On the India-Pakistan border, a cold peace

SURATGARH: It has been nearly eight years since India and Pakistan agreed a ceasefire over

Kashmir – long enough for residents to start building brick houses and plant paddy fields up to the edge of one of the world’s most heavily militarized borders.

Sajid Nadiadwala and Sajid Khan differ on item song for Housefull 2

There is a sizzling debate brewing between producer Sajid Nadiadwala and director Sajid Khan over a pending item song in Housefull 2.

We’ve been hearing of an item song in the big-budget under-production film that according to the grapevine is to be performed by some A-lister.

Not so fast! Before the item girl has a blast on screen, she would have to go through close scrutiny by the film’s producer Sajid Nadiadwala and director Sajid Khan.

While Khan favours the tried-and-tested formula of getting an A-lister actress on board, Nadiadwala feels the item song by a hot-and-happening actress has truly been done to death and to keep audiences’ interests alive in the cult of the item song, the phenomenon of the surprise dance must really and radically be re-invented.

“Really, after Munni and Sheila and all the others there’s not much that can be done with an item song with just a big-name actress dancing to it,” Nadiadwala argues and favours a new stunner to perform the item song in Housefull 2. Or else, the enterprising producer wants 2 A-listers for the item song.

However, Khan apparently feels that Jacqueline Fernandez who was a virtual unknown when she performed the item song to the remixed version of the Bachchan chartbuster ‘Apni To Jaise Taise’ in Housefull proves that an item song by a solo performer is very much a commercially viable proposition. The number was to be originally performed by Sushmita Sen.

And that brings us to the other bone of contention between the two Sajids. After the copyright-related harassment that Nadiadwala faced on using the old hit ‘Apni To Jaise Taise’ in Housefull, he wants to record a completely new item song for Housefull 2.

Says Nadiadwala, “Creating a new excitement in the item song has become very difficult. All the top actresses have been seen in item songs. What do we do?”

Khan was more guarded in his response, “It’s early to say anything about it. We’re shooting it after three months.”

Palestine enter World Cup qualifiers

Thousands of spectators watched the match between Afghanistan and Palestine at the Faisal Hussaini National Stadium in West Bank.

Palestine had defeated Afghanistan 2-0 in the first match of Asian World Cup qualifying stage. However, the second match between the two teams ended in 1-1 draw. Thus, Palestine was declared 3-1 winner.

Striker Hassam Wadi put the hosts in front with 11th minute goal while Balal Arezou scored in the 63rd for Afghanistan.

Palestine will now face Thailand in second stage of qualifying matches scheduled for July 23 and 28.

China to give Pakistan 50 JF-17 aircrafts

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani met his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao on Wednesday.

Both Gilani and Jiabao discussed bilateral relations, strategic matters and host of other issues, including Abbottabad operation. The two leaders also discussed Abbottabad operation and its after affects on the regional situation.

According to media reports, China will give 50 JF-17 aircraft to Pakistan on emergency basis.

The two prime ministers agreed in principle to enhance volume of trade between the two countries and launching development projects in Pakistan.

Earlier, Jiabao received Gilani and his team members on their arrival at the Great People’s Hall. An active contingent of the Chinese Army presented guard of honour to the visiting PM.

David Beckham in Car Crash on Freeway

On his way back home from the Royal Wedding in London, soccer star David Beckham got himself involved in a car accident on a Southern California freeway on Friday morning. The star was behind the wheel of his Black Cadillac SUV that rear-ended a gold Mitsubishi in the carpool lane of the 405 Freeway in Torrance.

The driver of the Mitsubishi was taken to a hospital in Torrance as he complained of minor pain in the neck after the collision. Beckham came out without a scratch and needed no medical attention. Beckham had his seatbelt on when the rear-ended collision between the two vehicles took place.

Luck seems to favor the soccer player as he was neither arrested nor cited for the accident as reported by the authorities and is now safely back home.

The incident does not lead to any encumbrance for the pink themed baby shower plans of the dynamic couple of David Beckham and his gorgeous wife Victoria Beckham. It is truly an “all’s well that ends well” fable for world!

