Kabul offers to probe deaths of FC soldiers

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan on Friday cast doubt on Pakistan’s claim that the killing of 23 Frontier Corps soldiers had occurred on its soil but offered to probe the incident nevertheless. The statement came hours after Pakistan lodged a strong protest over the brutal murder of FC personnel on Afghan territory. On Monday, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Mohmand Agency chapter claimed responsibility for the killing of the FC personnel, throwing into disarray the fragile peace process. The group is believed to have hideouts in the rugged border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan and its fighters routinely move between the two countries. Following the incident, Sartaj Aziz, adviser to the prime minister on national security and foreign affairs, conveyed Islamabad’s concerns to Kabul on the killings. Responding to the statement, Afghanistan’s foreign ministry said there was no evidence to substantiate that the killings occurred on Afghan territory. “The government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan cannot confirm that the 23 FC personnel were killed inside Afghan territory, but will take the necessary action in order to verify the veracity of the incident,” the Afghan foreign ministry said in a statement. However, the statement also said that Kabul will investigate the matter. “It is our belief that any terrorist act in our region is the outcome of the short-sighted policy of using extremism and terrorism as a means of strategic influence and pursuing misperceived national interest.” The ministry further said that Afghanistan is committed to tackling terrorism in the region and called upon Pakistan to cooperate in dismantling sanctuaries. Published in The Express Tribune, February 22nd, 2014.

Indian rickshaw driver fatally stabs American wife, kills self

AGRA: An Indian rickshaw driver stabbed his American wife to death before setting himself ablaze, police said Saturday, in a violent end to a whirlwind romance scripted in the backdrop of the Taj Mahal. Bunty Sharma, 32, killed 35-year-old Arian Willingar from Pennsylvania on a deserted roadside in the tourist city of Agra after the couple had a fight late Thursday, senior police officer Shalabh Mathur told AFP. Sharma later committed suicide by setting himself on fire, he said. The couple first met when Willingar visited Agra last July with her friends to see the Taj Mahal, the world famous monument of love. Romance blossomed, they got married and began living together but soon had a falling out over suspicions of infidelity. Sharma accused her “of smoking too much, talking to other men and not staying at home”, the Indian Express reported. The US embassy in New Delhi refused to comment on the case but Mathur cited embassy officials as saying that they had informed the victim’s family about her death. “We are preserving the body of the victim until further instructions from the embassy,” Mathur said. The case grabbed headlines Saturday with local newspapers offering details of their Bollywood-style romance. At the end of her July trip, Willingar stayed back as her friends returned home and married Sharma in a ceremony held on the rooftop of a hotel located in the backdrop of the Taj Mahal. But the romance soon fizzled out and the couple began living separately in December, reports said. The Times of India featured a black-and-white mugshot of the couple on its front-page, showing Willingar dressed as a traditional Indian bride.

Olympics: First doping shocks hit Sochi Games

SOCHI: The first doping cases to hit the 2014 Sochi Games emerged Friday after a double gold-medal winning German female biathlete and an Italian bobsledder tested positive for banned substances. German biathlete Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle, who has won two gold medals at previous Olympic Games, confirmed she had tested positive, describing it as the “worst nightmare you can imagine”. Meanwhile, the Italian Olympic Committee said Italian bobsledder William Frullani had tested positive for a banned substance and had already been kicked out of the Sochi Games. The news that a well known athlete as Sachenbacher-Stehle has failed a doping test has caused shock waves in Germany, which for years has prided itself on its tough anti-doping fight. “I cannot explain how this positive doping test came about,” Sachenbacher-Stehle said in a statement, adding that she had had all her dietary supplements tested in a laboratory. Reports said that the positive test — carried out on February 17 — may have come about due to contamination from imported energy bars. “I am living through the worst nightmare that you can imagine,” she added. “I can only assure everyone that I have never knowingly taken a banned substance and will do everything to clear this up so there are no questions,” she added. Frullani, 34, tested positive on February 18 for the banned substance dymetylpentylamine. He has been replaced in the Italian four-man bobsleigh team by Samuele Romanini. The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) said in a statement that both Sachenbacher-Stehle’s ‘A’ and ‘B’ samples had tested positive for the stimulant methylhexanamin. It said she appeared before an IOC disciplinary commission, has now been excluded from the German team and was leaving Sochi immediately. “Every doping case is a great disappointment. But it is also proof that the control system works,” said Germany’s chef-de-mission Michael Vesper. Sachenbacher-Stehle, 33, spent most of her long career as a cross country skier before switching last season to biathlon, which mixes both cross country skiing and shooting. It was as a cross country skier that she won gold in the 4×5 km relay in the Salt Lake City Games of 2002 and then gold in the team sprint in Vancouver 2010. Sachenbacher-Stehle already hit controversy at the Turin Olympics of 2006 when she and several other athletes were given a five-day ban from competition due to excessive levels of haemogloblin. She argued that the finding was due to a genetic condition and not due to doping. At Sochi, her best results were fourth place in the women’s mass start and also fourth place in the mixed relay. She had announced Thursday that she had not been included in the women’s biathlon relay Friday. “It is sad for all of us and a shock,” the head coach of Germany’s national cross country team Frank Ullrich told AFP’s German sports subsidiary SID. Her brother Josef told the mass-circulation daily Bild: “She has nothing to reproach herself for. She despises this (doping) and would never dope.” The last Winter Olympics in Vancouver 2010 produced only one positive doping test in the course of the Games. Olympics chiefs believe they are winning in the fight against doping, after the Salt Lake City Games of 2002 and the Turin Games of 2006 produced seven positive tests apiece. The IOC, which oversees drug testing at the Olympic Games, is carrying out almost 2,500 drug tests at Sochi 2014 with an extra emphasis on out-of-competition tests. IOC medical commission chairman Arne Ljungqvist earlier in the Games warned athletes that a new 10-year period of storing samples and increasingly sophisticated methods meant there was nowhere for cheats to hide. “The message to athletes is that if you cheat and if we don’t find you now, we may find you later. But we will certainly find you sooner or later,” he said.

Peace process: Still willing to talk ‘if govt ends hostility’, says TTP

ISLAMABAD / MIRAMSHAH: A day after the government gave security forces the go-ahead to target insurgents in self-defence, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) signalled it was still willing to talk peace if the government declares a ceasefire. “Our doors are open for talks … [but] the government needs to stop killing our comrades,” the TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said in a joint news conference on Friday, alongside TTP South Waziristan chapter leader Azam Tariq Mehsud. “Since the government started the war against us, it should declare ceasefire before asking us to do so.” In a news briefing on Thursday, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar announced that the prime minister had decided to call off peace talks following a surge in unrest across the country. “Dialogue and violence cannot take place side by side. The military has been asked to retaliate in self-defence, which is their right,” Nisar had said, adding that proceeding with dialogue amid attacks across the country would be ‘injustice to terror victims’. The interior minister’s statement came hours after the military bombed suspected insurgent hideouts in North Waziristan and Khyber agencies, killing at least 30 suspected militants. Days earlier, the TTP Mohmand Chapter claimed it had executed 23 kidnapped Frontier Corps men. At Friday’s news conference, the TTP spokesman accused the government of not being serious about negotiations right from the outset. “The air strikes carried out in the Mirali and Shawal areas of North Waziristan have proved the government was never serious about peace talks,” Shahid said. Replying to a query, he said there were no rifts within the TTP over the peace accord. “We completely abide by the peace accord struck by the TTP Waziristan council… there are no differences among us.” Meanwhile, Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousaf on Friday hoped the peace process would be resumed by both sides. Talking to journalists at the Parliament House, he said the government was keen to restore peace through dialogue and urged the Taliban to capitalise on this by announcing a ceasefire. Published in The Express Tribune, February 22nd, 2014.

Policy statement: ‘Military prepared for all challenges’

ISLAMABAD: In what appears to be a policy statement amid calls for an all-out operation against militants, Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on Friday said security forces were fully prepared to counter internal and external threats. “Let there be no doubt that Pakistan armed forces are battle hardened and fully capable to counter any internal or external threat posed to the integrity and sovereignty of our beloved country,” General Raheel was quoted as saying by the military’s media wing. His remarks came during a visit to the Frontier Corps headquarters in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa days after 23 abducted FC personnel were killed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the army chief appreciated the spirit and high morale of the paramilitary force. He said the entire nation acknowledged sacrifices rendered by them as part of the national effort to eliminate the scourge of terrorism from Pakistan, and assured them that these sacrifices would not go to waste. He lauded the efforts and determination of all troops and law enforcement agencies who cleared affected areas, with the help of the local population and support of the entire nation. “We are fully prepared to confront any challenge in future as well,” he said. His carefully worded statement is seen as a possible indication of a military operation in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) as chances of any peace deal with TTP now seem bleak in the wake of the recent militant attacks. Security officials are also not hopeful of restoration of the fragile peace process following the killing of FC men by the TTP. “There is lot of anger within the rank and file of the army over the recent killing of soldiers,” commented a security official while requesting anonymity. The official said the army leadership had conveyed to the government that talks could not proceed further under the shadow of ‘these barbaric acts.’ He said the civil and military leadership had been consulting each other over the past few days on how to proceed further. “They are analysing the different aspects including the likely fallout of the possible targeted operation against the TTP,” he added. One official pointed out that General Raheel’s latest statement suggesting that security forces were ready to confront any challenge was a clear indication that the army could do the job if the government decides to go all out against the TTP. Nuclear arsenal in safe hands Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif also expressed satisfaction over the safety and security of the country’s nuclear facilities while visiting the headquarters of the Army Strategic Force Command in Rawalpindi. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt General Obaidullah, Commander Strategic Force Command, briefed the army chief on matters of operation and security. In an interactive session with the troops, he appreciated their ‘professionalism, highest training standards and morale’. This was General Raheel’s first visit to the headquarters of Army Strategic Force Command since he assumed the office of army chief in November last year. A report recently released by the Nuclear Threat Initiative appreciated the measures taken by Pakistan over the past few years for the safety and security of the nuclear programme. The study indicates that Pakistan has shown the most improvement recently among the nine nuclear-armed states through a series of steps to update nuclear security regulations and to implement best practices. The 2014 Nuclear Threat Initiative’s Nuclear Materials Security Index has ranked Pakistan above India in terms of nuclear safety. India is ranked 23rd out of 25 countries with weapons-usable nuclear materials in the world, while China is placed 20th on the index. Published in The Express Tribune, February 22nd, 2014.

