Melbourne, February 10
Concerned over a series of attacks on its nationals, India today sought "credible answers" from Australia so that it could send a clear message to worried parents of more than 1,20,000 Indian students here.

"It is important to understand that there is anger and frustration in India over what is happening (in Australia)," Indian High Commissioner Sujatha Singh said in an article published in the Age newspaper here. Over 100 cases of attacks on Indians have been reported since the last year in Australia, mostly in Victoria, and the issue has been taken up by top representatives of the Indian government with their Australian counterparts.

"I cannot overstate the importance of keeping the human element in the forefront in providing credible answers to these questions and sending a clear message to parents far away in India, worrying about their children in Australia," Singh wrote ahead of her visit to India to brief the government over the steps taken by Australia to address its concerns.

"We are told that one of the reasons our students are being attacked in Melbourne is that they take public transport late at night. In this case, it should then apply to Indian students all across Australia," she said, adding that the students in the other cities, however, do not seem to be facing these incidents on the same scale. She said India recognises several measures taken by Australia to address the various issues, many of them complex and interrelated. But said, "it is important to go beyond rhetoric. We have to make the situation better. It is necessary to see the results on the ground." Australia yesterday acknowledged that some of the recent violence against Indians had clearly been "racially motivated" and vowed to "punish the culprits with the full force of law". — PTI 

Peshawar, February 10
A suicide bomber struck a vehicle carrying Pakistani security personnel in the restive Khyber tribal region today, killing at least 12 persons and injuring eight others.

The bomber, who was on foot, was hiding in a roadside market in Jamrud sub-division of Khyber. He detonated his explosive jacket when the vehicle was passing the area, witnesses said. Nine personnel of the Khasadar militia, including an officer, and three civilians were killed in the blast.

Officials said eight injured security personnel were taken to the North West Frontier Province capital of Peshawar, located about 5 km away.

They said the officer who was killed in the attack had received threats from militants as he had launched successful operations against the insurgents in recent months.

Another Khasadar personnel who died was recently awarded a medal for meritorious services.

Local residents said traffic on the Pakistan-Afghanistan highway was suspended after the attack. No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Security forces cordoned off the site of the blast and launched a search operation. Footage on TV channels showed the vehicle of the Khasadar force and another car that were destroyed in the attack.

Several militant groups, including the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Islam, are active in Khyber tribal agency which borders Afghanistan.

Militants in Khyber regularly attack tankers and trucks ferrying oil and supplies to US and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has witnessed a string of deadly bombings and suicide attacks since October last year when military launched an operation in the Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan.

Hundreds of people have been killed in these attacks. — PTI 

The top brass of the Pakistan army is all set to undergo a change with the retirement of at least 12 three-star Generals, including four Corps Commanders, during the ongoing calendar year, warranting promotion of Major Generals and the necessary reshuffle.

Prominent among those due for retirement is the chief of the Inter Service Intelligence (ISI), Lt-Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha, who will retire next month. However, there are strong speculations that Gen Pasha would get an extension ‘in the interest of continuity’.

President Asif Zardari, however, is weighing the implications of Pasha’s retirement. He is closest to Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, who is also retiring in November this year. Pasha’s extension would also build a strong case for Gen Kayani’s extension for he is credited with contributing in the restoration of democracy in the country by resisting former military ruler’s pressure to manipulate elections through Corps Commanders. Kayani also played a key role in persuading Gen Musharraf to resign in August, 2008.

Kayani is lauded across the country ad abroad for successful military operations in Swat and the ongoing offensive in South Waziristan against Pakistani Taliban militants and their Al-Qaida supporters. Both Kayani and Pasha have won admiration and have built friendly ties with the Americans.

Pasha’s extension can take place in two ways. Either Gen Kayani orders it himself for which he does not need to send a summary for extension in the tenure of a three-star General or to let Pasha retire and reappoint him as the ISI chief provided the Prime Minister so desires. Technically, the ISI is supposed to be under the Prime Minister, but the rules have been circumvented to let the Army Chief exercise this authority.

Designer gowns 
London: British patients will soon be able to wear clothes created by one of the world's top fashion designers. The traditional draughty and backless hospital gown is getting a Hollywood-style makeover by Ben de Lisi, who said his "aspirational" new design will preserve patients' modesty. The old gowns have been criticised for leaving patients laid bare. The British Design Council will unveil the new designs next month which would be introduced into the National Health Service (NHS) hospitals by early 2011. -— PTI