United States To Send Pakistan Laser-Guided Bomb Kits And F-16s

The United States will deliver 1,000 laser-guided bomb kits to Pakistan this month and is considering additional arms sales to help the Pakistani air force crack down on insurgents in the Afghan border region.

Air Force Secretary Michael Donley told reporters that the arms sales came in response to a request made by the air chief of the Pakistani air force in December. There continues to be a dialogue back and forth, Donley said, noting that the US government had already agreed to sell Pakistan munitions and night vision goggles, and was also stepping up training. Pakistan is also expected to receive new F-16 fighters made by Lockheed Martin Corp this spring or summer, Donley said, noting that the fighter jets would give Pakistan’s air force greatly expanded capabilities in its fight against “radical elements” in the border region. Air Force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jeffry Glenn said the United States delivered 1,000 MK-82 500-pound bombs to Pakistan last month, and was considering additional requests for those bombs and more laser-guided tail kits. The expected delivery later this year of 18 F-16s to Pakistan will bring its inventory of the planes to 54. Pakistan has been operating F-16s since 1982. Donley said Pakistan was also upgrading the capabilities of its older F-16 fighter jets.

Pakistan’s High Commissioner To India Calls On Rehman

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India called on Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik at his residence in Islamabad today.
During the meeting, the two men discussed Pak-India ties and the situation ensued the Mumbai attacks. The High Commissioner briefed Rehman of the secretary-level talks between the two countries recently held in New Delhi.
Rehman hailed the announcement made by Indian Home Minister Chidambaram regarding improvement of ties with Pakistan.
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Pakistan’s High Commissioner To India Calls On Rehman was first posted on March 3, 2010 at 11:15 am.

Holbrooke:No More Misconceptions On Kerry-Lugar Bill

US Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke has said that misconceptions created on Kerry-Lugar bill have been removed; where as now the relations with Pakistani government are better.
During a press briefing in Washington, he said that Pak-Afghan coordination is continuing in order to maintain peace in the region. Pakistan army has played an imperative role in the war against terror. He also said that success against terrorists in Bajaur is a great advancement. It is pretty obvious that we support a free press. Talking regarding the media restrictions in Afghanistan, he said that we don’t like restrictions on the press. My whole career has been devoted to supporting that.

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Holbrooke:No More Misconceptions On Kerry-Lugar Bill was first posted on March 3, 2010 at 11:34 am.

Pakistan will not compromise on its sovereignty

Lahore, Pakistan:- Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Pakistan would not compromise on its security, sovereignty and internal affairs and all the apprehensions on Kerry-Lugar Bill have been allayed.

Addressing a meeting of federal and provincial ministers and MPAs of PPP, the foreign minister said that $ 7.5 billion money under the Kerry-Lugar Bill would be aid not a debt and it would improve significantly in the social sector. On the occasion, Governor Punjab Salman Taseer said all the powers of the world are supporting the stance of Pakistan in war against terrorism, which is a great success of the government.

He said that the ministry of foreign affairs had portrayed a positive image of Pakistan by countering negative propaganda by strong arguments and lobbying on the international front. On this occasion, Federal Minister for Labour and Manpower Syed Khurshid Shah said that the government was taking steps for laborers to help them become self-sufficient in life.

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Pakistan will not compromise on its sovereignty was first posted on October 24, 2009 at 11:57 pm.

Forces demolish Hakimullah, Qari Hussain’s houses in Waziristan

Islamabad, Pakistan: The security forces continue to advance towards Laddah and Kotkai in South Waziristan while houses of Hakimullah Mehsud and Qari Hussain have been demolished.

According to the ISPR, the forces have strengthened their position in Jandollah and Sararogha while heavy weapon and explosives have been seized from Spinkai, Nazarkhel and other areas of North Waziristan. The forces demolished the houses of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Chief Hakimullah Mehsud and mastermind of suicide attacks Qari Hussain.

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Forces demolish Hakimullah, Qari Hussain’s houses in Waziristan was first posted on October 21, 2009 at 1:08 pm.

Cabinet Meeting Start Under Chair of PM Gilani

Lahore, Pakistan: Cabinet Meeting Start Under Chair of PM Gilani, A meeting of the Federal Cabinet is being chaired by the Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in Islamabad. The meeting will discuss law and order situation in the country, South Waziristan Operation, Kerry-Lugar Bill and other issues. The new charges for Cabinet’s postal services will also be approved. The meeting will also approve the establishment of re-insurance company under which the trade and investment between the member countries of the Economic Cooperation Organization will be protected. The cabinet will also approve the start of negotiations for defense cooperation between Pakistan and Germany. The agreement with Ukraine to stop drug trafficking will also be approved.

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Cabinet Meeting Start Under Chair of PM Gilani was first posted on October 21, 2009 at 1:29 pm.