Supreme Court instructions: Govt told to identify men traded for bounty

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the government to share the names of 369 Pakistanis who were handed over to the United States for bounty, as claimed by former army chief General Pervez Musharraf in his 2006 book. A three-judge bench – headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja – ordered Additional Attorney General for Pakistan (AAGP) Tariq Khokhar to identify the people from relevant quarters and submit a report on March 6. Earlier in compliance with the court’s February 18 order, the AAGP submitted the relevant portions of Musharraf’s book ‘In the Line of Fire’ before the bench. Referring to the chapter 23 titled ‘Manhunt’, Khokhar presented the passage which said: “We have captured 689 and handed over 369 to the United States. We have earned bounties totalling to millions of dollars.” Citing the Council of European Union (EU) 2006 report, the AAGP told the bench that the CIA had kidnapped people from Afghanistan and Pakistan and they were detained in different internment centres, which were known as ‘black sites’. “According to the EU Parliament’s report 2007 about torture flights, the CIA has conducted 1,245 flights, many of them to destinations where suspects could face torture, which is the violation of United Nations (UN) Convention,” he further stated. Khokhar said people were transferred from one country to another country through extra ordinary rendition, which was illegal. “Enforced disappearance is a crime against humanity”, he added. The bench asked him to tell the court from where the names of these persons, handed over to USA, could be got. “My understanding is that the author of the book (Pervez Musharraf) claims these names were given to him by an institution and this institution should have the particulars of these people,” Khokhar replied as he assured the bench he would contact the concerned authorities to acquire the names. Meanwhile, the court also directed the defence ministry to submit till March 6 the affidavits of Colonel (retd) Habib and two retired Lieutenant Generals Shafat Ahmad and Nadim Taj regarding the enforced disappearance of Masood Janjua. Earlier, the AAGP told the bench that the defence ministry has submitted that these three officers had retired and it was not its responsibility to find out their whereabouts. The bench, however, rejecting the ministry’s reply and directed it to file affidavits of three army officers, warning that otherwise the pension of these army officers would be stopped For recording the statement of Imran Munir in Masood Janjua case, Advocate General Punjab Mustafa Ramday said Punjab government had decided to depute SP Potohar Town Haroon Joya for recording the statement of witness, who is living in an UNHCR camp in Sri Lanka as an asylum seeker. Dr Imran Munir, in his statement to Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on December 5, 2009, claimed that he had seen Janjua under the custody of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Brigadier Mansoor Saeed Sheikh during the period between July 28, 2006, and second week of March 2007 in a cell near Zakria Masjid, Rawalpindi. Meanwhile, Khokhar told The Express Tribune that the ministry of defence had sent him a fresh report on two missing brothers – Mulazim Hussain and Obaidullah –who have been traced out to be detained in Lakki Marwat Internment Centre. These brothers were allegedly picked up by intelligent agencies. “Five persons namely Atiq ur Rehman, Khawar Mahmood, Hamad Aamir, Hafiz Muhammad Jamil and Hadaitullah have already been traced in the last ten days,” he added. Published in The Express Tribune, February 22nd, 2014.

QWP leader killed in remote-controlled blast in K-P

BUNER: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) leader Adalat Khan was killed along with two other members of the party in a remote-controlled blast in Buner district on Saturday, Express News reported. The QWP leader was on his way to a local court when his car was reportedly targeted in the explosion. Two others were also injured in the blast who were taken to District Headquarters Hospital for treatment. “Adalat Khan and his two associates have been killed. Two others in the car were critically injured,” Asif Iqbal, a senior police official told AFP. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. On August 31, QWP Lakki Marwat district leader Razaullah was killed in an attack on his car. Razaullah, who was also known as Malang, was ambushed near Gandi Chowk, Sarai Naurang tehsil. He had died on the spot.

Pakistani prisoner found dead in Srinagar Central jail

SRINAGAR: A Pakistani prisoner who was arrested by authorities in India for trespassing more than two years ago was found hanging inside a jail in Indian Kashmir, an official said Saturday. Shaukat Ali, 42, a resident of Sialkot in Pakistan, had been lodged in a jail in Amphala, about 300 kilometres (186 miles) from the region’s main city of Srinagar, since December 2011. He was arrested on charges of illegally crossing the de facto border between the two rival countries. “An inmate informed the jail authorities last (Friday) night that Showkat was hanging from the grill of a toilet in the barracks,” jail superintendent Harish Kotwal told AFP. “He was hanging by a scarf and after he was brought down, the jail doctor declared him dead,” Kotwal said. The incident will be investigated by a magistrate and formalities for handing over his body to Pakistani authorities have begun, another police officer said. In May last year, a Pakistani prisoner died after he was savagely beaten in an Indian jail in an apparent tit-for-tat assault. The dead body of the Sanaullah Ranjay arrived in Pakistan on May 9 and was taken to his hometown of Sialkot. Islamabad had demanded an international probe into the crime.

All Parties Conference members join hands in show of solidarity against terrorism

KARACHI: Participants of the All Parties Conference came together at the Mazar-e-Quaid on Saturday in a show of solidarity against terrorism, Express News reported. Members of various political parties joined hands and stood outside the mazar to show a united front. Ealier today, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui announced that the party will be holding a solidarity rally tomorrow (Sunday) to show a united front against terrorism, Express News reported. The rally, to be held at 3pm in Karachi on Sunday, will commemorate the loss of lives of the 40,000 people in acts of terrorism, Siddiqui said while speaking to the media. The rally will also pay tribute to the sacrifices made by the law enforcement agencies, he added. Joined by other senior MQM leaders in the press conference, including Nasreen Jalil and Waseem Akhtar, Siddiqui stated that the rally will serve as a reminder that the people of Karachi are against terrorism.

US extends Shahzaib Bajwa's visa by one month

The US State Department extended the deportation deadline for Pakistani exchange student Shahzaib Bajwa by one month on Friday, NBC News reported. The 20-year-old will be allowed to stay in the country until March 28.
Report on Shahzaib Bajwa by TheExpressNews His brother, Shahraiz Bajwa, had said earlier that Shahzaib’s health has improved and he showed signs of recovery. He had also stated that the insurance company will pay the medical bills and Shahzaib will be treated in the US. Background Shahzaib was spending a semester in an exchange programme at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, studying anthropology and sociology. On November 13, 2013, he and his friends were driving back to the university from Minneapolis when their car struck a deer, his brother Shahraiz had said. What was meant to be an academic semester abroad through a State Department-backed exchange programme has turned into a complex journey through US insurance, medical and visa regulations for the family from Faisalabad. The brother had earlier said that the insurance company was pressing the family to sign off on returning Shahzaib to Pakistan once his visa runs out at the end of the month, threatening not to pay evacuation costs if the family refuses. “My mother is not going to sign because that would be like killing her son with her own hand,” the brother had stated.

Security forces do not have TTP’s women and children in custody: ISPR

ISLAMABAD: Security forces do not have the women and children of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) members in custody, according to the Inter Services Public relations, Express News reported on Saturday. Rejecting the allegations levelled by the TTP, ISPR spokesperson said that the allegations against the security forces are false, further stating that it was a baseless propaganda by the TTP. Baseless allegations Earlier, security officials had also denied that they killed any TTP member in their custody. Calling the TTP’s allegations baseless, one security official had said it was mere “propaganda to justify dastardly acts of terror”. The Mohmand Agency chapter of the TTP had claimed that it has killed 23 Frontier Corps (FC) men taken captive earlier to avenge the “killing of Taliban prisoners in the government’s custody”. According to media reports, Umar Khorasani of the TTP Mohmand Agency had claimed in a statement released on February 16 that the 23 FC men had been kidnapped along with seven other officials from the Shongrai checkpost on June 14, 2010.

