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Jirga discusses ways to end violence
Mush itching for political role
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Obama wishes Indian-Americans on Diwali
Gunfire brings down US copter in Afghanistan
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Jirga discusses ways to end violence
Foreign minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday said Pakistan was committed to ensuring peace in the region and vowed to fight menace of extremism and terrorism with the cooperation of neighbouring countries and the world community. Inaugurating the two-day mini-jirga here, attended by Pakistani and Afghan officials and tribal leaders from both countries, Shah Mahmood said the jirga was designed to find ways to end mounting violence along their troubled border. The meeting has been dubbed mini-jirga, as it is a smaller follow-up to the traditional jirga or tribal meeting held between the two neighbours in August 2007 on a suggestion by President Bush when he met Afghan and Pakistan Presidents in Washington in a bid to reduce tension between the two countries. The atmosphere has changed a bit though both neighbours continue to exchange accusations. Foreign minister Qureshi said, “Both Afghanistan and Pakistan are faced with terrorism and together they need to face the challenge. Our ties are deep. Our cultures and customs, folklore, languages and literature, our heroes and histories are all common. Above all, we share our glorious and eternal faith Islam. Our concerns and aspirations are common.” He said Afghanistan and Pakistan have both suffered immensely and continue to suffer at the hands of extremism, militancy and terrorism. The Taliban in Afghanistan have been hijacked by Al Qaida converting Afghanistan into a breeding ground of extremism and terrorism that has affected both countries. Together they need to reverse the tragic legacy of the past three decades. Qureshi was optimistic that in future gas pipelines and transit corridors would traverse their territories and people would enjoy the fruits of peace and prosperity as narcotics and terrorism would be but a distant memory. Former Afghan foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, who is leading the Afghan delegation said presence of representatives from different sections of both countries would be helpful in taking a joint action against the terrorists and eliminate the extremist elements from the region.
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Mush itching for political role
Former president Pervez Musharraf cannot take part in politics because of a two-year ban, Raza Rabbani, leader of the House in the Senate, has said while commenting on persistent media reports regarding his impending entry in politics.
Rabbani, who is also a top PPP leader, said there was a constitutional bar on Musharraf who retired as army chief in November last year. He is thus disqualified from taking part in active politics for two years, Rabbani told reporters here. Media reports said Musharraf has discussed his plans to join the PML-Q he acknowledged having created through the intelligence agency ISI in 2002 prior to general election. The party remained his main political prop till he resigned in ignominy on August 18 last to avoid impeachment by Parliament. The former military ruler visited Lahore last week and spent time with friends who leaked it to the media that he was keen to join politics and lead the PML-Q. For this purpose he wants PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to resign and make way for him. However, Shujaat insists he will complete his term till June next year. In retaliation, a pro-Musharraf group PML-Q MPs, led by Senators Tariq Azim (a former minister) and Salim Saifullah, have launched a campaign to remove Shujaat as party head. The group has held several meetings and come in the open telling the media that Shujaat and his cousin and former chief minister Pervez Elahi should accept responsibility for election rout and quit party leadership. Musharraf had been itching for a political role since his supporters lost elections. His strongest protégé and chief of the MQM, Altaf Hussain, shifted loyalty to join Asif Zardari in the campaign to oust him as president. Altaf had reacted to Musharraf’s bid to split the MQM during a trip to Karachi last June when he addressed a meeting of businessmen and publicly vowed to hit back his opponents rather than quitting power. Governor Eshratul Abad and city mayor Mustafa Kamal spoke in support of Musharraf and Kamal even attacked the PPP. But Altaf timely acted to suppress the brewing revolt. Musharraf has largely lived quiet life since his resignation and spent time in playing golf and bridge with friends in the Army House, which he continues to occupy despite quitting the army. His own houses in Islamabad’s elite Chak Shehzad suburban settlement and another in Karachi are under construction. Army chief General Kayani who forced Musharraf to reisgn in August, has protected him from any criminal litigation. Chaudhry Shujaat talking to a TV channel also raised the question of Musharraf’s disqualification to join politics. Asif Zardari can waive the ban through a presidential order, which he is unlikely to issue. Zardari, however, honoured his pledge to the army not to initiate any political or legal proceedings against Musharraf. Many lawyers supportive of Musharraf claim that he does not suffer from any constitutional bar because Parliament had exempted him from that in 2003. This question became a moot point in the protracted legal challenge to his candidacy in presidential election in October last year.
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Obama wishes Indian-Americans on Diwali
Washington, October 27 Noting that much has happened in the world since the festival was celebrated last time, the presidential race front-runner pledged to work to renew America’s moral leadership in the world if elected in the November 4 election. In the coming days, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and their friends of all faiths will gather across America and around the world to celebrate the festival of lights. “Last year, I wrote that Diwali’s celebration of the triumph of illumination over ignorance had a special meaning for me. At that time, travelling across America and meeting people of every spiritual and ethnic background showed me that there is much more that unites us than divides us. Now, one year later, I believe this even more strongly,” Obama said. “Americans, despite our varied backgrounds, believe that all people are created equal, and that each person should be free to practice or not practice religion as they choose,” the Illinois Senator said. “If I’m elected President of the US, I will work to renew America’s moral leadership in the world. This is our time to create change, and I believe that we can and must continue the fight against ignorance and intolerance. I wish you all the best for a joyous Diwali” Obama added. — PTI
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Gunfire brings down US copter in Afghanistan
Kabul, October 27 The helicopter was forced down in Wardak, one province west of Kabul, after insurgents hit it with gunfire today, said Lt-Commander Walter Matthew, a US military spokesman. The crew survived and have been extracted from the area, he said. Coalition troops secured the area and “are in the process of recovering” the helicopter, he said. At least four militants were killed in the exchange, said Fazel Karim Muslim, the chief of Sayed Abad district. The Wardak province has seen an increase in insurgent activity in the past two years, and its main highway is now extremely risky to travel on, particularly at night. In mid-October, a US special-forces raid freed a kidnapped American working for the Army Corps of Engineers, who had been held by his captors in Wardak for two months.
— AP
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Beijing TOKYO
No election for now: Japan PM: Japan’s Prime Minister Taro Aso has told an aide he will not call an election for the time being, the Nikkei financial newspaper reported today. Aso had been widely expected to call a snap poll after taking office in September in an attempt to renew the ruling coalition’s mandate and resolve a policy deadlock with the Opposition-dominated upper house of the parliament. MEXICO
CITY ABU DHABI
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