Terrorists’ plot to target ministers with perfume bottle like bombs foiled: Pakistan

August 5, 2011 By

Pakistan interior minister Rehman Malik has said that a plot to target ministers and key figures with perfume bombs has been foiled.

“Terrorists had devised a perfume bottle like bombs as gifts to target ministers and key political figures in the month of Ramazan,” The Dawn quoted Malik, as saying

in his report.

He reportedly prepared the report after his ministry received information from the spy agencies.

The report was sent to President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, DG ISI Shuja Pasha, DG MI and to all four provincial chief ministers along with 21 other key figures.

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No army officer held for Times Square plot: Pakistan

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 20 (IANS) No Pakistani Army officer has been held for involvement in the attempted Times Square car bombing for which Pakistani American Faisal Shahzad has been arrested, the military said Thursday.

‘No Pakistan Army officer has been arrested for having links’ with Shahzad, Online news agency quoted Inter-Services Public Relations chief Maj. Gen Athar Abbas as saying.

‘Western media reports in this regard are baseless concocted and devoid of facts,’ he said, adding: ‘There is no truth to such news and no army officer, retired or in service, has been taken into custody for links with Faisal Shahzad.’

He clarified that last month, a retired major was sacked and arrested for violating discipline but he has no link with Shahzad case.

The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday that investigators had arrested a Pakistani Army major linked to Shahzad.

Abbas’s remarks come a day after Pakistan and the US Wednesday pledged to enhance cooperation to foil future terrorist attacks as senior US officials briefed Pakistan’s political and military troika on the probe into the Times Square attempt.

US National Security Advisor James Jones and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) chief Leon Panetta met Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and ‘provided an update on the ongoing investigation into the Times Square terrorist incident’, a joint statement issued from the presidency said.

‘The talks covered measures that both countries are, and will be, taking to confront the common threat we face from extremists and prevent such potential attacks from occurring again,’ the statement added.

On Tuesday, Shahzad was arraigned before a federal magistrate in Manhattan on five felony counts two weeks after his arrest.

Appearing before Magistrate Judge James C. Francis IV Tuesday evening, Shahzad, 30, did not enter a plea, simply answering ‘yes’ when the judge asked whether an affidavit attesting to his finances was accurate.

He was then charged with one count each of attempting terrorism by attempting to kill people; attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction; using a destructive device in connection with an attempted crime of violence; transporting explosives; and attempting to destroy property with fire and explosives. Attempted terrorism carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Shahzad, a Pakistani immigrant who lived in Connecticut and had worked as a financial analyst, was taken into custody May 3 as he tried to flee to his native Pakistan on a flight out of John F. Kennedy International Airport minutes before the plane was to leave for Dubai.

Prosecutors said he had left a Nissan Pathfinder rigged with makeshift, defective explosives in Times Square on May 1. The suspect who has been kept in an undisclosed location since he was taken into custody immediately began cooperating with federal investigators.

Three other Pakistanis were taken into custody in New England after a series of raids last week, and three others were arrested in Pakistan. None face criminal charges in connection with the plot.

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No decision yet on Pakistan army chief’s extension: PM

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 20 (IANS) Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday termed as ‘inappropriate and premature’ the defence minister’s assertion that army chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s tenure would not be extended, an indication that this could well be on the cards.

Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar’s statement earlier this week that Kayani, who is due to retire in October, would not be given an extension was ‘inappropriate and premature and he should not have given such a statement’, Gilani said during an interaction with senior journalists here.

A decision on this would be taken ‘when the time for it comes and so far no decision has been made’, Online news agency quoted the prime minister as saying.

Gilani’s comments could well be taken to mean that the issue was being considered, given Kayani’s track record in the military operations against the Taliban in Pakistan’s restive northwest, analysts here said.

Speculation had begun earlier this year on whether Kayani’s tenure would be extended, given the frostiness in his relations with President Asif Ali Zardari.

However, the repeal in April of the controversial 17th amendment completely changed the equations as key powers, including those to appoint the service chiefs, were returned to the prime minister’s office from the presidency to which then military dictator Pervez Musharraf had transferred them in 2002.

