Pakistan ‘will not launch’ Haqqani offensive

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will not launch an offensive against Haqqani Network despite Washington ramping up the pressure, an official said on Monday.

The US and Pakistan are key allies in the war against terrorists in Afghanistan, but their relationship is often troubled and hit new depths after the killing of Osama bin Laden in a covert US raid in Pakistan in May.

Army chief of staff gathered together his top generals in an extraordinary meeting at the weekend after a series of stinging rebukes from the Americans blaming the Haqqanis and Pakistani intelligence for recent attacks.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is now expected to call a rare cross-party conference, although he has dismissed the American allegations as little more than finding a scapegoat for US “disarray” in the 10-year war in Afghanistan.

After the talks, General Khalid Shameem Wyne, chairman of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressed concern about “negative statements” and said “irritants” in the US relationship come from an “extremely complex situation”.

In a curt Pakistani statement, the military said it was committed to achieving “enduring peace in the region” — something it said was only possible “through mutual trust and cooperation”.

The outgoing top US military officer, Admiral Mike Mullen, bluntly accused Pakistan of “exporting” violent extremism to Afghanistan through proxies and warned of possible action to protect US troops. AGENCIES

On the India-Pakistan border, a cold peace

SURATGARH: It has been nearly eight years since India and Pakistan agreed a ceasefire over

Kashmir – long enough for residents to start building brick houses and plant paddy fields up to the edge of one of the world’s most heavily militarized borders.

Prince William, Kate Middleton get affectionate at races

TrendPK.com: Prince William and Kate Middleton aren’t hiding their love for each other as they got affectionate after some Dragon Boat races in Canada.

The two took part in a race in Charlottetown, Canada where William’s crew ended up beating Kate’s, states RadarOnline.com. But there were apparently no hard feelings as the two walked with their arms around each other after the race.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be in Canada for a few more days before heading to California.

Riteish’s youngest brother gets engaged to Vashu Bhagnani’s daughter

Riteish Deshmukh has always been close to Vashu Bhagnani and his family. The actor has featured in several of Vashu’s projects such as Out Of Control, Do Knot Disturb, Kal Kissne Dekha and even the recently released F.A.L.T.U. Now the two families became one as Riteish’s youngest brother Dheeraj got engaged to Vashu Bhagnani’s daughter Honey at a private ceremony yesterday.

Dheeraj and Honey have been dating for a while and decided it was time to take the relationship to the next level. The event was attended by close family members only. Riteish and Jackky Bhagnani were beaming with joy as they saw their respective siblings get engaged. The couple plan to get married later this year.

Jude Law and Sienna Miller Split Up

Jude Law and Sienna Miller have called it a day on their relationship. They have had an on again off again relationship so this may just be another temporary split. But reps for Law have stated;

“I can confirm that Jude Law and Sienna Miller are no longer in a relationship.”

They were engaged in Christmas 2004, they separated in 2006 but then reconciled in 2009. A friend of the actors has been quoted by People magazine in regards to their latest split;

“It is mutual and amicable and they are still friends.”

It has come as a shock as it was only two months ago that they bought an £8million property in London together, this encouraged speculation that they were planning to marry next.

Both the actors have a busy 2011, Miller is set to star in a romantic comedy with Ashton Kutcher and Law is currently working on the Sherlock Holmes sequel.

Saif and Deepika all set to celebrate with ‘Cocktail’

Seems like Deepika Padukone is taking her relationship with Siddharth Mallya to the next level. Now the title of her films too seems to be finding an inspiration from the business avenues of her steady companion.

Reason being that the title of her next film with Saif Ali Khan is Cocktail. Since Siddharth is the son of liquor baron Vijay Mallya, a title like Cocktail only adds to the high that Deepika is enjoying in her relationship.

Confirms a senior crew member, “Yes, the film has been titled Cocktail. However, one can’t quite say if it has anything to do with Deepika’s personal equation with anyone. Something like this is just incidental. This is a modern day love story bearing urban sensibilities and hence a title like Cocktail pretty much suits the mood of the film. Other than that, anything else is plain speculation.”

Meanwhile, one looks forward to check out what Cocktail would be all about, considering the fact that it not just reunites Saif and Deepika (who are also working in Prakash Jha’s Aarakshan) again after Love Aaj Kal but is also the second directorial outing for Homi Adajania after Being Cyrus (which again starred Saif).

“This is not all, as the film’s script has been written by Imtiaz Ali who is quite close to Saif and Kareena after Love Aaj Kal and Jab We Met respectively”, says an industry insider, “This could well be one lethal cocktail in the offing here.”

On being contacted, Homi Adajania confirmed that Cocktail is the chosen title for the film. However he added a word of caution by stating, “It is a working title as of now.”

