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Saturday, May 16, 2009
Military leadership says world guarantees can’t be trusted; Kayani briefs politicians on Swat situation; leaders resolve to preserve Pakistan’s sovereignty
By Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: The military leadership on Friday told the national political leadership that there was no chance of moving the armed forces from Pakistan’s border with India for their deployment at the western borders.
In a five-hour-long in-camera briefing to the national leadership here at the PM House, the military leadership clearly said that no guarantee from the international community could be accepted.
According to sources, on the query of PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif about the situation at the eastern borders, the military leadership told the political leadership that the United States had asked for the deployment of forces at the Afghanistan border by moving them from the Indian border and was even ready to give guarantees that India would not make any misadventure against Pakistan. But Pakistan rejected the proposal and made it clear that on the issue of national security, it did not trust any kind of international guarantees.
Sources said Maulana Fazlur Rehman complained that parliament was not taken into confidence before launching the Army operation and on this the military leadership replied that on the directives of the president and the prime minister and on the requisition of the NWFP government, the operation was launched, and if it had not been kept secret, the armed forces would have borne more losses.
Sources said Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi questioned about the timeframe of the operation and was informed that though it might continue for four to six weeks yet no final timeframe was fixed for it.
The sources said the national leadership was also told that the militants were sending pictures of shaved off faces of killed miscreants to gain public support. The sources said one of the military officials asked the national leadership to support the operation and on this Maulana Fazl quickly replied how it could be supported in front of people.
The sources said when Ch Pervez Elahi inquired how the militants were getting funds and weapons, no reply was given. The sources said Head of Special Support Group Lt General Nadeem Ahmed briefed the national leadership on the relief operation for the IDPs and they expressed satisfaction over it.
The leadership was told that the IDPs would cross the figure of 1.2 million. The sources said the leadership was also told that Buner had been cleared off the militants and the IDPs had started returning to their homes.
The sources said parliamentary leader of the MQM Dr Farooq Sattar asked as to what will happen if the militants from Malakand also came to the camps in the guise of the IDPs. On his query, it was said that if they lay down their arms and reveal themselves, then they could be accepted.
The sources said the military leadership also showed a video film to the national leadership about how caves and mountains of Swat were bombarded.Parliamentary leader of Fata Muneer Khan Orakzai assured complete support to the military operation.
Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed also unveiled his Marshal Plan for the rehabilitation of the IDPs before the national leadership and said that there was a proposal to provide Rs 25,000 to the IDPs on their return to their homes.
The sources said Lt Gen Nadeem also told the national leadership that those people, whose homes were destroyed, would be provided compensation after a survey.According to a handout, the national political leadership on Friday reiterated its resolve to preserve and protect the sovereignty of the state of Pakistan, ensure the rule of law and carry forward the political process.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, in a detailed briefing here at the PM House with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in the chair, apprised the national political leadership of the operational aspects of the ongoing operations in the militancy-hit areas, and the steps being taken to minimise the collateral damage during the action.
The COAS also dilated upon the efforts being made to ensure the security and well being of the internally displaced persons (IDPs).The national leadership further recognised the role of the armed forces in the present situation and expressed its grief over the martyrdom of personnel of the armed and security forces.
In the in-camera briefing that lasted for five hours, the leadership also took note and emphasised that strategic questions regarding where, when and how many troops were deployed in each operation or sector was a Pakistani decision, based on objective analysis and full understanding of threat spectrum.
These decisions are undertaken in accordance with our national interest by our leadership, keeping in view the aspirations of the people of Pakistan, the leaders stressed.In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Gilani called for incorporating political dimensions, following the military operation in Swat and some other parts of Malakand to eliminate the militants and terrorists, in order to bring lasting peace to the area.
The prime minister said the armed forces were carrying on the operation with full commitment and high degree of operational professionalism. “I am well aware of the fact that the Army operation is not a permanent solution to our problem and political dimensions need to be incorporated to reach out a consensus for guaranteeing lasting peace in these disturbed areas,” he added.
He said the in-camera meeting had been organised to take the political leadership of the country into confidence on the real situation and answer their questions on the necessity of the Army action in Swat and the issue of the IDPs. He said after having exhausted all political and peaceful means, the government was left with no other option but to call in the armed forces to take stern action against the miscreants.
Gilani said as the government firmly believes that parliament is a sovereign body, therefore, taking the parliamentary leadership on board was essential. “I assure you that the input of the today’s (Friday’s) meeting, along with the suggestions/observations from the forthcoming APC, will be incorporated in our national security policy to deal with the situation,” he said.
The meeting was attended by PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Punjab Chief Minister and PML-N President Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, PML-Q Parliamentary Leader Ch Pervaiz Elahi, MQM Parliamentary Leader Dr Farooq Sattar, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Ch Nisar Ali Khan, PPP-S Parliamentary Leader Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Fata Parliamentary Leader Haji Munir Khan Orakzai, BNP-Awami Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Mir Israrullah Zehri, NWFP Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani, Chief Minister Mir Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Chief Whip National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah, ANP leader Muhammad Zahid Khan, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan, Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Chairman Parliamentary Committee on National Security Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, Minister for Information & Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, PML-F leader Pir Sadruddin Shah, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Coordinator Special Support Group Lt-Gen Nadeem Ahmad, Maj-Gen Muhammad Zaheer ul Islam, DG-C ISI and DG Military Operations Maj-Gen Javed Iqbal.
