Extremists cannot escape US reach: Obama

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama brandished Tuesday the deaths of Osama bin Laden and Moamer Kadhafi as an election year show of foreign policy force aimed at disarming his Republican foes.
  
Trumpeting his commander-in-chief credentials in an annual State of the Union address, Obama made it clear that the traditional avenue of attack — Democratic presidents are weak on defense — would not hold in 2012.
  
“For the first time, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq. For the first time, in two decades, Osama bin Laden is not a threat to this country,” the president said in a speech effectively launching his reelection campaign.
  
“Most of Al-Qaeda’s top lieutenants have been defeated. The Taliban’s momentum has been broken, and some troops in Afghanistan have begun to come home,” he said.

“Ending the Iraq war has allowed us to strike decisive blows against our enemies. From Pakistan to Yemen, Al-Qaeda operatives who remain are scrambling, knowing that they can’t escape the reach of the United States of America,” he said.
  
Addressing rows of military men in uniform, including his joint chiefs of staff, Obama praised their achievements as “a testament to the courage, selflessness, and teamwork of America’s Armed Forces.”
  
In a highly symbolic call for unity in a polarized America, Obama said a flag bearing the names of the Navy SEAL team that eliminated bin Laden, the Al-Qaeda mastermind, was one of his “proudest possessions.”
  
“Some may be Democrats. Some may be Republicans. But that doesn’t matter. Just like it didn’t matter that day in the Situation Room…. All that mattered that day was the mission. No one thought about politics.”
  
But beyond the jingoistic military message was a clear challenge to Republican rivals not to come after him on foreign policy, a marker in the sand less than 10 months before the November 6 presidential election.
  
Despite several clear foreign policy successes over the last three years, Republican presidential hopefuls have nonetheless sought to stereotype the Democratic incumbent as weak, continuing a tradition dating back to the Carter administration and the Iran hostage crisis.
  
After winning in South Carolina and surging to the front in the Republican nomination battle, Newt Gingrich issued the ultimate insult: “President Obama is a president so weak that he makes Jimmy Carter look strong.”
  
Gingrich’s main rival for the nomination, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, has repeatedly accused Obama of failing on the greatest threat America faces: Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons.
  
The president, in concert with the European Union, has stepped up sanctions on Iran’s oil and banking sector to try to force it to stop uranium enrichment, which the West fears masks a drive to produce an atomic bomb.
  
In his State of the Union address, Obama insisted that a peaceful resolution was still possible in the high-stakes international showdown with Tehran but vowed he would “take no options off the table.”
  
“The regime is more isolated than ever before; its leaders are faced with crippling sanctions, and as long as they shirk their responsibilities, this pressure will not relent,” he said.
  
In an address focused heavily on domestic economic concerns, Obama also found time to hail the demise of Libya’s Kadhafi and warned Syria’s Bashar al-Assad that his regime’s days were numbered.
 
“A year ago, Kadhafi was one of the world’s longest-serving dictators — a murderer with American blood on his hands. Today, he is gone,” the president said.
  
“And in Syria, I have no doubt that the Assad regime will soon discover that the forces of change cannot be reversed, and that human dignity cannot be denied.”
  
While noting it was unclear how events in the Middle East and North Africa would unfold, Obama said he would continue to “stand against violence and intimidation” and support the Arab Spring’s democratic ideals.
  
“How this incredible transformation will end remains uncertain. But we have a huge stake in the outcome,” he said.
  
“We will support policies that lead to strong and stable democracies and open markets, because tyranny is no match for liberty.” AGENCIES

EU agrees to start lifting sanctions on Myanmar

BRUSSELS: EU foreign ministers agreed Monday to begin easing sanctions against Myanmar to encourage reform but will await further positive signals before calling an end to restrictive measures, diplomats said.

“We will begin by suspending some visa bans as a first stage from today,” said a diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity as EU foreign ministers began a day of talks in Brussels.

Lifting all sanctions will be “conditional on the continuation of positive action by the authorities,” the source added.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton hailed “the quite extraordinary changes in the last weeks and months” and announced she would visit the country in April as she went into the ministerial meetings.

The 27-nation bloc has been divided over how soon to lift sanctions, with some insisting on waiting for by-elections on April 1, which will see a historic bid for parliament by Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Ashton said the European Union had been in contact with her on the issue. AGENCIES

Iran says negotiations under way to hold new nuclear

TEHRAN: Negotiations are under way to hold new talks between Western powers and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program and the most likely venue is Istanbul, but there is no date set, Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said Wednesday.

“Negotiations are going on about venue and date. We would like to have these negotiations,” Salehi told reporters during a visit to Turkey, where he is expected to meet Turkish leaders.

