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U.S. shifting aid to upgrade Pakistan fighter jets
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States plans to shift about $230 million in aid to Pakistan from counterterrorism programs to upgrading the nation's aging F-16 fighter jets.
U.S. officials say the Pakistani army is a key ally in efforts to fight terrorism.
"We've shifted money to help the democratically elected government of Pakistan to fight a common foe, a common enemy that we have," said Gonzalo Gallegos, a State Department spokesman.
Pakistan is the largest recipient of payments from the Coalition Support Funds, which gives money to 27 partner countries help combat terrorism.
Last year, Congress mandated that $300 million in aid to Pakistan go toward fighting al Qaeda and the Taliban, partly by beefing up law enforcement and developing tribal areas of the country that are hostile to the United States.
Skeptical lawmakers worry that the F-16 upgrades will divert funding from crucial counterterrorism programs and could be more about helping Pakistan competing with its rival, India, than fighting terror.
Nita Lowey, chairwoman of a House subcommittee on foreign operations, said the request from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to reprogram the funding "raises serious concerns."
Lowey is asking for more information before signing off on the change.
"Congress provided these funds specifically for counterterrorism and law enforcement activities," Lowey said in a written statement.
"It is incumbent on the State Department and Pakistan to demonstrate clearly how these F-16s would be used to fight al Qaeda and the Taliban in order to get congressional support."
It is not the first time U.S. aid to Pakistan has come under scrutiny. In June, the Government Accountability Office and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs released a report that said the United States has not accurately tracked about $6 billion it gave to help the Pakistani government fight terrorism since 2001.
The country, which the Department of Defense considers a key ally in the war on terrorism because of its proximity to large swaths of ungoverned tribal land, has received $5.56 billion of $6.88 billion given out since the September 11 terrorist attacks.
U.S. and Pakistani officials claim that the F-16s are used to fly missions over regions near Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, where the Taliban are operating and al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is believed to be hiding.
The upgrades, which will bring the old fleet in line with new F-16s Pakistan recently purchased from the United States, will allow Pakistan's F-16 fleet to operate day and night missions and "effectively employ ground operations," Gallegos said.
The funds will be diverted from upgrades on other airplanes used for fighting terrorism, Gallegos said. WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States plans to shift about $230 million in aid to Pakistan from counterterrorism programs to upgrading... more -
Pakistan warns of nuclear arms race.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since they were created in the y partition of the Indian subcontinent at independence from Britain in 1947.
Pakistan has warned that a deal leading to increased Indian access to nuclear fuel could accelerate the atomic arms race between the rivals, according to a letter obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.
The letter addressed to more than 60 nations comes less than two weeks before the 35-nation International Atomic Energy Agency board is expected to approve a so-called safeguards agreement setting up rules for inspecting some of India's civilian nuclear facilities.
Relations have improved considerably since the start of a peace process in 2004. But progress at the talks has been slow and deep distrust remains between the two rivals, which developed their nuclear arms in secret.
The Bush administration has signed a deal to supply India with nuclear fuel but needs approval, first from the Nuclear Suppliers Group and then the U.S. Congress.
Pakistan is vehemently opposed to the Nuclear Suppliers Group doing business with its rival and may vote against approval of the draft at the August 1 board meeting. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since they were created in the y partition of the Indian subcontinent at independence f... more -
41 dead in Pakistan shoot outs
Clashes between paramilitary troops and militants in SW Pakistan have killed at least 41 people, according to the state news agecy.
The area is rich in natural gas, and there has been much fighting between military forces and insurgents vying for self rule. Clashes between paramilitary troops and militants in SW Pakistan have killed at least 41 people, according to the state news agecy. ... more -
Pakistan court gags disgraced nuke scientist
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) -- A court on Monday barred the disgraced architect of Pakistan's atomic weapons program from speaking about nuclear proliferation, less than three weeks after he implicated the army in the sharing of nuclear technology with North Korea.
Abdul Qadeer Khan has been largely confined to his home in the capital since taking sole responsibility in 2004 for leaking nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya.
However, he recently began agitating for an end to his confinement, disowning his 2004 confession in media interviews and saying the army had known all about at least one act of proliferation in 2000. President Pervez Musharraf issued a swift denial.
