Afghanistan is no Vietnam...Mullen

WASHINGTON — The top U.S. military officer cautioned Monday against comparing the Pentagon's renewed focus on Afghanistan to the Vietnam War, citing terrorism and a non-occupation strategy as "dramatic differences" between the two conflicts.
"Afghanistan is much more complex," said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
He added: "I certainly recognize — and having been in Vietnam myself — that there are those who make comparisons. I would be pretty careful about that though, for lots of reasons."
Mullen's comments came as the Pentagon prepares to deploy an additional 15,000 Army and Marine troops to Afghanistan this spring and summer in the Obama administration's military campaign to shut down the Taliban and al-Qaida.
Ultimately, an estimated 60,000 U.S. troops could be in Afghanistan over the next year as Obama starts ordering soldiers from Iraq. There are currently about 32,000 American troops in Afghanistan.
Speaking to a Washington meeting of the Reserve Officers Association, Mullen stopped short of predicting how long U.S. troops would remain in Afghanistan. He said the main difference between Afghanistan and Vietnam is that "we are not an occupying force."
"We have no intention of that," Mullen said. "There isn't any of the 42-plus countries who are there that have that intention. ... That said, we cannot send a message to the Afghan people that we are."
Chief among the concerns, Mullen said, is making sure Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for al-Qaida leaders who moved to lawless Pakistan tribal regions in the post-9/11 hunt for Osama bin Laden.
"We cannot accept that al-Qaida leadership which continues to plan against us every single day — and I mean us, here in America — to have that safe haven in Pakistan nor could resume one in Afghanistan," Mullen said.
Efforts to eliminate government corruption and develop the poor nation also marks a contrast between the U.S. mission in Afghanistan from Vietnam, Mullen said.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates met Monday with President Barack Obama, but White House spokesman Robert Gibbs would not say whether the two discussed troop levels in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon released a long-awaited study Monday describing crumbling security and a peak in violence in Afghanistan in spring and summer of 2008.
The quarterly status report, required by Congress, focused mostly on data available between April and September 2008 but included some year-end details, including:
_Between January and December 10, 2008, 132 U.S. personnel in Afghanistan died as the result of hostile action, up from 82 in 2007.
_The Afghan National Army Air Corps is beefing up its reconnaissance and gunship fleets and added 27 new helicopters and cargo planes by the end of December.
_As of December, NATO had provided only 42 Operational Mentor Liaison Teams out of 103 promised to train the Afghan National Security Forces.
The shortfall of the teams impacts the training of the Afghan forces, the report noted.
_The annual Failed State Index, published by the Fund for Peace, showed worsening governance in Afghanistan between 2006 and 2008.
Mullen also said the global financial crisis is threatening U.S. security options abroad, forcing a delicate balance between national security and federal budget cuts.
"I am extremely concerned that in fact one of the outputs of this financial crisis will be an increase in instability," Mullen said.
He added: "Clearly, in listening to our new president, it's going to have an impact on the budgets in our government."

Waste, fraud in Iraq being repeated in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON — Waste and corruption that marred Iraq's reconstruction will be repeated in Afghanistan unless the U.S. transforms the unwieldy bureaucracy managing tens of billions of dollars in infrastructure projects, government watchdogs warned Monday.
The U.S. has devoted more than $30 billion to rebuilding Afghanistan. Yet despite the hard lessons learned in Iraq, where the U.S. has spent nearly $51 billion on reconstruction, the effort in Afghanistan is headed down the same path, the watchdogs told a new panel investigating wartime contracts.
"Before we go pouring more money in, we really need to know what we're trying to accomplish (in Afghanistan)," said Ginger Cruz, deputy special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction. "And at what point do you turn off the spigot so you're not pouring money into a black hole?"
Better cooperation among federal agencies, more flexible contracting rules, constant oversight and experienced acquisition teams are among the changes urged by the officials in order to make sure money isn't wasted and contractors don't cheat.
Cruz, along with Stuart Bowen, the top U.S. official overseeing Iraq's reconstruction, delivered a grim report to the Commission on Wartime Contracting. Their assessment, along with testimony from Thomas Gimble of the Defense Department inspector general's office, laid out a history of poor planning, weak oversight and greed that soaked U.S. taxpayers and undermined American forces in Iraq.
Bowen, who has made 21 trips to Iraq since he was appointed in October 2004, said the U.S. has financed a wide array of projects in Iraq — from training the Iraqi army and police to rebuilding the country's oil, electric, justice, health and transportation sectors.
Some of these projects succeeded, Bowen told the commission at its first public hearing, but many did not. Violence in Iraq and constant friction between U.S. officials in Washington and Baghdad were also major factors that undercut progress.
A 456-page study by Bowen's office, "Hard Lessons: The Iraq Reconstruction Experience," reviews the problems in an effort the Bush administration initially thought would cost $2.4 billion.
The U.S. government "was neither prepared for nor able to respond quickly to the ever-changing demands" of stabilizing Iraq and then rebuilding it, said Bowen. "For the last six years we have been on a steep learning curve."
Overall, the Pentagon, State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development have paid contractors more than $100 billion since 2003 for goods and services to support war operations and rebuilding projects in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Congress created the bipartisan panel a year ago over the objections of the Bush White House, which complained the Justice Department might be forced to disclose sensitive information about investigations.
There are 154 open criminal investigations into allegations of bribery, conflicts of interest, defective products, bid rigging and theft in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait, said Gimble, the Pentagon's principal deputy inspector general.
Gimble noted that contracting scandals have gone on since the late 1700s when vendors swindled George Washington's army.
"Today, instead of empty barrels of meat, contractors produced inadequate or unusable facilities that required extensive rework," Gimble said. "Like the Continental Forces who encountered fraud, the (Defense Department) also encounters fraud."
Gimble's office found that a small number of inexperienced civilian or military personnel "were assigned far-reaching responsibilities for an unreasonably large number of contracts."
He cited an account tapped frequently by U.S. military commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan to build schools, roads and hospitals. More than $3 billion was spent on these projects, which were not always properly managed.
"In some instances, there appeared to be scant, if any, oversight of the manner in which funds were expended," Gimble said. "Complicating matters further is the fact that payment of bribes and gratuities to government officials is a common business practice in some Southwest Asia nations."
In "Hard Lessons," Bowen said his office found fraud to be less of a problem than persistent inefficiencies and hefty contractor fees that "all contributed to a significant waste of taxpayer dollars."
Styled after the Truman Committee, which examined World War II spending six decades ago, the eight-member panel has broad authority to examine military support contracts, reconstruction projects and private security companies.
In addition to examining flawed contracting, the commission will also study whether battlefield jobs handled by contractors such as aircraft maintenance and motor pools should be reserved for military and government employees.
The panel has until August 2010 to produce a final report. It can refer to the Justice Department any violations of the law it finds.
Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who pushed for formation of the commission, urged members to be aggressive and to hold people accountable.
"Harry Truman has been rolling in his grave for the last five years," said McCaskill, referring to the former Missouri senator (and later president) who led the Truman Committee. "A report is not going to be enough. You're going to need a two-by-four."

Germany to send troops to France as army ties deepen

PARIS - German troops will be stationed in France for the first time since World War Two when German forces occupied much of the country, a source said on Monday, a sign of ever closer military ties between the two historic foes.

A battalion of some 450-800 soldiers will probably be stationed near the northeastern city of Strasbourg, but France and Germany are still negotiating over the precise location, the diplomatic source told Reuters.

"The question of whether this will happen has basically been decided, it's now about the 'how' and 'how many' and 'where'," the source said.

Relations between Germany and France used to be bitterly hostile as a result of the 1870 Franco-German conflict and two world wars, but the former enemies now run a bi-national brigade and have shaped the core of Europe's joint defence strategy.

