Washington, July 20
Some elements in the Pakistan Government know the whereabouts of Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, warning it against keeping a “poisonous” snake in its backyard.

Clinton also said the Pakistani leadership, during her visit to Islamabad, had been told to take on every non-governmental armed force inside the country. The US top diplomat said Pakistan’s intelligence establishment must share with the US any information about movement of bin Laden and al-Qaida number two, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

“I want those guys. I will not be satisfied until we get them,” she said in interviews to American TV channels during her just- concluded visit to Islamabad. “...I assume somebody, somebody in this government, from top to bottom, does know where bin Laden is. And I’d like to know too, So, I think we’ve got to keep pressure on, which we are doing,” Clinton said.

“I don’t want to put a proximity or timeline on it (getting bin Laden). As I’ve said, we have gotten closer because we have been able to kill a number of their trainers, their operational people, their financiers,” Clinton told Fox News channel.

She said the US and international forces were getting closer to the fugitive.

On Pakistan’s cooperation in the hunt, Clinton said, “I think that’s because if I put myself into a position of leadership in our own government, and if there were a terrorist network operating somewhere, even in the most remote place in the United States, some sheriff, some local state policeman, somebody in our collective government would probably know that there was something suspicious going on,” she said. — PTI

The transit trade accord okayed by Pakistan and Afghanistan on Sunday excluded India, officials here said.

Islamabad remained steadfast in denying Wagah transit route to India despite American pressures, media reporters here said.

“It has been agreed that no Indian export to Afghanistan will be allowed through Wagah. However, Afghanistan would have the opportunity to export goods to India. Reciprocally, Pakistan would be able to export goods to the Central Asia through Afghanistan,” stated an official handout.

Information minister Qamaruzzaman Kaira also clarified that the accord does not allow India any trade facility to extend its exports to Afghanistan or Central Asia.

Responding to a question about allowing Indian goods to be airlifted to Karachi airport for onward transportation to Afghanistan, the official explained that the Afghan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) did not allow taking Indian goods even out of the airport. He said that Indian goods could be airlifted from Karachi to Afghanistan under international laws.

Kabul, July 20
The international community reiterated its commitment to continue to support peace and reintegration and said it looked forward to the local peace jirgas that included men and women at district and provincial level to discuss elements of an enduring peace.

The government of Afghanistan is to engage with the UN Security Council and the international community for delisting Taliban elements from the sanctions list in accordance with agreed procedures and common Afghan and international responsibility.

The international community expressed its support for Karzai’s objective that the Afghan national security forces should lead and conduct military operations in all the provinces by the end of 2014.

As the conference unfolded, a major security operation shut down most of Kabul, with the police manning check-post throughout the city and blocked off major intersection.

On the issue of security, the meeting recognised that civilian casualty and protection of civilians are of great concern and noted that most civilian casualties are caused by insurgent attacks. They also reiterated that the international military forces remain committed to the objective of a steady reduction in the rate of civilian casualties. — PTI

The parliament of Nepal will meet on Wednesday to elect the new Prime Minister, but there are no signs that any of the three candidates in the race commands simple majority.

The trio - Unified CPN-Maoists chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal (alias Prachanda), Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel and CPN-UML chairman Jhalanath Khanal - filed their nominations on Tuesday as they failed to strike any understanding to form national unity government or lend support to each other by the deadline.

Four Madhes-based parties, having 82 seats in parliament, decided not to field candidates. Rather these parties said they would back the candidate who supported their demands.

Meanwhile, a meeting of 22 fringe political parties came down heavily against big three parties for not striking a deal to form a national unity government to ensure constitution drafting in stipulated time frame.

Meanwhile, all three prime ministerial candidates said they would try to strike a deal for consensus till 11 am Wednesday to form a national unity government. 

London, July 20
In what is being claimed as a major breakthrough in AIDS research, scientists have developed a medicated vaginal gel which could halve a woman's chances of contracting HIV.

In an experiment, the gel, spiked with the AIDS drug Tenofovir, cut the risk of HIV infection by 50 per cent after one year of use and 39 per cent after two-and-a-half years of use as compared to a gel that contained no medicine.

According to statistics, more than 33 million people worldwide are infected by HIV. Women account for most new HIV infections. Over two-thirds live in sub-Saharan Africa where 60 per cent of new infections occur among women and girls.

Nearly 20 years of research have gone into HIV microbicides, but the scientists, led by South African Dr Salim Abdool Karim, say this is the first test to produce such positive results, 'The Daily Telegraph' reported.

AIDS experts have hailed the vaginal gel as a key breakthrough in the long quest for a tool to help women whose partners won't use condoms. — PTI

BRIEFLY

Christian killings
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday took suo motu notice of the murders of two Christians accused of blasphemy in Faisalabad and summoned the RPO, Faisalabad, on Wednesday. The incident took place on Monday when the two Christian brothers, accused of blasphemy, were being taken to the district court for remand.

Gilani denies
Islamabad: Pakistan Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday insisted that the Al-Qaida chief was not in his country and asked the USA to provide evidence about his whereabouts.

Kashmir issue
Islamabad: Gilani on Tuesday said the Kashmir dispute was the “core issue” between India and Pakistan and New Delhi should take the dialogue process between the two countries seriously.

Medical mission
Kabul: India is set to resume its much-acclaimed medical mission work in Afghanistan which was scaled down following the terror attack in Kabul early this year that left nine Indians dead, senior officials said here on Tuesday.