The Islamabad High Court, ruling Monday on a petition filed by Khan's lawyer, said the retired scientist must be allowed to meet close friends and relatives subject to security clearance -- something the government says he can already do.
Presiding Judge Sardar Mohammed Aslam also said that Khan "will not convey, transmit, relay any comment or give interview to any channel, news reporter, print or electronic media, in any manner whatsoever in respect of issue of proliferation."
Aslam, in a written order, also banned Khan from discussing proliferation with family or friends.
It was unclear whether Khan would appeal the decision, which was made after government lawyers asked the judge to silence him to avoid international sanctions on Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) -- A court on Monday barred the disgraced architect of Pakistan's atomic weapons program from speaking about ... more -
New unreleased video of Benazir Bhutto murder
A rare unreleased video of the murder of Benazir Bhutto in the last few seconds before the shooting.
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Muslim "judge" rules kidnapped Christian girls "converted to Islam and cannot retu...
The district of Muzaffargarh rules in favour of the Muslims, rejecting the request from the family that wants to bring home the two sisters - 13 and 10 years old - kidnapped last June 26. Christian associations charge that they could end up as prostitutes.
Islamabad (AsiaNews) - District judge Mian Muhammad Naeem, of the section of Muzaffargarh, has ruled that the two Christian sisters "have converted in a legitimate manner to Islam", and for this reason they cannot be "restored to their family of origin". Setting aside the request from their father to regain custody of his daughters, the judge also admitted the "validity" of the marriage of the girls to two Muslims.
Saba Younas, aged 13, and her sister Anila were kidnapped last June 26 in the village of Chowk Munda, in the province of Punjab, where they had gone to visit their uncle, Khalid Raheel. This is the same uncle who in recent days reported their kidnapping, asking for help from news organisations and human rights groups. According to Raheel's account, a Muslim fruit vendor named Muhammad Arif Bajwa kidnapped the girls, and then handed them over to a friend, Falak Sher Gill, who then organised the marriage between his own son and the older of the Christian sisters, Saba. In court, moreover, father and son both stressed the "complete willingness of the girl to contract marriage".
The girls' uncle does not conceal his preoccupation, and denounces to AsiaNews that the Muslims involved in the kidnapping are acting as a "gang", recruiting the girls in order to "make them work in a bordello". This alarm has also been heard by the Catholic commission for justice and peace (NCJP) in the country, which confirms the words of Khalid Raheel: the kidnappers are believed to be human traffickers linked to prostitution, known to the police and under the protection of some local politicians. "For these unscrupulous people", charges Naeem Asghar, local coordinator of the NCJP, marriage is a pretence in order to control the girls, run their lives and exploit them for their own business purposes".
The Catholic community continues to uphold the cause of Saba and Anila, and promises that the family will not be left to itself. Expressing the hope that the girls will be brought back home, the coordinator of the NCJP emphasises that "an appeal will soon be presented to the high court of Multan, to contest the decision of the district judge" and have the girls "restored to their parents". The district of Muzaffargarh rules in favour of the Muslims, rejecting the request from the family that wants to bring home the two si... more -
For Afghan Refugees, A Difficult Road Home
Millions of Afghan refugees living in camps in Pakistan are being pressured by the Pakistani government to leave, but there are few opportunities and social services and little infrastructure in Afghanistan to help returning families begin anew.
Visit the Refugees International Web site (refugeesinternational.org) to download the group's new report, Afghanistan: Invest in People, and Newsweek.com for some exclusive footage from their mission. Millions of Afghan refugees living in camps in Pakistan are being pressured by the Pakistani government to leave, but there are few op... more -
Protest over Pakistan share slump
Angry investors have attacked the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) in protest at plunging Pakistani share prices.
More than 200 people took part in the demonstration at the country's main stock exchange in the southern city.
A number of windows were broken and at least two people injured, Reuters news agency reports.
The protesters demanded a temporary closure of the KSE to stop further slides. It is down 14% since Monday and reached an 18-month low this week.
There were smaller protests in the cities of Islamabad and Lahore, where demonstrators burned tyres near the local exchanges.