"The prospect of seeing German troops settle in France again regularly makes my grandfather splutter," wrote a French reader on the website of newspaper Liberation when the idea was first floated by President Nicolas Sarkozy last November.

For the online commentator it was something to welcome:

"What an extraordinary symbol of Franco-German reconciliation" read the post.

Sarkozy proposed the move amid negotiations over the future of the 5,000-strong French-German brigade, which has been on missions in Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan since it was founded 20 years ago.

The brigade's main units are currently stationed in the German towns of Donaueschingen, Muellheim and Immendingen. But their future looked uncertain after France said it would recall some of the troops to plug gaps left by military cutbacks and a strategic re-shuffle of regiments at home.

"Now we have to agree on a location and what kind of unit will be offered. Talks are taking place at the highest level," the source said.

The troops are likely to settle in Alsace or Lorraine, regions that were alternately claimed by Germany and France for centuries and now form part of France.

Germany favours the Alsatian towns of Colmar and Illkirch as a new home for its battalion, while France would prefer the towns of Metz or Bitche in Lorraine, but may be willing to settle on Illkirch, the source said.

Sarkozy and Merkel are expected to announce further details of the plan this weekend at a security conference in Munich, German media reported.

Clinton sworn in to new U.S. Post

Ironies pile up as Clinton sworn in to new U.S. post

WASHINGTON--The ironies and memories piled up fast on Monday when U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, with husband Bill Clinton at her side, was publicly sworn-in to her new post by Vice President Joe Biden.

"Never did I think, Madame secretary, that I would swear you in as secretary of state," said Biden, once considered a front-runner for the top diplomatic job until President Barack Obama tapped him as his number two.

"Never did I think I'd be sworn in as vice president," he said to laughter at a State Department ceremony attended by several hundred of Clinton's friends and colleagues as well as four former secretaries of state.

Clinton noted the strange twists of fate that led them there.

"For me this has been an amazing personal journey," said the former first lady, who was the early favourite for the Democratic presidential nomination last year until Obama beat her in a gruelling campaign.

Biden also ran for president last year, but bowed out after early losses to Clinton and Obama.

"As Joe laughingly referenced, neither one of us thought we would be standing here together doing what we are now doing. Life has that funny way of unfolding and politics is even stranger," she said.

Clinton placed her hand on a Bible held by her husband, the former president, as she repeated the oath administered by Biden. She was sworn in privately on January 21 after she was confirmed by the Senate.

She acknowledged four former secretaries of state who attended the ceremony -- Henry Kissinger, James Baker, Madeleine Albright and Lawrence Eagleburger -- and made special note of some of her colleagues from Congress there.

Clinton singled out Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, "who after all presided over my confirmation hearing."

"I look forward to working with all of you -- particularly the appropriators," she said, alluding to the powerful members of Congress who dole out money for the State Department and other government agencies.

Handful of extremists can’t take country hostage: President Zardari

ISLAMABAD: Urging the need for financial support from US, President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday made it clear that a handful of extremists cannot make the country hostage at any cost.
President Zardari expressed these views during a meeting with US congressional delegation in Aiwan-e-Sadr on Monday.
The delegation comprised Representatives John F. Tierney, George Miller, Chris Van Hollen, Chris Welch, Christopher Murphy and Ron Kind.
A. Rehman Malik, Advisor to PM on Interior, Shaukat Tarin, Finance Advisor, Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Anne W. Patterson, US Ambassador in Pakistan were also present in the meeting.
Sources told Online that a host of issues including war against terror, US drone attacks, bilateral relations and regional situation was discussed in depth in the meeting.
Sources said, the President made it clear to them that Pakistan has paid a heavy price in terms of life and property after becoming ally in the war against terrorism.
He made them realise that the war could not be won without the financial support of US.
Sources said the President pointed out that situation in Swat was not encouraging, adding "we have will and ability to fight out terrorists and we will use the strategy of minimum collateral damage."
President said US must immediately stop drone attacks "as they are proving counterproductive," adding US must safeguard the interests of Pakistan in war against terrorism.
He told the delegation that he anticipates that US President Barrack Obama to take positive measures regarding Pakistan's problems.
Meanwhile Chief Minister NWFP Amir Haider Khan Hoti also met President Asif Ali Zardari.
Hoti briefed President on various issues relating to security situation in Swat, government steps and others, sources say.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his assurance that government will not hold talks with miscreants

— An eye-opener for ANP-

PESHAWAR: Known for changing political parties, the resignation of Khwaja Muhammad Khan Hoti from federal cabinet was not a bolt from the blue. However, his criticism of the party policies is an eye-opener for the ANP leadership before awarding tickets to the novice and well-off candidates for Senate elections.According to a provincial office-bearer of the ANP, the party had received more than 60 applications for the upcoming Senate elections, majority of whom belonged to influential and resourceful families. Out of eleven vacant seats, the ANP is expected to win six in case it makes adjustment with independent MPAs and other parties.Taking a U-turn from its old track, the Awami National Party had awarded tickets to newcomers but wealthy candidates for 2008 general elections and after securing maximum seats in the province, the nationalist party then inducted resourceful politicians both in the federal cabinet as well as provincial cabinet. Ignoring experienced parliamentarians and diehard loyalists of the ANP like late Abdul Mateen Khan, Arbab Muhammad Zahir Khan, Muzafarul Mulk, Pir Haider Ali Shah and Pervez Khan in the federal cabinet from the ANP quota had earned a wide flak for the party leadership but the influential Nawabzada was given berth in the federal cabinet as federal minister for social welfare and special education in its first phase.Similarly, the ANP had preferred the newcomers to the old party activists in the NWFP cabinet whereas important portfolios were awarded to those who had either joined the party before the polls or after elections.The favour began with the nomination of Syed Masoom Shah as personal secretary to the NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti, who is serving political advisor to the chief minister. After having a long association with the students’ wing of the Pakistan People’s Party, Masoom Shah had joined former NWFP chief minister Aftab Sherpao when he formed his own faction of the PPP. However, he joined the ANP before 2008 elections and was awarded party ticket for PF-21 Charsadda where he lost to Sikandar Sherpao.NWFP Minister for Agriculture Arbab Ayub Jan had a track record of changing parties since coming into electoral politics in 1985. After switching over from PPP to ANP and then National Awami Party Pakistan (NAPP), Arbab Ayub Jan was the central president of the NAPP before re-joining the ANP. He contested the 2008 general elections on the ANP ticket and won. Provincial Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Barrister Arshad Abdullah had joined the ANP before general elections 2008 who had contested 2002 elections on the PPP ticket against Sangeen Wali Khan, son of Khan Abdul Wali Khan, on PF-18 Charsadda. He was fortunate enough to win elections on the ANP ticket and secure a berth in the provincial cabinet while superseding Bashir Umerzai and Fazl Ghafoor Khan — hailing from the same district who had been associated with the party since long.
Another lucky MPA Hidayatullah from Dir Upper district was blessed with a ministerial job. He was previously associated with the Jamaat-e-Islami. But when the JI boycotted the general elections, he applied for the ANP ticket, which he got. He won the elections. He is now Minister for Livestock in the NWFP cabinet.Provincial minister Qazi Asad from Haripur, Mian Nisar Gul Kakakhel from Karak and Amjad Afridi from Kohat had won 2008 elections in independent capacity but after joining the ruling ANP they were inducted in the provincial cabinet. Mian Nisar Gul had won the 2002 general elections from the platform of Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf but put his weight behind the MMA government for almost five years. Qazi Asad was elected to the provincial assembly on the PML-Q ticket in 2002 general elections but was re-elected to the NWFP Assembly in independent capacity and was inducted in the provincial cabinet as minister for higher education on the ANP quota. Likewise, the PPP had also accommodated those in the provincial cabinet on its quota who had either associated with other political parties in past or won the elections as independent candidates.