3 female university students rescued after 16 hours of being locked in hostel

ISLAMABAD: Three female students, who were locked in their hostel rooms for 16 hours by the Islamic University hostel warden, were rescued on Saturday, Express News reported. The university administration had locked three students R*, H* and N* in their rooms since last night and allegedly threatened them with serious consequences. No food or water was available in their rooms. After 16 hours, other students of the university are said to have broken the locks of the rooms and freed two of the three students while the third student was got freed by court officials. N told Express News that their hostel membership was cancelled by the administration after they had protested against mistreatment. She further stated that the three of them got a stay order from the court regarding their hostel membership being cancelled. She also said that when the administration came to remove them from the hostel, they showed the stay order after which they were locked in their rooms. Security in charge of the hostel allegedly threatened other students with strict action if they tried to contact the three of them, N stated. *The names have been concealed to protect identities

Shocked on arrival: Nisar directs immigration staff to treat travellers more affably

ISLAMABAD: While Pakistanis are often found complaining about the treatment they are meted out at immigration counters in a foreign country, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was asked on Saturday to look into the attitude of immigration staff towards the few foreigners arriving in Pakistan. In a meeting with the House of Lords member Lord Nazir Ahmed in Islamabad on Saturday, the interior minister was requested to facilitate overseas Pakistanis and the problems they face while waiting to receive their stamp of entry into Pakistan. Issuing directives to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to set up a special cell to look into all problems faced by overseas Pakistanis when they visit or stay in Pakistan, Nisar directed immigration authorities to adopt a more traveller-friendly attitude towards all visitors and do everything possible to make their entry and exit as trouble-free as possible. Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the government, particularly the ministry of interior, is committed to cut the red tape and come down hard on all kinds of corruption, and that all departments facilitate the public, especially the overseas Pakistanis who are on a short visit to their homeland. The meeting also discussed Pak-UK relations and the need to maintain close liaison between the two governments and their parliaments. In 2012, Pakistan received the largest number of visitors from the UK, as many as 305,403

Nine militants killed as security forces strike hideouts in Hangu

HANGU: Security forces carried out shelling on militant hideouts in Thall sub-district of Hangu, killing at least nine insurgents on Saturday, Express News reported. “Gunship helicopters engaged the hideouts after confirmed reports of the terrorists’ presence,” a security official told AFP. On February 19, military sources had said that at least 30 suspected insurgents were killed and several others injured as military jets and gunships had bombed their hideouts in the North Waziristan and Khyber agencies. Talking to The Express Tribune, a government official had said the air strikes carried out on Wednesday night were authorised by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

TTP did not reject 'Constitution of Pakistan' during talks: Yousfzai

ISLAMABAD: Rahimullah Yousufzai, a member of government’s committee, has said the Taliban, during the talks, did not abnegate the constitution and had agreed to hold talks within the framework of the constitution. He said that the Taliban later changed their view and expressed will to hold negotiation in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah. However, Yousufzai said that talks were not halted over the issue of the constitution or Quran and Sharia. He said that the Taliban didn’t claim responsibilities of terror incidents as the talks began, however, he added the situation changed once the Taliban had started claiming responsibility for incidents in Karachi and Mohmand Agency.

Quran, Sunnah a complete constitution: TTP

MIRANSHAH: Spokesman of banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has reiterated that Quran and Sunnah is a complete constitution, Geo News reported. Addressing a press conference at an undisclosed location, TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said the government wanted Taliban to accept the constitution of Pakistan through dialogue. He said this constitution did not have a single Islamic clause in it. Shahid said TTP wanted to continue dialogue process.

Shahidullah has no knowledge; Bilawal ignores the reality

ISLAMABAD: The 1973 Constitution of Pakistan is Islamic but a mere showpiece as the most crucial of its Islamic provisions are either violated or partially implemented. The debate generated by the statement of TPP spokesman Shahid Shahidullah and an immediate rejoinder from the PPP’s patron-in-chief Bilawal Bhutto shows the former having no knowledge of what the Constitution envisages while the latter smartly ignores the reality that many of the Islamic provisions are never enforced but persistently violated. The Article 1 of the Constitution names the country “Islamic Republic of Pakistan” and Article 2 declares Islam as the State religion of Pakistan.The Article 2A of the Constitution makes the Objectives Resolution, which is also the preamble of this document, substantive part of the Constitution. The Objectives Resolution, while declaring that the sovereignty over the entire universe belongs to Allah alone, pledges that Muslims shall be enabled to order their lives in the individual and collective spheres in accordance with the teachings and requirement of Islam as set out in the Holy Quran and Sunnah. The Article 31, which deals with “Principles of Policy”, provides for Islamic ways of life. It says: 1) Steps shall be taken to enable the Muslims of Pakistan, individually and collectively, to order their lives in accordance with the fundamental principles and basic concepts of Islam and to provide facilities whereby they may be enabled to understand the meaning of life according to the Holy Quran and Sunnah. 2) The state shall endeavour, as respects the Muslims of Pakistan :- a) to make the teaching of the Holy Quran and Islamiat compulsory, to encourage and facilitate the learning of Arabic language and to secure correct and exact printing and publishing of the Holy Quran; b) to promote unity and the observance of the Islamic moral standards; and c) to secure the proper organisation of Zakat, Usher, Auqaf and mosques. The Article 37(g) promises that the State shall take necessary steps for prosecution of social justice and eradication of social evils and shall prevent prostitution, gambling and taking of injurious drugs, printing, publication, circulation and display of obscene literature and advertisements. The Article 37(h) says that the State shall prevent the consumption of alcoholic liquor otherwise than for medicinal and, in the case of non-Muslims, religious purposes. The Article 38(e) pledges that riba/interest shall be eliminated as early as possible. The Article 41(2) makes it mandatory that the President of Pakistan has to be a Muslim. The Article 62, which provides for qualifications for Muslim member of the Senate, National Assembly and provincial assemblies envisages: “62 (d) he is of good character and is not commonly known as one who violates Islamic injunctions; e) he has adequate knowledge of Islamic teachings and practices obligatory duties prescribed by Islam as well as abstains from major sins; f) he is sagacious, righteous and non-profligate, honest and ameen, there being no declaration to the contrary by a court of law; he has not, after the establishment of Pakistan, worked against the integrity of the country or opposed the ideology of Pakistan.” The Article 91(3) envisages that the prime minister has to be a Muslim member of the National Assembly. The Article 203(3) provides for constitution of the Federal Shariat Court. The Article 227 assures that all existing laws shall be brought in conformity with the injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Holy Quran and Sunnah. It also says that no law shall be enacted which is repugnant to such injunctions. The Article 228 provides for the setting up of Council of Islamic Ideology, which has been assigned the fundamental job of recommending changes in all laws to make them Islamic. The CII is also assigned to recommend to parliament the ways and means of enabling and encouraging the Muslims of Pakistan to order their lives individually and collectively in all respects in accordance with the principles and concept of Islam as enunciated in the Holy Quran and Sunnah. The Article 260(3)(a)defines Muslim as the one who believes in the unity of oneness of Almighty Allah, in the absolute and unqualified finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH), the last of the Prophets, and does not believe in, or recognise as a prophet or religious reformer, any person who claimed or claims to be prophet, in any sense of the work or of any description whatsoever, after Muhammad (PBUH). The Article 260(b) declares Quadianis group or the Lahori group or those who call themselves “Ahmadis” or by any other name as “non-Muslim”. Oath of the President and Prime Minister as given in the Third Schedule of the Constitution make them to pledge that they are Muslims and believe in the Unity and Oneness of Almighty Allah, the Books of Allah, the Holy Quran being the last of them, the Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH) as the last of the Prophets and that there can be no Prophet after him, the Day of Judgement, and all the requirements and teaching of the Holy Quran and Sunnah. For federal ministers, ministers of states, members of parliament, chairman and deputy chairman Senate, speaker and deputy speaker, governors, chief minister and provincial cabinet members, including non-Muslims, it is mandatory to pledge under oath that they will strive to preserve the Islamic Ideology, which is the basis for the creation of Pakistan. It also promises to strengthen the bond with the Muslim world in order to promote Islamic unity. The Constitution also promises that adequate provisions shall be made for the minorities to profess and practice their religions and develop their cultures.