Barack Obama to Sign Kerry-Lugar Bill Today

WASHINGTON: After release of a joint clarification statement addressing all issues linked to the Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill President Barack Obama will sign the Bill, Senator John Kerry here said.

The decision to issue such a statement was taken after a series of meetings in Washington between the visiting Pakistani foreign minister and senior US officials and lawmakers.

‘We must address the concerns and fears expressed in Pakistan,’ Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told reporters after a meeting with Senator John Kerry, who chairs the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Senator Kerry assured the Pakistani nation that the United States had no desire to manage its affairs. Washington, he said, also recognised the army’s role in the war against the extremists.

Qureshi had a longer meeting with Senator Kerry at his office. In the afternoon, he met US National Security Adviser James Jones and Congressman Howard Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The two US legislators and the Pakistani foreign minister will work on a joint statement, which will address all issues relating to the Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill. ‘All interpretations and misinterpretations will be addressed,’ said Kerry.

‘The statement will make it very clear that the bill does not violate our sovereignty or seeks to micro-manage our affairs,’ the foreign minister said.

Senator Kerry said ‘We want to set the record straight and clear so that the bill is not misinterpreted or miss-characterised,’ the senator said.

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Barack Obama to Sign Kerry-Lugar Bill Today was first posted on October 14, 2009 at 12:41 pm.

GHQ Attack Foiled

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan army has foiled the terrorists attack on GHQ and killed four terrorists whereas six army men embraced shahadat during the action completed within one hour.

According to reports, four terrorists riding in a white car targeted check post near GHQ.

They tried to move another check post when security guards intercept them. Security forces retaliated swiftly and effectively and killed four terrorists during an hour long action. Six security personnel had been martyred in the operation.

DG ISPR Major General Athar Abbas said terrorists wearing forces uniform and riding in a white Suzuki car attacked first check post with automatic weapons. On the resistance of security guards, they tried to move towards another check point. Four terrorists were killed during exchange of fire. The area has been cordoned off as search operation in underway in the area and situation is completely under control.

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GHQ Attack Foiled was first posted on October 10, 2009 at 3:28 pm.

President, PM Gilani Discuss Kerry-Lugar Bill

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani held a high-level meeting here at Presidency on Friday.
According to sources, two leaders discussed issues relating to overall law and order situation, matters of internal security and ways to address controversies over US’s Kerry-Lugar aid bill.

Two leaders also expressed strong condemnation over GHQ attack occurred in Rawalpindi this morning, sources said.

Moreover, on the occasion, it was also decided to take country’s civil and military leadership on board before reaching any decision on Kerry-Lugar Bill while the consensus on the bill shall be sought in parliament.

Sources said the efforts are being made to send the strong and untied massages to US over acceptance, modification or rejection of KLB.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Ashfaq Pervez Kayani was too scheduled to attend the meeting but could not make sure his presence due to GHQ terror attack, army sources confirmed.

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President, PM Gilani Discuss Kerry-Lugar Bill was first posted on October 10, 2009 at 4:17 pm.

Pervez Musharraf Backs Military on Kerry-Lugar Bill

LAHORE: Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf has said he sided with the Pakistani military reservations over the conditions that could be attached to the Kerry-Lugar bill.

Musharraf in a radio interview said although Pakistan has been touted as America’s most important ally in the fight against terrorism, “this most important ally is being treated with suspicion”.

He said he supported Gen Stanley McChrystal in his call for additional US troops for Afghanistan. Musharraf said the US counter-terrorism approach, which calls for drone attacks on terrorist hideouts, and the strategy calling for additional troops could not be separated because of the linkages between the terrorist groups, Al Qaeda and the Taliban, Musharraf stood by Pakistan’s military, and said he would need the support of the country’s people to return to politics.

When asked about US concerns on the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, Musharraf said the country’s nuclear weapons were in safe hands and were well guarded by an army force of up to 18,000 troops, adding the nukes were controlled by a command authority led by the country’s president, prime minister and top military officials.

“Politically, Pakistan cannot in the foreseeable future be ruled by an extremist group that sympathises with the terrorists,” Musharraf said. The former president said he sided with the Pakistani military in its anger over the conditions that could be attached to the Kerry-Lugar bill.

Military officials have complained that the bill contains “humiliating” conditions. The bill stipulates, for instance, that the money could dry up if Pakistan fails to fight militants, including Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters in the tribal regions along the Pak-Afghan border.

Musharraf defended his country’s preoccupation with what he called “an existential threat to Pakistan” from neighbouring India. Although he said that he believed peace with India was “a requirement, a compulsion” for both sides, he said the US should not grudge Pakistan the right to take “essential measures” in response to the threat of an attack from India.

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Pervez Musharraf Backs Military on Kerry-Lugar Bill was first posted on October 10, 2009 at 1:53 pm.

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