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Vibes from other side not encouraging: Gilani
Three Qaida men held in Karachi
Pride of hotels in China: Punjabi beefcakes
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Holbrooke in Afghanistan; to visit Central Asia
10 killed in suicide attack
Defying Chinese anger, Obama meets Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama in US for talks; China fumes
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Vibes from other side not encouraging: Gilani
Islamabad, February 18 Gilani made the remarks while discussing the state of Indo-Pak relations and the forthcoming Foreign Secretary-level talks with visiting US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard
Holbrooke. Pakistan is committed to peace in the region and the government is "making sincere efforts for resumption of the composite dialogue process with India," Gilani said. However, he "regretted that the vibes emanating from the other side have not been encouraging." Relations between India and Pakistan "should not become hostage to the activities of terrorists," who are the common enemy, Gilani was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his office. He said both countries "must address core issues, including Kashmir and water disputes," for lasting peace in the region. Gilani and Holbrooke also held wide-ranging discussions on various issues, including the major offensive against the Taliban launched by the US-led forces in Afghanistan and proposed US-Pakistan strategic dialogue. The premier hoped that the strategic dialogue would be "scheduled expeditiously to discuss agreed components during the first half of 2010" as had been agreed during US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to the country last year. Gilani "underlined the imperative of the strategic dialogue for building trust to remove misperceptions or misgivings prevalent on both sides." On being briefed by Holbrooke and his team on 'Operation Mushtarik', the new campaign launched by the US in Afghanistan, Gilani expressed concerns about the "spill-over of refugees and militants" from Afghanistan's Helmand region into Balochistan and North West Frontier Province in Pakistan. He hoped these concerns will be kept in mind by the US and the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) troops and there would be enhanced coordination and cooperation with Pakistani armed forces in this regard. Referring to Pakistan's burgeoning energy needs, Gilani called for fast-tracking of dialogue in this sector to mitigate the power shortage in the country. He hoped that projects identified in the US strategy for regional stabilisation would be implemented on a priority basis. Gilani also expressed concern about delay in disbursement of money from the Coalition Support Fund and in the release of aid to Pakistan under the Kerry-Lugar Act, saying this was adversely affecting the economy. Holbrooke, who arrived in Islamabad after visiting Kabul, briefed Gilani on the political situation in Afghanistan and the operation against militants in Helmand province.
— PTI
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Three Qaida men held in Karachi
Sleuths of Pakistan’s intelligence agencies have arrested three men who are said to have close links with the Al-Qaida and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The three men, who were arrested from Karachi’s Gulshan-i-Iqbal area on Thursday, have been shifted to Islamabad and handed over to Pakistani and American security agencies for interrogation, Online news agency reported, quoting security sources. This is the second major success for Pakistani and American security agencies this week after the capture of Abdul Ghani Baradar, who heads the Afghan Taliban’s military wing and is second in command only to the movement’s founder Mullah Muhammad Omar. Thursday’s arrests were made on the basis of information provided by an American security agency, the sources said, adding that the operation leading to the arrests lasted for more than six hours. The three men were named as Akhunzada Popalzai, Ameer Mawia and Hamza. Mawia, the sources said, was a known associate of Osama Bin Laden and was an operational commander of the TTP and Al-Qaida. He was also the commander of foreign combatants in Pakistan and prior to 9/11, travelled with Osama Bin Laden to Sudan, the sources said. Mawia and the other two men were in Karachi to purchase mechanical parts. Among the items they had purchased were washing machine timers and components used in time bombs, the sources said.. There had been considerable controversy over Baradar’s arrest, with Interior Minister Rehman Malik terming it “propaganda” but the Pakistani army confirming yesterday that he had been captured.
