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| October 5, 2005 | Wednesday | Sha’aban 30, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Karzai demands extradition of captured Taliban spokesman PARIS, Oct 5 (AFP) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday asked Pakistan to extradite the captured chief spokesman of his country's ousted Taliban regime. "We are very pleased to see that the Pakistani authorities have arrested this individual who is responsible for so many atrocities in Afghanistan," he added in an interview with a French news channel during a visit to Paris. Abdul Latif Hakimi has been the Taliban's mouthpiece since early 2004 and frequently spoke with the international media to claim responsibility for attacks on Afghan and US-led forces. Hakimi was arrested Tuesday in Pakistan's southwestern province of Baluchistan, which shares a long and rugged border with Afghanistan. (Posted @ 23:00 PST)
New Web video shows beheading of two Iraqi "spies" DUBAI, Oct 5 (Reuters) An Iraqi insurgent group posted a video on the Internet on Wednesday showing the apparent beheading of two Iraqis it said had spied for the U.S. military. The tape issued by the Army of Ansar al-Sunna, a major insurgent group in Iraq, showed the two men admitting they had gathered information for U.S. forces.The men were later shown being beheaded by insurgents.(Posted @ 20:15 PST)
Occupied Kashmir: Armymen threaten Geelani SRINAGAR, Oct 5 (PPI): Hurriyat Conference (G) has alleged that armymen of Jat Regiment threatened to kill its chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani. A spokesman said Geelani was heading a delegation to Kokernag-Anantnag when he was stopped by the personnel of Jat Regiment at Bijbehara and told him that the” way adopted by him could lead to his death”. This is the worst kind of state terrorism, the spokesman said. (Posted @ 19:20 PST)
Pak-India Trade To Grow Rapidly: Natwar Singh Karachi, Oct 5 PPI: Visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Kanwar Natwar Singh Wednesday hoped that from January 1, 2006 India and Pakistan will move to negative list and other items will be traded openly between the two countries. Addressing members of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) in Karachi, he called for negative list instead of positive one of items tradable between the two countries. Natwar Singh said South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) will come into force from January 1, 2006 and hoped Pakistan will derive substantial benefit from its enforcement. He agreed that not a single project under the SAARC could take off during past 20 years due to India- Pakistan tensions and hoped that with development of relations between Delhi and Islamabad,the contribution of SAARC will be worthwhile. Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Shiv Shankar Menon, who was also present, said in reply to a question that business visas were being issued within ten days with non-police reporting. He said at present 10500 visas were being issued each month. (Posted @ 19:15 PST)
KASHMIR: Tripartite talks urged at Brussels Kashmir conference BRUSSELS, October 05 (PPI) The two-day Kashmir Conference which ended in Brussels last night has urged India to agree to tripartite talks on Kashmir. According to Kashmir Media Service, speakers at the conference, titled "Global Discourse on Kashmir", also stressed that India must create conducive conditions, in occupied Kashmir, for a peaceful settlement. The speakers made a strong plea for ending the ongoing Indian state-terrorism in occupied Kashmir, withdrawal of Indian troops, release of Kashmiri political detainees and repeal of all black laws. Welcoming the India-Pakistan peace process, the speakers said peace be given a chance but not at the cost of sacrifices of Kashmiri people. Speakers at the two-day session included Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Pakistan’s Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, President of Azad Kashmir, Sardar Muhammad Anwar Khan, Executive Director of Kashmir Centre Brussels, Abdul Majeed Tramboo, Executive Director of Kashmir American Council Ghulam Nabi Fai, Executive Director of London Kashmir Centre, Professor Nazir Ahmad Shawl, Chief Editor of Kashmir Media Service, Tajammul-ul-Islam, and prominent Indian journalist Kuldeep Nayyar . A resolution adopted at the end of the conference called for resolving Kashmir issue in accordance with the UN resolutions. The conference also endorsed a resolution on Kashmir by European Union's Kashmir Group. (Posted @ 19:05 PST)
Kashmir. Shabir Shah reviews Kashmir options SRINAGAR, Oct 5 (PPI): president of Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) Shabir Ahmad Shah and other party leaders Wednesday discussed various optionsFloated at various levels with prominent people from different walks of lifeat Kargil. The party has already carried out such exercises in different parts of occupied Jammu and Kashmir . At the Kargil interaction, the latest situation in the state also came under discussion. Shah said if the ongoing dialogue and confidence building measures between India and Pakistan moved in a positive direction then this will lead to an acceptable solution of Kashmir issue. Shah said the people and the leadership must display maturity and take the ongoing movement to its logical conclusion. The sacrifices of the people must not go waste because of disunity, he said. DFP is taking care of the interests of all Kashmiris including Hindus, Sikhs Budhists and Parsis and will continue to do so in future also", he said. After listening to the people from all walks of life, Shah assured them that their wishes and aspirations would be respected. (Posted @ 18:50 PST)