A growing company and consumer debt burden and surging inflation have led to a crisis of confidence in Pakistan's economy, analysts say.
Concern has also been fuelled by political infighting between the new coalition government and its allies, as well as growing US pressure on the authorities to crack down on Islamic militancy in the country.
Smashed windows
The small investors who gathered in the main hall of the Karachi Stock Exchange were alarmed by stock prices falling for the 14th day in a row.
By about midday (0600 GMT) on Thursday share values on the KSE had fallen more than 4%, or 433.51 points, to 10,058.37.
The rupee also dropped by 1.3%, continuing a slide which has seen it lose 16.9% of its value against the dollar so far this year.
Investors in Karachi demanded a temporary halt to trading.
When this was denied, some went on the rampage, smashing windows and lights until they were dispersed by police.
"We are looking at the situation and there is no question of suspending the market," Razi-ur-Rahman, chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), told Reuters.
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says there has been a slump in investor confidence amid doubts that Pakistan's newly-elected government can deal with economic challenges like run-away inflation and wide trade and budget deficits.
The authorities have inherited much of the problem from the previous government, and that has been compounded by high world oil and food prices, our correspondent says.
But economists say lack of leadership from the weak coalition is one of the main risks to macroeconomic stability.
"What is needed at this point, is aggressive action from the government to lift sentiment," Shuja Rizvi, director of broking operations at Capital One Equities, told Reuters. Angry investors have attacked the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) in protest at plunging Pakistani share prices. ... more -
Suicide Boys Of War. Young Boys Promised Allah's Protection From Death, Are Bombin...
Afghan terrorist are recruiting young boys from boarding schools to carry out suicide bombings. The teenage boys, promised Allahs protection from death and injury, blinding carry out the suicide missions, understanding only that, they are doing the will of God.
Shrak Allah is a young Pakistani teenage boy that was recruited, and told that he would not be injured in the suicide blast.He never agreed to carry out the mission. He said that he was beaten so bad(worst than words could describe), he finally gave in.He said,"they told me that it was my duty to Allah".These children have such deep love for God and their country, that they believe without question whatever is promised to them in regarding the fate of their missions.They told him that he could go back and see his mom, after he carried out the suicide attack. He believed them. As fate would have it, Shrak was stopped and caught by police at a roadside checkpoint, then debriefed and explain the exact nature of what a suicide bombing actually was. This story(film) made me angry to watch it, yet still, I found myself having compassion for these children that are being recruited by insane islamic jihadist to carry out these missions from hell. Afghan terrorist are recruiting young boys from boarding schools to carry out suicide bombings. The teenage boys, promised Allahs pro... more -
Taleban set up 'Pakistan courts'
Taleban militants in Pakistan's north-western Mohmand tribal area have set up permanent Islamic courts, they say. The districts have been divided into four judicial zones, each having two judges and a permanent court address.
The Taleban have up until now used mobile courts - with no permanent offices or judges - to settle criminal and financial disputes.
They say the permanent courts show the diminishing authority of the central and local governments. In addition the PTM also runs a vast network of mobile courts in the rest of the area.
The Taleban currently control large areas of Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas along the border with Afghanistan.
Taleban militants in Pakistan's north-western Mohmand tribal area have set up permanent Islamic courts, they say. The districts have b... more -
Pakistan blocks US bin Laden hunt
Pakistan's foreign minister has ruled out allowing military personnel from the United States, or any other foreign country, in Pakistan to hunt for Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda.
Mahmoud Qureshi said on Saturday that the country's new government had not permitted any such operation in the regions bordering Afghanistan and never would.
Bin Laden is widely believed to be hiding somewhere in the Afghan-Pakistan border region.
"Our government's policy is that our troops, paramilitary forces and our regular forces are deployed in sufficient numbers. They are capable of taking action there. And any foreign intrusion would be counter-productive," Qureshi told the Associated Press news agency.
"People will not accept it. Questions of sovereignty come in."
Qureshi acknowledged that "there are some infiltrations" still occurring, but he said no covert US military operations to catch al-Qaeda figures, Taliban members or any other suspected fighters, had been staged.
