M A I N   N E W S

Pak blocks Indian flour for Kabul

Karachi, February 1
Pakistan said today it would not permit Indian flour to transit through its territory into Afghanistan after samples tested positive for fungus contamination.

The move follows a ban by Islamabad on the transit of Indian wheat imposed last month following reports that the grain had diseases that could infect Pakistani wheat.

An official at Pakistan’s Food and Agriculture Ministry said tests on Indian wheat last week proved that it contained fungus and the ministry had decided to extend the ban to flour made from Indian wheat.

“We cannot compromise on our quarantine laws. We have informed the WFP (UN World Food Programme) that we will not allow flour from contaminated wheat,” said Mr Shaukat Usman, a senior ministry official.

India, which has pledged to supply one million tonnes of wheat as part of its humanitarian assistance to war-torn Afghanistan, has denied its that grain carried fungus or other diseases.

Mr Usman said Pakistan had also rejected a WFP proposal that the first tranche of 50,000 tonnes be sent as wheat flour rather than as wheat grain.

“We don’t want to take any risks. India’s wheat or flour could infect our crop and we will not allow them to transport the cargoes through our land routes,” Mr Usman said.

A WFP spokesman said the UN body would survey the Indian wheat stocks and take delivery of grain meeting WFP specifications for international tenders.

“We know Pakistan’s concerns and I would only say the matter is still under negotiation with the government,” WFP spokesman Khaled Masour told Reuters from Islamabad. Reuters

Advani promoting communalism: Pak

Islamabad, February 1
Pakistan today accused India’s Home Minister L.K. Advani of being a “lifelong advocate of communalism” and of promoting “his pernicious agenda of Akhand Bharat”.

Taking serious note of Mr Advani’s recent remarks that he visualised a confederation of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in near future, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry in a statement said, it was “regrettable” that the Indian Home Minister continued to make “irresponsible” remarks in “utter disregard to the undeniable realities and the circumstances” that led to the emergence of Pakistan.

Speaking at India Today conclave in New Delhi on January 22, the Home Minister had said that he visualised India, Pakistan and Bangladesh coming together in some type of confederal framework in the years to come as they shared so much in common with each other.

The statement issued by Foreign Office spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan said: “By giving vent to his jaundiced views, Mr Advani, a life long advocate of communalism and Hindu fundamentalism continues to promote his pernicious agenda of Akhand Bharat (undivided India).” PTI

First lady Maj-Gen in Pakistan army

Islamabad, February 1
The two-day conference of Pakistan’s all-powerful Corps Commanders ended today with President Pervez Musharraf promoting 27 Brigadiers to the rank of Major-Generals which for the first time included a woman.

Brig Shahida Malik of the Army Medical Corps has achieved the distinction of becoming the first lady medical officer to rise to the rank of Major-General in the history of the Pakistan army.

Significantly, General Musharraf, who promised to induct forward-looking officers and discard men with fundamentalist outlook, took keen interest in promotion structure of the forces. PTI