Pakistan army 'advances in Swat'

Pakistan's army says it has retaken high ground from Taleban militants in a district of the north-west where many civilians died in weekend fighting.Charbagh district near Mingora, the main town in Swat valley, has been the scene of a major battle since Saturday.Witnesses said five more bodies were found on Monday, taking the number of dead civilians since Saturday to 25.The clash is the latest in an operation against an increasingly powerful Taleban insurgency in the valley.The military launched its offensive last week in response to a public outcry over the Taleban's growing strength in Swat.The militants have tightened their hold on the scenic valley, banning girls' education, setting up their own courts and killing those they oppose, sometimes beheading their victims.
'Died down'
"There has been heavy fighting in the area, and the militants resisted fiercely, so civilian deaths cannot be ruled out," an official at the army's media centre in Mingora told the BBC on Monday.He said that security forces had retaken all strategic heights in the Charbagh area, but that fighting had died down for the moment.Witnesses in Charbagh said five more bodies, all of them of non-combatant residents, were discovered in the area on Monday morning.On Sunday, officials in Mingora confirmed that 20 civilians had been killed since Saturday night.The army also said on Sunday that at least 16 militants and two soldiers had been killed in the battle.Meanwhile, residents of Mingora's north-western suburban neighbourhood of Sangota reported seeing eight bodies whom local people had been unable to identify.
In Mingora's southern neighbourhood of Rahimabad, witnesses said a beheaded body of a policeman was found.Correspondents based in Mingora said thousands of people were moving out of Charbagh area to escape the fighting.In some cases the fleeing families were leaving behind their dead, they said.

American U.N. Official Is Abducted in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A senior United Nations official was abducted and his driver was killed Monday morning in the southwestern city of Quetta, according to United Nations and Pakistani officials.The United Nations identified the official as John Solecki, an American, who was heading the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan Province.“We are confirming that an unfortunate incident happened this morning when Mr. John Solecki was abducted,” Amena Kamal, the spokeswoman for the United Nations in Islamabad, said by telephone.Ron Redmond, the spokesman for the United Nations refugee office in Geneva also confirmed the abduction but gave no details. The agency has 49 staff members in Quetta, where it has worked since 1980. It provides support to some 400,000 Afghan refugees in 10 villages and camps, agency officials said.There were no immediate claims of responsibility.A Pakistani security official said that such a high-profile kidnapping was unusual in Quetta and that he believed that Mr. Solecki probably had been seized for ransom or by the Taliban.Mr. Solecki had been in Pakistan for about two years, Ms. Kamal said. She said he was headed to work Monday morning when his vehicle was intercepted by gunmen. The driver was shot during the abduction and died on the way to the hospital, she said.Television images showed the white Toyota vehicle of Mr. Solecki rammed against a wall by the roadside — apparently as a result of the driver losing control of the vehicle after it came under fire. The police cordoned off the street after the incident.
Ms. Kamal said there had been no prior threats.
United Nations officials said the aid agency was in touch with the Pakistani government to try to obtain Mr. Solecki’s release.Wazir Khan Nasir, an official in the Quetta police, was quoted by Pakistani television as saying that Mr. Solecki did not have armed guards with him.Baluchistan Province borders Afghanistan and it has seen a low-level insurgency spearheaded by nationalists who are demanding more autonomy and a greater share in the province’s natural resources.At the same time, the Taliban have also maintained their presence in several districts of the province, especially the border areas.

UN warns of massive exodus

RAWALPINDI, The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has projected that the situation in Swat valley and the tribal areas would aggravate during the year, causing a fresh displacement of up to 625,000 people.
“An analysis indicates that there is a significant likelihood of large-scale clashes and intensified military offensives throughout 2009, and possibly into 2010,” the study said.According to the OCHA’s “humanitarian response plan”, the displacement would exacerbate an “already complex humanitarian situation”.Population movements have been fluid and more constant in comparison with August; the conflict continues with no sign of abating.The situation in Swat district was particularly alarming, with areas under militant control receiving very little or no assistance. Large portions of Swat district remain under curfew or inaccessible to aid agencies.
The security situation creates constraints for the adequate delivery of assistance to the entire affected population. The situation in Swat district and Fata remains particularly challenging and off-limits for most humanitarian agencies, as military operations continue with parts of the area under de facto control of non-state actors, the report says.The OCHA has announced that an amount of $127 million will be required to assist newly displaced persons. With $29 million in funding available from original appeal for the Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan, this leaves an unmet requirement of $98 million for 2009, it explained in a statement.In Swat district, fighting is on the rise with 50 per cent of its 1.8 million inhabitants affected by the conflict and a large number of individuals displaced.Until now, 232,720 displaced people have been registered in nine districts of the NWFP.

CHITRAL: Protest against sale of stale chicken meat

CHITRAL: The residents of Chitral complained that stale and contaminated chicken meat was being sold in the Chitral bazaar in connivance with the food department officials and the local administration.Talking to this scribe on Saturday the residents said that the carcasses of the chicken were displayed in the open air exposed to dust and other contaminations. They expressed their apprehensions that the carcasses might also include the chicken, which had died on the way, while being transported from Afghanistan to Chitral via Arandu border.They said that only live chicken were to be sold in the market and according to the rules of the food department, it was forbidden to sell butchered chicken. They alleged that the food department was totally indifferent to its duties and was letting the vendors sell substandard meat to the people at exorbitant prices.They were of the view that the number of heart patients had increased manifold in the area over the recent time and the consumption of substandard meat was one of the reasons.Meanwhile, District Coordination Officer (DCO) Chitral Mutasim Billah Shah conducted a surprise raid of the Chitral bazaar here on Saturday and recovered thousands of bags of sugar, rice, pulses and urea fertilizers, which were being hoarded.

Hoti quits cabinet, says ANP betrayed Pakhtuns

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Narcotics Control Nawabzada Khawaja Mohammad Khan Hoti alias Toti Khan on Sunday announced to quit the cabinet in protest over the Awami National Party's (ANP) failure to honour its pledges made with the masses and leaving the people at the mercy of terrorists.
Addressing a packed press conference here, Khawaja Hoti said that ANP is responsible for the bloodshed of Pahktuns.
Hoti also complained that the problems of his constituency were not being taken into consideration, adding that even the provincial government did not take him into confidence in any matter of the province.
But Hoti said the decision of resignation was made in protest over poor law and order situation and rampant corruption in NWFP.
"I quit cabinet due to military operation in Swat, Hangu and FATA," he said, adding "Awami National Party has lost its control over the province and the masses are left at the mercy of terrorists."
Reacting to Hoti's allegations, ANP's central spokesperson Zahid Khan alleged that Khawaja Hoti had crossed the party lines so he should also give up the seat in the National Assembly.
Talking to media persons the ANP spokesman said: "We have the option to go to election commission if Hoti does not quit the National Assembly seat."
The spokesman said ANP was a disciplined party and has sufficient rules and regulations to deal with such cases of violation of party discipline.
He said the resigned minister was a member of party's all vital decision-making bodies. He never raised his concerns in party meetings.
Hoti has not yet conveyed the party about his resignation decision - verbally or in writing, Zahid said.
However Hoti denied the charges framed against him and said he never violated party norms and raised his voice against decisions in party he considered incorrect.
Hoti alleged that some elements of the party were hatching conspiracies against him in his constituency.
"False allegations are being levelled against me," he said.
"I am ready to quit National Assembly if someone proves allegations against me", he challenged.
that the problems of his constituency were also not being taken into consideration.
To a question he said: "I asked party chief Asfandyar Wali several times to take notice of the conspiracies against me but to no avail."
Reply to a question, Hoti said although his son Omar Farooq has joined PML-N, however "I can not even think to leave ANP."
"We failed to fulfil pledges which we made with the masses during elections campaign. "I would continue to raise voices for the people of my constituency in the National Assembly", he concluded.

