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| January 25, 2007 | Thursday | Muharram 05, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Pakistani Premier faults Afghans for Taliban woes on border DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 24 (New York Times website) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz acknowledged on Thursday that people sympathetic to the Taliban were active in the frontier regions near the border with Afghanistan. But he insisted that the root of the problem was the Afghan government’s weak authority, not Pakistani support of the Taliban. “We believe the core of the problem is in Afghanistan,” Mr. Aziz said, in an interview at the World Economic Forum here in Davos. Mr. Aziz also said three million Afghan refugees were crowded into Quetta, Peshawar and other Pakistani cities close to the 1,700 mile-border between the countries. Despite what he described as stepped-up Pakistani efforts to root out extremists, the refugee population remains a recruiting pool for the Taliban insurgency, Mr. Aziz said. But he dismissed allegations that his country was supporting the militants. “This notion that Pakistan may be in some way or other supporting these people or giving them safe haven is ridiculous,” he said. (Posted @ 17:30 PST)
Car bomb kills two people in northwestern Pakistan PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Jan 25 (AP) A car bomb exploded in the shopping district of Hangu, a town about 100 kilometers south of Peshawar, on Thursday, killing at least two passers-by and wounding four, police said. Police described it as an “act of terrorism.” (Posted @ 17:26 PST)
US to spend additional Nine billion dollars in Afghanistan WASHINGTON, Jan 25 (AFP) The United States said it plans to spend an additional nine billion dollars on security and reconstruction in Afghanistan and urged NATO to match that commitment. About two billion dollars would be channeled towards boosting the military in the insurgency-wracked nation, while the remainder would be utilized for reconstruction and other civilian activities, a State Department official said. The new funding would be proposed to the US Congress, the official said ahead of the unveiling of a revamped Afghanistan strategy on Friday. Also, the Pentagon announced Thursday it would extend the tours of 3,200 soldiers already operating in the war-torn country. (First Posted @ 14:13 PST Updated @ 23:26 PST)
Indian soldiers kill suspected militant in ‘gunbattle’ SRINAGAR, Occupied Kashmir, Jan 25 (AP) A suspected militant was shot and killed in a gun battle with Indian soldiers in Kralpora village, 35 kilometers north of Srinagar, on Thursday, officials said. However, the Hezb-ul-Mujahedeen in a telephone call to a local news agency claimed that army soldiers had killed the militant after taking him in to custody. (Posted @ 23:04 PST)
Terrorism related to poverty not religion: PM Aziz DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 25 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday urged the international community to address the root causes of terrorism and extremism. Addressing the plenary session of the World Economic Forum here, the prime minister said that Pakistan has taken a number of steps to fight terrorism and was extending its full cooperation to the world community in this war. He called upon the world to understand the real issue behind terrorism. “It is not related to any religion, culture or areas. It is related to poverty, suffering, removing sense of deprivation and injustice in the world,” Aziz said. Referring to situation in Afghanistan, he said the solution to the problems in Afghanistan was in improving its economic conditions. He also brought into notice the nexus between narcotics production and terrorism in Afghanistan. (Posted @ 22:54 PST)
Car bomb kills 20 in Baghdad BAGHDAD, Jan 25 (AFP) A suicide car bomb aimed at a police patrol in a shopping area in Karrada, central Baghdad killed 20 people and wounded 20 more on Thursday, a security source said. (Posted @ 21:38 PST)
Kashmiri leader urges militants to support peace ISLAMABAD, Jan 25 (Reuters) The Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference on Thursday said that the time was ripe for militants to back peace efforts, but he stopped short of saying they should end an armed struggle against India in occupied Kashmir. Speaking during a visit to Muzaffarabad, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also urged India to consider withdrawing troops from the region divided with Pakistan to pave the way for the settlement of the 60-year-old dispute. “There is no doubt that it was the commitment and sacrifices of the militants and mujahideen that has put the Kashmir issue in the limelight. But now I think we have reached a stage where we have to go together,” he said. “The political initiative has to gain momentum because militarily no solution is possible,” he said. “I would say it is time for the militants to support the peace process. I would not say that they should completely give up (militancy) but I believe their support to the dialogue process will force India to...talk about the issue,” he added. (Posted @ 21:34 PST)
Afghan, Pakistan, NATO armies open first intelligence hub KABUL, Jan 25 (AFP) The Afghan, Pakistan and NATO militaries in Afghanistan formally opened their first joint intelligence sharing centre Thursday to boost cooperation against Taliban and other extremists. The commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), General David Richards, said the launch of the Joint Intelligence Operations Centre (JIOC) was “a historic day ... in the war on terror and against the insurgents”. The centre is staffed by six intelligence and operational officers from each of the Afghan and Pakistani armies and 12 ISAF staff. (Posted @ 21:32 PST)