Catherine Zeta-Jones Speaks Out About Bipolar

A few weeks ago Catherine Zeta-Jones checked herself into a clinic and now she has spoken out about her battle with bipolar disorder and what led her to check into a mental health hospital to seek treatment. At the time she released a statement that talked of the stress of the last year whilst supporting her husband through his battle with throat cancer.

“This is a disorder that affects millions of people and I am one of them,” Zeta-Jones told People magazine. “If my revelation of having bipolar II has encouraged one person to seek help, then it is worth it. There is no need to suffer silently and there is no shame in seeking help.”

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depressive illness, is a mental illness characterized by mood swings between the two psychological pulls of depression and euphoria.

Charlie Sheen’s battle with the illness has been very public of late and more recently Demi Lovato has also gone public with her diagnosis of bipolar. Mental-health advocates hope Zeta-Jones’ public struggle will help dispel some of the myths and fears about mental illness.

Remo to make his next with Pritish Nandy and not Vashu Bhagnani

After the surprise success of F.A.L.T.U everyone associated with the film is talking about a sequel including director Remo D’Souza who feels there’s ample scope for the characters to be carried forward.

In fact producer Vashu Bhagnani is planning more than just the F.A.L.T.U sequel with Remo. A day after the film’s surprisingly encouraging opening, Vashu said to me, “I’m announcing three films in a week. One of them will be directed by Remo.”

However, Remo seemed unaware of Vashu’s plans.

Said Remo shyly, “I’m not too sure whom I’m doing my next film with. Right now I’m quite numbed with the way F.A.L.T.U has been received. It was said choreographers couldn’t make successful directors. F.A.L.T.U had no stars. We just did what we thought right. And it turned out right. I couldn’t hope for a better birthday gift.”

A bit of probing reveals that all was not well between Remo and Vashu Bhagnani during the shooting of F.A.L.T.U.

Says a source, “There were constant differences of opinion between the two. This is not the film that Remo had set out to make. He is making his next film for Pritish Nandy Communications.”

A quick call to the candid Pritish Nandy confirms that Remo is making his next film for them.

Says Nandy, “Remo is indeed committed to make his next film for us. We start soon. In fact he had offered to make his first film in Bengali Lal Pharer Kotha for us. But we had a bad experience with a Bengali filmmaker. So we stayed away. But Remo has choreographed many songs for our productions. He’s a terrific guy.”

With Remo’s next directorial undertaking confirmed for Pritish Nandy, where does that leave Vashu Bhagnani’s plans of roping in Remo to direct another film?

NATO forces hit Libyan rebels by mistake: rebel

BENGHAZI: The head of rebel forces in eastern Libya said on Thursday that an air strike on a rebel position appeared to be a case of “friendly fire” by NATO forces but said it did not create tension between the two.

Wounded rebels being brought to a hospital in Ajdabiyah in rebel-held east Libya said on Thursday they were hit by a NATO strike on trucks and tanks outside the contested port of Brega.

“We are not questioning the intention of NATO, because they should be here to help us and the civilians, but we would like to receive some answers regarding what happened today,” Abdel Fattah Younes, head of the rebel forces, told a news conference. “We would assume it was NATO by mistake, friendly fire.”

Rebel fighters had put the death toll at five. Younes said the toll so far was four dead, 14 wounded and six missing. AGENCIES

Pakistan frees Indian prisoner after 23 years

LAHORE: An Indian national held in Pakistan for 23 years returned home Thursday in a sign of easing tensions between the two nuclear-armed rivals who resumed peace talks last month.

Gopal Das, one of Pakistan’s longest-serving Indian prisoners, crossed the border and was received by relatives in Attari, a land transit route in the northern Indian state of Punjab.

President Asif Ali Zardari ordered the release late last month after an appeal from India’s Supreme Court.

Das — who told reporters he was 26 when he was arrested — was sentenced to life in prison in June 1987 and had been due for release by the end of this year.

Pakistan’s presidency did not say why he was convicted, but Das himself confirmed reports that he had been jailed for spying.

“Yes … I went to Pakistan on a spying mission and I was arrested for espionage,” said Das, who was clearly angered by what he saw as his abandonment by the Indian authorities.

“Indian intelligence never bothered to get me released from jail in Pakistan,” he said.

“I carry a grudge against the Indian leadership because it does not bother about Indian prisoners still rotting in Pakistan prisons for many years,” he added.