Swat suffers one of deadliest days: 64 killed

CRUSH TALIBAN AND MULLAHS.



Food shortage hits the valley; hundreds of families migrate; Edhi suspends service as ambulance attacked.
MINGORA: In one of the deadliest days, women and children among 64 people were killed in troops shelling in different areas as security forces accelerated cannon fire against militants in the valley while people's exodus continued as hundreds of people migrated from the restive areas on Sunday.
According to an ISPR press release 16 millitants were killed in the past 24 hours, however Taliban sources confirmed the death of only two militants.
A medical technician and a dispenser were killed and six other hurt including a driver by the firing on unknown persons on the four Edhi ambulances carrying wounded people from Charbagh.
After the incident the Edhi Foundation suspended the aid service in the area which added to the miseries of people.
The security forces, backed by gunship helicopters, pounded suspected militants hideouts in Charbagh on Saturday night till Sunday morning.
However the locals alleged the onslaught mostly targeted the civilian areas.
The security forces have stepped up operations against militants in Swat following the visit of Chief of the Army Staff Ashfaq Pervez Kayani to the valley. The forces targeted the hideouts of the militants with artillery shelling in Charbagh, Matta, Mangalor and Kabal areas, sources in the military told the Statesman.
Two militants were killed in clashes between security forces and militants in Matta.
At lease nine people were killed by the gunship helicopters shelling in Chamaktai, Khwazakhela while five of a family died in Mangalwar.
Five other people were perished in Jokai area due to gunships shelling, locals said.
At least 21 dead bodies, including children and women, were retrieved from houses in Shaikh Pallu area of tehsil Charbagh which was targeted by the security forces on Saturday night.
The dead bodies could not be taken from the area due to imposition of curfew.
A dead body was found in Hazara area of Kabal, while a man was killed in shelling at the hideouts of militants.
A police constable was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Rahimabad.
The security forces are advancing towards Charbagh and upper areas.
Several houses were demolished due to shelling of security forces in Dehri area.
"A total 64 people were reportedly killed across the valley in Sunday's carnage, the deadliest since the operation launched in the valley," people say.
According to officials and people at least 80 percent areas of the district are under curfew for the last nine days due to which people face acute shortage of daily use items.
"People are dying for food in the curfew areas, let aside medical assistance," people who migrated to Mingora said.
Reportedly 300 children, aged between 5 to 8, are trapped in a madrassa in Manglawar, they said.
The exodus continued as dozens of families shifted from Charbagh and thousands of people have been displaced due to operation.
Witnesses said families using mountainous areas to reach Mingora and onward due imposition of curfew in most of the upper areas of the valley.
"Thousands of people have been migrated from the highland valley to other parts of the province in just two days," official sources said.
Official figures show seven lakh people have already left the valley of 17 lakh population.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has projected that the situation in Swat valley and the tribal areas would aggravate during the year, causing a fresh displacement of up to 625,000 people.
According to the OCHA's "humanitarian response plan", the displacement would exacerbate an "already complex humanitarian situation".
Population movements have been fluid and more constant in comparison with August; the conflict continues with no sign of abating.
The situation in Swat district was particularly alarming, with areas under militant control receiving very little or no assistance. Large portions of Swat district remain under curfew or inaccessible to aid agencies.
The OCHA has announced that an amount of $127 million will be required to assist newly displaced persons. With $29 million in funding available from original appeal for the Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan, this leaves an unmet requirement of $98 million for 2009, it explained in a statement.
In Swat district, fighting is on the rise with 50 per cent of its 1.8 million inhabitants affected by the conflict and a large number of individuals displaced, according to UN report.
Until now, 232,720 displaced people have been registered in nine districts of the NWFP.

Suicide bomber attacks foreign troops in Kabul

KABUL - A suicide bomber in a car attacked a convoy of foreign troops in the Afghan capital Sunday, but there was no immediate word on casualties, a police officer said. Taliban militants claimed responsibility for the attack.The bomber targeted the convoy in Kabul's western outskirts, said Gen. Zulmay Khan Horiyakheil, a regional police commander. It was not clear if the bomber hit the convoy. Representatives for NATO and U.S. troops said they were checking the report.A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahed, claimed responsibility for the blast in a phone call to an Associated Press reporter in Kabul.Insurgent regularly launch suicide attacks on foreign and Afghan troops throughout Afghanistan, but the number of such attacks in the capital has decreased over the past year.There are some 70,000 U.S. and other NATO troops in the country.U.S. President Barack Obama's administration has indicated it is likely to send 30,000 additional troops in hopes of turning the tide of Taliban gains, and extending the control of the central government into the far reaches of the country.

North Korea says two Koreas on path toward war

SEOUL- North Korea warned on Sunday that the downward spiral of relations with the South has pushed the peninsula to the brink of war, two days after it said it was scrapping all pacts with its rich capitalist neighbor.

Analysts say the rhetorical volleys are aimed at changing the hardline policies of the South's president and are meant to grab the attention of new U.S. President Barack Obama.

"The policy of confrontation with the DPRK (North Korea) pursued by the (South Korean) group is ... the very source of military conflicts and war between the North and the South," the North's official KCNA news agency reported a commentary in the communist party newspaper as saying.

"In Korea in the state of armistice confrontation means escalated tension and it may lead to an uncontrollable and unavoidable military conflict and a war," it said.

The states, technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended with a cease fire and not a peace treaty, have more than 1 million troops near their border. There are about 28,000 U.S. troops in South Korea to defend the country.

The North's bureaucracy works slowly to form policy and it may still be trying to figure out its approach with the new Obama team, analysts said, making it easier for Pyongyang to direct its anger at Washington's allies, including Seoul.

The North in recent months has repeatedly threatened to destroy the conservative government of President Lee Myung-bak, which ended a decade of free-flowing aid to Pyongyang after taking office a year ago.

Lee's government mostly ignores Pyongyang's taunts.

"North Korea's escalating threats do not indicate major hostilities are imminent," said Bruce Klingner, an expert on Korean affairs at the Heritage Foundation in Washington.

"However, they could easily presage another round of tactical naval confrontations with South Korea in the Yellow Sea."

The two Koreas fought deadly naval skirmishes in disputed Yellow Sea waters off the west coast in 1999 and 2002.

North Korea has clamped down on it border with the South in recent months and has canceled cooperation deals reached during a period of detente in the past few years before Lee came to power.

The deals included reunions for separated families and running trains across the heavily guarded border.

The latest move follows comments by a U.S. national security official that the secretive state's leader, Kim Jong-il, appeared to have rebounded politically from his recent health scare and is making major decisions.

Kim inspected a military unit and a power plant at the weekend, KCNA said, with Kim noting "the (North) Korean people are ready to flatten even a mountain and empty even a sea at one go when called for by the Party.

Israel hits Hamas targets in Gaza

Israeli aircraft have bombed a Hamas security target in Gaza City and tunnels used by the militant group along the border with Egypt.

There were no reports of casualties after the strikes late on Sunday.

Israeli PM Ehud Olmert earlier vowed a "disproportionate" response to rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza.

He was speaking soon after at least two rockets hit southern Israel. Later three Israelis were injured in a mortar barrage by Palestinian militants.

Late on Sunday, Israeli aircraft carried out a strike on an empty Hamas police station in Gaza City, Palestinian witnesses say.

They say the building had been vacated after an Israeli warning to residents to leave the area.

Palestinians also reported explosions in Rafah on the Gaza-Egypt border, where Hamas operates tunnels to smuggle in weapons and food.

The Israeli army has so far made no comments.

Abbas criticism

Two weeks ago, Israel and Hamas - which controls Gaza - declared separate truces ending a three-week conflict.