Global warming more dangerous than nuclear weapons: Blix CAIRO, Jan 25 (AFP) Former UN weapons inspector Hans Blix warned on Thursday that global warming was a greater threat than weapons of mass destruction, and advocated promoting peaceful nuclear technology around the world. “It is of utmost imperative that the whole world reduces the emission of greenhouse gases,” Blix said. “Nuclear power can give the world enormous amounts of electricity without giving any greenhouse gases.” (Posted @ 21:30 PST)
Pakistan plans car production boom ISLAMABAD, Jan 25 (AFP) Pakistan's car industry aims to produce 400,000 vehicles a year by 2010, two and a half times the current level, as the South Asian country's economy grows, an industry chief said Thursday. The local manufacturer of Toyota cars in the country said that to achieve the new target, the auto industry would invest 225 billion rupees (3.75 billion dollars), generating some 30,000 jobs. (Posted @ 19:04 PST)
Pakistan has 7,400 on death row: rights group ISLAMABAD, Jan 25 (AP) Pakistan expanded the range of offenses that carry capital punishment, but the move failed to deter crime, and there are now 7,400 people on death row, a rights group said Thursday. Asma Jehangir, head of the NGO, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, urged the abolition of the death penalty, saying that the country's legal system was corrupt and couldn't guarantee fair trials for those sentenced. She made the comments at the launch of a new report on the death penalty in Pakistan, co-authored by the Paris-based International Federation of Human Rights. (Posted @ 19:02 PST)
Cricket-South Africa make three changes for decider CAPE TOWN, Jan 25 (Reuters) South Africa will make three changes in their squad for the decider test match starting on Friday after the ICC rejected Herschelle Gibbs appeal on Thursday. South African captain Graeme Smith said all rounder Shaun Pollock and fast bowler Andre Nel would be rested and replaced by all rounder Andrew Hall and fast bowler Dale Steyn. Boeta Dippenaar has been recalled and will open the innings with Smith. Skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq said: “There will be at least two changes and maybe a change in the top order,” he told reporters. “Shahid Nazir is bowling better in the nets, and Naved-ul-Hasan is also doing well,” he added. (Posted @ 19:00 PST)
Pakistan arrests over 300 Afghan Hajjis KARACHI, Jan 25 (Reuters) Pakistani police have arrested over 300 Afghan nationals in Karachi who had gone to perform the Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia on fake Pakistani passports, an official said on Thursday. Immigration authorities arrested 183 Afghan nationals on Wednesday night and another 122, including women last Saturday, the official added. (Posted @ 18:58 PST)
Donors pledge 7.6 bln dollars for Lebanon aid PARIS, Jan 25 (AFP) International donors pledged 7.6 billion dollars in aid for Lebanon at a conference held in Paris on Thursday, French President Jacques Chirac, who is hosting the conference, said. Saudi Arabia announced that it will give more than one billion dollars to help development projects in Lebanon and that an additional 100 million dollars would go to budget support. The World Bank and the European Investment Bank together announced more than two billion dollars in aid. The Islamic Development Fund pledged 250 million dollars. (Posted @ 18:44 PST)
Russia offers India four nuclear reactors NEW DELHI, Jan 25 (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin offered India to build four new nuclear reactors after arriving here on Thursday. A memorandum of understanding on the plants to be built at Kudankulam and at other sites was inked by the heads of the Russian and Indian nuclear agencies after a meeting between Putin and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. (First Posted @ 11:34 PST Updated @ 18:42 PST)
Strong earthquake strikes off Taiwan's east coast TAIPEI, Taiwan, Jan 25 (AP) A strong 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Taiwan Thursday, rocking buildings in the capital Taipei. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. (Posted @ 18:10 PST)
Security plan to target all militants: Iraqi PM BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan 25 (AP) Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told the parliament on Thursday that the coming security sweep in Baghdad would not be the last battle against militants and said they would not be safe anywhere in the country, not even in mosques or schools. In “Operation Imposing Law,” he said five committees will be set up to work in conjunction with the military as it and U.S. troops conduct the security plan to deal with political, media, public services, economic and community outreach aspects. He said Baghdad would be divided into nine sectors and Iraqi troops would be in the lead, backed by American forces. (Posted @ 18:06 PST)
Israeli troops kill Palestinian man in West Bank NABLUS, West Bank, Jan 25 (AP) Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian man on Thursday during a military operation in the West Bank town of Tulkarem, the Islamic Jihad group said. (Posted @ 18:02 PST)
Two children killed in Kabul blast KABUL, Afghanistan, Jan 25 (AP) An old tank shell exploded at a military barracks in Kabul on Thursday, killing two children and wounding four others, police said. The victims were playing on the grounds of an old, bombed-out military barracks currently used by the Afghan army as a base, police added. Elsewhere, five people, including a two-year-old child, died in an avalanche in western Ghor province on Wednesday, an official said. (Posted @ 18:00 PST)
NATO to send additional brigade to Afghanistan: top general KABUL, Afghanistan, Jan 25 (AP) NATO-led troops in Afghanistan will shortly be reinforced with another combat brigade, the alliance's top commander in the region said Thursday. Gen. David Richards said the brigade will consist of members of different nations participating in NATO's International Security Assistance Force. A brigade is typically 1,500 to 3,500 soldiers; Richards did not specify how many additional troops were expected. (Posted @ 17:24 PST)