Sindh Govt. to host SAF Football in a befitting manner KARACHI, Oct 5 (APP): Sindh Government will host the upcoming sixth South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship in a befitting manner, Sindh Sports Minister Qamar Mansoor said at a news conference. He said 97 percent work at the sports complex has been completed in collaboration with City District Government Karachi and it will be in top shape for December 7 to 17 competition. The championship will be contested by reigning champion Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Afghanistan and host Pakistan. (Posted @ 18:35 PST)
Security incidents in Iraq, Oct 5 BAGHDAD, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Two civilians were killed and three wounded during a battle between Iraqi forces and insurgents in Yusufiya and Rashid, just south of Baghdad, police said.A car bomb attack critically wounded six security guards for the North Oil Company in Kirkuk, police said. Five members of the same family were wounded, including a woman and child, when a bomb exploded near their house on Tuesday in Najaf, the head of the family said. (Posted @ 18:23 PST)
Cricket-Pakistan announce contracts, Afridi and Younis promoted KARACHI, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Twenty Pakistani players have signed central contracts with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and vice captain Younis Khan and all rounder Shahid Afridi have been promoted to the top category, a Pakistan Cricket Board official said Wednesday. Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Razzaq and Afridi are the six highest paid players. "Danish Kaneria and Kamran Akmal have been promoted to grade two category because of their performances in recent months," the spokesman said. (Posted @ 18:20 PST)
China's second manned space flight on October 13: official HONG KONG, Oct 5 (AFP) - China will launch its second manned space flight on October 13, a Chinese official said Wednesday. He said two astronauts have been selected to orbit Earth for five days, expanding on the 21-hour flight of Shenzhou V which circled Earth 14 times in 2003.He did not disclose the names of the astronauts. (Posted @ 18:18 PST)
India to reopen consulate in Pakistan's Karachi by January KARACHI, Oct 5 (AFP) - India will reopen its consulate in Karachi by January 2006, visiting Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh told reporters Wednesday adding that he had asked the consul to finish the renovation of India House by December 31. "We will be giving visas from January and the Pakistani consulate in Mumbai will also be functioning by that time," said Singh who returned home Wednesday. "We are looking forward to opening Khokrapar-Munabao railway link between Sindh and Western India," he said. (Posted @ 18:05PST)
Ten people killed, 13 wounded in occupied Kashmir violence SRINAGAR, Oct 5 (AFP) - At least 10 people were killed in separate clashes across occupied Kashmir and 13 commuters were wounded in a grenade blast at a bus stand in Anantnag , police said Wednesday. Elsewhere, troops killed four suspected militants in separate gunbattles earlier Wednesday. On Tuesday, suspected rebels barged into a house in Udhampur district and killed three members of a Muslim family, while two members of a volunteer paramilitary force supported by Indian troops were shot dead in Budgam district. Separately, a civilian was killed Tuesday in Rajouri district, police said. (Posted @ 18:05 PST)
Five soldiers killed in Thai south NARATHIWAT, Thailand, Oct 5 (AFP) - Five Thai soldiers were shot dead Wednesday by militants who opened fire from a pickup truck at a checkpoint in Thailand's restive south, the provincial governor said. (Posted @ 17:45 PST)
Saddam's former number two urges escalation of insurgency LONDON, Oct 5 (AFP) - Saddam Hussein's former right-hand man Ezzat Ibrahim al-Duri called Wednesday for an escalation of the deadly insurgency in Iraq in a letter attributed to the country's most wanted fugitive. Ibrahim, who has been on the run since the US-led invasion of March 2003, urged "resistance movements and the Baath party to intensify the national campaign against the occupation", according to the letter published in the London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Qods Al-Arabi. (Posted @ 17:40 PST)
Suicide blast hits Canadian convoy in Afghanistan, child killed KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Oct 5 (AFP) - A suicide bomber in a pick-up truck blew himself up near a Canadian military convoy in the outskirts of Kandahar n Wednesday, killing an Afghan child, the provincial governor said. The Canadian force said three soldiers were lightly wounded in the attack on a three-jeep convoy .One of the jeeps was also damaged, it added. (First Posted @ 15:00 updated @ 17:40 PST)
India tests surface-to-air missile BHUBANESHWAR, India, Oct 5 (AFP) - India Wednesday successfully tested a surface-to-air Trishul missile as part of accelerated trials of its five separate airborne warfare systems, officials said. India is developing the Trishul, which was last tested on July 26, for use by the army, navy as well as the airforce, and touts the system as the local version of the anti-missile Patriot system . (Posted @ 17:35 PST)
Pakistan returns three to Britain over schoolboy's killing ISLAMABAD, Oct 5 (AFP) - Pakistan handed over three suspects to Britain for questioning Wednesday over the murder of a 15-year-old Scottish schoolboy, the British High Commission (embassy) said. Pakistan had arrested the men in June after they had travelled to Pakistan following the March 2004 murder of Kriss Donald in Glasgow. He was repeatedly stabbed then burned alive. The high commission said it was the first case of its kind because Pakistan had no formal extradition agreement with Britain and had only been able to act after lengthy talks and a change in the law. Local officials named the men as 29-year-old Imran Shahid, nicknamed Baldy, his younger brother Zeeshan Shahid, alias Crazy, and their cousin Faisal Mushtaq, all Britons of Pakistani origin. The men were taken in handcuffs to Islamabad airport early Wednesday and handed to British police for the flight back to London and then to Glasgow. (Posted @ 17:30 PST)
