Dr. Fai’s arrest is conspiracy to appease India

Pakistan, US hold fence-mending talks in London February 23, 2012

LONDON – The Obama administration is ‘ready to get back to business’ with Pakistan after a three-month freeze in relations, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told her Pakistani counterpart during a meeting here Thursday. Talking to reporters hours after the meeting, Clinton called for the resumption of a full range of formal contact […]

Agencies

America backs Pakistan integrity: Congressmen February 23, 2012

ISLAMABAD - The United States fully supports Pakistan’s security and territorial integrity and both the Republicans and Democrats are against the resolution tabled by an individual on Balochistan. These views were expressed at a meeting of US Congressional delegation led by Congressman David Dreier Chairman, House Democracy Partnership and Chairman Hou […]

APP

Car bomb kills 13 at Peshawar bus stop February 23, 2012

PESHAWAR – At least 13 persons were killed and 35 others injured when a powerful car bomb blast ripped through a bus terminal on Thursday. The attack happened on the road towards Kohat. “The death toll in the car bomb blast has now risen to 13 while more than 35 have been wounded,” a police official said. The explosive material was planted […]

Nader Buneri

Govt offers olive branch to Baloch February 23, 2012

ISLAMABAD – In a goodwill gesture and to pave the way for talks with the self-exiled Baloch dissidents, Interior Minister Rehman Malik Thursday announced withdrawal of all the criminal cases against the disgruntled Baloch leaders, including top separatists Harbiyar Mari and Barhamdagh Bugti. Malik said all the cases, except one against Mr Marri, will b […]

Imran Mukhtar

Plane crashes into Lahore house; two dead February 23, 2012

LAHORE - A teenage trainee pilot and his female instructor were found dead, shortly after a two-seater airplane on a training flight crashed in the porch of a house, situated in the Model Town area on Thursday afternoon, police and rescue workers said. The aircraft, Cessna 152, which belonged to the Hybrid Aviation, crashed near the well-guarded residence of […]

Our Staff Reporter

I wrote memo with Haqqani’s consent: Ijaz February 23, 2012

ISLAMABAD – Mansoor Ijaz has said that he had prepared the first draft of the controversial memo himself, but he finalised and forwarded it to Americans with the consent of Husain Haqqani, who told him President Zardari has approved the step. As the judicial commission probing the scandal continued recording US businessman’s testimony on Thursday […]

Kaswar Klasra

Malik not trustworthy, says BNP-A leader February 23, 2012

ISLAMABAD - Reacting over the statement of Interior Minister Rehman Malik to withdraw cases again Baloch leaders, Israrullah Zehri, a BNP-Awami leader and Federal Minister for Food Security, has said that how the interior minister can quash cases against the Baloch leaders when he cannot evacuate a single checkpost in Balochistan. Talking to media on Thursda […]

The Nation Monitoring

Pakistani bowlers set up thrilling win February 23, 2012

Haroon Siddiqui DUBAI - Umar Gul bowled a superb last over his spell to inspire Pakistan to a thrilling eight-run victory in the first of three Twenty20 internationals against England at Dubai Stadium on Thursday. England, the reigning Twenty20 world champions, were cruising at 120-4 after 17 overs, chasing 145 to win, but Gul took two wickets in the 18th ov […]

India using Israel-like tactics to suppress Kashmir movement February 23, 2012

LAHORE - India is using the same brutal methods to suppress the freedom movement in Occupied Kashmir as Israel is employing to curb Palestinians’ struggle for an independent state. Ruthless killings and rapes are being used at a large scale to keep the Kashmiri people away from the movement for their inalienable right to self-determination, as provided […]

Our Staff Reporter

Afghans storm two Nato bases February 23, 2012

KABUL - Thousands of furious Afghans besieged US and Norwegian bases on Thursday, throwing rocks and setting fire to cars on the third day of violent protests against Holy Quran burnings that have killed at least 12 people. Just hours earlier, the Taliban exhorted Afghans to attack and kill foreign troops to avenge the burning of Qurans at a US-run base, but […]

Agencies

IMF not a ‘binned’ option: Shaikh February 23, 2012

ISLAMABAD - Advisor to Prime Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on Thursday said the government did not take even a single penny from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) since May 2010 and would start repayment to it from today (Friday). But he hinted that the government could approach the IMF again, if required, as it helped t […]

Imran Ali Kundi

Obama apologises over desecration February 23, 2012

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama on Thursday tendered apology over the desecration. In a letter to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Obama formally apologised to Karzai, saying that the incident, which sparked furious protests against the US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, was not intentional. “The error was inadvertent. I assure you that we will ta […]

Special Correspondent

Shahzain sets conditions for talks with government February 23, 2012

LAHORE – Jamhoori Watan Party leader Shahzain Bugti on Thursday presented an eight-point agenda of demands to start negotiations with the government. Talking to the newsmen after meeting Allama Raghib Naeemi here at Jamia Naeemia, Shahzain, the grandson of slain Baloch elder Nawab Akbar Bugti, asked the government to accept his demands for initiation o […]

Our Staff Reporter

Security eats up more funds than health February 23, 2012

ISLAMABAD-The law and order-related expenditure has once again surpassed the amount utilised in the health sector, as the government spent Rs 41.87 billion on the security issues against Rs 20.45 billion on the healthcare under the Poverty Reduction Strategy Programme (PRSP) during first quarter (July-September) of the current financial year 2011-12. One the […]

Imran Ali Kundi

60 killed in string of Iraq attacks February 23, 2012

BAGHDAD - Simultaneous early morning attacks across Iraq killed at least 60 people and wounded dozens on Thursday in one of the bloodiest days of violence since US troops pulled out in mid-December. The attacks that appeared to pitch Al Qaeda-linked insurgents raised fears of a return to the widespread sectarian carnage that tore Iraq apart and cost thousand […]

Reuters

17 dead as jets pound militant hideouts February 23, 2012

ORAKZAI AGENCY - At least 17 militants were killed and their nine hideouts were destroyed after jet fighter planes pounded their positions in Orakzai Agency on Thursday. According to details, jet fighter planes targeted militant hideouts in Khadezai, Bara Mela, Sama Bazaar, Jandari Killi, Chapar, Ashraf Killi and Arghanjo killi. The forces started targeting […]

Our Staff Reporter

Ex-MNA quits PTI, joins N February 23, 2012

Our Staff Reporter

Avalanches kill 16 Indian troops February 23, 2012

SRINAGAR - At least 16 Indian soldiers on duty in the mountains of Held Kashmir were killed and three others were missing in massive avalanches, officials said Thursday. Two avalanches swept late Wednesday through army camps in Dawar and Sonamarg, both near the heavily militarised Line of Control. “It is a major tragedy. Rescue operations are being hin […]

Agencies

Afghan soldier kills two Nato troops February 23, 2012

KABUL - An Afghan soldier on Thursday shot dead two Nato troops, the military said, as fierce anti-US protests swept the country. “An individual wearing an Afghan National Army uniform turned his weapon against Isaf service members in eastern Afghanistan today, killing two service members,” Isaf said. Isaf did not identify the nationalities of th […]

AFP

Caution against ‘use of force’ February 23, 2012

APP