PAK/PAKISTAN/SOUTH ASIA


Table of Contents for Pakistan

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1) Diplomatic Efforts Made To Enhance Country's Ties With Afghanistan
Unattributed report: "Pakistan Decided To Expedite Contacts With Different
Factions of the Afghan Government"
2) Article Terms WikiLeaks Classic Example of Spin Doctoring by US Govt
Viewpoint by Momin Iftikhar: "US war logs and asymmetry of information
warfare'
3) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa People Issued Fresh Flood Warnings
Report by Rauf Khattak: Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera face fresh threat
4) NADRA Dismisses 153 Employees for Issuing CNICs to Foreigners
Report by Farzana Shah: 90,000 CNICs issued illegally to foreigners
5) Author- Pakistan, US, India Must Facilitate Reconciliation
Article by Muhammad Arif Shafi: Afghanistan: Moment of Decision!
6) Pakistan Must Change Afghan Policy T o Secure its Future, Repel Foreign
Pressure
Article by Ali Ashraf Khan: Beginning of the End
7) Floods Death Toll Rises by 173 in Frontier Province, Gilgit-Baltistan
Report by Mohammad Jalil & Riaz Khan Daudzai: "Floods kill 173 more in
KP, GB"
8) Article Says India Perturbed Over Extension in Gen Kayani's Tenure
Article by Asghar Ali Shad: "India's Perturbation Over Gen Kayani's
Extension and the New Accusations"
9) Pakistan Editorial Says Zardari UK Visit not Flattering for Him,
Country
Editorial: A Bizarre Show of Unity
10) Yeni Ozgur Politika Headlines 4 August 2010
The following is a list of news headlines from the Yeni Ozgur Politika
website on 4 August; to request additional processing, please contact OSC
at (800) 205-8615, (202) 338-6735, fax (703) 613-5735, or
oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov
11) Writer Claims Nation 'Being Closed In' by US, Western 'Conspiracy'
Article by Mukhtar Ahmed Butt: "Talks With Taliban and Drone Attacks"
12) Pakistan, Afghanistan Sign Mou To Construct Rail Link
"Pakistan, Afghanistan Sign Mou To Construct Rail Link" -- KUNA Headline
13) Afghan daily examines President Karzai's alleged meeting with Haqqani
14) Editorial Says Zardari Failed To Educate UKs Cameron About Pakistan
Concerns
Editorial: Still Uneducated
15) Qatari Charity Foundation Allots 30 Millions Riyals for Ramadan
Projects
Report by Anwar Elshamy: "Charity Allots QR30Mn for Ramadan Projects"
16) Afghan paper urges coalition forces to honour commitments and crush
Taleban
17) Bangladesh Press 08 Aug 10
The following is a selection of highlights from Bangladesh press on 08 Aug
10
18) Indian Army Kills Mil itant Guide, 'Pushed Back' 5 Infiltrators at
Kashmir Border
Unattributed report: "Guide Killed, 5 Infiltrators Pushed Back"
19) Korean Tourists Stranded by Flash Flood in India
20) Chinese Town Hit by Mudslides, 127 Die, Thousands Missing
Article by Class='subhead'>reuters And Afp, Beijing from the "Front"
page: "Chinese Town Hit by Mudslides, 127 Die, Thousands Missing"
21) Earthquake Reconstruction, Rehabilitation Work Facing Financial Crunch
Report by staff correspondent: "Amid more promises, Erra stops work on
ongoing projects"
22) Poll Shows Almost Half Complain of Over 8 Hours of Load Shedding
Unattributed report: "Almost Half Of All Pakistanis (43%) Complain Of More
Than 8 Hours Of Load Shedding In Their Locality"
23) Muttahida Qaumi Movement Behind Target Killings in Karachi
Unattributed report: "We Were Directed To Target Pashtun Properties: MQM's
Arrested Members Confess"
24) Terror Suspect Wanted by US
"Terror Suspect Wanted by US" -- KUNA Headline
25) Xinhua 'Roundup': Pakistan, NGOs Move To Prevent Spread of Diseases in
Flood-Hit Areas
Xinhua "Roundup" by Muhammad Tahir : "Pakistan, NGOs Move To Prevent
Spread of Diseases in Flood-Hit Areas"
26) India opposes US 'blank cheque' to Pakistan
27) Militant Commander Killed, Two Injured in Mohmand Agency Blast
APP report: Militant commander killed
28) Religious Group to Protest Against Suicide Attacks on Shrine in Lahore
Report by staff correspondent: "Religious alliance to protest against Data
Darbar attacks"
29) Doors Open For India's Participation In Gas Pipeline Project
30) Torrential Rains Impede Flood Relief Operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Unattributed report: "Downpours hamper flood relief efforts"
31) Foreign Minister Says 22 Countries Have Promised to Help Flood Victims
Unattributed report: "22 countries have pledged aid for flood victims:
Qureshi"
32) Xinhua 'Roundup': Rescue Operations for Flood Victims Intensify in
Ladakh of India-Controlled Kashmir
Xinhua "Roundup": "Rescue Operations for Flood Victims Intensify in Ladakh
of India-Controlled Kashmir"
33) Special Security Arrangements Announced for Supreme Court Proceedings
Unattributed report: "Security at SC courtroom 1"
34) Punjab CM Feverishly Involved in Supervising Flood Relief Operations
Report by Tariq Butt: "Shahbaz trying hard as other CMs, PM falter"
35) World Bank Commits to Provide $3.7 Billion in Loans Over Next 4 Years
Report by Mehtab Haider: "WB to provide $3.7 bn to Pakistan in four years"
36) Report Describes Current Political Situation in Turbat in Baluchistan
Report by Amir Mateen: "Special report on Balochistan"
37) Zardari Says Govt Will Succeed in Pulling Country Out of Problems
Unattributed report: "National will to help overcome crises"
38) PML-N Chief Nawaz Criticizes Govt for Failing to Provide Flood Relief
Report by staff correspondent: "Zardari has shown his true colours: Nawaz"
39) Election Commission to Issue Notices to Lawmakers With Fake Degrees
Report by Ansar Abbasi: "ECP to start calling 'fake MPs' next week"
40) US Secretary of State Calls PM, Assures Assistance to Pakistan for
Flood Victims
Report by staff correspondent: "Hillary phones PM, assures support for
flood victim s"
41) Article Discusses India-Pakistan Talks, Says Kashmir 'Should' be
'Non-Negotiable'
Article by Sanjay Jha: "Kashmir Not for Talks"
42) Information Minister Contradicts Report of Shoes Thrown at Zardari
Unattributed report: "Kaira tries to 'deny' incident; Assails media for
airing news"
43) Press Secretary Denies Presidency Delaying Execution of Terrorists
Unattributed report: "Presidency denies delaying execution of terrorists"
44) SMS Drive Launched Against ANP Amid Devastation of Floods
Report by Syed Bukhar Shah: SMS drive underway against ANP amid floods
45) Despite Floods in Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto Defends His Father's Visit
to Europe
Unattributed report: "Bilawal defends Zardaris Europe trip"
46) Pakistan minister says criticism of Indian official 'balanced and
objective'
47) India earmarks over 6.5m dollars for legal expenses in dam dispute
with Pakistan
48) Nine Militants Including Commanders Lay Down Arms in Bajaur Agency
Report by staff correspondent: Nine militants lay down arms
49) Terrorists Infiltration in Security Apparatus Seems Plausible
Editorial: Persona-Specific Terrorism
50) PPP Leaders Resent Geo TV Telecasting Shoes Throwing Incident
News Desk report: "Geo telecast closed on PPP leaders' pressure, Shoes
attack news resented"
51) Caravan Leaves Lahore for Islamabad on Foot for Release of Dr Siddiqui
Report by staff correspondent: Caravan for Afias release
52) Earthquake Rehabilitation Body Likely To Scrap NGOs Security Scheme
Report by staff correspondent: Erra likely to scrap NGOs security scheme
53) Officials of Sindh Districts Put on H igh Alert To Cope With Flood
Report by Jan Khaskheli: Officials of five districts put on alert
54) Unidentified Men Kill 6 More as Target Killing Continues in Karachi
Report by staff correspondent: Six more killed as violence continues
55) Militant Killed, Two Injured While Planting Landmine in Mohmand Agency
Report by Shakirullah: Militant killed while planting landmine
56) Zardari Becomes Second World Leader to be Greeted by Shoes in UK Rally
Report by Sabir Shah: "Zardari joins Bush, Wen in facing shoe-throwing"
57) Disgruntled Old Man Hurls Shoes at Zardari During Birmingham Rally
Report by staff correspondent: "Zardari joins the Shoe Club with Bush"
58) Fresh Rains Hamper Pakistan Flood Relief
"Fresh Rains Hamper Pakistan Flood Relief" -- NOW Lebanon Headline
59) Pakistan TV channel bloc ked over news of shoe hurling at president at
UK rally
60) Rescue Teams Shift People to Relief Camps; Sukkur Awaits Floods
Report by Imtiaz Hussain: "High flood rushing towards Sukkur Barrage"
61) Political Parties Agree on Ten-Point Code of Conduct To Pacify Karachi
Report by staff correspondent: MQM, ANP, PPP agree on ten-point code of
conduct
62) Taliban Ready to Talk Only After Army Withdraws From Frontier, FATA
Report by Mazhar Tufail: "Taliban say talks only if Army is pulled back
from all areas"
63) President Donates 2.5 Million Pounds to PM Flood Relief Fund
Unattributed report: President donates 2.5m pounds to flood relief fund
64) Investigators of Commandant's Assassination Check FC Staff Activities
Report by Javed Aziz Khan: "Safwat Ghayur's assassination; Entire FC HQ
staff submits written statements"65) PM Rules Out Military Deployment in
Karachi To Curb Target Killings
Report by Tahir Hasan Khan: PM rules out military action in Karachi
66) Chinese Army Donates 10 Million Yuan for Flood Relief Activities
Unattributed report: Chinese army extends 10m Yuan for flood aid
67) Donors Await Govt to Declare Flood Relief Fund Donations as Tax-Free
Report by Usman Manzoor: "SRO being kicked around as donors wait for
tax-free facility"
68) Experts Cast Doubts Over Status of Reference Against NA Body Chief
Report by Noor Aftab: Experts doubt status of reference against Abid Sher
Ali
69) President says government to succeed in pulling Pakistan out of
challenges
70) TV Show on Rehman Malik's Bid To Bring MQM, ANP to Negotiating Table
From the "Crisis Cell" news analysis program hosted by journalist Sana
Bucha. For a v ideo of this program, contact
GSG_GVP_VideoOps@rccb.osis.gov or, if you do not have e-mail, the OSC
Customer Center at (800) 205-8615.
71) Presidential spokesman rejects report of shoe hurled at Zardari in UK
- website

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1) Back to Top
Diplomatic Efforts Made To Enhance Country's Ties With Afghanistan
Unattributed report: "Pakistan Decided To Expedite Contacts With Different
Factions of the Afghan Government" - Nawa-e Waqt
Monday August 9, 2010 04:32:50 GMT
different factions of the Afghan Government. The diplomatic sources told
the Nawa-e-Waqt

, Afghan Vice President Ustad Karim Khalili, who belongs to Hezb-e Wahdat,
is nowadays holding meetings with Pakistani leaders in Pakistan. Faruq H.
Naik, acting president and Senate chairman, hosted a lunche on meeting in
his honor on 6 August. Afghan Vice President Ustad Karim Khalili is one of
anti-Pakistan Afghan leaders. Pakistan has also started its contacts with
other Afghan factions.

The diplomatic sources say that an Afghan parliament delegation will visit
Pakistan soon. Pakistani Ambassador to Afghanistan Muhammad Sadiq has also
reached Pakistan. He is discussing important issues regarding the
Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. Afghan President Hamid Karzai will also
visit Pakistan after President Zardari returns to Pakistan from his UK
visit. The diplomatic sources say that Pakistan-Afghanistan relations are
growing, which is significant for the future of both countries.

(Description of Source: Rawalpindi Nawa-e Waqt in Urdu -- Privately owned,
widely read, conservative Islamic daily, with circulation around 125,000.
Harshly critical of the US and India.)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission fo r use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

2) Back to Top
Article Terms WikiLeaks Classic Example of Spin Doctoring by US Govt
Viewpoint by Momin Iftikhar: "US war logs and asymmetry of information
warfare' - The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 11:58:27 GMT
The coordinated release of the classified US war logs on the Internet,
combined with the sway of some of the most potent power houses of print
media in the developed world will not only leave a watermark on the course
of the Afghan war but will also act as a trailblazing model for using the
power of media to shape public opinion and change the course of global
events.

Not only that, it stands out as a glaring example of media manipulati on
and spin doctoring; a newly emerging reality which has become an
inseparable component of any future conflict. It is amazing to see the
manner in which by selectively focusing upon the contents of the jumbled
war logs, the entire message emerging out of the damaging leak has been
reshaped.

It is interesting to study the manner in which manifest US excesses and
failures on the political landscape and battlefield of Afghanistan have
been muted, in the aftermath of the leak, to switch these with a
slandering and highly visible campaign against Pakistan and its
intelligence agencies for raking trouble for US in Afghanistan. The
leaked-out war logs -- more than 91,000 in all -- are a loosely related
collection of classified documents that cover the period from early 2004
to late 2009. Logs, as these ought to be, are unedited after action
reports at tactical level and give no indication of direction of war at
the strategic and political plains. Without a context and emer ging from
the fog of war, that happens to be thick in the vicinity of the
battlefield, the narratives tend to be subjective, bearing the local
Afghan flavor rather strongly.

While the WikiLeaks exposure draws an inevitable comparison with the 1971
surfacing of the Pentagon Papers, such notions are seemingly over hyped.
Those Papers were based on White House memos, military reports, cables of
CIA and State Department and presented a picture which was based on
highest level of documentation possible. Afghan Logs, in marked contrast,
are of low based pedigree lacking the identification of the source as well
as the context. These are raw intelligence reports, have not been mulled
over by the system and no conclusions have been formed. That is why these
are easy game for the media predators, enabling them to shape these in
line with the vested interests of their respective nations.

Julian Assange, WikiLeaks founder, who is the force behind the heist,
commented in a press conference that civilian deaths in Afghanistan
through the excessive and indiscriminate use of force by the US and other
coalition nations' militaries was the most significant takeaway provided
by the war logs. New York Times, that ought to have been in the lead of
picking up this thread, instead latched on to the theme of involvement of
Pakistan military and intelligence agencies with the Taliban, blaming them
of playing a duplicitous game. In contrast with its American counterpart,
The Guardian looked at the reports from an angle of the civilian
casualties that were foiling the strategy of winning hearts and minds of
the Afghan public and causing stiffening of the resistance to the
coalition presence in Afghanistan.

The Guardian, however, failed to mention the parts of the logs which have
underscored the brutal treatment of civilians by the British units in
their assigned areas of responsibility. German Der Spiegel, in rather a
positive manner, underscored the inability of its government to correctly
read and interpret the situation in Northern Afghanistan where bulk of the
German troops is deployed.

The spotlight on Pakistan, following the leaks of the war diaries, is
totally uncalled for. Less than two hundred of reports by lower level
intelligence officers from among the cache of over 90,000 reports allege
of a clandestine role played by Pakistani military and intelligence
establishment.

Yet even this unconfirmed and rather limited number of reports is
sufficient to eclipse other major and more important aspects of cond uct
of US led war in Afghanistan that is decidedly not going well from the
American perspective. Such unsubstantiated allusions have been the staple
of the New York Times for years whereby it has used the props of anonymous
sources to build up a case against Pakistan. US State Department and the
Pentagon have played a duplicitous game as well; paying tribute in public
and then leaking reports of P ak collusion with Taliban. If Hillary
Clinton thinks, and is sure enough to say so in public that Osama is in
Pakistan, one can imagine the lengths to which US newspapers and junior
ranks of the State Department can go in building up an anti Pakistan hype,
just as New York Times has done in evaluating the plethora of unvarnished
reports.

The power of media implements and an innate capability to manipulate these
levers of tremendous power and global reach has allowed the

US administration to shift focus of global attention away from its
colossal failures in Afghanistan, including grave human rights violations
and wide scale civilian killings, so prominently reflected by the Afghan
War logs.

The self serving interpretations of the War Logs have enabled US to gain
leverage to push Pakistan to do more and squelch the flow of the US aid to
better effect and at Pakistan's cost. As the failure of the US military
mission looms large in Afghanistan, Pakistan will have to bear the blame ;
is the message that emerges from the WikiLeaks scoop.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

3) Back to Top
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa People Issued Fresh Flood Warnings
Report by Rauf Khattak: Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera face fresh threat
- The Nation Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 11:54:24 GMT
PESHAWAR - The latest spell of Saturday rains adds to the worries of
already suffering masses of flood-hit areas wherein with suspension of
relief activities people in Charsadda, Peshawar and Nowshera were asked to
evacuate the villages banking river Kabul as the swelling waters pose
eminent threat for the suburban population of these districts.

The district administration of Charsadda, Peshawar and Nowshera while
declaring emergency in the areas have asked the population living nearby
the Kabul River to vacate the villages without any further delay.

With the prediction of further downpours in the region by Peshawar Met
office, the Flood Warning Cell recorded the river Kabul in high floods
wherein the outflow of water remained at 1,23,400 cusecs.

The river Panjgora in District Dir was recorded with outflow of 22,593
cusecs with high level of flood while the Indus at Khairabad also remained
in high flood with outflow of 5,35,100 cusecs. The Swat at Amandara was
flowing with low level of flood.

The Saturday rains seeing the continuation from Friday evening also raised
the level of Warsak water dam which frings Peshawar suburban areas.
According to the officials, the outflow of water reached 78,000 cusecs
from the water dam as the upper areas including the region adjacent to
Afghanistan was constantly receiving heavy shower. Six of the spillways of
the Warsak dam had to be opened to allow for increasing level of water
while three of the spell ways of the dam are under construction. The
officials informed that Warsak dam had the capacity of allowing outflow of
about 504,000 cusecs.

According to the officials in meteorological department-Peshawar with the
prediction of more rains in the region, 8 millimeter rain was recorded in
Peshawar during the last 24 hours while in District Dir 36 mm, Saidu
Sharif 48 mm, Bala kot 23 mm, Chirat 28 mm, Abbottabad 25 mm, Timergara
and DI Khan 14 mm each, Bannu 35 mm and Parachinar received a down pour of
12 mm during the last twenty-four hours.

The spell of fresh rains in the Southern part of the province of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa brought further disaster to the region, particularly to the
farther Frontier Region of district Lakki Marwat wherein about 25 more
houses caved in on Saturday. People of the area were also short of
edibles.

District Kohat received heavy downpour and resultant gushing of rainy
drains caused 11 more casualties including caving in of a roof of a house
in Jaji locality that rendered 3 person dead and one other injured. The
torrential rains also swept away three of the linking bridges in the area
as well and the administration declared emergency in the district.

District Tank has turned into isolated land by the torrential rains
wherein during the fresh spell of Monsoon on Saturday the Suhrdi Bridge
constructed back in 1920 succumbed to the floodwaters thus rendering the
area cut off from Waziristan. The district has already been cut off with
all kinds of communication from DI Khan. Collapse of houses were also
reported from the area and the people in the district were fast getting
devoid of edibles, medicines and other necessities of life.

In DI Khan, teams comprising rescue, relief and paramedical staff extended
all possible support to the flood-hit people and the rescue team of
Pak-Army successfully shifted 40 people to safer places who were earlier
precariously stranded in the flood water. The Northern districts of the
province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were further hit hard by new series of
rains in the region and the population in this part of the country was put
to increasing embarrassment on hearing about the fresh warnings about
floods and declaration of emergency thereafter.

The sufferings of the calamity hit people of Charsadda, Nowshera and
Peshawar were yet to be mitigated to some extent that the Saturday rains
further fetched them to confront more miseries as relief activities had to
be stopped on a ccount of heavy down pour.

People already complaining about the insufficient aid work and relief
activities were now void of the scant measures as well.

In another incident of house collapse in Misree Band in Dist Nowshera, a
woman lost her life while several other members of the family were
injured. Work on restoration of electricity was also stopped. The
torrential rains with sporadic space of time not only affected
rehabilitation process in district Nowshera but also increased the
problems of the flood affectees in district Charsadda wherein availability
of tents for temporary shelter was conspicuous among other issues at
hands.

On the other hand amidst the devastating floods and rains in District
Lower Dir caused a truck fall into a ravine called Talash Khwar and the
incident resulted in killing of 70 peopl e along with rendering several
other injured.

People were boarding the truck to shift to some safer places that it met
the sad episode. 12 of the dead bodies have so far been recovered from the
ravine. Thirty more houses were reported to be swept away by floods waters
in Lower Dir following the new series of rains on Saturday. All kind of
relief and rescue activities including helicopter services saw suspension
in Kohistan, Kalam, Bahrain, Madyan and Shangla as the heavy down pour did
not allow for any movement across the region and the remaining stranded
people including tourists and the local ones were yet to be shifted to
safer places.

Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government on Saturday issued fresh
flood warning to the people living in the low-laying areas situated near
the banks of the rivers in the Province after foreseeing a possibility of
another flood with upcoming spell of rains.

After a lull, a new spell of rains has started in the alread y flood-hit
areas, halting the relief activities.

The new flood warnings have been issued to the people living in Swat,
Panjkora, Khayali, Adezai, Kalpanri, Jinday, Bara, Kabal, Shah Alam and
Naguman, as at present there is high flood in the rivers.

The recent rains and floods have, so far, affected 4.2 million people that
shattered Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and killed more than 1400, this was stated by
Information Minister, Mian Iftikhar Hussain at a press briefing here.

He maintained that at least women and children should be evacuated from
the areas situated near the rivers, adding that rains and floods had
affected about 5,94000 families in the Province. Mian Iftikhar Hussain
said that the floods had killed 14 in Abbottabad, 29 in Haripur, 35 in
Battagram, 28 in Mansehra and 12 in Kohistan, where 60 were still missing.

The devastation is still on the rise, as 100,194 houses have, so far, been
destroyed completely while 56,799 have been damaged partia lly by the
flood, saying the infrastructure destruction is also rising with each
passing day. He said 233 roads, 234 bridges, 169 educational institutions,
38 health centres, 307 water supply schemes, 87 government buildings and
472 shops were destroyed in the floods.

He informed that the fresh rains had halted the relief activities. He said
385 camps accommodating 15,349 families were provided 50,622 food packets,
3,650 flour bags, 164-ton food, 47, 680 packets of the different items,
1624 canisters of edible oil, and 8,000 blankets.

A total of 34600 people stranded in affected areas were airlifted and
22000 water bottles were distributed among the affectees, he concluded.

Meanwhile, at least eight people were killed and 14 others injured in
rains and floods related incidents occurred in Hangu here on Saturday.

According to details, eight people were reportedly killed and 14 others
got wounded due to rains and floods in the lower part of Hangu. T he
floods have also damaged forty houses.

Mandori Bridge of the district also collapsed due to high flood.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The Nation Online in English -- Website
of a conservative daily, part of the Nawa-i-Waqt publishing group.
Circulation around 20,000; URL: http://www.nation.com.pk)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

4) Back to Top
NADRA Dismisses 153 Employees for Issuing CNICs to Foreigners
Report by Farzana Shah: 90,000 CNICs issued illegally to foreigners -
The Nation Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 11:48:20 GMT
PESHAWAR - The National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) has
dismissed 153 employees and registered cases against them for fraudulently
issuing Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) to the foreigners
including Afghan nationals.

Sources informed TheNation that a report issued by the Interior Ministry
stating that 90,000 such CNICs and passports, which were issued to the
nationals of different countries by the outlets based in Peshawar and
other parts of the country, have been cancelled. The Ministry also ordered
inquiry into the matter after which a probe has been launched.

The employees of NADRA and other departments, who were found involved in
this scam, have been dismissed after revelation made by the law
enforcement agencies in this regard.

These employees, working in Scale 5-14, have been dismissed from their
jobs under the Special Power Ordinance and the cases have also been
registered against them for further action.

The report further said that so far, 90,000 such CNICs and passports have
been issued to the foreigners of the different countries including Afghan
nationals, who have been blacklisted by the concerned authorities.

The highest number of such CNICs and passports are issued in Sindh while
Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan hold 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions
respectively. However, very less number of such CNICs were issued in FATA.

