W O R L D

Pak warns of new turmoil if Iran targeted
United Nation, September 22
Pakistan has told the United States that any military action against Iran would create unprecedented turmoil in the region and that Pakistan seeks a peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue, Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri said on Tuesday.

Editorial: Iranian knot

USA asks Iran to resume talks with European Union
Washington, September 22
Sharing Europe’s concern over the “intentions” of Iran on the nuclear issue, the United States has asked Teheran to resume negotiations with the European Union at the UN nuclear watchdog meeting in Vienna.

Beware of our wrath, Iran warns foes
Teheran, September 22
To cries of ‘’God is Great’’, Iran showed off its military might today and warned potential aggressors that the Islamic state would vigorously repel any attack. The military parade, to mark the anniversary of the start of the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, coincided with mounting western pressure on Iran to abandon a nuclear programme, which it says is peaceful but Washington fears may be used to make atomic bombs.

6 killed, over 40 hurt in Lahore blasts

Islamabad, September 22 Six persons were killed and 40 injured in two successive bomb explosions in Pakistan’s Lahore city today. The first explosion occurred near the Minar-e-Pakistan monument, killing one person. The explosive was planted on a parked cycle near a shop, the police said. Pakistani poliemen gather at the site of a bomb explosion at a market in Lahore on Thursday. Two bomb blasts within hours of eah other killed at least six persons and wounded 40. — Reuters photo

Tyeb Mehta's painting sold for $1.5 million
New York, September 22
Tyeb Mehta has improved upon his own record to fetch a whopping $1.584 million for his painting "Mahishasura", which is the highest amount to be made by a contemporary Indian work of art.

Nepal King cheered by crowd
Kathmandu, September 22
In his first interaction with the people of Kathmandu since the royal takeover, Nepal’s King Gyanendra today walked the streets of the capital and mingled with the cheering crowd that had gathered to greet him.

Pak warns of new turmoil if Iran targeted
Masood Haider
By arrangement with The Dawn

United Nation, September 22
Pakistan has told the United States that any military action against Iran would create unprecedented turmoil in the region and that Pakistan seeks a peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue, Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri said on Tuesday.

Talking to The Dawn following a half hour meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottakil on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Mr Kasuri observed: “Pakistan has had difficult time in the past during the Afghan war and another violent action in the region would destabilise the region”.

He said: “I informed him that our position on the issue has been consistent with the non-aligned movement’s position and we want a peaceful resolution of the issue.”

Mr Kasuri assured his Iranian counterpart that Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with Iran recalling the historical cultural and religious ties between the two countries. Besides, he noted that economic cooperation between the two countries had improved substantially.

Recalling the Taliban era when relations between Iran and Pakistan were strained, Mr Kasuri said: “We do not want to return to the time of Taliban,” adding, “we want to resolve any outstanding issues with Tehran.”

Asked whether the issue of Iranian gas pipeline issue came up at the meeting, Mr Kasuri said: “Yes we discussed the Iranian gas pipeline issue saying that the project was on track and we have had extensive talks with India on the issue.”

UN Address: Later in the afternoon, addressing the UN General Assembly session, Mr Kasuri told the international community that relations between India and Pakistan were improving and “there is new hope for peace and cooperation in South Asia.”

He said: “We must also give hope to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their legitimate quest for the right to self-determination.”

Paraphrasing President Musharraf, he said: “Pakistan and India must not remain trapped by hate and history in a cycle of confrontation and underscored “it is essential to find a just solution of the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir.”

USA asks Iran to resume talks with European Union

Washington, September 22
Sharing Europe’s concern over the “intentions” of Iran on the nuclear issue, the United States has asked Teheran to resume negotiations with the European Union at the UN nuclear watchdog meeting in Vienna.

“The President believes that Iran needs to come back to negotiations with the Europeans. The European Union issued a statement expressing their deep concern about Iran’s intentions. We continue to support the efforts of our European friends,” White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said yesterday.

“We have made it clear that Iran needs to come back to the negotiating table and work in good faith and abide by the agreements that they’ve made with the Europeans so that we can move forward and get this issue resolved,” he said.

“And what we’re continuing to do is support them in the discussion that goes on at the International Atomic Energy Agency,” he said.

Mr McClellan said the US was equally concerned about Iran’s “intentions” because Iran had “a long history of deceiving the international community.”

