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| PM seeks US role in resolving disputes with India |
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Friday, June 26, 2009
Zardari wants drone technology; Gen Jones assures US help in India-related issues
By Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: US National Security Adviser Gen (retd) James Jones, on a visit to Pakistan, held separate meetings on Thursday with President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.
In his talks with the US adviser, President Zardari asked the United States to provide drone technology to Pakistan to shore up its indigenous counterterrorism operational capacity. The president said Pakistan needed much more assistance to rehabilitate the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and embark upon a massive socioeconomic development programme of the area to banish poverty and thereby the exploitative forces of militancy. Zardari said he was looking forward to the early materialisation of the building of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) to help build the underdeveloped areas economically and provide jobs to the people. He also asked for international assistance to meet energy challenges.
The president also thanked the United States administration for its efforts in the adoption of the Kerry-Lugar Bill to provide $1.5 billion of annual assistance to Pakistan over a period of five years.
Jones complimented the president for launching an effective operation against militants. He said it was particularly helpful that the war against militancy was broad-based and had public and political support.
US Ambassador Anne W Patterson and senior officers of the National Security Agency of the US participated in the meeting. Minister for Interior Rehman Malik, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, Senator Sughra Imam, MNA and senior officials were also present.
In his meeting with US National Security Adviser General James Jones, Prime Minister Gilani called upon the world at large and the US in particular to play their role for the resolution of the core issue of Kashmir as well as the water issue between Pakistan and India, as it would help Islamabad focus on fighting extremism and terrorism on its western border to ensure peace and stability in South Asia.
The prime minister also called for stopping drone attacks in order to ensure success of Pakistan’s strategy of isolating militants.
Underlining the fact that Pakistan’s strong anti-terrorist action was the reflection of its unshakeable resolve to eliminate terrorism, the prime minister expressed his disappointment over cold response of the world to Pakistan’s appeal for assistance to win the war against these evil forces and to provide relief to the dislocated people. The aid they sent or offered was insufficient, he said.
He urged the US to write off Pakistan’s debt to help in overcoming its immediate economic difficulties and make up for the economic losses it has suffered as a frontline State in the fight against terrorism.
The prime minister noted that while Pakistan’s law-enforcement and anti-terror campaign in the Malakand division was now nearing a successful conclusion, the promises of capacity building of its law-enforcement agencies still remained unfulfilled.
He emphasised that once military action was over, security personnel would have to take over. “They needed to be strengthened through new recruitments, proper training and adequate equipment and should be provided a social safety net to cater for their families, in case of casualties,” he added.
The prime minister said dignified and honourable return of dislocated persons to their homes must be facilitated for winning hearts and minds of the people and for this the international community had to fulfil its responsibility. The premier also expressed his concern that there would be an influx of refugees from Afghanistan, in the aftermath of new deployment of US and Nato forces there.
The US national security adviser fully agreed with the views of the prime minister and assured him that the US government would do every thing it could to help Pakistan. He reaffirmed President Obama’s keen desire to have a long-term, multifaceted and strategic cooperation with Pakistan under a new comprehensive regional strategy.
He lauded Pakistan Army’s successful operation against terrorists and praised Prime Minister Gilani for his statesmanship in consensus building and taking the whole nation along on this issue.
Gen James Jones further stated the US government would help in every possible way for the resumption of dialogue between Pakistan and India and for resolution of the core issues like Kashmir dispute and water distribution between the two countries.
Federal Minister for Defence Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik, Senator Sughra Imam and US Ambassador Anne W Patterson were present during the meeting.
Online adds: Meanwhile in a meeting with National Security Adviser Gen (retd) James Jones held at the US Embassy, Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif said Pakistan is facing enormous challenges, as war against terrorism is causing negative effect on its economy but the Pakistani nation is determined to flush out terrorism and the US should help us.
“Our Army is taking action against extremism and soon it would emerge victorious,” he said. Opposition leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was also present in the meeting in which issues related to war against terrorism, regional security, Pak-US relations, political situation in the country and Pak-India relations were discussed at length, sources said. Shahbaz said his party was lending unconditional support to government in the war against terrorism.
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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 