Aussies rise from Ashes with big one-day win MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct 5 (AFP) - Australia crushed the World XI to claim the opening Super Series one-dayer by 93 runs at Docklands stadium here Wednesday.Australia compiled a competitive 255 for eight off their 50 overs and then ran through the World XI for 162 in 41.3 overs. Sri Lankan wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara top scored with 64 off 96 balls in opening the innings while Andrew Flintoff contributed 38 off 52 balls after being dropped in a sitter by Brett Lee on five. All-rounder Shane Watson claimed 3-43 off 10 overs, Glenn McGrath had 2-13 off seven overs and Brett Lee 2-31 off 7.3 overs. (Posted @ 17:25PST)
Pakistanis grill Taliban official on militant links ISLAMABAD, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Pakistani investigators were grilling Taliban's top spokesman Latif Hakimi on Wednesday, hoping to uncover his links with militant leaders and determine how he was operating in Pakistan, government and security officials said. Latif Hakimi was rounded up on Tuesday with five other suspected Taliban members in a raid on a house on the outskirts of Quetta. A satellite phone,two mobile phones and a fax machine were seized in the raid. "He was using the fax machine to send messages from Mullah Omar and statements on Taliban activities to newspapers in Pakistan and other countries," said an intelligence official who declined to be identified.(Posted @ 15:45 PST)
Four Swiss killed in Morocco plane crash RABAT, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Four Swiss (two pilots and two students) are confirmed to have died after a small aircraft crashed early Tuesday near Ansa village in El Houaz province, some 450 km south of Rabat. The victims were found hours later by a rescue team, state news agency MAP said.(Posted @ 15:30 PST)
Elder kidnapped, shot dead in Pakistan tribal area WANA, Pakistan, Oct 5 (AFP) - Gunmen kidnapped and shot dead a pro-government elder in a Pakistani tribal area near the Afghan border, where security forces are hunting Islamic militants, officials said Wednesday. Mohammad Alam was dragged into a car late Tuesday as he walked through Sararogha village, some 40 kilometres northeast of Wana, the main town in the South Waziristan region. His body was found on Wednesday.(Posted @ 15:10 PST)
Tajik opposition leader sentenced to 23 years in prison DUSHANBE, Oct 5 (AFP) - The head of one of Tajikistan's main opposition parties was sentenced to 23 years in prison Wednesday by this Central Asian state's supreme court on terrorism-related charges. Iskandarov, leader of the Democratic Party of Tajikistan and former head of the country's gas utility, was found guilty on charges, including terrorism and massive state property theft. Critics have denounced the case as politically motivated(Posted @ 15:10 PST)
Frenchman and two Americans win Nobel Chemistry Prize STOCKHOLM, Oct 5, 2005 (AFP) - Yves Chauvin of France and Americans Robert H. Grubbs and Richard R. Schrock won the 2005 Nobel Chemistry Prize on Wednesday for the development of the metathesis method in organic synthesis, the Nobel jury said. "This year's Nobel Prize laureates in chemistry have made metathesis into one of organic chemistry's most important reactions. Fantastic opportunities have been created for producing many new molecules -- pharmaceuticals for example," the jury said. "Imagination will soon be the only limit" to what kind of molecules can be built in the future, it said.(Posted @ 15:05 PST)
Quality teachers are critical for quality education: PM ISLAMABAD, Oct 5 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz acknowledged the role of teachers in the promotion of education on Wednesday saying that quality teachers were critical for quality education and for developing a child's capacity to learn. He was addressing a function here at the National Library in connection with World Teachers Day to praise the services of teachers under the theme "Salam Teachers' Day". Aziz said the government was committed to providing the best possible facilities to the teachers and increase their benefits so that they can play their role more effectively in increasing the literacy rate.(Posted @ 13:30 PST)
Russian citizen maybe sentenced to death for Musharraf assassination attempt ISLAMABAD, Oct 5 (Agencies) A Russian citizen was among a group of people sentenced to death for trying to assassinate President Pervez Musharraf in 2003, the Russian foreign ministry said. "The Russian embassy only recently learned that Russian citizen Akhlak Akhlas seems to be among those sentenced to death in this case. Based on his father's information, we checked and confirmed that the accused has a Russian passport," the ministry said late Tuesday. Meanwhile a Pakistani foreign ministry spokeswoman said, "we have received Moscow's request for consular access and it is under consideration," adding that “we have yet to establish if he is indeed a Russian citizen and in custody."(Posted @ 13:30 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, October 5 : The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.2 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 10:45 PST)
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