In contrast to Zardari, Kayani’s relations with Gilani are described as cordial.

In fact, Kayani, along with Gilani, had read Zardari the riot act in March last year when he was soft-pedalling on a pledge to reinstate the Supreme Court judges Musharraf had sacked after imposing an emergency Nov 3, 2007.

This had prompted the lawyers to stage a ‘long march’ to Islamabad. Zardari caved in when the procession entered Islamabad.

Kayani, described as a ‘quiet man’, became the army chief Nov 29, 2007 when Musharraf, who was wearing twin hats, stepped down from the post.

He is credited with planning the anti-Taliban operations that began last June in Swat and three other districts of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), now renamed Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa, that the militants had virtually taken over.

The operations later shifted to the North and South Waziristan areas of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The military estimates that some 3,000 Taliban fighters have been killed in the operations, which are now shifting to the North Waziristan area.

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‘Defiant’ Musharraf ready to take on Pak SC head-on if summoned

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, May 20 (ANI): Accepting the challenge thrown at him by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Chief (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif, former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has said that he is ready to appear in the Supreme Court if summoned in any case.

“I only hope that justice will be done,” Musharraf said.

Interacting with media persons during a press conference here, Musharraf clarified that he has no regret over any decision taken by him during his eight-year long tenure.

The Lal Masjid operation, Akbar Bugti’s murder, NRO and decisions taken regarding the judiciary, and all other decisions were taken in light of the situation at that time, Musharraf said.

In December last year, Pakistan’s Supreme Court declared the emergency imposed by Musharraf in 2007 as unconstitutional and illegal, and went on to strike down the amnesty law, the National Reconciliation ordinance (NRO), following which several criminal and civil cases were filed against Musharraf.

Responding to a question regarding the United Nations inquiry report, which held his regime responsible for the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Musharraf stressed that Bhutto was provided full security cover, and that the then government could not be blamed for the gun and bomb attack on December 27, 2007.

He said Bhutto’s death was a great loss, but to implicate him and other top officials such as the then Director General Military Intelligence (MI) was part of a conspiracy.

Musharraf said he would return to the country soon and participate in elections, adding that he would formally announce his political party in few days.

“As far as a date for returning to Pakistan is concerned, I have not fixed a date but there is one desire. Whenever the next elections are held, whether they are end-term or mid-term, I will return to Pakistan before that,” The Nation quoted Musharraf, as saying.

Meanwhile, Musharraf’s legal advisor Chaudhary Fawad said that the Supreme Court cannot summon the former President on the NRO issue as the apex court does not have the authority to do so and it can only review the law. (ANI)

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India a global leader, says Ahamadinejad

May 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Tehran (Iran), May 18 (ANI): Iranian President Mahmoud Ahamadinejad on Tuesday described India as a global leader and an economic powerhouse during a 30-minute interaction with visiting Indian Foreign Minister S.M.Krishna.

An External Affairs Ministry spokesman said that the two leaders met for about 30-minutes, during which they discussed bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern and interest to the two countries.

According to the spokesman, Ahamadinejad said India has always played an important role in global affairs, including in organisations like the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Group of Fifteen (G-15).

He further said there is a desirability and need for India and Iran to be in touch and to work together. He also said he was very happy to see India”s economic progress, which expands beyond regions.

The spokesperson said both leaders also discussed developments in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

According to the spokesman, Krishna recalled the Iranian president”s visit to India and congratulated him for the successful organisation of the G-15 Summit.

The meeting was described as warm and cordial.

Krishana is concluding his visit to Tehran today.

On Monday, he met his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki on the sidelines of the summit and discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations.

Mottaki recalled India”s contribution to NAM and other multilateral organisations.

On Sunday, Krishna had a meeting with the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Ali Larijani at the Majlis, where both discussed regional issues of common concern, including the prevailing situation in Afghanistan.

The meeting lasted for about 45-minutes. Krishna apprised Larijani about Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh””s recent meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani in Thimphu (Bhutan).

He also conveyed India””s desire to have more cooperative and cordial relations with Pakistan, but told Larijani that terrorism remains a core concern in bilateral ties between New Delhi and Islamabad.

Larijani noted that terrorism is a common challenge for both countries and there is a similarity of outlook.

