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India, South Korea finalise modalities on security
Musharraf for peaceful resolution of disputes
Pak has open mind on all issues with
Poll under Musharraf not acceptable: MMA
23 Maoists killed in Nepal
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US navy reports new Iraq abuse cases
8 killed in Iraq bomb blast
Laden’s threat on Gulf oil supplies
Jackson’s lawyers seek dismissal of charges
Greek hijack drama ends
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India, South Korea finalise modalities on security
Seoul, December 16 After talks, visiting External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh had with the Korean leaders, The first meeting of the security dialogue will be held in January. The two sides have firmed up a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence, industry and logistics. It has also been agreed in principle to conclude an MoU on cooperation between the coastguards of the two countries. The two sides have finalised an agreement for exemption of visas for diplomatic and official passport holders. Commending the Indian initiative on the vision of Asian Economic Community, Seoul agreed to take part in a workshop being convened in India in the first quarter of next year to develop a concept paper on this subject. — PTI
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Musharraf for peaceful resolution of disputes
Islamabad, December 16 Islamabad wants to settle the Kashmir issue and all other conflicts with India through peaceful process and negotiations, Dawn today quoted General Musharraf as telling under-training officers at the Command and Staff College in Quetta. President Pervez Musharraf said that the confidence-building process between the two countries was moving ahead. The two countries concluded talks on nuclear confidence building measures in Islamabad yesterday after achieving some progress in certain areas. However, they failed to finalise the draft agreement on pre-notification of nuclear tests but agreed to continue the talks on the issue, he added. On nuclear programme of the country, he said “Pakistan’s nuclear assets are in safe hands.” Pakistan often said after taking action early this year against country’s nuclear scientist Dr A.Q. Khan and a few of his associates for their involvement in illegal transfer of nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea, that it would continue to cooperate with International Atomic Energey (IAEA) as non-NPT state in curbing nuclear proliferation. — UNI
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Pak has open mind on all issues with India: Aziz
Beijing, December 16 “We are sincerely pursuing dialogue with India to resolve the Kashmir issue,” Mr Aziz said in an address to prominent Chinese scholars and students at Tsinghua University here. “We want to address the issue with an open mind for a settlement that is acceptable to Pakistan and India and most importantly to the people of Kashmir because the dispute relates to their fundamental rights”, he said on the second day of his four-day official visit to China and after his meeting with Chinese premier Wen Jiabao here yesterday. Wen had welcomed the recent thaw in Indo-Pak relations. “China welcomes the constant improvement of Pakistan-India ties,” Wen told Aziz, adding Beijing would play an active role in promoting peace, stability and development in South Asia. In his speech, Mr Aziz stressed the resolution of long-standing conflicts, in particular Palestine and Kashmir, is essential for the success of the international fight against terrorism. He said, “extremism and violence often breed in the humiliation and despair of the people who have been denied freedom and basic dignity.” Pakistan’s approach for peace and development in South Asia includes, dialogue for settlement of all issues in particular Kashmir, restraint and security balance in South Asia, Mr Aziz said, adding, “we do not desire an arms race in the region conventional or nuclear.” Mr Aziz during his about an hour-long speech that covered political and economic issues, highlighted Pakistan’s position on terrorism and its efforts to improve the living standards of its people. On terrorism, he said long-standing issues and poverty had given rise to the phenomena which must be rejected. “Terrorism is a threat to modern societies and the world must cooperate to fight this evil. While we combat terrorism at every level, local regional and global, we also need to understand the root causes and make efforts to redress them,” he added. “There is a need to ending poverty, ensuring better trade terms and opportunities to the developing countries, sharing advanced technology for human good,” he added .
