 |
|
|
Pak got N-weapon blueprint from China Border Dispute
Shahbaz Sharif’s plea to Taliban sparks row
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Report: India-born Labour MP died of natural causes
Potable water scene gets better in India
China goes all out to check birth rate
Sufi teachings can counter extremism: Zardari
Fonseka appears in military court
|
|
Pak got N-weapon blueprint from China Washington, March 16 "The best it (Pakistan) could hope for was a bomb weighing a few thousand pounds, akin to what the United States detonated over Japan. Once again, Pakistan would rely on the technological advances of another country for help, but this time it would use diplomacy instead if espionage," says the book. The book, "Peddling Peril: The Secret Nuclear Trade Arms America's Enemies", that hit the stands today gives an in-depth account of how the maligned AQ Khan network through espionage and stealing build the nuclear plant and finally weapon for Pakistan, the secret technology of which was later passed to several rouge States. Albright, founder and president of the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security, in his book offers an uneven expose on the "illicit trade in nuclear technology" and the threats it poses to American security. According to the documents assessed by Albright and referred in the book, the United States came to know about the secret China-Pak ties on the nuclear technology; but the then Carter Administration opted to ignore it as it apparently did not want this to affect its ties with Pakistan in the aftermath of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. This despite the fact that there were mounting stack of circumstantial evidence of their collusion. "For Pakistan and AQ Khan, cooperating with China quickly provided to be a boon. The Chinese provided Pakistan with blueprints for building a nuclear weapon, most likely the Chic-4, first tested as a missile warhead in 1966 and detonated above ground, with an explosive force of twelve kilotons, equivalent to 12,000 tons of TNT. "They also provided 50 kg of weapon-grade uranium," Albright writes in his book. "Pakistan now had the blueprint of a proven weapon. In 1981, AQ Khan sent his procurement agents detailed drawings of weapons component with orders to buy them from European companies," the book says. Noting that China's deal with Pakistan was dramatic, there was little consensus among US government officials over what ultimate agenda it served, the book says China provided Pakistan with nuclear assistance to bolster its security. —
PTI Navy tests missile Islamabad: Pakistan on Tuesday conducted a surface-to-air missile test, its second such drill in four days in a bid to add “offensive punch” to its forces, according to the navy. A guided missile destroyer carried out the firing of a surface-to-air missile and scored a “direct hit”, said a statement from the navy. The missile is fully automated system which can track and engage even very small targets, the statement said without giving details. —
PTI
|
||
|
Border Dispute Beijing, March 16 Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said: "The two countries have maintained high-level contacts and cooperation and exchanges in various fields and made significant progress". He was responding to a question about Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao's comments in Washington that the relationship between India and China has improved significantly in the last two decades. "We would like to work with India to make a stronger relationship, becoming good neighbors, good friends and good partners forever," he said. "Both the countries are committed to bilateral, good neighbourly and friendly relations on issues facing 21 century for common prosperity. China is ready to work with Indian side to enhance our relationship as good partners and good neighbours," Qin said. On the border issue, he said: "Of course it is inevitable that issues of border disputes remain between us, but the important consensus reached by leaders that is to commit to the political parameters signed and properly handling will ensure peace and stability". He said pending the resolution of the issues the two countries should ensure the stability of the border area. "We believe with the development of China-India relations, border issue will be gradually resolved," he said. China and India are neighbours and major developing countries, so enhancing the bilateral relations is conducive to both the countries and also to world peace, the spokesman said. China and India began to discuss border issues in the 1980s. Two agreements were signed in 1993 and 1996 respectively with an aim of maintaining peace and stability in the border area. In 2003, the two countries designated special representatives for demarcation work. — PTI
|
||
|
Shahbaz Sharif’s plea to Taliban sparks row
The controversy sparked by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s seemingly parochial plea to the Taliban to spare Punjab from terrorist attacks refused to abate despite some swift steps by Sharifs to limit the damage. Strong denunciation of Sharif’s statement found its echo, apart from the media, in the National Assembly and provincial assembly of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). Members in both houses rejected as “half-hearted” the subsequent explanation by the Punjab chief minister and accused him of betraying soft corner towards the extremists. A lady member in NWFP assembly, Nighat Aurangzeb, threw her ‘dopatta’(scarf) after a fiery speech and dared Sharifs to take shelter behind it if they felt so scared from the Taliban. The PML-Q, ANP and the MQM denounced the statement as an insult to the valiant struggle of the armed forces and the people of the three smaller provinces. Critics attacked it from three angles: it smacked of parochial and provincial bias; emboldened extremists to continue activities outside Punjab and lastly betrayed the traditional soft corner of Sharif brothers towards religious elements. In a damage control effort, chief of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Nawaz Sharif, issued a statement in London making it clear that he regarded the Taliban as mercenaries and “paid killers”, thus suggesting that he too was on the side of the army and government as far as dealing with the extremists was concerned. Shahbaz Sharif also made a hurriedly arranged call on army chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani to explain his position fearing a strong backlash in the army. The chief minister avoided the media after the meeting but Dawn News TV channel reported that General Kayani expressed his displeasure over the statement. Sharif explained that it had been twisted by the media. He emphatically stated that he did not support nor did he want any alliance with the Taliban. English daily Dawn in an editorial comment said even by the wretched standards of the cesspit of lies and cravenness that can be the Pakistani political establishment, the comments made on Sunday by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif are extraordinary and demand the most vigorous condemnation possible. “The Punjab chief minister is mocking the sacrifices made by the very people who serve his administration by finding common cause with the enemy,” the paper said in an editorial comment. “The PML-N needs to come clean with the people of Pakistan. On which side of the divide does it stand? Is it against militancy in all shapes and forms or is it ideologically sympathetic to the ‘justness’ of some facets of the militants’ cause?” it added