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Three killed as Sh Rashid escapes attempt on life
By Shakeel Anjum
RAWALPINDI: Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief and a candidate for NA-55 (Rawalpindi) by-election Sheikh Rashid Ahmad was wounded, while three people — a guard and two party workers — were killed when four gunmen more |
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12 soldiers killed in South Waziristan
ISLAMABAD: Twelve soldiers embraced martyrdom while two others were injured in a clash with militants during the ongoing operation Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan Agency (SWA), the ISPR said on Monday.
S more |
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Plan to attack five-star hotel foiled
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The CIA police here on Monday claimed to have foiled an attack on Americans staying at a five-star hotel and arrested six terrorists, including a suicide bomber.
Addressing a press conference, SS more |
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Govt taking court for a ride
By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: She fought her case in the media. She won her battle in the judicial forum too. But still the government is bent on making an example out of her for refusing to follow the illegal dictates of her min more |
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Pakistan against arms race: Gilani
By Azeem Samar
KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday said Pakistan does not want to be engaged in an arms race with any country.
Speaking as chief guest at the induction ceremony of second Chinese-m more |
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Punjab-Sindh water row Centre’s intervention sought
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Tension between Punjab and Sindh over opening of the Chashma-Jhelum and Taunsa-Punjnad link canals has touched a new high as the former has sought the Centre’s intervention.
The Punjab has sai more |
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French, Dutch fight over giving LNG to Pakistan
By Khalid Mustafa
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin and his team is all set to thwart the attempt of an unscrupulous combine of oil industry heavyweights and some functionaries of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Re more |
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Nine killed as no let-up in rains
By Nisar Mahmood
PESHAWAR: Nine people were killed and scores of others injured as heavy rains and snowfall lashed various parts of the country for the fourth consecutive day on Monday.
Reports from the Shangla district more |
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Malik orders NUML closure as protest enters 5ht day
ISLAMABAD: The protest of the students of the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) against thrashing of Professor Malik Tahir by Registrar Brigadier (R) Obaidullah Ranjha entered its fifth consecutive more |
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Malik insists no Blackwater in Pakistan
By Muhammad Anis
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik while responding to an accusation from a PML-N parliamentarian told the National Assembly that Blackwater was not providing security to the president and the prime mini more |
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FBR gets list of properties rented out to foreigners
By Hanif Khalid
ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has received list of properties from Foreign Office, which were in use of foreigners in Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Lahore, but these were not shown in annual tax more |
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Repealing of 17th Amendment
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has begun efforts to create consensus on repealing the 17th Amendment before presidential address to the joint sitting of the parliament.
The prime minis more |
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Three suspects held in Mohmand
By our correspondent
GHALLANAI: The security forces arrested three suspected persons during search operation in Safi subdivision of Mohmand Agency, official sources said Monday. The sources said the security forces carried out sear more |
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No presence of Blackwater, DynCorp in Pakistan, NA body told
ISLAMABAD: Secretary Interior Qamar Zaman again negated on Monday the presence of Blackwater, DynCorp or any other foreign security agency in the country. “Neither the Blackwater and the DynCorp nor any other s more |
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Govt urged to take up water issue with India
By Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat while urging the government to take up the issue of ‘water terrorism’ with New Delhi, has question more |
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Avalanche kills 17 Indian soldiers in held Kashmir
HELD SRINAGAR: Seventeen Indian soldiers were killed on Monday in an avalanche that slammed into a group of 70 combat troops at a high-altitude warfare training camp in Kashmir, the army said on Monday.
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Taliban defiant as Afghans flee ahead of assault
KANDAHAR: The Nato commanders urged the Taliban to surrender as troops dug in on Monday for a major assault on their key stronghold in southern Afghanistan, sending thousands of residents fleeing.
The Ta more |
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Plea to freeze foreign accounts
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday ordered the federal government to submit a reply within four weeks on a petition seeking freezing of accounts in foreign banks and recovery of illegal assets accumu more |
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Attack on Sh Rashid
RAWALPINDI: The PML-N candidate for by-polls from NA-55, Malik Shakil Awan, has announced suspension of electioneering for a day to mourn the death of those killed in the attack on the office of his rival, Shei more |
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Indian forces to halt Kashmir rally outside UN office
HELD SRINAGAR: The held Kashmir authorities deployed thousands of police and troops on Monday to prevent a protest outside the UN office here over the recent killing of two teenage boys by Indian security force more |
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briefs...
20 die in Afghan floods, avalanches
KANDAHAR: Twenty people have died in floods and avalanches triggered by some of the heaviest rain and snow in Afghanistan for 50 years, an official said on Monday. At more |
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ISSN 1563-9479 