Palestinian Authority and Hamas officials are gathering in Cairo for talks aimed at boosting the ceasefires.

An adviser to Ismail Haniya, who heads the Hamas government in Gaza, told AFP news agency the militant group was waiting for Israel's response to a truce offer, transmitted by Egypt, adding that things were "moving in a positive direction".

The Egyptians have been leading efforts to broker a permanent ceasefire by holding separate talks with officials from Israel and Hamas.

But Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas told journalists in Cairo that talks were impossible with anyone who rejected the supremacy of the Palestine Liberation Organisation - in an apparent reference to Hamas's leadership.

He also accused Hamas of having "taken risks with the blood of Palestinians, with their fate, and dreams and aspirations for an independent Palestinian state".

Civilian casualty

Israel wants the rocket attacks to end and wants to prevent militants in Gaza from being able to rearm.

Hamas wants the border crossings into Gaza to be fully opened to end a 18-month blockade of Gaza.

Speaking at the weekly Israeli cabinet meeting, Mr Olmert warned Israel would respond forcefully to renewed rocket fire.

"We've said that if there is rocket fire against the south of the country, there will be a disproportionate Israeli responce to the fire on the citizens of Israel and its security forces," he said.

"The response will come at the time, the place and the manner that we choose."

His strong stance was echoed by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defence Minister Ehud Barak.

Soon afterwards, militants fired mortars at an Israeli village near the Gaza border, injuring two soldiers and a civilian.

The civilian casualty is the first since the 18 January ceasefires which ended Israel's three-week assault on Gaza, which it said was aimed at stopping rocket attacks.

Earlier, a rocket landed between two nursery schools in Eshkol region of southern Israel, media reports said.

On Saturday, a rocket fired from Gaza exploded near the Israeli city of Ashkelon, with no casualties reported, and at least two were fired in the days before.

The ceasefires, independently declared by each side, have been violated several times.

An Israeli soldier was killed in a bomb attack on the Gaza border last Tuesday. Israel responded with air raids and a brief ground incursion by soldiers and tanks.

About 1,300 Palestinians and 10 Israeli soldiers were killed in Israel's devastating three-week assault on Gaza. Three Israeli citizens died in rocket attacks.

Curtain going down on cinema culture in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: Curtains seems to be coming down on the cinema culture in the provincial metropolis, as the number of cine-goers has dropped by nearly 50 percent due to the surging militancy and other problems, a survey conducted by Daily Times showed on Sunday.Earlier, the city had around 14 cinemas; however their number has now come down to 10, as the cinema owners are razing their buildings and constructing commercial plazas.The remaining cinemas are attracting few visitors, as incidents of bombing, suicide attacks, torching and bombing of CD shops and threats to art related activities have scared the general public across the province.At present, most of the cinemas in the city are screening Pashto films, while some are showing English and Urdu films.Sabrina and Arshad Cinemas, Khyber Bazaar, are screening Pashto films but the visitors were thin in presence on Sunday showing lack of public interest in movies.Palwasha Cinema was demolished a few years ago and a multi-storey commercial complex is nearing completion in its place.Cinema Road that runs on the backside of Khyber Bazaar got its name due to location of three cinemas on its stretch. Novelty Cinema was closed down for construction of a commercial plaza, while Tasveer Mahal and Picture House are still operating, but the numbers of visitors has declined.Naz Cinema, Hospital Road, was closed on Sunday, while Firdous Cinema, Grand Trunk (GT) Road; and Capital Cinema, Sadder; were screening a Pushto and Urdu film respectively on Sunday.The buildings of these cinemas are ramshackle lacking proper paint and other facilities for the visitors.Shama Cinema, Pajjagi Road, and PAF Cinema are also screening films. The latter is mostly visited by the armed forces personnel.Adeeb, an employee of Picture House, told Daily Times that the number of visitors had dropped by 50 percent over the past few years due to militancy, computer CDs and rising inflation. He was of the view that most of the cine-goers were labourers or those who had no other source of entertainment.He said cable TC and computer CDs had played havoc with the cinema houses. He said screening of Indian films by some cinemas had also failed to attract people.Home of some of the greatest Bollywood stars including Dilip Kumar, Kapoor family and Shahrukh Khan, Peshawar got its first cinema after World War-I which is nowadays known as PAF Cinema.Later, Cinema de Paris and Deluxe followed. Novelty came into being in 1930 and Capital and Lansdowne (later Falaksair) in 1934. Falaksair was demolished in 2007.

Afghan Opium Poppy Production Expected to Fall

The United Nations says that production of opium poppies in Afghanistan is likely to decrease this year. The country remains the world's largest producer of opium. The drug trade is a major source of revenue for Taliban insurgents and is also increasing official corruption in Afghanistan.

U.N and Afghan officials say that low prices of opium and high prices of wheat flour along with drought and pressure from the government have brought down poppy cultivation in most of Afghanistan in 2008.

Releasing findings of an annual winter survey at a news conference in Kabul, top U.N representative for Afghanistan Kai Eide anticipated a further decrease in opium cultivation this year. He says that out of 34 Afghan provinces the number of opium-free provinces could rise from 18 to 22 because of the effected anti-drugs campaign.


UN envoy to Afghanistan, Kai Eide (file photo)
"That means that poppy production is no longer in Afghanistan wide problem but it is a problem that is mainly limited to a small number of provinces in the South," said Kai Eide. "And also in the South there are prospects for a significant reduction, which will be a major blow to those who are behind the opium industry."

The top U.N representative urged international donors to bring in additional resources that will help the Afghan government to ensure that reduction in poppy cultivation leads to development in Afghanistan. He says that poppy production has increased in Afghanistan every year since 2002 but now a major reduction is within reach and this year could be a turning point.

"This prognosis must be seen as opening a window of opportunity to deal the poppy industry a significant blow," he said. "But that window of opportunity must be really used effectively by the government and by the donors. And if we do not make full use of that opportunity we could face a backlash soon rather than further progress."

The U.N report says that the price of opium has fallen by about 20 percent over the last year mainly due to overproduction during the past three years. It says that the high price of wheat was the main reason farmers cited for not growing poppies this year.

In the wake of increased insurgent attacks around the country, NATO defense ministers at a meeting in October authorized troops in Afghanistan to launch direct attacks on the drugs trade. But so far there have been no public reports of this order being implemented.

Afghan anti-narcotics minister, General Khodaided, while addressing Sunday's news conference, reiterated that assistance from foreign forces in anti-drugs efforts could be of vital importance.

"NATO forces or coalition forces must take part in interdiction," said Khodaided. "They must hit the convoys of the enemy because drug dealers, drug traffickers, terrorism and al-Qaida; they are the same, they are the enemies of Afghanistan"

Afghanistan's seven key drug producing provinces in the south and southwest produced 98 percent of the country's total output in 2008. The Taliban-led insurgency is most active in these areas.

The United Nations estimates the total export value of last year's poppy crop to have been nearly $3.5 billion. It says that taxes on farmers and traffickers might have helped Taliban insurgents collect up to $500 million.

Pakistan: 43 civilians die in Taliban crossfire

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- At least 43 civilians were killed Sunday when they were caught in the crossfire between Pakistani forces and Taliban militants, a Pakistani military official said.

The official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the incident happened in Charbagh, a district of Swat Valley in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province.

The mountainous Swat Valley region used to be a popular destination for tourists and skiers, but today it is a Taliban stronghold.

The Pakistani government and the army have come under criticism in recent weeks for allowing the security situation in Swat to deteriorate in the past few months. Islamabad has said there are plans for a new strategy to fight the Taliban, but they have yet to offer details.

The Taliban are imposing their strict brand of Islamic law in the region -- banning music, forbidding men from shaving, and not allowing teenage girls to attend school.