The sources said the issuance of the CNICs and passports to the foreigners
in Sindh and Punjab is shocking and also a threat to the national
security, as these documents can be used by the foreign spies for
malicious activities.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The Nation Online in English -- Website
of a conservative daily, part of the Nawa-i-Waqt publishing group.
Circulation around 20,000; URL: http://www.nation.com.pk)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

5) Back to Top
Author- Pakistan, US, India Must Facilitate Reconciliation
Article by Muhammad Arif Shafi: Afghanistan: Moment of Decision! - The
Frontier Post Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 09:59:13 GMT
Leaking of official and secret documents regarding the Afghan War has
worsened the situation for the occupied forces. The leak is considered as
the most serious one in the military history of United States. The papers
have claimed that Pakistan ISI had direct links with Afghan Taliban during
2004 to 2009. Moreover it included the details of US operations in
Afghanistan and the deaths there. The overall situation is not in favour
of foreign guests. After the nine years' long restless war, which has now
become the longest conflict in the history of United States, the forces
have no success story. They are following the Get-Rid-Of policy. The magic
of dollars has become useless and it has stopped to guarantee the security
of Americans lives. A lot of things are happening these days in
Afghanistan, in front and behind the scene. The change of Command in
Afghanistan and the reason for it have exposed the American strategy for
the war against terrorism. General McChrystal had a vast experience as
Commanding Officer in the area. During his tenure one of the major
offensives of Marjah in February this year, was also accomplished. The
operation was almost the failure of McChrystal's Counterinsurgency
Doctrine. The Marjah expedition proved that Taliban are not an ordinary
danger. And that is the reason that the proposed operation of Kandahar had
been delayed while no new date has yet been announced for it. Gen
McChrystal has been removed for his and his aides' comments, published i n
Rolling Stone magazine, regarding President Obama and his team over the
Afghan policy. Although the General's comments were an act of breach of
Army protocol, yet the policy of mid 2011 withdrawal, adopted by the Obama
administration for Afghanistan, is not logical in Commander's view. The
political point of view remains different from that of military. Obama's
strategy has proved its failure as the US soldiers are dying without any
aim ahead while the Taliban have become much stronger, who have certainly
the new policy in mind. McChrystal was replaced by General Petraeus, who
is the American hero of Iraq war. It was pledged that the US course of
action would not change anyway but no body could guarantee the
psychological impact. Most of the Americans believe that the war in
Afghanistan is not in their interest but the politicians and the decision
makers have it always somehow. Although Obama has announced his plan of
withdrawal, but no one know how they will succeed or pu ll out in almost
one year? On the other hand, the Karzai-led Afghan government is not in a
position to deliver, even after eight years. The world is well aware of
corruption and ineffectiveness of the Afghan government and often
criticises it. The members of Cabinet supported by the Warlords and the
International smugglers are weakness of the Head of government as after
all they have strong voice in the country. If we talk about the government
writ, ground reality shows us that the Capital is allotted to the
government while the control of other areas is divided between the Nato
forces and the Taliban are almost everywhere and have complete control at
some places. Some of the confirmed reports have proved that even the
occupied forces are regularly paying certain amount to the locals for
their security. In those conditions, asking the government for any result
is futile. Unlike the Bush administration, Obama is not in a position to
provide more funds to the corrupt Afghan of ficials and in fact such wars
are never fought without using money. This factor is a key one and most of
the allies use to join such expedition for financial gains. The Afghan war
expenses have already crossed the highest mark and have a negative impact
over the American economy. One US soldier in Afghanistan is costing one
million dollars per year and the number of to tal US troops is almost
94,000. The American anti-war campaigners are demanding cut in war budget.
They consider the war as an unnecessary one which has no concern with the
American security. This summer season has witnessed more deadly attacks ov
er the occupied forces. The death toll of Nato has reached the highest
level this year. In June 2010 (last month) 102 foreign soldiers were
killed which is the highest number of casualties in a single month since
2001 and almost 377 international troops were killed during the first half
year 2010 while the figure in same case was 520 in whole of 2009. The
sensible ap proach in whole episode is the process of dialogue with all
the resistant groups. The process has almost near completion but not
fruitful yet. The reason behind the initial failure of the talks is that
Pakistan was not involved in the process, or if involved somehow, not
fully engaged. Hamid Karzai who is also supportive in dialogue, had
meetings with Taliban and Haqqani network as the media reports has
suggested. Now US, Nato and Karzai has admitted that Pakistan could play a
vital role in negotiations. US special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan
has recently pointed the fact in his statements. With the support of
United States, Pakistan and Afghanistan are getting closer. The signing of
transit trade agreement in Islamabad and silence from Kabul regarding the
blame game against Pakistan are indications of better relations between
Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is a situation at least not acceptable to
India and some how Iran that Pakistan plays any role in Afghanistan. Ind
ia has invested billions of dollars in the area, of course not in romance
with the Afghans but for their influence there. Indian consulates are
often debated by Pakistan, but no one including India is ready to justify.
India is even not happy with the Pak-Afghan recent renewed relations. In
fact Pak-Afghan good ties are very essential for any peace negotiations
but countries like India have no interest in that. The world community,
particularly US and UN, must realise that it's time to decide that Afghans
would not pay anymore price of regional and international conflicts. No
matter whatever the status and position of Afghan government, but it must
be in driving seat for peace talks. India is certainly looking for the
fruit of its investment in Afghanistan, in the name of reconstruction, so
any reaction on Pakistan's vital role or influence is natural. The world
must acknowledge Indian investment but must not allow it to de-rail the
peace talks. No one can understand Indian logic which claims that Taliban
did not represent the Pakhtun majority. India and other countries with
same thinking want to empower the minorities like Uzbek, Hazara and Tajik
etc in the Afghan government whom they had supported and influenced.
Pakistan has never denied any positive role of any neighbouring country of
Afghanistan, it's India unfortunately who has Pak-phobia. United States`
special representative for Af-Pak Richard Holbrooke, while addressing
Indian journalists, has also said: "You can't stabilize Afghanistan
without the participation of Pakistan as a legitimate concerned party".
It's a right and logical approach by the United States that the whole
region has to play a role in peace and stability in Afghanistan. It's time
to go ahead with the idea and stress upon those countries which are
against the peace talks in the name of Pakistan, to play their positive
character and let the Afghans decide what they want. Other parties like
US, Pakistan and I ndia have to facilitate the negotiations, not to impose
their will or interests.

(Description of Source: Peshawar The Frontier Post Online in English --
Website of a daily providing good coverage of the Northwest Frontier
Province, Afghanistan, and narcotics issues; URL:
http://www.thefrontierpost.com)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

6) Back to Top
Pakistan Must Change Afghan Policy To Secure its Future, Repel Foreign
Pressure
Article by Ali Ashraf Khan: Beginning of the End - Pakistan Observer
Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 08:23:20 GMT
On Sunday the Dutch troops have started their withdrawal from Afghanistan.
With little under two thousand troops they have been a small but well
equipped and respected part of the international coalition forces. We
remember that when their mandate was expiring they were asked to extend it
and that led to the break-up of the Dutch government due to public
opinion. Though the US is reassuring the world that no void is going to be
created by the Dutch withdrawal and that forces of other nations are
standing ready to take over, the Dutch decision may not be important so
much in military respect, but it could turn out to be a signal for all the
other nations whose enthusiasm for the war has diminished greatly and
whose mandates are due to expire at one point or the other.

President Obama's new strategy in Afghanistan which was to be a shift from
fighting the militants towards defending the civilian population and
constructing a well designed civilian local administration which would
contribute towards a visible improv ement of the lives of the people has
not shown much success so far and result of this deviation may affect the
Democratic party in the coming elections in November. On the contrary, the
doubtful gains in Marja and the delay in the campaign in Kandahar have
testified more towards the opposite. General Mc Chrystal's frustration and
the subsequent change in command are an ample proof for this. Now we can
see that the new supreme commander General Petraeus though heavily denying
any change in the strategy of his predecessor has quietly shifted the war
from defending the civilian population towards taking out militant
commanders. In document called counterinsurgency guidance General Petraeus
asks the soldiers to pursue the enemy relentlessly, to get your teeth into
the insurgents and don't let goal. These killing missions of the ISAF and
US forces seem to have the backing of Washington. This shift will surely
not bring a turn in the war, but it is designed to safeguard the lives of
the foreign and especially American troops whose losses have mounted
during the last few months. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman
John Kerry stressed on Sunday that the solution for the conflict in
Afghanistan lies not in military efforts but in finding a political
solution just like another senior politician John McCain is doing. With
this opinion he is contradicting the hawks in the US government who still
want to win the war. Such a negotiated settlement according to him has to
include Pakistan, Russia and China even Iran all neighbouring countries of
Afghanistan which have a well defined interest in a stable and peaceful
Afghanistan and India. Now, how does India come into the game? Obviously,
Kerry is promoting the strong man of the region in a territory on which
India would like to lay its hands and which comes handy to the US.

The US is also no neighbouring country of Afghanistan and still wants to
be part of the negotiations and settlement! So th e Indian and the US
claims have a lot in common and this alliance of convenience will probably
be a re-occurring factor in South Asian politics, ignoring their
understanding with their front line ally country. What does that mean for
Pakistan? It is obvious that given the geo-political and strategic
situation the alliance between the US and Pakistan is a temporary one
which is right now changing. Yesterday's demand of John Kerry for an
inclusion of India into an Afghan settlement, before that the British
Prime Minister David Cameron's remarks during his visit to India! Blaming
Pakistan for promoting terrorism and funding Taliban, this appears to be a
pre-planned game. Alas! Pakistani rulers have not been able to understand
this gimmick. What a coincidence's Pakistani priorities should be clear
from this, the policy of carrying beggars bowl should be changed now to
live as a self respecting sovereign country.

Given the situation at our eastern border our national inter est requires
a stable Afghanistan and good relations with this neighbour of ours in
future also. It can be taken for granted that the Haqqanis, Hekmatyars and
Taliban will be part if not the defining part of any Afghan government
after the withdrawal of the foreign troops. Therefore, we should keep this
situation in mind and act accordingly regardless of any pressure and
threats from abroad. Of course, it is the foreign money which is holding
us hostage and our present rulers will be eager to get it in order to
finance their excessive life style with it. It is here where we have to
start changing our policy in order to secure Pakistan's future.

(Description of Source: Islamabad Pakistan Observer Online in English --
Website of the pro-military daily with readership of 5,000. Anti-India,
supportive of Saudi policies, strong supporter of Pakistan's nuclear and
missile program. Chief Editor Zahid Malik is the author of books on
nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan; URL: http://ww w.pakobserver.net)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

7) Back to Top
Floods Death Toll Rises by 173 in Frontier Province, Gilgit-Baltistan
Report by Mohammad Jalil & Riaz Khan Daudzai: "Floods kill 173 more in
KP, GB" - The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 07:23:36 GMT
CHAKDARRA/PESHAWAR: Flash floods triggered by heavy rains and landslides
in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan killed at least 173 people and
injured scores of others on Saturday.

More than 70 people went missing and were feared dead after the truck
taking them across a flooded stream in Dir Lower district overturned.

Sources in the area said the incident happened in Shamsi village near
Ziarat Talash where scores of stranded passengers climbed the 10-wheeler
in the hope of crossing the overflowing stream. They had come from
Timergara side in vans and coaches that couldnit cross the stream.

The sources said 12 bodies had been recovered from the stream while
another 10 were saved in injured condition. The remaining men went missing
and were feared to have drowned in the fast-flowing stream.

The exact number of people who boarded the 10-wheeler was not known as
eyewitnesses said 100 to 120 men were in this long vehicle when it met the
mishap. Most eyewitnesses said at least 70 people were feared dead after
being swept away by the waters in the stream.

Ijaz, an eyewitness, told The News the driver lost control of the vehicle
due to the force of the floodwater and it overturned mid-stream. iI was
lucky that I did not board the truck,i he said.
Ijaz estimated that there were around 120 people on board the 10-wheeler.
iThe vehicle is used to transport cement. The driver obliged when the
stranded people asked him for a ride. The driver said it would be better
to cross the flooded stream with people on board as his empty truck may
not be able to drive through the fast-running water,i recalled Ijaz.

Other eyewitnesses said the overnight rains had caused flooding in the
streams and the River Panjkora. They said the bodies of people drowned in
the stream would be washed away into the River Panjkora downstream and
efforts would now be made to retrieve the bodies from there.

Many of those missing, dead and injured belonged to Ouch, Kalkot and
Muzaffarabad areas in Dir Lower district.

Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Saturday issued fresh
flood warning to the people of low areas and villages along the banks of
rivers in the province as the fresh spell of rain hindered relief activit
ies in the districts hit by the floods.

The warning was issued to the people living in the vicinity of the Rivers
Swat, Panjkora, Khayali, Adezai, Kalpanri, Jindi, Bara, Kabul, Shah Alam
and Naguman. All these rivers were in high flood following the torrential
rains that started during the Friday night. More than 4.2 million people
have been affected by the floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and those killed
according to Army's figures totalled over 1,400.

Provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain, in his daily
briefing, urged residents in the path of the floodwaters to leave their
homes and move to higher and safer places.

"There is no need to panic, but as the water level in the rivers is
constantly rising, the next 24 to 48 hours are crucial for those living
along these rivers. They should take precautionary measures," he said,
adding that women and children should certainly be moved out of the areas
along the rivers.

The minist er said confirmed death toll from the floods had risen to 926
and it might increase as reports of more deaths continued to pour in. He
said 926 people had been injured, over 865,168 rendered homeless and
594,000 families affected in the province.

Mian Iftikhar said floods had killed 14 in Abbottabad, 29 in Haripur, 35
in Battagram, 28 in Mansehra and 12 in Kohistan where 60 were still
missing and believed to have been killed.

The flood devastation is still on the rise, he said, adding that 100,194
houses have been destroyed completely and 56,799 damaged partially.

He said 233 roads, 234 bridges, 169 educational institutions, 38 health
facilities, 307 water supply schemes, 87 government build ings and 472
shops were destroyed in the floods.

"It also damaged five grid stations, 87 government buildings, 486 shops,
182 education and 132 health centres and 318 irrigation schemes. Besides,
7,958 cattlehead and livestock had been killed and crops on 62,737 acres
of land destroyed," the minister said.

Mian Iftikhar said the fresh spell of rains and inclement weather had
hindered relief activities. He said 385 camps accommodating 15,349
families were provided 50,622 food packages, 3,650 flour bags, 164 tonnes
of food, 47,680 packets of different items, 4,465 cauldrons of rice, 1624
canisters of edible oil, 11,000 tents and 8,000 blankets.

He said 34,600 people stranded in the affected areas were airlifted and
22,000 water bottles were distributed among the victims.

To a question, Mian Iftikhar said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had sustained 95
percent of the flood damages suffered by the country. iThe government
should consider this fact while distributing the assistance it receives
for the flood-affected areas,i he argued.

He appealed to the world community, the federal government and other
provinces to send assistance for the flood victims in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

MINGORA: The recent rai ns added to the miseries of stranded tourists and
patients in Kalam valley. Helicopter service has been suspended for the
last two days due to the inclement weather and some 1,300,000 residents of
Kalam, Bahrain and Madyan are faced with famine-like conditions due to
lack of communication links.

According to the Army-run Swat Media Centre, as many as 11,000
flood-stricken people staying at 15 camps were provided relief goods under
the supervision of the Pakistan Army in Swat.

MANSEHRA: Seven children, including two Afghans, died when the roof of a
house collapsed in Tirya Payan village.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Three persons drowned in floodwaters as the police and
local people managed to retrieve two bodies.

TAKHT BAI: A four-year-old girl was killed while her grandmother sustained
injuries on Thursday when the roof of their house collapsed due to heavy
floods in Kot Hoti area.

MIRAMSHAH: At least 15 people were killed as heavy rains and floods p
layed havoc in different parts of North Waziristan.

The rains caused high floods in River Tochi due to which its embankments
were damaged in Dattakhel, Hamzoni, Dayakhel and Zeerki area of Mir Ali.

CHITRAL: Around nine houses were washed away by floodwater in the district
while roads, bridges and standing crops over a vast area were also
destroyed when Gol Nala flooded the adjoining areas.

KOHAT: At least eight people, including women and children, were killed
and two others injured as fresh rains hit different areas of the division.
Four family members were killed and two others suffered injuries when the
roof of their home caved in Jabi village while a young man was swept away
by flash floods in Zaghono Banda. Two children were killed when the roof
of their home collapsed in Hayatabad area of Hangu.

NOWSHERA: The River Kabul was in high flood due to heavy rains, inundating
Nowshera Kalan, Kheshgi road and Dhobi Ghat area. An elderly woman died o
f cardiac arrest at a relief camp after listening to rumours of more
floods in Nowshera Kalan. In another incident, a woman was killed when the
roof of her house collapsed.

TANK: Residents of Khaisarai, Sraghar and Bagh-e-Jadeed told the media
that more than 1,000 families, stranded in their calamity-hit region, were
waiting for relief and shelter.

BARA: Five persons were killed and four injured in incidents of house
collapse caused by heavy rains in various parts of Bara Tehsil in Khyber
Agency.

Our correspondents add from Gilgit: Fifty-eight people were killed in
Skardu, and five died in Gilgit as a result of landslides and flash floods
caused by torrential rains in Gilgit-Baltistan on Saturday, sources said.

The sources said more than 3,000 people have become homeless in the region
as a result of the devastatio n.

Sources said in Skardu, a massive landslide in Kamrah-Aliabad killed 48
people while 10 others died in a similar incident in Shoot village. A
landslide in Gilgit Kargah also killed five persons and damaged 30 houses,
the sources added.

They said in Tilis village of Ghanche district, a predawn landslide swept
away 15 people besides hitting dozens of houses and livestock. "Dozens of
orchards, fields and standing crops were also devastated by the floods,"
they said.

The Disaster Management Authority in Gilgit said that they were waiting
for complete information about death and destruction caused by the floods
across Gilgit-Baltistan.

Commissioner Baltistan Division told reporters in Skardu that despite
continuous rains, relief activities were being carried out for the people
in the flood-hit areas.

The surging Hunza River washed away a bridge on Khyber in Gojal valley,
de-linking the region from the rest of the country. Similarly, the rising
level of Hyderabad Nullah caused floods in the area, destroying the
central water channel and the water supply to the area. In Jaglot Gooro,
rains caused floods in the ravine, affecting 30 houses and disrupting
rehabilitation work on the KKH.

In Ghizer district, floods triggered by torrential rains inundated 15
houses in Damas and 12 houses in Birgal villages of Punial valley,
rendering hundreds of people homeless, said a resident Khalil Ahmed,
adding that flood had destroyed standing crops and other property. The
main bridge connecting Hatoon village was washed away by surging water in
Ghizar.

Officials said that the surging Gilgit River had flooded various low-lying
houses in Baseen area of Gilgit, leaving hundreds of victims shelterless
and without food since Friday night.

Dozens of houses and bridges have been destroyed by the flood in Ghizer
and Astor districts.

The sources said landsliding had affected an area of 40 kilometre, adding
that Pakistan Army helicopters reached the affected areas to evacuate
those who survived the rain and floodwater.

(Descript ion of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website
of a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

8) Back to Top
Article Says India Perturbed Over Extension in Gen Kayani's Tenure
Article by Asghar Ali Shad: "India's Perturbation Over Gen Kayani's
Extension and the New Accusations" - Nawa-e Waqt
Sunday August 8, 2010 07:17:33 GMT
passed insulting remarks against Pakistan. Analyzing these remarks,
observers say that when the Pakistani prime minister announced a
three-year extension in the tenure of General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, Army
chief, on 23 July, mixed reaction was received from abroad and inside the
country. Most circles inside the country warmly received the announcement,
describing it a welcome decision in the backdrop of the country's internal
and external security. However, some intellectuals and political leaders
did express their reservations about the decision. To the common Pakistani
people, it was an encouraging development, which was the demand of the
situation. It is an open secret that presently Pakistan is passing through
difficult times at the internal and external fronts. It appears as if all
enemies of the country have agreed on a one-point agenda of blaming
Pakistan responsible for spreading terrorism. These forces enjoy the o
vert support of India and Israel, in addition to that of some circles of
the US Government.

These elements are, on one hand, pursuing the mission of carrying out
suicide attacks and bomb explosions inside the country, and on the other,
they are -- through their baseless propaganda and unfounded allegations at
the international level -- creating such an atmosphere, which has no
precedence. Even the ink of the so-called report of London School of
Economics had not yet dried when a new Pandora's Box was opened by
unleashing the Wikileaks documents, through which an attempt was made to
discredit the Pakistan Army and other security agencies of the country. It
is the result of this despicable move that even a responsible person like
the British prime minister issued such irresponsible statements, which can
in no way be called exemplary. Perhaps the leaderships of the United
Kingdom, the United States, and other developed countries have forgotten
that whatever status they h ave today, it is because of Pakistan;
otherwise the former Soviet Union would have as yet played havoc with
them. It is also an open secret that the problems, which Pakistan is
confronting for the past three decades, are a gift from the United
Kingdom, the United States, and their other allies. Pakistan is only
facing the consequences of their deeds. However, instead of evaluating and
appreciating the sacrifices of Pakistan and its people, a burst of
baseless allegations has been unleashed against the country. Despite the
killings of 30,000 Pakistani citizens and their 3000 security forces'
personnel, the self-proclaimed bosses of the world are using such
language, which a civilized society can even not think of. This is the
worst example of ungratefulness. What a practice! What a selfish behavior!

Anyhow, no individual or nation, passing through such a situation, can
even think of changing its military guards at such a difficult time. Those
who know are aware that in the beginning of the 1965 (Pakistan-India) war,
the Pakistan Army had conquered Chumb and Jurhian areas of Occupied
Kashmir(India-administered Kashmir) and there was a strong possibility
that the occupied state would be liberated. However, General Ayub Khan,
who was also occupying the seat of the country's president, replaced
Lieutenant General Akhtar Malik, commander of the aforementioned area,
with Lt Gen Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan. The outcome of this change of
command right in the middle of the battle proved very harmful to Pakistan.
It is now being said that the step was taken to credit Gen Yahya with the
predictable victory, so that he can be made the next commander in chief.
Lt Gen Akhtar Malik later died perhaps in a road accident in Turkey. The
tenure of Gen Yahya is now part of history.

The extension in Gen Kayani's tenure has particularly perturbed the Indian
circles. This is evident from the column of Shekhar Gupta, the Indian
Express editor in chief, which was published in the 24 July issue of his
newspaper, and then in the 26 July issue of Hindi daily, t he Dainik
Bhaskar, under the caption, "Pakistan's Old Story." The writer wields
commanding influence among the Indian power circles and the latter give
weight to his analyses. In the beginning of his article, Gupta reviews the
16 July 16 meeting of the Indian and the Pakistani foreign ministers,
indirectly criticizing Zulfiqkar Ali Bhutto, Pervez Musharraf, and Foreign
Minster Shah Mahmood Qureshi. He says that these Pakistani personalities,
at the dint of their Western educational backgrounds, looked down on their
Indian counterparts, like Suran Singh, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and S.M.
Krishna, ridiculing -- in their private conversations -- the weak English
and low-key tone and tenor of these Indian leaders. Later, while admitting
the efficiency of Pakistan's diplomatic, political, and military
decisionmakers, he says: "There is no doubt that in negotiations an d
other spheres, Pakistan pursues an excellent strategy, evolved and drafted
by highly professional minds. On this account, Pakistan is achieving many
successes. However, while implementing these decisions the country mostly
commits big mistakes." The renowned Indian intellectual further says: "In
the beginning, the Pakistanis used to believe that they were winning over
India. However, in the backdrop of the recent changes appearing in
Afghanistan, they have begun to presume that they are also winning over
the entire world, including the United States." At the end of his article,
the writer extends a free of cost proposal to his rulers and intellectuals
that instead of bothering about the statements of Foreign Minister Shah
Mahmood Qureshi, they should pay heed to the three-year extension in Gen
Kayani's tenure.

This clearly shows as to how the Indian power circles are concerned and
perturbed over the extension in Gen Kayani's tenure. Even a senior medi a
person, like Shekhar Gupta, is expressing open concern and perturbation
over the development. This shows that the step, taken in the background of
the prevailing circumstance, has dashed all hopes of India. It seems that
Gupta and other Indian circles want to make several gains out of these
writings: On one hand, the United States and its allies are being
instigated through the Wikileaks documents and the propaganda of Karzai,
and on the other, the Indian Government is being warned that the military
and political stability and continuation in Pakistan is not in New Delhi's
interest.

