Monday
February 16, 2009
Safar 20, 1430
LATEST NEWS
Australian FM urges counterterrorism in Pakistan
Monday, 16 Feb, CANBERRA: Pakistan must win confidence in India by effectively fighting terrorism within its own borders, Australia's foreign minister said Monday at the outset of a visit to Islamabad. Australia, a staunch ally in the US-led war on terror, plans to reinforce US President Barack Obama's message to Islamabad that Pakistan cannot provide safe haven for terrorist forces. Stephen Smith on Monday began the first visit to Pakistan by an Australian foreign minister since 1998 to urge more effort in the fight against the resurgent al Qaida and the Taliban forces in its border regions, which are a threat to 1,100 Australian troops deployed in neighboring Afghanistan. Speaking to Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio before he departed Australia on Monday, Smith said he welcomed Pakistan last week passing to India a report on its investigation into the November terrorist attack. (Posted @ 05:05 PST)
Century-maker Strauss puts England in charge
Monday, 16 Feb, ST JOHN'S: Skipper Andrew Strauss's 15th Test hundred helped England bury the double misery of their Jamaica humiliation and the abandoned second Test on the opening day of the third Test on Sunday. Strauss hit 169, and there were half-centuries for Owais Shah and Alastair Cook, as England, sent in to bat by the West Indies, reached 301 for three in their first innings when stumps were drawn at the Antigua Recreation Ground. Strauss turned his over-pitched 169th delivery from Daren Powell through backward square leg for two to reach the milestone to help make his team's 51 all out in the first Test, and Friday's aborted Test, a distant memory. (Posted @ 04:40 PST)
Qureshi says Samjhota, Mumbai attacks linked
Monday, 16 Feb, MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Samjhota Express incident and Mumbai attacks are interconnected with each other and the probe could only continue if India responds to the questions raised by Pakistan. Talking to journalists at Multan Airport Qureshi said that drone attacks were not being operated from Pakistan. ‘We are against the drone attacks and there was no understanding between Pakistan and US over this issue, as neither the government had allowed drone attacks, nor will it be allowed in future’ he said. (Posted @ 04:40 PST)
President approves Sharia laws for Malakand
Monday, 16 Feb, ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zadari, who termed the victims of militancy ‘national heroes,’ has given go ahead to the provincial government of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) to allow militants to enforce Sharia laws in entire Malakand Division including Swat, Dawn has learnt. A source close to President Zardari said the president, in a recently held meeting with a delegation NWFP government, agreed to the demand of radical clerical leader Sufi Muhammad Khan, leader of Tehrik-e-Nifaz e Shariah-e-Mohammadi (TNSM) in Swat Valley regarding imposition of Islamic law in the area. The president’s approval was sought because under the law the provincial government cannot make any amendment in the existing laws in Malakand without his approval,’ the source said. (Posted @ 02:54 PST)
Holbrooke in India to discuss Pak, Afghan
Monday, 16 Feb, NEW DELHI: US special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for talks with Indian officials, which will pretty much include ways to shepherd all three regional countries to boost the American-led war on terror without having them treading on each other's toes. For India, the Mumbai terror attack is an obvious source for concern as the threat of future attacks are rated high. Another India-Pakistan military standoff would be crippling blow to Mr Hobrooke's mission. India is expected to highlight Pakistan's culpability in the growth of terrorism on its soil but it would try and underplay its own homegrown viruses that make the country vulnerable to terrorism. The bombing of Indian embassy in Kabul in July last year brings New Delhi straight into the discussion about the main theatre of war on the borders of Pakistan and Afghanistan. (Posted @ 02:20 PST)
DAWN Media Group