The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Pak political crisis eases as Imran, Qadri agree to talks with govt Islamabad, September 3 After weeks of turmoil, the political storm that has engulfed Pakistan seemed to be ebbing today as protesters returned to talks with the government and a mediator between the two warring sides said a “concrete solution” was in sight. The positive development came after a war of words in Parliament between lawmakers of the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf (PTI) who had quit but their resignations have not been accepted by the Speaker and pro-government leaders. In a significant development, an opposition 'jirga', a committee of opposition politicians led by Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq, held talks with the PTI leadership this evening. Both Khan and cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) agreed late last night to talk to the opposition 'jirga' that is mediating between the embattled Nawaz Sharif-led government and the protesters who have been demanding the Prime Minister's resignation over alleged vote rigging in the last year's general election. Speaking to reporters after meeting the jirga which included Haq and Pakistan People's Party leader Rehman Malik, senior PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said his party is ready to move ahead. "The PTI has agreed to move forward in a democratic manner," he said. In the joint media briefing, Haq said, "It has been a productive meeting. There is still a deadlock, but 70% of the work has been done. We believe there will be a concrete solution soon." "I would like to advise the government to refrain from issuing statements, which spread negativity. If both sides show patience, then we are not far in ending this crisis," he said. Malik said, "The PTI showed maturity and didn't say anything negative. I request the Prime Minister's team not to talk about any individual. We have also requested the PAT committee to resolve the issue through dialogue." "Everyone wants a peaceful solution. I believe that in the next 24 to 48 hours, things will normalise," he said. Earlier in the day, a joint session of Parliament saw all parties, except the PTI, put aside their differences to stand against what they termed were attempts to derail the democratic process in the country prone to coups. Heated exchanges between opposing camps that have regularly figured in the political discourse during the three-week impasse today moved inside Parliament. Impassioned speeches continued to be made in Parliament with PTI leader Qureshi leading the party's reply to countless accusations made by pro-government leaders. “We are protesting to save Parliament, not to destroy it. The PTI never was and never will be part of a grand plan that will undermine democracy,” Qureshi said. “We are protesting on the directions of the Pakistani nation. I want to be on record; my party opposes the invoking of Article 245," he said in reference to the ruling PML-N’s deployment of army in Islamabad. Speaking after PTI lawmakers walked out following Qureshi's speech, Opposition Leader Khurshid Shah said, “Nawaz is truly Sharif in more than name. I am grateful that the PM agreed to call the joint session on my advice. Parliament had to battle it out which it did by passing the joint resolution that the PM will not resign.” — PTI Suggest ways to resolve deadlock: SC to parties Islamabad: Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday asked all parliamentary parties to submit their suggestions by Thursday to resolve the ongoing political impasse between the government and protesters seeking Premier Nawaz Sharif's resignation. A five-judge Bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk, asked for the suggestions while hearing a set of petitions against sit-ins of the PTI and the PAT. — PTI
	Over 900 militants killed in Pak offensive Islamabad, September 3 Pakistan's military today said 910 "terrorists" have been killed during a major offensive against militants launched in June in the troubled North Waziristan tribal region. The operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched on June 15 against local and foreign militants in the Taliban stronghold. "Operation Zarb-e-Azb is progressing as per plan. Since start of the operation 910 terrorists have been killed," the military said. At least 82 soldiers were killed across the country while 269 have been injured in the fight against terrorism, it said. It said out of 82 slain soldiers, 42 were killed in the North Waziristan, 23 in rest of Federally Administered Tribal Areas and 17 in remaining parts of the country including Balochistan and Karachi. As many as 27 IEDs factories, one rocket and one ammunition factory have been destroyed. Huge cache of arms and ammunition, communication equipment, and other logistics facilities, used by terrorists have been destroyed uprooting their ability to attack as a coherent force. — PTI ISIS trying to expand influence in Pakistan Islamabad: The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is trying to expand its influence in Pakistan, with pamphlets — a booklet titled “Fatah” (victory) — being distributed in Peshawar and border provinces of Afghanistan, seeking support for jihad. — PTI
	Ukraine PM rejects Putin’s truce plan Kiev, September 3 Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk on Wednesday rejected a ceasefire plan unveiled by Russian President Vladimir Putin as an attempt to deceive the West about Moscow’s real intentions. “This latest plan is another attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of the international community ahead of the NATO summit and an attempt to avert the EU's inevitable decision to unleash a new wave of sanctions against Russia,” he said. “The best plan for ending Russia's war against Ukraine has only one single element — for Russia to withdraw its troops, its mercenaries and its terrorists from the Ukrainian territory.” His comments come despite Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko saying he and Putin had agreed on the peace plan aimed at ending the near five-month conflict in eastern Ukraine. The proposal, detailed by Putin on the eve of the NATO summit in Wales opening tomorrow, is due to be discussed on Friday by the so-called Ukraine Contact Group, which includes representatives of Kiev, separatist rebels, Moscow and the pan-european security body the OSCE. NATO is planning a rapid reaction force of thousands of troops to reinforce its eastern flank, a move Russia says is evidence of the alliance's desire to aggravate tensions with Moscow. Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin said a deal to end fighting in eastern Ukraine could be reached this week, a clear attempt to show the West he was trying to deescalate the conflict despite renewed shelling. After speaking with Ukraine's Petro Poroshenko, Putin said their views on ending the violence were “very close” and Kiev and the rebels could reach an agreement by Friday, much-needed respite for the Ukrainian leader battling a crumbling economy. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the leaders agreed on steps towards peace but not a ceasefire because Russia was not a party to the conflict, which has killed more than 2,600 people since April and caused the worst crisis in relations between Russia and the West since the Cold War. — Agencies 'Russian photojournalist killed in Ukraine' Moscow: Russian photographer Andrei Stenin, missing since early August, has been found dead in Ukraine, the RIA-Novosti press agency he worked for announced on Wednesday. "Our colleague, the photographer Andrei Stenin, is dead. It turns out he was not a prisoner, he has been dead for a month," said the agency's head Dmitry Kiselev. Stenin, 33, had been based in Ukraine since May 14. — AFP ‘NATO must help strengthen Ukraine's military’ US President Barack Obama said a ceasefire would succeed only if Moscow stopped sending troops to Ukraine. He urged NATO to help strengthen Ukraine's military and said the alliance must leave the door open to new members to counter what he called Russian aggression. Obama was speaking in Estonia, one of three ex-Soviet Baltic states bordering Russia that fear separatist rebellion in eastern Ukraine could herald problems for them. — Reuters
	Beheading of Second American journalist Will destroy Islamic State, says Obama Tallinn, September 3 The United States plans to fight Islamic State until it is no longer a force in the Middle East and will seek justice for the killing of American journalist Steven Sotloff, President Barack Obama said on Wednesday. He said destroying the militant group would take time because of the power vacuum in Syria, the abundance of battle hardened fighters that grew out of Al-Qaida in the Iraqi war, and the need to build coalitions, including with local Sunni communities. Islamic State released a video on Tuesday showing the beheading of the US journalist, the second American hostage to be killed within weeks, in retaliation for US air strikes in Iraq. "The bottom line is this, our objective is clear and that is to degrade and destroy (Islamic State) so that it's no longer a threat not just to Iraq but also the region and to the United States," Obama told a news conference. "Whatever these murderers think they will achieve with killing innocent Americans like Steven, they have already failed," Obama said. "They failed because, like people around the world, Americans are repulsed by their barbarism. We will not be intimidated." 'Video is authentic' US and British officials both examined the video, showing the same British-accented executioner who appeared in an August 19 video of the killing of US journalist James Foley, concluding it was authentic. The US resumed air strikes in Iraq in August for the first time since the pullout of US troops in 2011 and Obama said the strikes were already proving effective. "Those that make the mistake of harming Americans will learn that we will not forget and that our reach is long and that justice will be served," he said. "This is not going to be a one-week or one-month or six month proposition because of what's happened in the vacuum of Syria, as well as the battle hardened elements of (Islamic State) that grew out of Al-Qaida in Iraq during the course of the Iraq war ... it's going to take time for us to be able to roll them back." The White House said late on Tuesday that Obama was sending three top officials — Secretary of State John Kerry, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel and counterterrorism adviser Lisa Monaco — to the Middle East "in the near-term to build a stronger regional partnership" against Islamic State militants. — Reuters UK will not be cowed by IS threats: Cameron London: The UK "will not waver" in its aim to defeat terrorism, Prime Minister David Cameron vowed on Wednesday as the dreaded Islamic State extremists threatened to kill a British hostage. Condemning the "barbaric" beheading of a second US hostage by IS extremists, Cameron told MPs that this country would never give in to terrorism and that opposition to the IS would continue at home and abroad. — PTI
	2 PIO women on advisory council of UN campaign New York, September 3 Two Indian-origin women are among 12 persons named to an advisory council of the United Nations Foundation's campaign that focuses on young American girls and raises awareness about issues facing adolescent girls. Akila Somasegar and Anjula Acharia-Bath are among the 12 persons the UN Foundation's Girl Up campaign selected from diverse backgrounds and who are focussed on supporting girls around the world. Somasegar is the Director of Revenue at Seattle-based start-up Buuteeq that is focused on delivering digital marketing systems for hotels. Born and brought up in India, Somasegar is a philanthropist focused on supporting many charitable groups targeting children and women's education and empowerment. Acharia-Bath is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and Angel adviser/investor. In 2007 she co-founded media firm Desi Hits!, which helped introduce artists such as Lady Gaga and Britney Spears to emerging global markets. — PTI
	China mulls new route to Kailash Mansarovar Beijing, September 3 In a major political gesture, Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to announce the opening of a new safe route for Indian pilgrims visiting Kailash and Mansarovar in Tibet via Sikkim during his forthcoming visit to India. Besides a package of major investments, Xi may announce the opening of the route sought by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their first meeting in Fortaleza in Brazil in July this year. Chinese officials say the proposal is under serious consideration. All announcements including the quantum of investments China plans to make in India are expected to be announced during Xi’s visit planned for the third week of this month. Expectations are high that the route through Nathu La border point in Sikkim would be part of the big gesture of friendship not only to strike chord with Modi but also the people at large, specially the Hindus and Buddhists considering its religious importance. Modi wanted the second route for the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra, keeping in view the terrain difficulties of the existing routes through Uttarakhand and Nepal which involved arduous journey involving heavy tracking or by mules. — PTI