.

Iran blames US, Britain, and Pakistan for bombings

Iran stepped up accusations on Monday against the US, Britain, and Pakistan, saying all three countries have links to a Sunni group blamed for Sunday's suicide blast that killed more than 40, including at least five senior members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard.

Tehran said it would demand that Pakistan hand over the attack's suspected mastermind. It said the country's intelligence agency, along with those of the US and Britain had a hand in planning and directing the attack.

The accusations are likely to ratchet up tensions between Iran and the West, which are already high over Iran's nuclear program.

The US, Britain, and Pakistan have all denied any involvement in Sunday's attack.

A Sunni rebel group, Jundallah, claimed responsibility for the attack in Pasheen, in southeast Iran near the border with Pakistan. The group has long waged an anti-government insurgency in the Sistan and Baluchistan region, claiming Tehran discriminates against the area's Baloch ethnic minority.

Iran said Monday that Pakistan was harboring the planners of Sunday's attack, and that it would demand that the leader of Jundullah be arrested and sent to Iran.

"The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, General Mohammad Ali Jafari, said a delegation would head to Pakistan to deliver 'proof' that Islamabad is supporting Sunni militant leader Abdolmalek Rigi, whose Jundallah (Soldiers of God) group has for years being waging war against the Shiite rule of Iran," reported media.

The speaker of Iran's parliament also accused the US of being behind the attack,

"We consider this recent terrorist act to be the result of the US actions and this is a sign of their enmity," said parliament Speaker Ali Larijani.

A US State Department spokesman said the accusation was "completely false."

"We condemn this act of terrorism and mourn the loss of innocent lives. Reports of alleged US involvement are completely false," Ian Kelly told media.

Britain also denied Iran's allegations. Pakistan's foreign ministry denied Monday that Rigi was even in Pakistan, according to US media.

US trusts Pakistan Government on Terror War

US has said combating war on terrorism is in interest of both Pakistan and United States and it has full trust on Pakistani government and will continue extending support to Pakistan in this connection, Geo news reported Monday.


Briefing media here, the spokesman to US state department Ian Kelley said he was unaware of an agreement to keep some militant factions out of the fight for now, but other U.S. officials said the strategy is not surprising or necessarily worrisome.

Because the faction loyal to Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud poses the most direct threat to the Pakistani government and army, it is the logical first target, U.S. officials briefed on the offensive said.

He said conducting operation in tribal mountainous areas is an uneasy job but Pakistan army successfully carried out military offensive against Taliban in Swat and now is engaged in South Waziristan Agency (SWA), which reflects its determination to toot out terrorism.

The United States, while criticizing the suicide bombing on Iran, mentioned that it is not involved in the attack.

Spokesman Kelly said, “We condemn this act of terrorism and mourn the loss of innocent lives”. "Reports of alleged US involvement are completely false," he added.

Gilani praises Chairman Imran Khan for Education Promotion

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Saturday that the root cause of terrorism was illiteracy and his government had resolved to provide better education in the country.

Speaking at the inauguration of up-gradation of the NAMAL College in Mianwali to a university — a project launched by PTI chairman Imran Khan — Gilani said Imran Khan was doing a great service in the field of education in a remote area of Pakistan.

The premier praised the PTI chairman for setting up the institute, saying giving access to education was a noble cause because knowledge was power.

“Education and the provision of health facilities is the top priority of his government and we will focus on these issues,” he added. Prime Minister Gilani attended the ceremony at the residence of Imran Khan, defying security threats.

He announced 100 scholarships worth Rs200,000 each for the students of the NAMAL University. Degree classes at the university commenced from Saturday. Ambassadors and top elite of Islamabad was also present at the dinner hosted by Imran Khan.

In a brief speech, Prime Minister Gilani recalled that his forefathers were instrumental in setting up educational institutions in Multan and one of such institutes was still considered best in the region. He said it was his earnest desire to follow his forefathers.

Prime Minister Gilani said the government would strive to give best emoluments to the teachers so that they could fully concentrate on educating the future generations of Pakistan. He also lauded the services being rendered by the Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore, also set up by the former cricketer.

Speaking on the occasion, Imran Khan briefed the audience about his aim to make the project a success. Imran Khan said it was not a political function and he had invited the people above the party line.

In his witty remarks, he said: “I wanted to invite President Asif Ali Zardari here but due to security situation I did not do so because if any thing happened to him then I might be prime suspect”.