Negotiations between Iran and the three top European powers — Britain, France and Germany — have reached a deadlock at the IAEA meeting in Vienna with the latter calling for Iran to be reported to the UN Security Council over potentially weapons-related nuclear fuel work. — PTI

Beware of our wrath, Iran warns foes

Teheran, September 22
To cries of ‘’God is Great’’, Iran showed off its military might today and warned potential aggressors that the Islamic state would vigorously repel any attack. The military parade, to mark the anniversary of the start of the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, coincided with mounting western pressure on Iran to abandon a nuclear programme, which it says is peaceful but Washington fears may be used to make atomic bombs.

‘’We have always said we want friendly relations with other countries,’’ said President Mamhoud Ahmadinejad, addressing his first military parade since taking office last month.

‘’But those who decide to misuse our nation’s honour and dignity and want to test what has been tested in the past should know that the flames of the nation’s wrath are very hot and destructive,’’ he said.

President Ahmadinejad said Iran’s enemies had learned a lesson from the eight-year war during which Iran and Iraq had fought each other to a standstill and hundreds of thousands were killed.

‘’Iran’s enemies understood that the nation is very serious in defending the country’s security, integrity and the achievements of the (1979 Islamic) revolution,’’ he said.

As in previous years, the highlight of the parade, which included tanks, jets and troops, were six huge trailer-mounted Shahab-3 ballistic missiles, capable of hitting Israel, U S bases in the Gulf and parts of southeastern Europe.

Some missiles, which have a range of 2,000 km, bore banners proclaiming ‘’Israel should be wiped off the map’’ and ‘’We will trample America under our feet’’.

Washington broke ties with Iran shortly after the 1979 revolution and the Islamic state officially refuses to recognise Israel’s right to exist. — Reuters

6 killed, over 40 hurt in Lahore blasts

Islamabad, September 22
Six persons were killed and 40 injured in two successive bomb explosions in Pakistan’s Lahore city today. The first explosion occurred near the Minar-e-Pakistan monument, killing one person. The explosive was planted on a parked cycle near a shop, the police said.

A second blast occurred in the city’s commercial district killing five persons.

At least 40 persons have been injured, including some critically, in the twin explosions, state-run PTV reported.

Officials here attributed the bomb blasts to attempts by some banned militant groups to spoil the “positive” image of Pakistan projected by President Pervez Musharraf who returned yesterday from his visit to the USA. — PTI

Tyeb Mehta's painting sold for $1.5 million

New York, September 22
Tyeb Mehta has improved upon his own record to fetch a whopping $1.584 million for his painting "Mahishasura", which is the highest amount to be made by a contemporary Indian work of art.

The painting was sold at New York at an auction organised by the leading international art auction house Christie's.

Bought by a private collector for $1.584 million, against a pre-sale estimate of $600,000-800,000, this hails an all time high for the abacus of auction trends and the power and brilliance of Mehta.

"This is the first time a contemporary Indian painting has sold at auction for more than $1 million and the result quintuples the previous world auction record, which was set at Christie's New York in 2002 when 'Celebration', a painting by the same artist, fetched $317,500," said Christie's.

As a work of art, "Mahishasura" has been referred to as a work in karmic origami, which depicts the traditional Hindu tale of the warrior goddess Durga slaying the buffalo demon, Mahisha.

Many critics opine that Mehta is not a prolific artist due to his highly exacting and meticulous standards. Neither has he produced works aplenty like the patriarch M.F. Husain.

"For Indian art, this is a watershed," M.F. Husain told IANS on Thursday morning. Both these artists were together at the launch of Husain's "Lost Continent" exhibition in London two months ago.

Mehta, who lives in Mumbai, now works only on a few canvasses in a year. "They are for my children, I have stopped selling to anyone," he said. — IANS

Nepal King cheered by crowd

Kathmandu, September 22
In his first interaction with the people of Kathmandu since the royal takeover, Nepal’s King Gyanendra today walked the streets of the capital and mingled with the cheering crowd that had gathered to greet him.

The King visited Lalitpur district near the capital amid tight security to take stock of the situation in the central development region and gave directives to the zonal and district level administrative.

He walked 3-4 km from Thapathali near the government secretariat building Singhdurbar of Kathmandu to Lagankhel, in Lalitpur where the zonal commissioner’s office is located.

Security was tight in the area of the royal walk to prevent protests.

The King, who has faced protests ever since he took over power, was greeted by thousands of people, including students, businessmen, teachers, government employees lined up on the capital’s main street decorated with colourful banners and flowers. — PTI