W O R L D

Pak to get 18 F-16 aircraft
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will start getting a consignment of 18 latest version of F-16 fighter aircraft from the US from June next, Air chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said today. "These planes would be fitted with Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile system", Rao said while briefing newsmen on the ongoing High Mark-2010 exercise by the PAF in collusion with Pakistan army and navy.

SKorea warship sinks, 46 missing
Seoul, March 27
As many as 50 sailors were missing after a South Korean warship sank near North Korea border, the military said today. President Lee Myung-Bak called an emergency security meeting and ordered a probe into what appeared to be one of the country's worst military tragedies for decades.

South Korean Navy’s rescue members search for possible survivors from sunken naval ship ‘Cheonan’ at the seashore on Baengnyeongdo, an island near the border with N. Korea on Saturday. — Reuters

switching on to earth hour

(Top) Twilight sets on Auckland and lights go off as it enters Earth Hour on Saturday. Earth Hour, when everyone is asked to turn off lights for an hour from 8.30 pm (local time), is a show of support for tougher action to confront climate change. — Reuters

Over 100 Taliban killed in Pak assault
Peshawar, March 27
Deploying helicopter gunships and heavy artillery, Pakistani forces mounted fresh pressure on Taliban fighters in the tribal area bordering Afghanistan, killing nine more militants to raise the total of dead in the ongoing offensive to more than 100.

US, Russia seal N-arms cut deal
Washington, March 27
US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sealed a landmark arms-control treaty on Friday to slash their countries’ nuclear arsenals by a third and will sign it on April 8 in Prague.

Thai protesters step up offensive
Bangkok, March 27
Thai troops retreated from several security posts in the Thai capital today, bowing to demands from 80,000 jubilant red-shirted protesters who mounted a rally to demand fresh elections.

Pak to get 18 F-16 aircraft
Afzal Khan in Islamabad

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will start getting a consignment of 18 latest version of F-16 fighter aircraft from the US from June next, Air chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said today.

"These planes would be fitted with Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile system", Rao said while briefing newsmen on the ongoing High Mark-2010 exercise by the PAF in collusion with Pakistan army and navy. The delivery of this lot of aircraft would be completed by the end of this year, he added.

The PAF chief did not disclose the number of BVR systems being acquired from the US, but said in addition to 18 F-16s, Pakistan has also been negotiating to get another lot of 14 aircraft of same version, besides getting other modern gadgets and weapons.

"Our wish-list is unending, but we are heading with a realistic approach," he said when asked about the PAF's wish-list given to the US.

He said the JF-17 (Thunder) that has been indigenously developed aircraft with the help of China has been tested in the ongoing exercise and producing much better results.

He said the existing lot of F-16s in the PAF inventory would be upgraded to the level of Block 52 series in Turkey and the project would be completed by 2014.

Highlighting the importance of High Mark-2010, he said significance of the exercise could be gauged from the fact that the air force had been engaging all its assets, especially those recently inducted in its inventory like Early Air Warning and Control System, JF-17 Thunder and Air-to-Air refueller.

Besides, he said Pakistan army and navy have also been taking part in wholesome manner in the exercise which has been tailored to carry out joint and solo operations in accordance with the need that may occur.

He said the exercise was being carried out in a near to real situation with an aim to give mastery to the fighter pilots on avoiding collateral damage as in the past maximum efforts were made to avoid civilian casualties during the anti-terrorist operations.

SKorea warship sinks, 46 missing

Seoul, March 27
As many as 50 sailors were missing after a South Korean warship sank near North Korea border, the military said today. President Lee Myung-Bak called an emergency security meeting and ordered a probe into what appeared to be one of the country's worst military tragedies for decades.

“Fifty-eight sailors have been rescued and 46 others are missing,” a spokesman for the Joint Chief of Staff (JCS) said, adding that a navy team was preparing to dive to investigate the cause of the sinking in the Yellow Sea.