Later, when reporters approached Prime Minister Gilani for a press talk, Imran Khan requested him not to hold press talk, saying it would make the function a political event because political questions would be asked.

NRO Bill Disgrace to Parliament

PMLN Chief Nawaz Sharif said that NRO’s approval will be a disgrace to Parliament. He said that “Parliament must not fail in this vital test because it amounts to legalising corruption and cronyism”.

Dawn reports:

Political parties, he added, should not use parliament for legitimising corruption because it would set a disastrous precedent, destroying their credibility.

‘If approved, the ordinance will tarnish the country’s image,’ he warned.


The News reports:

He said if parliament passed the NRO, a legacy of the oppose the NRO inside parliament but lobby hard against its passage in both houses of the legislature,” PML-N spokesman Senator Pervez Rashid told The News.

Asked about Nawaz’s direct role in getting the NRO scrapped through the disapproval resolution, he said that the PML-N would not hesitate to seek his active participation in such a campaign.

Musharraf Blames Aziz for Bugti’s Murder

Ex-President and Army Chief Pervez Musharraf has now blamed Shaukat Aziz for the murder of Akbar Bugti and claimed that he was merely head of the state, and Shaukat Aziz was running the government affairs.


Talking to media persons after attending a reception hosted in his honour here on Sunday night, Musharraf said he could not be accused of Akbar Bugti’s killing because at that time there was a chief minister, a prime minister and others, who were running the government…

PCB rejects Younis resignation

Ijaz Butt, the Pakistan board chairman, has given Younis Khan the backing he wanted, insisting he will remain ODI captain until the 2011 World Cup. Butt ended days of speculation over the future of the Pakistan captaincy, reiterating once again that he had not accepted Younis' resignation.

Younis handed in his papers last week after attending a National Assembly committee meeting, in which allegations of match-fixing during Pakistan's semi-final loss to New Zealand were investigated. Those charges - as well as persistent politicking in the team by a group of players to undermine his leadership - were reasons believed to be behind his move.

Butt, however, rejected the resignation and opted to meet Younis privately instead, in a bid to change his mind. It is believed that at the meeting Younis laid down conditions which had to be accepted before he could return: he wanted to streamline the selection process, an assurance of a lengthier tenure than just on a series-by-series basis, and also changes in the team management. The PCB held meetings to discuss the matter though the meeting with the governing board today is said not to have raised the subject.

Though Butt did not speak of any such conditions, he was unequivocal in his support for Younis. "When I first appointed him in January 2009, there was no tenure for his captaincy but obviously sometimes security is needed. He is definitely our captain till the 2011 World Cup provided he remains fit. His performance has been excellent, he is fit, he has won a World Cup and as long as the selectors keep picking him, he is our choice as captain," Butt told Cricinfo.

Earlier, Butt had rejected Younis' resignation during an eagerly-awaited press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, saying he understood why Younis handed in his papers. "I have not accepted Younis Khan's resignation. There is no justification in removing him as captain. I realise and understand his reaction. Had I been in his place I would've done the same."

Terrorists Strike Again in Lahore

Once again terrorists attacked three security forces buildings in Lahore today.
As per reports, unidentified terrorists targeted Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) building, Manawa Police Training Centre and Eliot Force Training Centre situated at Bedian Road.
In the first incident, unidentified terrorists targeted FIA building situated at Temple Road.
According to the SP Civil Lines, Dr Haider, 5 persons have been killed in the incident, however the building is reported clear now.
Geo News Nadeem Alvi said three FIA men have been martyred, whereas a terrorist killed, while a dead body is yet to be identified.
On the other hand Ganga Ram Hospital Administration confirmed that seven dead bodies have been transferred to the health facility.
Unidentified terrorists also attacked the Eliot Force Training Centre situated at Bedian Road and Manawan Police Training Centre.
According to reports six armed terrorists, wearing militia uniforms, barged in the Bedian and Manawan training centres and opened gunfire after throwing hand grenades.
Exchange of gunfire continues in both the buildings, whereas loud blasts are also being heard.
Police Jawans are battling bravely with the terrorists and helicopters continue aerial surveillance.
It may be recalled that Manawa training centre is situated some five kilometre away from Bedian and FIA building, Eliot Force Training Centre and Manawa Police Training Centre have today been targeted simultaneously.

The News Link