Supreme Court Verdict on Behest of Zardari: Nawaz Sharif

RAIWAND: Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Thursday reiterated that Supreme Court verdict regarding the ban on Sharif brothers for contesting polls, came out “on the behest of president Zardai” adding the decision should be withdrawn.

In his interview to an Arab TV, the chief of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) said that no concrete suggestions came out to steer the country out of existing political crises, however, he said, for a peaceful solution, he had informed the ruling quarters of his proposals.

Sharif said justice could not be ensured in the absence of a free judiciary. The governor’s rule in Punjab province could have been averted, he added.

No one accepts today’s supreme court of Pakistan as people think its a “Kangaroo Court” and the judges were loyal of just a single person, Nawaz opined.

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14 Militants, 2 FC Personnel Killed in Fresh Clashes Mohmand Agency

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PESHAWAR: Raging clashes between the security forces and the militants at Lakro Sandokhel area of Mohmand Agency left 14 militants dead, while two FC personnel also sacrificed their valuable lives. Sources said that at least 13 militants were killed in the skirmishes between the security forces and militants at Lakro Sandokhel area of Mohmand Agency.

Militants commander, Yaqub was also reported to be killed in the fierce clashes that continued overnight, when the security forces went on pounding militants’ hideouts with heavy weapons, while 2 FC men also sacrificed their lives in action. Meanwhile, the security forces have got the occupation of Sandokhel Government High School vacated. Stiff security arrangements have been made in the area, as all the exit and entry roads were being picketed.

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Mumbai probe put on fast track

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ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik on Saturday said the inquiry team on the Mumbai attacks has been asked to submit its initial report within 10 days.

However, he made it clear that the whole course of action would be taken according to the Pakistani laws.

To a question, the adviser rejected any pressure either from the Indian government or from British Foreign Secretary David Milliband, saying: “Neither we accepted any pressure earlier nor we will accept it now.”

India should allow their investigators to interact with Pakistani counterparts for immediate result, he told a press conference.

He said the team had been directed to conduct transparent and legally tangible inquiry.

He said the team would establish legally verifiable credentials of the suspects allegedly involved in the Mumbai attacks, inquire into the available information supplied by India with a view to transforming it into evidence and collect other related evidence for legal action according to the law of Pakistan.

He said the government would bring the culprits to justice if they were found involved in the crime.

However, to a question, he said the leads obtained so far were out of Pakistan. “I do not want to say anything at this stage as the investigators are already looking into the information provided by India,” he added.

He said that cases could be registered only on the basis of tangible evidence and more time could be given to the investigators if necessary.

Malik said the Indian government could also be requested to provide more information to help the ongoing inquiry in Pakistan.

He advised India to be patient and allow time for the completion of the inquiry. He pointed out that India had taken around 40 days to provide information on the Mumbai investigations.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said in Multan on Saturday that Pakistan would not only share information about the Mumbai attacks with India and other friendly countries but would also pursue questions arising out of it to ensure a cooperative engagement.

Talking to reporters here, FM Qureshi said Pakistan had received a dossier from India through its high commission and it had been handed over to the Interior Ministry for further action. He said the Interior Ministry not only examined the dossier but also formed a three-member commission comprising experienced investigators and reputable officers to conduct investigations.

Qureshi said after examining the dossier and Pakistan’s own investigations, information from other sources would also be shared in a transparent manner with India and other friendly country.

To a question, he said five training camps linked to the Lashkar-e-Tayyiba had been closed down in accordance with the government’s clear policy that it would not allow utilisation of its soil for such activities.

He said Pakistan would hold trial of any Pakistani individual or entity in free, fair and transparent manner if investigations proved their involvement in the Mumbai attacks. ìIndian leaders’ statements showed their flip-flop approach but Pakistan is consistent in its stance and sincerely wants to unveil elements involved in it and to bring the perpetrators to justice,î he said.

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Truth on Kasav embarasses Pakistan PM

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The Kasav saga has backfired in a big way on the Pakistan government. Hours after Pakistan’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Mahmud Ali Durrani was sacked for speaking the truth on Ajmal Amir Kasav’s origins, in a startling comment, the Pakistan Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani has admitted that Durrani’s speaking the truth, embarrassed him greatly.