It seems govt wants to postpone LB polls till 2020, says SC

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday said it seemed the government wanted the postponement of the local bodies (LB) elections till 2020.The apex court reserved the judgment on the appeals against the Sindh High Court (SHC) decision with respect to delimitation of the constituencies. A three-member SC bench, presided over by Chief Justice (CJ) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, took up the case for hearing on Friday.Jillani said, “How can the elections be held in a transparent manner if the people have no trust in delimitation of the constituencies? The court has the authority to interfere if any institution oversteps its powers. If the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is paralysed due to the local bodies (LB) system, what should we do? If there are flaws in the LB system, what should the court do?” He further remarked it was kept in view while giving constitutional autonomy to the provinces that they would abide by the constitutional obligations. “Conducting the election is the ECP’s responsibility. Why the provinces are stripping the ECP of its powers on delimitation of constituencies. The court has to see if the clauses related to delimitation of the constituencies, which are incorporated in local bodies rules, conform to the constitutional command or otherwise,” he said. Justice Azmat Saeed said, “How can the provincial government be permitted to carry out delimitation of constituencies as per its own choice? The country was dismembered while protecting one clause. Is it not that the local bodies election match is a fixed match?” The CJ remarked that the court’s job was to interpret the Constitution and the powers enshrined therein. “If the powers are not exercised in a correct manner, the court is mandated constitutionally to interfere in it. How can the elections be transparent if the institution which carries out delimitation of the constituencies is partial?” Punjab Advocate General (AG) Mustafa Ramday told the court he had obtained directives from the government which would legislate in line with the guidelines given by the court.The court, while appreciating the government assurances, directed the AG to file this assurance in writing before it. The Attorney General (AG), Suleman Butt, said the powers for delimitation of constituencies in the LB election rested with the provincial government. The amicus curiae, Khawaja Haris, said that the ECP could conduct electoral process under its constitutional mandate where the law was silent. The AG said legislation was the mandate of the provincial government.Farooq H Naik said giving autonomy to the provinces was the motive of the 18th Amendment. Therefore, the Article 140-A was incorporated into the Constitution and powers were delegated to the provinces to provide the LB system. Providing the system did not fall in the powers of the ECP and delimitation was a part of this system. The 18th Amendment was aimed at ensuring provincial autonomy and giving financial, political and administrative powers to the grassroot level. The laws had to be provided by the provincial governments.” The CJ remarked, “The Constitution is a live document and its interpretation falls under the mandate of the court.”Farooq H Nakik presented a copy of the Charter of Democracy (CoD) in the court. Justice Azmat remarked that transparent elections were possible only if the process of delimitation was transparent.Later, Azhar Siddique, who had filed the petition against the Lahore High Court (LHC) decision, appeared in the court.The court, while issuing notices to the parties concerned on the petitions filed against LHC decision, adjourned the hearing of the case till March 3

NASA suspends space capsule recovery test in ocean

SAN DIEGO: A training exercise designed to showcase the government´s ability to recover a space capsule at sea was scrubbed after NASA ran into trouble off the Southern California coast, the space agency said Friday. Crews had difficulty tying down a mock-up of the Orion capsule aboard an amphibious warship off the shores of San Diego. NASA said cables attached to the capsule weren´t strong enough to handle turbulence and snapped off twice while it was in the well deck of the USS San Diego before it could be moved out to sea on Thursday. With the Orion mock-up still on the Navy ship, teams could not practice fetching the spacecraft from the ocean. "Even though the testing didn´t go as we had planned, we´re learning lessons that will help us be better prepared to retrieve Orion," Bill Hill of NASA headquarters said in a statement. Engineers were troubleshooting the problem, and it was not clear when the test would be rescheduled. NASA has been developing a next-generation spacecraft to carry astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit, possibly to an asteroid or Mars. Orion, which will make its first unmanned test flight this fall, is being designed to travel to deep space and return at speeds of 25,000 mph (40,232 kph) by splashing down into the Pacific. The water landing is a throwback to the 1960s and 1970s when Navy ships routinely tracked and recovered Mercury, Gemini and Apollo spacecraft after re-entering Earth´s atmosphere. With the space shuttle fleet retired, NASA has decided to go with an ocean splashdown. Unlike in the past, when helicopters would hoist astronauts after a mission, the new plan calls for an amphibious transport ship to dispatch divers and small boat teams to recover Orion and its crew. Last year, NASA and the Navy practiced recovering the Orion in the calm waters of the Elizabeth River in Virginia with no problem. Before the latest test was called off, NASA said crews successfully retrieved parts of the spacecraft, including the parachute and a protective covering.

Army prepared for any action: General Raheel Says several successful operations have already been conducted against terrorists

RAWALPINDI: The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif, said on Friday that the Pakistan Army had conducted several successful operations against the terrorists and now too it was fully prepared for any action. The army chief said this during a visit to the headquarters of the FC, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.Appreciating the spirit and high morale of the troops, the COAS said the entire nation acknowledged the sacrifices rendered by them as part of national effort to eliminate the scourge of terrorism from Pakistan, and assured them that these sacrifices will not go waste. “Let there be no doubt that Pakistan armed forces are battlehardened and fully capable of countering any internal or external threat posed to the integrity and sovereignty of our beloved country,” the COAS emphasised. Recounting the security forces’ successes in various operations against the terrorists, the army chief lauded the efforts and determination of all troops and LEAs who cleared the affected areas with the help of local population and support of the entire nation. “We are fully prepared to confront any challenge in future as well,” General Raheel said. Earlier, on arrival at Peshawar, the COAS was received by Lieutenant General Khalid Rabbani, Corps Commander, Peshawar, and Major General Ghayur Mahmood, Inspector General Frontier Corps, KP. Meanwhile, the army chief visited the headquarters of the Army Strategic Force Command.General Raheel was given a detailed briefing by Lieutenant General Obaidullah, Commander Army Strategic Force Command, on operational and security matters. The army chief reiterated that Pakistan’s nuclear programme occupies a central place in the defence of the country.Later, while interacting with the troops, he appreciated their professionalism, highest training standards and morale.

MQM to stage rally to express solidarity with army

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has announced to take out a rally to express solidarity with the Pakistan’s armed forces on Sunday, Geo News reported. Addressing party workers via telephone, MQM chief Altaf Hussain said that the army and the people were united against terrorism. He urged the people to attend the rally in large numbers to make it a historic event and prove that they stood by the country’s armed force and other law enforcement agencies fighting the Taliban militants.

Obama, Putin speak after Ukraine deal

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama held a "constructive" phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Friday as he pressed for swift implementation of a deal framed to end Ukraine´s deadly crackdown on protestors. The call came at a prickly time in US-Russia relations with the two sides at odds over Ukraine, Syria and other issues, but also after Obama took pains to reject the idea that a new Cold War-style confrontation was brewing. A senior US official described the call as "constructive" but also warned that the agreement reached in Kiev between the government and top opposition leaders was "very, very fragile."Putin and Obama agreed that the Ukraine agreement needed to be swiftly implemented and that all sides needed to refrain from violence. "President Putin affirmed that Russia wants to remain part of the implementation process. They also talked about the need to stabilize the Ukrainian economy and to get Ukraine back on a peaceful path," the official said, on condition of anonymity. The call also touched on other issues including Syria, where Russia backs President Bashar al-Assad, to the fury of the United States, and the Sochi Winter Olympics. Washington had offered staunch support for protesters in Kiev, demanding political concessions from the Moscow-backed government of President Viktor Yanukovych and had warned of "consequences" if violence, which killed 100 people did not stop. The White House gave an initial welcome to the deal and praised European Union diplomats who helped to broker it.

Army chief visits FC headquarters in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif visited Frontier Corps (FC) headquarters here on Friday, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. According to the statement issued by ISPR here Friday, the army chief appreciating the achievements of the security forces said that the armed forces are fully capable of tackling both internal and external threats. The whole nation accepts the sacrifices rendered by the FC personnel, he said.

Advani given ‘forced’ farewell during last session of Lok Sabha? Dailybhaskar.com | Feb 21, 2014,

New Delhi: The concluding session of the House on Friday witnessed an emotional L. K. Advani, a veteran leader of the Bhartiya Janata Party. The former Deputy Prime Minister almost broke down in the Lok Sabha when the other leaders spoke very high of the calm and composed leader and senior-most Member of Parliament. The MP of CPM Basudeb Acharia warmly called Advani the father of house and the others followed the tradition. The current situation indicates that the veteran will not be a part of Lok Sabha anymore, though he expressed his desire to contest the election. There were no bounds to the respect shown towards Advani in LS today as leaders of opposition also came together to praise the leader. It could be made out easily that the words of praise from opposition leader like Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde have melted his heart and he was full of emotions. He was later seen wiping his tears as he no longer could stop himself from weeping and the speech of Sushma Swaraj was the last stroke that triggered him to cry. There had been no official announcement of Advani’s retirement so far but the proceedings were more or less like a farewell on the concluding day of session.

Who is going to be the kingmaker in 2014 LS polls- Kejriwal, Jayalalitha, Mamata, Mayawati, Mulayam or Nitish? Dailybhaskar.com | Feb 21, 2014,

With all the given choices and the growing popularity of the Bhartiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate of Narendra Modi, all the cards indicate towards the success of BJP. But a condition of emergence of third front after the Lok Sabha elections are conducted can’t be ruled out. What will be the situation if both the major parties BJP and Congress failed in garnering enough votes and support from the voters? Though it is quite evident with the surveys that the main opposition party is ruling the heart of public and might emerge out as a sole winner, it is not ideal to declare it as triumphant without the results. The ruling party congress has lost its credibility to a great extent as the party vice president Rahul Gandhi is busy in carving a glorious path for his party and achieve some success at the end. Congress recently lost elections in four major states including national capital New Delhi, where it had been in power for last 15 years, and the given prospects show that it has lost people’s faith in the centre as well. Modi and Rahul immediately come in picture when talked about the Prime Minister designation but with the surging revolution in the country, there is a notable scope for the third front to get in way and spoil the fun for the major parties. The prospects of BJP in the forthcoming LS elections seem to be dominant with augmenting influence of Gujarat Chief Minister Modi on Indian voters. The BJP might win the elections but what will happen if it failed in registering the majority? In this case, it won’t be easy for Modi to claim his candidature for the PM post.