(Description of Source: Rawalpindi Nawa-e Waqt in Urdu -- Privately owned,
widely read, conservative Islamic daily, with circulation around 125,000.
Harshly critical of the US and India.)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

9) Back to Top
Pakistan Editorial Says Zardari UK Visit not Flattering for Him, Country
Editorial: A Bizarre Show of Unity - The Nation Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 07:02:25 GMT
Few would buy President Zardari's conviction that, "storms will come and
storms will go, and Pakistan and Britain will stand together and face all
the difficulties with dignity." Not even his party men, who have been
publicly defending his visit to England despite Prime Minister Cameron's
baseless accusation of the "export of terror" against Pakistan, and strong
nationwide criticism and international ridicule, would find anything so
sacrosanct in the two countries' relationship. Rather, privately most of
them would decry the idea of the visit in the backdrop of such an
unsubstantiated charge of Mr Cameron. In fact, a view in sharp contrast to
what Mr Zardari assumes emerges from Mr Cameron's chastisement of
Islamabad. Setting aside all diplomatic niceties as well as Pakistanis'
sensitivities, he had said, while he was on Indian soil (Bangalore) only a
few days back, "we cannot tolerate in any sense the idea that this country
(Pakistan) is allowed to look both ways and is able, in any way, to
promote the export of terror, whether to India or whether to Afghanistan
or anywhere else in the world." The words and, should anyone care to watch
the video clip of his address, the tone and tenor as well, were suggestive
of imperial anger.

One is not privy to what transpired at the meetings between the two
leaders, but if Mr Zardari wants the world to believe that they decided to
commit to "face the difficulties with dignity", there must have been a
change of heart on the part of the British Prime Minister that w as not,
in any way, visible in the five previous occasions when, asked to clarify
the statement in the light of protests from Pakistan, he had remained
adamant and stuck to his views. The British media has also stated that Mr
Zardari did not raise the issue of Mr Cameron's remarks at the meeting,
contrary to the justification the apologists of the visit had been putting
up. If anything, Mr Zardari gained the promise of Mr Cameron's visit to
Pakistan and of his Home Secretary and another Pounds10 million aid for
flood affected people - but that, perhaps, would have been forthcoming, as
the severity of the flood damage had already begun to sink in worldwide.
The claim that he was able to secure British support for a Marshal Plan
for Pakistan sounds utterly hollow; for, Mr Cameron only agreed to play
his role for Pakistani goods' access to European markets, whatever that
translates into.

The President's loss has been with his own people. They wanted him not to
visit Brit ain for the sake of national dignity and stay with them in
their new trouble in the form of unprecedented floods. The foreign media
did not lose the opportunity to relate, once again, the stories of his
wealth and how he had managed to acquire it, berate him as "more of a
freewheeler than a nation-builder" and observe, "a politician with a 20
percent approval rating might not appear to have much to lose". None too
flattering, neither for him nor for the country!

(Description of Source: Islamabad The Nation Online in English -- Website
of a conservative daily, part of the Nawa-i-Waqt publishing group.
Circulation around 20,000; URL: http://www.nation.com.pk)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

10) Back to Top</ a>
Yeni Ozgur Politika Headlines 4 August 2010
The following is a list of news headlines from the Yeni Ozgur Politika
website on 4 August; to request additional processing, please contact OSC
at (800) 205-8615, (202) 338-6735, fax (703) 613-5735, or
oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov - Yeni Ozgur Politika Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 18:46:52 GMT
"Stop the Bloodshed" - Speaking at a meeting organized by the Civil
Society Initiative as a way to find a just solution to the Kurdish issue,
actress Lale Mansur pointed out that the media was fueling the war and
said: "The media is screaming out for war."

Demirtas: "You Can't Break This People" - The BDP (Peace and Democracy
Party) is continuing the series of meetings led by party co-chairpersons
that it started in Hakkari on 31 July to promote the referendum boycott.T
wo days ago, Gultan Kisanak was in Adana and Mersin.While Demirtas
addressed the public in Kars, Mus MP Sirri Sakik participated in a rally
in Aydin.

Assassinations Were State Policy - On a TV program he participated in
recently, retired Admiral Atilla Kiyat said: "The murders by unknown
perpetrators that took place between 1993 and 1997 were state policy."

NGOs March in Batman - Yesterday, 83 NGOs in Elih (Batman) joined in a
march to protest the incident that occurred in the TPAO (National oil and
gas company of Turkey) oil well area near Demirlipinar Village along the
Batman-Hasankeyf Highway, in which four former IHD (Human Rights
Association) and HEP (People`s Labor Party) officials were killed.

Autonomy Should Be Discussed - Saying that the existence of special forces
in the region sets the scene for the local people to wonder if they are
citizens of the country or the enemy, retired military judge Umit Kardas
said: "These feelings a re justified, because there are some special
forces practices as there were implementations by JITEM (alleged
intelligence unit within the Gendarmerie) in the past."

Second Raid 26 Years Later - Now after a period of 26 years, a major
action was carried out in Dihe, Sert (Eruh, Siirt), the spot where the PKK
shot its first bullet on 15 August 1984.

Slapped and Kicked by Five Police - 13-year-old Ibrahim Suer, who was the
victim of police brutality during the meeting held by the BDP in Wan (Van)
to promote a boycott of the referendum, said: "I was on the wall when they
grabbed my arm and pulled me down.Then five policemen kicked and hit
me.They wouldn't even let me talk."

Suspended from School by Police Request - On grounds that they
participated in the Newroz celebration and shouted Kurdish slogans, 30
students at Canakkale 18 March University were given one- to six-month
suspensions as so ordered by the Provincial Police Department.
HPG (People Defense Forces) Issues Military Vehicle Warning - The HPG has
claimed responsibility for the bombing attack on a train carrying military
vehicles that was traveling on the Erzincan-Kemal railway line.Drawing
attention to the fact that the military materiel transport train was also
carrying civilians, the HPG issued a warning saying: "Do not travel on
vehicles that are carrying military equipment."

The State is Against Kurds - KCK (Assembly of Communities of Kurdistan)
Executive Council member Kalkan said: "The oldest nation of history cannot
be oppressed.The struggle of the Kurds represents the continued existence
of humanity."

Persuasion Rooms In Barracks - While the AKP government's efforts to
establish a special force of the army have still not become law, regional
military units have already begun to recruit members for the force.

BDP Member Mayor Subject of Investigation - Necat Yilmaz, the BDP member
mayor of Kurt alan, has come under investigation on the grounds that last
month he participated in a demonstration that took place in front of a
hospital to protest the fact that the bodies of HPG members who were
killed in a clash in Perwari were not being released to their families.

Tens of thousands To Commemorate Aram Tigran - A number of commemoration
ceremonies are scheduled to be held, the leading one to be in Amed
(Diyarbakir), to mark the first anniversary of the death of the eminent
Armenian singer Aram Tigram, who was a master of Kurdish music.

Castro Completes His "Strategic Victory" - Fidel Castro, the 84-year-old
legendary leader of Cuba's revolution, has completed writing a book
entitled Strategic Victory, a work that is both an autobiography and a
telling of the Cuban Revolution.

Banned Hitler Movie Begins Screening - A film on the life of Fascist
leader Adolf Hitler entitled Swastika that had been banned for the past 30
years will now be s hown in Germany and in the US.

Grammy Award Winner Dies - Mitch Miller, a Grammy award winner who worked
with such names as Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, and Bob Dylan, has now
bid farewell to life.

Look at Us and Recognize Our Efforts - Women who work in the home and who
want to be referred to as "home-based workers" want to be recognized with
the same social security rights as those who labor outside the home.Women
laborers are calling out to government agencies, saying: "Look at us and
recognize our efforts."

Breastfeeding Can Prevent Deaths - In an effort to promote the life-saving
potentials of breastfeeding, relevabt agencies of the United Nations,
which has declared 1-7 August to be "World Breast Feeding Week'," are
providing member states with ten suggestions on the subject of effective
breastfeeding.

Exhibit of Traditional Motifs - At a recent ceremony it organized, the
Meya Women's Center has presented certificates to the 122 women who
completed literacy, needle work, English and drama courses.

You Are Very Emotional, Lula! - The Iranian authorities have issued a
response to a plea made by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva,
who stepped in as an effort to save the life of Sakine Muhammed Ashtiyani,
a mother of two who has been sentenced to death in Iran on charges of
adultery: "You are very emotional!"

Mufti (Islamic jurist): "Face-Veiling Is Not Related to Islam" - The
banning of the face veil, which is spreading across Europe, has also come
onto the agenda of Syria.Recently, officials in Damascus also decided to
ban the wearing of the face veil in public and private universities, which
was becoming increasingly popular in recent years.

Love, Jealousy, Honor - During the month of July women of all ages
continued to be killed by men for reasons of "love," "jealousy," and
"honor."

&qu ot;PKK Represents the Essence of Mede Resistance" - Dr Gunes is now
busy transforming his PhD thesis explaining the rise of the Kurdish
national movement from the 1960s to today into a book that will be
published.

YXK (Student Union of Kurdistan) Members To Gather at Summer Camp - The
summer camp to be organized by the Student Union of Kurdistan for the
third time this year is scheduled to start on 15 August.

Kosovo Wants UN Membership - Kosovo, a country that declared its
independence from Serbia, also wants the UN to recognize its independence.

Intervention with Migrants - France's housing problem is continuing to
grow.While the rent on a one-room studio in Paris ranges between 500 and
1,500 Euros, finding a home has become extremely difficult, especially for
foreigners.

Biggest Oil Leak in History - Authorities in the US have announced that
the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico is the largest recorded oil leak of all
time.

Assassinat ion Orders From General - While General Petraeus is
concentrating his efforts on killing off the Taliban administration, the
President of Pakistan announced that NATO has lost the war.

This Time It Was Bullets That Rained Down From the Sky - While the number
of deaths in the flooding caused by the heavy rains of Pakistan has now
reached 1,400, at least 45 people were killed in acts of violence that
broke out in the Sindh State of Pakistan. Kurdish News:

Feyli Kurds - Thirty years ago a process of killing and exiling of Feyli
Kurds began.Even though many mass graves have been uncovered in Iraq since
2003, no one knows for sure what exactly happened to the 20,000 Feyli
Kurds!

Silence Pervades Kerkuk - It is noticeable that at the very time a census
is to be held in Iraq, Arabs begin to migrate toward Kirkuk.Both the Sunni
and Shia parties send Arabs to Kirkuk as a way to change the demographic
balance and Arabs begin to purchase real estate.This always ma kes the
Kurds very suspicious.

Dihe Again, 26 Years Later - 26 years after the first armed attack carried
on the Turkish army in Dihe, Sert, HPG guerrillas have now attacked a
police station.The guerrillas also carried out attacks in the town of
Salman in Akkus, Ordu.

KCD (Democratic Society Congress): "We Will Support Democratization" - At
the fourth general assembly of the KCD that was held between 7-8 August,
KCD Co-Chairman Yuksel Genc said that the actions they had carried out had
led them to an important and powerful position in terms of playing a role
in the finding of a solution to the Kurdish issue in Turkey.

"Government Organizing the Lynching Attacks" - Duran Kalkan, a member of
the Executive Council of the KCK, stated that attacks on the Kurdish
people are being organized by Interior Minister Besir Atalay.Kalkan said
that Besir Atalay is the head of the counter-guerrillas.

Kurds live in Siberia - Kurds who were for ced to migrate from their
homelands have spread to a wide geography around the world. "Rewiyen Sad"

(Happy Passengers) - Airplanes rain down bombs, and the sounds of
howitzers and mortars never seem to stop... Every day brings news of new
operations.

State Polluting Lake Wan - Lake Wan is being polluted by the sewage pumped
into it by state institutions that are doing nothing to protect the waters
of the lake. Ali Kalcik, a member of the Wan City Council, stated that the
coastal shoreline laws are being violated by the state institutions and it
is the state institutions that are polluting the lake.

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11) Back to Top
Writer Cla ims Nation 'Being Closed In' by US, Western 'Conspiracy'
Article by Mukhtar Ahmed Butt: "Talks With Taliban and Drone Attacks" -
Jang
Saturday August 7, 2010 18:36:11 GMT
The question arises: What should we do in this situation? Before finding a
solution to it, we will have to cast a look on the past. It is a fact that
there was complete peace in the tribal areas and Afghanistan before 9/11.
Suicide attacks started during former President General Musharraf's
regime, when he surrendered on a single telephone call by President Bush,
throwing Pakistan into a fire that does not appear to be extinguishing.
Rather, the flames of this fire are sparking at every place, inflicting
irreparable loss on us. Like a furious lion, the United States invaded
Afghanistan after Iraq and with all its might and the help of allied
forces it pushed millions of Muslims into the valley of death. It had
believed that it would conquer Afghanistan within a few days and then have
its way; however, the Taliban spoiled all their efforts.

We should accept the fact that Pakistan is being closed in under a
conspiracy, and in order to put Pakistanis into deeper trouble, pressure
is being mounted for a military operation in North Waziristan. US
political scholar Chomsky says that the United States is fanning extremism
under a plan. On one hand, drone attacks are being carried out, which is
intensifying terrorism. These attacks have become a major cause of
terrorism because mostly innocent people are being killed in these
attacks. Those who survive become suicide bombers. Obviously, when a
person loses all of his family members, he burns in the fire of revenge
and becomes ready to go to any length.

Besides, we have been trapped in the IMF in order to weaken our economy.
Today, we have become a deprived and begging nation. All that we need is
money; no matter how it comes. In such a situation, our heads will always
remain down and we will never be able to walk with raised heads.

We should not be speaking against the United States; the fault does not
lie with the United States. We do not have the courage to speak about
ourselves. Whenever their officials arrive in Pakistan, they make demands
of "do more" and return. During her recent visit to Pakistan, the US
secretary of state said that Osama bin Ladin was present in Pakistan. (In
reaction) we just say that if Osama is present in Pakistan, the United
States should tell where he is. Moreover, the Western press keeps
unleashing propaganda against us, claiming that ISI (Inter Services
Intelligence) has links with the Taliban and Pakistan is playing a double
game.

The question is: Why are our rulers silent? Why do they not tell them that
Pakistan has lost more in this war than the United States? Thousands of
our innocent citizens have been killed. Hundreds of troops have been
martyred. This has had a deep negative impact on our economy. We have so
far suffered a loss of around $45 billion. Our Army is still engaged
against militants. Pakistan is fully exchanging information. We are
complying with the US orders. We never raised any objections, be it the
military affairs or the IMF's dictation.

Wikileaks, a website which releases secret information on the Internet,
has brought to the fore the US military's dilemma over 90,000 secret
documents about Afghanistan. As a matter of fact, making these secret
documents public at this point of time means nothing but to put the blame
on Pakistan. These documents say that Pakistan and Iran are supporting the
Taliban in Afghanistan, and Pakistan's ISI has links with the Afghan
militants. The purpose is to prove true the allegations which they had
been leveling against Pakistan in the past.

Today, we have been closed in from all sides. The Afghan border is open.
The militants can enter Pakistan whenever they want, and also carry out
subversive acts anywhere they might wish. They are armed with modern
weapons -- something which has also been confirmed by our interior
minister. On the other hand, there are RAW (Research and Analysis Wing)
agents who are damaging Pakistan after entering Baluchistan. Some of our
political parties, too, have a different viewpoint over this. Yet, our
eyes are closed.

However, in view of this situation wherein we we have been closed in from
all sides, there is only one way to survive for us: we initiated
negotiations with Taliban who are not hardliners. We should make minimum
use of our Air Force, and also get the drone attacks stopped because they
are proving unproductive. On the contrary, they are doing the United
States a disservice, as only common people are being killed in these
attacks. Any delay will lead us to the path, which will be completely
dark.

(Description of Source: Rawalpindi Jang in Urdu  The War , an
influential, largest circulation newspaper in Pakistan, circulation of
300,000. One of the moderate Urdu newspapers, pro-free enterprise,
politically neutral, supports improvement in Pakistan-India relations)

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12) Back to Top
Pakistan, Afghanistan Sign Mou To Construct Rail Link
"Pakistan, Afghanistan Sign Mou To Construct Rail Link" -- KUNA Headline -
KUNA Online
Friday July 9, 2010 18:56:22 GMT
(KUWAIT NEWS AGENCY) - ISLAMABAD, July 9 (KUNA) -- Pakistan and
Afghanistan Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the
construction of a rail link between Peshawar and Jalalabad, capitals of
the two neighbors bordering provinces.The World Bank has shown interest to
provide a loan of USD 1.5 million to prepare the feasibility study for the
construction of a new rail link, said the MoU document, signed by Federal
Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour and Afghan Minister for
Finance Dr Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal.Under the MoU, Railway Minister told news
reporters, Pakistan would be responsible for the Peshawar-Torkham rail
Link and Afghanistan would be managing the Torkham-Jalalabad Link.He said
a joint declaration signed during the visit of Afghan President Hamid
Karzai to Pakistan in March this year had assigned priority to the
construction of the rail link from Peshawar to Jalalabad.The Pakistani
Minister said that the project is likely to support the capacity of 35
million tons of cargo annually and the railway system will be made
affordable, safe, secure and reliable. He added that Pakistan will prov
ide technical support -- including training of the railway management
team, engineers and technical personnel -- to the Afghan railway
authorities.(Description of Source: Kuwait KUNA Online in English --
Official news agency of the Kuwaiti Government; URL:
http://www.kuna.net.kw)

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holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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13) Back to Top
Afghan daily examines President Karzai's alleged meeting with Haqqani -
Arman-e Melli (National Aspiration)
Friday July 9, 2010 15:15:47 GMT
Haqqani

Excerpt from article, "What achievements will negotiations have on red
line?" by private Afghan newspape r Arman-e Melli on 5 JulyOnce again, the
Online News Agency has released a report about a meeting between Karzai
and Sarajoddin Haqqani, the hard-line Taleban group which works under the
guidance of the ISI, has bloody programmes and has also planned bloody
terror activities in Afghanistan, particularly in Kabul city. This comes
at a time when Mr Wahid Omar, presidential spokesman, has rejected reports
by some newspapers recently that, with the direct mediation of two senior
Pakistani intelligence officials, Gen Ashfaq Ahmad Khan Kayani and Ahmad
Shoja, Mr Karzai has met Sarajoddin Haqqani, son of Jalaloddin Haqqani, in
Kabul or somewhere else. Mr Omar said the report is just rumour spread by
news sources.This news clarifies the point that Karzai's secret
negotiations with Sarajoddin Haqqani, a senior Taleban commander, who has
close ties with Al-Qa'idah, were carried out after Barrack Obama's hurried
meeting with Leon Panetta, CIA Director.Mr Karzai has reached the conclusi
on that, before it is too late, he should save Afghanistan from the
dangerous situation. Afghanistan has been suffering for several years now,
so he sees the solution on a path between Kabul and Islamabad.(Passage
omitted: Talks more on this issue)The Online News Agency adds that nobody
knows exactly which issues were discussed during the secret meeting
between Karzai and Haqqani mediated by some officials from Islamabad.
There should be some kind of speculation to go into the depths of these
negotiations, particularly the fact that both sides have denied such a
meeting.(Passage omitted: general comment about Pakistan's mediation in
the meeting between Karzai and Haqqani)According to Online News Agency,
there are several factors which have made Karzai reach this decision, but
the important one refers to NATO's inability to eliminate the Taleban in
Afghanistan. The removal of Gen Stanley McChrystal, who had been able to
maintain good views with Karzai in this regard, is anoth er serious sign
of disagreement between Karzai and the White House and, once again, it
persuades this Pashtun president (Karzai) to think more about its domestic
sources.(Passage omitted: general comment).Through Pakistan, Karzai has
been informed that the US presence in Afghanistan is not long-term and
that sooner or later the Americans will put all the responsibilities on Mr
Karzai's shoulders. This will cause Mr Karzai to feel the need for a
supporter. Therefore, he does not see a strong supporter except the
Pakistani government, which is the spiritual father of the
Taleban.(Passage omitted: Afghan people's confusions about Afghan
government policies.)The Afghan people want the international powers and
those countries whose soldiers are losing their lives for the stability of
this country to act honestly and decisively. They also want them to think
through and prepare their defensive programmes from the
beginning.(Description of Source: Kabul Arman-e Melli (National Aspir
ation) in Dari -- Four-page independent daily with broad coverage of
domestic political issues, including interviews with political figures.
Also carries international, science health issues, and readers' letters,
some of which are critical of the government.)

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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14) Back to Top
Editorial Says Zardari Failed To Educate UKs Cameron About Pakistan
Concerns
Editorial: Still Uneducated - The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 09:15:44 GMT
Sunday, August 08, 2010

Brave words need to be followed by brave deeds. Our president had vowed to
'educate' British Prime Minister David Cameron at their meeting at
Chequers on Friday, but it would seem that suddenly education was off the
agenda. There was very little educating going on and rather a lot of the
recycling of diplomatic platitudes that were bland and largely
meaningless. There was talk of the 'unbreakable' relationship with the UK
- which given the fact that there are over a million Britons of Pakistani
origin is fairly safe ground. The joint statement - not a press
conference, far too dangerous with all those feral journalists with their
pens sharpened and questions at the ready - had a Zardari classic embedded
within it. "I'm looking forward to a relationship where Britain supports
Pakistan around the world" - which for sheer vacuity wins this week's
award for emptiness. The very last thing these two men wanted was any sort
of meaningful dialogue that would shine a light on the true nature of
their relationship or what actually passed between them when they met.<
br>
Once again we are left with the sense that our president has risen to yet
greater heights of mediocrity, and his callow failure to 'educate' Mr
Cameron as promised is yet another reason why accidental presidents rarely
make good presidents. Simply, our president is no statesman. He may be the
head of state but it is an office to which he brings the qualities of a
gambler, a chancer. A man more concerned for himself than the state he
heads and for Mr Zardari the main event of this trip is going to be the
PPP rally at the Birmingham International Conference Centre on Saturday.
This was due to be his son's coronation as chairman of the PPP, but
Bilawal perhaps wisely has begun to put a little distance between himself
and his father and announced that he will not be attending the rally but
instead be at a fundraising event for flood victims at the Pakistan High
Commission. So what came of the meeting? A commitment to visiting Pakistan
by Mr Cameron on a near but unspecifi ed date, a similar visit by Theresa
May, the current British home secretary, and a commitment for ten million
pounds to help the victims of the worst disaster this country has faced in
its entire history. Beyond that, next to nothing. Mr Zardari is reported
to have said that if he had realised the scale of the floods in his
country he would have cancelled his visit to the UK and France. Statesmen
tend to be wise before the event, Mr Zardari, not after it. Mr Cameron
remains uneducated, and at a conservative estimate there are 14 million
flood affectees -- and we do wonder, oh yes we do wonder, just how much
this junket has cost the nation. Care to share the details with us, Mr
President?

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
re lated to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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15) Back to Top
Qatari Charity Foundation Allots 30 Millions Riyals for Ramadan Projects
Report by Anwar Elshamy: "Charity Allots QR30Mn for Ramadan Projects" -
Gulf Times Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 11:54:23 GMT
Of the total amount, some QR15mn has been allotted for local charitable
activities including the serving of daily Iftar meals in 14 locations
throughout Qatar to feed 100,000 low-income workers, including
non-Muslims.

"We do not m ind non-Muslim expatriates being part of our programme since
it is mainly a humanitarian initiative. They are welcome and we will be
happy for that," Raf director general Ayed al-Qahtani said.

Addressing a press conference, al-Qahtani said Raf was co-ordinating with
other local charities to avoid erecting two Iftar tents in a single
area."We have full co-ordination with the other charities implementing
similar projects to ensure that no waste of food will happen," he said.

To enhance ties among expatriate communities, a huge tent would be set up
in the Al Arabi Sports Club to host an Iftar programme for eight different
nationalities, al-Qahtani said.

The breakfast will be followed by lectures by Traffic Department officials
on safety rules."This is a new initiative which will help us to promote
ties with expatriate communities in Qatar as well as bringing them
together," he added.