Both also expressed happiness over New Delhi hosting the upcoming 16th India-Iran Joint Commission meeting, and added that it was the desire of the two nations to boost ties in all sectors, as bilateral trade has crossed the 14 billion dollar mark.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Fathallahi was also present. (ANI)

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Lahore High Court issues notice to Zardari over holding two offices

May 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, May 18 (ANI): The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued a notice to President Asif Ali Zardari over the legality of holding two offices of interest.

Hearing a petition filed by the Pakistan Lawyers Forum (PLF) challenging the right of Zardari to hold on to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief’s post, the high court directed Zardari’s Principal Secretary to explain the legality of President dual posts.

“Since the president could not appear because of security reasons, the court asked his principal secretary to appear in court on May 25,” The Daily Times quoted PLF president A.K. Dogar, as saying.

Dogar said that though there was no constitutional bar on the President holding office in a political party, the Supreme Court had barred a president from holding a party post.

“Our Supreme Court judges decided in 1993 that the president should be non-partisan. He should not involve himself in political battles. He should shun politics but here he is a party head, which is illegal,” he said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has come out openly in favour of Zardari over the issue, saying there are no legal bar on holding two offices at a time.

President Zardari can keep two offices at a time and there is no constitutional or legal bar whatsoever, Gilani told media persons during a brief interaction here. (ANI)

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Krishna calls on Ahmadinejad

May 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Tehran (Iran), May 18 (ANI): Visiting Indian External Affairs S.M.Krishna called upon Iran President Mehmood Ahmadinijad this morning, a day after the conclusion of the fourth Group of Fifteen (G-15) summit.

Preliminary reports quoted sources here, as saying that it was a customary courtesy call.

Both leaders are reported to have reviewed progress in bilateral ties and, exchanged views on issues of regional and multilateral interest to the two countries. Further details of the meeting are awaited.

On Sunday, Krishna had a meeting with the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Ali Larijani at the Majlis, where both discussed regional issues of common concern, including the prevailing situation in Afghanistan.

The meeting lasted for about 45-minutes. Krishna apprised Larijani about Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh”s recent meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani in Thimphu (Bhutan).

He also conveyed India”s desire to have more cooperative and cordial relations with Pakistan, but told Larijani that terrorism remains a core concern in bilateral ties between New Delhi and Islamabad.

Larijani noted that terrorism is a common challenge for both countries and there is a similarity of outlook.

Both also expressed happiness over New Delhi hosting the upcoming 16th India-Iran Joint Commission meeting, and added that it was the desire of the two nations to boost ties in all sectors, as bilateral trade has crossed the 14 billion dollar mark.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Fathallahi was also present. (ANI)

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Zardari grants Malik presidential pardon to save him from 3-yr jail term

May 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 18 (ANI): Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has come to the rescue of one of his most trusted aides, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, as barely hours after the Lahore High Court (LHC) rejected Malik’s plea in a corruption case, he pardoned the minister using his special power under the Article 45 of the Constitution.

The LHC had dismissed an appeal filed by Malik against punishments announced by the Accountability Court on Monday.

Hour’s after the court’s verdict, Presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar hastly announced that the ‘President using his constitutional power on the advice of the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’ has granted remission to Malik.

Babar, however, refused to give any more details on the issue, The Dawn reports.

The spokesman said that the pardon has been granted under Article 45 of the Constitution which says: “The president shall have power to grant pardon, reprieve and respite, and to remit, suspend or commute any sentence passed by any court, tribunal or authority.”

Observers believe that Zardari’s move is likely to heighten tension between the Presidency and the higher judiciary at a time when the relationship between the two is already at its lowest ebb. (ANI)

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Militants regrouping in PoK to cross over to Indian side

May 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Militants have regrouped in large numbers in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and are crossing the Line of Control to sneak into the Indian side of the Himalayan region, local residents and political leaders have said.

The militants have regrouped and launched jehadi activities in the Neelum valley on the Pakistani side of the LoC, local politician Arif Shahid said. Local residents and Shahid said the militants were not from PoK.

“Jihadi activities have been restarted during the last few weeks,” said Shahid, the secretary general of the All Parties National Alliance.

