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| June 19, 2008 | Thursday | Jamadi-us-Sani 14, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (06:00 GMT)
 Four Pakistani soldiers killed, three injured in firing at LoC: military ISLAMABAD, June 19 (Agencies) - Four Pakistani soldiers were killed on Thursday in an exchange of fire with unknown attackers at the border with India in disputed Kashmir, the military said. The soldiers were on a routine patrol along the Line of Control, the de facto border with India, when “unknown miscreants” fired at them, military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told AFP. “Two of our soldiers embraced martyrdom at the spot and two others injured later died at hospital,” Abbas said, adding that three others suffered minor injuries. The attackers were hiding in the thick forest in Hajera sector along the Line of Control when they fired at the troops, he said. Abbas said the soldiers returned fire and afterwards search parties were sent to hunt the attackers. Search parties retrieved the bodies of the martyred soldiers and the injured. ”The fire was not from the Indian bunkers”, a Reuters reports quoting Maj-Gen Abbas said. Associated Press adds: Lt. Col. Shantanu Dass Goswami, an Indian army spokesman, said Indian and Pakistani troops both fired at the attackers, who he said were attempting to infiltrate the Indian side from Pakistan. The fighting lasted about five hours, he said. “There was an information sharing from both the sides to zero in on the militants,” Goswami said. Abbas said the attack took place near the village of Battal along the Line of Control. A rescue party came under fire as well, Abbas added. Militants have been fighting since 1989 to win Kashmir's independence or have the Indian-controlled portion of the predominantly Muslim region merged with Pakistan. More than 68,000 people, most of them civilians, have died since the start of the insurgency. (First Posted @ 20:26 PST Updated @ 21:56 PST)  Nine killed in suspected sectarian violence in Pakistan PESHAWAR, Pakistan, June 19 (AFP) - At least nine people were killed and 30 wounded Thursday in suspected sectarian violence in an area of northwestern Pakistan bordering Afghanistan, security officials said. Four people were killed when gunmen opened fire on a supply convoy bringing food for Parachinar town, they said. The victims included one truck driver, two helpers and one security guard, a security official said. The attackers who ambushed the convoy in the tribal Kurram region used heavy weapons including rocket launchers and Kalashnikov assault rifles, he said. Army helicopters reached the area and started shelling, killing five suspected attackers. “A total of nine people were killed and 30 injured in the two incidents,” the official said, requesting anonymity. “It appears to be linked to the sectarian tensions”, he said. Parachinar, which has a population of about 70,000 people, was rocked by bloody sectarian clashes in April in which some 50 people were killed. Tribesmen who arranged a ceasefire at the time blamed elements from neighbouring Afghanistan for triggering the violence. (Posted @ 20:18 PST)  APDM’s civil disobedience threat if constitution not restored ISLAMABAD, June 19 (PPI) – The opposition All Pakistan Democratic Movement (APDM) which boycotted the February general elections Thursday said the APDM stands committed to restoration of constitution and democracy in the country and if anyone created obstacles in this, civil disobedience would be resorted to. It said a steering committee has been formed for the launch of the movement for restoration of deposed judges and to decide the date of sit-in. It would hold consultations with the lawyers and political parties and present its recommendation by July 7, leaders of APDM Mehmood Khan Achkzai, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Imran Khan and others announced at a press conference at the end of two-day conference. They rejected the proposed constitutional package saying its purpose was to protect President Musharraf. They said a meeting of APDM would be held in the first week of July to chalk out future strategy. APDM leaders also urged President Musahrraf to resign, demanded immediate halt of Balochistan operation, release of arrested leaders, recovery of missing persons, and judicial inquiry into April 9 Karachi tragedy, etc. (Posted @ 21:02 PST) Cricket: UAE to deport Pakistan paceman Asif DUBAI, June 19 (AFP) - Pakistan paceman Mohammad Asif will soon be deported from the United Arab Emirates after Dubai Public prosecutors dropped drug possession charges against him, an official said Thursday. The 25-year-old fast bowler was seized at Dubai airport on June 1 on charges of possessing an illegal drug while returning home from India after featuring in a domestic tournament. “The case has been dropped against Mohammad Asif due to insignificance ... he will be deported as soon as the police finalize the procedures,” Mohammad Al Nuaimi, the public prosecutor who handled Asif's case, said Thursday, according to the online version of the local daily Gulf News. “It is definite that he committed the crime of smuggling and possessing 0.24 grams of opium as he was caught red-handed ... however in certain cases and for a faster litigation process the public prosecution drops a case due to insignificance and deports the suspect.” Pakistan's diplomatic sources in the UAE told AFP that the paceman will return home at the first available flight. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) claimed they do not know about the proceedings. (Posted @ 19:48 PST) Yasin Malik urges Kashmiris’ involvement in peace talks ISLAMABAD, June 19 (APP): Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Yasin Malik Thursday expressed the resolve that their non-violent movement in Kashmir would continue till its logical conclusion. In an exclusive interview with Dawn News TV channel he said that he had been an active part of the violent movement in Kashmir and now for the last six years he has been very successful in projecting Kashmir issue at international level being the leader of non-violent movement in Kashmir. “Thank God, I have proved that this movement is a people's movement and not a terrorist movement”. Recalling his hardships during the struggle he said he had lost his six hundred colleagues since 1994 and he was arrested more than two hundred times but never lost courage and bore all the difficulties with patience and determination”. Commenting on the recent meeting between the foreign ministers of Pakistan and India he categorically stated that it was not an issue between Pakistan and India to be resolved, and urged that the genuine Kashmiri leadership must be involved in the talks process for the just solution of Kashmir issue. (Posted @ 18:35 PST) Cricket-Pakistan axe keeper Akmal for Asia Cup KARACHI, June 19 (Reuters) - Pakistani selectors have dropped experienced wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal for the Asia Cup tournament, which starts next week. Akmal was omitted from a list of 20 players picked to attend a short training camp, from which a 15-member squad will be named on June 22 for the June 24-July 6 contest in Pakistan. India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong are the other countries taking part. Pakistan’s 20 probables are: Shoaib Malik (Capt), Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Asad Rauf, Yasir Hameed, Bazid Khan, Mansoor Amjad, Naumanullah, Saeed Ajmal. (Posted @ 16:40 PST) Tax-free Balochistan budget on Saturday QUETTA, June 19 (PPI):- Balochistan budget for next financial year 2008-9 to be announced on Saturday would be tax free with priority to educaiton, health, water and roads sectors, provincial finance minister Asim Kurd Galloo told newsmen Thursday. (Posted @ 20:40 PST) PML-N spokesman sees solution of main issues during next month ISLAMABAD, June 19 (APP): Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) spokesman Siddiqul Farooq has hoped solution of three main issues i.e restoration of deposed judges, revival of the constitution, and impeachment of the President during the month of July. He told a private TV channel the leaders of two major coalition partners Wednesday discussed all the three issues in length. “Of course the talks remained inconclusive but the talks will resume on Friday,” he said. Asked whether the PPP members are willing to sign the impeachment motion, he said, “ Asked about the judiciary issue, he said, the PPP and PML-N are close to consensus. The difference is that PML-N wants to retain existing judges on adhoc basis while PPP wants them as permanent. (Posted @ 18:42 PST) US military loses nuclear parts in fresh embarrassment: Financial Times LONDON, June 19 (APP/AFP) - The US military has lost hundreds of sensitive nuclear missile components, in the latest embarrassment for The Pentagon, the Financial Times reported in its online version Thursday. Citing US officials familiar with a Pentagon report, the British daily said the US Air Force could not account for many sensitive components previously in its nuclear inventory. One official put the number at over 1,000, it said. The latest incident comes after blunders which saw live nuclear warheads transported over US skies, and an accidental shipment of nuclear triggers to Taiwan. A senior official said the report had “identified issues about record keeping” for sensitive nuclear missile components. There was no suggestion they could have ended up in countries that should not have received them, he said. (Posted @ 20:34 PST) Fragile Gaza truce comes into force GAZA CITY, June 19 (AFP): A fragile truce between Israel and Hamas came into force in the Gaza Strip Thursday amid scepticism over how long the Egyptian-brokered deal would hold. It is the first formal ceasefire since Hamas's takeover of the impoverished territory just over a year ago which triggered a crippling Israel blockade against what it brands a “hostile entity.” ”The truce came into effect at 6 a.m.,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. “Hamas is determined to respect the truce and guarantee its success.” There was no immediate comment from the Israeli army. (Posted @ 11:20 PST) Govt. determined