CIA’S Influence Wanes in Afghanistan War, Say Intelligence Officials
For some intelligence officials, proof that the CIA’s influence on the U.S. war effort in Afghanistan is waning, and the power of the Pentagon is growing, came last summer when the CIA named its new station chief in Kabul. As a rule, the CIA always gets to pick its chief of station in foreign countries, but in Afghanistan it lost a political battle to the military and the State Department. According to several former and current intelligence officials, that loss is symbolic of the declining influence of the CIA, which once shaped the strategy for the U.S. war effort. Last summer, when the CIA tapped a veteran office to become the new chief of station in Kabul, the State Department’s special envoy to Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, objected. According to current …
Terrorism is the biggest challenge: Gilani
LAHORE: Pakistan is facing several problems but terrorism is the biggest issue, said Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani while addressing a seminar in Lahore on Sunday. PM Gilani said that the row of terrorism has prevented the investors from making investments in the country. The government has launched successful military operations against the terrorists. An end to terrorism would encourage the investors to invest in the country thereby strengthening our country and developing it. He … Read entire article »Terrorism is the biggest challenge: Gilani
LAHORE: Pakistan is facing several problems but terrorism is the biggest issue, said Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani while addressing a seminar in Lahore on Sunday. PM Gilani said that the row of terrorism has prevented the investors from making investments in the country. The government has launched successful military operations against the terrorists. An end to terrorism would … Read entire article »Pakistan Says Feb. 25 India Talks Likely
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan and India are likely to hold talks in Delhi on Feb. 25 for the first time since the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, raising hopes of a thaw in relations between the two South Asian nuclear-armed neighbors. View Full Image Reuters An Indian Border Security Force soldier patrols amid heavy fog at the India-Pakistan joint check post at the Wagah border on the outskirts of the northern Indian city of Amritsar January 8, 2010. A senior Pakistani foreign ministry official said Thursday the date for the meeting between the two foreign secretaries is almost finalized. India had proposed meeting Feb. 18 or Feb. 25. “We will go to Delhi with an open mind and steer the discussions towards … Read entire article »Malik says ‘credible information’ Hakimullah dead
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Wednesday he had information suggesting that Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud had died of wounds inflicted in a US drone aircraft attack in January. “I have credible information that he’s dead but I don’t have any confirmation,” Malik told reporters, as speculation swirled over the Taliban leader’s fate. Malik also said Qari Hussain, the man … Read entire article »Armed Forces to be equipped to meet challenges: PM
KARACHI: The PNS Shamshir, manufactured in collaboration with China, has been inducted in Pak Navy, Geo News reported Monday. Addressing on this occasion of F-22P frigate ship joining the Pak Navy fleet, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said all the needs of the armed forces will be fulfilled and they would be armed in view of world situation. PM Gilani said … Read entire article »Big Helmand offensive in the offing
LASHKAR GAH: Taliban militants are digging in ahead of a major NATO operation in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, in one of the biggest offensives in the eight-year-old war. U.S. Marines are set to launch an operation within days to take Marjah, an area of lush farmland criss-crossed by canals in the centre of Helmand, Afghanistan’s most violent province. The offensive will … Read entire article »Twin bombings kill at least 22 in Pakistan,President, PM condemn Karachi bombings
wo bomb blasts targeting a bus filled with Shiite Muslims and later a hospital in Karachi on Friday killed at least 22 people in the latest outbreak of violence plaguing the troubled, nuclear-armed state. The first attack occurred early afternoon in the heart of Karachi, when a explosives-laden motorcycle detonated next to the bus, Karachi police said. The blast killed at … Read entire article »18 dead, 50 hurt in Karachi blast
KARACHI: At least 12 people were killed and over 50 others injured when a powerful explosion occurred in a public vehicle plying on Sharah-e-Faisal of Karachi, media reported Friday. According to Geo News, the blast occurred in a mini bus near Nursery stop towards FTC. The injured riding a mini bus coming from Malir, include children and women. Police and other rescue … Read entire article »Country can’t be run by disobeying courts’ orders: Nawaz
BAHAWALPUR: Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Main Nawaz Sharif said the country can’t be run by violating courts verdicts and President Asif Ali Zardari has violated the promises. PML-N chief said while addressing a party workers’ convention here said Pakistan is passing through a critical phase and a revolution is needed to bring back the things on right track. We have no … Read entire article »President directs govt to provide legal assistance to Dr Aafia Siddiqui