“Most of the activities are concentrated in the Neelum valley along the LoC,” Shahid told the BBC.

Shahid, who had visited the region with other APNA leaders, said the militants were based there in large numbers and had set up camps in the area.

“The men are not locals they have long hair and beards. Most do not speak the local language,” he said.

Residents of Neelum valley backed Shahid’s assertions. “We are scared… The armed men are moving around the area and are trying to cross the border,” a local resident said.

“We can make out from their appearances and languages they are not from any part of Kashmir,” the resident said.

Shahid said he believed that militants are planning to sabotage ongoing peace negotiations between India and Pakistan.

“They have set up camps in the region and many are crossing the border… This is the start of another proxy war,” he said.

Following a meeting between Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh last month, the Foreign Ministers of the two countries recently agreed to meet in Islamabad on July 15 to nudge the peace process forward.

Shahid’s comments were supported by Jammu and Kashmir National Liberation Front leader Shaukat Maqbool Bhat. “The fighters are there and they are regularly crossing into India,” Bhat said.

“The local people are very scared they believe the (militant) crossings are going to restart artillery exchanges between the Pakistani and Indian armies,” Bhat said.

Indian and Pakistani troops regularly fought artillery duels and exchanged small arms fire till a ceasefire was put in place along the LoC in November 2003.

From 1988, militants aided by Pakistan’s security forces and intelligence agencies waged a guerrilla campaign in Jammu and Kashmir. Their activities were curtailed during the rule of former President Pervez Musharraf, who quit in August 2008.

The BBC quoted unnamed officials as saying that jehadi activities had recommenced across the LoC in recent weeks. It also quoted its correspondents as saying that the renewed militant activity is bound to be of concern to India, especially when Delhi and Islamabad almost came to war when militants accused by India of being Pakistani-based attacked the Indian parliament in December 2001.

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BB murder: Pak officials submit details of evidence collected from crime scene

May 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Rawalpindi, May 13 (ANI): Pakistani police officials, who were accused of destroying vital ground evidence in the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto assassination case, have submitted details of 30 articles and other evidences, which were collected from the crime scene on December 27, 2007 before the area was hosed down.

The details were submitted to the three member enquiry committee constituted by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to probe the hosing down of the crime scene at Liaquat Bagh , and also to the joint investigation team of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

According to the report, officials had colleted 30 important evidences, including a 30 bore pistol, a damaged magazine, a nine-MM pistol, a black leather jacket, samples of blood, and also the dismembered head of the suspected suicide bomber before the site was washed off.

Various other materials such as several empty bullet cartridges, damaged vehicles including that of Bhutto, her blood samples from the Land Cruiser, mobiles phones and identity cards were also colleted, the report said.

However, some crucial pieces of possible evidence are missing, including a SIM card used by the suspected bomber or his accomplices, which may have been lost because of the hosing down of the area, The Dawn reports.

But the most important piece of evidence submitted by the officials is the letter written by the then City Police Officer (CPO) Saud Aziz to the Inspector General of Police of Punjab saying that police had sought Asif Ali Zardari’s permission for Bhutto’s autopsy, but it was denied.

“ But Asif Ali Zardari turned down our request and declared that her post-mortem shall not be conducted,” the letter states.

Citing the Scotland Yard report on the assassination, the report said that the person who had fired at Bhutto was the same who had detonated the explosives. (ANI)

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Pak not to wilt under US pressure to launch offensive in North Waziristan

May 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 13 (ANI): Pakistan has apparently made it clear that it would not succumb under intense US pressure to launch an offensive in North Waziristan, the stronghold of the Taliban.

The decision was taken after President Asif Ali Zardari held separate meetings with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to discuss national and international issues.

In the wake of the failed Times Square bombing plot, the Obama Administration has been piling up pressure on Pakistan to launch a military operation in North Waziristan, saying there are indications that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had played a major role in the terror plot.

According to a statement released after the meetings, both the political and military leadership resolved not to accept any pressure from Washington to start an operation against extremists, who are based in North Waziristan and threatening the whole world, including the US.