The organisation will also give cash and o ther aid to 1,255 local
low-income families.About the charity's projects abroad, the official said
the Iftar programme would be implemented in 33 countries including Sudan,
Palestine, Ethiopia, Comoros, Eritrea, Chad, Djibouti, Somalia, Rwanda,
India, Nepal, Pakistan and Albania.

"We would like to maintain a link with Muslims around the world especially
those who are experiencing difficulties or living in non-Muslim
countries," he added.

Also, QR3.5mn in aid would be sent for flood victims in Pakistan.Last
week, the Zakat Fund, a local charity, announced a plan to provide Iftar
meals to more than 200,000 low-income workers during Ramadan.The Fund
allocated some QR4mn for the Ramadan initiative.

(Description of Source: Doha Gulf Times Online in English -- Website of
independent newspaper with close ties to the ruling family; sister
publication of influential daily Al-Rayah; focuses on domestic affairs;
URL: http://www.gulf-times.com/)

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16) Back to Top
Afghan paper urges coalition forces to honour commitments and crush
Taleban - Arman-e Melli (National Aspiration)
Thursday July 8, 2010 04:58:55 GMT
crush Taleban

Text of editorial in Dari headlined "Problem of terrorism can be resolved
militarily" and published by private Afghan newspaper Arman-e Melli on 6
JulyReports say that a number of American Republican senators have
criticized the scheduled withdrawal of American forces in July 2011. They
are reported to have said that American troops should withdraw on the
basis of realities of w ar and not according to a timetable.These senators
and a number of American political personalities have realized that if
their forces withdraw on the basis of an ultimatum, Taleban and Al-Qaidah
will become bolder in their activities and feel victorious.We believe that
if international forces rid themselves of the burden of war in Afghanistan
and disregard realities of the war, Taleban and Al-Qaidah will recapture
not only Afghanistan but also the region and we will once again enter the
vicious cycle. All these programmes and money spent under the banner of
war on terrorism will go to waste as this region and especially
Afghanistan will once again seriously threaten international security.If
international forces lacked the ability to fight against terrorism, they
should not have boasted about their abilities from the outset and they
should not have toyed with the lives of hundreds of their soldiers.Now
that the so-called Afghanistan war has cost billions of dollars and the
blood of foreign forces has been shed on the deserts and mountains of
Afghanistan, these countries should achieve the goal they set for
themselves and defeat the terrorists.In order to achieve this goal,
international forces should put pressure on the Pakistani intelligence
agencies and Arab sheikhs who maintain close ties with terrorists and who
financially support and organize them. They should ask for help from the
people of Afghanistan who have experienced a government of terrorists and
hate them. There is no other way but to militarily fight with and crush
those Taleban who refuse to accept the constitution of Afghanistan, and
reject calls for peace which emphasize on war, bloodshed and destruction
of the country. If Taleban are weakened and if their supporters conclude
that it is extremely difficult or impossible for their servants in
Afghanistan to win, terrorists will choose to negotiate.(Description of
Source: Kabul Arman-e Melli (National Aspiration) in Dari -- Fou r-page
independent daily with broad coverage of domestic political issues,
including interviews with political figures. Also carries international,
science health issues, and readers' letters, some of which are critical of
the government.)

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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17) Back to Top
Bangladesh Press 08 Aug 10
The following is a selection of highlights from Bangladesh press on 08 Aug
10 - Bangladesh -- OSC Summary
Sunday August 8, 2010 12:56:57 GMT
(Description of Source: Dhaka Dainik Janakantha in Bangali - Lone
multi-edition Bengali daily, with an estimated circulation of 100,000. Pro
-Awami League and known for critical investigative reports on radical
Islamic groups.) Education Minister Urges Educational Institutions To Be
Active To Resist Terrorism, Militancy

The Dainik Inqilab publishes an unattributed report entitled "All
Educational Institutions Must Be Active To Resist Terrorism, Militancy,
Says Education Minister." The report says education minister Nurul Islam
Nahid urged the country's educational institutions to be active to resist
terrorism and militancy as the menace "has emerged as a serious threat to
the entire humanity." The report says the minister made the call at a
seminar in Government Titumir College in Dhaka on 7 August. According to
the report, the minister told the seminar that the religion never approves
killing, bombing, terrorism and anarchy. Therefore, such activities should
not be condoned in the name of religion, he added.

(Description of Source: Dhaka Dainik Inqilab in Bengali - Pro-Islamic d
aily; editorial policy is pro-Islamic, anti-secular and generally opposes
Indian and western policies.) Ruling BAL Leader Says Money Coming From
Abroad To Protect War Criminals of 1971 Liberation War

The Dainik Inqilab publishes an unattributed report entitled "Huge Money
Comes From Foreign Countries To Save War Criminals, Sajeda Chowdhury
Allege." The report says Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, deputy leader in
parliament and a presidium member of ruling Bangladesh Awami league (BAL),
alleged that big amounts of money started coming into the country from
abroad to save the war criminals. According to the report, the ruling
party leader made the allegation while addressing a seminar organized by
Bangladesh Aboriginal Forum in Dhaka on 7 August 2010 in observance of
Aboriginal Day. The report says, the Sajeda Chowdhury that multifaceted
conspiracies are on to thwart the trial process of the war criminals of
the 1971 Liberation War. A vested quarter is trying to destr oy the
democratic forces in the country as part of the conspiracy. Junior Law
Minister Urges Pakistan To Try 'Identified War Criminals' of 1971
Liberation War

The Dainik Sangram publishes an unattributed report entitled "195
Identified War Criminals Sent Back To Pakistan Through Simla Pact, Says
State Minister For Law." The report says Advocate Kamrul Islam, junior
minister for law, said that 195 "identified war criminals" of 1971
liberation war were sent back to Pakistan through the tripartite Simla
treaty among Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. Pakistan cannot avoid the
responsibility of holding trials of those war criminals, he said.
According to the report, Kamrul Islam made the remarks at a discussion
meeting in Dhaka on 7 August 2010. The junior minister urged Pakistan to
tr y the "identified war criminals" and said that Bangladesh would not be
responsible, if they are not tried.

(Description of Source: Dhaka Dainik Sangram in Bangali - Daily newspaper
published by the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami party.) Commentary Urges
India To Shun 'Colonial Attitude' for Confidence Building Between Two
Neighbors

The Dainik Sangram publishes a commentary by Asif Arsalan entitled "At
Last Faruk Khan Says India Have To Shed Colonial Attitude." The commentary
says Faruk Khan, commerce minister of the government, at last admitted
that all assurances given to Dhaka by New Delhi in reducing bilateral
trade imbalance will turn valueless if India does not fulfill its
commitments. The minister also referred to Clause 32 of India-Bangladesh
joint communique issued in New Delhi in January 2010 that called for
removing all tariff and non tariff barriers, and said that India was
unwilling to reduce the trade gap. The commentary says Dr Moshiur Rahman,
economic adviser to the prime minister, also echoed sentiment of the
commerce minister. Rahman also commented that Bangladesh, being a least
developed coun try, cannot compete with a giant economy like India, if
they continue imposing duties on our products. The commentary says the two
countries have long been suffering from lack of confidence in undertaking
measures to minimize the widening trade gap. Now India will have to shun
its colonial attitude for confidence building by taking steps to reduce
the trade gap, the editorial says.

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18) Back to Top
Indian Army Kills Militant Guide, 'Pushed Back' 5 Infiltrators at Kashmir
Border
Unattributed report: "Guide Killed, 5 Infiltrators Pushed Back" - Daily
Excelsior Online
Monday August 9, 2010 04:43:55 G MT
JAMMU, Aug 8: A guide was killed while a group of five militants, he was
escorting, retrieved to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) after troops
opened firing on observing movement of the infiltrators at Rustam Post of
5 Maratha Li in forward area of Mankote in Mendhar sector of Poonch
district this afternoon.Body of the unidentified guide has been recovered
from the Line of Control (LoC) along with one pistol, one magazine and six
rounds, SSP Poonch Manmohan Singh said, adding the guide was local and his
identity was being ascertained.Troops observed movement of five militants,
being led by a guide, trying to intrude into Indian territory from the LoC
near 5 Maratha Li's Rustam Post under the cover of thick fog this
evening.The Army personnel opened firing to neutralize the militants. As
the guide was killed on spot in firing by the Army, the militants were
reported to have retrieved to PoK.However, troops continued searches in
the forward areas along Mankote to ensure that no militant managed to
intrude into this side.Sources said the militants had been pushed into
this side from Pakistan for the infiltration taking cover of hostile
weather conditions but their attempt has been foiled.

(Description of Source: Jammu Daily Excelsior Online in English -- Website
of independent daily providing comprehensive reporting on Kashmir issues.
Advocates hardline Indian stance against Pakistan on Kashmir. Circulation
of 150,000; URL: www.dailyexcelsior.com)

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holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

19) Back to Top
Korean Tourists Stranded by Flash Flood in India - Chosun Ilbo Online
Monday August 9, 2010 03:57:35 GMT
About 100 Korean tourists have been stranded by a flash flood in the
tourist district of Leh in northern India.According to the Korean Foreign
Ministry on Sunday, roads to the area have been swept away due to
torrential rains that hit the region on Saturday, leaving thousands of
travelers from around the world marooned.The tourists are being supplied
with water and food by the Indian government and their lives are not in
danger.Leh, located near the border of India and Pakistan, is known for
its beautiful hiking and trekking routes.

(Description of Source: Seoul Chosun Ilbo Online in English -- English
website carrying English summaries and full translations of vernacular
hard copy items of the largest and oldest daily Chosun Ilbo, which is
conservative in editorial orientation -- strongly nationalistic,
anti-North Korea, and generally pro-US; URL: http://english.chosun.com)

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20) Back to Top
Chinese Town Hit by Mudslides, 127 Die, Thousands Missing
Article by Class='subhead'&gt;reuters And Afp, Beijing from the "Front"
page: "Chinese Town Hit by Mudslides, 127 Die, Thousands Missing" - Taipei
Times Online
Monday August 9, 2010 00:50:11 GMT
REUTERS AND AFP, BEIJING

Monday, Aug 09, 2010, Page 1

Mudslides engulfed a town in northwest China yesterday, killing 127 people
and leaving perhaps 2,000 residents missing as rescue teams dug through
crushed homes and blasted away debris clogging a river val ley.

The mudslides and flooding hit Zhouqu County in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous
Prefecture in Gansu Province, an area dominated by steep and barren hills,
after torrential rains late on Saturday, Xinhua news agency said, citing
local officials.Runoff from the downpour banked up behind a landslide in
the narrow valley on the Bailong River near the main town in Zhouqu.The
clogged river coursing through the town triggered flooding and mudslides
that struck there after midnight, smashed a small hydro station, and left
at least 96 dead, Xinhua and Chinese television reported.The disaster
follows flooding in Pakistan that has killed more than 1,600 people and in
the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Flash floods have killed at least
132 people in the Himalayan region of Ladakh.China's death toll could rise
sharply as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao headed to the scene.More than 2,000
people were missing, one Xinhua report said, but later news reports said
officials were still tr ying to arrive at an estimate of the
missing.Rescue officials told Chinese television the mud and wreckage made
it impossible to use heavy machinery."Many single-story homes have been
wiped out and now we're waiting to see how many people got out," one
resident of Zhouqu, a merchant called Han -Jiangping, told reporters by
phone. "We've had landslides before, but never anything this bad. People
are trying to find their families and waiting for more rescuers."At one
point, the flooding covered about half of the Zhouqu County town, which
has about 40,000 residents, and inundated a nearby village of 300
families, state media said. The flood water reached up to three stories
high on some buildings.About 2,800 troops and a hundred medical workers
were sent to help, Xinhua said."Now the sludge has become the biggest
problem to rescue operations. It's too thick to walk or drive through,"
said the head of the county, Diemujiangteng, according to Xinhua.
(Description of Source: Taipei Taipei Times Online in English -- Website
of daily English-language sister publication of Tzu-yu Shih-pao (Liberty
Times), generally supports pan-green parties and issues; URL:
http://www.taipeitimes.com)

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Commerce.

21) Back to Top
Earthquake Reconstruction, Rehabilitation Work Facing Financial Crunch
Report by staff correspondent: "Amid more promises, Erra stops work on
ongoing projects" - The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 11:48:21 GMT
ISLAMABAD: At a time when the federal and provincial governments are
begging for aid from local and international donors for the flood victims,
the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) has
stopped reconstruction work in the 2005 earthquake-hit areas in the AJK
and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it is learnt.

Official documents reveal that because of scarcity of funds, Erra has
decided to immediately stop any further work on all ongoing projects in
the AJK and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Only a limited number of Kuwait funded and German debt swap projects
would, however, continue.

The timing of this decision of Erra, which is part of the prime minister's
own secretariat, is classic for the reason that the federal government is
showing disrespect to the promises made with the earthquake victims
precisely when it is making tall claims to the ongoing flood victims.

The Erra spokesperson, Shazia Haris, however, confirmed that the
reconstruction work faces a serious financial crunch but insisted that the
ongoing projects are not being halted whereas new projects would not be
started till the receipt of additional funding from the government.

She said that Erra is presently in negotiation with the government to get
the promised funds.

The Erra documents, as available with The News, however, unambiguously
convey that the ongoing projects have been stopped. An Erra letter dated
Aug 5, 2010 conveying minutes of 5th meeting of the committee to review
the development budget/expenditure plans of 2010-11, says in para 2. "DG
P-II gave a presentation on Manpower Rationalization Plan of NESPAK. Four
different plans/options were discussed. The Committee approved Plan "A"
i.e. (i) No further work on all ongoing projects; (ii) Completion of
tendering phase; and (iii) Resident-supervision of City Development,
Kuwait funded and German Debt Swap Projects."

Sources said that this unexpected decision of Erra, which operates
directly under the Prime Minister's Secretariat's public w ing, has
nothing to do with the ongoing flood devastation but is connected with the
federal government's inability to provide even the budgeted money to the
Erra for the reconstruction of the earthquake affected areas.

"This decision would have extremely negative impact and would serve like
letting hundreds of millions going down the drain which has already been
spent in many ongoing projects but could not be completed now," an Erra
source said, adding that the projects, which has been stopped forthwith,
include the construction of roads, bridges, health and education
facilities, building of schools, colleges, basic health units etc.

These ongoing projects, the source said, include schemes, which are near
to completion or have more than 50 per cent construction work done.

The Erra, which was requiring Rs30 billion during the current fiscal year
for the reconstruction work, was promised Rs10 billion in the 2010-11
fiscal year but was later intim ated by the government that it would be
given only Rs1 billion during this year that initially led to slashing
within Erra and now ended up in the closure of even ongoing schemes.

Such is the situation with Erra now that it has started even disposal and
auction of its assets including vehicles, furniture, fixtures and
equipments. Even an Erra letter dated August 5, 2010 talked to closure of
certain wings and officers of Erra as part of its rationalisation
exercise.

"It does not matter whether Erra stays or dissolved but what is really
shocking is the federal government's decision to; leave halfway the
affectees of earthquake at a time when it is making tall claims about the
relief and rehabilitation of the ongoing flood affectees," a source said,
adding that this latest decision of the government would badly hamper the
government appeal for donation for flood affectees.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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22) Back to Top
Poll Shows Almost Half Complain of Over 8 Hours of Load Shedding
Unattributed report: "Almost Half Of All Pakistanis (43%) Complain Of More
Than 8 Hours Of Load Shedding In Their Locality" - Gallup Pakistan
Monday August 9, 2010 05:21:52 GMT
(Description of Source: Islamabad Gallup Pakistan in English -- Website of
Pakistan's "most respected" opinion and socioeconomic research
organization. Established in 1980, it is an affiliate of Gallup
International and has close collaboration with Gallup associates around
the globe; URL: http://www.gallup.com.pk)

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23) Back to Top
Muttahida Qaumi Movement Behind Target Killings in Karachi
Unattributed report: "We Were Directed To Target Pashtun Properties: MQM's
Arrested Members Confess" - Nawa-e Waqt
Monday August 9, 2010 04:53:03 GMT
belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), on the charges of setting
ablaze the businesses of Pashto-speaking (community) people in
Gulistan-e-Johar, Karachi.

The terrorists of MQM have disclosed that the torching was committed on
the direction of Gulistan-e-Johar sector (MQM leadership). According to
the police sources, the arrested terrorists disclosed that after the
murder of Raza Haider they received orders from the unit that they have to
torch the shops and hotels of Pashto-speaking community in their
respective areas.

The accused told that chemical unit G6/B was supplied to them for torching
the property. They have given the names of their eight important
accomplices who are involved in the targeted killings of Gulistan-e-Johar.

(Description of Source: Rawalpindi Nawa-e Waqt in Urdu -- Privately owned,
widely read, conservative Islamic daily, with circulation around 125,000.
Harshly critical of the US and India.)

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holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

24) Back to Top
Terror Suspect Wanted by US
"Terror Suspect Wanted by US" -- KUNA Headline - KUNA Online
Thursday July 8, 2010 10:02:29 GMT
(KUWAIT NEWS AGENCY) - LONDON, July 8 (KUNA) -- A suspected al Qaida
terrorist accused of planning attacks in Britain and America was back in
police custody Thursday over a bid to extradite him to the US, police
said. Abid Naseer, who was held last year over a suspected bomb plot in
the north west of England, was arrested in the north east yesterday
afternoon after United States authorities issued a warrant. He was brought
to Lond on for a late-night extradition hearing at City of Westminster
Magistrates Court, where he was remanded in custody. Pakistan-born Naseer,
24, was one of 12 men arrested in April last year during counter-terrorism
raids in Liverpool and Manchester. He was released without charge and in
May won the right to stay in Britain when a judge ruled his safety could
not be guaranteed if he was returned to Pakistan. Last night, the court
heard Nasser was accused of planning attacks on Manchester city centre and
communicating with al Qaida leaders behind the plot. Melanie Cumberland,
for the US government, said he was alleged to have been an al Qaida
operative who participated in a conspiracy to blow up Western targets,
motivated by "deeply held religious beliefs". She said: "The conspiracy
was co-ordinated by al Qaida leaders in Pakistan. The targets were in the
US and in the UK. "Naseer's particular involvement in the conspiracy is
alleged to be that he and a numbe r of associates prepared to carry out
attacks between 15 and 20 April in Manchester city centre." The US
revealed it was bringing charges against Naseer and four other suspects
over an alleged terrorist conspiracy. Bearded Naseer, who spoke only to
confirm his name and date of birth, was remanded in custody after the
20-minute hearing. Miss Cumberland told the court he allegedly went to
Pakistan in September 2008, remaining there until November 2008 and making
contact with a UK-based associate who assisted him in preparations for the
UK attack. Using coded emails, Naseer continued to communicate with a man
known as "Ahmad" who was in contact with al Qaida after his return to
Britain, the court heard. It is alleged Naseer and his associate carried
out reconnaissance at potential target locations and took photos to
Pakistan while he told Ahmad to be "ready" for the "wedding" between April
15 and 20. He is accused of supporting a foreign terro rist organisation
and conspiracy to use a destructive device. "Naseer appears to be the
point of contact for the conspiracy insofar as it related to the UK," Miss
Cumberland said. The plot was foiled on April 8 last year, she added.
Setting out US objections to any future bail application, Miss Cumberland
told the court Naseer posed a "significant threat" to the national
security of the UK. She said: "He is a key part of the UK conspiracy. "The
allegation is he is deeply involved in these activities." Deputy Chief
Magistrate Daphne Wickham adjourned the hearing until Wednesday July 14 to
allow Naseer to consult his lawyers over a possible bail
application.(Description of Source: Kuwait KUNA Online in English --
Official news agency of the Kuwaiti Government; URL:
http://www.kuna.net.kw)

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25) Back to Top
Xinhua 'Roundup': Pakistan, NGOs Move To Prevent Spread of Diseases in
Flood-Hit Areas
Xinhua "Roundup" by Muhammad Tahir : "Pakistan, NGOs Move To Prevent
Spread of Diseases in Flood-Hit Areas" - Xinhua
Sunday August 8, 2010 15:39:15 GMT
ISLAMABAD, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani government, international and
local health groups are stepping up efforts to prevent water-borne
diseases from spreading in the country's flood- affected areas.

According to official statistics, over 14 million people including an
estimated 1.4 million children across the country have been affected by
the floods that have hit the country over the last couple of weeks. The
flood-affected area s in the country include the northwest province of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, central Punjab, southern Sindh province and the
Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.Government officials said that medical teams
have been dispatched to every district with adequate medicines. They have
sprayed pesticides and dispersed lime in the affected areas. But people in
the affected areas complained that they have not been given enough and
proper medical care.The World Health Organization (WHO) says major health
concerns at the moment are the control of water-borne diseases, including
diarrhoeal diseases and respiratory infections, treating the injured,
helping to ensure the quality of clean drinking water and ensuring public
access to health facilities with the emphasis on increasing the number of
female health workers."The people are in dire need of clean water to
prevent diseases, " said Naeem Khan, a volunteer at a camp by charity
"Al-Khidnat" at Nowshera, an affected district in Kh yber
Pakhtunkhwa.Mashaal Mehsud, a spokesperson for the National Disaster
Management Authority said the government with the resources available is
trying to prevent diseases among the affected children.WHO says that the
floods are placing the health of hundreds of thousands of people at risk,
with a high threat of water-borne disease outbreaks and immense damage to
health facilities. It says WHO is coordinating the response of health
partners and supporting Pakistani authorities by sending medicines and
related health supplies capable of treating more than 200,000 people to
the affected areas in the northwest region of the country.Ezat Khan, who
was running a clinic at the flood-devastated Azakhel Afghan refugee camp
in Nowshehra, told Xinhua that the affected children urgently need
vaccination as the water in the camp is very dirty.According to WHO, about
46 out of Pakistan's 135 districts have been affected by the flooding. At
least 39 health facilities have been destroyed , resulting in a loss of
tons of medicines. There is a tremendous need for more medical and related
materials to treat people affected by the floods and children need to be
immunized particularly against polio and measles, says WHO.(Description of
Source: Beijing Xinhua in English -- China's official news service for
English-language audiences (New China News Agency))

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26) Back to Top
India opposes US 'blank cheque' to Pakistan - PTI News Agency
Sunday August 8, 2010 13:08:03 GMT
Text of report by Indian news agency PTINew Delhi, 8 August: India has
conveyed its concern to the US over arms sales to Pakistan and is against
giving a "blank cheque" to Islamabad which could use the sophisticated
weapons against it as it did in the past."We have shared our concerns with
Washington. We have said all along that Pakistan cannot be given a blank
cheque in such matters," Indian Foreign Secretary Nirpama Rao said.She
said that assistance extended to Pakistan "ostensibly for
counter-insurgency and counterterrorism operations could very well be used
against India as the history of the last sixty years goes".The US is
"increasingly aware, and alert, and attentive" to India's concern on this
issue, Rao told Karan Thapar in "Devil's Advocate" programme on
CNN-IBN.Apart from the sale of F-16s worth 1.43bn dollars, the US is also
financing 477m dollars for almost 60 mid-life update kits for its older
fleet of F-16s A or B combat aircraft and financing part of 115 M-109
self-propelled howitzers.Pakist an is also getting 20 AH-1F Cobra attack
helicopters and 121 refurbished TOW missile launchers from the US,
according to Pakistani media reports."Washington is very attentive to our
concerns. We have continued our dialogue on this issue. We are engaged in
a constant communication with the United States on these issues. And I
believe that the United States is increasingly aware, and alert, and
attentive to these concerns," Rao said.Asked why the US arms sales to
Pakistan is continuing, she said: "Well there is a situation now in
Afghanistan and there is the involvement of the United States in that
situation, and Pakistan is involved in that entire operation. So, there is
a certain context now in which all this is placed. But nonetheless, our
concerns about it have been articulated very clearly to the Americans,"
Rao said.She underlined that the India-US strategic ties were important
but at the same time emphasized that India was not dependant on a third co
untry for engaging in talks with Pakistan."I think the strategic
partnership with the United States of America is of undoubted importance,
there are no two opinions about that, and the cooperation that we have
engaged in with the United States in a number of sectors including
counterterrorism is being taken forward.""...we are not dependent on any
third country when it comes to transacting relations with Pakistan. We
deal directly with Pakistan, and bilateral issues are taken up bilaterally
with that country," Rao said when asked whether it is still sensible for
India to rely on the US to curb Pakistan.(Description of Source: New Delhi
PTI News Agency in English )

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27) Back to Top</ a>
Militant Commander Killed, Two Injured in Mohmand Agency Blast
APP report: Militant commander killed - The Nation Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 11:58:28 GMT
PESHAWAR (APP) - A militant commander was killed and his two other
accomplices sustained injuries in a road side explosion at Linear tehsil
Safi, Mohmand Agency.

