US special forces set up office at FC headquarters

The American special forces set up their office at the Frontier Corps headquarters in Peshawar and also wanted to set up offices in GHQ and Balochistan, claims a cable issued by WikiLeaks.

In her cable to the State Department in May 2009, former US ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson wrote that the United States had created intelligence fusion cells on the request of Pakistan at the Frontier Corps headquarters where the US special forces were working with both Pakistan Army and the Frontier Corps.

In April 2009, Anne Patterson wrote that the US cooperated with Pakistan military which had then launched an operation against insurgents in Lower Dir.

The US ambassador wrote that despite the blue-prints of a joint strategy, the Pakistan Army suspended a joint operation with US on April 29, 2009.

In October 2009, the ambassador wrote that Pakistan had been rejecting the deployment of the US troops in Pakistan, but now it had change its policy and the move would support US operations against terrorists.

National games: Army, Railways win gold medal

Pakistan Railways Ghulam Sakins won gold medal and Mah Noor representing Pak Army won Silver medal while Aleena from Sindh succeeded to win bronze medal in the 400 meter freestyle swimming held at Islamabad Sports Complex. Kiran, who was representing Pakistan Army, Khadija Khalid from Wapda at the National Games, won respectively gold, silver medals in the 50 meter backstroke and breaststroke.

‘US Army in Balochistan not on permanent basis’

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The United States has said on Saturday that news regarding the presence of American representative in the core head quarter of Pakistan Army in Quetta was not true, terming its permanent representation in Quetta as ‘unnecessary’.

The statement issued from American Consulate said that the visits of American representatives in Balochistan were a routine job after the cooperation made by Pakistan Army and ISAF in Afghanistan in anti-terrorism campaign in the region. ISAF does every activity near Pak-Afghan border with the cooperation of Pakistan Army, it added.

The spokesman cleared that the representation of US Army in Balochistan was not on permanent basis. Trend Pk

Pakistan to decide timing of NW offensive: Hoti

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti says that his government doesn’t have any objection to the GST Reforms Bill 2010.

Speaking at Pakistan Development Forum in Islamabad today, he hoped that the issue of GST Reforms Bill would be resolved by sitting together with the centre.

About timing of North Waziristan offensive, he said that international community should leave it to Pakistan.

“Pakistan Army is fully capable of dealing with the challenge of militancy,” he added.

Speaking on this occasion, Balochistan’s Chief Minister Aslam Raisani said consultation is still under way on the issue of GST Reforms Bill and that no decision has been taken yet.

To a question, Raisani said that law and order situation in Balochistan is better than other provinces.

He said that foreign

Rawlakot: unprovoked Indian firing on PPP rally, 5 injured

At the end of a rally of PPP in Rawlakot agianst the Indian occupation, Indian army opened an unprovoked fire on the it leaving at least 5 people injured, Dunya News reported on Wednesday.
Black day was being observed in TetryNot crossing point area of Azad Kashmir by PPP Azad Kashmir chapter. The ceremony was being observed in protest aginst the Indian entry and occupation of October, 1947. Ferderal Minister Pir Ali and Chairman of PPP Azad Kashmir Chaudhry Abdul Majid alonwith 200 epople were attending the ceremony. The Indian armed forces opened an unprovloked and unexpected fire on the rally, leaving 5 people injured our of whom one worker ids reported to be in critical condition. Pakistan Army reacted propmptly and silenced the rival guns.

Kayani heads to US to attend strategic dialogue

Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani has left for United States to attend the third phase of Pak-US strategic dialogue which would start in Washington from tomorrow.
Pakistan Army chief will hold meetings with US military officials and the members of Obama administration during his stay in United States, ISPR spokesman said. The officials of the two countries will consider cooperation in energy, agriculture, education, security and other sectors in the talks that will last for three days. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will head the Pakistani delegation, while the US team will be headed by the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Army Chief Gen. Kayani and Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh will also attend the meeting.

Gen. Kayani assures tackling Waziristan terrorists: Mullen

Staff Report

WASHINGTON: U.S. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen has said that the Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvaiz Kayani has assured him of taking action against terrorists in Northern Waziristan.

Mullen made a claim during a recent interview that Northern Waziristan is an epicenter of terrorists and Al Qaeda is still active in that area.

He added that Pakistan has made sacrifices in the war against terror and suffered losses of civilian lives in this regard.

Admiral Mike Mullen further added that Pakistan’s Army Chief and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff have given assurances of tackling terrorists in Northern Waziristan. SAMAA

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.

One suicide bomber identified: Rehman Malik

Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Friday told the National Assembly that one of the bombers, who attacked the Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine on Thursday, has been identified.
The bomber is from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and is a member of the Mehsud tribe, Malik said. The recent blasts can be traced back to Waziristan, the minister said. The minister vowed to give a befitting response in case of violation of Pakistani air or ground space. He said that the government has registered its protest at every forum and a joint investigation by Pakistan Army and Nato is underway to ascertain the causes of the incursions inside Pakistan.

COAS sets up body to probe video footage

Taking notice of an Internet video that shows Pakistan Army soldiers executing six youths clad in civvies, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Friday ordered setting up of a commission to ascertain veracity of the footage.
The COAS said in a statement that the board of inquiry would 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 would 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.

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