Salehi also said Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was in touch with the European Union’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who heads the so-called P5+1 delegation, and Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili to try to arrange a date and venue.

“My personal view is to hold this in Turkey in Istanbul. Negotiations are still going on. My colleague Davutoglu is in touch with Lady Ashton and Jalili so that the date and venue is fixed. Most probably, I am not sure yet, the venue will be Istanbul. The day is not yet settled, but it be soon.”

Istanbul was the venue of the last talks a year ago which ended in stalemate because participants could not even agree on an agenda. Iran has since come under much tougher sanctions from the West which accuses it of seeking nuclear weapons capability.

Tehran says its nuclear program is peaceful and that it has a sovereign right to atomic technology. AGENCIES

Nawaz to attend APC, but with a question

Talking outside Jinnah Hospital in Lahore, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif said that if the government had acted on the resolution adopted by joint parliament in the aftermath of Abbottabad raid, the situation would have been different. He said he would raise concerns regarding foreign policy and ask the question  why the past resolutions have not been implemented .

However, Nawaz Sharif expressed optimism that the nation is ready for any external aggression and it would be a mistake to attack Pakistan. He asked why the resolutions of parliament passed in the past have not be implemented in letter and spirit.

Rebels eye Gaddafi’s hometown

TRIPOLI: Opposition says it controls strategic town of Zawiyah; regime appoints new UN envoy; at least 60 dead in 2 days; rebels down fighter plane.

Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi waged a second offensive against the western town of Zawiyah on Saturday after rebels drove them out in a morning of fierce fighting; while to the east, opponents of the Libyan strongman pushed toward his hometown.

In a second day of fierce fighting for control of Zawiyah, 50 km. west of Tripoli, government forces retreated to the outskirts early in the day, but later mounted a counter-offensive.

Rebels said both attacks were repelled.

The city bore the signs of heavy fighting, with one building completely burned and smoldering rubble littering the center. Other buildings around the main square, the stronghold of rebel resistance, were riddled with holes from large-caliber weapons.

Rebels in eastern Libya said they were pushing further west after driving forces loyal to Gaddafi from the oil town of Ras Lanuf on Friday. Opposition fighters said they had taken the town of Bin Jawad some 525 km. east of Tripoli, and were moving on toward Sirte, Gaddafi’s heavily guarded hometown 160 km. away.

The fight over Sirte is likely to be fierce. The town is psychologically important. It is not only where Gaddafi was born but a place he has fashioned into a second capital designed in his own extravagant image.

“If Benghazi rebels can expand down into the Gulf of Sirte… they’ve got a very good shot at independence at the least – or maybe even overturning him at the most,” said Peter Zeihan, an analyst with the US-based Stratfor think tank.

The latest fighting suggested that front lines between government forces, including militia and mercenaries, and the rebels, who are fighting with everything from captured tanks to sticks and winning support from some police and soldiers along theway, were far from clear and could shift quickly.

Rebels seized Ras Lanuf on Friday and even managed to down a fighter aircraft in Gaddafi’s service. The BBC reported the plane had been shot down by a man in his 50s who was on his first day manning a mobile anti-aircraft gun, which only had one barrel working.

Reuters correspondent Mohammed Abbas wrote in a brief message from the scene: “I am at the wreckage of the aircraft in Ras Lanuf.” In a sign of the increasing reports of brutality of both sides of this conflict, he said the faces of the corpses appeared to have been ripped off.

The anti-Gaddafi National Libyan Council said on Saturday it had named a three-member crisis committee, which included a head of military affairs and one for foreign affairs.

Omar Hariri, one of the officers who took part in Gaddafi’s 1969 coup but was later jailed, was appointed head of the military.

Ali Essawi, a former ambassador to India who quit last month, was put in charge of foreign affairs. Mahmoud Jebril, who had been involved in a project among intellectuals to establish a democratic state, was named head of the crisis committee, which aims at streamlining decision-making.

Meanwhile, Libya has appointed former foreign minister Ali Abdussalam Treki as its UN envoy in New York, replacing an ambassador who had renounced the Gaddafi regime for inflicting violence on its own people, the UN said on Friday.

“The secretary-general has received correspondence from the Libyan authorities,” UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said.

“That correspondence names Dr. Treki as the person they wish to have as the permanent representative of their country.”

It is not clear whether Treki, one of Gaddafi’s most senior foreign policy advisers and a former president of the UN General Assembly, will ever take up the post as ambassador to the United Nations.

In theory, Gaddafi has the right to name his UN envoys.