The 1,200-tonne corvette sank last evening near Baengnyeong Island after a still unexplained explosion. The craft turned turtle, with its hull protruding from the shallow, but near-freezing waters.

Reports said the 88-metre craft would have ben carrying torpedoes and other weaponry.

The military said 13 of the 58 known survivors were injured, but are in stable condition. Navy ships and surveillance planes were searching for more survivors. “Rescue operations are still under way,” another JCS official said earlier today. Lee, who summoned an emergency security meeting immediately after the tragedy, called another session today and ordered a "thorough and swift probe" into the cause of the sinking, a spokeswoman said.

Military officials said they had no information to confirm the report. The South Korea’s military said there were no abnormal military movements at the time on the North Korean side of the disputed maritime border, the scene of deadly naval clashes in 1999 and 2002.

In Washington, the State Department said it had no evidence of North Korean involvement. The two Koreas have remained technically at war since their 1950-53 conflict ended only in an armistice. — AFP

Over 100 Taliban killed in Pak assault

Peshawar, March 27
Deploying helicopter gunships and heavy artillery, Pakistani forces mounted fresh pressure on Taliban fighters in the tribal area bordering Afghanistan, killing nine more militants to raise the total of dead in the ongoing offensive to more than 100.

Continuing the flushing operations in the lawless Aurakzai tribal region where they believe the Taliban militants have fled to avoid army onslaught on neighbouring South Waziristan, army helicopters targeted a number of Taliban hideouts, killing nine more militants.

Besides killing the rebels, the air strikes destroyed two hideouts and the house of a tribesman named Malik Rafique.

Many of the dead in fierce gunbattle occuring in the region for the past couple of days are believed to be Arab and Uzbek fighters, owing allegiance to Al-Qaeda, according to Major General Tariq Khan, Chief of the Frontier corps. Officials have claimed more than 90 militants have been killed in air and ground attacks in Aurakzai Agency over the past two days.

Aurakzai Agency is considered a stronghold of Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, who officials believe was killed in a US missile strike early this year.

The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has dismissed reports of his death but has not provided any evidence to prove that Mehsud is still alive. — PTI

US, Russia seal N-arms cut deal

Washington, March 27
US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sealed a landmark arms-control treaty on Friday to slash their countries’ nuclear arsenals by a third and will sign it on April 8 in Prague.

After months of deadlock and delay, a breakthrough deal on a replacement for the Cold War-era START pact marked Obama’s most significant foreign policy achievement since taking office and also bolsters his effort to “reset” ties with Moscow.

Obama and Medvedev put the finishing touches on the historic accord during a phone call, committing the world’s biggest nuclear powers to deep weapons cuts.

“I’m pleased to announce that after a year of intense negotiations, the United States and Russia have agreed to the most comprehensive arms-control agreement in nearly two decades,” Obama told reporters.

In Moscow, Medvedev hailed the agreement as reflecting a “balance of the interests of both countries”.

Russia made clear, however, that it reserved the right to suspend any strategic arms cuts if it felt threatened by future US deployment of a proposed Europe-based missile defence system that Moscow bitterly opposes.

The agreement replaces a 1991 pact that expired in December. Each side would have seven years after the treaty takes effect to reduce stockpiles of their most dangerous weapons -- those already deployed -- to 1,550 from the 2,200 now allowed and also cut their numbers of launchers to half.

Obama and Medvedev will sign the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, a former Soviet satellite now in NATO. — Reuters

Thai protesters step up offensive

Bangkok, March 27
Thai troops retreated from several security posts in the Thai capital today, bowing to demands from 80,000 jubilant red-shirted protesters who mounted a rally to demand fresh elections.

The “red shirts” back former premier Thaksin Shinawatra and have taken aim at the military and so-called bureaucratic elites they say are meddling in politics and conspired to overthrow Thaksin in 2006.

The “Red Shirts” loyal to ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra targeted seven points where soldiers have been stationed during two weeks of street demonstrations. — AFP