Obama will discuss Pakistan in India parliament: official
November 7, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
MUMBAI: U.S. President Barack Obama will discuss Pakistan in the context of regional security and counterterrorism in his speech to the Indian parliament on Monday, a senior administration official said on Sunday.
“The president will definitely discuss Pakistan”, the official said, but declined to go further than that because he did not want to get ahead of the president’s remarks.
Obama draw criticism on Saturday after he paid tribute to victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks but made no reference in his remarks to India’s traditional foe Pakistan, which New Delhi blames for harbouring anti-India militants.
Pakistan-based militants killed 166 people in a 60-hour rampage through Mumbai, India’s financial hub, gunning down their victims at luxury hotels, a train station and a Jewish centre. India says elements in the Pakistan state were behind the
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.
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.
This year’s Ramazan to see 3 different rates of sugar
KARACHI: Sugar will be sold at three different rates to the people during this year’s holy month of Ramazan.
For the first time in the country’s history, government will supply sugar at two different rates while the third rate will be the one prevalent in open market at which people will have to buy sugar after failing to get it at the previous two rates. The third rate will be Rs70 a kilogram or more.
So this Ramazan will witness people struggling to get sugar at Rs55 after standing in long queues before the Utility Stores and in case of failure they will have to head toward ‘Sasta Bazars’. The third and final option will be the open market where they will be sure to get the commodity but at highest rates.
This year’s sugar production was 1.2 million tones less than the country’s requirement. It was in this context that the government decided to import the commodity.
Taliban killed in failed robbery attempt
KARACHI: One bandit was killed while four policemen sustained injuries in exchange of firing and hand grenade attack during bank robbery in the limits of Pirabad Police Station at Ali Garh area in Orangi town on Thursday.
The sources said the deceased was a dacoit. The robbers attacked police with hand grenade, injuring four cops. The fire caught the motorbikes parked nearby.
The injured were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Dacoits belonged to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, SSP Raja Umar Khatab told Geo News.
Gilani for bringing NRO architect to book
BRUSSELS: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani was critical of those who were against the National Reconciliation Ordinance and said no one questioned the creators of the NRO.
He rejected the “campaign” against democracy and said the system was here to stay and get stronger and all such conspiracies would be foiled.
Addressing a large Pakistani community here at a local hotel where he was staying, Gilani said the people of Pakistan have always supported democracy and will continue to do so as they believe that it was the only thing that could provide them relief in the long term.
He said those who tolerated dictators for nine years were now not willing to see the democratic system work, but vowed that conspiracies against democracy will be foiled.
The prime minister said the former president was forced to doff his uniform when he came under pressure from the United States and the European countries. He said all political governments were packed in the name of ending corruption, but no dictator ever managed to eliminate corruption.
Gilani also dismissed those who were critical of the parliament and said it was parliament that restored the Constitution of 1973 in its original form and brought in the 18th amendment showing great political maturity. Gilani said the parliament was not a rubber stamp.
Regarding the energy crisis, he said though there was no quick fix, yet the government was working on short, medium and long term projects to meet the shortfall.
He said there was lots of criticism against the IPPs when they were created by Benazir Bhutto government, but it was these very IPPs that were today providing the much-needed electricity.
PM made it clear that the people, media and international community will never accept any unconstitutional step against the democracy and mentioned that in past too conspiracies were hatched against the democracy.
Gilani said that the judges of the superior court were restored through his executive order. He recalled that it was he who gave the order to release the judges from the jail.
He also referred to the shortage of 5,000 MW of electricity in India saying that there was load shedding in Bangladesh and Nepal but no one there criticize the government on this issue.
Pakistan not to compromise on water issues with India: FO
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Thursday said Pakistan will not compromise on water issues in the upcoming dialogue with India.
Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit in his weekly press briefing while replying to a question about US-India Strategic dialogue and its possible repercussions on Pakistan, said the United States has taken Pakistan into confidence on Indo-US Strategic dialogue.
The spokesman said Pakistan hoped the US-India relations would be a factor of stability in South Asia.
Replying to a question about India”s role in Afghanistan, the spokesman said Pakistan has always maintained that relations between the two countries should not be at the cost of Pakistan”s security and stability.
The spokesman acknowledged that there was trust deficit between Pakistan and India and that is why the two countries should talk to each other.
He said Pakistan would hold the meeting between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries in Islamabad on 15th of next month with sincerity of purpose.
He hoped that this engagement would lead to sustained and meaningful dialogue process so that the two countries can free the region of conflicts and disputes. In this context, settlement of dispute is very important.
The spokesman said there have been violations of Indus Basin Treaty by India and Pakistan has strong reservations about some projects initiated by India.