|
|
Report: India-born Labour MP died of natural causes London, March 16 “A postmortem was carried out this morning and revealed that the 53-year-old died from natural causes,” a Cleveland Police spokeswoman said. The Labour MP, found dead at his home yesterday, was born in Hardwar in Uttarakhand in 1956 and had represented Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland since 1997, after becoming MP for the ancestor seat of Langbaurgh in 1991. Describing Kumar as “a tenacious campaigner”, Premier Brown said the MP was “a warm and incredibly generous man”. He said he was “greatly saddened” by Kumar's sudden death. “Ashok was a hard-working constituency MP, who took pride in representing the people of Middlesbrough as both a councillor and MP since 1987. His long-standing campaigns to keep shipbuilding in Teesside were respected by all sides of the House,” Brown said. A spokesman for Kumar's office said his death had come as “a huge shock” and tributes were paid to him from Westminster and beyond. — PTI
|
|
|
Potable water scene gets better in India
United Nations, March 16 "Both countries have made considerable progress," said the report entitled 'Progress on Sanitation and Drinking Water'. The study found that in India, 88 per cent of the population of 1.2 billion use drinking water from improved sources of water as compared to 72 per cent in 1990 while in China, 89 per cent of the population of 1.3 billion use drinking water from improved sources, up from 67 per cent in 1990. Improved water sources include public standpipes, boreholes, protected dug wells and springs, rainwater collection and household connections. By the nature of their construction, they "adequately protect the source from outside contamination, in particular from faecal matter," according to WHO. The report noted that China and India together account for a 47 per cent share, of the 1.8 billion people that gained access to improved drinking water sources between 1990-2008. "This share is almost equally distributed between the two countries. Obviously, these two countries heavily influence the global trend," it said. "Therefore, the ability to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) target is highly dependent on the performance of these two countries." The report also finds that 87 per cent of the world's population or approximately 5.9 billion people are using safe drinking-water sources, which means that the world is on track to meet or even exceed the drinking-water target of the MDG . It highlights that 3.8 billion people, or 57 per cent of the world's population, get their drinking water from a piped connection that provides running water in their homes or compound. However, only 60 per cent of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa and 50 per cent of the population in Oceania use improved sources of drinking-water, which is causing both these regions to lag behind. — PTI
|
|
China goes all out to check birth rate
Beijing, March 16 The Chinese government will strengthen the surveillance of births among the floating population, especially migrant workers, who have created a headache for the government, who are trying to bring the city's population under control, 'Global Times' reported. Statistics released by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Population and Family Planning showed that Beijing maintained a low birth rate in 2009, but births outnumbered those in previous years, with unplanned children among the floating population being one of the main causes. In his work report early this month, Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao told the Peoples Congress that China, the most populous country in the world would continue to maintain low birth rate. A large number of migrant workers living in the sub-urban areas of Beijing keep making contributions to the growth in the population due to their deep-rooted "son preference" tradition. “People from some provinces even think the more children, the better,” Ma Xiaoduo, a volunteer working with migrant workers was quoted by the daily as saying. "Migrant workers secretly give birth to babies at home rather than at hospitals, these children will be sent back to their parents' hometown at school age," said Ma Xiaoduo. — PTI
|
|
Sufi teachings can counter extremism: Zardari
President Asif Ali Zardari has called for focussing attention on teachings of peace, love and tolerance of the Sufi saints so as to counter extremism and the militant mindset. Addressing an International Conference on Sufism and Peace arranged by the Pakistan Academy of Letters at the Aiwan-i-Sadr, Zardari said Sufism had a crucial role to play in mankind's struggle for a peaceful world. Around 80 delegates from 30 countries, including India, Gulf, Germany, the UK, the US and France and 250 from Pakistan are participating in the conference. The President said the most important issue of the present era was peace in the country as well as outside the borders. He said extremism and militancy were a mindset created to defeat a rival ideology in the region and the extremists were encouraged to use religion as the basis of their ideology. He said the entire world was responsible for its creation decades ago. But, unfortunately, no attention was paid to this aspect once the objectives were fulfilled and the militants were abandoned to their fate. It is these very militants who have come to haunt all of us. He said the entire philosophy of Sufism revolved around purification of the soul and creating an environment where humanity was not threatened by a few individuals trying to impose narrow versions of religion upon a vast majority. No religion, whether Islam or Christianity, preached extremism and militancy, he added. He described terrorists as enemies of Pakistan and Islam. Pakistan will never bow before terror and will never allow extremists to advance their murderous agenda within the country and the region, he added.
|
|
Fonseka appears in military court
Sri Lanka’s former army chief Gen Sarath Fonseka, who is credited with crushing the Tamil Tigers, appeared before a military court on Tuesday to face charges of violating the military law.
Fonseka appeared with his lawyers at the court martial, which is being held at the Navy Headquarters in Colombo, but details of the proceedings, which were held in camera, were not immediately made available to the media. The opening day’s proceedings lasted for about four hours during which the charges he faces were readout out to him. He is being charged for participation in political work while in active service and for contravention of laid down procedures, related to military procurements. General Fonseka has been in military custody since February 8 and has repeatedly denied the charges. His supporters say his is being victimised for entering politics and challenging incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the January 26 presidential poll, which Fonseka lost. He is now a candidate in the country’s upcoming general election.
|
Space shuttle launch may get delayed Human germ print ‘mapped’
|
| 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 | |