President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday directed the government to immediately establish contact with the family of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and provide her with possible legal assistance in the U.S. Spokesperson to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the President issued the direction soon after a jury in Manhattan pronounced guilty verdict against the Pakistani scientist. … Read entire article »Three US soldiers among 9 killed in Dir blast
DIR: Nine persons including three foreigners were killed and 65 others wounded in a bomb blast in tehsil Balambat of lower Dir. The blast occurred in the roadside bombing in Koto village, about 10 kilometers (six miles) from Taimargara, the main town in lower Dir district. The explosion also damaged the girls’ school building. According to US news agency, three US soldiers attached with the Frontier Corps (FC) as trainer were killed in the blast. … Read entire article »Filed under: Top Stories
4 foreigners among 6 killed in Dir Lower blast
DIR: An explosion occurred near a Girls school in Koto area in tehsil Balambut of Lower Dir on Wednesday. According to DPO, six persons including four foreigners were killed and 16 female students injured in the blast. Some other sources said at least 25 children wounded in the incident. Two female teachers are also among the wounded persons. The reports said an explosion happened when a convoy of security forces along with foreign journalists was traveling from … Read entire article »Filed under: Top Stories
Eleven more killed as violence spreads in Karachi
KARACHI: Eleven people, including a prayer leader and a teenage boy, were shot dead on Tuesday as major political parties remained engaged in reconciliation efforts but failed to restore peace to the city. The violent incidents, which in most cases saw armed motorcyclists targeting mainly small traders and labourers, reached central and eastern localities of the city on the fourth consecutive day of violence that had left over 20 people dead in Qasba Colony and neighbouring … Read entire article »Filed under: Top Stories, Uncategorized
Suspected US drone strikes kill at least 29 in Pakistan
Multiple missile strikes carried out by suspected US pilot less drone aircraft killed at least 29 people in Pakistan’s restive tribal region Tuesday, a Pakistani intelligence official said. Several more people were injured in the air attacks that took place in at least four villages of North Waziristan district, a known sanctuary of Taliban and Al Qaeda militants conducting cross-border raids on US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan. “At least eight drones took part in the attack, and … Read entire article »Filed under: Top Stories
Kayani spells out terms for regional stability
AWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said on Monday the success of military operations in the tribal regions have caused substantial decline in cross-border attacks on Nato forces in Afghanistan and warned that it was essential to address Pakistan’s long-term strategic concerns for stability in the region. In a rare press briefing, General Kayani said it would be a cause of worry for Pakistan if Afghanistan’s projected army developed the potential to … Read entire article »Filed under: Top Stories
Obama seeks aid boost for Pakistan, Afghanistan
WASHINGTON: In a document issued on Monday with the Obama administration’s first $3.8 trillion budget, the White House described strengthening governance in Pakistan and Afghanistan as one of its high-priority goals. Under the title, ‘High-priority performance goals,’ the White House Office of Management and Budget stressed that “strengthening Afghanistan’s and Pakistan’s capacity to effectively provide services to citizens” was one of the administration’s main goals for the next fiscal year. The goal includes “enhancing the … Read entire article »Filed under: World News
Dr. Aafia’s trial hits closing arguments
NEW YORK: Pakistan scientist Aafia Siddiqui’s lawyers concluded their arguments before a Manhattan court on Monday, insisting that there’s no physical evidence that their client had tried to kill American soldiers and FBI agents. The trial of Dr Aafia, charged with shooting at her US interrogators in Afghanistan, moved into the final stage. As defence and prosecution lawyers delivered their closing arguments, the 16-member jury went into deliberations to reach a verdict. Sources said the … Read entire article »Filed under: World News
Only impeachment can remove President: Aitzaz
ISLAMABAD: Former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Aitzaz Ahsan on Monday said that the state’s president can only be removed from his office through impeachment by the Parliament, a private television channel reported. Speaking to reporters at the Supreme Court compound in Islamabad, he said the President has immunity from criminal proceedings under the constitution’s Article 248. However, a detailed verdict given by a 13-member Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday in … Read entire article »Filed under: Top Stories
Osama vows to keep up attacks on US
CAIRO: Al-Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden issued a new audio message claiming responsibility for the Christmas day bombing attempt in Detroit and vowed further attacks. In a recording carried by the Al-Jazeera Arabic news channel, Bin Laden addressed President Barak Obama saying the attack was a message like that of Sept. 11 and more attacks against the U.S. would be forthcoming. “The message delivered to you through the plane of the heroic warrior Umar … Read entire article »