Pakistan would like settlement of these disputes in accordance with the mechanism contained in the treaty, said spokesman.
Responding to another question regarding demand of the United Nations for a halt to drone attacks, the spokesman said, “These attacks are violation of our sovereignty and not helpful in the context of winning hearts and minds, which is important for defeating terrorism.”
He said Pakistan has different views with the United States on this issue and the two countries are working together to find out mutually acceptable arrangement so that efforts to counter terrorism become more effective.
The spokesman told a questioner that the Washington Post story about possibility of unilateral strikes inside Pakistan by the United States was baseless.
“Pakistan and the United States have been working to intensify bilateral cooperation in the context of counter terrorism including sharing of real time intelligence,” he said.
The spokesman said the United States never conveyed anything of the sort directly or indirectly to Pakistan as suggested by the Washington Post.
He said, “Our armed forces and security and law enforcing forces have been doing a great job in the context of terrorism and people of Pakistan have also rendered enormous sacrifices.”
He said Pakistan is facing numerous challenges but the government and the people are united in their resolve to defeat terrorism.
Regarding any foreign pressure on Pakistan to launch military operation in South Punjab, the spokesman said it is not the question of pressure on the country.
“Pakistan decides on its own and any decision to take action anywhere would be taken in the larger interest of the country,” he added.
The spokesman said as “Cyclone Phet” is likely to hit Oman”s eastern coast today, and the Embassy of Pakistan in Muscat, in coordination with local authorities, has been able to evacuate majority of three to four hundred Pakistanis from Masirah Island to safer places. Only those who are required for security and emergency services are still there.
He said, “Our Embassy is in close touch with the Royal Oman Police, Operations Cell in Muscat, responsible for “Cyclone Phet” to look after Pakistan nationals in Oman.”
Replying to a question he said the Government and people of Pakistan together had been active in pursuing the goal of safe return of three nationals from Israel.
He said at the instance of Pakistan and other members of the OIC the Human Rights Council in Geneva has adopted a resolution demanding despatch of an international fact finding mission to investigate violations of international law by Israel.
He said the OIC countries would be pursing this objective further.
The spokesman said after successful bilateral visit to Spain, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani is now in Brussels to attend second Pakistan-EU summit to be held tomorrow.
The Prime Minister will also meet the President of the EU Parliament and heads of parliamentary committees besides holding talks with the Belgian Prime Minister, he said.
blankfein
April 27, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Blankfein: In the Context of Market Making It’s Not a Conflict
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Chief Executive Officer Lloyd Blankfein said it is not a conflict of interest in the context of market making when the firm sells a security while also making a bet against that security.
“In the context of market-making, that is not a conflict,” Blankfein said today at a congressional hearing in Washington. “What clients or customers are buying is they are buying an exposure. The thing we are selling to them is supposed to give them the risk they want. They are not coming to us to represent what our views are. They probably, the institutional clients we have, wouldn’t care what our views are. They shouldn’t care.”
source:businessweek
FoDP Forum Meeting in Dubai Today
DUBAI: A meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) is being held in United Arab Emirates today.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said the friends will be invited for investment in private sector in Pakistan.
In the conference being held in Dubai will discuss to promote and encourage the role of partnership between the public and private sectors to help Pakistan to achieve social and economic development.
The conference also aims to encourage the private sector in the 23 member states in the Group to invest in Pakistan particularly in the sectors of energy, infrastructure, agriculture, health and education.
The Pakistani side will present the investment opportunities and projects that the Government of Pakistan intends to put forward in the context of reconstruction and stability for the people of Pakistan.
FoDP Forum Meeting in Dubai Today was first posted on January 26, 2010 at 3:09 pm.
Twin Blasts in Islamabad, Death toll hits 6
The explosion in the cafeteria on the left pieces of flesh splattered on the floor and broken glass. The second attack took place in the department of Islamic law.
At least 21 injured have been taken to PIMS hospital in the federal capital, where many of them are in critical condition, authorities said. The wounded included 14 girls between the four said to be in serious condition.
International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) was established in the 1980s. Its sprawling campus on the outskirts of the city, has more than 12,000 students, nearly half of them women. Many students come from abroad.
The police commissioner Abdul Ghafar Quaiserani said two suicide bombers blew themselves up almost simultaneously. Both attackers were also killed, he said.
Television footage showed a woman with a bloody left leg being carried on a stretcher and a red brick building with broken windows. Its ceiling was peppered with shrapnel from the explosion.
Security forces have cordoned off the area after the blasts.
Twin Blasts in Islamabad, Death toll hits 6 was first posted on October 20, 2009 at 5:28 pm.