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Poll under Musharraf not acceptable: MMA
Islamabad December 16 This was stated by deputy secretary-general of Jamaat Islami and MNA Dr Fareed Ahmed Piracha while speaking at a news conference here yesterday. Mr Piracha predicted strongest public resistance even stronger than the 1977 movement “if General Musharraf sticks to his decision of retaining army chief’s office in violation of the 17th Constitutional Amendment.” Asked about the PPP Parliamentarian’s demand of fresh presidential elections, Mr Piracha said the MMA would never accept any future elections under General Musharraf and would instead demand that the next elections be held under the supervision of the Supreme Court. He said the fate of so-called referendum held for General Musharraf was still fresh in the memory of people and it would no more trust any General to conduct elections in the future. The MMA movement, he said, would put to an end to any future army intervention. He said the party was opposed to the policies of General Musharraf aiming at appeasing the USA and it would continue to oppose him even if he shed his army chief’s uniform. He blamed the General for creating a crisis situation by withdrawing from the demand of the Kashmir solution under UN resolutions, putting Islamic code of veil to ridicule, changing educational syllabus and the Hudood ordinance.
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23 Maoists killed in Nepal
Kathmandu, December 16 Security forces gunned down at least 17 rebels in a retaliatory action in Dailekh district, about 500 km west of Kathmandu, after the soldiers patrolling the area were attacked by the Maoists, they said. Two soldiers also received injuries in the incident, the officials said. Separately, at least six rebels were killed when the security forces foiled an attack by the guerrillas on a communications tower in Lamjung district in western Nepal, state-run Nepal Television reported, adding four soldiers sustained serious injuries in the incident. Suspected Maoists also exploded a powerful bomb at an office building of Kirtipur Municipality, 9 km south of Kathmandu, it said. Two rooms of the building were damaged but there was no injury, it said, adding a health clinic was also damaged in the blast.
— PTI |
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US navy reports new Iraq abuse cases
Washington, December 15 The documents, secured by the American Civil Liberties Union, show that Marines were punished in some cases while others were let off for want of proof after preliminary investigations. According to the details of abuse cases investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS), in one incident, a detainee’s hands were burned by igniting alcohol-based cleaner in August 2003. In Karbala in May 2003, one Marine held a 9 mm pistol to the back of a bound detainee’s head while another took a photograph. In April this year, shortly before the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal shook the US military, three Marines in Mahmudiya shocked a detainee with an electric transformer, forcing him to dance as the electricity hit him, according to a witness. — PTI
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8 killed in Iraq bomb blast
Kerbala, December 16 Sheikh Abdul Mehdi al-Karbalai, a close follower of Iraq’s most influential Shi’ite Muslim leader Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, was hit in the legs and was taken to hospital, doctors said. The bombing occurred on the day when campaigning began for Iraq’s first election since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, who oppressed religious Shi’ites.
— Reuters |
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Laden’s threat on Gulf oil supplies Dubai, December 16 “Take jihad (holy war) to stop (the Americans) getting hold of (the oil). Concentrate your operations on the oil, in particular in Iraq and the Gulf,” said the voice attributed to the Al-Qaida leader. “Muslims are determined to recover their rights whatever the price. Either you give them back what they entrusted you with (power), by allowing them to choose their rulers, or you refuse to give power back to them.”
— AFP |
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Jackson’s lawyers seek dismissal of charges
Los Angeles, December 16 Jackson’s defence attorneys said prosecutors had gone too far in obtaining more than 100 search warrants in the case, saying Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon had been carried away by his desire to bring down a celebrity.
— Reuters |
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Greek hijack drama ends
Athens, December 16 The last six hostages held by the hijackers filed from the bus in an Athens suburb followed by police entering the vehicle and arresting the two hijackers.“All the hostages have been freed safely and the two hijackers have surrendered,” she said.
— Reuters |
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Bangladesh observes ‘Victory Day’
Dhaka, December 16 Amidst a 31-gun salute, Bangladesh’s green and red national flag was lowered to half-mast and President Ahmed placed a wreath at the memorial in nearby Savar area flanked by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, cabinet ministers, senior officials and diplomats.
In his message on the occasion, President Ahmed said, “The spirit of the Victory Day should be materialised for ensuring the country’s socio-economic and cultural development”.
— PTI |
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