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Gilani seeks review of Pak-US ties
Islamabad, December 3
Seeking a comprehensive review of Pakistan’s cooperation with the US in the wake of a deadly NATO strike, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said troops have been instructed to respond “with full force” to any further act of aggression as “there is a limit to our patience.”

Members of the Pakistani civil society pay tributes to soldiers who were killed in NATO airstrike on November 26, in Lahore on Saturday. — AFP

Egypt poll saw 62% turnout
Cairo, December 3
A historic 62 per cent of the Egyptian voters turned out to cast their ballot in the first round of the parliamentary election, a turnout described as the highest “since Pharaonic times” by election authorities.

Gilani seeks review of Pak-US ties
n Says there is a limit to our patience n Asserts cooperation can’t be a one-way street

Islamabad, December 3
Seeking a comprehensive review of Pakistan’s cooperation with the US in the wake of a deadly NATO strike, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said troops have been instructed to respond “with full force” to any further act of aggression as “there is a limit to our patience.”

Gilani made the remarks while briefing a special meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security that was convened to discuss the NATO air strike on two Pakistani military posts and its impact on future cooperation with the US and its allies.

“Clearly, there is a limit to our patience. Cooperation cannot be a one-way street,” Gilani told the Parliamentary panel last evening.

The “dastardly” attack was a “grave infringement of Pakistan’s territorial frontiers” by NATO and would “definitely compel us to revisit our national security paradigm”, he said.

“Instructions have been issued to all units of the Pakistan armed forces to respond, with full force, to any act of aggression and infringement of Pakistan’s territorial frontiers,” he told the panel.

Gilani sought recommendations from the panel for a joint session of Parliament that will be convened shortly to discuss the fallout of the NATO attack. The premier signalled a possible shift in Pakistan’s policy for the US-led war on terror, which Islamabad has supported since the 9/11 terror attacks.

Gilani noted that the Defence Committee of the Cabinet, the highest decision-making body on security issues, had already decided that the government would “undertake a complete review of all programmes, activities and cooperative arrangements with the US/NATO/ISAF, including diplomatic, political, military and intelligence” cooperation.

“Given the gravity of the situation, it is imperative to undertake a holistic review of national security and the future of our cooperation with the US and NATO,” he said.

Gilani and Pakistan Army’s Director-General of Military Operations, Maj Gen Ashfaq Nadeem Ahmed, gave a detailed briefing to the Parliamentary committee on the NATO attack and its fallout on Pakistan-US relations.

Pakistan’s willingness to cooperate with the world on counter-terrorism “has not been understood in its proper perspective”, Gilani said. “The notion to give Pakistan a ‘to do’ list and the mantra of ‘do more’ have caused immense resentment,” he said. “In recent months, there has been a tendency to project Pakistan not as a ‘partner’ but as the ‘problem’,” Gilani said. — PTI 

Pakistan has right to self-defence, so does US: Pentagon

Washington: With Pakistan vowing to respond with “full force” to any future aggression in the wake of the deadly NATO strike, the Pentagon has said that Islamabad has the right to self-defence and so does the US. It also admitted that the last Saturday air strike has had a “chilling effect” on US-Pak military relations. “I’ve seen the comments attributed to General Kayani. I’m certainly not going to speak for him or for the government of Pakistan. But every sovereign nation has the right of self-defence and the right to order their troops to defend themselves,” Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt John Kirby told reporters on Friday. 

Egypt poll saw 62% turnout

Cairo, December 3
A historic 62 per cent of the Egyptian voters turned out to cast their ballot in the first round of the parliamentary election, a turnout described as the highest “since Pharaonic times” by election authorities.

The Election Commission announced the final figure yesterday for voting in a third of the country’s provinces that was less than an earlier estimate of 70 per cent, yet highest in Egyptian history.

“This is the highest turnout in Egypt’s history since Pharaonic times until now,” Abdel Moez Ibrahim, the head of Egypt’s Elections High Commission, said.

The figure means over 13 million voters voted in two days of polling held on Monday and Tuesday in crucial cities of Cairo, Alexandria and others, 
the first of three rounds of polls for the lower house of Parliament.

Nine of the country’s 27 provinces went to polls in the first round. Three other rounds lasting until March will elect the less powerful upper house.

The elections are set to propel the Muslim Brotherhood’s political arm the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) as the biggest bloc in the parliament while the radical Salafists’ Al-Nour party is also expected to make an impact, according to estimates by the parties and non-official sources.

The high turnout led to the announcement being delayed twice as election workers needed more time to count all the ballots, Al Jazeera quoted officials as saying. — PTI

Joe Biden to be Obama’s running mate in 2012 elections

Washington, December 3
Putting an end to speculation that Barack Obama may opt for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as his running mate in 2012 Presidential elections, the White House has said Joe Biden would remain the Vice-Presidential candidate of the Democratic party.

Such speculation was occurring “only among people who know absolutely nothing about” what they speak, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said here yesterday.

Carney affirmed that Obama and Biden will “be on the ticket next year” and voiced confidence that they will be taking the oath of office in January 2013.

He was responding to a question on the possibility of the Obama-Clinton team in the 2012 polls, amid speculation that the President may dump Biden. — PTI

Clashes in Syria claim 25 lives

Beirut, December 3
At least 25 persons died in fierce fighting between security forces and army rebels in northern Syria today, activists said, as violence intensified in the eighth month of unrest against President Bashar al-Assad. Opposition groups say rebel forces are increasing their attacks on security forces loyal to the government, which is trying to suppress the revolt against 41 years of Assad family rule.

Syria faces deepening international and regional isolation, with the Arab League, the European Union and the United States piling on increasingly tough sanctions to pressure Damascus to stop the bloodshed and talk to its opponents.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighting broke out around midnight in the northern city of Idlib, near the Turkish border.

“Seven were killed from the army and regime security forces, including an army officer,” the group said. “Three civilians and five defectors were also killed.”

The United Nations’ top human rights forum has condemned Syria for “gross and systematic” violations by its forces, including executions and the imprisonment of some 14,000 people. Syrian authorities say they are fighting foreign-backed “terrorist groups” trying to spark civil war who have killed some 1,100 soldiers and police since March.

More than 4,000 people have died since protests broke out in March, according to the UN. — Agencies

2 Sikhs killed in Bara Khyber
Prabhjot Singh/TNS

Chandigarh, December 3
Two Sikhs, both shopkeepers, were killed after a mortar shell hit their shop in Shalobar, a part of Bara Khyber area of Pakistan, a video released by the United Sikhs said today. The victims have been identified as Satnam Singh and Sardar Singh.

The United Sikhs is a UN affiliated international non-profit and non-government organisation that aims at empowering those in need, especially disadvantaged and minority communities across the world.

The mortar shell attack on their shop was a part of the ongoing clashes between the Taliban and security agencies. The video quoted next of kin of both Satnam Singh and Sardar Singh in giving details of the tragic incident.

Bara Khyber had been in news since early 2010 when another Sikh, Jaspal Singh, was taken in captivity by the Taliban on his refusal to pay Jazia, the religious tax. He was allegedly kept in custody for 41 days as he refused to change his religion.

His beheaded body was sent to his family as efforts by the security agencies to secure his release failed.

Mohinder Singh, brother of deceased Satnam Singh, said a mortar shell landed at the shop of Satnam Singh and Sardar Singh on October 17. While Satnam Singh died on the spot, Sardar Singh was injured. But he later succumbed to his injuries. Four children were also injured.