“Matters relating to current security situation in the country and professional preparedness of the Armed Forces were discussed during the meeting,” The Nation quoted an official’s handout released after General Kayani’s meeting with Zardari, as saying.

Sources privy to the meetings said that the situation arising after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s blunt warning was also discussed.

It may be noted that Clinton, during a television interview, had warned Islamabad of ‘dire consequences’ if Pakistan based terrorists succeeded in attacking the United States.

During the CBS’ 60 minute, Clinton said that though Pakistan’s attitude towards Islamic terrorism had changed in the recent past, it still needed to take far more stringent measures to quell militancy emanating from its soil.

“We’ve made it very clear that if, heaven-forbid, an attack like this that we can trace back to Pakistan were to have been successful, there would be very severe consequences,” she had warned. (ANI)

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POK PM says he is as patriotic as any other Pakistani citizen

May 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 12 (ANI): Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider has denied allegations levelled against him in a TV programme, and said that he is “as patriotic as any other Pakistani citizen, while fulfilling the role of a key person in the valley’s administrative matters.”

Addressing a press conference, he said he would inform Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani about the details of the TV programme, and “ask him to take action against the person responsible for deliberately defaming and demoralising him at the forum of state-run media.”

He also ruled out differences in the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference (AKJMC), saying the “ruling party is successfully running POK’s affairs”.

Paying respect and homage to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the POK premier said he was “shocked beyond belief” over accusations that he had spoken disrespectfully of Jinnah.

“How I can utter such words,” the Daily Times quoted him, as saying.

Haider added that he and his forefathers had never accepted the slavery of English rulers, and played a cohesive role in the freedom movement, and succeeded in gaining a separate homeland. (ANI)

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PPP senator wants passengers of Benazir’s backup car to be questioned

May 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 12 (ANI): A senior Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senator wants investigators to question Law Minister Babar Awan, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar and Lt Gen (r) Tauqeer Zia about driving away in a backup car from the site of former premier Benazir Bhutto’s assassination

According to various accounts, no vehicle was available at the site to take Benazir to hospital after the assassin had targeted her, and she had to be driven to hospital in Sherry Rehman’s car with burst tyres.

Senator Yousuf Talpur made this demand during a debate in the National Assembly on the president’s address to a joint sitting of parliament.

A close associate of Benazir, Talpur urged Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to order investigators to ask top party officials who took away the car Benazir was supposed to use in case of an emergency.

Babar Awan, Rehman Malik, Farhatullah Babar and Lt Gen (retired) Tauqeer Zia were in the backup vehicle that was supposed to remain at the site until the bulletproof vehicle Bhutto was travelling in had safely driven away from a public park in Rawalpindi.

Talpur said it was time for investigators to find out what made those in the vehicle drive away the backup car, The Daily Times reports.

He said people in Sindh were waiting for word on who killed their “beloved leader” and why her killers had not been punished. (ANI)

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Pakistan test fires n-capable ballistic missiles

May 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 8 (DPA) Pakistan Saturday successfully tested two ballistic missiles capable of delivering both conventional and non-conventional warheads, the military said.

The launches of the short-range Hatf III and medium-range Hatf IV were conducted at the end of annual field exercises of Army Strategic Force Command.

‘Both missiles can carry conventional and nuclear warheads to a range of 290 km and 650 km respectively,’ military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said.

Pakistan’s arsenal of missiles target India, while the latter also has missile systems capable of hitting major Pakistani cities.

The two countries are bitter enemies and have fought three wars, two over Himalayan region of Kashmir, since they gained independence from Britain in August 1947.

The latest test came a week after their prime ministers met in Bhutan on the sidelines of a regional conference, and promised to improve relations.

Saturday’s tests are unlikely to aggravate tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours, as they regularly carry out missile testing and notify each other in advance.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who witnessed the tests along with senior military officers, said it was time for the world to recognise Pakistan as a nuclear power with equal rights and responsibilities.

He also demanded that Pakistan be given a Nuclear Supplier Group waiver for civil nuclear energy cooperation, as energy is a vital economic security need and nuclear power is a clean way forward.

‘Pakistan is capable of providing nuclear fuel cycle services, under IAEA safeguards, and this offer was also made at the Nuclear Security Summit,’ Gilani said.