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Pride of hotels in China: Punjabi beefcakes
For Joginder Singh, a six-foot tall 25-year-old lad from Chandigarh, the Chinese New Year is that time of the year which he looks forward to ever since he arrived here six years ago. During this period, the Chinese dole out money, it could be from Hong Kong $20 to Hong Kong $100, as a ritual in which they give their blessings to the young. With mainland residents visiting the city to enjoy the festivities organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), Joginder makes up to a thousand dollars a day through these “blessings” in the first week of the Chinese New Year. He and his other four Indian colleagues man the gates of the Kowloon Hotel here, and are the hotel’s status symbol with their strapping built and appearance. The others include Satinder Singh from Pilibhit, Gurinder Singh from Moga and Vicky Singh from Jagrama. They are a permanent feature at the entrance of the hotel, speaking fluent Cantonese or English, making the life of the hotel guests simple. Whether hailing a taxi or while parking the shimmering and scintillating expensive cars, they are the most exuberant lot. Strapping boys from Punjab can be found at the entrance of almost of the hotels here , a city which has the highest per capita number of the most expensive cars, whether it be Rolls Royce, Mercedes Benz, BMWs or Porsche. The trend started a few years ago when the head of one of the hotels in Hong Kong visited India and “discovered” these men. According to Satinder, who was among the first from the group to arrive here, life is not bad here even though the cost of living is very high. They earn approximately Hong Kong $12,000 a month and get an annual bonus that is three times their monthly pay. Satinder, who first worked as a truck driver in Hong Kong, says they don’t find the same respect back home. Whenever they return home, which happens once in three to four years, even a constable tries to fleece them off their hard-earned money. There is no guarantee of the land in which they have invested. The land mafia keeps an eye on their property and leaves no opportunity to extract money to keep a watch on it in their absence. Joginder points out that the situation is the same everywhere and with everyone, whether it is Pilibit or Chandigarh. As a result they are now thinking of investing in other areas rather than back home. “Why lose out on the hard earned money?” he points out. They want the government to ensure that NRIs are given some privileges so that they are able to protect their investments in India. They feel that with India emerging as one of the strongest economies of the world, they are willing to return, but need that extra assurance from the government.
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Holbrooke in Afghanistan; to visit Central Asia
Washington, February 18 "Three of them border Afghanistan, obviously, and all five are involved in the region. So he (Holbrooke) looks forward to the opportunity for face-to-face talks," he said. On his seventh trip to the region since last year, Holbrooke met top US and Afghan officials, including President Hamid Karzai and the country's foreign and interior ministers. During these meetings he discussed a range of issues, including Operation Moshtarak in Marjah, Helmand province, as well as the training of the Afghan National Police. "In Marjah, civilians have been involved in every phase of the planning and execution of the stabilisation effort, working alongside coalition forces and the Afghan military to support the Afghan government efforts.
— PTI
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10 killed in suicide attack
Ramadi , February 18 "We have received 10 bodies so far," a doctor at Ramadi general hospital said, on condition of anonymity. Fifteen other people were wounded in the attack in Ramadi, capital of Iraq's largest province of Anbar. The blast also destroyed several cars in the area, according to sources. "The whole area has been sealed off," said a security official. The blast was the third time that provincial government offices in Ramadi, 100 km west of Baghdad, have been hit by major bombings since October.
— AFP
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Defying Chinese anger, Obama meets Dalai Lama Washington, February 18 Obama’s first presidential meeting with the Dalai Lama was sure to draw angry complaints from Beijing, which is increasingly at odds with Washington over trade, currencies, US arms sales to Taiwan and Chinese Internet censorship. “Chinese officials have known about this,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said dismissively on the eve of the Dalai Lama’s visit. Gibbs insisted the United States and China - the world’s largest and third-biggest economies - have a “mature relationship” capable of withstanding disagreements. But mindful of Chinese sensitivities, the White House has sought to strike a balance in the Dalai Lama’s visit. Seeking to avoid alienating Beijing, Obama had delayed meeting the Dalai Lama until after first seeing Chinese leaders during his Asia trip last year. During today’s visit, Obama - like his White House predecessors - denied the Dalai Lama the symbolism of meeting in the Oval Office. Instead they met in the lesser-known Map Room. Such distinctions signaled to Beijing that the Tibetan monk was not being received as a political leader. — PTI
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Dalai Lama in US for talks; China fumes
Washington, February 18 The Dalai Lama, who has tried to use foreign trips to throw a spotlight on China's treatment of his homeland, flew into Washington yesterday and headed to a hotel to greet fellow Tibetans for their Losar new year. The 74-year-old will head today to the White House for a long-awaited meeting with Obama. Describing the encounter as private, the White House said Obama will receive him in the Map Room -- not the more official Oval Office. — AFP
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UAE women scale Mt Kilimanjaro $25,000 fine for racial abuse 
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