Pak-US strategic talks ruled out

The US government sources told News Trends that there was no possibility of the talks till the US government is satisfied that Pakistan has adopted measures in this regard.

The sources further disclosed that the issues including defence, regional peace, nuclear non-proliferation and eradication of terrorism would be on the top agenda of the talks while issues like economic stability, trade, energy, science and technology, education, agriculture, health and interaction with the masses will be included in the agenda only to enhance the range of the dialogue .

The sources added that the whole process was affecting due to the differences between both the countries on issues like defence and eradication of terrorism.

The issue also came under discussion during US special envoy Mark Grossman’s recent visit to Pakistan but no breakthrough came to the fore regarding strategic dialogue.

However, the sources ascertained that the USA was not pondering to end ties with Pakistan.

US be realistic on Iran engagement: Mullen

The United States needs to be realistic about its efforts to engage Iran, whose regime is lying about its nuclear programme and is on a path to build nuclear warheads for missiles, the top US military officer said.

I still think it’s important we focus on the dialogue, we focus on the engagement, but also do it in a realistic way that looks at whether Iran is actually going to tell the truth, actually engage and actually do anything, Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in an interview with media due to air on Sunday.

U.S thinking military options on Iran

WASHINGTON: The United States needs to be realistic about its efforts to engage Iran, whose leaders are lying about Tehran’s nuclear program and are on a path to building nuclear weapons, the top U.S. military officer said.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in comments released on Friday that the U.S. military has been thinking about military options on Iran “for a significant period of time” but added that diplomacy remained the focus of U.S. efforts.

“I still think it’s important we focus on the dialogue, we focus on the engagement, but also do it in a realistic way that looks at whether Iran is actually going to tell the truth, actually engage and actually do anything,” Mullen said in an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS due to air on Sunday.

Iran has agreed to meet with a representative of the six big powers over its

Pakistan, US both to gain from strategic dialogue, says Qureshi

Pakistans Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that three rounds of high-level dialogues have taken place during a span of just eight months. He said that the dialogue would benefit both the countries.
Briefing the media representatives in Lahore about his recent trip to the USA, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the United States and Pakistan are playing important role in the region. He also said that the government has tried to make the dialogue more meaningful and as a matter of fact 13 issues were discussed during the recent third round of strategic dialogue, including the problems of common man in Pakistan. Mr. Qureshi also told the media that the US Secretary of State agreed with Pakistan on many issues.
The foreign minister added that Pakistan has always been submissive before the USA but now the bilateral relations are changing their dimensions. Pakistan has started negotiating on its terms. He also told the media that earlier all the negotiation used to be verbal in nature but now from this round of negotiation Pakistan has started documenting the complete negotiations. Shah Mehmood Qureshi also disclosed the fact that the US Secretary of State agreed with the Pakistani stance on many different issues. He said that negotiations are not a one-step process; in fact its a time taking process that would yield results after its completion. Pakistan Foreign Minister also said that the USA has pledged a grant worth 7.5 billion dollars for Pakistan that would be utilized for the development of the country. Shah Mehmood also said that Pakistan has rendered invaluable sacrifices in the war against terrorism.

Clinton due in Islamabad today

ISLAMABAD: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will arrive here today (Sunday) on a two day visit to consult with government leaders on bilateral and regional issues and to attend the bilateral Ministerial-level Strategic Dialogue to be held on Monday, Geo news reported.

According to US embassy spokesman, Hillary Clinton would be arriving on Sunday to participate with her delegation in a meeting of the bilateral Ministerial-level Strategic Dialogue, she chairs with her counterpart, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Strategic Dialogue working group leaders from both governments will report out on the tangible outcomes of their work.

During the visit, she will also directly engage Pakistani citizens and take their questions in a Town Hall meeting that will be covered by the press, said the spokesman.

Meanwhile according to diplomatic sources Hillary Clinton during her visit would meet with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and other senior officials.

Sources told that Pakistani political leadership would brief the US Secretary of State on talks with India and the deadlock in the talks created by India.

During the Ministerial-level bilateral Strategic Dialogue that was launched in Washington on March 24-25, 2010, has thirteen separate working groups that have met in Islamabad over the past three months.

Those working groups included agriculture; communications and public diplomacy; defense; economics and finance; education; energy; health; law enforcement and counterterrorism; market access; science and technology; security, strategic stability and nuclear nonproliferation; water; and women’s empowerment.

Pakistan would try to convince US to make progress in investment in the power and water sector.

Sources also told media that Pakistan would adopt a decisive stance on India’s violation of Indus River Water Treaty (IRWT) and would demand US to play its role in this regard.

Sources told that Pakistan, during the strategic dialogue, would also demand an increase in aid being given by the US under the Kerry Lugar Law.

India not mentally prepared for talks: Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: India is not yet mentally prepared for the resumption of dialogue process with Pakistan and is just interested to discuss only some specific issues instead of talking on all outstanding issues between the two countries.

This was stated by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi while talking to newsmen here at Foreign Service Academy after attending the certificate distribution ceremony to the newly trained probationers of the Foreign Service.

Replying to a question about any ‘dead lock’ in Pak-India foreign minister level talks held here at Islamabad yesterday, Qureshi said,” India is not seen mentally ready for the resumption of talks.”

He said although the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna have positive approach and thinking for resuming the talks, but there are some other problems being faced on part of Indian leadership for the revival of dialogue process.

Qureshi said Pakistan is always ready to resume talks with India with open heart, but the dialogue process should be substantive, meaningful and result oriented.

He said the progress achieved in the dialogue process started in 2004 and continued till 2008 should not be wasted due to some unknown reasons.

Those issues and segments for which modalities have been already decided between the two countries should not be reopened, he said.

Indian FM calls on Zardari, Gilani

ISLAMABAD: External Affairs Minister S M Krishna called on President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani here Thursday and discussed ways to deescalate the tension and re-track the dialogue process between the two countries, ARY NEWS reported.

More:
Indian FM calls on Zardari, Gilani

”JUI (F) to continue support for decmoacy”

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Monday that Jammiat-e-ulema Islam (F) assured to continue its support for strengthening democracy in the country.

Rehman Malik said this that after holding a meeting with Chief of Jamiat-e-ulema Islam Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

A press release says that the meeting between the two leaders was held in congenial atmosphere and various issues of national interests came under discussion.

Interior Minister said Maulana Fazlur Rehman is our friend and he assured his party support for democracy and Pakistan Peoples Party.

He said for JUI (F) will continue its support to the government for overcoming prevailing challenges and bringing prosperity to the nation.

On this occasion, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that they want to move forward democratic process and it was our collective responsibility to put the country on path of progress and prosperity.

Good relations with Pakistan in India”s interests: Manmohan

SRINAGAR: Making a fresh offer of talks to those in Occupied Kashmir who lay down arms, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said that we wish to carry forward the dialogue process in the region.

He also said that meaningful talks with Pakistan could lead to resolution of “old issues” and were in India”s interests.

Without naming Pakistan, Singh said it should help in creating an environment in which people from both sides of LoC could live in peace and harmony and work together.

Prime Minister Gilani has assured me that Pakistan”s soil would not be used against India, Manmohan said in his convocation address at the Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.

Taliban denies reports on talks with Afghan government

KABUL: The Taliban has rejected media reports which said the militant outfit held talks with the Afghanistan government in the Maldives.

The Taliban, in a statement sent by email Friday, said those who reportedly participated in the dialogue with the government were former members of the group, who had surrendered, media reported.

The participants were members of the “puppet state intelligence department,” the Taliban statement said.

The militant outfit reiterated that the unconditional and immediate withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan was the precondition for any peace talks.

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