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Mehsud’s likely successor feared dead in Taliban infighting US uncertain on Mehsud’s death
Pak diplomat Niaz Naik dead
Iran puts French woman, embassy staff on trial
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Lanka holds Ist post-war polls in north
26/11 probe: Pak accuses India of being ‘non-serious’
Indian American gets key post
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Mehsud’s likely successor feared dead in Taliban infighting Islamabad, August 8 The fighting broke out between Hakimullah Mehsud and Wali-ur-Rehman — both contenders for leading the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan in the wake of the reported death of Baitullah Mehsud in a US drone attack — and one of them was killed, Malik told reporters. Malik said the government only had information about the development and it could be confirmed “once we have seen the body and have material evidence”. He said he was hopeful that such evidence would be obtained in the next 24 hours. TV news channels reported that the clash occurred in South Waziristan during a meeting of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan ‘shura’ or supreme council to choose a successor to Baitullah Mehsud. There were unconfirmed reports that Hakimullah Mehsud, a deputy of Baitullah, was killed in the fighting while Wali-ur-Rehman was injured. Geo TV had initially reported that both Hakimullah and Wali-ur-Rehman died in the clash. Earlier in the day, Hakimullah had telephoned media organisations and claimed that Baitullah was alive and safe. The 35-year-old militant leader had gone into hiding as part of the Taliban’s “war strategy,” Hakimullah claimed. He said the reports of Baitullah’s death were a ruse to lure him out of hiding so that he could be targeted by the drones. However, Interior Minister Malik said there was solid information that suggested Baitullah was killed in a drone attack on Wednesday. The real picture would emerge soon, he said. Leading security analyst Mehmood Shah, who has served in the tribal areas, said the Taliban could be covering up the news of Mehsud’s death as they are facing problems in electing a new chief. Meanwhile, the driver of Mehsud, who was killed in the drone attack, was buried in his hometown of Mardan in the NWFP, local residents said today. The body of Muhammad Qasim was brought to his village last night, his relatives said. According to the relatives, Qasim had been missing for a year. During his last visit to his village, he had told his parents he would not come back. — PTI
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US uncertain on Mehsud’s death Washington, August 8 “We have, obviously, seen reports, even by members of the Taliban, that Baitullah Mehsud is dead. We can’t with 100 per cent certainty verify that,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters. “There seems to be a growing consensus among credible observers that he is indeed dead,” he said. — PTI
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Pak diplomat Niaz Naik dead
Niaz Naik, a former top Pakistani diplomat and a key player in “track II” diplomacy to promote understanding between India and Pakistan, was found dead on Saturday.
The police broke open the gate of Naik’s house in Islamabad’s F-7 sector after neighbours informed it that a stench was emanating from his house. Naik (82), a bachelor, was living alone. The body was found in the bedroom. It was suspected that he had died three to four days ago. A highly respected figure, Niaz Naik had an outstanding diplomatic career. He represented Pakistan in world capitals, including the United Nations, Paris, Moscow and New Delhi. He was foreign secretary from 1982 to 1986. He was rated as a person of high calibre, intellect and integrity, a consummate and astute negotiator, very open and outgoing to the media. He, along with former foreign minister Sahibzada Yaqoob, led a Pakistan delegation in the Geneva talks on Afghanistan that culminated in the withdrawal of Soviet troops. After his retirement, he devoted himself to fostering peace and stability in South Asia and conflict resolution between India and Pakistan. Together with former Indian and Pakistani diplomats, civil and military bureaucrats and scholars, Naik remained involved for nearly two decades in the Neemrana Dialogue named after a New Delhi hotel, but commonly known as track II diplomacy. This non-official channel led to some important breakthroughs in confidence-building between the two countries such as launch of Srinagar-Muzaffarbad bus service and ceasefire on the LoC in Kashmir.
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Iran puts French woman, embassy staff on trial
Tehran, August 8 “Among those tried today are a French woman accused of collecting information and provoking rioters and also a local female French embassy staff person,” Fars reported. French citizen Clotilde Reiss, held in Tehran’s Evin Prison, was arrested at Tehran airport on July 1 on charges of espionage when leaving the country after spending five months as a French language teaching assistant in the central city of Isfahan. France has rejected the charge against Reiss as “baseless” and French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for her immediate release. The French Foreign Ministry said on July 15 that a French-Iranian woman, working for its embassy in Tehran, had been detained for three days by the Iranian authorities. She was not identified by name and the reason for her arrest was not revealed. Iran today put more prominent moderates on trial in connection with the same unrest.
— Reuters
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Lanka holds Ist post-war polls in north
Jaffna (Sri Lanka), August 8 Turnout was mixed for the polls to elect local councillors in Jaffna and Vavuniya, where campaigning took place without violence - which has been a rarity at polls in northern and eastern Sri Lanka during the Tigers’ long rebellion. The military laid down tight security that required opposition candidates to get permission to visit the areas, while ruling party candidates moved about freely. President Mahinda Rajapaksa promised Sri Lanka’s minority Tamils more democracy after defeating the Tigers, who fought to create a separate nation for Tamils to free them from abuses by governments led by the Sinhalese majority. Riding a wave of popularity since winning the war, Rajapaksa is expected to hold early parliamentary and government elections to secure himself another six-year term. — Reuters
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26/11 probe: Pak accuses India of being ‘non-serious’
Islamabad, August 8 “The information provided by India so far is not sufficient,” Interior Minister Rehman Malik was quoted as saying by the ‘Express 24/7’ news channel. He said India had not given some of the information sought by Pakistan
last month.Malik claimed that Pakistan was “serious” about the probe. He also noted that Pakistan had approached Interpol to arrest 13 fugitives wanted by the authorities in connection with the incident.
— PTI
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Indian American gets key post
Houston, August 8 Thirtytwo-year-old Khanna, a prominent attorney who specialised in intellectual property law at O’Melveny & Myers’ San Francisco office, was sworn in earlier this week as Deputy Assistant Secretary for domestic operations of the US and Foreign Commercial Service, International Trade Administration.
— PTI
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