Washington—President Barack
Obama has said his administration - seeking a
viable way forward in conflict-hit Afghanistan -
wants an effective partnership with Pakistan
that works towards achieving peace and stability
in the region. In an interview with the ABC news
channel, the US president stressed that the
Afghans must share the burden of their own
security and made it clear that Washington is
not looking at an indefinite stay in
Afghanistan.
Islamabad—President Asif Ali Zardari is reported
to be fast distancing himself from his Principal
Secretary, Mr. Salman Faruqui, who enjoys the
status and perks of a Federal Minister, in fact
much more than that, Pakistan Observer reliably
learnt. A key official in the Presidency
confided to this scribe on condition of
anonymity that the President who originally
wanted to establish himself as a tough guy and
fight out the forces hyper critical of his
person and policies and with those institutions
that may clip his wings, was now on the path to
follow the system and try to continue as Head of
the State with the powers of the President,
enshrined in 1973 Constitution.
Peshawar—The security forces have further
consolidated their positions and gunned down
seven more alleged terrorists as the Operation
code named Rah-e-Nijat against the trouble
makers in South Waziristan Agency entered 26th
day. Two soldiers including an officer also
sustained wounds during a clash with the
militants near Makeen area. The security forces
have also discovered eight tunnels and seized
big cache of arms and ammunition during
clearance operation in Kanigram and Makeen
areas.
Rawalpindi—Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq
Parvez Kayani in has condemned the spate of
terrorist attacks on civilians and termed it an
act of cowardice and frustration. He was
chairing 123rd Corps Commanders’ Conference was
held at General Headquarters here on Wednesday.
It was part of regular monthly meetings.
Paris—Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is
suspected of having received millions of dollars
in kickbacks from the 1994 sale of three French
submarines to the Pakistani Navy, a French daily
reported. In addition, investigators believe
that the non-payment of the full amount of the
agreed kickbacks may have led to the deaths of
11 French nationals in a 2002 terror attack in
the city of Karachi.
Islamabad—Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani
has urged the US to channelise its economic
assistance through a transparent mechanism
established by the Government of Pakistan like
the Trust Fund established for Malakand, Higher
Education Commission, National Commission for
Human Development and Benazir Income Support
Programme for the socio-economic development,
education and reconstruction in the militancy
effected areas of Pakistan. Underlining the
importance of revival of Pakistan’s economy, he
said that the US should play the leading role by
providing enhanced marked access to Pakistani
products as well as encouraging investment in
the Pakistan’s diverse economic sectors at this
critical juncture of its history.