to establish supremacy of parliament: PM Gilani ISLAMABAD, June 19 (APP): Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Thursday the government is determined to establish rule of law and supremacy of the parliament. Talking to a group of students and teachers from Karachi University at his Chamber in the Parliament House, he said the government was focusing on strengthening all state institutions to ensure that democracy becomes sustainable and gets firmly embedded in the body-politic. The top priority of the new government, he said, was improving law and order and stabilizing the economy. The Prime Minister said the government plans to set up a Student Service Centre in every university to facilitate students in job counselling.He sought suggestions from the students regarding improvement in the education system including co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. (Posted @ 23:28 PST) NWFP Govt has every right to ink peace pacts: Rehman Malik PESHAWAR, June 19 (APP): Federal Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik said Thursday the NWFP Government has every right to ink peace agreements and these should be honored. The Federal Government would fully support the NWFP Government in its efforts aimed at ending unrest, lawlessness and extremism, he said at a high level meeting at Chief Minister Secretariat. “It is not a war of a particular province but it's a war of entire Pakistan,” he added. (Posted @ 23:08 PST) Pakistani forces were not targeted: US WASHINGTON, June 19 (APP): The United States is for better coordination between Pakistani forces and international forces on Afghan side of the border, a senior State Department official said while denying suggestions that the U.S. forces targeted Pakistani military in the Mohmand border strike incident last week.. “I can certainly say that there was no targeting of Pakistani military, absolutely not,” Donald Camp a senior State Department official for South Asia told a conference of Pakistani American Congress, where he also acknowledged the country's massive anti-terror efforts on the Afghan border. Commenting on contents of a New York Times story, Camp said the circumstances of what actually happened in Mohmand tribal border area are still murky. On Pakistan's counterterrorism efforts, Camp said, the country has been doing an “enormous amount” in attempting to control its tribal areas along Afghan border. There are more than 100,000 Pakistani security forces in and around the border and that is a very important consideration. “What we have to have is better understanding of what is going on the border, better coordination, that is why I talked about the border coordination centers so that security forces in Afghanistan can talk to security forces in Pakistan so that we have an understanding of what is going on there, trying to avoid the tragic incident that happened in Mohmand area.” I think President “Karzai saying Pakistan can do more or should do more is his personal view,” he replied when asked about Kabul's recent assertions that Pakistan needs to do more. (Posted @ 22:48 PST) Saudi Arabia announces 200,000 bpd output hike LONDON, June 19 (AFP) - Saudi Arabia said Thursday it planned to increase daily oil output by 200,000 barrels per day, according to a statement posted on the country's London embassy website. “Saudi Arabia recently announced a plan to increase oil output by 200,000 barrels per day,” the statement said, ahead of a weekend meeting of consumers and producers in Jeddah to discuss sky-high crude prices. (Posted @ 21:40 PST) 'Negotiated govt' not answer in Zimbabwe: US ambassador PRETORIA, June 19 (AFP) - US ambassador to Harare James McGee said Thursday that a “negotiated government” in place of elections was not the answer to Zimbabwe's crisis ahead of next week's presidential run-off. “I don't think the will of the people of Zimbabwe will be met through a negotiated government. This election is absolutely necessary for the will of the people to be heard,” McGee said here. With violence mounting in Zimbabwe ahead of the run-off, McGee warned the deteriorating situation made a free and fair run-off election near impossible. (Posted @ 20:22 PST) Pakistan, China enjoy broad-based relations: PM ISLAMABAD, June 19 (APP): Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday said China is Pakistan's strategic partner and time-tested friend and the bilateral relations between the two countries are based on mutual trust and unanimity of views on important regional and international issues. These close relations are strongly supplemented and supported by the people of both the countries, he said during a meeting with a delegation of CETC International Company headed by its President Yan Lijin. The Prime Minister said that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China has a strategic importance for Pakistan. Mr Yan Lijin said that CETC is keen to invest in the energy sector, Thar coal mining, setting up of power plants, cooperation in public security, and setting up of National Electronic Complex in Pakistan. (Posted @ 19:36 PST) Pakistan keen to augment