Pakistan hosts summit involving Afghanistan, Iran

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will next week host the leaders of Afghanistan and Iran at a summit devoted to counter-terrorism, the foreign ministry in Islamabad said Thursday.

The talks come at a time of heightened tension between Iran and the United States, notably over speculation about a possible Israeli attack against Iran’s controversial nuclear programme.

It also comes with Afghanistan keen to start peace talks with Taliban insurgents. Kabul is reportedly concerned about being sidelined by contacts between the US and the Taliban.

“It is a two-day summit, to be held on February 16 and 17 in Islamabad,” ministry spokesman Abdul Basit told reporters.

It will be attended by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, he said.

“The trilateral summit is important for the leaders to get together and discuss important regional issues pertaining to counter-terrorism and organised crimes including drug trafficking,” Basit said.

Despite strong US objections, Pakistan says it is pressing ahead with a multi-billion-dollar project to build a gas pipeline to import fuel from Iran.

“We are looking to complete the pipeline project by 2014 to meet our energy requirements. It is important for our economic growth,” Basit said.

In the deal signed in 2010, Iran has agreed to supply natural gas to its eastern neighbour from 2014.

On Monday, US President Barack Obama unveiled new sanctions on Iran’s central bank in an effort to force it to reverse course on its nuclear programme.

Asked about US sanctions, Basit said Pakistan opposed any new conflict in the region and called for dialogue.

Islamabad is moving towards a detente in its own relations with Washington, which took a drastic turn for the worse over last year’s covert American raid that killed Osama bin Laden and air strikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. AGENCIES

Mirza resigns and says Rehman hand in glove with killers

The former Sindh home minister, who has also resigned his party office, made the announcement at a news conference in Karachi. After recalling his personal affiliation with the Bhutto family and Asif Ali Zardari, placing hand on the holy Quran, Mirza said Rehman Malik is in connivance with killers. He claimed he has proofs to support his claim, and intended to hand over the evidence to COAS Gen Kayani, President Zardari and PM Gilani.

Mirza recalled one of the MQM leaders had said about him that a pimp would be acting as flamboyant as Mirza in the company of so many policemen. The ex-home minister said “now I have resigned as minister. I came here in official vehicle. Now I will go back in my private car. I will only keep the PPP flag. Now all such people see I, Mirza, is still as flamboyant”.

He said Karachi doesn t belong to MQM. “The MQM only has partial mandate given by people s free will. The rest is taken from voters through coercion. The poor people who sit in front of a telephone set and listen to speech from London, do that under pressure, to save trouble to the families who are usually threatened of consequences.”

The former home minister expressed regret for his once remarks derogatory to the Mohajir community. He said he passed those remarks under rush of blood, being angry. He said he didn t mean to say all that for the community, as “I know there are good and bad in every community, every society. Neither are all Indians bad nor all Pakistanis. The same is true for every community. Only a handful of bad people are responsible for turmoil.”

Mirza said pakistan has the biggest threat from no one else, but Interior Minister Rehman Malik. He said Rehman Malik connived with MQM s Governor and freed murderers and killers to oblige them  so that they carry on killing spree for vested interests. He said Rehman Malik had been befooling the party leadership by distorting facts and creating imaginary fear scenarios by invoking non-existing threats to the government. To back his point, Mirza said: “Let s suppose, if I free a murderer who had killed 36 people, wouldn t the obliged killer kill 360 for me.”

He said Rehman Malik is a flat-faced, 100% liar. “I have asked him many a time to cut lying intensity by at least 50%,” Mirza said in a lighter tone far between his otherwise tense talk.

He said: “I risked life, property, family, children, everything by calling spade a spade because I love Pakistan, because I see my own children s faces in every dead body of the innocent killed in the city.”

Mirza said once MQM chief Altaf Hussain wrote a letter to then UK PM Tony Blair, urging him to play a role to disband the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). He claimed Altaf had written in the letter that the ISI would create many a Osama bin Laden if it were not disbanded. He said it is lamentable that the protector of the country s interests was conspired against in this manner.

The former home minister said MQM Kidmat-e-Khalq Foundation s ambulances were used in transporting arms and ammunitions and for throwing dead bodies in gunny bags in various localities to spread terror.

Mirza said  the MQM was running gangs of killers and extortionists (Bhatta Khors). He said some elements wrongly project me as extortionists, whereas I come from a wealthy, respectable family. He dared the media to expose if they know of his involvement in any corruption.

 

Ahmed Chanai was appointed Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) chief on calls and pressures from London. “I was pressured to appoint him as CPLC chief, but I only gave him a limited tenure of one year.” He later hgot involved in acting as a middleman and virtually selling police stations.

 

Mirza said Suteesh Anand, who was once kidnapped, was freed after “I had chipped in 5 million rupees to make 15 million rupees demanded in ransom. I did that because I feared God and I always thought that we got this government due to the grand sacrifice of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto”.

Mirza said journalist Wali Babar was also killed by MQM members. “Five murderers killed him. One of them is named Liaquat.”

While narrating a meeting with Altaf Hussain, Zulfiqar Mirza revealed under oath that Altaf had said the US had decided to dismember Pakistan and MQM supported it. Mirza also alleged that Altaf Hussain vowed not stop killing Pashtoons in this context.

Kayani Said he Disliked Zardari: WikiLeaks

News Trends: Pakistan-s army chief COAS Kayani mused about forcing out civilian President Asif Ali Zardari who has made preparations for a coup or assassination, leaked US diplomatic cables said Tuesday.