“Libya is a recognized member of the United Nations,” Nesirky said. “When any country sends a letter naming the permanent representative, that person is the person who will be recognized as the permanent representative.”

Nesirky added, however, that Treki would need to present his credentials to Ban in New York to become the Libyan ambassador.

The United States has a treaty with the United Nations covering visa issuance, but Washington reserves the right to deny visas under certain circumstances.

It is unclear whether the US State Department would be prepared to give Treki a visa.

Economic pressure against Libya also continued to mount this weekend. Britain extended a freeze on assets to a further 20 members of Gaddafi’s entourage on Friday, and impounded around £100 million ($160m.) of Libyan currency.

Around £2 billion of assets belonging to Libyan interests are believed to have been frozen in Britain under sanctions against Gaddafi’s government after its violent crackdown on protests.

The asset freeze was imposed last week and initially applied only to Gaddafi and his immediate family. It now extends to 26 people.

“The financial net is closing in on Colonel Gaddafi,” Chancellor of the Exchequer trendpk.comrge Osborne told BBC television.

“We’re denying him access to banknotes, access to bank accounts, making sure he is held accountable for what is taking place in Libya and also denied the means to persecute his own people.” (Online)

Switzerland also banned transfers of money that could end up in the hands of his family and associates.

“Switzerland wants to prevent any financial support of Muammar Gaddafi and his circle,” the government said. It will also be forbidden to give people linked to Gaddafi direct or indirect access to money or economic resources, the government said.

On the ground in Zawiyah, the atmosphere was tense and the situation appeared fluid as rebels braced for more attacks.

A doctor in the city said at least 30 people, mostly civilians, had been killed during fighting there, bringing to at least 60 the death toll from two days of battles.

In the central square, four graves had been freshly dug.

The red, green and black flag of the rebellion flew from many buildings in the square, where rebels shouted anti-Gaddafi slogans atop tanks and armored personnel carriers captured from the army.

In the square, rebels showed a charred tank they had captured from government forces earlier in the day. It was hit by a rebel rocket-propelled grenade as Gaddafi forces tried to enter the square earlier, rebels said.

“The fighting has intensified and the tanks are shelling everything on their way. They have shelled houses,” resident Abu Akeel said by telephone, speaking of afternoon’s attack. “Now they are shelling a mosque where hundreds of people are hiding. We can’t rescue anyone because the shelling is so heavy.”

Outside the city, cars loaded with suitcases and boxes piled on their roofs could be seen driving westward toward Libya’s border with Tunisia as refugees continued to flee the violence.

Residents said it was difficult to say how many people had been killed in two days of fighting.

A government spokesman could not be reached for a comment.

“They took away many bodies of injured and killed civilians,” said a local civilian who was helping treat the wounded at a clinic. “I saw that. They were putting them in trucks.”

Residents said Gaddafi’s forces stormed into residential buildings and killed people inside their houses in order to secure sniper positions on rooftops.

“They slaughtered people,” another resident said. “But we tell Gaddafi that every time a martyr falls, there will be 10 to replace him.”

The noise of loudspeakers calling on rebels to keep on fighting could be heard through the telephone.

Rebels fighting Gaddafi’s four-decade rule in Zawiyah said they had captured two tanks and three armored personnel carriers from the army.

Inside a building that has served as the rebel central command in the town, the rebels presented six men they said were captured Gaddafi militia fighters.

Two of them were badly wounded, with one standing in a pool of his own blood, which was dripping from his thigh.

Appearing terrified, they waited silently as the rebels looked through their identification papers.

PML-N likely to oust PPP from Punjab govt

LAHORE: An ongoing tussle between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is set to enter its decisive moment, TrendPK reported Friday.

The PML-N held a key meeting in Islamabad to discuss the fate of PPP in Punjab.

According to reports, majority of PML-N members have called for removal of PPP from the Government of Punjab.

Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif has presented a 14-point Revolution Declaration in the backdrop of its already submitted 10-point agenda.

New set of demands includes safety of life and property of citizens, free education, cheap and timely treatment facilities, provision of employment, elimination of price hike, end of gas and power cuts, and corruption, removal of nepotism, construction of dams and roads, political and moral support of Kashmiris, independent foreign policy, respect for public mandate, deployment of honest and competent people on key positions, delivering of affordable and quick justice, and establishment of independent judiciary. TrendPK

Iranian Nuclear Program has Threats of External Attack: Ali Asghar

Breaking  News
Six world powers will attempt to persuade Iran to rein in its nuclear programme as talks take place in Turkey, but there is little expectation of tangible results beyond an agreement on a framework for further negotiations. A cyber-attack that targeted Iranian nuclear centrifuges producing enriched uranium in November did not affect the country’s nuclear programme, Iranian ambassador Ali Asghar said in Moscow on Thursday.