My political career not over, one day I will become PM of India: Lalu Prasad Yadav Dailybhaskar.com | Feb 21, 2014,

New Delhi: RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav refused to admit that his political career is over and said that one day he will become the Prime Minister of the country. In an exclusive interview to English news channel Times Now, Yadav said that he is disturbed with the current state of politics in the nation and his heart weeps at the present state of the current political situation in the country. When asked, if he is discouraged by not being able to contest the upcoming elections. He said that he is innocent and will one day become the PM of India. On the future of his political career, Yadav said that he refuse to accept the speculations that his political career is over. He said that my political career is not over and I will also one day become the Prime Minister of the country. He denied the allegations that he enjoyed leverage by CBI on probe into several criminal cases lodged against him. He said," Neither the CBI nor Governor has helped him." He raised question over the authenticity of the cases filed against him. He said, "There is a law that you cannot file 50 different cases on the charges which are the same". Expressing his faith, he said that he firmly believes that he is innocent and will definitely get justice. He reiterated that he was convicted only in one case, rest of the cases were framed on the same charge. Lalu Prasad Yadav on AAP He termed AAP as a party with negative mind. He lambasted Aam Aadmi Party and said that everybody is at the liberty to abuse and get away with it. He said that people had been targeting him on the basis of hearsay. He accused AAP of spreading negativity. He said that anyone who joins politics is abusing other. He said that the AAP should stay out of politics. Taking a dig at AAP Yadav alleged that he is the only one who is corrupt and rest all have a clear image. He even accused the interviewer of grilling him like he grilled Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi. On ordinace barring him from contesting LS polls On the question of ordinance which barred convicted persons from contesting Lok Sabha elections; he denied being upset with Rahul Gandhi after he dismissed the ordinance. "To say that ordinance was being passed to save me, is completely untrue," said Lalu Prasad Yadav. On Sonia Gandhi He alleged that Narendra Modi and some 'top level' people are interested in ensuring that there is no tie up between Congress and Lalu. Lalu declared his support for Congress President Sonia Gandhi and said, "I believe AND have full faith in Madam Soniaji and her family. I have been close to that family," he said. On Babri Masjid demolition "Fascist communal forces had promised us that they won’t cause any destruction but they destroyed it," Lalu alleged. "If PV Narasimha Rao would not have paid heed to his talks this would not have happened," He said that LK Advani had promised him that no damage would be caused to the structure of Babri Masjid. "There is a conspiracy by communal forces just before the elections against anyone who hinders Narendra Modi's success", he accused.

SHOCKING: Why did Army units march towards Delhi in January 2012? Bhaskar News | Feb 21, 2014,

New Delhi: Vindicating sensational claims made by a leading english daily in the year 2012, a retired army officer Lt. General AK Chaudhary said that two army units (from Agra and Hisar) did make a movement towards Delhi in the month of January in 2012, and this created panic in the government circles. Adding further he said that the defense secretary of the time Shashi Kant Sharma called him during the midnight and informed that he had just met the top leaders of the UPA II government and they were worried over the latest development. Chaudhary said that he was ordered to halt the movement and ask for their return on an immediate basis, and file a report with the government in this regard to which he obliged the very next day. He further added that the troop movement was a part of regular exercise that army conducts and nothing more should be drawn out of it. He said that due to lack in mature understanding between the two sides (government and army) such rumors have seen the light of the day. One of the premier national dailies had reported such a movement of army troops in the month of April 2012. However, the present government and senior army officers had refuted the claim.

Curbing drug trade: Afghan forces claim torching 1.3 tonnes of narcotics

KANDAHAR: Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) destroyed more than 1,300 kilogrammes of marijuana during a clearing operation Feb 16 in Kandahar province’s Zharay district. Nato said in a release that members of the Afghan National Army, Afghan Uniformed Police, and National Interdiction Unit found about 900 kilogrammes of the drug as hashish, a resin product of marijuana, and about 400 kilogrammes of its seed near the Tieranon village. “The operation was a huge success,” said ANA 1st Lt Naeen Khan, executive officer of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 205th Corps. “It sends a message to the people that our security forces are working hard to establish peace by accomplishing missions like this.” By finding large drugs caches, ANSF aims to defund militant networks, which use drugs as a primary means of funding, said Khan. “Civilians must not grow or use drugs because it helps the Taliban both with money, to fund their attacks, and manipulates the people,” he said. “If the people are always influenced by drugs, they cannot think straight and make good decisions,” said Khan. ANSF also detained two suspected insurgents found near the drugs. The suspects are in custody of Afghan officials.

Masood Azhar’s address to rally in Muzaffarabad draws Indian ire

NEW DELHI: India on Friday came slammed Pakistan for allegedly allowing Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, blamed for the 2001 Indian parliament attacks, to “spew venom” against it, Times of India reported. In a statement by their Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said that it was a matter of concern how a globally banned “terrorist” could address anti-India rallies in Pakistan.

3G licences will be auctioned next month, Ishaq Dar affirms

ISLAMABAD: The leaked information regarding the government’s plan for auctioning 3G and 4G licences was confirmed by the government on Friday. Federal Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar said in a press conference on Friday that by the end of March, the process of third-generation spectrum auction will commence with Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar expected to take part. Dar stated that the government has approved the draft information memorandum prepared by the consultants, and that the license will be offered for 15 years. A high-level government source earlier confirmed that the government had officially endorsed recommendations proposed by the auction consultants. The finance minister and the Minister of State for Information Technology Anusha Rahman had participated in the meeting. The information was accidentally leaked by a photographer of the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) when he inadvertently took a photograph of the proposal. The photograph had revealed that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will auction 50 MHz of spectrum (30 MHz in 3G band and 20 MHz in 4G band). The base price will be $295 million per 10 MHz for 3G and $210 million per 10 MHz for 4G. Dar confirmed the figures and added that the reserved price for new entrants would be $291 million. As per policy‚ the successful bidder will have to pay 50 per cent price forthwith while the rest would be payable in five years with interest rate three per cent above LIBOR. The finance minister added that the GDP growth rate is likely to cross four per cent during the current financial year. He said that the government believes inflation can be confined to single digit while the IMF too has revised the projection downward from 12 to 10 per cent for the year.

Sacrifices by FC will not go to waste: Army Chief

RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Friday said that sacrifices rendered by the Frontier Constabulary (FC) in efforts against terrorism will not go to waste and that the military was fully capable of countering any threat, internal or external posed to the country. According to a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Friday, the COAS visited the FC Headquarters in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Friday and interacted with the troops. Appreciating their spirit and high morale, the COAS said that the entire nation acknowledged the sacrifices rendered by them as part of national effort to eliminate the scourge of terrorism from Pakistan, and assured them that these sacrifices will not go waste. “Let there be no doubt that Pakistan armed forces are battle-hardened and fully capable to counter any internal or external threat posed to the integrity and sovereignty of our beloved country,” the COAS emphasised. Recounting security forces’ successes in various operations against terrorists, he lauded the efforts and determination of all troops and LEAs who cleared affected areas, with the help of local population and support of the entire nation. “We are fully prepared to confront any challenge in future as well,” the COAS reaffirmed. Earlier, on arrival at Peshawar, COAS was received by Lieutenant General Khalid Rabbani, Corps Commander Peshawar and Major General Ghayur Mahmood, Inspector General Frontier Corps K-P. General Raheel Sharif also visited Headquarters Army Strategic Force Command today. He was given detailed briefing by Lieutenant General Obaidullah, Commander Army Strategic Force Command, on operational and security matters. The COAS reiterated that Pakistan’s nuclear programme occupies a central place in the defence of the country. Later, while interacting with troops he appreciated their professionalism, highest training standards and morale.