The latest tranche of memos, obtained by whistleblower site WikiLeaks and reported by American and British newspapers, also showed that the United States was more concerned than it let on publicly about Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.

General Ashfaq Kayani, chief of Pakistan’s powerful military, told the US ambassador during a March 2009 meeting that he “might, however reluctantly,” pressure Zardari to resign, according to cable cited by the papers.

Kayani was quoted as saying that he might support Asfandyar Wali Khan, leader of the Awami National League Party, as the new president — not Zardari’s arch-nemesis Nawaz Sharif.

According to Anne W. Patterson, the then US Ambassador to Pakistan, Kayani made it clear that regardless of how much he disliked Zardari, he distrusted Nawaz even more.

In another cable quoted by both newspapers, US Vice President Joe Biden recounted to Britain’s then prime minister Gordon Brown a conversation with Zardari last year.

Zardari told him that Kayani and the Inter-Services Intelligence agency “will take me out,” according to the cable. The paper said the cables also showed that Zardari has made extensive preparations in case he is killed.

Tensions between Zardari and the army are no secret, and Pakistan often witnesses coup rumors.

After Kayani met in September with Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, the now-exiled Musharraf quipped: “I can assure you they were not discussing the weather.”

Gen Petraeus meets Gen Kayani

ISLAMABAD, News Trends: Commander International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) General David Petraeus Wednesday called on Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at General Headquarters.

The visiting dignitary remained with him for some time and discussed the matters of professional interest.

COAS Kayani Orders Probe into Video Footage

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Friday ordered an inquiry into an Internet video that shows men in military uniforms executing six young men in civilian clothes.

The COAS said in a statement that he has ordered setting up of a board of inquiry to establish the true identity of uniformed personnel and the veracity of the video footage.

‘The board will be headed by a Major General, a two star officer of Pakistan Army. He will be assisted by two / three senior officers with the experience of investigating into such incidents. Necessary technical expertise will be made available to the board’, the statement said.

General Kayani referred back to his Command Directive on the issues of Human Rights and Extra Judicial Killings, and stated that such violations of his orders, if true, will not be tolerated.

He categorically stated that it is not expected of a professional army to engage in excesses against the people whom it is trying to guard against the scourge of terrorism.

Expressing his determination to take strictest possible disciplinary action against the perpetrators, if identified to be soldiers of Pakistan Army, he termed the incident as unacceptable under any circumstances. He emphasized that Rules of Engagement (ROE) are sacrosanct.

He, however, cautioned against reaching hasty conclusions about involvement of Pakistan Army soldiers. He pointed out that in order to hide their identities, cause confusion and malign Pakistan Army; terrorists have previously been disguising themselves as Pakistan Army soldiers during a number of attacks including the one on GHQ.

General Kayani also directed commanders at all levels to be vigilant and follow the Army policy of zero tolerance in such cases in true letter and spirit.

The COAS said in a statement that he has ordered setting up of a board of inquiry to establish the true identity of uniformed personnel and the veracity of the video footage.’The board will be headed by a Major General, a two star officer of Pakistan Army. He will be assisted by two / three senior officers with the experience of investigating into such incidents. Necessary technical expertise will be made available to the board’, the statement said.General Kayani referred back to his Command Directive on the issues of Human Rights and Extra Judicial Killings, and stated that such violations of his orders, if true, will not be tolerated.He categorically stated that it is not expected of a professional army to engage in excesses against the people whom it is trying to guard against the scourge of terrorism.Expressing his determination to take strictest possible disciplinary action against the perpetrators, if identified to be soldiers of Pakistan Army, he termed the incident as unacceptable under any circumstances. He emphasized that Rules of Engagement (ROE) are sacrosanct.He, however, cautioned against reaching hasty conclusions about involvement of Pakistan Army soldiers. He pointed out that in order to hide their identities, cause confusion and malign Pakistan Army; terrorists have previously been disguising themselves as Pakistan Army soldiers during a number of attacks including the one on GHQ.General Kayani also directed commanders at all levels to be vigilant and follow the Army policy of zero tolerance in such cases in true letter and spirit.

Zardari arrives in Russia to attend quadripartite summit

President Zardari arrived in Sochi, Russia to attend the quadripartite summit on Wednesday (today).
On his arrival, Sochi Mayor and Pakistani envoy to Russia Khalid Khattak and other officials greeted President Zardari at the airport. Zardari would also meet with the Russian, Afghan and Tajik presidents on the sidelines of the summit. Sources said that the leaders of Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan would discuss security, terrorism, drugs and economic cooperation in the region.

COAS visits flood hit areas

Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani visited flood-ravaged areas of Balochistan, South Punjab and Sindh and reviewed the relief measures.
According to ISPR, Kayani visited relief camps set up at Multan, Dera Murad Jamali and Dadu areas.
The COAS stressed upon coordination with the civil administration to mitigate the sufferings and rehabilitation of the flood-stricken people. He also issued orders to send medical students, nursing staff and doctors of the Army Medical College for relief activities.

Notification issued for COAS service extension

ISLAMABAD: Government on Friday issued the notification for the extension in service of Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, ARY NEWS reported.

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Notification issued for COAS service extension

Ponting leads Australian fightback vs Pakistan

LEEDS, England: Ricky Ponting’s unbeaten 61 led Australia to 136-2 against Pakistan at Headingley to leave the second test delicately poised at the end of day two on Thursday.

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Ponting leads Australian fightback vs Pakistan

PM extends term of army chief for 3 years

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has announced that the term of Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has been extended for three more years, ARY NEWS reported Thursday.

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PM extends term of army chief for 3 years

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