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| US will not be allowed to bomb Quetta: Malik |
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Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Says Omar is in Kandahar; does not rule out military operation in Waziristan; US embassy allowed to purchase 264 houses in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Monday said the US would not be allowed to carry out drone attacks in Balochistan at any cost. He rejected reports about the presence of Afghan Taliban chief Mulla Omar in Quetta as incorrect and baseless, saying that he was in Kandahar.
He made it clear that Osama bin Laden and Mulla Omar were not present in Pakistan. He urged the United States and Europe to provide information to Pakistan, if they have any.“Over and again this topic has been coming up. But the Quetta Shura according to us does not exist,” he told Reuters in an interview in London.
“What we are requesting to the US and the UK and all other stakeholders, please give us real-time information. If you know that they are present you must be knowing their names, details... if there is any sign of the Quetta Shura, we will smash it.”
He said an operation in South Waziristan and other areas could not be ruled out and action would be taken against militants, if needed.“Whether we really need a real good big operation like Swat in North Waziristan, in South Waziristan, we are considering it and at the appropriate time we are going to take action.”
The minister said strong action was taken in Swat, Malakand, Bannu and Mohmand, adding that the Baitullah Mehsud group was the target of the government.He said, “In the record time of three months, security forces flushed out the terrorists from the Malakand division.” He added the government had started reconstruction work in Malakand division.
He said he was confident Pakistan had broken the back of the Pakistani Taliban but that bomb attacks were likely to continue until the militants in the tribal areas were dealt with. “Let’s not forget, it’s not only the TTP which is operating there. There is also al-Qaeda and proscribed organisations,” he said. “We have broken the back of the Taliban but what about the main handler which is al-Qaeda?”
Responding to a question, the interior minister said the commitments pledged with Pakistan in Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) meeting showed Pakistan’s successful strategy and the vision of President Asif Ali Zardari.
He said the international community had acknowledged Pakistan’s key role in war against terrorism. World leaders had appreciated Pakistan’s role in war against terrorism, he added. Malik said in the past international community had asked Pakistan to do more: “Now we are saying international community to do more for us.”
He said the US embassy had been allowed to purchase 264 houses in Islamabad, adding no US Marines were present in the country. Replying to a question, he said he was in contact with all the Baloch leaders and the nation would hear good news soon.
He said that the PPP never signed NRO, adding that if it was opened then several more such NROs would also be discussed. To a question, he said the US had established a task force to look into the requirements of Pakistan in energy sector.
He said the government wanted to nab the culprits, who killed great leader Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. It was the responsibility of the then government to provide proper security to Benazir Bhutto as she was the former prime minister. But, he regretted that at time government had not provided security to Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
To a question, he said Pakistan wanted good ties with India. He recalled that Pakistan strongly condemned Mumbai attack. He said seven accused in Mumbai attack had been arrested. “We will bring Mumbai culprits to justice,” he added.
He urged India to respect Pakistan’s courts. He maintained that Hafez Saeed would be arrested if there were evidence against him. “I assure you that we are on it, and also Hafez Saeed has been included in the investigation of the Mumbai attack,” Malik said.
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PIA obliges religiously; latest being religious minister
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A brigadier without brigade has a history of thrashing
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PAC settles drought money misuse
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Point scoring be avoided in Rashid attack case: Shahbaz
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Army called in for today’s Lakki by-election
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Rashid accuses PML-N of promoting criminal culture
ISLAMABAD: Head of Awami Muslim League, Sheikh Rashid, on Tuesday criticised the PML-N-led Punjab government for promoting criminal culture in Rawalpindi and the province.
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Briefs...
Over 64 dead in Afghan avalanches
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ISSN 1563-9479 