Moreover, government sources told Pakistan media that the Pakistan Prime Minister was upset because Durrani’s admission robbed him of the chance of making the dramatic disclosure on Kasav. Gilani on Wednesday (January 7) dismissed his NSA Major General (retd) Mehmud Ali Durrani for being a ‘bit too candid’ on the tricky issue of Mumbai carnage suspect Ajmal Kasav, without having taken him into confidence.

According to reports in the Pakistani media, a furious Prime Minister Gilani reportedly told some journalists that his ‘national security adviser had embarrassed me’ and the country by going public with the report of Kasav’s nationality without his permission.

Another Pakistan’s television channel quoted sources close to the ousted adviser as having said that whatever he had told the media about Ajmal Kasav and the findings of the Pakistani investigators were in the knowledge of the president.

The sacking of the NSA of Pakistan for disclosing the nationality of Kasav has triggered chaos and bitter infighting in the political circles of the country. The late-night decision by Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani sparked speculations about growing fissures within the ruling party, and perhaps among the various pillars of the establishment on the handling of crucial and sensitive matters of national security.

The summary dismissal also comes amid reports of tension within the government, particularly between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani, on various issues linked to the decision-making process.

Meanwhile, highly informed sources in the government were quoted in the media as saying that the security agencies investigating the Kasav affair had already prepared their report which, through the ministry of interior, had been passed on to the prime minister for a formal decision.

The probe had concluded that Ajmal Kasav was a Pakistani national, but it was left to the government, or the prime minister, to decide when to make it public. Sources were quoted saying that Durrani was apparently sacked because the leak had not only caught the prime minister off guard, but perhaps also deprived him of the credit for breaking the news.

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)

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PML(Q) not to merge in any other party: Pervaiz Elahi

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PML-Q central leader Ch Pervaiz Elahi has said that party’s central executive committee has decided to maintain its separate identity.

Addressing a gathering in Lahore, Pervaiz Elahi said that PML-Q would not make any alliance or merger with any other party. So far, one-year performance of the two ruling parties has been disappointing, he noted.

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Qureshi calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

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MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said situation is heading towards positive direction with India, but still all is not well.

Talking to newsmen at the Multan Airport on Sunday, Foreign Minister said government’s policy statement could not be issued on the basis of newspaper reports.

He informed US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher is arriving in Pakistan but declined to disclose the purpose of his visit to Islamabad.

To a question on Pakistan-India tension, Qureshi said we had three objectives to defuse tension with India – first to avert the threat of war, secondly to prevent Pakistan of being isolated in the international community and third objective was aimed at safeguarding Pakistan from internal instability.

The minister noted that situation was improving in the wake of Pakistan’s positive proposals to defuse tension. He said that talks with India should not only be resumed but also proceed in positive manner. Pakistan wants better relation with all its neighbors, he commented.

The entire region is threatened by the menace of terrorism and Pakistan is facing several challenges, he said, adding that internal issues need to be resolved first.

Foreign Minister added Pakistan-India tension had been defused over efforts made by other countries of the region. About replacement of prime minister and the government, Qureshi said it has no truth and termed these reports as rumors.

Qureshi condemned the Israeli offensive in Gaza and demanded of immediate halt. “We have a clear stance that Pakistan is along with its Palestinian brothers,” he said and added that Islamic world should jointly raise the voice against Israel.

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Islamabad doesn't want war with India: Pak PM Gilani

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Islamabad: Amid mounting world pressure on it, Pakistan on Saturday said it does not want war with India and noted that "friendly countries" are working to defuse tensions between the two neighbours.

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Pak diverting attention by creating war hysteria: Pranab

"Pakistan is a peace-loving country. We don't want to have war or aggression," Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said addressing a function on the occasion of the first death anniversary of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

"We want to have friendly relations with our neighbours -- Afghanistan and India," Gilani said.

He noted that "friendly countries" are working to defuse tension between India and Pakistan.

His comments came a day after External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee suggested that Pakistan was trying to create "war hysteria" to divert attention from the "real issue" of taking action against those responsible for the Mumbai attacks.

Mukherjee is understood to have conveyed this view to his counterparts from the US, Saudi Arabia, China and Iran when he talked to them on Thursday and yesterday.

Pressure of the world community on Pakistan is mounting which is reflected by the latest statement by US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher, who said that perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks must be "eliminated" and that Islamabad has still a "lot to do" in combating terrorism.

