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Pak may get 18 F-16 jets post-US elections
Musharraf to stay army chief, President
India, Bangladesh fail to break ice on Teesta waters
Germany’s Indian mayor is election mascot
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Maoists withdraw strike
US suspends Peace Corps in Nepal
‘Lion of Herat’ tamed with US backing
In graphic: Changes to the
world's population by 2050
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Pak may get 18 F-16 jets post-US elections
Islamabad, September 15 ‘’We were negotiating a deal for delivery of at least 70 aircraft but the US administration has shown willingness to supply 18 F-16s,’’ Pakistan air force chief Sadaat Kalim told reporters today on the sidelines of an on-going International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) in Karachi. Over 4,000 delegates from 66 countries are attending the five-day mega event, which focuses on aggressive marketing for the defence products of Pakistan. Air Chief Marshall Saadat hoped that a final decision regarding the delivery of the jets will be announced after the US presidential elections. In the last meeting of the Pakistan- US Defence Consultative Group, American officials had agreed to consider Islamabad’s request for delivery of more jets, which had been first supplied to Pakistan in early 1980s. However, despite payment of $ 658 million , the US had withheld delivery of at least 28 F-16s in October 1990 after the then President George W. Bush slapped nuclear-related sanctions on Pakistan under country-specific Pressler and Simengton amendments. But after 9/11, the situation changed altogether with Pakistan becoming a close US ally in its war on terror in Afghanistan. Besides, lifting economic and military sanctions, the US administration also gave Pakistan debt relief of $496 million in July this year in return for its support to Washington and pledged a $ three billion five-year economic and military assistance package. This package will be in effect after Congressional approval later this year. Until the events of September 11, Pakistan owed nearly $ three billion to the United States out of which a total of almost $1.7 billion has now been written off. The US gave the green light for the delivery of F-16s after formally granting status of a major non-NATO ally to Pakistan, which means access to American military hardware market and other concessions in economic and
defense fields by Washington and its allies. The air chief said Pakistan had already decided to buy JF-17 (Thunder) aircraft, which it jointly manufactured with China while efforts are afoot to negotiate purchase of Grippin aircraft of Swedish origin. JF-17 (Thunder), which is known as the next generation aircraft, had its first formal test-flight early this year for which Pakistani pilots had gone to China. Two more prototype aircraft have been manufactured which are presently undergoing necessary tests and trials, the Air Chief said. ‘’We are scheduled to commence production of the first batch of aircraft in 2006 when total 16 aircraft will be manufactured for PAF and Peoples Liberation Army,’’ he said., Pakistan would start serial production of this medium-tech aircraft in next 10 to 15 years, he added. Pakistan is also likely to get six military transport C-130 aircraft from the US by December this year under a $75 million deal, signed some two years ago.
— UNI |
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Musharraf to stay army chief, President
Islamabad, September 15 “The President will keep both the posts. The national situation demands that he keeps the two offices,” Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said.
— AP |
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India, Bangladesh fail to break ice on Teesta waters
Dhaka, September 15 ‘’We have made progress, but still have difference of opinion on several points and we are still in discussion,’’ the Bangladesh Water Resources Secretary, Dr Mohammad Omar Farooq Khan, told reporters after the first round of the concluding day’s talks. Indian Water Resources Secretary Vinod K Duggal said, ‘’It requires give and take’’ from both sides to come to an agreement. As the two sides failed to reach a consensus, the Secretary-level Joint Committee of Experts meeting was extended. They did not, however, spell out their points of discord precisely. However, Mr Khan said the talks were held in a very cordial atmosphere when the two sides tried to reduce the differences to find a solution. Sources said the water experts continued deliberations on sharing of the Teesta river waters on the basis of the report submitted by a technical expert committee. The Indian side proposed a five-year scientific study on the flow of the Teesta. Bangladesh did not oppose it, but wanted an interim arrangement for sharing the waters until the study is completed.
— UNI |
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Germany’s Indian mayor is election mascot
Altlandsberg (Germany), September 15 On Sunday, Mr Gujjula will put his popularity here to test for Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s ruling Social Democrats in the state of Brandenburg, in a neck-and-neck race with the successors of the former communist rulers. He presents himself as Germany’s “only Mayor of colour” and he is also one of the country’s most appreciated town leaders. Last year, electors in this town of 8,875 residents returned him to office with 80 per cent of the vote. Given his support, the SPD has dropped him into a new electoral district for the poll to face heavyweights from the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and party of Democratic Socialism (PDS).