Pakistan first conducted nuclear tests in 1998, weeks after India’s initial tests, and has been demanding recognition as a declared nuclear state since then.

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Kasab’s death sentence would not hinder talks with Krishna: Qureshi

May 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 8 (ANI): The death sentence awarded to Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving November 2008 Mumbai carnage gunman, would not affect any future talks between New Delhi and Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said.

Talking to reporters here, Qureshi clarified that the Mumbai special anti-terror court’s judgement against Kasab would not hinder the proposed talks between the foreign ministers of the two neighbouring countries.

He said the date and venue of the meeting would soon be finalised.

Qureshi said Pakistani experts were yet to review the judgement in the Kasab case.

It may noted that during their meeting on the sidelines of the XVIth South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit in Thimpu last month, both Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani had mandated their respective foreign ministers and foreign secretaries to meet and work out the modalities for resuming deliberations between the two estranged countries.

Condemning the ghastly Mumbai terror attacks, in which 166 people were killed and over 200 injured, Qureshi said Pakistan has also been a victim of terrorism.

“Those who lost their relatives in terror incidents in the country could feel the pain of people who suffered in the Mumbai attack,” The Daily Times quoted Qureshi, as saying. (ANI)

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UN report on Benazir’s murder incomplete: Pak minister

May 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, May 3 (ANI): The UN commission’s report on the assassination of Pakistan’s former premier Benazir Bhutto is still incomplete, according to Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar.

Talking to journalists in Gujrat, the Pakistani Defence Minister said the fact-finding commission constituted by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani would finalise its report within eight days.

He said the commission’s report would bring some new facts to light and help arrest the real culprits, the Daily Times reports.

Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman termed the UN Commission’s report as ‘ambiguous’; because it has failed to provide answers to a number of questions.

“If the UN Commission’s report satisfies the government then it is the responsibility of the latter to uncover the assassins of Ms Benazir Bhutto,” Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman said.

He said Awami National Party (ANP) has got ‘registered Khyber Pukhtoonwkwa’ name from Punjab.

Regarding the 17th amendment, the JUI Chief said only a few clauses were changed on which “I put my signature with reservations”.

“JUI wants provincial autonomy under the 18th amendment of the Constitution, renaming of the province is someone else’s agenda,” he maintained. (ANI)

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Dr. Singh a ‘visionary’ who has ‘his heart in the right place’: Qureshi

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Thimpu, Apr.30 (ANI): Showering praise on Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has described him as an ‘academic’ and a ‘visionary’ who has ‘his heart in the right place.’

Talking to media persons after a significant 50-minute long meeting between Dr. Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of the XVIth South Asian Association for Regional Conference (SAARC) summit here, Qureshi said the meeting was held in a positive atmosphere, and that both the leaders resolved to solve the long pending issues between two countries.

“He (Dr. Singh) has his heart in the right place. He is a well-meaning man. He is an academic. He is a visionary. He wants to move on,” Qureshi said.

Qureshi said during the talks Gilani also invited Dr. Singh to visit Pakistan.

“Prime Minister Gilani invited him (Dr.Singh) to visit Pakistan. He said he would love to visit Pakistan,” The News quoted Gilani, as saying. (ANI)

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India tells Pak that terrorism holding back talks progress

April 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Thimphu, Apr 29 (ANI): India told Pakistan on Thursday that terrorism is stalling progress of the bilateral talks process, and added that there is a need for both countries to pay attention to reducing the existing trust deficit.

During a significant 50-minute meeting held at Bhutan House here on the sidelines of the XVIth SAARC Summit, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh told his Pakistani counterpart Yusuf Raza Gilani that terrorism is holding back progress in Indo-Pak ties.

Briefing the media after the meeting, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said Prime Minister Singh particularly mentioned India’s concerns over Pakistan’s tardy progress in bringing the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks to justice.

She said India laid stress on the fact that there has been an increase in cross-border terror, and added that Prime Minister Singh had expressed his deep concern over the activities and free movement of Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed.

Rao said that Prime Minister Gilani responded by saying that Pakistan is serious about tackling terror and is taking all steps under the laws of the land to bring to book the perpetrators of 26/11.