Government officials say the Taliban have torched and destroyed more than 180 schools in the Swat region. Many families have fled the area, and have been followed by many Pakistani police officers who are too scared to take on Taliban forces, a Pakistani army spokesman told CNN last week.

The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 1996 -- harboring al Qaeda leaders, including Osama bin Laden -- and ruled it until they were ousted from power in 2001 after the September 11 attacks on the United States. Since then, the Taliban have regrouped and are currently battling U.S. and NATO-led forces.

U.S. President Barack Obama has called Afghanistan the "central front" in the war on terror and has promised to make fighting extremism there, and in neighboring Pakistan, a foreign policy priority. He is expected to send as many as 30,000 additional U.S. troops to battle Taliban forces.

Richard Holbrooke, the administration's new envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, is scheduled to make his first trip to the region this week.

SWAT VALLEY TRAGEDY

BECAUSE OF CRUEL,IGNORANT,THUGS AND CRIMINAL TALIBAN PEOPLE IN SWAT ARE SUFFERING.

The real Afghan problem

Peshawar police launch operation against militants

PSYCHO TALIBAN...
PESHAWAR: Backed by armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and artillery, the capital city police on Saturday kicked off an operation in areas bordering the troubled Mohmand Agency, arresting 15 militants.Also, unidentified miscreants fired 10 rockets at Adezai village near Darra Adamkhel.Encouraged by a change in strategy of the Army in Swat, large contingents of the police and the security forces moved forward in Bari Koroona, Bela, Mohmandan, Mathra and Qilla Shah Baig early on Saturday to push the militants back. Militants had sneaked into this part of the provincial capital from the Mohmand Agency and the area had become a “no-go zone”, with militants in large numbers operating there for the past many months.“During the operation, the forces arrested at least 15 militants, identified as Malik Shad, Naeem, Said, Lal Rahim, Riaz Khan, Abdul Wali, Tawab Sher, Fazal Rahim, Rahim Sher, Sultan Sher, Fazal Maula, Jamroz, Tahir, Javed and Obaidullah,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP-Operations) Abdul Ghafoor Afridi told reporters. The deputy city police chief said a crackdown would be launched in other areas against all those posing a threat to peace in the provincial metropolis. Earlier, militants fired 10 rockets at the residence of Abdul Malik, the Nazim of Adezai Union Council, located close to the turbulent Darra Adamkhel.

PAKISTAN'S RICH POLITICIANS OF POOR COUNTRY

Richest and poorest senators: Country’s leaders divided between rich and poor
Swati appears to be richest senator with billions of rupees in assets * JUI-F senator among poorest leaders with Rs 30,000 in account......
ISLAMABAD: The returns filed before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) by the country’s senators have revealed a glaring contrast among the country’s leaders, as some have declared themselves in crippling debt, while others have declared assets worth billions of rupees.

Jamiat-e-Ulema-Fazl (JUI-F) Senator and Science and Technology Minister Azam Swati appears to be the richest with properties worth billions of rupees abroad. In his details, Swati has declared immovable assets of Rs 247.60 million in Pakistan and $1.640 million in the US. He also has two under-construction towers in the UAE that have been valued at 12 million dirhams and property worth 8 million UAE dirhams. He also owns millions of dollars and other foreign currency accounts in foreign and local banks. However, he has liabilities of $1.1 million payable to US banks as loans.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Ishaq Dar is also among the declared wealthy senators. His immovable property in Pakistan is estimated at Rs 49.50 million, while he owns a villa in the UAE valued at 7.04 million dirhams. His movable assets include four vehicles; two of them Mercedes. He also has millions in movable assets of investments and bank accounts. There is no liability on Dar.

Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Javed Ashraf Qazi has declared immovable properties worth Rs 19.1 million in addition to Rs 6.090 million movable properties. He also has deposits worth millions in local and foreign currency accounts. Senator Talha Mahmood of the JUI-F has declared immovable property, including three houses and a plot at Rs 500 million with Rs 114 million in movable assets. His liabilities stand at Rs 150 million. PML-Q Secretary General Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed has declared Rs 35,000 in his own assets while the remained of property, including 50 acres of agricultural land; 600 yards plot and a luxury house in Islamabad are either owned by his wife or shared by his two brothers. A Suzuki car worth 0.3 million is also owned by his wife.

JUI-F Secretary General Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haideri has a house and plot worth Rs 0.4 million and 0.15 million, respectively along with furniture valued at Rs 0.1 million only. He has declared no other assets.

Ratna Bhagwandas Chawla, a female senator elected on the minorities seat, has no immovable property. However, she has loans and advances worth Rs 147 million. She possesses Rs 2.409 million in her bank accounts and deposits.

Poorest: Senator Maulana Gul Naseeb is also amongst the poorer members, with only Rs 30,000 in his bank account. He has no other movable or immovable property

Karzai to visit Pakistan shortly

PESHAWAR: President Hamid Karzai will soon pay a visit to Pakistan, the Afghan foreign ministry spokesman said Saturday.The spokesman, Sultan Ahmad Baheen, told Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) that the Afghan president would soon visit Pakistan on the invitation of President Asif Ali Zardari.Asked whether the visit of Afghan Foreign Minister Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta to Islamabad had any link with President Karzai’s trip to Pakistan, Baheen said: “Mr Spanta visited Pakistan to work out modalities and set the agenda for President Karzai’s visit.” The spokesman said there were two important items on the agenda including the joint efforts against terrorism and enhancement of cooperation between the two countries at regional and international level.Meanwhile, a British soldier was killed during a Taliban attack in the Musa Qala district in Helmand province Saturday. This brought to 143 the number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan since deployment of the troops from Britain in the country. A total of 22 foreign soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan during the month of January in 2009.According to the AIP, a pro-government tribal elder Haji Payanda Khan was killed in a firing incident involving foreign troops in Urgun district in Paktika province. The Paktika governor’s spokesman, Hamidullah Zwak, said the foreign forces had regretted their mistake for killing the tribal elder. Meanwhile, the Governor of Wardak province, Abdul Halim Fidai, survived a bomb explosion in Ambukhak area in Chak district. He was travelling with members of the provincial council when his car was hit by a landmine. Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack and its spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said occupants of the vehicle were killed and that the Governor had been injured.

50 million could be jobless: ILO

NEW YORK: Two years of global financial and economic meltdown could leave over 50 million more people unemployed by the end of 2009, risking social unrest, the International Labour Organization warned.New estimates indicate that "global unemployment in 2009 could increase over 2007 by a range of 18 million to 30 million workers, and more than 50 million if the situation continues to deteriorate," the ILO said in a statement.That could raise the world's jobless total to 198 million, or 230 million people in the worst case scenario, according to the figures in the ILO's report, "Global Employment Trends 2009".In 2007, some 179 million people were out of work, according to the report.Officials were more inclined to a middle range scenario of 30 million job losses for 2007-2009, raising the worldwide unemployment tally to 210 million. That could propel the global unemployment rate to an average of 6.5 per cent, or 7.1 per cent in the worst case, for this year, against 5.7 percent in 2007.
The report indicated that 190 million people were jobless by the end of 2008 after 11 million jobs were shed around the world last year alone, based on a combination of official national data and estimates. The ILO figures indicated that developed economies would be hit the hardest with the fastest rise in unemployment rates, from an average of 5.7 per cent in 2007 up to 6.6-7.9 percent in 2009.The report estimated that last year the developed economies and European Union failed to create jobs in 2008, while unemployment picked up sharply to 6.2 per cent, ending five consecutive years of decline.But East Asia, which had the lowest regional unemployment rate at 3.5 per cent in 2007, was forecast to experience a jump to 4.5-5.5 percent in a year.
The crisis could also push another 200 million workers into extreme poverty as they eke out a living in informal, underpaid and unstable work, especially in Africa and South Asia, the ILO predicted.