broad-based ties with EU: PM ISLAMABAD, June 19 (APP): Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani expressing satisfaction over the country's longstanding and broad-based relations with the European Union on Thursday underlined that Pakistan was keen to further augment these ties especially in the economic, security and counter terrorism areas. Talking to Jan De Kok, the Ambassador of European Union he said Pakistan is looking for increased and early access to European Union markets in order to accelerate the process of economic development in the country. Jan De Kok expressed EU's priority to tackle poverty and uplift of social sectors in Pakistan. (Posted @ 19:22 PST) Peacekeepers' helicopter crashes in Bosnia SARAJEVO, June 19 (Reuters) - A helicopter carrying four peacekeepers of the EU peace force crashed on Thursday about 20 km north of the town of Travnik in central Bosnia, but it was not clear if there were any casualties, a spokesman of the EUFOR force said. (Posted @ 19:16 PST) Taliban routed by Afghan, NATO forces near Kandahar ARGHANDAB, Afghanistan, June 19 (AFP) - Afghan and NATO forces using air power cleared Taliban militants from villages near Kandahar on Thursday, killing at least 56 insurgents, officials said. Troops were now making a final search of houses in Arghandab district, a day after around 1,000 soldiers launched a huge offensive against the rebels, said the defence ministry and the NATO-led ISAF. “Arghandab district is totally cleared of the enemy presence,” defence ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zahir Azimi said at a joint press conference in Kabul with NATO officials. Fifty-six “enemies” were killed, mostly foreigners, while a number of others were wounded, Azimi added. A civilian and two Afghan troops also died, he said. (First Posted @ 12:30 PST Updated @ 19:06 PST) Sporadic clashes kill 11 in Sri Lanka COLOMBO, June 19 (AFP) - At least six Tamil Tiger rebels and five security force personnel were killed in sporadic clashes across Sri Lanka's northern and eastern regions, the defence ministry said Thursday. Five rebels and three soldiers were killed in Wednesday's fighting centred around the northern regions of Jaffna, Weli Oya and Mannar, the ministry said. Soldiers on Thursday shot dead a rebel intelligence leader in the north during a routine search, the ministry said. It also accused the rebels of gunning down two policemen in the eastern town of Ampara on Thursday. (First Posted @ 12:40 PST Updated @ 18:58 PST) Cricket-England v New Zealand ODI - no result due to rain Edgbaston, England,June 18 (Reuters) - The second one-day international between England and New Zealand at Edgbaston, Birmingham ended in a no result on Wednesday. Rain prevented a finish with just one more over needed to be bowled. Scores: England 162 (Wright 52) v New Zealand 127-2 (McCullum 60 not out). England lead the five-match series 1-0. (Posted @ 16:45 PST) Olympic torch paraded through military city in China's northwest BEIJING, June 19 (AFP) - The Beijing Olympic torch paraded through Shihezi, a major military city in China's Muslim-dominated northwestern region of Xinjiang Thursday, the government said. After starting out in the Xinjiang capital of Urumqi on Tuesday, the flame passed through the oasis Silk Road trading town of Kashgar on Wednesday. Later Thursday, the flame made its final stop in the region at the mountain resort town of Changji, just northwest of Urumqi. On Saturday, the flame will travel to Lhasa. (Posted @ 16:30 PST) Four Zimbabwe opposition activists killed near Harare HARARE, June 19 (AFP): Four Zimbabwe opposition activists were found dead near Harare Thursday ahead of next week's presidential election, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change said, blaming the deaths on the ruling party. The four MDC youth members were abducted Tuesday and their bodies were discovered in various locations southeast of Harare, said party spokesman Nelson Chamisa. Chamisa said the MDC suspected they had been beaten to death by ZANU-PF youth supporters. (Posted @ 13:55 PST) Iran says ready to negotiate on economic incentives KAMPALA, June 19 (Reuters): Iran said Thursday it was ready to negotiate over a new package of economic incentives put forward by major powers seeking to persuade Tehran to curb its nuclear work. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told a news conference in the Ugandan capital Kampala that the six - the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany - should also take a serious look at Tehran's own proposals. “We have informed them of our readiness to negotiate. The package given by the P5+1 countries is currently under consideration and at the appropriate time Tehran will give its reactions,” Mottaki said. (Posted @ 12:40 PST) Iraq launches new operation against Shiite fighters AMARA, Iraq, June 19 (AFP) Iraqi forces backed by US troops launched a new operation against Shiite fighters in the south of the country early Thursday after the expiry of a four-day deadline to surrender arms. “The operation started overnight. The situation is normal and there has been no trouble,” said Colonel Mehdi al-Asadi, police spokesman in Maysan province where the crackdown against the militiamen has been launched. