Pakistan seeks details of Samjhota bombing probe

Pakistan said on Monday to go ahead with the investigations of gruesome incident of Samjhota Express. Indian deputy high commissioner was summoned to Foreign Office in this regard. Foreign Office DG South Asia Afrasiyab informed the Indian deputy high commissioner that media reports were being surfaced on Samjhota Express incident but India didnt inform Pakistan about the investigations of the incident which was occurred in 2007. He emphasized that India should inform Pakistan about the incident as soon as possible.Meanwhile, foreign office spokesman Abdul Basit said, It took almost four years for the Samjhauta Express investigations to come to this pass. We can only hope that no further time will be squandered in bringing the criminals to justice.

Judges Case: SC Reserves Decision on Objection

ISLAMABAD, News Trends: Supreme Court Friday reserved its decision over the Dr Abdul Basit Advocate’s objection over the bench in PCO Judges contempt case and adjourned the hearing till Monday.

Dr. Abdul Basit during the hearing said that his clients have objection over inclusion of Justice Sair Ali, Justice M.A. Shahid Siddiqui and Justice Tariq Pervez in the bench.

The court reserved its decision on the bench.

The counsel said that the contempt proceedings could not be held against the superior judiciary judges. He further said that the civil and military officials also committed contempt of the Supreme Court verdict of Nov. 03, 2007; legal action should also be taken against them.

Pakistan rejects foreign pressure on Pak-Iran gas project

Staff Report

KARACHI: Urging a peaceful solution for Iran’s nuclear issue, Pakistan on Wednesday voiced its opposition against military action.

In a chat with Trend Pk, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said that the government will never allow anyone to use Pakistani soil for an attack on Iran.

He said that Pakistan will not accept pressure from the United States or any other country on Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project.

The project, he said, is in the interest of Pakistan and it will continue. Trend Pk

Pakistan criticizes release of secret US cables

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has criticized the release of classified U.S. diplomatic cables that reportedly raise concerns about the country’s nuclear program.

Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said on Monday that the release of the documents by online whistle-blower Wikileaks was “irresponsible.”

He says the U.S. had warned Pakistan in advance about the release and officials were still examining the relevant documents.

Details about the cables were published Sunday by The New York Times and several other media outlets.

The New York Times reported that since 2007, the United States has mounted an unsuccessful secret effort to remove from a Pakistani research reactor highly enriched uranium that American officials fear could be diverted for use in an illicit nuclear device. AGENCIES

Pakistan criticizes release of secret US cables

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has criticized the release of classified U.S. diplomatic cables that reportedly raise concerns about the country’s nuclear program.

Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said on Monday that the release of the documents by online whistle-blower Wikileaks was “irresponsible.”

He says the U.S. had warned Pakistan in advance about the release and officials were still examining the relevant documents.

Details about the cables were published Sunday by The New York Times and several other media outlets.

The New York Times reported that since 2007, the United States has mounted an unsuccessful secret effort to remove from a Pakistani research reactor highly enriched uranium that American officials fear could be diverted for use in an illicit nuclear device. AGENCIES

Pakistan criticizes release of secret US cables

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has criticized the release of classified U.S. diplomatic cables that reportedly raise concerns about the country’s nuclear program.

Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said on Monday that the release of the documents by online whistle-blower Wikileaks was “irresponsible.”

He says the U.S. had warned Pakistan in advance about the release and officials were still examining the relevant documents.

Details about the cables were published Sunday by The New York Times and several other media outlets.

The New York Times reported that since 2007, the United States has mounted an unsuccessful secret effort to remove from a Pakistani research reactor highly enriched uranium that American officials fear could be diverted for use in an illicit nuclear device. AGENCIES

Pakistan rejects US drone campaign growth

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said Saturday it would never allow any expansion in the campaign of drone strikes by the United States on its territory.

The Washington Post reported Friday that the US was seeking to expand the areas inside Pakistan where Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) unmanned aircraft — used for surveillance and to launch missile strikes — could operate.

“As for the reported suggestion by the US to carry out drone attacks beyond our tribal areas, Pakistan’s position is very clear — we would never allow this to happen,” foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit told AFP.

“The Americans should rather revisit their drone attack policy and stop carrying out strikes in our tribal areas.”

Washington has massively ramped up its drone campaign against militants in areas near the Afghan border over the past two months, and argues they are highly

Pakistan reopens NATO supply route: FO

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reopened the supply route for NATO and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) forces in Afghanistan Saturday.

According to Foreign Office spokesman, Abdul Basit, the stationary trucks at the border are now allowed to move towards their destination in Afghanistan.

He said that the decision to reopen the supply route was held made after reviewing the security situation.

The routs has reopened after ten days when it was closed following a cross-border air strike by NATO forces.

Pakistan took a strong stance on the NATO shooting; the US apologized for the strike. SAMAA

Drone attacks proving counter-productive: FO

Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit has said that the US has been primed of Pakistans reservations over the drone attacks and it is expected that the policy in this regard would be reviewed.
We believe that they are counter-productive and also a violation of our sovereignty, foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit told reporters.The spokesman said Pakistan has no agreement with the US over drone attacks; nor could such attacks be justified.
We hope that the U.S. will revisit its policy, he said, adding that the scaled up drone war was not serving the larger strategic interests, especially in the context of our efforts to win hearts and minds, which is part and parcel of our strategy against militants and terrorists.
Pakistan said the allied forces deployed in Afghanistan have given assurance to Pakistan that territorial sovereignty of the country would be respected during upcoming border actions, Geo News reported Thursday.
The Foreign Office spokesman said in his weekly news briefing that the US and the Nato forces assured that Pakistani border would not be violated in future.

Pakistan to reopen NATO supply once public anger eases

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will only re-open a supply route for coalition troops in Afghanistan once public anger over NATO incursions eases and security improves, the foreign ministry spokesman said on Sunday.

Militants on Saturday threatened more attacks on tankers carrying fuel to Afghanistan through Pakistani routes to avenge the incursions, after setting fire to three dozen of the vehicles.

“Unless the reaction cools down and we make sure that the supply line is secured, we cannot reopen it,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said.

“It’s just because of security reasons. There’s no timeframe. I think it should be done soon.”

Angered by repeated incursions by NATO helicopters over the past week, Pakistan blocked a supply route for NATO troops in Afghanistan after one such strike killed three Pakistani soldiers on Thursday in the northwestern Kurram

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