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Mumbai Heat
Denies anti-scribe remarks
Terror needs to be fought jointly, says Qureshi
Top US general visits Pak
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Hunt for Prabhakaran on
UN secy gen visits devastated Gaza
Russian gas reaches Europe via Ukraine
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Mumbai Heat
President Asif Ali Zardari has reaffirmed that the investigation into the Mumbai attacks would be carried out transparently in accordance with the information provided by India.
According to a private TV channel, Zardari received a comprehensive briefing from interior adviser Rehman Malik, who called on him in Islamabad. The President said the international community had praised Pakistan's stance after the Mumbai incident and Islamabad's offer for a joint investigation into the attacks, according to the channel. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said Pakistan was fully cooperating with India and sharing information on its own investigation into the Mumbai attacks. “We have conveyed our position on the dossier provided by India and will continue to share information as our own investigation progresses," Gilani said. He said Pakistan was firm on its stance that it would try all the culprits found involved in the Mumbai attacks and punish them according to its own law. “But, we will not handover any Pakistani national (to India),” he said. Gilani debunked the impression that India had successfully isolated Pakistan at the international level through a vigorous diplomacy. He said this was the position initially soon after the attacks. “But over the time, the world has come to recognise credibility of Pakistani version and has endorsed the view that Pakistan government is not involved in the terrorist acts.” Meanwhile, President Zardari and Gilani discussed the regional situation with visiting US CENTCOM chief General David Petraeus and conveyed to him Pakistani concerns about belligerent statements by Indian leadership. Both stressed that Pakistan was trying its best to calm the situation but reiterated resolve to defend the country in case of any aggression.
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Denies anti-scribe remarks
Despite the Presidency denying Asaf Ali Zardari’s alleged remarks against journalists, the controversy over the entire issue refuses to die down, with many scribes reacting sharply to the President’s ‘comments’.
Rahimullah Yousafzai, a respected journalist from Peshawar, insisted that his information was correct and many businessmen had reaffirmed the report that was based on a meeting between Zardari and a delegation of Peshawar Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the conduct of journalists was never discussed during the meeting. “The President did not utter those words attributed to him by Yousafzai in his report,” Babar said in clarification on various TV channels. He said he has great regard for Yousafzai and acknowledged his credibility but in this report he has been misled by some participant in the meeting. The controversy raged on popular TV channels with many prominent anchors giving little credence to the denial by the Presidency. They recalled that President Zardari has a penchant for taunts and barbs. Rahimullah Yousafzai said he had talked to more than one businessmen who were present in the meeting and reconfirmed the report. According to him, businessmen insisted that the President had told them during the January 15 meeting that the journalists were the “biggest terrorists”, even one of them was ready to testify before a court of law if needed.
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Terror needs to be fought jointly, says Qureshi
Islamabad, January 20 It was "important for Pakistan and India to chart the way forward on anti-terrorism cooperation," Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told members of a Pakistani peace mission scheduled to visit India. He spoke of the "imperative need for an across-the-board constructive bilateral engagement and resumption of the peace process". "Pakistan believes that sustained engagement and dialogue is necessary to allay each other's concerns," Qureshi said. The India-Pakistan composite dialogue process, which began in 2004, was put on hold by New Delhi in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks.
— PTI
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Top US general visits Pak
Islamabad, January 20 His visit comes as President Barack Obama assumes office and would focus on tying up a new plan in the war against terror and to discuss with Pakistan's top leadership the regional security situation. The new US President has identified fight against al-Qaeda and Taliban as one of his administration’s top priorities. Petraeus, making his second visit to Pakistan since he was appointed the chief of the US central command last year, would meet President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani during the visit, officials said. Besides cooperation in the war on terror and regional tensions sparked by the Mumbai terror attacks, Petraeus is expected to discuss the situation in Afghanistan and capacity building of Pakistani security forces during his meetings with the country's top leaders. Pakistan's opposition to missile strikes in its tribal belt by US drones operating from Afghanistan is also expected to figure in the talks. Prime Minister Gilani yesterday described the missile strikes and incursions into Pakistani territory by US forces as counterproductive for the war against terror.
— PTI
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Hunt for Prabhakaran on
May be deported to India During a recent meeting with foreign correspondents, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said he was positive on the issue of deportation of Prabhakaran to India if he was captured, in the event of New Delhi making such a request.
Colombo, January 20 As seven divisions of Lankan troops converge on Mullaittivu from all directions, the army has been told to be on the lookout for the elusive Tiger chief and top leadership of the LTTE. Special aircrafts have been kept ready to either para-drop or land-in these special forces once the whereabouts of Prabhakaran come to light. The Lankan navy has blockaded the sea routes from the Mullaittivu coasts to prevent any escape by top LTTE cadres by boats. The blockade assumes significance as Sri Lankan forces today foiled a bid by some LTTE cadres to break out from the army cordon and escape from the sea route. In the sea battle, four LTTE boats were sunk and 16 Tigers killed. Prabhakaran, Lankan army believes, is guarded by crack elements of the LTTE-‘Black Tigers’-who are fiercely loyal to their chief and believe that any encounter with them would be the first sign indicating the presence of top leadership of the LTTE.
— PTI
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UN secy gen visits devastated Gaza
Gaza, January 20 Ban, on a West Asia tour, was the highest-ranking international figure to visit the territory since separately declared ceasefires by Israel and Hamas ended a 22-day Israeli offensive and Palestinian cross-border rocket attacks. Sources said Israel planned to complete its troop pullout before Barack Obama's inauguration, scheduled for 2230 hrs IST. Analysts saw the withdrawal as an effort to avoid any tension with the new US president. Amid crowds waving Hamas flags, Ban drove in a convoy to the compound of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in the city of Gaza. Last Thursday, Israeli fire set ablaze the UNRWA facility's food and fuel warehouse, an incident Ban described at the time as “an outrage”. Israel apologised but said it was prompted by fire from gunmen at the compound. Many Palestinians returned to the rubble of what used to be their homes in Gaza city suburbs that were hard hit during the fighting. They picked through debris, trying to salvage belongings. Two children playing with unexploded ordnance were killed when it detonated, Hamas officials said. Ban, who met Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert before travelling to the Gaza Strip, planned to visit southern Israel, an area hit by Palestinian rockets during the Gaza war, later in the day. At the prime minister's office, Ban said he wanted to help to make the ceasefire “durable”.
— Reuters
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Russian gas reaches Europe via Ukraine
Moscow/Kiev, January 20 Slovakia, which borders Ukraine, said gas had started arriving, though Kiev said it could be up to 36 hours before supplies reach other parts of Europe, where some countries have been forced to ration supplies to customers. Ukraine confirmed it was receiving gas from Russia.
— Reuters
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