Gilani said last night in Lahore that war is not in the interest of any country and all issues should be resolved through dialogue.

Pakistan wants peace and will not initiate any military aggression, he said.

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Musharraf Makes Public Appearance

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LAHORE: Marriage of Khurshid Kasuri’s son with Manzoor Wattoo’s daughter was definitely a union of two big political families, but the real feature of the walima reception turned out to be the surprise participation of former President Pervez Musharraf along with his wife Sehba.
This was definitely Musharraf’s first public appearance in the provincial metropolis after remaining in power for almost nine years, which came as a surprise to many considering the fact that he had not attended many public functions after August 18, the day he resigned as president.

General (r) Musharraf and his wife reached the venue of the walima reception on Bedian Road with Pakistan Muslim League-Q NWFP President Ameer Muqam following them closely. They all left at the same time as well. The slogan of Pervez Musharraf Zindabad (Long live Pervez Musharraf) heard once again after many months when a few people raised the slogan while he was leaving. Quite a few wanted to shake hands with him, but they could not, as Musharraf left pretty soon than expected.
On the other hand, another prominent presence was that of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who left the venue 20 minutes prior to Musharraf’s arrival.
Musharraf was received by Khurshid Kasuri at the main entrance. Upon his arrival, everybody’s head turned towards him, while Musharraf was waving pleasantly to the acquaintances. He met a few members of his cabinet and political leaders also. The walima reception came to be as the first political gathering of the PML-Q, while the political leaders from other political parties were also there.
Musharraf’s presence also gained huge media attention, and mediamen present on the occasion wanted him to say something, but he remained brief and to the point. No doubt, the cameras and journalists thronged the venue, and former first couple’s unexpected visit fascinated people as well. His visit was certainly also talk of the town on Friday.

Though Musharraf’s security was not as strict and vigilant as it used to be during his stint as president, but he was surrounded by quite a few security men, who were making all-out efforts to keep the mediamen away from Musharraf.
However, the journalists were successful in getting his attention for soliciting his views regarding the Pak-India tension. “India must not dare attack and cast an evil eye on Pakistan as long as our army is doing its duty. Pakistan’s defence is impregnable, and we are an atomic power. I hold the country’s solidarity very dear to me, and pray for this,” he said in perhaps one of the most short and snappy talks to the media. He did not entertain any further questions from the mediamen, whom he was facing for the first time since tendering his resignation in August this year.
Moreover, Musharraf did not offer any comment to a question on the current domestic political situation by saying that the president and prime minister should be asked about it.

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Pakistan To Ignore Kasab’s Consular Plea: Rehman Malik

this news update by www.breakingalert.blogspot.com
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Interior Affairs, Rehman Malik said that Pakistan is not accepting the plea for the consular assistance made by Ajmal Amir Kasab, the terrorist arrested during the Mumbai terror strikes.

During the function on Wednesday, at the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) headquarters, he said, “There is no question of consular access unless it is proved that Ajmal Kasab is a Pakistan national.”

He further said, “We have thoroughly checked the registration records but have not found Ajmal Kasab’s name in the Nadra database. Therefore we are not sure whether he is a Pakistani. How we can give him consular access without having knowledge about his nationality?”

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Benazir Martyrdom Day Declared Public Holiday

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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has declared December 27 as a public holiday throughout the country to observe the 1st anniversary of martyrdom of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

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India Fail to Provide any Suspects List which connect with Mumbai strikes

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ISLAMABAD: The visiting Interpol Chief, Ronald Noble has said that India hasn’t provided any list of suspected terrorists relating to the Mumbai attacks.

Following a meeting with the Interior Advisor, Rehman Malik, Ronald Noble told the media that Pakistan was itself a terrorist inflicted country and Benazir Bhutto became a victim of it. “We are satisfied over the cooperation extended by Pakistan relating to Mumbai attacks, as Pakistan investigation agencies are cooperative with Interpol and we are thankful to the interior advisor for his assistance”, he said. He further said that none other than Pakistan till today cooperated more with the Interpol and added that Pakistan was the most proactive associate of Interpol. He said the Interpol has also the same information, which you possess. Ronald Noble said that Pakistan was cooperating with the Interpol and the world community should also cooperate with Pakistan.