The viruses could not do anything to the Iranian centrifuges and did not affect the functioning of the Bushehr nuclear power plant either, Ali Asghar told. Iran’s nuclear standoff with the West has escalated in the past year, with the United Nations imposing new sanctions and Western states rejecting a revised proposal for Iran to swap some of its fuel abroad as too little, too late. European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton heads the delegations representing six big powers, Britain, China, France,Germany, Russia and the United States. They will meet with Iran’s nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili. The West says Iran has failed to comply with UN resolutions demanding it curb enrichment and grant unfettered access to its nuclear sites. The prospect of an Iranian nuclear weapon feeds fears of a Middle East conflict should the United States or Israel opt to attack it.

Story contribute by A TrendPK ( www.trendpk.com )

India’s Neo-colonialism in Africa

Neo-colonialism is the most dangerous form of colonialism, which is prevalent in the present world. In the past, the most developed countries had direct control on the less developed countries, but most of the colonies got independence after the World War 11. As regards neo-colonialism, in theory a less developed or developing country is free, but in practice, its government and economy are controlled by a developed country indirectly.

In these terms, by imitating the other western powers, India has been practising neo-colonialism in Africa.

Today, Africa is the hub of natural resources with leading world powers, having eye the continent. Only an average 3% of cultivatable land in Africa is being used now, which is not sufficient to feed the entire population of Africa.

The trade and investment in agriculture and agro-infrastructure are inter-linked and need foreign support. In this respect, India persuaded Africa to share Indian experience in this sector. Indian scientific and agricultural research institutions have assisted around 5,000 entrepreneurs for developing their business ideas in the African countries. Today, India’s foreign policy is being questioned as India is being accused of neo-imperialism in Africa, using its agriculture land to cater to the Indian population at home.

The academic circles in Africa worry about India’s role as a neo colonial power. Dean Nelson observed that Karuturi Global (KGL), an Indian company, one of the world’s largest producers of cut roses, has been accused of neo-colonialism in Ethiopia and Kenya.

It is observed that India focuses on bilateral, multilateral and regional economic cooperation acting as bridging power with all the major powers as a part of its foreign economic policy. But being seen as the bridging power, it misuses multinational corporations, using Africa for its self interests.

New Delhi knows that science and technology (S&T) can ensure a long term benefit that is adaptable for the local requirements—shows genuine concerns for local users and investors as through this way, India wants to strengthen its grip on the poor African countries. Indian experts are convincing the people of African countries that India’s transfer of knowledge and technology could help African people to deal with the problem of food crisis. For this purpose, Indian investors provide agricultural mechanisation such as seed-cum-fertilizer drills, and enhancement in cropping intensity and increase in gross income.

However, in this context, the focus of India’s neo-colonialism are Ethiopia, Nigeria, Mauritius, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana etc., but South Africa has become special target of Indian neo-colonialism. Nevertheless, these African countries account for around 69 % of India’s total bilateral trade. New Partnership for Africa’s Development shares the developmental approach with New Delhi and Indian institutional partners. India’s economic engagement in Africa is working as per their local needs. Different turnkey contracts have been undertaken in Tanzania, Uganda and other African countries. It enables imports of Indian equipment and technology on deferred credit terms extended through various banks. Indian companies are engaged in Africa through Line of Credit LOC. Besides, India adopted multiple approaches in Africa to promote infrastructure and agro industry.

Unlike the other African states, Indian practice of neo-colonialism in South Africa is of special consideration.

By adopting various tactics of neo-imperialism, New Delhi has been gradually increasing its influence in South Africa. The high profile of the Indians in the African National Congress (ANC) hierarchy was very beneficial. When Nelson Mandela became the President of South Africa, he included six Indians in his cabinet of sixteen members. The Indians, making up three percent of the population, were over-represented at executive level. They also had a proportionally larger number of members of Parliament. Many South Africans objected in relation to the over-representation of the Indians.

The ANC Government systematically began to abolish all previous discriminatory legislation. All the previously disadvantaged groups benefited. The Indians prospered the most because of the advantages of greater wealth and influence. In particular, the Indian business community prospered in the post-apartheid South Africa. They were now able to enter many sectors of commerce and industry that were previously not open to them. Especially, wealthy Indians could now move into residential areas that were previously restricted to Whites.

Since South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy, Nelson Mandela has endeavoured to make the country’s minority communities feel more secure. Despite government assurances, the Indian community pretended that they were being marginalised. Mandela was surprised at the level of insecurity, expressed by the Indian youth. As a matter of fact, India wanted to increase its hold on South Africa overtly or covertly.