According to details the militant commander and his accomplices were
planting explosive when it blown up resulting in the killing of the
commander and injuring his two companions.

The spokesman of the militants had termed the report as incorrect and
baseless saying that their only one accomplice has been injured while
cleaning his gun. In another incident some unknown armed men kidnapped two
livestock loaded pick ups along with five people. The kidnapped were also
included two drivers Omar and Pathan.

The alleged kidnappers were in the uniform of the traditional Khasadar
Force. No one has accepted the responsibility of the kidnapping so far. In
third incident two persons were injured in collision between a vehicle of
security forces and a passenger vehicle.

The injured have been shifted to hospital for first-aid.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The Nation Online in English -- Website
of a conservative daily, part of the Nawa-i-Waqt publishing group.
Circulation around 20,000; URL: http://www.nation.com.pk)

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28) Back to Top
Religious Group to Protest Against Suicide Attacks on Shrine in Lahore
Report by staff correspondent: & quot;Religious alliance to protest
against Data Darbar attacks" - The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 11:37:14 GMT
LAHORE: The Sunni Ittehad Council will hold the National Peace Conference
and sit-in at every cost to condemn the gory incident of Data Darbar and
the Punjab government should avoid obstructing the religious activists,
said Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman, MNA Sahibzada Fazal Karim on
Saturday.

Addressing a press conference after chairing the meeting of the council,
Sahibzada Fazal Karim, who was flanked by other leaders of the council,
expressed dissatisfaction over the committee formed to probe the Data
attacks, saying the Punjab government was not serious in resolving the
issue.

He stated that the council had extended all-out support to the PML-N in
the movement for the restoration of judiciary but the party had left them
high and dry.

He went on to say that the PML-N had not fulfilled the 23 demands put
forward by the council before the Chehlum of Data Darbar martyrs. What the
government had done was merely form a committee, with Sardar Zulfiqar Ali
Khan Khosa in the chair, which had met only twice so far, he added.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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29) Back to Top
Doors Open For India's Participation In Gas Pipeline Project - Fars News
Agency
Sunday August 8, 2010 11:27:10 GMT
intervention)

Iran: Doors Open for India's Participation in Gas Pipeline ProjectTEHRAN
(FNA)- Tehran announced that the deal on the multi-billion-dollar pipeline
project for exporting Iran's gas to Pakistan provides India with the
chance to participate in the Project."There is an article in the gas
transfer deal between Iran and Pakistan, predicting the extension of the
pipeline to India should the country be ready to join the project," Iran's
Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Ali Fathollahi said in a press conference
in Delhi on Saturday."The gas project was initially supposed to involve
Iran and Pakistan as well as India, but the project's delay affected the
investment's plans so that it started with the presence of Iran an d
Pakistan," Fathollahi added.India has stayed out of the
Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline (also known as the Peace Pipeline)
project because of its failure to strike a deal on transmission rates with
Pakistan.Meantime, insecurities in Pakistan are said to be another
stumbling block to India's participation in the project as envisaged at
early stages of talks.But after talks between Iran's Foreign Minister
Manouchehr Mottaki and senior Indian officials last November, Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh reportedly reiterated New Delhi's commitment to go
ahead with the three-nation gas pipeline project.In March, Tehran and
Islamabad signed a final agreement to launch implementation of a project
for exporting Iran's rich gas reserves to the energy-hungry south-Asian
nation.The 2700-kilometer long pipeline was to supply gas for Pakistan and
India which are suffering a lack of energy sources, but India later evaded
talks. Last year Iran and Pakistan declared they would fina lize the
agreement bilaterally if India continued to be absent in
meetings.According to the project proposal, the pipeline will begin from
Iran's Assalouyeh Energy Zone in the south and stretch over 1,100 km
through Iran. In Pakistan, it will pass through Baluchistan and Sindh but
officials now say the route may be changed if China agrees to the
project.The gas will be supplied from the South Pars field. The initial
capacity of the pipeline will be 22 billion cubic meters of natural gas
per annum, which is expected to be later raised to 55 billion cubic
meters. It is expected to cost $7.4 billion.(Description of Source: Tehran
Fars News Agency in English -- hardline pro-Ahmadinezhad news agency;
headed as of December 2007 by Hamid Reza Moqaddamfar, who was formerly an
IRGC cultural officer; www.fars.ir)

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30) Back to Top
Torrential Rains Impede Flood Relief Operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Unattributed report: "Downpours hamper flood relief efforts" - The News
Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 11:42:18 GMT
SOOMRA PANHWARI: Torrential rains frustrated aid efforts in the country on
Saturday, with some helicopters grounded as authorities battled to help 15
million people affected by the countryis worst-ever floods.

Military rescue workers were rushing to evacuate families in various
areas, where disaster officials were on red alert for a major deluge that
could burst the banks of the swollen Indus River.

Fresh downpours hammered north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where
some helicopter services ferrying aid were suspended until the bad weather
subsided, although forecasters said there would be at least two days more
rain.

"The situation is bad, particularly in the Swat valley, and we have
advised people in low-lying areas to vacate their homes as river water
levels are rising," said Adnan Ahmed, a provincial official.

The UN's special envoy dispatched to help with the floods cancelled a
flight to stricken areas, and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani also
postponed his trip for a day because of the rains. Those uprooted from
their homes in Sindh have been moved to relief shelters in government
buildings, schools and tents, but many families in low-lying areas
resisted evacuation, said Irrigation Minister Sindh Jam Saifullah Dharejo.

"I didn't want to leave but when the water levels got high and we were
hungry and couldn't cook anything... my brother told me we should leave,"
said Najma Bibi, 30, as she searched for food with her eigh t-year-old
son.

"My brother is back in our village trying to protect the wheat stocks, our
clothes and other things in our home and we hope he will join us later,"
she said.

Prime Minister Gilani has appealed for immediate international help to
cope with the country's worst-ever floods, which have affected 15 million
people nationwide, according to the national disaster management
authority.

The UN estimates at least 1,600 people have been killed by the floods that
have ravaged the largely impoverished, insurgency-hit country, sweeping
away entire villages.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, head of flood relief operations Major General
Ghayoor Mehmood has said some 1,400 people have been killed, with 213
still missing. More than 252,000 homes are thought to have been damaged or
destroyed across Pakistan and 1.38 million acres (558,000 hectares) of
crop land flooded, and it could take weeks before electricity is fully
restored. The flooding has thre atened electricity generation plants,
forcing units to shut down in a country already suffering a crippling
energy crisis.

In Punjab, a senior government official said water had entered an oil
refinery unit, oil depot and a power generation plant, with workers being
forced to leave their homes in the area.

Survivors have lashed out at authorities for failing to come to their
rescue and provide better relief, piling pressure on a cash-strapped
administration straining to contain Taliban violence and an economic
crisis. Particular scorn has been heaped on President Asif Ali Zardari for
pressing ahead with a visit to Europe at the height of the disaster.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against te rrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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31) Back to Top
Foreign Minister Says 22 Countries Have Promised to Help Flood Victims
Unattributed report: "22 countries have pledged aid for flood victims:
Qureshi" - The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 11:27:13 GMT
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that 22
countries have promised to help the flood victims.

According to a TV channel, the foreign minister, while talking to the
media at the Lahore airport, said that ambassadors of different c ountries
wanted to visit the flood-hit areas.

President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to the UK helped in removing
misunderstandings between the two countries, he added.

Replying to a question, the foreign minister said he did not witness any
fashion show in Karachi but attended the inauguration ceremony only for 15
minutes.

Meanwhile, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Aziz bin Ibrahim bin Saleh
Al-Ghadeer called on Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi at his office
on Saturday and discussed with him the situation arising out of floods in
Pakistan.

The foreign minister apprised the ambassador of the scale of devastation
caused by the flash floods in the country.

He told the envoy that in view of the longstanding and deep-rooted
brotherly relations between the two countries, the people of Pakistan
expected generous response from their Saudi brethren.

The envoy informed the foreign minister that the Saudi King was taking
personal interest in extending relief assistance to the flood victims in
Pakistan.

He said four plane-loads of relief goods from Saudi Arabia had arrived in
Pakistan over the past three days, while more relief consignments were in
the pipeline.

He assured the foreign minister that Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would fully
support the people and government of Pakistan in this hour of need.

A delegation of the Saudi Development Fund would be reaching Pakistan on
Monday to assess the requirements and to work out modalities for delivery
of relief assistance to the flood victims.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

32) Back to Top
Xinhua 'Roundup': Rescue Operations for Flood Victims Intensify in Ladakh
of India-Controlled Kashmir
Xinhua "Roundup": "Rescue Operations for Flood Victims Intensify in Ladakh
of India-Controlled Kashmir" - Xinhua
Sunday August 8, 2010 11:27:09 GMT
SRINAGAR, India-controlled Kashmir, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The rescue teams of
Indian army Sunday intensified their operations to trace the missing
underneath the debris of damaged buildings and collapsed houses, after
sudden downpour and cloud burst Friday triggered flash floods and
mudslides in the mountainous Ladakh in India-controlled Kashmir, officials
said.

While the death toll stood at 136 so far, around 500 people are reported
to be still missing and another 500 injured in the natural calamity have
been hospitalized.Hundreds of Indian army personnel, paramilitary
troopers, policemen and local volunteers are toiling hard to clear roads
and searching underneath the debris. Locals said the rescue workers are
falling short of bulldozers and earth moving equipment in the area.Indian
army has sent several columns of its troops to the affected areas to carry
out rescue operations. It has also flown the relief material and doctors
Saturday to the area to tackle the situation."The injured are being
treated at makeshift medical camps and seriously injured have been
admitted in army hospital Leh," said Lt. Col. J. S. Brar, the Indian army
spokesmanThe Indian army has a large presence in Ladakh area, bordering
China.Officials said many villages are still in accessible, for the flash
floods and mudslides have swept the road links. The Army has also pressed
in the dogs to search the debris.The telecommunication links to the area
are not functioning, for the storm toppled the telecommunication towers
and water inundated the telephone exchange rendering it
insignificant.Ladakh is a famous tourist destination and officials said
many tourists were holidaying in the area when it was hit. So far there is
no news about death of any foreign tourist in the flash floods. However,
the Indian Ministry of Defense in a statement issued Friday late evening
said some foreign tourists have been affected by the flash floods."We
rescued some 100 foreign tourists who were stranded on roads. We have
taken them to our camps and are taking care of them. We have not done any
documentation as of now but yes there are reports that foreign tourists
have got affected in this calamity," Brar said.Authorities are trying to
arrange special flights to fly the stranded tourists out of Leh.Disaster
Management officials said they are trying to get the details of deceased
persons in this calamity for the information of public."We are trying hard
to get the details of the dead to end the anxiety of the people," said
Amir Ali, a disaster management official with government.Indian defense
officials said 30 army personnel are reported missing and bodies of four
troopers have been retrieved. The High Altitude Research Institute of
Indian army was also damaged.The strong water current has also torn parts
of the main Srinagar-Leh road and Leh-Manali road connecting Ladakh to
outside world.Trucks carrying fuel and ration are stranded at many places
on way to Leh, for strong water current has swept bridges and tracts of
road at many places.Five villages are reported to be hit in the sudden
downpour and flash floods. These included Sabu, Phyang, Nimoo, Choglumsar
and Shapoo. Old Leh city is among the worst affected.Ladakh is a
high-altitude desert about 3,500 meters above sea level, and rainfall
receives low rainfall.Kashmir has a rugged terrain and landslides and
avalanches are often triggered from its mountains during frequent rains
and heavy snow the region receives.The neighboring Pakistan has also
suffered the worst flooding in 80 years. Around 14 million people were
affected with the floods and 1,600 are reported dead.(Description of
Source: Beijing Xinhua in English -- China's official news service for
English-language audiences (New China News Agency))

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33) Back to Top
Special Security Arrangements Announced for Supreme Court Proceedings
Unattributed report: "Security at SC courtroom 1" - The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 11:16:05 GMT
ISLAMABAD: For proper court decorum and smooth functioning of the Supreme
Court, entry into Courtroom No 1, where 17-member larger bench, headed by
the Chief Justice of Pakistan will recommence proceedings of petitions
challenging 18th Constitutional Amendment on Monday, would be regulated by
passes, says a press release.

Following steps have been taken in this regard:

1. Special security cameras have been installed in the Courtrooms as well
as Public entry gates and reception areas of the Supreme Court of Pakistan

2. Passes will be issued to the petitioners, respondents, their learned
counsels appearing before the Court.

3. The entry of the journalists who regularly cover Supreme Court
proceedings will also be made through passes. Any additional demand for
journalists ' entry could be made to the Additional Registrar Supreme
Court of Pakistan.

4. As regards others, passes will be issued to all those who are
interested to watch court proceedings but subject to seating capacity in
the said Courtroom. Passes to be issued on "first-come-first-served-basis"
may be obtained from the office of Additional Registrar, Supreme Court.

5. Entry into Court building will be allowed after checking/frisking and
searching of bags/purses, etc. No cell phone can be carried inside the
Courtroom.

6. The cases which had been fixed before regular smaller Benches,
pertaining to lawyers/parties belonging to other provinces i.e Punjab,
Sindh and Balochistan will not be fixed due to the engagement of Hon'ble
Judges in 17-member Bench. Therefore, only the petitions of local lawyers
both civil and criminal (bail matters, family matter, service matters) or
the cases ordered to be fixed on court order or cases ordered to be fixed
on accoun t of their urgency will be fixed for hearing.

7. Cases will be fixed before the Bench No.1 as before. However,
preference will be given to the case of local lawyers.

"We expect all concerned to follow the instructions and cooperate with the
security staff on duty in the Court premises," concluded the press release
issued by the Supreme Court Public Relations Officer.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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34) Back to Top
Punjab CM Feverishly Involved in Supervising Flood Relief Operations
Report by Tariq Butt: "Shahbaz trying hard as other CMs, PM falter" - The
News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 11:04:58 GMT
ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is travelling an average
of 500 kilometres daily by road to reach out to the flood-hit masses
contrary to low activities of his provincial counterparts at this critical
time.

"Since inclement weather has been hampering the chief minister's travel by
helicopter, he has been rushing to the affected region by road for the
last three days, as he does not want to be away from the scene at this
hour of hardship," a senior Punjab government official told The News. For
the time being, he sai d, the chief minister has kept aside the serious
danger to his personal security. He said that during his visits, Shahbaz
Sharif is not even using a bullet proof car or jeep and is travelling by
whatever vehicle is available.

Additionally, the official said the chief minister has directed all top
divisional and district officials not to be present at places that he
visits. He has instructed them to be in their areas to do their assigned
job to mitigate the calamity. "The impact of the catastrophe has made me
forget my lifelong back pain these days," the official said quoting the
chief minister as telling him.

He said that the Punjab government has put in place a pool of 100 officers
at the provincial secretariat to look after rescue and relief activities
in the areas allocated to them. All Punjab secretaries are engaged in this
work.

The official said that abundant quantity of cooked food and bottles of
mineral water have been transported at th e designated points in the
affected areas. Since it is not possible to cook food in the
flood-impacted region, it is being prepared and transported there. He said
that the Punjab government plans to immediately pay at least Rs10,000 in
cash to every person whose house has been washed away. This process would
start as people start going back to their places in the wake of receding
of water. A predominant majority of such people had mud houses that need
instant financial assistance.

In the 1992 floods, the official said, the then Nawaz Sharif government
gave a grant of Rs5,000 to every such family and banks reached every
destroyed area to make these payments on the spot to save the hapless
people from experiencing the usual hassle to encash cheques. That
operation was a success story, he said.

Another official said that apart from Shahbaz Sharif's feverish
activities, the desperately needed initial succour - high calorie food
items, tents, bottled water, boats an d choppers - has come from the
Pakistan Army in most of the deluge-hit areas. Without large scale
provision of these items, there has been a serious danger of losing many
lives because everything, eatable and drinkable, that the disaster wreaked
people was either swept away or polluted so much that it became unfit for
human consumption, he said.

The official said that side by side supplying these items of daily
necessity, the army has done a great job in rescuing the people stranded
in the flooding water. "The assistance being given by the troops doesn't
involve too much security protocol engaging the administrative machinery
of the area concerned. This allows the district and Tehsil level civilian
apparatus to continue its work in the affected areas," the official said.

Prime Minister Gilani has directed his cabinet members to visit the
flood-ravaged areas to stand with the people at this hour of difficulty.

However, officials say that such vi sits have been compounding affectees'
problems because police and administrative machinery, which has been
engaged in relief and rescue operation, is required to do protocol duty.
Thus, they say, instead of producing anything worthwhile such trips are
adding to people's miseries. By and large, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief
Minister Amir Haider Hoti is missing from the catastrophe hit areas due to
extreme security concerns as terrorists want to get him like so many other
leaders of his party. Awami National Party (ANP ) President Asfandyar
Wali's case is no different even when his home district of Charsadda was
most hit hard by the deluge.

Activities of Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah are not known at a time
when the flooding water has started ravaging vast areas of his province.
The other day, he and Home Minister Zulfikar Mirza were seen accompanying
General Kayani during the latter's visit to the Sukkur Barrage. The prime
minister himself is paying flying visits to th e deluge-hit areas, which
were largely confined to Punjab.

He has to call off his several flying trips due to bad weather. On
Saturday, he postponed his visit to Sukkur and its adjoining districts for
the same reason. Zardari has no time to spare from his foreign junkets to
visit any deluge devastated area.

"Neither the prime minister nor any other minister needs to visit any area
unless he brings with him a huge quantity of relief goods for the unlucky
people they want to see and address," said Zebullah, a low paid employee
of a private company, who hails from Charsadda. His house also collapsed
due to floods and his family has no shelter now.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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35) Back to Top
World Bank Commits to Provide $3.7 Billion in Loans Over Next 4 Years
Report by Mehtab Haider: "WB to provide $3.7 bn to Pakistan in four years"
- The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 10:47:47 GMT
ISLAMABAD: The World Bank (WB) is committed to provide loans amounting to
$3.7 billion to Pakistan for priority areas in next four years including
$924 million for Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC)/public financial
management, $850 million for energy secto r, $275 million for water/ports
and $1.115 billion for education sector.

According to WB's Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) which was officially
released on Saturday, reads out that the priority lending programme
amounts to an estimated $3.7 billion (IBRD/IDA), equivalent to about 60
percent of a total potential financing envelope of up to $6.2 billion
(including MDTF financing) during the CPS period.

For social safety nets the Bank will lend $300 million to Pakistanis well
as it will also provide $100 million for rehabilitation efforts in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, Fata and Balochistan under the initiative of Multi Donor
Trust Fund (MDTF).

Dwelling upon Pakistan's economy and its medium term outlook, the CPS
states that total government debt (including obligations to the IMF) as a
share of GDP is projected to rise from 59.3 percent in 2008/09 to 62.4
percent in 2009/10. About half of the debt is external and half domestic.
Total debt is projected to remain o ver 60 percent of GDP in the medium
term, but thereafter decline.

The external debt-to-exports ratio rose to 220 percent in 2008/09, is
projected to peak at 273 percent in 2011/12 and start thereafter gradually
declining.

However, debt sustainability analysis suggests that external debt service
remains manageable although there are potential risks to this assessment
from sources such as lower than projected growth and foreign direct
investment (FDI), and higher than projected current account deficit,
interest rates and exchange rate depreciation.

Credit to the private sector, the CPS states, fell dramatically after the
onset of the crisis as economic activity slowed, but is showing signs of
recovery.

Thanks to large government borrowing to finance budgetary needs, and a
surge in credit demand by public sector enterprises, banks have been able
to avoid lending to the relatively risky private sector as non-performing
loans (NPL) increased.

Du ring the first nine months of 2009/10, the credit demand for government
budgetary operations and public sector enterprises stood at Rs404 billion,
more than three times the size of credit demand in the private sector.
While the economy is stabilizing, continued improvement in the
macroeconomic situation will remain a challenge, the WB forecasts say.

Global economic recovery has started, but remains fragile and slow. Global
trade is projected to remain depressed and unemployment high for years in
a large part of the world.

Pakistan can expect little in the way of a substantial growth impetus from
global markets. Pakistan's future economic prospects will hinge on good
economic policies and management, it added.

According to the government's medium-term macroeconomic framework, which
is supported by the IMF's Stand-By Arrangement, Pakistan's real GDP growth
is projected to start recovering slowly at 3 percent in 2009/10, and
increase gradually to 5 percent by 2012/13.

However, longer-term projections are particularly uncertain in view of the
volatile global and domestic economic environment.

The external current account deficit is projected to widen again to 4
percent of GDP in 2010/11 as imports pick up slowly. Remittances were
projected to grow by 7 percent in 2009/10, and continue to grow at 6.5
percent thereafter with the help of government's remittance drive.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
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36) Back to Top
Report Describes Current Political Situation in Turbat in Baluchistan
Report by Amir Mateen: "Special report on Balochistan" - The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 10:53:50 GMT
TURBAT: A Baloch, they say, has a long memory. In any political
discussion, they take a long perspective starting from the days when the
Khan of Kalat was 'coerced' to accede to Pakistan, the betrayal of Nauroze
Khan to the insurgencies of the 1960s and 1970s and, finally, the killing
of Nawab Akbar Bugti.

This discourse takes place on roadside cafes of Turbat where Baloch
nationalists, mostly young, share their numerous conspiracy theories, the
cases of missing persons, the alleged brutalities of the state. It is he
re on the streets of Turbat, sitting on wicker charpoys and sipping tea
from cracked crockery that the Baloch grand narrative shapes up. The cycle
of current violence, it seemed, accelerated after the killing of three
prominent Baloch Nationalists -- Baloch National Movement (BNM) President
Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, Lala Munir, also of the BNM, and Sher Mohammad
Baloch of the Baloch Republican Party (BRP) in Turbat last year.

The three were picked up by unidentified armed men from the chamber of
Advocate Kachkol Ali on April 3, 2009, and were found dead 40 miles
outside Turbat six days later. The mystery of the killings remains
unresolved.

The plot thickens as Ghulam Mohammad Baloch was also a member of the
10-member committee constituted by BLA's Hyrbyar Marri to negotiate the
release of UNHCR's American official, John Solecki. Balochistan Liberation
United Front (BLUF) had owned the kidnapping of Solecki. Both Khair Bux
Marri and Brahmadagh Bugti were involved in negotiations as the UNHCR
approached them.

Solecki was released, reportedly after paying a ransom, a day after the
three Balochs were abducted. Theories abound on this issue. While most
people point fingers at the 'agencies,' a Baloch website, Sardar Watch,
blames Khair Bux Marri for the killings. Others say it was all about the
ransom money. Still others say that the BLUF vanished after the incident,
and it is operating under the name of Dr Allah Nazar's BLF now.

"It is possible that Ghulam Baloch was deeply involved in some of the
investigations regarding the missing persons and had uncovered something
crucial," a cousin of Ghulam Mohammad was quoted as saying in the press.
"Maybe that is why he and his colleagues were killed."

Whatever the truth, it threw the entire Mekran into a tailspin of
violence. Mand, a town close to the Iranian border, remains a no-go-area
even to this day. Former Federal Mnister and now PML-Q MNA, Zubeda Jalal,
who hails from Mand, says that the conditions are so bad that she has not
been to her hometown in over two years now. She opened a model school in
Mand but had to evacuate its 80 percent settler staff to Karachi. "Most
girls from my school now participate in demonstrations and are led by the
widow of Ghulam Mohammad," said Jalal.

A political vacuum exists as the popular parties of the area, Dr Malick's
National Party (NP) and Balochistan National Movement (BNM), are out
because they boycotted the last elections. Those who got elected, reaping
the windfall, hardly come to the area.

Others who command local respect, Dr Maalick, Hasil Bizenjo and Manzoor
Gichki, are scared of extremist threats. The border trade (read smuggling)
with Iran, which is the main livelihood, has lessened because of tighter
border controls. One sees lots of unemployed people as Balochistan has the
highest number of youth under 25 in Pakistan. Rival gangs of various facti
ons of Balochistan Students Organisation (BSO) keep fighting on the
streets of Turbat. This is a perfect ground for extremists to breed
militancy.