— AFP |
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Gurinder Chadha, Lalvani win awards
London, September 15 Chadha’s next film, ‘Bride and Prejudice’, featuring Aishwarya Rai in the lead role, is scheduled for world premiere on October 8. Speaking on the occasion, Chadha said she made the film ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ as a tribute to her father and it turned out to be the most successful film, grossing $ 75 million. Dr Lalvani was chosen for the ‘Innovation Award’ for developing a new treatment for HIV and AIDS. He set up Vitabiotics in 1970 and founded the company on the philosophy of developing products that would help the body in its natural fight against disease. The Hammer Award, considered the top prize, went to Suma Chakrabarti, a civil servant and economist, who was made permanent Secretary in the Department of International Development - the first minority civil servant to reach the highest echelons of the service in the UK. —
PTI
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Maoists withdraw strike
Kathmandu, September 15 The negotiation between the government and the All Nepal Trade Union Federation (Revolutionary) to re-open these industries was brokered by human rights activists Padmaratna Tuladhar and President of Human Rights Organisation of Nepal (HURON) Sudip
Pathak. The announcement was made by Tuladhar at a press conference in Kathmandu today.
— PTI |
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US suspends Peace Corps in Nepal
Washington, September 15 It said in a travel warning yesterday that the Embassy had received information that Maoist rebels might attack or take actions specifically against US citizens. “The Department of State authorised the departure of non-emergency personnel and family members of the US Embassy on a voluntary basis, and the Peace Corps temporarily suspended all operations in Nepal,” it said. The department also urged US citizens to defer non-essential travel to the Himalayan kingdom. US citizens were also advised to avoid road travel outside the Kathmandu valley unless they had reliable information that they could proceed safely in specific areas at specific times. — AFP |
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‘Lion of Herat’ tamed with US backing
The reign of one of Afghanistan’s most powerful and colourful warlords appeared to have ended in chaos early this week after a mob of his supporters clashed with American troops and set fire to a United Nations compound in the western city of Herat.
At least seven supporters of the ousted Governor Ismail Khan were killed and 20 wounded as demonstrations were held to protest against Mr Khan’s dismissal. The UN staff were forced to hide in a bunker. The so-called Lion of Herat had ruled the city and a swath of provinces as his fiefdom since 2001, making millions of dollars from the lucrative transit trade with Iran and dispensing justice from a court held in his palace. He was dismissed as Governor by President Hamid Karzai on Saturday with US backing, in what appears to be a new get-tough policy with warlords, less than a month from the country’s first presidential elections. The move was also intended to solve a power struggle in western Afghanistan. Tank battles between private armies began last month when a rival commander nearly overran the city. Mr Khan was only saved then by American intervention after his forces were pushed back almost to the city limits. One militiaman was skinned and several others beheaded in the worst fighting in 12 months. Almost 70 persons were killed. On Saturday, Mr Khan was dropped by Mr
Karzai, ending months of simmering trouble which began in March when his son was killed in a fight with a rival. According to the President’s office, Mr Khan had been “promoted” as Minister of Mines and Industry and replaced with Mr Sayyid Muhammad
Khairkhwa, Ambassador to Ukraine. Mr Khan refused the summons to Kabul and said he would remain as a private citizen. Although he said he would accept the decision, there were signs that his forces might try to fight. A mob of about 1,000 took to the streets on Saturday night chanting, “Death to America”, and “Death to
Karzai” before turning on the UN headquarters. The silver-haired and luxuriantly bearded self-styled emir had a dramatic record, which began when he sparked an anti-Soviet uprising in Herat in which Red Army families were butchered. He then fought the
Taliban, who jailed him for several years before his triumphant return to power in 2001. Although, he has significant local support and ran Herat as the most efficient Afghan city, with rare services such as rubbish collection, he was also reputed to be a fundamentalist with views similar to the
Taliban. It now looks unlikely that he could return to power. For the first time, the American military has made it clear that it is backing moves to push out a warlord. Mr Khan’s support is unlikely to prove strong enough to resist determined action by the US-backed Afghan National Army. Several hundred US troops are reportedly trying to disarm Mr Khan’s supporters. |
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