Kabul faces crisis over election delay

KABUL (NNI): Afghanistan could soon face a constitutional crisis, with Hamid Karzai's term as president of the war-torn country due to expire before new elections are held. The president's term ends in May under the constitution, but the Independent Election Commission said last week that polls could not be organised in time because of snow-blocked roads and security concerns, reports Financial Times. Mirwais Yasini, deputy parliamentary spokesman, said elections were unlikely to be held until after Ramadan in September, potentially opening a months-long period of uncertainty about who will be in charge. Although the country's 2004 muddled constitution leaves open the possibility of delaying elections because of unfavourable conditions, it does not address what would happen to the presidency during such time. Opposition politicians, unhappy that the election will be delayed, believe Karzai should relinquish power to a caretaker president. The constitution would suggest Sibghatullah Mojadedi, speaker of the upper house of parliament, but he has not been in good health. "There should be a provisional administration and an acting president appointed, who should be chosen by a decision of both houses of parliament and prominent national figures," said Burhanuddin Rabbani, a former president who now heads the United National Front, the country's largest opposition group. John Dempsey, a lawyer who heads up the US Institute of Peace in Kabul, said the politicians opposing Mr Karzai had a "plausible legal argument". "Whether or not Karzai stays in office beyond that [May] date, or whether a caretaker government takes over, the government could very well be facing a legitimacy crisis in the summer," he said. The spring and summer is traditionally when Taliban attacks escalate and the new US administration will be ramping up its efforts to turn round the deteriorating situation in the country. Added to this, the International Institute for Strategic Studies warned in a report that presidential elections this year would take place "amid rising violence and with a government that is unable to exert its authority in the provinces". "Against this background there is a risk that it will not be possible to hold elections; or voter turnout may be below the minimum necessary for the ballot to be valid. The integrity of the whole international mission in Afghanistan is therefore very substantially at stake." Humayun Hamidzada, a presidential spokesman, said the constitution allowed for the president to remain in office until after elections were held. "The people who say otherwise are playing at politics and are not taking account of what is in the national interest or the realities in the country." The president's office is believed to be considering seeking a Supreme Court decision to back its constitutional interpretation.

Militants getting weapons form Afghanistan: IG FC

ISLAMABAD: Inspector General Frontier Corps NWFP Maj. Gen. Tariq Khan has said that militants in SWAT and tribal areas are getting arms and financial assistance from Afghanistan. He told the Senate Committee for Defence that foreign hand was involved in worsening situation in Swat, FATA and other tribal areas.Khan said the government has approved induction of 7000 men into FC, as well as the pay scale has been brought upto that of Army scale, in order to fight militants and terrorism in the affected area. He said miscreants from Afghanistan, in connivance with local militants, were attacking forces in Pakistan. Media’s role to that regard was not appreciable, he said.

Protest in Peshawar against Wapda, Nadra

Protest in Peshawar against Wapda, Nadra
PESHAWAR: Residents of Union Council Kakshal-I, Peshawar, staged a demonstration against Wapda and Nadra here on Friday to decry the alleged non-cooperative attitude of the staff concerned.The demonstration was staged outside the Peshawar Press Club. The demonstrators were holding banners and placards inscribed with their demands and slogans against the relevant authorities. Kakshal Nazim Arshad Tandar and Naib Nazim Ibrahim Khan led the demonstrators.Addressing the demonstrators, they said area people were facing numerous problems due to Wapda and Nadra officials, who allegedly had an uncaring attitude. They said continuous and unannounced power loadshedding had multiplied the problems of residents, while excessive bills had hit the people hard.
The speakers also demanded transfer of the SDO of Kohat Road subdivision. The peakers flayed the attitude of the Nadra officials, alleging that despite attestation of documents from Nazim or MPA, the Nadra officials were not issuing the CNICs. They said the same was the case with the Passport Office staff.They demanded of the officials to issue the CNICs and passports to those who had completed the requirements. The demonstration disrupted the traffic as the demonstrators marched towards the press club from Kakshal, obstructing the flow of traffic. The vehicles were moving at snail’s pace, as the marchers did not allow the motorists to move on the busy Sher Shah Suri Road.

Erdogan Confronts Peres at the World Economic Forum

TURKISH PM RETURNS AS A HERO

Afghan Foreign Minister in Islamabad

Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta,has met with top Pakistani officials in Islamabad to discuss issues that affect both countries ahead of a visit by the new U.S. special envoy.The Pakistani foreign ministry says visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta met with his Pakistani counterpart, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. The ministry says they expressed readiness to strengthen their cross-border cooperation on fighting terrorism and militancy.The new U.S. envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, will visit South Asia next week as the Obama administration reviews its policy on the Afghan conflict.A statement from Pakistan's foreign ministry says Qureshi hopes what it called a "military surge" in Afghanistan will be paired with a politically and developmentaly-oriented surge.The United States says it is boosting its troop strength in Afghanistan by some 30,000 soldiers.

Afghan Foreign Minister in Islamabad

Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta, 9 Jul 2008Afghanistan's foreign minister has met with top Pakistani officials in Islamabad to discuss issues that affect both countries ahead of a visit by the new U.S. special envoy.The Pakistani foreign ministry says visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta met with his Pakistani counterpart, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. The ministry says they expressed readiness to strengthen their cross-border cooperation on fighting terrorism and militancy.The new U.S. envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, will visit South Asia next week as the Obama administration reviews its policy on the Afghan conflict.A statement from Pakistan's foreign ministry says Qureshi hopes what it called a "military surge" in Afghanistan will be paired with a politically and developmentaly-oriented surge.The United States says it is boosting its troop strength in Afghanistan by some 30,000 soldiers.

Pakhtunkhwa vs PML(N)