"There are none," he said.
The new Pakistani government's pursuit of peace deals with tribal groups in the region has been highly criticised in Washington. ... more -
Pakistan says US not hunting bin Laden on its turf
"Pakistan's top diplomat said Saturday there are no U.S. or other foreign military personnel on the hunt for Osama bin Laden in his nation, and none will be allowed in to search for the al-Qaida leader.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said his nation's new government has ruled out such military operations, covert or otherwise, to catch militants.
"Our government's policy is that our troops, paramilitary forces and our regular forces are deployed in sufficient numbers. They are capable of taking action there. And any foreign intrusion would be counterproductive," he said Saturday. "People will not accept it. Questions of sovereignty come in." ..."
By John Heilprin and Peter James Spielmann, Associated Press "Pakistan's top diplomat said Saturday there are no U.S. or other foreign military personnel on the hunt for Osama bin Laden in his na... more -
Pakistan: U.S. can't hunt bin Laden on its turf
Pakistan's top diplomat said Saturday there are no U.S. or other foreign military personnel on the hunt for Osama bin Laden in his nation, and none will be allowed in to search for the al-Qaida leader.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said his nation's new government has ruled out such military operations, covert or otherwise, to catch militants.
"Our government's policy is that our troops, paramilitary forces and our regular forces are deployed in sufficient numbers. They are capable of taking action there. And any foreign intrusion would be counterproductive," he said Saturday. "People will not accept it. Questions of sovereignty come in." Pakistan's top diplomat said Saturday there are no U.S. or other foreign military personnel on the hunt for Osama bin Laden in his nat... more -
Pakistan says Hunting for Osama Bin Laden in their country "Will not be allowed"!
Pakistan's top diplomat said Saturday there are no U.S. or other foreign military personnel on the hunt for Osama bin Laden in his nation, and none will be allowed in to search for the al-Qaida leader.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said his nation's new government has ruled out such military operations, covert or otherwise, to catch militants.
"Our government's policy is that our troops, paramilitary forces and our regular forces are deployed in sufficient numbers. They are capable of taking action there. And any foreign intrusion would be counterproductive," he said Saturday. "People will not accept it. Questions of sovereignty come in."
The United States has grown increasingly frustrated as al-Qaida, the Taliban and other militants thrive in Pakistan's remote areas and in neighboring Afghanistan, and has offered U.S. troops to strike at terror networks. Critics in Washington also have expressed frustration with the new Pakistani government's pursuit of peace deals in the region.
Bin Laden is believed to be hiding somewhere along the rugged and lawless Afghan-Pakistan border region. Pakistan's top diplomat said Saturday there are no U.S. or other foreign military personnel on the hunt for Osama bin Laden in his nat... more -
Pakistan says US not hunting bin Laden on its turf
Pakistan's top diplomat said Saturday there are no U.S. or other foreign military personnel on the hunt for Osama bin Laden in his nation, and none will be allowed in to search for the al-Qaida leader.