A major dimension of the post-apartheid South Africa is that although Blacks are in majority and have their own government, yet Whites have dominant influence in the politics and economics of the country as they have hold on the resources—and are  wealthier than Blacks. Besides, they have still sympathies of the American and European people who support them through business transactions. As we can particularly note in case of the United States that the Jews are in minority, but have a greater influence in the politics of that country because they dominate the economics of the US. India and Israel fulfill their interests with the help of strong Hindu-Jewish lobbies, working in America. Same is true in case of South Africa. Apparently, Indians favour the Black, but covertly they support the White with whom they are doing business. Besides, Indian lobbies have been influencing the government in order to get more political and economic benefits. In this context, India is also availing the opportunity by manipulating the phenomenon of South Africa clandestinely as prejudice is still found between Blacks and Whites.

It is notable that the high rate of unemployment among Blacks and the low economic growth has contributed to the high crime rate prevailing in South Africa. This high crime rate has prevented many overseas companies from making meaningful investments in South Africa. This vacuum is being fulfilled by New Delhi. In this connection, India–South Africa business relations have witnessed tremendous growth since the resumption of trade and diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1993. The end of apartheid in South Africa and India’s growing integration with the world economy after it embraced globalisation have played a crucial rule in strengthening the economic relations between the two countries.

In recent years, several Indian companies have forayed into South Africa. The Tata Steel, Tata Motors and TCS have made considerable investments in the country. Similarly, Mahindra & Mahindra, Cipla, Ranbaxy, Ashok Leyland, Apollo Tyres are some of the other Indian business houses to have established a presence in South Africa. In addition, banks like the SBI and ICICI are busy in establishing their branches in the country, partly with a view to taping into the million-strong People of Indian Origin (PIOs) there. VSNL is in the process of investing US$ 200 million in the telecom sector in South Africa. In all, some 35 Indian corporations have established their presence in the country, and more are likely to join the race soon. Over the ongoing year, investment from India Inc. is expected to reach the US $ 500 millions in South African economy.

A number of bilateral agreements have been concluded between India and South Africa in diverse areas ranging from economic and commercial cooperation, defence, culture, heath, human settlements, public administration science and technology and education.

The real tragedy of the post-apartheid South Africa is that its people are not aware of Indian sinister designs against Blacks. In this context, India is not only playing double game with the South African people by exploiting their division, but is also trying to get grip on the resources of the country. Everyone knows that South Africa is replete with the precious minerals such as gold, diamond and uranium. Therefore, India is increasing its influence in South Africa with a view to making it target of Indian neo-imperialism.

Nonetheless, a major challenge, facing the African countries is the perceived disloyalty of New Delhi towards the African communities. On the economic front, many Indian businessmen are taking on Black partners to improve their image with Black consumers and the government but in fact, under this cover, India is practising neo-colonialism in Africa.

Nawaz Urges Govt to Restore Peace in Balochistan

Expressing grave concern over the worsening law and order situation in Balochistan, Nawaz Sharif called upon the incumbent government to restore peace in the province.

Addressing the party’s organizing committee in Quetta, Nawaz said that every Pakistani is worried for Balochistan and its peace; the country is passing through hard times, he added and vowed to save the country at any cost. Expressing grave concern over the worsening law and order situation in Baluchistan, Nawaz said that targeted killing of Pakhtuns, Balochs and natives is on with no solution in sight. Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa and Karachi are burning. He called upon the government to redress the grievances of Baloch people.Under which law Nawab Akbar Bugti was assassinated? he asked.

Nawaz said the government’s foreign policy has failed.

Chief Pakistan Muslim League-N Nawaz Sharif has vowed to expel the allies of General Musharraf from his party, trendpk.Com reported on Saturday.

Nawaz urged the party officials to settle mutual differences and strengthen the party.

Obama backs India’s drive for UN power

NEWDEHLI: US President Barack Obama Monday backed India’s quest for a permanent UN Security Council seat, inviting the world’s largest democracy to take its “rightful” place at the summit of global power.

In a symbolic climax of his three-day visit to a nation he hailed as an “indispensable” US partner, Obama delivered the foreign policy victory to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a landmark address to the Indian parliament.

But at the same time he warned that with growing power came increased responsibility, as he pointedly criticised India for failing to condemn human rights abuses in neighbouring Myanmar.

The move on the Security Council seat, intensifying a haggling process on United Nations reform that could take years, will be seen as an incentive for a government Obama wants to see throw open its markets to US exports to create a vast American “job

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