M Waqar
It is funny to read the statements of PML(N) leaders from Hazara over the name Pakhtunkhwa. Let me remind the PML(N) group that Nawaz Sharif is not a national leader and PML(N) should not forget that for getting ANP support when Nawaz was the Prime Minister, he promised ANP to rename NWFP as Pakhtunkhwa. These leaders from Punjab should remember that Pakistan is already at the edge of collapse because of stone age barbarians, Taliban. Today Pakhtun's blood is spilling in Swat and brave Army of Pakistan is afraid to kill these monsters of Swat valley who are denying education to Pakhtun girls, who are destroying our schools, who wants to impose their views on majority of people, who wants to live in peace and improve their lives. It is really shameful and tragic that none of these so-called politicians of PML(N) ever said anything against Taliban activities in Swat valley but they are worried about the name of Pakhtunkhwa, I don't think these so-called politicians have any moral values, today Valley of Swat is burning. Ignorant and criminal Taliban are busy killing Pakhtun people who oppose them. Many innocent people have been killed in most inhuman ways after being termed as spy. Whoever tries to resist in any manner in this area against the norms imposed by these militants is termed as an agent/spy. There are many reports that identify people beheaded and hanged on trees and poles at the unfortunate Grain chowk now identified as Khooni Chowk. Is it Islam? What these politicians of PML(N) think about these tragic events, what so-called religious leaders like Fzal and Qazi think about it? It's not the people of Hazara who are opposing the name of Pakhtunkhwa, it's the PML (N) of Nawaz brothers who are trying to divide people of this great province. Gen. Ayub Khan was born in Rehana village in Haripur District, NWFP, into a family of the Tareen tribe, The Tareens are a prominent Pashtun tribe residing in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The tribe have an influence on politics in Haripur District and Hazara area of the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan, The principal language of Tareens is Pashto, which proves that people of Hazara are group of Pakhtons even if they speak different language than Pashto. On the other hand anyone who talks about the so-called referendum on this issue then they should have referendum whether Pakhtuns want to continue to live with Pakistan or Afghanistan. It seems like politicians of PML(N) are generating a new issue of hate and divide in this province. Let's not make it a political issue. One should not politicize an issue for own interests. I see no reason for denying Pukhtoons the legitimate name of their province on the grounds that this will increase ethnic tension. On the contrary, if anything, it will defuse the existing tension. Let's not forget what happened to East Pakistan when West Pakistan denied them their right of Bengali language. The problem is Pakistani politicians never learn from history. These politicians need to understand that Pakistan's imposition of Urdu on East Pakistan was a mistake. It seems like some opportunist politicians of PML(N) in the province are trying to create political tension over Pakhtunkhwa. People in Pakhtunkhwa wants to be recognized as a nationality in their own right and for this they want their living place to be named as Pakhtunkhwa. Why can Punjabis have Punjab, Sindhis Sindh , Baluchis Balochistan, but Pukhtoons can't have Pakhtunkhwa ? Why Pukhtoon are being treated like occupied Palestine who will breakaway at the first chance? and if do decide to break off , trust me with all its might, Pakistan can't prevent that. Pakistan couldn't beat Bengalis into submission and it can never force Pakhtun into submission. Its stupid that some people who consider themselves super patriotic imply that Pakhtuns are any less patriotic than themselves. Let me remind those self-declared super Pakistanis that Punjab did not have any option except joining Pakistan. Punjab had to chose between joining Pakistan. But we Pakhtun had a choice to join our brothers in Afghanistan, with whom we share not only our ancestry but our culture, our history, our tradition, and our language, but Pakhtuns decided to stay with Pakistan . How can someone from Punjab or Sindh or any other part of Pakistan give us a lecture on patriotism? I think these people are the one who needs a lesson in patriotism, because by suppressing minorities' right and denying them their identity they are weakening Pakistan not Pukhtoons. Its tragic that Pakistani politicians did not learn any lesson from history. Bengalis were at the forefront in the struggle for Pakistan but when Pakistan suppressed them and denied them their rights and their identity what happened? We all know the end result. By calling Bengalis traitors because they demanded their rights they were converted into traitors. Alas we could learn from history because if we don't, history is doomed to repeat itself. Acceptance of history is a good sign, no wonder, but learning no lesson from it is unforgivable. Pease someone help me to understand how renaming NWFP is gonna break Pakistan or divide people in this province? and please don't give me the crap about patriotism and Islamic unity. What's wrong with Pukhtoons having their identity in Pakistan like Punjabis, Sindhis, and Baluchis? Its the politicians who are making mess over the name not the people living in this province. Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan are border provinces too why they are not called ,east-south, north-east or south-west provinces. Why these are calles with identity of race residing in that territory? We are unanimous on one thing that people from this province are all Pathan if all are not Pashtun. So please take back the British name and give us our own name. The usage of Pakhtunkhwa in Pakhto poetry dates back to the middle ages. The word is a combination of two words - that is Pakhtun and Khwa. Pakhtun or Pashtun is a noun while Khwa means side. Culturally there is no doubt that the land was called Pakhtunkhwa in Pakhto literature since 15th century. The word Pakhtunkhwa was also used in the modern poetry by contemporary poets like Qalandar Momand (1930-2003) long before it was suggested as the nomenclature for the NWFP. The name NWFP is certainly a misnomer today since it does not satisfy the aspirations of the people of the province. Three of the four provinces, the Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan, got their own identity either through their environment or inhabitants. But the NWFP has been named neither after the historical and cultural background of the inhabitants nor derived its name from environment. Since the name (NWFP) does not reflect the true ethnic identity of its inhabitants, therefore a demand for its change is a logical consequence but unfortunately the matter has been turned into a controversial issue again by so-called politicians. Those opposing the word Pakhtunkhwa argue that the name will not represent non-Pashto speaking population of the province. The argument is unjustified and impractical. There is hardly any country in the world which does not have ethnic minorities. Even in Pakistan; Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan have large number of people who do not speak the language their names ostensibly suggest. The 74 percent population of NWFP speaks Pashto as mother language in present day NWFP and the proportion will greatly increase when FATA will ultimately be merged in the province. Choosing a proper name for the province is the fundamental right of its residents. It would help strengthen the federation besides removing the sense of deprivation among people of the smallest province of the country. It is time that politicians belonging to different factions of Muslim League too come out of their mindset and start objectively treating the demands the smaller provinces. It will help us build a stronger and more vibrant federation. Instead of debating again and again over this issue, politicians are wasting their time, they should either spend their time on development of this province or quit politics. There is no need to challenge the Pakhtunkhwa issue as it has been passed with overwhelming majority in the provincial assembly, members of this assembly should discuss how to solve the problems in this province. Renaming the NWFP province to Pakhtunkhwa has a long political history in Pakistan. Pakhtoons and nationalist groups, which are passionate about naming their inhabited land after their identity as Pukhtoons, have been demanding the change of the province's name for decades. But a number of political groups and opportunist politicians are not in favour of calling NWFP as Pakhtunkhwa and they are trying to divide people in Pakhtunkhwa. These members of assembly should be discussing creating jobs, hiring police officers, opening new schools, colleges and universities, hospitals and providing clean water and electricity to their voters and keeping province safe, rid Province of violence and terror, generate productive employment for youth, provide education, healthcare, and bring progress to the doorstep of workers, farmers and small businesses, elimination of child labor etc. These are the issues people for which people have elected these assembly members to solve.

Thousands welcome Turkish PM in Istanbul on his return from Davos

Thousands of people gathered in Istanbul's Ataturk Airport to welcome Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on his return from Davos early on Friday. (UPDATED)

Erdogan had stormed out of an angry debate on the Gaza war with Israel's President Shimon Peres at the Davos forum on Thursday. Erdogan said his reaction targeted the moderator who, he said, did not give him floor to speak.

Turkey harshly criticized Israel over its Gaza operation which left more than 1,300 people killed.

People chanted slogans and carried banners read as "The Leader of the World", "Turkey is proud of you," in a bid to extent support to Erdogan's reaction. The crowd carried Turkish and Palestinian flags.

Erdogan's plane has landed in Istanbul Ataturk Airport. He addressed the crowd and held a press conference after his arrival.

Istanbul Mayor, Kadir Topbas from Erdogan's Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP), arrived in the airport to extent his backing to the prime minister.

The road in front of Erdogan's residence in Istanbul was covered with red carnations.

The Istanbul Municipality had extended the operation hours of underground until 3.00 a.m. and the line to the airport is free for the passengers.

EU anti-terrorist chief urges EU help for Pakistan police

BRUSSELS: The European Union's anti-terror chief urged E.U. nations Thursday to help bolster Pakistan's police force and justice system, which he said was a key to defeating terrorism there.
"This country is faced with very, very serious security problems," the E.U.'s counter-terrorism co-ordinator, Gilles de Kerchove, told members of the European Parliament.
"The government needs our support, economic support of course, but also in terms of security," he told the assembly's security and defence subcommittee in Brussels. "The needs for this are huge."
He said the security problem was most acute in the largely lawless tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, but also in the Punjab region, whose militants he described as even "more sophisticated".
De Kerchove, who recently returned from a visit to Pakistan, said that while the army could capture extremists, it had trouble stopping them returning to action.
"The military are not trained for that," he said. "They really need to move toward a law enforcement approach."
"Most of the terrorists arrested last year have been released for lack of evidence," he said. "The justice aspect should not be overlooked, and I hope to convince member states to increase assistance to actively help Pakistan."
The European Commission is to send an expert mission to Pakistan, in the late European spring or summer, to examine what the E.U. can do to help improve police forensics and crime scene analysis.
The E.U. is also debating how it can help Pakistan better confront security problems through the possible use of European development funds and assistance to the media.