One hardly sees any evidence of the government's writ. The local
administration is all about making money out of issuing permits (rahdaari)
for the border trade. Almost 100 percent vehicles in town, actually the
whole division, are stolen or smuggled without any registration. Fuel is
smuggled from Iran and there are lots of indoctrinated youth to ram them
into easy targets, t he most vulnerable being the three Frontier Corps
pickets.

The city that was home to Punnu of the Sassi ballad fame, Turbat is a
political and administrative mess. Only one police station in the 15km
radius of Turbat copes with the barrage of frequent target killings,
rocket and grenade throwing. The regular police force in the strategically
placed second biggest town of Balochistan consists of just 120 constables.
The rest 400 plus levies force has not been paid any salary. Reason: The
issue over the bifurcation of the police and levies has bequeathed total
confusion among the administration and nobody knows who is under whom.

The settlers among the police have all gone on long leave, perhaps
forever, after eight of them were ambushed in a year. If this was not
enough, half of this limited police force is deputed on protocol and
security of politicians and the city Wajas as these local elders like to
be addressed.

Local politicians are scared to visit the area, the provincial government
apathetic and the establishment in Islamabad too far away and unconcerned
with the consequences of ignoring this strategic intellectual and
political hub of Balochistan. "Actually, the time may be ripe for making a
beginning as the people are dismayed by the recent killings of the cream
of moderate politicians," said a local politician on the condition of
anonymity. "The moderates need to be protected s o that they come out in
the open to resist the extremists."

Signs of strong reaction against the killings of Kech Nazim Maula Bux
Dasti and others are obvious. BNM stands divided on the issue as its
acting President Asa Zafar has resigned. NP President Dr Maalick and Hasil
Bizenjo have also taken a strong stand against the inhuman acts.

"We always had an moral basis of our cause which was supported by
intellectuals from all over, including Lahore and Karachi," said Dr
Maalick. "Nobody can justify the inhuman target killings of not just the
Baloch intellectuals but also the settlers."

Most nationalists argue that the extreme terrorism has damaged the high
moral ground that the Baloch nationalists always carried. Others favour a
more peaceful resolution of the problem. "We have been down the path of
violence many times earlier causing the loss of many generations of Baloch
youth," said analyst Ghazanfar Baloch. "The state is much more powerful
and our leadership much less united and capable. In this day and age, new
countries are out of fashion."

The argument goes that the LTTE in Sri Lanka was much more organized and
powerful and yet it collapsed in the end. "I think there is a change in
the air for a better realization for our objectives, but our leadership
does not have the capacity to reap it," argued PPP's Rahim Zafar.

Another feature of Baloch in Pakistan is that because of their secular
nature, they do not join hands with, say, Taliban. This is different from
the Baloch nationalism in Iran, which is based on Sunni resistance against
the Shia domination. Interestingly, both of them share an element of the
American backing.

"The Jundullah in Iran has obvious pat from the Americans but Brahmadagh
Bugti could also not have operated from Afghanistan without the consent of
the yanks," said PML-N's Anwaar Kakar. "Much higher stakes are being
played by multiple international forces in Balochistan."

The youth at Turbat's roadside cafes have a fairly good understanding of
such factors. The question is whether Islamabad realises the situation in
this far outpost of Turbat.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
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37) Back to Top
Z ardari Says Govt Will Succeed in Pulling Country Out of Problems
Unattributed report: "National will to help overcome crises" - The News
Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 10:15:25 GMT
BIRMINGHAM: President Asif Ali Zardari said on Saturday that with
determination and resolve of the people of Pakistan, the present
democratic government would succeed in pulling the country out of its
present problems and challenges.

Addressing a big community meeting here at International Convention
Centre, he said it was a dream of both Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed to see Pakistan as a progressive and
democratic country and the government was working hard to achieve those
objectives.

The president said that democracy in Pakistan has been faced with various
challenges throughout its history and the government is taking steps to
put democracy on soun d footings.

He said that party was pursuing the policy of reconciliation and mentioned
the passage of 18th constitutional amendment, NFC award, autonomy to
Gilgit Baltistan, Balochistan package and women empowerment bill as some
of the steps taken by the government to strengthen democracy.

The president appealed to the international community and political
parties at home to come together to help thousands of people who have
become homeless in floods and are in distress.

He cautioned against playing politics over calamity of floods and urged
the nation to stand united as it did during the earthquake of 2005.

Pakistan faced its worst floods in the past as well but nations come cross
such difficult times and face adversity with courage, he added. The
president said without looking at what the polls say, the government took
tough decisions.

Agreement with IMF, price hike, rising energy prices were difficult for
people but the government did no t go for popular politics, he said adding
the future generation would not have forgiven them for not waging fight
against the terrorist mindset and for not ensuring food security.

He said Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto made Pakistan a nuclear power and
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed gave it missile technology and made the
country secure so that it could talk with its enemies on basis of
equality.

He said he was meeting the world leaders to put across the country's
viewpoint and tell them that Pakistan wanted to become self-reliant with
opportunities of trade instead of aid.

President Zardari said Pakistan could not make enough progress in the past
as it put more focus on its security but now they would create a new
Pakistan as dreamed by the martyred leaders of the PPP.

He vowed to take forward the philosophy of Shaheed Zulfikar Bhutto and
Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and said his job as the leader of PPP was to take
the nation to its destination.

He said democracy was moving forward with the support of all political
forces.

PPP could have formed governments on its own but it took along Awami
National Party in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, formed government in Punjab with
PML-N and made every party part of government in Sindh, the president
recalled.

He said the nation has to move forward as it has no chance to repeat the
mistakes, which were made in the past.

President Zardari said he was planning for the next 30 years as Pakistan's
population would rise to 250 million in the next 15 years.

President said history of PPP was replete with sacrifices for the cause of
democracy and for the rights of people.

He said after the martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto, the ruler of that time
postponed the polls to take advantage of the political vacuum but he took
the right decision to contest elections and persuaded Nawaz Sharif to do
the same.

He was thankful that Nawaz Sharif agreed with him and now hi s party was
in corridors of power. He said the PPP and PML-N were political opponents
but holding different viewpoints was essence of democracy.

He said despite what was being said on television and reported in
newspapers about popularity of PPP, its candidates had won some recent
elections.

PPP had been c ontesting elections with its leaders and workers in jails
and getting martyred and offering sacrifices, which was not reflective of
its true mandate, he added.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

38) Back to Top
PML-N Chief Nawaz Criticizes Govt for Failing to Provide Flood Relief
Report by staff correspondent: "Zardari has shown his true colours: Nawaz"
- The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 10:09:17 GMT
MUZAFFARGARH: PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif has said that the approach of
President Asif Ali Zardari is neither pro-people nor pro-Pakistan as the
president was visiting Britain at a time when flash floods were wreaking
havoc in the country.

Talking to journalists on Saturday during his visit to the flood-hit areas
in Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Alipur and Kot Addu, Nawaz said that the
president had exposed his mentality by criticising his pol icies. He said
that President Zardari's visit to Britain had disappointed the nation.

The PML-N Quaid said that the government had failed in fulfilling its
responsibilities towards the flood victims because it had not yet taken
any initiative to provide major relief to the flood-affected people across
the country. "The representatives should come out of air-conditioned rooms
to ensure provision of relief to the victims." He also urged the
government to utilise all resources to provide relief to the flood
victims.

Nawaz said that the government should focus its attention on flood relief
activities instead of planning for by-elections in the country. He said
the PML-N was committed to providing relief to the affected people and
that was why he had visited the affected areas with relief items.

Responding to a query, he said that the British prime minister should
apologise to people over his statement against Pakistan. He said that
India was respon sible for atrocities and terrorism in Kashmir but the
world leaders never bothered to speak about these human rights violations
and atrocities.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

39) Back to Top
Election Commission to Issue Notices to Lawmakers With Fake Degrees
Report by Ansar Abbasi: "ECP to start calling 'fake MPs' next week" - The
News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 09:59:11 GMT
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) intends to issue
notices to 47 parliamentarians next week, whose degrees have already been
found fake or invalid, to hear these MPs before deseating them and
referring their cases to concerned district and sessions judges for
criminal proceedings against them.

Sources in the Election Commission told The News that the nominated
officer, who has been assigned the job of processing the cases of invalid
and fake degree holders as per the direction of the apex court, has
already sought the chief election commissioner's approval to issue notices
to those MPs whose degrees have been found invalid or fake by the Higher
Education Commission (HEC).

These sources said through these notices, the concerned MPs would be
requested to meet the nominated officer of the ECP to clarify their
position on the fake/invalid degrees issue or provide the commission with
any evidence challenging the assessment of the HEC regarding its being
fake or invalid.

These MPs would be given a week's time to appear before the ECP's nominee.
The hearing is expected to start by mid of this month and the commission
is considering to hear all the 47 MPs in a week or 10 days.

Without even been summoned by the ECP or its nominated officer, a lady MPA
from Balochistan, Rubina Zafar Zehri, has already met the concerned ECP
officials to clarify that one of her BA degrees is genuine but the other,
a foreign degree, has been found invalid for having been issued by an
institution that was not accredited and thus not recognised by the HEC.

Sources in the ECP said the case of Ms Zehri had been cleared for the
reason that she did not commit any fraud, had a valid BA degree at the
time of election and did receive an additional degree from a foreign
institution that though does exist but is not recognised.

To a question whether Law Minister Babar Awan's reported case of fake PhD
is similar to Ms Zehri's case, the source said these were different cases.
He explained that although the ECP had yet to receive anything regarding
the law minister's doctorate from the HEC, as per the details already
reported in the media, Babar Awan case became serious for the reason
because he claimed in his nomination papers in 2006 to be a PhD and also
used the title of Dr with his name when the university from where he
claimed to have done his PhD was already declared fraud in 2000 by a
competent court of the host country i.e. USA.

The ECP has so far received the case of 47 fake/invalid degree holders
from the HEC, which is in the process of verifying degrees of almost 800
MPs. The number of the fake degree holders in parliament is expected to
increase.

The ECP, though seems to be willing to dispo se of the cases of fake
degree holders as soon as possible, could not finalise such cases till the
constitution of the Election Commission of Pakistan in line with the 18th
Amendment.

Several weeks back, the Election Commission office had moved a case for
the constitution of a commission in line with the 18th Amendment but the
government had not yet done so. Following recent reports in the media
suggesting the government tactics to delay the constitution of the
commission to block the ECP action against fake degree holders, the prime
minister directed the law minister to do the needful. However, it is yet
to be seen if the government would really do something or would continue
using dilly-delaying tactics in the constitution of the election
commission.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and in
ternational issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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40) Back to Top
US Secretary of State Calls PM, Assures Assistance to Pakistan for Flood
Victims
Report by staff correspondent: "Hillary phones PM, assures support for
flood victims" - The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 10:05:15 GMT
ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton rang up Prime Minister
Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday to express solidarity over the loss of
lives and damage to properties in floods. She assured assistance to
Pakistan in this hour of need. Pakistan, she said, might convey its
required support in writing to the US for flood-affected population.

She said the US would also try to mobilise the corporate and private
sectors of the US for helping the flood victims of Pakistan.

Pakistan, she said, had rendered great sacrifices in the war against
terror and was still facing challenging times due to terrorist attacks in
Peshawar and disruption of peace in Karachi.

She expressed condolences over the death of innocent people in terrorist
activities in Pakistan. Hillary Clinton appreciated that despite great
difficulties, the government and the people of Pakistan were facing the
situation effectively. She apprised Prime Minister Gilani that the US
would do anything possible to support Pakistan and he could pick up
telephone and ring her anytime he wants to convey the required support for
the flood victims.

Clinton said the Nato, Japan and Afghanistan had also offered complete
support to the government and the people of Pakistan in these difficult
moments, adding the US was making efforts to extend every possible
assistance to Pakistan.

Prime Minister Gilani thanked Hillary Clinton for conveying the sentiments
of the president, the government and the people of the US. He also thanked
her for the assistance already given by the US for the flood-affected
people.

He said the exact assessment of damages and the loss of lives would only
be possible once the flood receded and thereafter the exact needs would be
determined.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

41) Back to Top
Article Discusses India-Pakistan Talks, Says Kashmir 'Should' be
'Non-Negotiable'
Article by Sanjay Jha: "Kashmir Not for Talks" - The Pioneer
Sunday August 8, 2010 10:26:31 GMT
(Description of Source: New Delhi The Pioneer in English -- Pro-Bharatiya
Janata Party daily, favors nationalistic foreign and economic policies.
Circulation for its five editions is approximately 160,000, with its core
audience in Lucknow and Delhi.)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrigh ted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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42) Back to Top
Information Minister Contradicts Report of Shoes Thrown at Zardari
Unattributed report: "Kaira tries to 'deny' incident; Assails media for
airing news" - The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 09:00:35 GMT
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman
Kaira on Saturday said that no "mentionable" incident took place in the
hall in Birmingham where President Asif Ali Zardari was addressing members
of the Pakistani community.

Talking to a private news channel, he strongly contradicted the news,
telecast by private news channels, that an individual had hurled shoes
towards the president during his address.

To a question, he said if someone tried to create disturbance while
sitting in back of the hall, it was not visible and the news should be
condemned rather than airing it as "breaking news" or portraying it as
"big news".

The minister also denied that there was any type of unrest inside the
hall. "If something happened, it was not visible," he added. He said that
the person involved in the incident would certainly be a planted
individual of a party.

To another question, he said outside the hall, there were some persons
with placards and they recorded their protest, which was their political
and democratic right, adding, they were directed in this regard by their
respective political parties in Pakistan and the opposition parties
gathered their supporters after a great effort.

Some opposition parties, which are not in parliament, were opposing the
president's visit. Shou ld the government follow their guideline? he
asked. A section of the media is also criticising President Asif Ali
Zardari's visit and Kaira questioned if they were the voice of the nation.
"President would follow views of the majority of the people of Pakistan
who are being represented by the PPP and its coalition partners."

He said the incident like this should not be highlighted, as it was not a
commendable job. Incidents like this could happen or be managed for any
political party's leadership, he added.

Replying to a question, Qamar Zaman Kaira said due to security issues,
cameras of news channels were not allowed inside the hall but
representatives of all channels were there.

President Asif Ali Zardari's address was for about 45 minutes and it went
very well, which was participated enthusiastically by the Pakistani
community. The president's visit was portrayed by newspapers in Britain as
a very successful visit, he added.

(Descript ion of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website
of a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

43) Back to Top
Press Secretary Denies Presidency Delaying Execution of Terrorists
Unattributed report: "Presidency denies delaying execution of terrorists"
- The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 09:54:09 GMT
ISLAMABAD: The press secretary to the president has strongly contradicted
a news item appearing in a section of the press headlined 'Presidency
delaying execution of terrorists'.

He said at present no mercy petition under the law, including that of
Manjeet Singh was pending with the presidency. "The execution of Manjeet
Singh was however stayed by the previous government," he added.

The press secretary said some petitions seeking commutation of death
sentence to life imprisonment were submitted to the president. "This has
arisen on account of a speech by the prime minister made on the floor of
the National Assembly that the government was considering to commute death
sentence to life imprisonment in suitable cases."

The Law Ministry is already ceased of the matter in conjunction with the
Interior Ministry, which has informed the presidency that they have
initiated action for legislative changes to be plac ed before the cabinet,
keeping in view public policy and Shariah, as a prelude to presentation
before the Parliament. "In this regard, the presidency is awaiting the
advice of the government. To attribute any delay to the president as such
is just an insinuation," he added.

The press secretary regretted the version of the Presidency on the report
was not taken. "Had this been done the need for publishing a one-sided
report would not have arisen," he added.

Ansar Abbasi adds: As reflected in The News story, the execution of
hundreds of convicts, sentenced to death, is pending because of their
mercy petitions pending with the federal government and the presidency.

The News has got hundreds of names of such convicts, including those
sentenced to death under Anti-terrorist Act. It is for the government and
the presidency to figure out as to where are these cases lying but denying
these facts is incomprehensible.

Regarding Manjeet S ingh, as mentioned in the story, his execution was
stayed by the then president Musharraf and referred to interior, foreign
and law ministries but still pending. If demanded the Presidency could be
provided the list of condemned prisoners.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

44) Back to Top
SMS Drive L aunched Against ANP Amid Devastation of Floods
Report by Syed Bukhar Shah: SMS drive underway against ANP amid floods -
The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 09:43:08 GMT
PESHAWAR: Some people have started a short message service (SMS) campaign
against Awami National Party leadership amid the devastation of floods and
rains that killed hundreds and displaced millions.

Political opponents had already launched their "poetic propaganda" through
mobile phone messages against the nationalist ANP soon after it formed
coalition government in the province.

Such SMSs usually mention rampant corruption of the rulers but now they
have included flood devastation into their funny poetry. Sometimes even
the elders and political leaders share such messages.

Though not liking the contents of the messages, some ANP supporters also
forward those messages to party colle agues to share their opponents'
views.

The carefully drafted poetry, spread recently, has held the ANP leaders
responsible for the reported corruption, bloodshed, lawlessness, price
hike, unemployment and loadshedding etc, but the government supporters
seem unable to respond or defend their party. The opponents enjoy by
reading and forwarding the funny messages against ANP supporters.

Also, there have been messages nowadays about violence by Muttahida Qaumi
Movement (MQM) activists against Pakhtuns in Karachi, although the ANP and
MQM leaders are trying to end tension in Sindh.

The people behind the recent ANP related messages have criticised the
party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan and Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti for
not visiting their home constituencies. But it is astonishing to read some
of the messages that hold the ANP responsible for the devastating floods
and rains.

"We know neither the government not any other power on earth can stop
natural calamities but still some people blame us for the floods and
rains," said Jehanzeb Khan, an ANP activist from Mardan.

The government, he added, could warn the people ahead of floods and that
could reduce human losses. "Being ruling party in the province, we accept
responsibility if any negligence has been done by any government official
but we do not understand as to how our government is responsible for rains
and floods," he added.

The survivors hold the government responsible for their losses and
miseries, saying it was its responsibility to make arrangements to rescue
citizen from natural calamities. "Our rulers become active after a major
problem arises," said a flood affectee Jamal Shah.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

45) Back to Top
Despite Floods in Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto Defends His Father's Visit to
Europe
Unattributed report: "Bilawal defends Zardaris Europe trip" - The News
Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 09:25:52 GMT
LONDON: Pakistan People's Party co-Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on
Saturday vehemently defended his father President Asif Ali Zardari's visit
to Europe despite the flooding disaster affectin g up to 15 million people
in Pakistan.

Opening a donation point at the Pakistani High Commission here, the
21-year-old insisted his father was raising much-needed funds.

"He's doing the best he can and what he thinks is best to help the people
of Pakistan," the Oxford University history graduate said.

"His personal presence in Pakistan would not be able to raise this much
money," he said, adding that multi-million dollar donations had been made
by France, Britain and Abu Dhabi.

The Gulf emirate had "also promised to come and help the rehabilitation
after the floods have gone, after the media have gone, and after people
are not paying attention," he said.

"If he thought he could be more useful in Pakistan, I'm sure he would be
there."

Zardari has been criticised in Pakistan and by some in the British
Pakistani community for carrying on his visit.

When asked about his plans to go into poli tics, Bilawal said he was
focused on completing his education "as my mother wished."

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

46) Back to Top
Pakistan minister says criticism of Indian official 'balanced and
objective' - PTI News Agency
Sunday August 8, 201 0 09:00:36 GMT
Text of report by Indian news agency PTINew Delhi, 8 August: Unfazed by
India's attack, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has
justified his statement comparing Indian Home Secretary G.K. Pillai with
Jamaat-ud-Dawaa Chief Hafiz Sayeed, saying it was "balanced and
objective".Breaking his silence on the issue since his controversial 15
July remarks, Qureshi said there was "no justification" for Pillai to make
the "unhelpful" comments and contended that it spoiled the atmospherics
for his talks with External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna."Mr Pillai's
statement was, doubtless, uncalled for and off the mark," the Pakistani
minister told PTI in an email interview while referring to the Indian
official's remarks that ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) was "controlling
and coordinating" the Mumbai attacks from the beginning till the
end."There is no justi fication for government officials to make unhelpful
public remarks on the eve of the foreign ministers' meeting," he
said.Qureshi, while responding to a question on Sayeed's vitriolic
comments against India at his 15 July joint press conference with Krishna,
said both sides should refrain from negative speeches that vitiate the
atmosphere and then asked: "on the eve of this dialogue, tell me to what
extent" Pillai's remarks help?Though Krishna did not react to this
comparison of Pillai with Sayeed at that moment, he termed it as
"ridiculous" after his return to India. Qureshi was also slammed by Indian
political parties, including Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and
Congress.Sayeed is blamed by India for a series of terror attacks,
including the 26/11 (26 November 2008) strike, besides inciting jihadis to
target this country.On criticism of his comments by Krishna and others,
Qureshi said: "My statement was balanced and objective."He said he wa s
"responding to a question and trying to make a point that there were
elements on both sides of the border who would not like to see our two
countries develop normal relations and, through their vitriolic
statements, try to vitiate the bilateral atmosphere."Qureshi's reaction
was also sought on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's remarks that his
handling of the press conference had detracted attention from the
achievements of the talks and that it was avoidable."I think it is
important to remember that the press conference followed a marathon
meeting between the two sides. It was not held in a vacuum. The crux of
the matter is that India's approach was selective; contrary to the
understanding reached between the two prime ministers at Thimpu, where it
had been agreed that all issues would be discussed.""Being democracies, we
are accountable to our peoples. We need not fudge. Our people have the
right to know the truth about the state of the play." Asked whether he
felt that Pillai's comments had spoilt the atmosphere for the foreign
ministerial talks, Qureshi said: "Yes, I do. Your media has also commented
on it. Even Mr Krishna has very clearly stated in one of his TV interviews
that Mr Pillai's remarks were ill-timed."He said both sides have
"committed to refrain from hysterical propaganda against each other. Let's
live up to that."The two countries had made conscious efforts to build up
a good atmosphere in the run-up to the 15 July meeting, he
said.(Description of Source: New Delhi PTI News Agency in English )

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47) Back to Top
India earmarks over 6.5m dollars for legal expenses in dam dispute with
Pakistan - PTI News Agency
Sunday August 8, 2010 09:21:46 GMT
Text of report by Indian news agency PTINew Delhi, 8 August: With India
and Pakistan set for a battle in an international court to settle their
dispute over the Jammu and Kashmir (Indian-administered Kashmir)-based
Kishenganga hydel project, the government has earmarked 30 crore (one
crore equals 10m) rupees to take care of the legal expenses.Accusing India
of breaching the provisions of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty by diverting
water of the Jhelum tributary for its Kishenganga project, Pakistan had
sought international arbitration in May this year, after the two countries
failed to resolve the issue bilaterally for over two decades.Both the
countries have already nominated two arbitrators each to contest their
case in an international court of arbitration.India and Pakistan have left
it to the sec retary-general of the United Nations, rector, Imperial
College of Science and Technology, London; and lord justice of England to
decide on the three umpires, including the chairman, to set up the court
to settle the matter.The Supplementary Demands for Grants passed by the
Lok Sabha (lower house of Indian Parliament) last week has kept aside 30
crore rupees "for meeting fees of arbitrators or umpires and experts for
proceedings of court of arbitration on Kishenganga Hydro-Electric
project."Besides the fees of umpires and arbitrators, the amount will be
used to pay for the treasurer of the court and court secretariat which
will be set up.According to the treaty, both the countries have to place
"sufficient fund" at the disposal of the respective Indus commissioners to
meet the initial expenditure of the umpires to enable them attend the
first meeting of the court. The payments are made in US dollars.At its
first meeting, the court would make an estimate of the likely expenses of
the proceedings "and call upon each party to pay to the treasurer half of
the expenses estimated."The first court meeting is likely to take place
sometime later this year.(Description of Source: New Delhi PTI News Agency
in English )

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48) Back to Top
Nine Militants Including Commanders Lay Down Arms in Bajaur Agency
Report by staff correspondent: Nine militants lay down arms - The News
Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 09:48:03 GMT
KHAR: Nine militants including four commanders surrendered to the security
forces in Charmang area of Nawagai subdivision in Bajaur Agency on
Saturday, official sources said. The sources said the militants belonged
to the group of Qari Ziaur Rehman. They included commanders Muslim Khan,
Sherzada, Muhammad Alam and Hakim Khan and their associates Said Afzal,
Jan Wali, Yar Wali, Rohullah, and Amir Badshah. They laid down weapons and
surrendered to security forces during a jirga in Sarkari area in the
mountainous Charmang valley.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
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49) Back to Top
Terrorists Infiltration in Security Apparatus Seems Plausible
Editorial: Persona-Specific Terrorism - Business Recorder Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 09:37:59 GMT
EDITORIAL (August 08 2010): In what seems to be a change of strategy the
terrorists are now zeroing in on specified individuals instead of striking
at public places for indiscriminate killings. The latest victim of the new
strategy is Commandant of Frontier Constabulary Safwat Ghayyur, who died
in a suicide attack in Peshawar on Wednesday.

