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Condoleezza calls up Pervez, discusses terror
Why Aziz called off US visit?
Over 100 held in Pak crackdown
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Goodwill trip for Indian orphan goes awry
Suicide bomber kills 6 army recruits in Baghdad
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Condoleezza calls up Pervez, discusses terror
Islamabad, July 20 Ms Rice spoke to Mr Musharraf over the phone last night after the President had a lengthy meeting with the visiting Chief of US CENTCOM, General John P. Abizaid, who frequently comes to Pakistan to review progress on the war on terror, especially in the Pak-Afghan border, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said. During their conversation, Ms Rice and Mr Musharraf discussed a host of regional and international issues, including Prime Minister Singh’s US visit. Their conversation centred around security related issues and Pakistan’s much promised crackdown on extremism and terrorism. In Washington, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns said Mr Musharraf’s response to the Indo-US agreement on civilian nuclear energy cooperation was “constructive and not overly problematic” during his conversation with Ms Rice. Official media here reported that the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan too figured in the talks between Ms Rice and Mr Musharraf. Significantly, during his meeting with Mr Abizaid, Mr Musharraf said the US should help Pakistan fulfil its military and defence needs to maintain balance of power in the region. “We want close ties defence and military ties with the US,” an official statement said. Referring to the status of Non-NATO ally accorded to Pakistan by the US, Mr Musharraf during his meeting with Abizaid emphasised the need for enhanced Pak-US strategic ties and long-term partnership in all fields, saying Washington must take care of Islamabad’s security and military needs. He also warned that Pakistan would not tolerate future violations of its borders on the pretext of war on terror. The warning follow recent attacks by US troops on suspected Taliban men inside Pakistani borders in which 24 militants were killed. “Our forces are vigilant against terrorists and are doing every possible for purging Pakistan and the region of them. Their successes against militants are indubitable. Now, we want our borders to be respected in war of terrorism. We will not put up with border breaches in future,” he said. Mr Musharraf said Pakistani security forces had successfully destroyed hide-outs of foreign militants in Northern and Southern Waziristan but at the same time sought more technical support from US for his intelligence and law enforcement agencies which would help them to completely free tribal areas from al-Qaeda militants and Taliban remnants. The Indo-US defence cooperation deal and current Pak-US relations also came up for discussion in the meeting. Meanwhile, local daily ‘The News’, referring to Indo-US civilian nuclear energy cooperation agreement, hoped that the US would accord the same status to Pakistan and help it step up its nuclear power plants.
— PTI |
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Why Aziz called off US visit?
Washington, July 20 According to the Daily Times, the visit was called off because the Bush administration was unwilling to accord him more than a businesslike welcome, and no official dinner, or address to Congress, as had been requested for by Pakistan. The Bush administration, which perceives President Musharraf as the only power centre in Pakistan, is learnt to have told Islamabad that Aziz was an "elected" PM only in a technical sense, and not a real one. Though the invitation was still valid, the Pakistani Prime Minister was unlikely to be in Washington in the near future, said the paper.
— ANI
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Over 100 held in Pak crackdown
Islamabad, July 20 The operation against suspected militants in different parts of the country started after sunset and continued till late in the night. The crackdown was launched 12 days after the London blasts in which three of the four suicide bombers were said to be Britons of Pakistani origin who visited the country recently. Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao told The Dawn the action had been taken against people involved in publishing hate material, making provocative speeches and sheltering militants.According to police sources, many security personnel and students of seminaries received injuries during clashes. In several places, police resorted to baton-charge and fired teargas shells to disperse students of Madarsaas protesting against the crackdown. The students pelted police parties with stones, causing injuries to police personnel and members of the general public. President General Pervez Musharraf had convened a high-level meeting two days ago which was attended by heads of law-enforcement agencies. About eight seminaries were raided in Islamabad, including Madarsaa Jama-i-Hafsa commonly known as Lal Masjid which is said to be the strongest of the Deobandi sect, Jama-i-Farooqia, Madarsaa Jama-i-Umar, a Madarsaa in Rana Market and one seminary in sector I-8/3. Mohammad Asghar adds from Rawalpindi: Law-enforcement agencies took into custody at least two activists of the banned Tehrik-i-Jafria organisation, security sources said. Asif Shahzad adds from Lahore: Police aided by other law-enforcement agencies picked up on Tuesday over 30 members of banned groups in a crackdown launched on the outlawed organisations in Punjab. |
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Pak arrests 7/7 suspect?
Islamabad, July 20 “We have arrested nobody called Haroon Rashid,” Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said.
— Reuters |
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Bush picks conservative as SC nominee
Washington, July 20 Roberts (50) would take the place of Justice Sandra O’ Connor, who has retired. A Harvard graduate, he has served in Republican administrations of Ronald Reagan and George Bush. However, he has drawn the ire of abortion rights groups for arguing in favour of a government regulation banning abortion-related counselling in government family planning programmes. Such appointments are subject to confirmation by Senate, which is controlled by Republicans, but the Senate minority is expected to question him sharply about his judicial philosophy during the confirmation process. Announcing his choice, Bush said: “In my meetings with Judge Roberts, I have been deeply impressed. He’s a man of extraordinary accomplishment and ability. He has a good heart. He has the qualities Americans expect in a judge: experience, wisdom, fairness, and civility. He has profound respect for the rule of law and for the liberties guaranteed to every citizen,” he said.
— PTI |
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Goodwill trip for Indian orphan goes awry
Houston, July 20 Eleven-year-old Shyamala Peddibotla was admitted to the National Children’s Hospital in Washington DC on Thursday night with complications from what appears to be diabetes and an infection. Despite antibiotics having been administered, she continues to suffer from high fever. Apprehension about the girl’s illness is compounded by the fact that three caretakers who were to accompany Shyamala and her eight friends, are still awaiting visas to the United States. Shyamala’s caretaker, her overseer for the past fiveyears, was among those flown back to India after being refused admission to the US. The caretakers had received visas to other countries visited by the group during their trip. The eight girls, hailing from the same orphanage in India, and a Rajya Sabha MP accompanying them on the goodwill mission, are staying in a nearby hotel anxiously awaiting Shyamala’s recovery. The group was on an international goodwill and peacemaking trip highlighting the humanitarian work of the Global Peace Initiative organisation. Last Monday, Shyamala was honoured at a US State Dinner hosted by Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and a private reception the following day in the home of Carl Lindner, owner of the US baseball team ‘Cincinnati Reds.’
— PTI |
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Suicide bomber kills 6 army recruits in Baghdad
Baghdad, July 20 Police sources said the bomber mingled with a crowd outside the recruiting centre at an abandoned airfield in Muthana district of central Baghdad before detonating an explosive belt. Officials at Yarmouk hospital, nearest to the site of the attack, said they had received six dead and 25 wounded. — Reuters
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