He made a point of thanking the president and prime minister of Pakistan for his early release.

Das’s release comes as India and Pakistan are making concerted efforts to put their troubled relationship back on track, after India broke off peace talks in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Last week, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani became the most senior Pakistani leader to visit India since 2001 when he watched the India-Pakistan cricket World Cup semi-final with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh.

British Premier David Cameron during a trip to Islamabad this week urged the two countries to move closer, describing the sight of Gilani and Singh sitting together to watch the match as a “tremendous sign of hope for the future”.

Muslim-majority Pakistan and Hindu-majority India have fought three wars since the division of the subcontinent in 1947, and came to the brink of another conflict as recently as 2002. AGENCIES

Pakistan spells out ‘concerns’ to US general

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan spelt out “concerns” dogging its troubled alliance with the United States at talks Thursday with the most senior American to visit since the release of a CIA contractor accused of murder.

US commander of the Middle East and Afghanistan, General James Mattis, flew in as relations took a further knock from a White House report criticising Pakistan’s fight against Islamist militants on the Afghan border.

Mattis was meeting Pakistan’s army chief General Ashfaq Kayani and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff committee, General Khalid Shamim Wynne, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Shavers at the US embassy told AFP.

During the meetings, Mattis would “hear from them their concerns with regard to the relationship with the US military here”, Shavers said.

“He’s going to be in listening mode… that’s the main reason why he’s here,” he said. Mattis aims to visit Pakistan every three months and last visited in November, Shavers added.

The United States has made Pakistan a front line ally in the nearly 10-year war in Afghanistan and against Al-Qaeda, which US officials believe has carved out a global headquarters in Pakistan’s border areas with Afghanistan.

Under heavy US pressure, Pakistan has stepped up military operations against homegrown Taliban over the last two years, but US officials say more needs to be done to neutralise the threat posed by Islamist networks on its soil.

Islamabad rejected fresh criticism of its anti-militant fight, calling comments in this week’s White House report “unwarranted”.

“I would like to categorically state that we do not share the assessment of the US,” said foreign ministry spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua in a news briefing.

“Pakistan should not be held accountable for the failings of coalition strategy in Afghanistan,” she added.

Pakistan argues that its troops are already dangerously overstretched. With an estimated 147,000 forces in the northwest — more than the 130,000 US-led NATO force in Afghanistan — the army has also endured heavy losses.

The military says more than 2,800 soldiers have died and more than 8,700 have been wounded since 2001, when the September 11 attacks on the United States ignited the US-led war on terror.

Aside from military operations, more than 4,200 people have been killed across Pakistan in attacks blamed on Taliban and other Islamist extremist networks since government troops stormed a radical mosque in Islamabad in 2007.

On the same day as the Mattis-Kayani talks, a suicide bomber killed a Pakistani police constable and wounded five other people, including two children, in the southwestern province of Baluchistan that borders Afghanistan.

But the White House report noted a deterioration this year in the northwestern border with Afghanistan and criticised the Pakistani military for failing to forge a clear and sustained path to beat Islamist insurgents.

The Pakistan military confirmed that the Mattis talks dealt with Afghanistan and “military cooperation,” but commanders did not give detailed comment.

Mattis is the highest ranking US official to visit Islamabad since Pakistan released a CIA contractor who shot dead two men in Lahore in January.

The killings and Pakistan’s subsequent seven-week detention of Raymond Davis sparked a major diplomatic crisis between Washington and Islamabad, until $2 million in blood money was paid to the families of the dead men.

A covert US drone campaign in the border region, which fosters deep anti-Americanism within Pakistan, has also continued to inflame tensions.

A missile strike on March 17 killed 39 people, civilians among them, and led to rare public condemnation by Kayani of the drone campaign, which continues with the tacit consent of Islamabad.

Military analyst Talat Masood said the recent trials and military relations between the two countries had “great scope for improvement”.

“They’ll have to work a lot harder to improve them — both between the intelligence services and the military,” he said.

Pakistan last month boycotted a key meeting on Afghanistan in protest against the March 17 drone attack.

“We are trying to build these relations between the two countries on the principles of mutual interest and mutual respect, and at no point the national interest of Pakistan will be undermined in any way,” Janjua told reporters. AGENCIES

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