His killing comes quick on the heels of murders of MQM provincial
legislator Raza Haider and son of KP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar
Hussain. While nobody, as yet, has claimed responsibility for murder of
Raza Haider the other two killings are the Tehrek-i-Taliban Pakistan's
work.

"We shall continue to target law-enforcement personnel and leaders of the
ruling Awami National Party (ANP), says Azam Tariq, who styles himself as
the spokesman of the Pakistani Taliban. But if the circumstances in which
the FC commandant lost his life are any indication - he had changed his
route as well his vehicle but the suicide-bomber made no mistake in
reaching him - it seems quite plausible the terrorists have also
infiltrated the security apparatus.

Without getting into debate over the government claim that terrorists have
already lost and the recent strikes are 'last hurrah' of the losing side
one would tend to believe that defeating terrorism is still a long way
off. As we look at the looming welter of terrorism and how costly it is in
terms of human sufferings, population dislocations, political uncertainty
and economic losses, one is struck by the inadeq uacy of official
response. No question about the amount of sacrifices our law-enforcing
agencies have made; in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa alone some four hundred
policemen have fallen in the battle against terrorism.

The armed forces' casualties are even more staggering. Hundreds of
thousands of peaceful citizens are dislocated. And as to the economic cost
terrorism is exacting it would be suffice to quote the informed circles
that during the last three days alone Karachi businesses incurred losses
exceeding 15 billion rupees. This is a frightening spectacle, but equally
disappointing is the quality and quantity of measures taken by the
government to fight back the curse of hydra-headed terrorism in Pakistan.

In fact, even a realistic appraisal of this challenge is not available
with the government. One would like to know what happened to the proposed
National Counter-Terrorism Authority. Why is it not possible to convene an
all-parties roundtable conference to evolve a common approach to fight
terrorists? And, how is that while some of the political parties nurture
clearly contrasting perspectives on terrorism in the country they blithely
share the fruits of coalition power.

Frankly speaking, terrorist threat confronting Pakistan today is not
merely a law and order situation; nor is it only an imported commodity. It
is a multi-faceted threat stalking the length and breadth of Pakistan in
many forms and shapes. At some places it is purely sectarian while in
other areas it is ethnicity-based.

Then there is a whole host of religious crusaders flaunting varying
ideologies, committed to elimination of the opponents. That a neighbour
too is muddying the water cannot be doubted. And last but not the least,
there also exists a band of geo-strategists who dream of rewriting the
geography of this region. So by all measures terrorism in Pakistan is a
huge challenge and those who think it can be tackled by force alone are
sadly mistake n.

We are caught up in an ideological warfare, fought on both sides by the
same people. By all accounts it is an extremely complicated situation, and
demands scientific handling and an out-of-the-box-solution. Of course the
lead role in this is with Prime Minister Gilani, and he should know the
history would judge him not by his words but by h is actions.

(Description of Source: Karachi Business Recorder Online in English --
Website of a leading business daily. The group also owns Aaj News TV; URL:
http://www.brecorder.com/)

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
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50) Back to Top
PPP Leaders Resent Geo TV Telecasting Shoes Throwing Incident
News Desk report: "Geo tel ecast closed on PPP leaders' pressure, Shoes
attack news resented" - The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 09:09:40 GMT
KARACHI: After the Geo telecast news of throwing shoes on President Asif
Zardari at the People's Party rally in Birmingham, some govt officials and
PPP leaders pressurised and threatened cable operators to close the Geo
telecasts.

A large number of cable operators did not succumb to their pressure and
threats.

However, an institution World Call stopped telecasting Geo signals after 2
am Saturday night.

Late at night after threats by government officials another company of
Karachi, MPC, also closed signals of Geo telecasts.

A large number of people strongly protested against closure of Geo
telecasts.

In this connection the Geo workers have decided to hold rallies outside
Consulates of Oman in Islamabad and Karachi, Punjab Governor House in
Lahore, and MPC offices in Karachi.

A meeting of other newspaper journalists and Geo workers has been called
on Monday to evolve a strategy in this regard.

It should be remembered that World Call is an Oman telecom company and
Governor Punjab Salman Taseer has shares in it.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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51) Back to Top
Caravan Leaves Lahore for Islamabad on Foot for Release of Dr Siddiqui
Report by staff correspondent: Caravan for Afias release - The News
Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 08:07:06 GMT
LAHORE: A Caravan, consisting of lawyers and representatives of civil
society, left for Islamabad on foot on Saturday to press their demand for
the release of Dr Afia Siddiqui and all missing persons.

Representatives of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Lahore High Court
Bar Association and Lahore Tax Bar Association besides members of civil
society led the caravan from GPO Chowk.

Female lawyers also participate in the caravan which would reach Islamabad
on August 14 to present a memorandum to the government officials in front
of the parliament building.

SCBA's Secretary Raja Zulqarnain, speaking on the occasion, said more
lawyers and people would join the caravan on its way to Islamabad and a
big gathering would be showed.

He was of the view that political parties were not playing their due role
on the issue of missing persons because they had pledged country's
sovereignty to America.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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52) Back to Top
Earthquake Rehabilitation Body Likely To Scrap NGOs Security Scheme
Report by staff correspondent: Erra likely to scrap NGOs security scheme
- The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 08:07:06 GMT
MANSEHRA: Owing to financial constraints, the Earthquake Rehabilitation
and Reconstruction Authority (Erra) has decided to end its 'Police
Capacity-Building and NGOs Protection Programme' in the 2005
earthquake-affected districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and has withheld
salaries of 550 policemen appointed under the programme on contract to
provide security to NGOs.

Under the scheme, the deputy inspector general of Hazara police had
appointed 550 retired army and police personnel on a two-year contract
about five months ago for the earthquake-affected districts of Mansehra,
Abbottabad, Battagram and Kohistan.

According to sources, the Erra has not released salaries of the policemen
for the last two months.

Sources said if the two-year programme was scrapped, police would not be
in a position to provide foolproof security to NGOs.

Managing director of an NGO stated on condition of anonymity that after
the attack on World Vision office in Oghi early this year, the NGOs feared
insecurity and if the Erra or police withdrew the security the national
and international NGOs would leave the area.

Currently hundreds of reconstruction schemes are in progress in the
affected districts and if security is withdrawn, it would deal a blow to
reconstruction and rehabilitation process in Hazara.

When contacted, Mansehra District Police Officer Sohail Khalid said that
out of a total of 550 policemen, 300 were at the disposal of Mansehra
Police to provide security to NGOs and maintain law and order in the
earthquake-affected areas but the Erra didn't release their salaries since
the last two months.

Sohail Khalid said tha t if Erra scrapped the Police Capacity Building and
NGOs Protection Programme, it would not be an easy task for police to
provide proper security to NGOs within its existing strength.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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53) Back to Top
Officials of Sindh Districts Put on High Alert To Cope With FloodReport by
Jan Khaskheli: Officials of five districts put on alert - The News
Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 08:01:03 GMT
Karachi: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has
reportedly put district administrations of Kashmore, Ghotki, Shikarpur,
Sukkur and Dadu on alert to keep a watchful eye on the raging flood at
Guddu which may cause a breach near the Ghauspur embankment anytime.

"We have asked DCOs from Kashmore to Dadu to put the officials concerned
on alert to deal with any situation efficiently. It may be the worst
situation," said a PDMA spokesman.

According to the PDMA official, the water level at Taunsa was 950,000
cusecs which will remain the same in the next three days. "The next three
days are very crucial and may cause devastation in Sindh," he said.

Mohammed Younus Marri from Kashmore told The News that presently thre e
main towns -- Old Ghauspur, New Ghauspur and Karampur -- and the adjoining
villages were under threat and the inhabitants were being evacuated on a
war-footing. He said that in case of a breach, Kandhkot and parts of
Shikarpur district might be affected by the flood.

He said that continuous rain has affected the evacuation process and
relief work in Kashmore and Ghotki districts and other areas.

Government officials claimed that minor leakages in the embankments were
understandable because the floodwater has touched the muddy walls after a
period of 15 years.

Ishaque Meerani, who was monitoring rescue activities in Kashmore, said
that the rising water pressure at the Torhi Bungalow embankment near
Kandhkot caused a minor breach, which was being plugged. He said that
while he was travelling from Guddu to Torhi Bungalow embankment, he saw
hundreds of families crying for food, as they had received nothing so far
from the government or any other side. The people, who had ration with
them while for safe places, have now gone out of the food stock.

He said that though majority of people from katcha area in Kashmore
district had been shifted to safe places, still a small number of people
were there, who were reluctant to leave the area.

The News received reports from different areas that owing to the flow of
100,000 cusec at Guddu crossing and rising level in Sukkur barrage, katcha
areas of Dadu, Jamshoro and Matiari districts came under water on Saturday
morning. Standing crops on hundreds of acres in katcha area and the river
bed have been inundated by the flood water. Local people said that due to
illegal encroachments on land along the embankments, its bunds have
weakened.

The government functionaries have also started to plug leakages in the
embankments in Matiari and Jamshoro districts.

Meanwhile, the Sindh Irrigation Drainage Authority (Sida) Flood
Information Cell figure released on Saturday s aid that at Guddu
downstream water level was 102,2145 cusec, Sukkur 926,035 cusec and at
Kotri downstream 132,660 cusec.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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54) Back to Top
Unidentified Men Kill 6 More as Target Killing Continues in Karachi
Report by staff correspondent: Six more killed as violence continues -
The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 08:01:03 GMT
Karachi: Six persons were killed and several others, mostly Awami National
Party (ANP) activists, were injured, besides armed men torched several
buses and robbed passengers in different parts of the city on Saturday.

The recent spate of violence entered into the sixth consecutive day, as
disturbances were reported from Qasba Colony, Abidabad, Banaras and
Aligarh Colony.

According to police sources, armed men resorted to firing in Aligarh
Colony early Saturday morning due to which some persons were injured.

Abdul Basit was shot dead and his Suzuki pick-up was damaged. He received
three bullets on his body and he was pronounced dead at Abbasi Shaheed
Hospital.

Armed men also shot dead Rashid near Imam Clinic in North Nazimabad police
jurisdiction, while Edhi volunteers picked the body of an unide ntified
man from Banaras Bazar.

Sardar Qadeem Ali (40) and his nephew Zikria were killed in Manghopir
police limits. They were passing through a street in Manghopir No-5, when
armed men riding a motorcycle sprayed them with bullets and fled away. The
deceased were said to be the supporters of ANP.

Taj Wali and Bakht Ali, both ANP activists, were fired upon and injured in
Abidabad area in Moachko police limits. However, a patrolling mobile of
Moachko police chased the fleeing culprits and arrested one of them
identified as Bakhtiyar after a brief shootout.

A TT pistol was also recovered from his possession. Police said that he
was an activist of a political group. A case has been registered and
investigation was underway.

Aamir Ahmed Siddiqi was shot dead near Kati Pahari area. The deceased was
an activist of MQM and affiliated with the party's Aligarh Unit-131 of
Qasba, Orangi Town.

Meanwhile, armed men attacked a bus in Metroville, SITE an d robbed the
passengers. Three passengers Aftab Alam, Naveed and Raza Ahmed offered
resistance upon which the criminals beaten them and inflicted them knife
injuries. Besides, the criminals inured Naveed and Raza Ahmed and torched
his motorcycle.

Raza Ahmed is a resident of Papoosh Nagar. The incident stirred tension in
the area, however, LEA personnel controlled the situation.

Armed men attacked a passenger bus near Babar Market, Quaidabad, Landhi,
and robbed the passengers. Another bus of route F-11 was torched in Landhi
No.2. Situation in the area was tense till the filing of his report.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.then ews.com.pk/)

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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55) Back to Top
Militant Killed, Two Injured While Planting Landmine in Mohmand Agency
Report by Shakirullah: Militant killed while planting landmine - The
News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 08:11:08 GMT
GHALLANAI: A militant was killed and two others sustained injuries when a
landmine they were planting exploded prematurely in Alingar area of Safi
subdivision in Mohmand Agency on Saturday, official sources said.

The sources said three militants were busy in planting an explosive device
on the roadside in Alingar area apparently to targe t security forces. The
device, however, went off leaving the three seriously injured.

One of the militants named Ashraf Ali later succumbed to his injuries, the
sources added.

Militants also fired several rocket and mortar shells at the checkposts of
security forces in Sagi, the mountainous boundary area between the
troubled Mohmand and Bajaur tribal regions.

However, no loss of life or damage to property was reported.

Spokesman for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Mohmand Agency chapter,
Ikramullah Mohmand told reporters by phone from an undisclosed location
that their men had attacked two military checkpoints in Sagi area.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulatio n estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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56) Back to Top
Zardari Becomes Second World Leader to be Greeted by Shoes in UK Rally
Report by Sabir Shah: "Zardari joins Bush, Wen in facing shoe-throwing" -
The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 08:54:33 GMT
LAHORE: Asif Ali Zardari is the second world leader, after Chinese Premier
Wen Jiabao, who has been greeted by shoes instead of cheers and whoops
while addressing a gathering in England, making this country an 'unsafe'
venue for key politicians to express their views in public.

While President Zardari was 'subjected' to this treatment on Saturday
evening at Birmingham, a student was also arrested in the United Kingdom
on February 3, 2009 after he was found guilty of throwing a shoe at the
visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during the Communist leader's speech
at Cambridge University.

While the shoe hurled at the Chinese Premier had landed several meters
from him, the culpable student was quickly apprehended by security and
handed over to police for questioning on suspicion of committing a public
order offence.

The man heaving a show at the Chinese Premier had stood up and shouted,
"How can you listen to the lies he is telling?"

The incident occurred while Premier Wen, on a three-day visit to the UK to
strengthen economic ties, was speaking about China's role amidst the
global economic recession. Along with former US President George Bush Jr,
Zardari hence becomes the only second head of the state in the history,
who has ducked two shoes thrown at him in quick succession.

On Dec 14, 2008, Bush found two shoes coming his way, while he was
addressing a press conference in the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki's
office to mark the signing of a security agreement. Bush also wasn't hit
by the shoes, which had both sailed over his head after they were thrown
one after the other. The US president had shrugged and said, "I'm OK"
after the incident in Baghdad.

"All I can report is it is a size 10," Bush was quoted as commenting
afterwards.

According to the Bloomberg television in the US, the Iraqi journalist
Muntadar al-Zeidi throwing shoes at Bush had shouted in Arabic, "This is
the farewell kiss, you dog."

Zeidi was a correspondent for Al-Baghdadia television, an Iraqi-owned
station based in Cairo. Bush had ended his visit to Baghdad by addressing
more than 1,000 troops at Camp Victory, the staging area in Baghdad for
the US forces.

He was greeted by cheers inside the late Saddam Hussein's Al Faw palace,
where he was seen standing beneath an American flag.

The Iraqi journalist who threw a shoe at Mr Bush won worldwide fame but
was jailed and reportedly tortured by the investigating agencies.

Similarly, on April 7, 2009, a Sikh reporter Jarnail Singh also threw a
shoe at the Indian Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram during a news
conference in New Delhi after he was infuriated over the minister's reply
to a question.

The Indian minister, who was speaking about 1984 riots in which hundreds
of Sikhs were killed, had leaned back to avoid the hurled shoe which
narrowly missed him.

BBC had quoted Chidambaram as saying," Please, take him away, gently,
gently, gently, doesn't matter, please, settle down, please settle down."
Though Jarnail Singh had missed its target, it did trigger off a larger
expression of anti-Congress sentiments among the Sikh populace, a senti
ment that soon gained momentum.

However, the shoe did not stop there. Soon shoe-throwing incidents became
a common fare in India at least. Politicians and electoral candidates such
as a Congress legislator Navin Jindal and BJP's prime ministerial
candidate, L K Advani, had also found shoes of all numbers and shapes
directed at their foreheads in election gatherings that followed.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
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57) Back to Top
Disgruntled Old Man Hurls Shoes at Zardari During Birmingham Rally
Report by staff correspondent: "Zardari joins the Shoe Club with Bush" -
The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 08:44:28 GMT
BIRMINGHAM: President Asif Ali Zardari's grand finale to his UK visit was
marred on Saturday by two shoes thrown at him by a 60-year-old man during
his speech, in the inglorious tradition set by former US President George
Bush in Baghdad.

The British security took away the old man who also shouted slogans but
Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babar forcefully denied the entire
incident and Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, indirectly confirming
it, said it should not have been highlighted.

Kaira told newsmen outside the hall that the investigation would be
carried out to determine how and why the old man was invited to the
gathering for which special invitation cards had been selectively issued
by the Pakistan High Commission.

According to AFP, the police said one man was escorted from the hall after
a shoe was thrown at Zardari, while adding it did not land close to him.
It has not yet been decided whether to press charges, a spokeswoman for
the local force said.

Geo TV and Jang correspondent, who was in the front row, saw the old man
throw both his shoes at Mr Zardari, within seconds as security officials
immediately escorted him out of the meeting.

A few minutes after the incident, the old man was released by the
authorities, Pakistani TV channels reported shortly after the incident.

The incident inside the hall coincided with a big protest outside the
venue where hundreds of flag-waving protestors carried banners and raised
slogans against the Zardari visit.

Lo ndon's Sunday Telegraph immediately reported the incident on its
website under the headline "Pakistan's President Zardari is pelted with
shoes at Birmingham rally" with a subtitle "Pakistan's president, Asif Ali
Zardari, had shoes thrown at him today as he attended a political rally in
Birmingham."

Rosa Silverman of the UK news agency, Press Association, reported that one
man was escorted out of the venue by police after throwing his shoes at
the president in a gesture of protest.

The speech was not covered by private TV channels and only the state-owned
PTV cameras were allowed inside the hall. Even mobile telephones were also
disallowed so it was not immediately possible to get the footage of the
incident but PTV did not show any such incident or even a commotion when
it telecast an edited version of the speech. The PTV feed speech was
carried by all private channels.

A couple of websites, however, claimed that the video of the shoe incident
would be on the Internet soon. The sites also claimed that video was being
edited by the PTV so that it may not get viral.

AFP adds: As President Asif Ali Zardari was to attend a rally, protesters
demonstrated against his presence in Britain during the flooding disaster
back home.

Zardari was due to speak at a political event in Birmingham for Pakistan
People's Party (PPP) members and leading figures in the Pakistani
community in Britain.

Hundreds of demonstrators from various standpoints gathered outside the
International Convention Centre venue in Britain's second city, chanting
and waving placards.

With the flooding disaster affecting up to 15 million people in Pakistan,
Zardari has come under fire from some quarters in Pakistan and Britain for
continuing with his trip to Europe during the crisis.

Some demonstrators held up shoes to pictures of Zardari, while others held
placards reading, "1000s dying, president is holiday ing", "Thousands
killed, millions homeless, what president is laughing for?" and "Are the
Zardaris enjoying England while Pakistan drowns?"

Mohammed Khalil, a local official from the Tehreek-e-Insaf was among those
protesting against Zardari. "His own people are dying for food, there's
calamity there," he told AFP.

"He should be there organising for his own people. Instead he's here with
so many people. The government is paying all the expense for that. That
money should be spent o n the people of Pakistan, not on himself."

Taji Mustafa, from the Hizb-ut-Tahrir organisation, said Pakistanis were
outraged.

"There is no self-respecting leader in the world who in this time of dire
national crisis, while people are drowning, he is drowning in enjoyment,
he is drowning having lavish dinners in the company of his die-hard
supporters," he said.

Wajid Ali Burkey, a PPP business forums coordinat or in Britain, defended
Zardari as he went into the event.

"In the last 70 years, we have not had such a disaster. But I don't think
the president being there or not being there would have made any
difference," he told AFP.

The demonstrators "have a right of opinion to believe he should not have
come, but I personally believe it is very important."

A PPP spokesman had said Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would attend the
Birmingham event and might speak at it but the 21-year-old on Saturday
denied the rally was meant to launch his political career as he opened a
donation point at the Pakistani High Commission in London. The Oxford
University history graduate vehemently defended his father's visit to
Europe.

"He's doing the best he can and what he thinks is best to help the people
of Pakistan," he said.

"His personal presence in Pakistan would not be able to raise this much
money," he said, adding that multi-mi llion dollar donations had been made
by France, Britain and Abu Dhabi on the way.

"If he thought he could be more useful in Pakistan, I'm sure he would be
there."

He added: "The floodwaters have devastated the lives of a people who have
already suffered the most at the hands of terrorists.

"This is not a time to play politics. We need to do whatever is necessary
to help our brothers and sisters in Pakistan."

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyr ight
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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58) Back to Top
Fresh Rains Hamper Pakistan Flood Relief
"Fresh Rains Hamper Pakistan Flood Relief" -- NOW Lebanon Headline - NOW
Lebanon
Sunday August 8, 2010 08:34:25 GMT
Fresh rains lashed flood-hit Pakistan Sunday, hampering aid efforts and

threatening to deepen a crisis affecting 15 million people in the
country'sworst ever floods, AFP reported.According to the report, experts
predict more rain to come, adding to themisery of the millions made
homeless by the destructive floods.Helicopters were grounded in the
northwest while rescuers rushed to evacuatefamilies in the poor southern
farming belt of Sindh, where officials were onred alert for a deluge that
could burst the bank s of the swollen Indus river.The United Nations
estimates at least 1,600 people have been killed by thefloods that have
ravaged the largely impoverished, insurgency-hit country,sweeping away
entire villages.Survivors have lashed out at authorities for failing to
come to their rescueand provide better relief, piling pressure on a
cash-strapped administrationstraining to contain Taliban violence and an
economic crisis.-AFP/NOWLebanonRelated Articles:Up to 800 people dead in
Pakistan after monsoon floodsEU gives Pakistan $39 million in humanitarian
aid(Description of Source: Beirut NOW Lebanon in English -- A
privately-funded pro-14 March coalition, anti-Syria news website; URL:
www.nowlebanon.com)

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59) B ack to Top
Pakistan TV channel blocked over news of shoe hurling at president at UK
rally - Geo TV website
Sunday August 8, 2010 06:57:21 GMT
Excerpt from report by leading private Pakistani satellite TV channel Geo
News website on 8 AugustKarachi: The transmission of Geo News has been
blocked overnight in various parts of country after it aired news
regarding hurling of shoes at President Zardari during his party address
in Birmingham, Geo News reported cable operators sources as
saying.Meanwhile, many offices of cable operators in Karachi have been set
ablaze by angry activists of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).Some of Pakistan
People's Party's leaders and government officials have issued threats and
warnings to cable operators across country against continuation of Geo
News transmission, pressurizing them to shut Geo News transmissio n but
most cable operators refused to do so, sources said.(passage
omitted)Following the blockage, a large number of people registered a
massive protest against closure of Geo News transmission across country
and rampage, arson and riots triggered by workers of PPP, sources
said.Meanwhile, many a Geo News' workers have decided to register a
protest against government in reaction against blockage of Geo News
transmission over keeping people updated with facts and truths.People and
Geo News employees have resolved staging a massive string of
demonstrations against stoppage of Geo News transmission and burning of
Jang and The News newspapers by PPP workers, sources said.The Demos will
be staged outside President House, Prime Minister House, in front of Oman
Embassy in Islamabad, outside CM, Governor Houses, Press Clubs and offices
of cable operators all over country.Most copies of Jang and Thenews
newspapers have been burnt to ashes after robbing them of hawkers at
gunpoint in Karachi.A meeting of journalists, and Geo News employees has
been convened in this connection, which will decide further course of
action over this issue, journalists told Geo News.People were of the view
that Geo/Jang Group is being penalized over revealing of facts and
speaking the truth. They said the ruling elite is angry over reporting of
news regarding controversial visit of president Zardari in face of worst
floods in country.President was not only being criticized in country but
international media were also grilling him due to massive human crisis in
country while he refused to call off his UK visit.(Description of Source:
Karachi Geo TV website in English )

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60) Back to Top
Rescue Teams Shift People to Relief Camps; Sukkur Awaits Floods
Report by Imtiaz Hussain: "High flood rushing towards Sukkur Barrage" -
The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 07:27:40 GMT
SUKKUR: With a breach in the Kandhkot-Toori embankment near Hamid Malik
village, floodwaters were speedily moving towards Karampur, Ghauspur and
other parts of the district, in addition to around 300 villages with a
population of 300,000 people.

