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US Attacks US Secy of State
‘No compromise with Tibetans in exile’
India, China to be major powers by 2025: US
Prince William to fight pirates
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Border dispute with India
Michael Jackson is Muslim now
China-Pak nuclear deals need NSG nod, says US
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US Attacks
Army chief General Kayani would soon brief MPs on continued US drone attacks inside Pakistan’s territory, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told the National Assembly on Friday, in a bid to soothe tempers as indignant MPs from both sides of the isle vented strong condemnation and frustration over callous disregard by the US to Pakistan’s protests and Parliament’s strong denunciations.
Members said Pakistan should take the complaint to the United Nations and criticised what they described as inept and empty response from the Pakistan government. Leader of the Opposition Nisar Ali Khan scoffed at Prime Minsiter’s Gilani’s statement hoping the US attacks wouldcease once President-elect Barack Obama took over, terming it as naïve. Most members took exception to Thursday’s US missile attack in Bannu. “It reflects the contemptuous disregard of the sentiments of a democratic Parliament and feigned protests by the government,” Nisar Khan observed. Nisar said statements by the Prime Minsiter and President Asif Zardari declaring the US missile attacks as intolerable, carry no credibility because the government did not back them up with any concrete action. “It gives credence to Washington Post’s report that a tacit understanding exists under which Pakistan would continue to make noises while the US would ignore them with impunity,” Nisar said and dared the government to sue the paper if it had given an incorrect report. Condemning the US air strikes inside Pakistan as “intolerable”, Gilani said his government had no tacit understanding with the US on such strikes. He also vehmently denied former President Pervez Musharraf reaching any understanding, as there were no foreign ministry records to show that.
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US Secy of State Washington, November 21 “She’s ready,” one of the sources told the newspaper, which said Clinton came to her decision after additional discussions with Obama about the nature of her role as the top US diplomat and his plans for foreign policy. Democratic Party sources have said Clinton was on track to be nominated, with an official announcement expected after the November 27 Thanksgiving holiday. — Reuters
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‘No compromise with Tibetans in exile’
Beijing, November 21 An editorial in the official Tibet Daily newspaper denounced the Nobel Peace laureate’s “middle way” proposal that the region be granted control over its internal affairs, while remaining a part of China. It said the approach was tantamount to seeking outright independence for the region, which China insists has been part of its territory for 700 years. — AP
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India, China to be major powers by 2025: US
Washington, November 21 “We believe chances are good that India and China will continue to rise, but their ascent is not guaranteed and both will have to overcome high economic and social hurdles,” a report by the US Directorate of National Intelligence has said. The report titled “Global Trends-2025, a World Transformed” clearly points out that if current trends continue by 2025, China will have the world’s second largest economy and will be a “leading military power.” Though the current superpower, the US, will remain the single most important actor on the world stage by 2025, but it will be less dominant in the new global multi-polar system with new players. The report said, “ India will continue on the road to rapid economic growth, but regional and ethnic insurgencies that have plagued country since independence are likely to persist. But they will not threaten India’s unity. We assess New Delhi will remain confident that it can contain the Kashmiri separatist movement. However, India is likely to experience heightened violence and instability in several parts of the country because of the growing reach of the Naxalite movement.” While, the report labels China as an emerging military power, it is silent on what India’s future military strength would be? The report while projecting a brisk relationship developing between India and the US, particularly in transfer of high technology and trade, said the political leadership in New Delhi will avoid transformation of these ties into some sort of an “alliance” framework. — PTI
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Prince William to fight pirates
London, November 21 According to a report published in leading British tabloid The Sun, the 26-year-old Royal will experience how the Special Boat Service (SBS) unit deals with drug runners and pirates during his deployment. SBS troops carry out secret missions in the notorious Caribbean, making daring raids on suspicious vessels as well as gathering intelligence. Sources said that William flew to Barbados on Sunday and would spend at least ten days with the SBS. His training entails going on exercise in powerful speed boats that are used to capture sea bandits. “William will not face a conflict situation. It’s a training mission, not an operational one. It’s a first for the Royals and is only possible because he’s a trained soldier,” a military source was quoted as saying. William has already spent time with the RAF, Navy and Air Corps as is to train as a navy search-and-rescue chopper pilot
in January. — PTI
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Border dispute with India
Kathmandu, November 21 The Kalapani Border dispute could be resolved through a trilateral understanding among Nepal, India and China, the Kantipur daily quoted Deputy Prime Minister Bamdev Gautam as having told a visiting Chinese military delegation led by Major General Ei Hujeng yesterday. The paper claimed that Kalapani, a 75 sq km area in Nepal’s Darchula district bordering the hill districts of Uttarakhand, is in Indian control since the 1962 Sino-Indian war. “The discussion took place on border management,” home secretary Gobinda Kusum was quoted as saying. “We wanted to settle all issues through dialogue,” he added. However, home ministry spokesman Navin Ghimire said the meeting was just a courtesy call and denied having any information about the issue being raised in the talks. The joint technical team between Nepal and India has been actively engaged in resolving disputes at various border points. However, Nepal has asked India to involve China in resolving the Kalapani border dispute as the area is in tri-junction of the three countries, the paper said. The paper claimed that Nepal had drawn the attention of external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee towards the issue of Kalapani and Susta borders during Nepalese Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav’s recent visit to India to participate in the BIMSTEC Summit. The Chinese delegation also met defence minister Ram Bahadur Thapa “Badal” and discussed several issues including border management, according to the Kantipur daily. — PTI
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Michael Jackson is Muslim now
London, November 21 Jackson sat on the floor wearing a tiny hat after an Imam was summoned to officiate. The star decided to adopt the new religion while he was recording a song at the home of his friend where a Jehovah’s witness was brought up to help him through the ceremony. — PTI
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China-Pak nuclear deals need NSG nod, says US
Washington, November 21 “Although Pakistan’s energy needs are real and increasing, we believe Pakistan’s proliferation record would make NSG consensus difficult were China to request an exception,” state department assistant secretary for legislative affairs Matthew Reynolds said in a letter to Democrat Congressman from Massachusetts Edward J. Markey. Reynolds said Washington had already communicated its “position clearly” to Islamabad and Beijing that the proposed cooperation between the two countries to construct two more nuclear reactors in Pakistan should not move forward. “We have communicated our position clearly to our Chinese and Pakistani interlocutors at multiple levels in Washington, Beijing, and Islamabad, and have made plain our view that proposed cooperation on Chasma III and IV should not move forward. The US position is that cooperation on the construction of two new reactors would be inconsistent with the commitments China made at the time of its adherence to Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) guidelines in 2004.” “We also have been in contact with other NSG members, a number of whom have expressed similar concern at the recent reports,” the state department said in the letter that was made public today. Reynolds also said the US had sought and would continue to seek clarification from Islamabad and Beijing on this matter. — PTI
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17 Islamist rebels killed 10th anniversary of space station 6,500-year-old village found 
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