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki had given a four-day deadline to Shiite militiamen in Maysan and in its capital Amara to lay down their arms which expired Wednesday. Dozens of Shiite militiamen surrendered to Iraqi forces hours before the deadline and police also recovered hundreds of landmines. (Posted @ 12:00 PST) Four killed in Thai south YALA, Thailand, June 19 (AFP): Separatist militants killed four people, including a senior policeman and a three-year-old boy, in attacks across southern Thailand, police said Thursday. Militants attacked three police outposts overnight in Pattani province. Police said the attacks were part of an effort to draw additional forces to the outposts while the militants set up a powerful bomb, which exploded as police returned to their station. The blast killed the chief investigator for the local police, Lieutenant Colonel Narat Thepchalerm, along with Sergeant Pirasak Sungsomboon, they said. The explosion left a crater 2.2 metres wide and 80 centimetres deep, and wounded five policemen, one of them critically. In nearby Yala province, a 45-year-old man and his three-year-old son were killed in a drive-by shooting, police said. (Posted @ 10:55 PST) Palestinian killed by Israeli fire ahead of Gaza truce GAZA CITY, June 19 (AFP): A Palestinian man was killed by Israeli fire in the Gaza Strip Thursday, medics said, shortly before a truce was to take effect in the territory. The man, whose identity was not immediately known, was hit in the south of Gaza City, Palestinian emergency services said. (Posted @ 10:00 PST) US Senate panel approves tougher sanctions on Iran WASHINGTON, June 19 (Reuters): A U.S. Senate panel Wednesday approved legislation to strengthen U.S. sanctions on Iran in an effort to get that country to drop its nuclear program. The Senate Finance Committee cleared the bill to expand trade and financial sanctions 19-2. The measure would strengthen existing U.S. sanctions by tightening the trade ban on goods to and from Iran. The bill also would expand financial sanctions on some Iranian individuals, and penalize U.S. companies if their foreign subsidiaries do business with Iran. Both the House and Senate bills would also press Russia to stop helping Iran's nuclear program by barring the United States from entering into a civilian nuclear agreement with Moscow until that country suspends such assistance. (Posted @ 09:50 PST) US House leaders reach deal on war funding bill WASHINGTON, June 19 (Reuters): Leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives struck a deal Wednesday on legislation to provide $162 billion in new funds for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, ending a long standoff with the White House. Democratic and Republican leaders in the House hailed an agreement they said would avoid a veto that President George W. Bush had threatened over some provisions Democrats had been trying to add beyond the war funds. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, said the compromise would address “important domestic needs” as well, including expanding job benefits for the long-term unemployed in the United States. Hoyer added that the full House was expected to debate the deal Thursday. If it passes the House, the Senate is likely to take it up in coming days. The compromise abandons a drive by House Democrats to impose timetables for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. Democrats successfully attached an extension of unemployment benefits to the bill to help people who have been out of work for more than 26 weeks. With the compromise bill, Democrats also won a significant expansion of college education benefits for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan war. (Posted @ 09:30 PST) EU treaty passed by British parliament LONDON, June 19 (AFP): The European Union's Lisbon Treaty was passed by Britain's parliament late Wednesday. After a stormy debate in the House of Lords, peers effectively ratified the treaty, giving the European Union (Amendment) Bill a third and final reading without a vote. The bill is set to go for Royal Assent by Queen Elizabeth II Thursday morning, hours before Prime Minister Gordon Brown takes his place at the EU summit in Brussels. The Lisbon Treaty, which aims to streamline EU institutions after the bloc's expansion eastwards, was approved by members of parliament's lower House of Commons prior to last Thursday's referendum in Ireland. All 27 member states have to ratify the treaty for it to take effect, but there have been increasing calls for it to be scrapped following its rejection by Irish voters. (Posted @ 09:15 PST) Karachi Stocks down 390.12 points: KARACHI, June 19: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 11870.95, down 390.12 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, June 19: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 68.5 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
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