Rescue teams, including the Army, Rangers, Navy and other agencies were
busy in shifting people to relief camps.

Red alert announcements have been made in the areas expected to be
affected by the flooding, while heavy machinery has been engaged to repair
the broken embankment under the supervision of Sindh Irrigation Minister
Jam Saifullah Dharejo.

Meanwhile, the scheduled visit of Prime Minist er Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani
to the Sukkur Barrage on Saturday was postponed. All arrangements for his
visit had been finalised and Minister Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf,
Minister for Labour Syed Khursheed Shah, Jam Saifullah Dharejo and others
were present to welcome the premier.

Pervaiz Ashraf, talking to media persons at the Sukkur Barrage, said that
for 13-14 years, the Irrigation Department had not properly maintained the
embankments, so there was a possibility of massive destruction by the
floods.

However, he said, the Army, Rangers, police, Wapda and other agencies were
alerted to the situation and plenty of relief camps had been established.

The minister said that people of the Katcha areas initially declined to
vacate their houses, but now they were responding to the call of the
rescue teams.

The Irrigation Department has demanded 10 grader machines, 100 boats and
seven helicopters to tackle the anticipated flood situation. It has de
clared 48 embankments as sensitive and 11 as highly sensitive.

Meanwhile, heavy downpour and flood played havoc in Dadu and Jamshoro
districts on Saturday as the floodwater hit the Larkna-Sehwan embankment
and more then 65 villages of Katcha area were inundated.

According to reports, heavy downpour lashed Dadu and its vicinity areas,
including Sita Road, Radhan, Johi, and Bhan Saeedabad. The villagers are
leaving for safer places. A railway track near the Sita Road area was
submerged and all railway traffic from Dadu to Larkana was suspended.
According to police, two people were electrocuted in rain-related
incidents in Dadu and Johi.

Agencies add: The high flood at the Guddu Barrage deluged dozens of
villages in Ghotki district on Saturday and the floodwater has hitherto
sustained pressure at Qadirpur Lope in Ghotki, Sarhad and Obauro district.

The Sukkur Barrage is witnessing a high flood tide with water level above
775,000 cusecs. Floodwater en tered Goth Sommer Mallah at Jamshed Lope
Bund.

Over 30,000 people are feared to get affected by the potential flooding at
Nusrat Bund, Aqil Agani Bund Puranaabad areas of Larkana. However, over
15,000 people have been evacuated to safer places in Khairpur and Larkana
districts. Dozens of villages in Ghotki district have been submerged in
the floodwater.

Meanwhile, Sindh Minister for Fisheries Zahid Ali Bhurgari has said that
the irrigation officials were providing wrong measurements about the water
level of the approaching flood. He said that at Sehrish Nagar embankment,
the water level in Indus was continuously rising and the flood level at
Guddu Barrage was around 1.1 million cusecs.

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Political Parties Agree on Ten-Point Code of Conduct To Pacify Karachi
Report by staff correspondent: MQM, ANP, PPP agree on ten-point code of
conduct - The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 07:55:01 GMT
Karachi: The three coalition partners in Sindh -- the Pakistan People's
Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Awami National Party (ANP)
-- signed a document of code of conduct in the presence of Prime Minister
Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday, vowing to maintain peace in Karachi.

The signing-ceremony was held at Chief Minister's House. This was for the
first time that the three coalition partners have agreed on a written
document.

The ten-point code of conduct was signed by Adviser to the Chief Minister
Rashid Rabbani from the PPP, minister Raza Haroon from the MQM and
Afrasiab Khatak from the ANP. Interior Minister Rehman Malik signed it on
behalf of the federal government.

The interior minister presented a copy of the document before the media
during the prime minister's press conference. Chief Minster Syed Qaim Ali
Shah, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, Raza Haroon, Afrasiab Khatak,
Rashid Rabbani, Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Adviser to the CM
on Information Jameel Ahmed Soomro and Adviser to the CM Waqar Mehdi were
also present. ANP's chief in Sindh Shahi Syed, party's central leader Amin
Khatak and others were also seen during the press conference. How ever, no
one from the MQM attended the ceremony except Raza Haroon.

The code of conduct was agreed upon by the three parties in a meeting on
Friday at the CM House. According to the minutes of Friday's meeting, the
coalition partners resolved that peace must be maintained for the greater
interest of the country in general and Karachi in particular.

In the first point of the code of conduct, the parties resolved that extra
care will be observed to make the political environment conducive.

They also agreed to assist the law-enforcement forces to take strict
action against drug and land mafias and those involved in target killings.

In the third point, they agreed to form a coordination committee
comprising MQM, ANP and PPP leaders and other stakeholders to promote
peace and harmony in their respective areas.

Besides, they resolved to identify Taliban, terrorists, members of the
banned organisations who have taken refuge in Sindh in general and Karachi
in particular.

They also agreed to expose the Taliban, members of banned organisations
and other terrorists and also assist the authorities to take action
against them.

They would also cooperate in the ongoing drive against land mafia and
encroachers.

Also, the parties will consult each other in case of any dispute.

Besides, the provincial government will form a high-level judicial
commission to investigate the murder of MPA Raza Haider and all other
people killed in target killings. Those found guilty, the document says in
its ninth point, will be punished without any discrimination.

In the last point, it was decided that the government will compensate the
families of victims.

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Taliban Ready to Talk Only After Army Withdraws From Frontier, FATA
Report by Mazhar Tufail: "Taliban say talks only if Army is pulled back
from all areas" - The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 07:17:33 GMT
ISLAMABAD: Reacting to the statement of President Asif Ali Zardari that
they had never closed the door to talks with the Taliban, the local
militants have said that their leadership would hold nego tiations on one
point i.e. complete withdrawal of troops from all parts of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas, a condition that the government would never
be able to accept.

"Taliban do not want to see Pakistan weak but the government steps always
negate our stance because of which the leadership of the Taliban is left
with no option but to take steps for their defence," said one of the
Taliban leaders when contacted by The News in the wee hours of Saturday
for comments on the statement of President Zardari.

The Taliban leader, however, could not advance any explicit argument in
support of suicide attacks in Pakistan.

Earlier, Zardari told a foreign news agency that his country had never
closed the door to talks with the Taliban. "We never closed the dialogue,"
Zardari said, skirting the question as to when talks could actually
resume.

"We had an agreement, which they broke. (Talks will resume) whenever they
feel we're st rong enough and they can't win, because they won't win. It
will be a painful difficult task, but defeat is not an option for us,"
Zardari said.

Another source among the militants said on condition of anonymity that all
militant groups in Pakistan, that are almost united at the moment, are
considering the latest utterance of President Zardari as their victory. He
said the militant leadership in the tribal areas, where security forces
are currently conducting operations, feel that perhaps security forces are
finding a safe exit for themselves because of which President Zardari has
made such a statement.

Some reliable military sources, however, said that the security forces or
their leadership would never hold talks with the terrorist elements,
operating in the garb of Taliban or with any other identity. They said the
stance of the security forces in this regard is very explicit that talks
could be held only with those who would lay down arms and surrender to the
security forces.

Flatly rejecting what they called an offer of talks, the Taliban
leadership operating in tribal areas of Pakistan, which has always been
rejecting the talks and reconciliation, a source in the ranks of the
militants told The News that such a statement by President Zardari during
his visit to the UK is totally a new thing for the Taliban leadership.
"The Taliban leaders did not expect that such thing can be possible," he
added.

When contacted for comments, former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)
chief Lt Gen (R) Hameed Gul said: "These (local Taliban) are our own
people and have been wrongly playing in the hands of the enemies.
Undoubtedly, they should be beaten up but the doors of talks should never
be closed. Even if direct talks are not held, the jirga system should be
activated and involved. There is no harm in it."

The former ISI chief was of the opinion that the army, through its
successful strategy, has ex tremely weakened the elements in Pakistan,
which were being called Taliban, and now the government has the upper
hand. "The army has enabled the government to have an upper hand,
therefore, it is the time that if talks are held with them (militants), of
course the suicide attacks in Pakistan can be stopped," he said.

Hameed Gul said that reconstruction should be started in the areas where
military operations have been completed, as it would help improve law and
order in such areas. He hoped that if the government talked with reason,
the Taliban leadership would definitely respond positively, and this would
be the beginning of a new Pakistan.

The former ISI chief said whenever the United States held talks with the
Taliban leadership, it would, however, be in an extremely weak position.

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a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
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63) Back to Top
President Donates 2.5 Million Pounds to PM Flood Relief Fund
Unattributed report: President donates 2.5m pounds to flood relief fund
- The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 07:44:52 GMT
LONDON: President Asif Ali Zardari has donated an amount of 2.5 million
pounds to the Prime Minister's Flood Relief Fund. This was announce d by
High Commissioner to UK Wajid Shamsul Hassan here on Saturday at the
launch of fund-raising appeal at the Pakistani High Commission. The flood
relief accounts have been opened in different UK-based Pakistani banks.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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64) Back to Top
Investigators of Commandant's A ssassination Check FC Staff Activities
Report by Javed Aziz Khan: "Safwat Ghayur's assassination; Entire FC HQ
staff submits written statements" - The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 07:33:44 GMT
PESHAWAR: The entire staff members at the headquarters of the Frontier
Constabulary (FC) has submitted written statements to the investigators
about their activities at the time when their Commandant Safwat Ghayur was
killed in a suicide attack on August 4, sources told The News.

All the officials were directed to submit what they were doing at the time
when the vehicle of the FC Commandant came out of the premises of the FC
headquarters to the Sunehri Masjid Road in downtown Peshawar and was
targeted by a young suicide-bomber. The data of the phone calls the staff
members had made was also collected.

Strictest security arrangements were made on Saturday in and arou nd the
headquarters of FC in the congested market area of Peshawar Cantonment
after threats to the force and its establishments.

The headquarters is surrounded by a fuel station, residential area and a
busy market of auto parts.

The FC soldiers normally block both lanes of the Sunehri Masjid Road when
any senior officer comes out of the headquarters.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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65) Back to Top
PM Rules Out Military Deployment in Karachi To Curb Target Killings
Report by Tahir Hasan Khan: PM rules out military action in Karachi -
The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 07:50:58 GMT
Karachi: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday ruled out a
military action to restore peace in Karachi, saying the political parties
had agreed to follow a code of conduct to resolve disputes.

He said this while addressing a press conference at the Chief Minister
House on Saturday after the signing of a code of conduct among the
coalition partner and presiding a high-level meeting to review the law and
order situation and to chalk out a strategy to implement the code of
conduct agreed upon by the coalition parties n the Pakistan People's Party
(PPP), Muttahida Qa umi Movement (MQM) and Awami National Party (ANP).

The prime minister said that the Sindh government would be responsible to
enforce the code of conduct wile the federal government would be providing
every possible assistance and support in this regard. "I talked to Altaf
Hussain and Asfandyar Wali and asked them that we have to work hand in
hand to strengthen the city," he added.

The prime minister said it was decided to resolve the real issues through
mutual consultation by the coalition parties and claimed that there would
be no need to call in Army for maintaining law and order if the issues
were resolved through dialogue.

All the coalition partners have agreed not to criticise each other and
resolve every issue through talks, he said, adding it was also agreed that
coalition partners would support the actions to be taken by the
law-enforcement agencies to crush the terrorists and those involved in
creating disturbance to maintain the law a nd order situation.

He said that the code of conduct has been framed in consultation with all
political parties to improve the situation in the provincial capital and
the federal government would help implement this code.

"Karachi is the economic hub of the country and disturbances in the city
will affect businesses and investment," he said, adding he had been
receiving messages from the world as to what was happening in Karachi
since their businesses were being affected.

The PM said he sent Rehman Malik to Karachi to resolve the crisis and
restore peace, adding he also talked to the coalition partners and
convinced them to help him in his efforts to restore peace in Karachi.
Gilani said that he held meetings with PPP, MQM and ANP leaders and a code
of conduct was agreed upon by all the stake-holders. He said that the
Sindh government has already constituted a judicial commission to
investigate target killings.

The PM said it was also po inted out that a third force was involved in
the target killings, adding, the government was working to find out this
force and take action accordingly.

He said everyone would have to follow this code and all political forces
would be cooperating with the security agencies to ensure peace in the
city. "We cannot allow anyone to brandish arms in open and those
disrupting the peace would be exposed and the criminals would be treated
indiscriminately," he added.

He stressed that all the core issues would be resolved amicably and nobody
would be given immunity. A crackdown will be launched against the
terrorists in Karachi and the incidents of target killing would be brought
under control, the PM declared, saying that the entire nation was highly
concerned over the prevailing situation in the city.

"We are fully committed to serve the nation," he remarked, saying that a
stable Karachi was a must for the stability of the country.

PM Gilani said that all necessary arrangements have been made to tackle
flood situation, as all the agencies have been put on alert and the
federal government would be standing by with the provincial government in
its efforts to cope with the calamity.

He said that the losses brought in Sindh by flood would be assessed and
the world community would be approached for help, adding, "Pakistan
belongs to all and everybody should help flood-hit people and there should
be no po int scoring on this count".

Gilani also urged the nation to come forward to help their fellow
Pakistanis stranded in the flooded areas, saying, "We will ask the world
community to help us cope with the catastrophic flood in the country".

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, Chief Minister Syed Ali Qaim Shah
and Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik were also present at the press
conference.

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66) Back to Top
Chinese Army Donates 10 Million Yuan for Flood Relief Activities
Unattributed report: Chinese army extends 10m Yuan for flood aid - The
News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 07:50:57 GMT
RAWALPINDI: In order to show solidarity with the P akistani people and
strengthen the relationship between armed forces of Pakistan and China,
the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has released military material aid
worth 10 million Yuan to the Joint Staff Headquarters to be used by the
armed forces of Pakistan for flood relief operations, says a ISPR press
release issued here on Saturday.

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a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
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67) Back to Top
Donors Await Govt to Declare Flood Relief Fund Donations as Tax-Free
Report by Usman Manzoor: "SRO being kicked around as donors wait for
tax-free facility" - The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 07:44:51 GMT
ISLAMABAD: Donors are waiting for the official notification of declaring
donation money for Prime Minister's Flood Relief Fund as tax-free income
but the notification of SRO is lying somewhere between the Federal Board
of Revenue (FBR) and Law Division, one claiming that it has not received
the SRO while the Law Division says it has issued it on Friday.

According to details, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments approached
the centre to declare the donations collected in the flood relief fund as
tax-free income and the centre agreed without hesitation. "the FBR prep
ared a summary on Friday for the prime minister, which the PM approved the
same day and the matter came to Law Division for issuance of an SRO in
this regard," the sources said. They added that the summary was prepared
and sent to the prime minister in one day and the premier approved it the
same day but things are lingering on somewhere between the FBR and Law
Division.

Well placed sources in the Punjab government told The News that many
donors and philanthropists were asking for the SRO number regarding
declaration of donation income as tax-free so that they could donate for
the flood affectees. "Though the SRO, whenever issued, will cover the
whole flood donation money retrospectively but the donations are stuck at
present and the provincial governments needed the relief money at the
earliest to minimise flood damage," said the sources.

Chairman FBR Sohail Ahmad, when contacted, said that FBR had sent the
summary to Law Division for vetting an d hopefully Law Division would
return it till tomorrow (Monday). "Those who want to donate may carry on
as the SRO will cover the whole 2010 flood relief donations and this delay
of two-three days was purely technical and has nothing to do with the
donation process," the FBR chairman said. He added: "Those who will donate
or have already donated will also be covered in the SRO."

He mentioned that one of his officials took the SRO to Law Division for
mandatory vetting on Friday and was hopeful that Law Division would
dispose off it by tomorrow (Monday) and FBR would notify the SRO. "When
the Prime Minister has officially announced the tax-free policy regarding
flood relief donations then no one should wait for the SRO," the FBR
chairman said.

Federal Secretary Law Masood Chishti while talking to The News first
showed his unawareness about the issue but latter confirmed that the SRO
from FBR was received by Law Division on Friday and was disposed off after
vetting the same day before the Jumma prayers. He said that he has
confirmed from the person who has vetted the SRO after he himself marked
the file.

Masood Chishti said that plenty of things come and go in daily routine
however things are disposed off rapidly in Law Division these days and no
file is held for more than two-three days. He mentioned that this SRO was
dealt as emergency matter and was sent back without any delay.

It is worth mentioning here that the provinces are waiting for the
donations to help out the people affected from the vast devastation of
recent floods and Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif despite hectic
routine has to visit the function of Rawalpindi/Islamabad Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (RCCI) on Saturday to encourage the traders to
donate for flood affected people.

Bilal Niazi, the spokesman for RCCI told this correspondent that apart
from the award ceremony this very function of RCCI was a imed at donation
collection from the traders.

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a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
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68) Back to Top
Experts Cast Doubts Over Status of Reference Against NA Body Chief
Report by Noor Aftab: Experts doubt status of reference against Abid Sher
Ali - The News Online
Sunday August 8, 2010 07:44:51 GMT
Islamabad: Legal experts on Saturday cast doubts over the legal status of
a reference filed by the Education Minister against Chairman National
Assembly Standing Committee on Education, citing allegations regarding
misuse of authority.

Talking to The News, Athar Minallah, a prominent lawyer, said that
Chairman NA's Standing Committee on Education Abid Sher Ali enjoys the
authority to direct relevant departments for production of official record
and speed up the verification process of degrees of the elected
representatives.

"Abid Sher Ali is exercising his authority in line with the Constitution
and the National Assembly speaker should ignore and send back reference
against him," he said.

Athar Minallah said at the time when Abid Sher Ali was vigorously pursuing
the verification process of degrees of the elected representatives, the
education minister tried to halt this process by filing a reference
against him.

Education Minister Sardar Assef Ahmed Ali has written a letter a couple of
days ago to NA Speaker Dr. Fehmida Mirza and requested her to rule on the
powers of the committee headed by Abid Sher Ali to deal directly with the
Higher Education Commission (HEC) on the degrees issue.

The education minister is of the view that the standing committee can only
prepare recommendations and has no authority to direct, as it is a domain
primarily shared by the Election Commission and the Supreme Court.

On the other hand, Abid Sher Ali has also formally asked the prime
minister to withdraw his directives, which according to him barred the
Higher Education Commission (HEC) from directly reporting to the NA body
on the fake degrees issue.

Athar Minallah said the standing committees act independently and have
powers to issue directives to the relevant departments on important
issues.

"By the way, it is more moral than a legal issue as Abid Sher Ali is
moving in the right direction to expose those elected members who deceived
the nation by submitting fake degrees before contesting general
elections," he said.

A senior Supreme Court lawyer Jaffar Hashmi in his comments said the
standing committee takes up issues and even conducts inquiries and it can
only be done if the chairman has the authority to seek record and issue
directives.

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a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
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President says government to succeed in pulling Pakistan out of challenges
- Geo TV website
Sunday August 8, 2010 04:54:26 GMT
Text of report by leading private Pakistani satellite TV channel Geo News
website on 8 AugustBirmingham: President Asif Ali Zardari said on Saturday
(7 August) that with determination and resolve of the people of Pakistan,
the present democratic government will succeed in pulling the country out
of its present problems and challenges.Addressing a big community meeting
here at International Convention Centre, he said it was a dream of both
Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed to see
Pakistan as a progressive and democratic country and t he government was
working hard to achieve those objectives.The president said that democracy
in Pakistan has been faced with various challenges throughout its history
and the government is taking steps to put democracy on sound footings.He
said that party was pursuing the policy of reconciliation and mentioned
the passage of 18th constitutional amendment, NFC award, autonomy to
Gilgit Baltistan, Balochistan package and women empowerment bill as some
of the steps taken by the government to strengthen democracy.(Description
of Source: Karachi Geo TV website in English )

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70) Back to Top
TV Show on Rehman Malik's Bid To Bring MQM, ANP to Negotiating Tab le
From the "Crisis Cell" news analysis program hosted by journalist Sana
Bucha. For a video of this program, contact GSG_GVP_VideoOps@rccb.osis.gov
or, if you do not have e-mail, the OSC Customer Center at (800) 205-8615.
- Geo News TV
Sunday August 8, 2010 04:37:21 GMT
Reception: Good

Duration: 30 minutes

Karachi Geo News in Urdu at 1405 GMT on 6 August

relays daily current affairs program "Crisis Cell" hosted by Sana Bucha, a
working journalist. The program presents an expert analysis on major
issues.

Bucha begins the program by saying that Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP)
government is embroiled in many crisis these days. On one side floods have
damaged the infrastructure in three provinces, and on the other both
foreign and local media are criticizing President Asif Ali Zardari's visit
to France and the United Kingdom. The targeted k illing is another major
crisis for the government, where death toll has reached to 92, with seven
more killings on the fourth day of outbreak of riots. To do something to
rectify the situation, Interior Minister Rehman Malik undertook an
emergency visit to Karachi and got a quick yet major success to make the
ANP (Awami National Party) and MQM (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) sit together
across the table to find a permanent solution to the Karachi violence.

Bucha plays a video showing joint news conference of Interior Minister
Rehman Malik and Sind Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza.

(Begin recording) (Mirza) We have arrested 195 terror suspects so far of
whom eight or nine have been identified as targeted killers. Moreover, a
joint interrogation of them is underway. (end recording)

Bucha establishes a telephone link with Nasim Ahmed Qureshi, minister of
state for interior, and asks him why always Rehman Malik's services are
required to solve problems in Karachi; w hy the provincial government's
role is ineffective? Qureshi says that there is a need to develop a
consensus between two main parties -- the ANP and MQM -- through the
dialogue without which the dream of peace cannot come true.

Bucha asks Qureshi: If the key to peace is held by these two political
parties, why the government blames the Sipah-e-Sahabah Pakistan and other
religious groups for spreading violence in Karachi? Qureshi says that the
government cannot rule out the possibility of another terrorist element
trying to take advantage of the situation.

Bucha establishes a telephone link with senior MQM leader Haider Abbas
Rizwi, and asks him whether sitting across the table for dialogue is a
short-term arrangement or a permanent solution to the problem. Rizwi says:
Even after losing one of our members we are still committed to bring peace
to the city because we represent 80 percent population of the province.
So, we want to analyze the root cause of the prob lem to find a permanent
solution.

Bucha asks Rizwi: Are you considering any other factor in addition to the
ANP for the violence in the city? Rizwi says: Political parties do support
other forces for their commercial benefits.

Responding to a question about the role of the police, Rizwi says that it
will be a good feat by the police if they are able to arrest the murderers
of Raza Haider.

Bucha concludes the program.

(Description of Source: Karachi Geo News TV in Urdu -- 24-hour satellite
news TV channel owned by Pakistan's Jang publishing group. Known for
providing quick and detailed reports of events. Geo's focus on reports
from India is seen as part of its policy of promoting people-to-people
contact and friendly relations with India.)

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holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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Presidential spokesman rejects report of shoe hurled at Zardari in UK -
website - Geo TV website
Sunday August 8, 2010 05:04:31 GMT
Text of report by leading private Pakistani satellite TV channel Geo News
website on 7 AugustBirmingham: Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar
Saturday (7 August) rubbished the report a man throwing shoes at President
Asif Ali Zardari when the latter was addressing the PPP workers here at
the party convention.Talking to Geo News Farhatullah Babar said there is
no substance in the report as he was himself present at the convention and
no such incident took place during the President's speech."I was sitting
in the front row and I can confidently say that nobody threw anything,"
the Presidential spokesman said.(De scription of Source: Karachi Geo TV
website in English )

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.