Sri Lankan military kills four Tamil Tigers COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Jan 25 (AP) Government troops clashed twice with separatist Tamil Tigers in northern Sri Lanka, killing at least four insurgents, the military said Thursday. (Posted @ 17:20 PST)
Greek guerrillas threaten more attacks ATHENS, Jan 25 (Reuters) Leftist guerrillas who fired a grenade at the American embassy in Athens this month threatened on Thursday to stage more attacks on Greek and U.S. targets. “Our victorious battles against this establishment will show how vulnerable it is. (We aim) to get rid of U.S. military bases and NATO from our country and overthrow those who work with them,” The Revolutionary Struggle group said in a statement published in an Athens weekly. (Posted @ 16:36 PST)
US occupation of Iraq was idiotic: VP DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 25 (AFP) The US-led occupation of Iraq after toppling Saddam Hussein was an “idiot” decision, Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdel Mahdi said Thursday during the World Economic Forum here. However, Mahdi cautioned that winning the “war” in Baghdad, where US troop levels have recently been reinforced, would be crucial to ending the spiral of violence in the country. But Mahdi cautioned that Iraqi troop numbers also needed to be boosted in Baghdad, not only those of the US-led coalition in Iraq. The Iraqi vice president rejected suggestions that his country was in the grip of a civil war. (First Posted @ 14:20 PST Updated @ 15:34 PST)
Cricket-World Cup visa chaos for Pakistan fans KARACHI, Jan 25 (AFP) Pakistani cricket fans are being forced to apply to an embassy in India for visas to travel to the World Cup in the Caribbean, an official said Thursday. Supporters must send their passports to the Trinidad and Tobago embassy in the Indian capital New Delhi to obtain special visas for all nine countries hosting the games of the March 13 to April 28 event. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is negotiating with the Pakistani foreign office to get the visas issued in Pakistan instead, a spokesman said. (Posted @ 15:25 PST)
Cricket-ICC dismisses Gibbs' appeal against ban LONDON, April 25 (Reuters) The International Cricket Council (ICC) dismissed on Thursday an appeal by the South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs against a ban for making derogatory remarks about Pakistanis during the first test in Centurion. Gibbs will miss the third test against Pakistan starting on Friday and the first two games in the five-match one-day series. In a statement, ICC code of conduct commissioner Richie Benaud said the fact that the remarks had been picked up by a stump microphone did not invalidate the decision made by match referee Chris Board to ban Gibbs. “With the benefit of some experience, I am able to add that players, no matter where they may be, should always bear in mind that a microphone could be live,” he said. (Posted @ 15:02 PST)
Tennis-Australian Open women's singles results MELBOURNE, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Women's semi-final singles results at the $10.7 million Australian Open on Thursday (prefix number denotes seeding): Maria Sharapova (Russia) beat 4-Kim Clijsters (Belgium) 6-4 6-2; Serena Williams (U.S.) beat 10-Nicole Vaidisova (Czech Republic) 7-6(5) 6-4 First Posted @ 11:46 PST Updated @ 12:34 PST)
Four hurt in Gaza clash between Fatah and Hamas GAZA, Jan 25 (Reuters) Fatah and Hamas gunmen clashed in the Gaza Strip Wednesday, wounding at least four Palestinians, residents said. The exchange took place near the house of a senior Fatah member. Fatah accused Hamas's so-called “executive force” of besieging the house while Hamas said the fighting broke out when its patrol came under fire from Fatah. (Posted @ 10:19 PST)
American diplomatic strategy on Iran flawed: John Bolton WASHINGTON, Jan 25 (AP) Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton says the United States may not be able to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons because it is following a flawed diplomatic strategy. Contrary to administration claims, the UNSC resolution against Iran that was approved last month is ''very weak,'' the former point man for the administration in the diplomatic debate over the resolution said in an interview with Fox News. (Posted @ 10:04 PST)
Iraq leaves US army, marines unready for high intensity war: generals WASHINGTON, Jan 25 (AFP) Nearly four years in Iraq have hammered US army and marines into a skilled counter-insurgency force but has left it unready for war against a conventionally armed foe, US generals warn. “What we are developing right now is the best counterinsurgency force in the world, both army and marine, General James Conway, commandant of the marine corps, told lawmakers Tuesday. But “that's essentially what they're focused on,” Conway added, because troops have little time to train for anything else between tours to Iraq. General Peter Schoomaker, the army chief of staff, echoed Conway's concerns at hearing before the House Armed Services Committee. Lieutenant General Stephen Speakes, an army deputy chief of staff, said none of the army's combat brigades are rated as ready for high intensity conflict: “If you take a look at the forces not deployed to combat…they are not optimized to be ready to fight a high-intensity conflict.” A “surge” of 21,500 additional troops to Iraq ordered by President George W. Bush will add to the squeeze, particularly if the demand for more troops continues to climb to pacify areas beyond Baghdad, they said. (Posted @ 09:58 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 174.34 points: KARACHI, Jan 25: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 11031.08 , up 174.34 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Jan 25: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.87 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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