 |
|
|
Pak reacts cautiously to US policy on Afghan
Prince Charles bats for alternative medicines
Even US sees India behind Afghan insurgency: Gilani
|
|
|
Iran frees five detained
British sailors
Suicide bomber kills Pak navy official
Ustad Sharafat Ali Khan dead
|
|
Pak reacts cautiously to US policy on Afghan
Responding cautiously to President Obama's speech on Afghan strategy, Pakistan Wednesday said it would closely engage with United States in understanding the full import of its new strategy on Afghanistan and to ensure that there would be no adverse fallout on Pakistan.
“There is certainly a need for clarity and coordination on all aspects of the implementation of this strategy,” Foreign Office said in a statement issued here on President Obama's speech. But analysts said President Obama's references to significance of Pakistan's cooperation in the war on terror was more of an empty rhetoric devoid of any substantive move to extend meaningful assistance to Pakistan to wage that war effectively. "President Obama's speech is full of good wishes for Pakistan without spelling out how the United States plans to help Pakistan in confronting its present challenges created by its participation in the war on terrorism," Dr. Tanvir Ahmed, a former foreign secretary and currently chairman of the Institute of Strategic Studies said. Most analysts agreed with Prime Minister Yosaf Raza Gilani's assessment that the planned surge in US forces in Afghanistan would push Taliban and Al-Qaeda into Pakistani territory. The FO statement said Pakistan and the United States need to closely coordinate their efforts to achieve shared objectives. Foreign Office said Pakistan has taken careful note of the important announcement by President Obama of the US-Afghanistan strategy. “Pakistan is committed to uprooting terrorism from our region and in advancing the cause of peace and stability in Afghanistan,” it said. Foreign Office said President Obama correctly mentioned that the struggle against violent extremism extends well beyond the region. “We welcome President Obama’s reaffirmation of partnership between the two countries built on a foundation of mutual interest, mutual respect and mutual trust and also the United States’ strong support for Pakistan’s security and prosperity,” it said.
|
|
Prince Charles bats for alternative medicines
London, December 2 The king-in-waiting, a long-standing enthusiast of complementary therapy, has held talks with British Health Secretary Andy Burnham to persuade him to introduce safeguards, amid a crackdown by the EU that can prevent anyone, who is not a registered practitioner from selling remedies, 'The Daily
Telegraph' reported. The British government is consulting on the EU plan, due to come into force in April 2011. Campaigners are
calling for a licensing system to be established earlier amid fears that small practitioners could be forced to close under the EU directive. They also want “reputable” practitioners to be licensed sooner than 2011 to protect patients. Prince Charles's intervention puts him at odds with eminent scientists who regard Chinese herbalism as “quackery”. The Royal College of Physicians is also against the statutory regulation, on the grounds it would make such treatments “respectable”. Despite Britons spending about 1.6 billion pounds a year on alternative remedies, there is currently no official system of regulation in the UK. The Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health charity has submitted evidence to the Government, warning that failure to regulate will put patients at risk. Dr Michael Dixon, medical director of the foundation said, Prince Charles did not see the submission, adding, “We fear that we will see a black market in herbal products”. A Clarence House spokeswoman confirmed that Prince Charles had a “routine”meeting with Burnham. —
PTI
|
|
Even US sees India behind Afghan insurgency: Gilani
Islamabad, December 2 To a query on Indian involvement in Afghanistan, Gilani told the German magazine Der Spiegel yesterday: “In fact, to some extent there is a lot of interference in Afghanistan. This is not only our opinion, but also the belief in the United States. “I am not saying that there is. But the insurgency in Afghanistan has been analysed by many experts, including American think tanks, and they have mentioned this.” On the war against terrorism in Pakistan, the prime minister said: “The people we are fighting are militants. They are not from Pakistan, they are Uzbeks, they are from Chechnya, they are Arabs and Afghans. And they cooperate with foreign agents to disturb the peace in Pakistan.” He stressed that “the insurgencies are driven by foreign elements”. Gilani admitted that “the world is always only focusing on terrorism when it comes to Pakistan. This has, of course, harmed the reputation of our country.” He went on to say that the “drone attacks are counterproductive”. “The political and the military leadership have been very successful in isolating the militants from the local tribes. But once there is a drone attack in their home region, they reunite. This is a dangerous trend, and it is my concern and the concern of the army.” —
IANS
|
|
Iran frees five detained
British sailors
Fars Tehran, December 2 “The five Britishers who had illegally entered with their vessel into the territorial waters of the Islamic Republic of Iran and who were arrested near the Siri island have been freed hours ago,” Fars news agency was quoted. The Guards said the five sailors were interrogated and “after investigation it became evident that their illegal entry was a mistake.” “So they were freed after taking the needed written commitments.” The five had been held since November 25 and yesterday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's chief of staff Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie warned they would be dealt with “firmly,” if found guilty of illegal entry into Iranian waters. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband had pressed his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki to release the five yachtsmen-Oliver Smth, Oliver Young, Sam Usher, Luke Porter and sports journalist David Bloomer, who holds dual Irish-British nationality. Miliband had also demanded consular access to them, saying they appeared to have inadvertently” strayed into Iranian waters. —
AFP
|
|
Suicide bomber kills Pak navy official
A suicide bomber blew himself outside the naval headquarters in Islamabad killing a navy official and wounding two.
A spokesman of the Pakistan Navy said a teenaged attacker walked up to the main gates of the complex where he was checked by security guards. He was asked by a navy official to take off his jacket for search at which the boy detonated his explosives killing himself and the official. The bomber was about 17 to 18 years old. He was wearing a suicide jacket. He came to the gate and tried to enter the complex, Fazeel Asghar, Islamabad’s top administration official, told reporters. The bomber and the constable, who challenged him, killed and two other navy personnel were critically wounded, the spokesman added. “I was in a nearby street when I heard a loud explosion. When I reached the main Margalla Road there was smoke near the navy complex. I saw three soldiers lying wounded,” said witness Imtiaz Ali.
|
|
Ustad Sharafat Ali Khan dead
Lahore, December 2 He was rushed to hospital on Monday where he died yesterday. He was the eldest son of famous classical singer Ustad Salamat Ali Khan. Born in Multan in 1955, Sharafat began his musical career in his childhood. He graduated from Government College in Lahore. Khan inherited his father’s singing qualities and had enormous grip over thumri, kafi, khayal and ghazal. —
PTI
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
