LAHORE: Intelligence agencies late Wednesday arrested an Indian spy allegedly involved in the blast of GOR area Lahore on Wednesday mornig, ARY OneWorld reported Wednesday late night.
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.
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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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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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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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.
Anushka Sharma is the newest discovery which is currently driving India crazy with her luminous and gracious smile.
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Monday made it clear to the US that Pakistan would defend itself tooth and nail should India impose a war, TheNation has reliably learnt.
SUKKUR: Federal Minister for Postal Service Mir Israrullah Zehri has urged India to avoid escalating tensions saying that Pakistan is committed to peace but its desire for peace should not be taken as weakness. Talking to a local news agency at office of the Deputy Post Master General Sukkur here on Monday, he said that wars have neither solved problems in past nor they would yield positive results in future.
The Minister made it clear that Pakistan has the capability to defend the country if war was imposed. But, he added, Pakistan wants to maintain regional peace and will continue to make efforts in this direction to avoid any harm to peace in the region.
He said that history is witness that Pakistan always avoided war and was ready to settle the Kashmir issue through talks. While India continues to raise hue and cry over one incident, Pakistan was the worst hit by terrorism for the last ten years, Israrullah said. We have suffered enormous losses in combating terrorism and no other country can match the sacrifices Pakistan has offered. “We lost even our dear leader Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto due to menace of terrorism,” he added.
To a question, Federal Minister said that present government is striving for the socio-economic uplift of the people at an accelerated pace and providing basic amenities of life to the people of backward areas on priority basis aiming at alleviating poverty and sense of deprivation from these areas.
He said that President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has asked the Parliamentarians to keep close contact with the people of their constituencies in order to mitigate the sufferings of people of that area promptly.
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Monday scrambled fighter jets over several major cities as a sign of enhanced vigilance following mounting tension between India and Pakistan after the Mumbai attacks.
Pakistan’s doublespeak on investigations into the Mumbai terror attacks continues. As Islamabad searches for proof, political parties root for Jamaat leader - Hafeez Saeed.
In reply to the external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee who made it very clear that all options were open before New Delhi - including the option to strike, across the border, Pakistan continues to diswown the terror attack.
All that Islamabad has said in its defence is that it is ready to face any aggression and that its armies are ready to defend the country, and that Pakistan was not trying to escalate tension.
Embattled Pakistan Prime Minister Gilani , who is under immense pressure has come out in the open and said that in this time of need, those outside the parliament, like Imran Khan, are also supporting him and are united in the cause of the country.
Pakistani Air Force conducts air exercises
The Pakistani air force conducted an exercise on Monday causing delay to two civilian flights - according to an airline official as tension simmers.
The special exercises caused delay to at least two flights at the airport in the eastern city of Lahore, near the Indian border. An air force spokesman declined to comment when asked about an exercise saying only that Pakistan last week summoned a senior Indian diplomat in Islamabad to protest against recent alleged airspace violations by Indian warplanes.
Air Commodore Humayun Viqar Zephyr, Spokesperson, Pakistan AirForce, the Spokesperson of the Pakistan airforce, has said that keeping the current situation in Pakistan, airspace security has been stepped up in the country
‘No plan to attack Pakistan’
And, fear in Pakistan is quite evident from the nature of questions that put to the Indian Deputy High Commissioner on the sidelines of a SAARC summit.
Reporter: Is India asking for access to areas where they suspect terrorist camps. Is there a plan by India to attack those territories?
India Deputy HC to Pak: There is no such plan.
Reporter: Is there a possibility of war? Since yesterday there have been very ‘hot’ statements from both sides. Even Sonia Gandhi said India has the capability to give an appropriate reply to Pakistan?
Indian Deputy HC to Pak: Our leaders have made it very clear that war is not a solution. Our government made this very clear on the floor of the Parliament last week.
Pak defence min says Pak has potention to defend itself
Pakistan Defence minister, Ahmad Mukhtar Chaudhry has said that the defence of Pakistan was in strong hands and warned if India tried to thrust war, then the Armed Forces of Pakistan have all the potential and right to defend.
Even the newspapers reflect the defiance similar to the one being expressed by the Pakistani government.
“The Dawn” in one of their opinion pieces with the heading ‘Good Fences, Good Neighbours’ says, “Pakistan is caught between two conflicts, and the long-term solution lies in defining and gaining control over our borders.”
Another top daily - “The News” has one of its editorials that say under the header ‘Time For Restraint’ - “There are unsavoury and rather base noises to carpet-bomb Pakistan. The consequences are obvious to any reader of the situation, but more pertinently even India may not carry enough resilience to survive those.”
Pak political parties rally against JuD ban
Political parties in Islamabad rallied in support of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), the front organisation of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and called for the lifting of sanctions imposed on the group by the UN Security Council, as well as ending all negotiations with India.
The parties claimed the sanctions were imposed by the world body under pressure from the US and India. They also alleged the UN acted with “undue and unusual haste” and made no attempt to find out the Jamaat’s point of view.
The meeting was attended by leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami as well as by Imran Khan’s Tehrik-e-Insaf.
A resolution adopted by the parties asked the Pakistan government to reopen all Jamaat-ud-Dawa offices, which they called a charitable trust.
“The conference demands that the government reopen all of Jamaat-ud-Dawa’s offices and remove the ban on its relief activities and projects forthwith,” the resolution said.
Despite an international sanction against the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, there has been no ground action to seal the accounts of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa. TIMES NOW has learnt that the JuD has been able to transfer most of the money in its accounts.
The Jamaat was banned by the UN after there was pressure by New Delhi.