Earlier, Interior Advisor, Rehman Malik said that Pakistan and India both were the victims of terrorism. He also apprised of Pakistan’s difficulties relating to terrorism in his meeting with Ronald Noble, Rehman Malik said that Interpol team was on routine visit to Pakistan and nothing was discussed relating to the illegal immigrants with them. He said that there are set procedures for the handing over of the wanted person to any country and, “We are prepared to extend all possible cooperation to India relating to the Mumbai attacks, we will bring terrorists to justice,” he vowed.

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Taliban says it will defend Pakistan

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Hunted by the US and NATO forces for committing acts of terror in Afghanistan, the Taliban on Tuesday (December 23) said they would back the Pakistan Army by deploying hundreds of suicide bombers in case of any military action with India.

Claiming that “thousands of our well-armed militants are ready to fight alongside the army if any war is imposed on Pakistan,” chief of the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Baitullah Mehsud, told The News daily by phone from an undisclosed location.

Hundreds of would-be bombers had been “given suicide jackets and explosive-laden vehicles for protection of the border in case of any aggression by the Indian forces”, he said.

“The time had come, to wage a real jihad that the Taliban had been waiting for,” Mehsud, for whom the Pakistani and US forces are on the look out claimed.

“We know very well that the visible and invisible enemies of the country have been planning to weaken this lone Islamic nuclear power. But the mujahideen will foil all such nefarious designs of our enemies,” he said.

This is for the first time Mehsud has admitted that Taliban has marshalled thousands of fighters close to the Afghan-Pak border and where Pakistani army has launched a major operation to flush them out.

Mehsud said people might question how the Taliban would fight alongside the Pakistan Army when the militants had been fighting the force for a long time.

“Therefore, I want to make it clear that the army was acting otherwise (in the past). But now it would fight for the protection and survival of the country, which is why we will support them,” Mehsud said.

Mehsud, who was accused by former President Pervez Musharraf of masterminding the assassination of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto in December last year, significantly said the Taliban would defend the country’s frontier with Afghanistan in the event of hostilities with India.

He said he wanted to “assure the nation, government and army that they should not worry about Pakistan’s western borders with Afghanistan” as “thousands of his armed fighters had already been deployed to safeguard the strategically important frontier”.

Taliban fighters are ready to fight under the army’s command, he said, but remarked it would be better for the military to “give them a separate sector or specify special targets” for the militants”.

Tensions have escalated in the region after India blamed Pakistan-elements for the Mumbai terror attacks, which killed over 180 people. India has asked Pakistan to take action against elements, including the Lashker-e-Taiba terror group.

Though India has said war is not an option, Pakistan’s top leaders, including Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, have said the country is prepared to face any aggression on the eastern border. Several Taliban commanders have pledged their support to the Pakistan Army in the event of hostilities with India.

(Agencies)

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)

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Pakistan is Ready To Face Challenge: PM Gilani

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LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Pakistan is ready to face any adventure, however, he has rejected chances of war between Pakistan and India.

Talking to media here, Prime Minister Gilani said India did not provide evidences in connection with Mumbai attacks if it really has any evidence than it must be shared with Pakistan. Pakistan is reviewing the situation and while India is trying to flee.

Premier said there is no chance of war between Pakistan and India; however, Pakistan is fully prepared to take on any challenge if imposed on it.

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No Compromise With Al-Qaeda, Taliban: Kayani

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Lahore: Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General, Ashfaq Kayani has said that Pakistan realises threat posed by militant outfits like, Al Qaeda and the Taliban, adding that the nation is in no mood to compromise with them. Kayani had a discussion with the US Marine Commander, James Conway, over the current security conditions, a private TV channel reported.

The two military officials are believed to have discussed `overall regional security’, US drone attacks in Pakistan and US-Pakistan military co-operation on the Pak-Afghan border.

General Kayani reportedly told the American commander that security along with the Pakistan-Afghanistan border was the responsibility of all stakeholders, and not just Pakistan.

The Army chief also assured Conway that security conditions for the NATO supplies, going through Khyber, would be beefed up. (ANI)

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Car bomb kills 1 woman, wounds 5 in Lahore

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LAHORE: Blast rocked GOR area in Shadman locality of Lahore on Wednesday morning killing a woman and wounding five persons were wounded, reports said.

According to reports a bomb device was planted in a vehicle near a water tank in the area, which went off with loud blast.