Ukraine president, opposition reach deal to end crisis

KIEV: Ukraine’s president and opposition have agreed to initiate a deal to resolve their bloody standoff, the presidency announced on Friday after the deadliest day in a three-month crisis left more than 60 people dead. “The parties agreed on the initialling of an agreement to resolve the crisis,” the presidency said in a statement, adding that the sides were expected to sign the agreement at 1000 GMT. No details were released on the deal, which was reached after all-night talks between President Viktor Yanukovych, the opposition, EU foreign ministers and a Russian envoy, the statement said. The crisis in Ukraine flared in November when Yanukovych declined to sign an EU integration deal in favour of closer ties with historical master Russia, and has evolved into a Cold War-style standoff between Moscow and the West over the future of the strategic nation sandwiched between them. Negotiations mediated by the German and Polish foreign ministers to broker an agreement between the embattled Yanukovych and the opposition – described as “very difficult” by a German source – broke up early Friday after some nine hours. Thursday’s bloodbath in Kiev came as the European Union agreed to impose sanctions on Ukrainians with “blood on their hands”, though it left the door open to a political deal by naming no names. The United States threatened to follow suit. Yanukovych late Thursday appeared ready to concede to one of the protesters’ main demands by suggesting to visiting EU dignitaries that he may be ready to hold early elections. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, meanwhile, spoke to Presidents Barack Obama of the United States and Vladimir Putin of Russia – who have bickered openly over the crisis, which has pitted the ex-Soviet country’s future between Russia and the West – by telephone. All three called for a halt to the bloodshed that has escalated since Tuesday. Opposition medics said more than 60 protesters had been shot dead by police on Thursday alone. Kiev authorities, for their part, put the death toll from three days of violence at 75. Bullet-riddled bodies were scattered on Thursday amid smouldering debris after masked protesters hurling Molotov cocktails forced gun-toting police from the capital’s Independence Square – the epicentre of the increasingly bloody revolt against Yanukovych’s pro-Russian rule. Both sides accused each other of using snipers in a major escalation to a standoff that was sparked by Yanukovych’s rejection in November of an EU pact in favour of closer ties with Moscow. But the White House said bluntly that it was “outraged by the images of Ukrainian security forces firing automatic weapons on their own people”. Volunteer medics, who made a makeshift morgue out of a popular hotel overlooking the square, also accused police of killing demonstrators with live rounds. “They were shot in the head or in the heart by live bullets, not by rubber ones,” said first aid worker Natalia, who did not give a last name. Ukraine’s interior ministry said only that it reserved the right to use live munitions “in self-defence”. The ministry also accused “extremists” of seizing 67 of its troops at gunpoint and holding them hostage in one of the buildings near the war-scarred square. Events on the ground gave apparent impetus to political discussion, with some hope that Ukraine’s leaders were about to make concessions on the key issue of early elections. “Among other things it was agreed with Yanukovych that there was a willingness to hold early elections this year – both presidential and parliamentary,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters after a meeting with the Ukrainian leader in Kiev that included Warsaw’s top diplomat and the foreign ministers of Germany and France. The shocking scale of bloodshed in a strategic nation of 46 million sandwiched between Russia and the European Union prompted EU officials to slap travel bans against Ukrainians responsible for ordering the use of force. Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino said an agreement was also reached at an emergency EU meeting in Brussels to impose asset freezes on those with “blood on their hands”. The measures mark a U-turn for Brussels diplomats, who until Monday had resisted Ukrainian opposition demands for sanctions. Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday warned Yanukovych that the United States was ready to impose sanctions on officials guilty of ordering troops to fire on protesters. Washington has already put 20 top Ukrainian officials on a visa blacklist and threatened further sanctions, which could include asset freezes. Ukraine’s former master Russia blasted the sanctions as “bullying”. Ukraine’s crisis has evolved into a broader anti-government movement that initially opposed Yanukovych’s spurning of an historic EU trade deal in favour of a $15 billion bailout from Kiev’s old masters in the Kremlin. The unrest has also swept through the pro-Western west of the country, and parts of its more Russified east – exposing the deep historical fault lines between the two.

From Dubai to Karachi: WWF-P embarks on voyage to explore marine life

LAHORE: The World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P) started a sailing voyage from Dubai to Karachi on February 19 which will continue till February 28. The voyage has been undertaken to explore the rich marine life of the Arabian Sea, to highlight the unique marine ecology of the region and to record sightings of significant marine wildlife. The expedition will stop at Gwadar on its way to Karachi. WWF-P president Khalid Mahmood, along with other four members including French and Italian sailors, is leading the expedition. Crewmembers would mainly focus on recording whales, dolphins and whale sharks. According to WWF-P Marine Fisheries technical adviser, Mohammad Moazzam Khan, a large population of the whale shark is present in these waters, and often gets entangled in fishermen’s nets. He also said that due to the awareness campaigns and training by WWF-P, fishermen have successfully released a number of whale sharks in the last few years. “Last year, a school of around 4,000 — 5,000 Spinner dolphins were sighted on the Pakistani coastline near Gunz, Balochistan which indicates at the richness of marine life,” he said. “This marine life supports such a large population of top predators like dolphins,” he added. He further said that with the help of the local fishermen, WWF-P has recently recorded authentic occurrence of Hawksbill turtle in the offshore waters of Pakistan. The regional director of WWF-P, Rab Nawaz, commented that this voyage will help in conducting surveys to obtain more accurate information about distribution, movement, breeding and feeding of whales and dolphins. The effort aims to develop a collaborative trans-boundary plan for the conservation of the important species, he added. Published in The Express Tribune, February 21st, 2014.

Fortifying friendship: ‘China will firmly stand behind Pakistan’

BEIJING: Cementing its support for Pakistan, China proclaimed that it would stand firmly behind its neighbour’s efforts to uphold its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. In a joint statement titled “Deepening China-Pakistan Strategic and Economic Cooperation” issued on the second day of President Mamnoon Hussain’s state visit to China, Beijing appreciated Pakistan’s consistent support on issues relating to China’s core interests. “China lauds the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in fighting the global scourge of terrorism,” the joint statement said. Pakistan declared in the statement that it recognised the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) as a terrorist organisation, which poses a common threat to the peace and stability of China and Pakistan. The country appreciates China’s position on Pakistan’s counter-terrorism strategy, said the statement. The Chinese side appreciated Pakistan’s commitment to ensure the safety and security of Chinese citizens and investments in the country. Both sides agreed to enhance practical cooperation in defence technology. Appreciating President Mamnoon Hussain’s decision to make China the destination of his first state visit, China reiterated that it attached the highest priority to its relationship with Pakistan and asserted that it is committed to strengthening the strategic and cooperative partnership. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress of Pakistan-China Economic Corridor. The two countries also agreed to implement the additional agreement to extend the Five-Year Development Programme on China-Pakistan Trade and Economic Cooperation and the Free Trade Agreement between the neighbours. They resolved to work together on projects identified under the second China-Pakistan Five-Year Development Programme. Earlier, President Mamnoon met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and said the countries’ multifaceted strategic partnership heralds a new era of socio-economic progress and prosperity for the people of the entire region. Recalling his visit to Pakistan last year, Premier Li said China was committed to consolidate its traditional friendship with Pakistan and deepen the strategic cooperation. Published in The Express Tribune, February 21st, 2014.

Afghan Taliban commander: Mansoor Dadullah reunites with family

ISLAMABAD: Months after Pakistani officials announced his release, Mansoor Dadullah, a senior Afghan Taliban commander, has been allowed to reunite with his family, a spokesman for the freed commander said on Thursday. Mansoor was arrested in Balochistan in February 2008. He is the brother of feared Taliban commander Mullah Dadullah who was killed by foreign and Afghan forces in southern Afghanistan in 2007. In September last year, Pakistan announced the release of a group of seven Taliban leaders, including key commander Mansoor. However, he was not allowed to meet his family, his spokesman Baryalai Rehbar Mal said. “I can confirm that Mansoor Dadullah has now rejoined his family and friends and he also spoke to me on the phone,” Rehbar Mal told The Express Tribune. He said that Mansoor is suffering from a kidney ailment and is under treatment, therefore, he is not taking part in any activity. Mansoor’s supporters had launched separate groups – the Shaheed Dadullah Mahaz and Fidaye Mahaz – that claimed responsibility for several attacks, including the assassination of a member of Afghan High Peace Council Arsala Rehmani Daulat. Taliban officials say the Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar had expelled Mansoor after he forced commanders to confess the killing of his brother. However, Rehbar Mal said his group is part of the “Islamic Emirate” and considers Mullah Omar as its leader. Pakistan has freed nearly 60 Afghan Taliban prisoners since the process started November last year. The Afghan government has been demanding the release of Taliban detainees to help the peace process. Afghan officials, however, say that none of the freed Taliban have joined the reconciliation process as yet. Published in The Express Tribune, February 21st, 2014.

Four dead in attack at Native American tribal office in California

Four people were killed and two others critically wounded on Thursday when a woman opened fire at a Native American tribal office near the Oregon border in Northern California, police said. The suspect, a 44-year-old woman identified as Sherie Lash, also known as Sherie Rhoades, was taken into custody at the Cedarville Rancheria Tribal Office in Alturas, California, a spokeswoman for the Alturas police department said. The two victims who survived the attack, at about 3:30pm Pacific time, were airlifted to hospitals in critical condition, the spokeswoman said. The dead were identified only as two women, ages 19 and 45, and two men aged 30 and 50. CNN reported on its website that a knife was also used in the attack, which took place during an eviction hearing at a building owned by a Native American tribe. Reuters could not immediately confirm those details. “At this time there doesn’t appear to be any threat to the community,” Alturas Police Chief Ken Barnes said, according to the network. Alturas is located in remote northeastern California, about 30 miles south of the Oregon border.

Libyan military plane crashes in Tunisia, 11 killed: officials

TUNIS: A Libyan military plane carrying medical patients crashed early on Friday near Tunisia’s capital, killing all 11 crew and passengers on board after an engine failure, Tunisian authorities said. The Antonov aircraft went down after the pilot tried to land in farmland near Grombalia town south of Tunis, the TAP state news agency reported. Six crew members as well as the patients and their companions died, a spokesman for Tunisia’s defense ministry said. Libyans often travel to Tunisia for medical treatment. It was the second crash involving a military plane in North Africa in two weeks. An Algerian military transport plane crashed into a mountain in bad weather on February 11, killing 77 people, in the country’s worst air disaster in a decade.