Saif is pretty excited about the film already. As per him, the film is romantic and funny with a great balance of drama and entertainment. He has also earlier quoted – “I have wanted to do a love story with a modern sensibility and treatment and I know that Homi will give us exactly that.”

Hopefully that would indeed happen for this film which would be shot in London, Spain and Delhi. One just wonders though how far Siddharth would be travelling to serve Deepika a heady cocktail all across the globe!

Lisa Ray to open yoga studio in Toronto

Marriage seems far away from Lisa Ray’s mind. Speaking exclusively, Lisa reveals she has big career plans this year including the opening of a Yoga studio in Toronto for which, work is on full-throttle at the moment.
Yoga, it must be mentioned, provided Lisa with tremendous emotional spiritual and physical solace during her prolonged illness and recovery last year. And now Lisa is ready to share her Yoga gyan with the world.
Lisa says there’s no room for marriage in her life right now. “This news has come completely out of left field. It was most unexpected! I’d love to clarify matters as I’m working on projects in India and don’t want my work colleagues out in India to get the impression that I’m not committed to my projects and work out there.”

Ask her about the status of her relationship with her faithful companion Brett Wilson and Lisa says, “The point is, marriage is not on the cards. The news that came out is unfounded. I am very good friends with Brett and I described marriage as an ‘imperfect institution’ to make light of the situation, not to make light of marriage.”

Lisa is excited about her projects this year. “I’m opening a hot yoga studio here in Brampton, Canada. There’s so much to look forward to this year. Every day is a blessing. I was recently at the Toronto Film Critics Association dinner where I was surrounded with love and compliments on my ‘Second Coming’ (the near-death illness). I’m working on a kick-ass series for TLC. Finalising some film projects soon. Involved in another momentous stem-cell event in Toronto. Life is grand. I’m so blessed to live and work in two different worlds.”

Victoria Beckham thinks distance makes the heart grow fonder

Victoria Beckham has been married to David Beckham for 11 years now and she thinks she has found the key to a successful relationship.

Victoria is slightly convinced that the large amount of time that they spend apart is beneficial to their relationship, states Hollyscoop. “Maybe that’s why we’re not bored with each other after 11 years,” Victoria said about their continuing interest in each other.

Currently, Victoria splits her time between London and Los Angeles, but she prefers to be in Los Angeles as much as possible.

Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher agree to “use each other” in new “Strings” clip

TrendPK.com: Natalie Portman. Ashton Kutcher. Semi-naked in new “No Strings Attached” clip.

You’re still reading this? Oh, right. You need the link. Here is the latest clip from Paramount’s upcoming comedy, which arrives on the heels of a racy red-band clip and continues to suggest that “Strings” will be closer to the “Knocked Up” family tree than to the traditional rom-com genre.

In the film, Kutcher and Portman play close friends who decide to become sex buddies, doing everything in their power to keep the relationship purely physical and ignoring the feelings that eventually blossom. Seems easy, right? Guaranteed things don’t go as planned.

Ivan Reitman directs “No Strings Attached,” which will be in theaters on Jan. 21.

Hollywood stars Johansson, Reynolds divorce

LOS ANGELES: Hollywood A-listers Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences, a week after they announced their amicable split, documents showed.

The couple — named sexiest man and woman alive in separate polls in recent years — both filed papers the same day to dissolve their two-year marriage, according to the documents obtained by the TMZ celebrity news website.

The legal documents, filed at the Los Angeles Superior Court, gave the date of separation as December 14 — the day they announced their split last week — and ticked the box citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason.

The couple did not sign a pre-nuptial agreement before their September 2008 wedding, TMZ reported, citing sources as saying that Ryan made more money than the US actress during their marriage.

Property rights have yet to be determined, according to the court papers.

Johansson, 26, famous for roles in films such as “Lost in Translation” and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” had said in press reports that being apart from Canadian star Reynolds due to filming schedules was hard on a relationship.

“We entered our relationship with love and it’s with love and kindness we leave it. While privacy isn’t expected, it’s certainly appreciated,” the couple said in a statement announcing their separation last week.

People magazine cited an unnamed source as saying the couple quietly split six months ago, adding that Johansson – named Sexiest Woman Alive by Esquire magazine in 2006 — initiated the move.

The actress had already begun apartment-hunting in her native New York City, it added.

In case he”s crushed, he shouldn’t have too hard a time finding a date: Reynolds, 34, was named People”s “Sexiest Man Alive” two weeks before they announced their split.

Known for films such as “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” the Canadian actor is starring in an upcoming silver screen version of the comic classic “Green Lantern.”

Before his relationship with Johansson, Reynolds was engaged to Canadian singer Alanis Morissette.

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