Saeed is wanted by India as the prime suspect for the 26/11 attacks.

Rao said that while no joint statement was issued after the talks, both sides would meet as soon as possible at the Foreign Ministers and Secretaries level.

She also said that both Dr. Singh and Mr. Gilani had decided that channels of dialogue should be kept open to restore “trust and confidence” in the bilateral relationship.

“The Prime Ministers held very good talks in a free and frank manner. They agreed that cooperation between the two countries is vital for the people of South Asia to realize their destiny,” Rao told reporters.

“Prime Minister expressed India’s concern over the slow progress of Mumbai trial in Pakistan to Prime Minister Gilani,” Ms. Rao said.

This was their first meeting after their dialogue in Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt on July 16, 2009.

Rao said both leaders first met accompanied by their respective delegations. This was followed by a one-on-one meeting and then again by another meeting with the respective delegations present.

Rao said that Dr. Singh had told Mr. Gilani that India is willing to discuss all issues of mutual concern through dialogue.

At a separate interaction with the media, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the meeting between the two leaders ended on a positive note and he would be meeting his Indian counterpart S. M. Krishna soon.

He also welcomed Home Minister P. Chidambaram to Islamabad on June 26 for the SAARC Home Minister’s conference.

Qureshi claimed that the meeting has “changed the climate” between the two countries.

Asked whether Foreign Ministers-level talks amounted to a resumption of the suspended Composite Dialogue process between both nations, Rao said: “I do not want to get into details about the nomenclature of the talks.”

She also declined to go into the details of the issues that would figure in the talks, saying “all concerns” would be discussed.

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India, Pak agree terrorism impeding peace efforts: Qureshi

April 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Thimpu, Apr.29 (ANI): Underlining that terrorism is impeding peace efforts between New Delhi and Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that both nations have agreed to reduce the massive trust deficit existing between them.

Briefing the media about the meeting between Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of the XVIth South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit here, Qureshi said both leaders vowed to take steps towards resuming talks, which were stalled following the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

He said the meeting ended on a positive note with both nations realising that talks are the only way forward.

Qureshi revealed that Dr.Singh had said there is a trust deficit between both countries that needs urgent attention.

“We accept there is a trust deficit between the two countries.India has asked us to draft modalities, and we will,” Qureshi said.

He confirmed that India had raised the issue of the Mumbai terror attacks during the 50-minute talks, and Gilani in turn had assured of a speedy conclusion to the 26/11 trial.

Pakistan also received assurances from India that it has no intentions to destabilize the country, after Islamabad raised the issue of Balochistan at the meeting.

“The water issue was also brought under discussion between the two leaders,” he said, adding the region was facing a severe water crisis, and there is an important need to highlight water conservation on all platforms. (ANI)

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US hopes for positive outcome from Indo-Pak dialogue

April 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Thimphu (Bhutan), Apr. 29 (ANI): The United States is hopeful of a positive outcome of the talks between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, which will be taking place later today on the sidelines of the XVIth SAARC Summit.

Talking to reporters in Thimphu, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Central and South Asian Affairs, Robert Blake, said: “I think it is very positive that the two Prime Ministers are going to be meeting later today. The U.S. always welcomes dialogue. We really commend the two Prime Ministers, and we hope that there is positive outcome.”

Blake is participating as an observer alongwith eight other representatives, including from Iran, China, Australia, Myanmar and Japan.

The Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan are meeting after nine months. They last met on the sidelines of the NAM summit at the Egyptian resort of Sharm-el-Sheikh.

The U.S has been pushing both countries for resuming dialogue that was stalled immediately after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

New Delhi insists that composite dialogue cannot be resumed until Pakistan takes adequate action against the culprits of Mumbai attacks.

Thursday”s meeting between Dr. Singh and Prime Minister Gilani does not have a fixed agenda.

Pakistan has said that dialogue should be on the pattern of the Sharm-el-Sheikh in which both countries carved out a joint statement, whereas India is seeking more commitment from Pakistan on
dealing with cross-border terrorism.

Blake is also confident that India will soon get access to David C.Headley, one of the masterminds of the Mumbai carnage. (ANI)

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