Iran boosts military support in Syria to bolster Assad

LONDON / ANKARA: As Syria’s war nears the start of its fourth year, Iran has stepped up support on the ground for President Bashar al-Assad, providing elite teams to gather intelligence and train troops, sources with knowledge of military movements say. This further backing from Tehran, along with deliveries of munitions and equipment from Moscow, is helping to keep Assad in power at a time when neither his own forces nor opposition fighters have a decisive edge on the battlefield. Assad’s forces have failed to capitalize fully on advances they made last summer with the help of Iran, his major backer in the region, and the Hezbollah fighters that Tehran backs and which have provided important battlefield support for Assad. But the Syrian leader has drawn comfort from the withdrawal of the threat of US bombing raids following a deal under which he has agreed to give up his chemical weapons. Iran has already spent billions of dollars propping up Assad in what has turned into a sectarian proxy war with Arab states. And while the presence of Iranian military personnel in Syria is not new, military experts believe Tehran has in recent months sent in more specialists to enable Assad to outlast his enemies at home and abroad. Analysts believe this renewed support means Assad felt no need to make concessions at currently deadlocked peace talks in Geneva. Military specialists Assad is now benefiting from the deployment by Tehran of hundreds more military specialists to Syria, according to Iranian sources familiar with deployments of military personnel, Syrian opposition sources, and security experts. These include senior commanders from the elite Quds Force, the external and secretive arm of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as well as IRGC members. Their function is not to fight, but to direct and train Syrian forces and to assist in the gathering of intelligence, according to sources in Iran and outside. An Iranian foreign ministry official said: “We always have said that we support our Syrian brothers and respect their will … Iran has never got involved in Syria by providing arms or financially or by sending troops.” But a former senior Iranian official with close IRGC links said Iranian forces were active in Syria. He said the Quds force was gathering intelligence in Syria, which Iran regarded as a top priority. He said a few hundred commanders from the Quds Force and the IRGC were in Syria, but they did not get involved directly in the fighting. A recently retired senior IRGC commander said Iranian forces on the ground included some Arabic speakers. He said top Quds force commanders numbered 60 to 70 at any given time. These men were tasked with advising and training Assad’s military and his commanders, he said. Revolutionary Guards directed the fighting on the instructions of the Quds Force commanders, he added. The former IRGC commander said these personnel were also backed up by thousands of Iranian paramilitary Basij volunteer fighters as well as Arabic speakers including Shias from Iraq. The former Iranian official and a Syrian opposition source also put auxiliary forces in the thousands. The figures could not be independently verified from Syria, but the deaths of at least two IRGC commanders in Syria have been publicly reported. European and US security officials said hundreds of Iranians were active in Syria advising, training and in some cases commanding Syrian government forces. “Iran’s presence in Syria has been and remains a concern given the resources Tehran has at its disposal and its unwavering support for the Assad regime,” a US official said. Scott Lucas, of EA WorldView, a specialist website on Iran and Syria, said the evidence indicated hundreds of Iranian advisers and trainers were inside Syria at any one time. “They are trying to work with the Syrians in ramping up the number of (Syrian) troops they can put in the field and making sure those guys can hold the line as well as carry out certain offensive operations,” he said. Across borders Iranian and Syrian opposition sources said personnel could enter Syria through the border with Turkey since Iranians did not need visas to enter Turkey. Others come in across the Iraqi border and more senior commanders fly in to Damascus. A Turkish official said the number of Iranians crossing into Syria had increased in the last few months. Most had non-Iranian passports. A Syrian opposition source said in recent months Iranian- led forces had begun operating in coastal areas including Tartous and Latakia. They have local ID cards, wear Syrian military fatigues and work with the elite Syrian air force intelligence unit. The presence of units in coastal areas could not be independently corroborated. The Iranian sources declined to give details of where the forces were located. Reuel Marc Gerecht, a former Middle East case officer with the CIA, said Iran sought to avoid getting embroiled in direct fighting. “It would be difficult to integrate Iranians into Arab combat operations and they would essentially have to run their own combat operations since they would be loathe to put themselves under the Alawite control,” said Gerecht, who is now with US think-tank the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Assad is a member of the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shia sect. Torbjorn Soltvedt, of risk consultancy Maplecroft, said Iran’s role in training and coordinating “constitutes a lifeline for the regime”. “The involvement of Iranian Revolutionary Guard personnel and Shiite militias such as Hezbollah remains crucial to the Syrian regime’s war effort,” Soltvedt said. Weapons lifeline In recent weeks Syria has continued to receive arms and military equipment from Russia and via proxies, according to several sources. Those supplies included unmanned spy drones, guided bombs and spare parts for combat craft. Moscow says it violates no international laws with its military supplies to Syria, which do not include offensive weapons. Nic Jenzen-Jones, a military arms specialist and director of Armament Research Services, said Iranian-made Falaq-1 and Falaq-2 rocket launchers had been sent from Iran to Syria. “While they have been around for a while, we have seen an increase in use of late,” he said Jenzen-Jones added that relatively new Iranian small arms ammunition – produced in the last three to four years – had reached Syria recently. A rebel fighter operating in Homs province with group Liwa al-Haq said opposition forces knew of Iranian planes flying into Hama airport in central Syria to deliver weapons. A source in the international arms industry with knowledge of Middle Eastern weapons movements said Syria had received millions of rounds of ammunition for light weapons of late, much of it former eastern bloc material coming in by sea and air from the Black Sea area. The Syrian opposition source said Latakia airport and port as well as the port in Tartous were used to bring in equipment. Other supplies included machine guns and ammunition for artillery and tanks, the arms industry source said.

Spectrum auction meeting: Telecom firms seek easy terms, realistic price

ISLAMABAD: As anticipated, the telecommunication companies and the government are not on the same page when it comes to setting the terms of the auction of licences for provision of advanced telecom services. The companies have asked the government to set easy payment terms and a ‘realistic’ reserve price. The demand, if accepted, may deal a blow to the budgetary and foreign currency reserve targets, set by the Ministry of Finance for the current financial year. Heads of mobile phone companies met on Thursday with the spectrum auction supervisory committee and spelled out their expectations. Chief executive officers of four companies – Mobilink, Zong, Telenor and Ufone – were present while Warid was represented by its senior officials. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar chaired the meeting. According to an official of the finance ministry, the telecom companies spoke with one voice, asking the government to avoid demanding upfront payment of licence fee and instead come up with easy payment terms by dividing the amount into equal installments. The government is expecting to earn $1.2 to $2 billion from the spectrum auction. It has estimated a minimum of $1.2 billion (Rs120 billion) in non-tax revenues for the current fiscal year. If the government decides to give some relief to the telecom companies, it may miss the budget deficit target that it cannot afford because of commitments to the International Monetary Fund. The revenue of $1.2 billion from the spectrum auction is part of a plan to increase the country’s foreign currency reserves to $16 billion by June this year from the current low of $7.9 billion. In the last unsuccessful attempt to sell telecom spectrum, the previous PPP administration had set the condition that the entire amount would be paid within two months but before the award of the licence. Telecom companies have also demanded that the licence should be for 20 years instead of 15 years, according to officials. The old Information Memorandum, issued in PPP’s tenure, had offered three technology-neutral mobile cellular licences to existing five operators and any new entrants. It set the licence life at 15 years, which could be renewed for another term. The heads of telecom companies also sought relief from heavy taxation. They urged the government to determine a realistic reserve price of each licence. Last time, the reserve price had been set at $210 million. The government has been trying to bring at least one new bidder as it fears that the existing players may collude to its disadvantage. The auction committee did not commit anything, said Rana Assad Amin, the spokesman for the finance ministry. He said the committee would send their recommendations to the consultants, which will review them and give a report to the committee. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has hired Value Partners Management Consulting Limited for consultancy services for the auction of next generation services. The consultants have completed an assessment of the market and have held a series of meetings with various stakeholders. The committee told the mobile operators that a new Information Memorandum would be issued shortly. The memorandum is being prepared by international consultants that will become the base for the licences. The bidding process will take a minimum of two months from the date of finalising the memorandum. “It seems that the March deadline for the auction may be missed,” said an official of a telecom company. Published in The Express Tribune, February 21st, 2014.

Balochistan unrest: Eight killed in Washuk gun battle

QUETTA: Eight people were killed and two others injured in a fierce gun battle between two armed groups in Washuk on Thursday. “Two armed groups opened fire at each other in the Bessema area of Washuk,” Washuk Deputy Commissioner Qadir Baksh Purkani told The Express Tribune. He confirmed eight deaths and two injuries. According to Purkani, seven of those killed in the clash belonged to the Baloch Liberation Front while one belonged to the Baloch Musala Difa Army – a pro-government outfit. The gun battle started around 11am and continued for six hours, he said. Following the armed clash, security forces cordoned off the area. The dead and the injured were taken to a nearby hospital. Boy killed in Sibi blast A boy was killed in a blast near the Mir Chakar-e-Azam Stadium in Sibi district on Thursday. The blast took place at a time while the preparation of the Sibi Mela, which kicks off on February 24, was under way. Talking to The Express Tribune, Sibi Deputy Commissioner Sohailur Rehman Baloch refuted reports of the blast being a suicide bombing and said it was carried out using an improvised explosive device (IED). According to the deputy commissioner, the victim who was probably around 18 years of age, was trying to gain entry into the stadium when the blast occurred. Rail track, power pylon blown up A railway track in Dera Murad Jamali and a power pylon in Sohbatpur were blown up in separate incidents on Thursday. According to a Balochistan Levies official, unidentified militants planted an IED near the railway track in the Mangoli area of Dera Murad Jamali. The subsequent explosion damaged a three-foot portion of the track, he said, disrupting railway services in the area. Services were restored after a five-hour break. On the other hand, a 220kV pylon supplying electricity to districts in Punjab was blown up by unidentified miscreants, Sohbatpur District Police Officer Jan Muhammad Khosa said. No one claimed responsibility for the blasts in Balochistan till the filing of this report. Published in The Express Tribune, February 21st, 2014.