Police, bomb disposal experts and rescue and relief teams have reached to the area and the injured were transferred to hospitals.

A woman identified as Farzana was killed in the incident, while her husband was seriously wounded along with four others.

A power transformer was also exploded after the blast.

According to sources a Shahzor vehicle with bogus government number plate of LHO 2513, was used for the blast. The bomb was exploded in the government officers’ residential area of Lahore near the house of a doctor. The blast also damaged a wall of the house.

Police have cordoned off the area for investigations. According to bomb disposal experts eight to 10 kilogram explosives were used in the bomb devices.



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Plaza caves in at Sukkar

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SUKKAR: A multi storied plaza collapsed late night, ARY OneWorld reported. Deaths are feared following the incident.

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Undeclared Curfew Imposed in Kashmir

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SRINAGAR: The authorities have imposed undeclared curfew in Srinagar to thwart the Lal Chowk March on the occasion of the seventh and final phase of the so-called assembly elections, tomorrow.

According to Kashmir media service, Indian troops have sealed all the roads leading to Srinagar and not allowing any vehicle to enter the city. The occupation authorities have virtually converted the area into a garrison by deploying large contingents of the troops.

Meanwhile, the All Parties Hurriyet Conference Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and senior Hurriyet leaders including Syed Ali Gilani, Maulana Abbas Ansari, Agha Syed Hassan al-Moosvi, Fazl Haq Qureshi and Mian Abdul Qayoom are continuing to remain under house arrest.

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No Ample Proof Provided About Mumbai Attacks: Interpol

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ISLAMABAD: Interpol chief Ronald Noble has said that India has not provided ample evidence for arrest of any accused of the Mumbai attacks. While Interior Advisor Rehman Malik has said Ajmal Kasav has sent a letter to Pakistan, through the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi.

Addressing a press conference alongside with Advisor for Interior Rehman Malik here, the Interpol chief said that Pakistan is one of the victims of terrorism. He termed terrorism a major problem faced by the world.

He said around 1500 people have lost their lives in terror incidents in Pakistan and appealed the world to extend help to Pakistan to curb the menace.

Advisor to Prime Minister for Interior Rehman Malik said that a proper procedure exists for extradition of people wanted to any country. He said he has discussed with the Interpol official the issue of illegal emigrants.

He said Pakistan has offered unconditional cooperation to India for investigation of Mumbai attacks.

Pakistan has imposed ban on Jamat-ud-Dawa in pursuance of the United Nations resolution and detained activists of the group, Malik said.

Malik said that Ajmal Kasav in his letter has requested for legal assistance. He said the name of Ajmal Kasav has not been found in NADRA record.

He said Pakistan is cooperating with the world community over the issue, the world should also extend its cooperation to the country.

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Pakistan Should Act Against Terrorism: Rice

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WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said Islamabad knows that it should act against terrorism and extremism or else it will consume the country.

“…but this really comes down to dealing with the problem, and that means that Pakistan has got to do everything that it can to help bring the perpetrators to justice,” she said.

“And then also make sure they know as much as they possibly as they can so that you don’t have a follow-on attack of some kind,” Rice said while talking to a US-based newspaper in an interview.

The Secretary of State also said Pakistan should really take on the issue of terrorism and extremism. “They now know it (terrorism) will consume them if they don’t, but this is a very tough problem for this civilian government,” she said as Islamabad is under intense pressure to act against terrorism in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.

Rice indicated that the fate of Indo-Pak relationship depended on the action Islamabad took against the groups which New Delhi asserts were behind the deadly attacks.

She also noted that India and Pakistan have developed good relations with each other in the past couple of years and they would like to “preserve” them.

“They had no relationship between them (in 2001). We had not terribly deep relations with India or with Pakistan because it was just post-September 11th.

“Now, we have very strong relations with India, really deep relations with India, very good relations with Pakistan. I felt that when I went there I was drawing on a reservoir of trust with the Indians that was quite deep,” she said.

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Anushka Newest Smiling Beauty of Bollywood

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MUMBAI: They say if beauty is power; than a smile is its sword. The beauty of a person stands incomplete without the presence of smile.

And all the dazzling Bollywood beauties have been known to rule and charm the hearts (from several years) with their dynamic, sparkling smile.

Click To Watch

Anushka Sharma is the newest discovery which is currently driving India crazy with her luminous and gracious smile.

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