Parties reiterate Saeed’s innocence
The resolution adopted by the Pakistani political parties also reiterated the innocence of Hafeez Saeed the Lashkar Chief who was placed under house arrest after India intensified the Pressure on Pakistan.
They described Saeed as “an extremely popular leader of
Pakistan” and a “peaceful and highly respected citizen”. Calling for the end of his detention, the resolution said Saeed should be allowed to give Friday sermons and address religious gatherings.
Senior journalist Salim Bhukhari speaking on the issue said that part of the defiance comes from the reality that Islamabad does not have too many options left.
Ayaz Amir, a columnist with “the Dawn” in Islamabad said that the situation is getting serious with India seeking support of 120 envoys.
Pak defiant despite US-India warning
Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan desires peace, but in the event of war, it is ready to defend itself. He also said, Pakistan was fully prepared to cooperate with India, but India should provide hard evidence. He also dismissed the Pak Prime Minister being under pressure to resign as mere rumours.
Amidst the Indo-Pak chill, India is keeping all its options open - not ruling out a strike on Pakistan. According to government sources, the use of force was not completely ruled out at the high level Defence Meet chaired held in the capital on Saturday (December 20) night.
( 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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India on Monday (Dec 22) summoned Pakistan’s Acting High Commissioner Afrasiab and handed over the letter written by Mumbai attack accused Ajmal Amir Iman Kasab, which states that he is a “Pakistani”. Kasav, the lone surviving terrorist involved in the Mumbai terror attacks on November 26. In his letter addressed to the Pakistan High Commission, Kasab has stated that he and the other terrorists killed in the attack were from Pakistan.
In the letter, Ajmal has asked the Pakistan High Commission to take custody of the body of fellow terrorist Ismail Khan, who was killed in an encounter in south Mumbai the same night. He has also sought a meeting with the Pakistan High Commission.
This is the first time India is officially handing over proof of Kasav’s nationality to Pakistan and with Pakistan consistently denying that the arrested terrorist is not from Pakistan, this incontrovertible proof sumbmitted by India is likely to put Pakistan in the dock.
Kasab, who hails from Faridkot village in Pakistan’s Punjab province, was captured on November 26 soon after the group of 10 heavily-armed terrorists launched attacks in Mumbai. The terrorist, who is in police custody till Wednesday, wrote the letter last week and it was forwarded by the Mumbai police to MEA for handing it over to the Pakistan High Commission.
Islamabad has been denying that Kasab is a Pakistani national even though his father has confirmed it. Pakistani media also went to his village and confirmed his nationality through a sting operation, after which authorities ordered a clampdown to keep journalists away.
Kasab, during his interrogation, has told Mumbai police in detail as to how he became a hardcore terrorist of Lashkar-e-Taiba from an ordinary criminal. He has given details to police as to how he underwent training at LeT camps along with several others and later was sent by his handlers by ship from Karachi on November 26.
Earlier in the day, slamming Pakistan for not keeping its promise of ending cross-border terrorism, external affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said India is “not closing any options”.
Mukherjee said the Mumbai strikes and the attack on Kabul embassy show that terrorism emanating from Pakistan is “acquiring an increasingly dangerous dimension and continues to threaten peace and stability in this region and beyond.”
Addressing a conference of Indian ambassadors and High Commissioners here, he said India has sought the support of the international community to put pressure on Pakistan to “deal effectively” with terrorism.
India has highlighted that the infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan has to be dismantled permanently, he told the first-of-its-kind conclave being held in the backdrop of a fresh chill in relations between New Delhi and Islamabad.
“We are not saying this because we are affected but because we believe that it will be good for the entire world and also for Pakistani people and society,” he underlined.
Describing the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan as the “greatest terrorist danger to peace and security of the entire civilised world,” Mukherjee said “there has been some effort so far by the international community but this is not enough.”
(With inputs from 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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BAGHDAD: Iraqi lawmakers are set to vote Monday on a resolution that will determine the fate of non-US foreign troops in the country, mainly British forces, when a UN mandate expires in 10 days.
NEW DELHI: Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that alleged terror structure in Pakistan poses threat to the world.
London: The black leather shoes, which the Iraqi journalist Muntazar al-Zaidi threw at George Bush during a press conference in Baghdad, has created 100 new jobs. The world’s most notorious pair of shoes has yielded an unexpected bonanza for its Turkish manufacturer.
Ever since the incident took place, Ramazan Baydan, owner of the Istanbul-based Baydan Shoe Company, has been flooded with orders from across the world.
Baydan has hired an extra 100 staff to meet orders for 300,000 pairs of Model 271 - more than four times the shoe’’s normal annual sale - following an outpouring of support for Zaidi’’s act, which was intended as a protest, but led to his arrest by Iraqi security forces.
He said that orders have come mainly from the US and Britain, and from neighbouring Muslim countries.
Around 120,000 pairs have been ordered from Iraq, while a US company has placed a request for 18,000.
A British firm is understood to have offered to serve as European distributor for the shoes, which have been on the market since 1999 and sell at around 28 pounds in Turkey.
A sharp increase in demand has been recorded in Syria, Egypt and Iran, where the main shoemaker’’s federation has offered to provide Zaidi and his family with a lifetime’’s supply of shoes.
Looking at the demand, Baydan is also considering renaming the model “the Bush Shoe” or “Bye-Bye Bush”.
“We”ve been selling these shoes for years but, thanks to Bush, orders are flying in like crazy. We”ve even hired an agency to look at television advertising,” the Guardian quoted him, as saying. (ANI)
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LAHORE: Pakistan Air Force airplanes flew over Islamabad and Rawalpindi for 20 minutes on Monday.