Iran-Pakistan pipeline unaffected by border guards issue: FO

ISLAMABAD: The foreign office on Thursday rejected the notion that the stalled Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline will be affected by its recent border issue with its south western neighbour. Addressing the weekly briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, the spokesperson said that there were other issues which had stalled the pipeline, while a joint Pakistan-Iran action committee is meeting in Quetta. “You cannot look at the relationship between Pakistan and Iran through the prism of one small issue or some event at the border. As the Iranian president had said, this relationship is much deeper, much broader, it is between two peoples, it has social, religious, cultural and economic aspects. “We don’t see these incidents can derail our relationship. The pipeline issue is separate. There was a timeline but there were also some other commitments and agreements regarding financing. They have fallen apart therefore; perhaps we need to renegotiate the timeline as well.” Border guards In response to a question on Iran firing mortar shells in the Turbat area of Balochistan on November 25 last year, resulting in death of a three years old child, and another firing incident in Panjgur area on February 16, the spokesperson said the border commission is having meeting on Thursday, continuing their session from on Wednesday. “All these matters are being discussed (in these meetings). I may add here that Pakistan-Iran and Afghanistan have a joint border and sometimes some activities happen in this area from all sides,” she said. Elaborating on this, she added, “It is in the common interest of all to curb the activities of the criminals, drug traffickers, smugglers, human-smugglers and terrorists. I am not aware of this particular incident but if it happened, it would certainly be discussed today.” She explained that this meeting is taking place on the Pakistani side. “The Chief Secretary Balochistan and Deputy Governor of Sistan are leading their respective sides. Security agencies from both sides are also participating. These meetings are essentially to thrash out such issues on the borders.” Separately, the Senate chairman was in Iran and has held meetings with the Iranian leadership. “These meetings went very well. Obviously, the issue of abduction of guards was raised,” the spokesperson said. She said this was also discussed with the Pakistan ambassador and in the spirit of cooperation. There was reference to the historical and religious ties between our two countries by the Iranian President.” She further said, “There was also a desire that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should visit Tehran and that the Joint Economic Commission should also meet. There was an understanding that some elements may be trying to create problems between Pakistan and Iran and they should be dealt with in a coordinated manner.” FC personnel killed in Afghanistan When asked that in view of defence secretary’s recent statement that FC personnel killed by Taliban were actually murdered on the Afghan territory, the FO spokesperson replied that, in the first place, the question should have been applied to the defence secrertary himself as he would have provided all the details. “As far as our information is concerned, we are in the process of verifying where exactly the FC people were martyred and where their bodies are. If confirmed that this had happened in Afghanistan, we would definitely contact the Afghan government and take appropriate measures.” Cross-LoC trade About cross-LoC trade, she explained, “As far as Pakistani and Indian governments are concerned, there was an agreement that trade should resume and we look forward to the extraordinary meeting of the Joint Working Group on cross-LoC CBM where the remaining issues like the detention of the driver, and how to make the system more transparent will be discussed. We look forward to that meeting.” Banned organisations To a question as to how the foreign office would deal with the dilemma that on the one hand Pakistan wants better relations with India and yet Moulana Azhar was allowed to say to a rally that they have X number of suicide bombers ready to act, the spokesperson replied, “Yes, we have seen media reports that he has addressed a public meeting but probably, this is one time event. He escaped the scrutiny and he did it but I am sure you are aware that his organisation is banned in Pakistan and their activities are monitored.” “I think you have missed one part of the question – that is how Pakistan feels about the provocative statements made by the Indian Army Chief which are coming quite regularly. We would have a position on that but what an individual who belongs to a proscribed entity says should not concern India so much.” About Mast Gul who had escaped during the Chirrar Sharif incident in Kashmir and is now part of Taliban and has claimed responsibility for the recent attacks in Peshawar, she said, “If this guy has claimed responsibility for the Peshawar attacks then he is a threat to Pakistan and Pakistani people. “There are many people from proscribed entities who may have escaped to the area of Afghanistan and Pakistan border to avoid action against them. They keep moving here and there. Many of these individuals and organisations are proscribed and obviously whenever they are in the range, action will be taken. However, many of these people somehow keep popping up in other countries also, so there is a need for more cooperation in that respect.” Syria The visit of the Saudi high-powered delegation to Pakistan did not bring about any change in the policy vis-à-vis Syria, as a section of media has suggested, the foreign office affirmed during the question hour on Feb 20. At the routine question-answer session at the foreign office (FO) on Thursday, a media person asked whether it was true that there have been some media reports that Pakistan has taken a u-turn on the Syrian situation after the visit of Saudi Crown Prince. Responding to the question, the FO Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam Khan said, “There is no change in our position in the sense that since the first Geneva Conference on Syria in June 2012, Syria’s own position has also evolved.” This process, which is under the UN auspices, was initially rejected by Syria but later on the country agreed on that. “There have been two rounds of discussions between the representatives of Syrian government and the opposition,” the spokesperson said. She added, “They (Syrian government and the opposition) have been discussing a transitional government. Probably, the sticking point on which the second round broke down was whether President Bashar ul Asad will be in that setup or not.” Elaborating further, she said, “The UN has again appealed yesterday (Wednesday) for the resumption of talks. We would like to see an end to violence in Syria. We do not subscribe to the theory of regime change in any country.” She affirmed, “Essentially, the people of Syria will talk to each other and work out what kind of setup they will have in future. The language in the joint Statement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is from Geneva-I Communiqué. This is something, which is accepted by Syria as well. So, there is no need for undue concern.” Soldiers for Saudi Arabia About the Saudi delegation discussing possibility of Pakistan army units serving in Saudi Arabia, she said, “There was a very outlandish suggestion that Pakistan is sending one hundred thousand troops to Saudi Arabia. This is not true. This is factually incorrect. You know that the total size of our armed forces is close to six hundred thousand. “We have eastern border to take care of, then we have a situation on the western border and terrorists attacks as well. Pakistan cannot spare to send troops in such large numbers. Secondly, there is no need. This issue was never discussed. This was never raised.” US commander visit During the visit of the Commander of the US Central Command to Islamabad the previous day and his meetings with top military leadership, it was reported that Pakistan had desired that the withdrawal of Nato and ISAF forces may be delayed by a couple of months due to certain reasons. Responding to whether the foreign office was aware that Pakistan expressed desire to delay withdrawal of the Nato and ISAF forces from Afghanistan by a couple of months, during the meetings between the commander of the US Central Command and the top military leadership, the previous day (Wednesday), the FO spokesperson said, “ISPR has already issued a press release on the meetings. I am not aware of any such discussions in which we have asked the US to delay troops withdrawal.” CASA-1000 project In the context of a meeting held in Washington DC between Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan for an agreement on terms and conditions of power purchase under the CASA 1000 project, she was asked, “What are Pakistan’s expectations from this project? Do you see a potential to improve relations between Pakistan and the Central Asian Republics?” She replied, “Yes. CASA-1000 is a project that these countries have already approved. There have been some pre-feasibility studies. Probably, it is not a project that would come up immediately because we need to have a stable situation in Afghanistan for the construction of the pipeline. It is one of those projects that we hope would become a reality and it would contribute to meeting our energy requirements.” T-20 World Cup On a question on Pakistan government giving a go-ahead to the Pakistani Cricket Team’s participation in T-20 World Cup due to be held in Bangladesh, and about MOFA’s assessment of the law-and-order situation in Bangladesh, the spokesperson responded, “Yes, the Bangladeshi government has assured us of full security and our team, as the defending champions, is proceeding to Bangladesh. The captain of T-20 team, Muhammad Hafeez has said that they are confident and that they would not be distracted by any issues regarding their security.” On Dr Aafia To a query about the US reportedly trying to get its sergeant who had been kidnapped in 2009 released from the Taliban, and whether Pakistan would also try for the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, the FO spokesperson said, “There is no comparison between the US sergeant and Dr Aafia Siddiqui. He was a combatant and she is a civilian. The issue of Dr Aafia Siddiqui is taken up with the US regularly. We have talked to them publically and privately on this matter.” To another query, this one in the context of the recent visit of Pakistan’s interior secretary to Afghanistan, she replied, “Overall, it was a useful meeting in the sense that these ideas were crystallised. There was also some unanimity of views about certain actions to be taken on this border.”