I ask world to recognize Taliban in 1997, says Musharraf

The world committed a huge mistake by not acknowledging the Taliban government in 1997, Former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf said in an article he wrote in a US daily Wall Street Journal.

The former president writes that he asked the global community to acknowledge the Taliban government, Had they conceded to my advise, the circumstances would have been different. The West won the Afghan war due to Pakistan, but took all the credit in the end, Musharraf said. He further said that the US and the world is making a big mistake by recognizing the Tajik minority in Afghanistan, adding that Not all the Pashtuns are Taliban. He called for change in syllabus of the seminaries for the complete elimination of the extremists.

Controversy to Left Pakistan Cricket more Alone in the World

Controversy to left Pakistan cricket more alone in the world is under preparation now days. According to the new suggested FTP the Indian team will play just two short series on a neutral venue in next eight years. On the other hand ICC is not ready to fulfill his promise to give icon status to the Pakistan- India series. Australia is also not agree to play a series in Pakistan. Now a days PCB is talking to Zimbabwe cricket board in order to use their home grounds again for international cricket. Zimbabwe was the only country that gives the offer to play with Pakistan on the Pakistan land. The purpose of the Pakistan-Zimbabwe series was to help the flood victims. First the dates of this series given were up to 19 December but due to Muharram-ul-Harram the security clearance was not given to the week African side. Now the series between both countries will be played next year.

Different countries on different times said no in regard to play a series with green shirts on their home ground especially after the attack on the Sri Lankan team. According to the former players and the experts, if the circumstances of Pakistan cricket will continue like this then PCB have to face a heavy economic lose. The BCCI is not ready to give the dates of the series between Pakistan and India to be played on a neutral venue and said that the blue shirts will play against Pakistan when they will not busy and when Indian government will give them the permission to play against green shirts.

Just like India and other big teams Bangladesh have also adopted the same attitude with Pakistan. Bangladesh did not support Pakistan on the World Cup Issue. In 2009 Pakistani team has to go to Bangladesh to play 2 tests and 5 ODIs but the BCB make a lame excuse of security clearance and then the series can’t be held. Pakistan always supported Bangladesh and other two South Asian sides but at this time none of the Asian side is ready to help Pakistan cricket in this critical situation.

Consequences of attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team, suicide attacks and some other factors are very deep and negative for Pakistan cricket but Pakistani people are waiting that when an international team will come in Pakistan and when they people of Pakistan can enjoy the live cricket in their own country.

Wikileaks divulges details about Saddam’s ‘hastily run’ execution

A newly-leaked US diplomatic cable describes in detail the circumstances of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s execution, from guards telling him to go to hell to officials taking mobile phone pictures.

Saddam’s execution in December 2006 sparked international controversy after mobile phone video of the sentence being carried out was published on the Internet showing witnesses taunting him as he was about to be hanged. The controversies led then-US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad to comment in the leaked cable that supporters of Saddam would use the poorly-conducted execution as an excuse to condemn what he said was a fair trial.

The cable, dispatched in January 2007 and classified SECRET, was one of several hundred US diplomatic reports that have so far been published by whistleblower website WikiLeaks out of a tranche of 250,000 that it says it has obtained. According to the cable, Iraqi deputy prosecutor Monqith al-Faroun, in a meeting with Khalilzad, described a guard who was escorting Saddam to the execution platform telling the ousted president to go to hell, remarks that Faroun said he admonished.

Faroun said that subsequently, he saw Iraqi officials present at the execution openly taking photographs with their mobile phone cameras, despite the fact that the devices were prohibited. The lawyer added that as Saddam was conducting his final prayer before being hanged, one witness shouted, Moqtada, Moqtada, Moqtada, in reference to the radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr who rose to prominence after Saddam’s fall from power.

The mobile phone footage, which spread across the Internet and was being sold on Baghdad streets in the days following the execution, showed an angry but composed Saddam standing on a steel platform in a dark hall, his hands bound and a rough hemp rope around his neck. Several members of the party carrying out the hanging can be heard chanting, Moqtada, Moqtada, Moqtada before Saddam is seen falling to his death as the metal trapdoor opens below his feet. Commenting on the incident, the cable’s author, whose identity is unclear, wrote, The GOI’s (government of Iraq) lack of a clear and coordinated plan to control the witnesses and conduct the execution resulted in a hastily run and confusing event. The cable noted that the Iraqi witness list for the execution changed several times prior to the execution and at one point included 20-30 personnel.Khalilzad told Faroun, the cable said, that Saddam’s supporters would use the execution as an excuse to condemn what had been a fair and just trial.Asked by Khalilzad what Iraq would change for subsequent executions, it said, Faroun responded emphatically that the only witnesses who will be permitted are those required by law: a public prosecutor, a judge, a religious leader and the prison director.This, he concluded, will prevent unacceptable behavior and unnecessary controversy, the cable said.

