US condemns bomb attacks on mosques in Pakistan

WASHINGTON: The United States has condemned the two terror attacks on mosques in Pakistan on Friday.

“The United States condemns today’s two bombings that took place at mosques in Pakistan which brutally targeted innocent people at worship,” Acting Deputy Department Spokesman Mark C. Toner said during a press briefing on Friday.

“By attacking places of worship, whoever was responsible has demonstrated a clear lack of- or clear disregard, rather, for the Pakistani people and for the peaceful religion they practice,” he added.

The spokesman said that the US “will continue to work with the Government of Pakistan to combat violent extremism and terrorism,” and added that “our thoughts and our prayers go out with the families and friends of those who were touched by these attacks.”

Earlier, three people were killed and 24 others injured when unknown men

Qureshi to meet NATO chief

BRUSSELS: NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen will meet with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday, the alliance said, amid a row over a NATO helicopter strike inside Pakistan.

He will visit the transatlantic alliance’s headquarters in Brussels on the sidelines of a two-day Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

A NATO statement said today there would be no press briefing after the talks with Rasmussen.

Pakistan blocked a land route for NATO convoys carrying supplies to neighbouring Afghanistan on Thursday after officials blamed a cross-border NATO helicopter attack for the deaths of three Pakistani soldiers. AGENCIES

Qureshi to meet NATO chief

BRUSSELS: NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen will meet with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday, the alliance said, amid a row over a NATO helicopter strike inside Pakistan.

He will visit the transatlantic alliance’s headquarters in Brussels on the sidelines of a two-day Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

A NATO statement said today there would be no press briefing after the talks with Rasmussen.

Pakistan blocked a land route for NATO convoys carrying supplies to neighbouring Afghanistan on Thursday after officials blamed a cross-border NATO helicopter attack for the deaths of three Pakistani soldiers. AGENCIES

Joint strategies required to overcome terrorism, Zardari

President Asif Ali Zardari says nation’s intelligence services are willing to cooperate closer with Afghanistan to fight Taliban militants. He says two nations’ cooperation has improved since he took office and he intends to enhance it further.
President in a press briefing after meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai said, We need more security cooperation between our intelligence and their intelligence, which Pakistan is willing to offer.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai described the meeting as wide-ranging and productive. He showed confidence that the openness in dialogue in fact is a step forward in bilateral relations. He said the discussion was focused partly on Taliban bases in Pakistan’s tribal areas. He reiterated that these are the issues that should be discussed and these are the issues that two Nations should fight together.

Joint strategies required to overcome terrorism, Zardari

President Asif Ali Zardari says nation’s intelligence services are willing to cooperate closer with Afghanistan to fight Taliban militants. He says two nations’ cooperation has improved since he took office and he intends to enhance it further.
President in a press briefing after meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai said, We need more security cooperation between our intelligence and their intelligence, which Pakistan is willing to offer.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai described the meeting as wide-ranging and productive. He showed confidence that the openness in dialogue in fact is a step forward in bilateral relations. He said the discussion was focused partly on Taliban bases in Pakistan’s tribal areas. He reiterated that these are the issues that should be discussed and these are the issues that two Nations should fight together.

Joint strategies required to conquer terrorism, Zardari

President Asif Ali Zardari says nation’s intelligence services are willing to cooperate closer with Afghanistan to fight Taliban militants. He says two nations’ cooperation has improved since he took office and he intends to enhance it further.
President in a press briefing after meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai said, We need more security cooperation between our intelligence and their intelligence, which Pakistan is willing to offer.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai described the meeting as wide-ranging and productive. He showed confidence that the openness in dialogue in fact is a step forward in bilateral relations. He said the discussion was focused partly on Taliban bases in Pakistan’s tribal areas. He reiterated that these are the issues that should be discussed and these are the issues that two Nations should fight together.

Three shot dead in Karachi

Around three people were killed in separate incidents in Karachi on Wednesday.
According to police, some dacoits opened were trying to rip off a shop in Kharadar, when on seeing the police they opened fire. Resuntantly, two passers-by got killed. Police repulsed the fire; however the robbers managed to escape.
In another incident, some unidentified felons gunned down a man at Kahlid bin Walid Road. On the other hand, Karachi CCPO claimed to have arrested the key accused in DSP Khalid Ranjhas murder. The CCPO told the newsmen that the held culprits revealed important facts.

PML-N files adjournment motion against hike in power tariff

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz submitted an adjournment motion in National Assembly secretariat against Nepras surge in power tariff for consumers of nine distribution companies.
The motion states that Nepra increased the tariff for the nine power companies on account of fuel cost adjustment from August 31 notwithstanding rise in electricity tariff by Rs 2.14 during the last three months. As a result of which tariff is up by Rs4.14 per unit, adding that since March 2008 the government has increased tariff by about 80 per cent.
It merits to mention that last month, Nepra allowed a 64 paisa per unit increase and in June the government separately increased base tariff for all consumers, including KESC, by 7.6 per cent or 50 paisa per unit under an agreement with the IMF. Separately, Nepra increased 52 paisa per unit as monthly fuel cost adjustment for June.

WFP seeks food aid for 6m flood affectees

As many as 6 million flood affectees need food aid while 1.9million people have been covered in the flood supply operation, said World Food Programme representative in Pakistan on Wednesday.
During a press briefing in Islamabad, Chris said that more helicopters are needed for the provision of medicines and tents to the flood-afflicted people. Saleem Rehmat, representative of UNHCR in Pakistan, said that around 1.7million displaced people have been given shelter while 2.6million still need to be given refuge. While Unicef representative said that the deluge affected women and kids greatly, who are falling prey to the epidemics like cholera, malaria and other skin diseases. He added that Unicef has sent water tankers and water purifier tablets in the flood-ravaged areas.

Indonesia to soon ratify nuclear test ban treaty

UNITED NATIONS: Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa announced here Tuesday that his country would soon ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

“We hope that our decision… will be a positive incentive for other states to follow suit,” he told a press briefing on the second day of the review conference of the landmark nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT).

Natalegawa said Jakarta was “initiating the process of ratification of the CTBT” in view of recent positive developments with respect to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation issues.

Last month, US President Barack Obama and and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev signed in Prague a strategic arms reduction treaty, committing their countries to major nuclear arms cuts.

The former Cold War foes will be allowed a maximum of 1,550 deployed warheads, about 30 percent lower than a limit set in 2002. They are also restricted to 700 air-, ground- and submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles that carry warheads.

And in a policy shift, Washington said last month that it would use atomic weapons only in “extreme circumstances” and would not attack non-nuclear states — but singled out “outliers” Iran and North Korea as exceptions.

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