Cricket: South African Van Jaarsveld tests positive

JOHANNESBURG: South African batsman Vaughn van Jaarsveld has tested positive for banned stimulant sibutramine, the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) said on Wednesday.

The hard-hitting left-hander, 25, has played two one-day internationals and three Twenty20 internationals for South Africa.

“It does not appear to be his fault because it was present in dieting tablets he was prescribed by his doctor called Ciplatrim. Because it is a specified substance, it means it can be taken inadvertently because it is commonly found in medicines, for instance,” SACA chief executive Tony Irish told Reuters.

“We don’t believe it is his fault, but we have to go through the process and we have waived his right to have the B-sample tested. In the circumstances, we hope the SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport will be pretty lenient.”

Sibutramine, an appetite

Zulqarnain explains his position to Pakistan Board

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman has spoken to Zulqarnain Haider and assured him of its full co-operation after the wicketkeeper left the squad in Dubai and went to London where he has applied for asylum.

Zulqarnain said PCB chief Ijaz Butt had spoken to him by telephone to find out the circumstances surrounding his sudden departure from the team hotel.

“I explained everything to him. I told him I was genuinely concerned about the threats given to me for not getting involved in any racket to fix matches in the one-day series against South Africa,” Zulqarnain told Geo News on Thursday.

“I have told the PCB chairman everything and he has assured me that the board will provide me all assistance and cooperation,” the keeper said.

The PCB had been trying to make contact with Zulqarnain since Monday when he arrived in London and on Wednesday it

Pakistan keeper Zulqarnain arrives in London after Dubai no-show

LONDON: Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider has arrived in England after mysteriously disappearing hours before the fifth and final one-day international against

South Africa in Dubai.

Television pictures clearly showed Zulqarnain arriving at Heathrow Airport on Monday afternoon.

Earlier, Pakistan’s team management said the keeper was last seen at the team’s hotel in Dubai early in the morning.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Zulqarnain had not informed them he was planning to leave the hotel nor had he told them the reason for his sudden decision.

“A full inquiry will be held into the circumstances surrounding this incident and no further comment will be made until the facts are known,” the PCB said in a statement.



In a message on his Facebook account, Zulqarnain appeared to suggest he was worried about his

Pakistan keeper Zulqarnain arrives in London after Dubai no-show

LONDON: Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider has arrived in England after mysteriously disappearing hours before the fifth and final one-day international against

South Africa in Dubai.

Television pictures clearly showed Zulqarnain arriving at Heathrow Airport on Monday afternoon.

Earlier, Pakistan’s team management said the keeper was last seen at the team’s hotel in Dubai early in the morning.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Zulqarnain had not informed them he was planning to leave the hotel nor had he told them the reason for his sudden decision.

“A full inquiry will be held into the circumstances surrounding this incident and no further comment will be made until the facts are known,” the PCB said in a statement.



In a message on his Facebook account, Zulqarnain appeared to suggest he was worried about his

Pakistan investigate missing wicket-keeper Haider

DUBAI: Pakistan cricket authorities said they will investigate the case of wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider, who left the team’s hotel in Dubai and did not come to the ground for Monday’s One-Day International against South Africa.

“On Monday morning Haider left the team hotel without informing any member of the team and the management. Haider was in possession of his passport and there are indications that he has left for London,” a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) release said.

PCB release said they had informed the Dubai Police about Haider’s disappearance.

“The Dubai Police was instantly informed and the information shared with Dubai authorities indicates Haider had left for London. PCB continues to monitor the situation and remains in contact with the authorities.

“A full inquiry will be held into the circumstances surrounding this incident and no

Pakistan investigate missing wicket-keeper Haider

DUBAI: Pakistan cricket authorities said they will investigate the case of wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider, who left the team’s hotel in Dubai and did not come to the ground for Monday’s One-Day International against South Africa.

“On Monday morning Haider left the team hotel without informing any member of the team and the management. Haider was in possession of his passport and there are indications that he has left for London,” a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) release said.

PCB release said they had informed the Dubai Police about Haider’s disappearance.

“The Dubai Police was instantly informed and the information shared with Dubai authorities indicates Haider had left for London. PCB continues to monitor the situation and remains in contact with the authorities.

“A full inquiry will be held into the circumstances surrounding this incident and no

Pakistan investigate missing wicket-keeper Haider

DUBAI: Pakistan cricket authorities said they will investigate the case of wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider, who left the team’s hotel in Dubai and did not come to the ground for Monday’s One-Day International against South Africa.

“On Monday morning Haider left the team hotel without informing any member of the team and the management. Haider was in possession of his passport and there are indications that he has left for London,” a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) release said.

PCB release said they had informed the Dubai Police about Haider’s disappearance.

“The Dubai Police was instantly informed and the information shared with Dubai authorities indicates Haider had left for London. PCB continues to monitor the situation and remains in contact with the authorities.

“A full inquiry will be held into the circumstances surrounding this incident and no

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