Pakistan's top diplomat said Saturday there are no U.S. or other foreign military personnel on the hunt for Osama bin Laden in his nat... more -
US not hunting bin Laden on it's turf, syas Pakistan
AP foreign, Saturday July 12 2008 By JOHN HEILPRIN and PETER JAMES SPIELMANN Associated Press Writers NEW YORK (AP) - Pakistan's top diplomat said Saturday there are no U.S. or other foreign military personnel on the hunt for Osama bin Laden in his nation, and none will be allowed in to search for the al-Qaida leader. In an interview with The Associated Press, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said his nation's new government has ruled out such military operations, covert or otherwise, to catch militants. ``Our government's policy is that our troops, paramilitary forces and our regular forces are deployed in sufficient numbers. They are capable of taking action there. And any foreign intrusion would be counterproductive,'' he said Saturday. ``People will not accept it. Questions of sovereignty come in.'' The United States has grown increasingly frustrated as al-Qaida, the Taliban and other militants thrive in Pakistan's remote areas and in neighboring Afghanistan, and has offered U.S. troops to strike at terror networks. Critics in Washington also have expressed frustration with the new Pakistani government's pursuit of peace deals with tribes in the region. Bin Laden is believed to be hiding somewhere in the Afghan-Pakistan border region. Tension between the U.S. and Pakistan have been high after Pakistan said U.S. aircraft killed 11 of its soldiers at a border post in June. U.S. officials have said coalition aircraft dropped bombs during a clash with militants. Qureshi said he tried to reassure Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at their meeting Friday that his government was doing everything it can to combat militants in lawless tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. Pakistan and Afghanistan regularly exchange criticism about not doing more to fight extremists operating along their long, remote, mountainous border that is seen by the U.S. as crucial to stopping terrorism. Qureshi also met Thursday with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who agreed to Pakistan's request to establish an independent commission that will investigate Bhutto's killing. Qureshi acknowledged Saturday that ``there are some infiltrations'' still occurring, but there are no covert U.S. military operations trying to catch al-Qaida figures and its chief, Taliban members or any other suspected militants. ``There are none,'' he said. ``It will create such an anti-U.S. feeling in Pakistan that I would say would mar the atmosphere of cooperation that exists between us.'' Qureshi described Pakistan's counterterrorism as a ``grassroots'' approach. ``Our strategy is that the military option alone is not enough,'' he said. ``This war has to be fought besides the armies, with the help of the people, by winning hearts and minds.'' Does he believe bin Laden is in Pakistan? ``I don't think so. I'm not sure,'' he said. ``Nobody's aware of that. Nobody can speak with certainty. But our policy's very clear. We are allies in this war. And if Pakistan has actionable information vis-a-vis Osama bin laden or any other high value target, Pakistan will immediately take action.'' AP foreign, Saturday July 12 2008 By JOHN HEILPRIN and PETER JAMES SPIELMANN Associated Press Writers NEW YORK (AP) - Pakistan's top d... more
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Taliban militants threaten to kill Pakistani hostages
Militants will start killing a group of hostages if the government does not release several insurgent prisoners within a day, a Pakistani Taliban spokesman threatened Friday.
Militants will start killing a group of hostages if the government does not release several insurgent prisoners within a day, a Pakist... more -
UN says it will investigate Bhutto killing
The U.N. chief has agreed to Pakistan's request to establish an independent commission that will investigate the killing of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
The U.N. chief has agreed to Pakistan's request to establish an independent commission that will investigate the killing of former Pri... more -
Bomb Blast in Kabul blamed on Taliban
Officials are blaming the bomb that killed 41 people in Kabul on the Taliban. But observers are casting wary eyes at regional rivalries that make Pakistani forces suspect in the terror attack. Officials are blaming the bomb that killed 41 people in Kabul on the Taliban. But observers are casting wary eyes at regional rivalrie... more
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Four years in Bagram as Prisoner 650
British journalist Yvonne Ridley flew to Pakistan on a whirlwind trip this week to highlight the plight of a woman who has been held in US custody for more than four years.
She referred to the woman, known only by her prisoner number 650, as The Grey Lady of Bagram.
More than 100 journalists attended the press conference hosted by Pakistan political leader Imran Khan who pledged his full support to Ridley's mission, which is part of a Cage Prisoner Campaign to help the female detainee.
A statement of support from British MP and RESPECT Party leader George Galloway was also read out during the conference.
Details of Prisoner 650 are being kept secret by the U.S. military.
On Monday night she said, “I think everyone was shocked to hear that the Americans were holding this woman at Bagram in Afghanistan. From the information coming through I am told she is being held in exactly the same conditions as the men and has absolutely no privacy when it comes to toilet and shower facilities.
“This would never happen to a Western woman and it shows just how women are viewed by the US military. There is even a suggestion she has been molested and sexually abused by her captors. We need to demand the truth,” added Ridley who was held captive herself in Afghanistan for 11 days in September 2001.
“I was released on humanitarian grounds. Mercifully my treatment was good, respectful and decent, although still terrifying,” she added.
Ridley, also a patron of the organization Cage Prisoner, revealed how she first read about the woman in a book written by ex-Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg called Enemy Combatant.
“I remembered Moazzam telling me about the woman's screams and how he first imagined they could be from his wife. In truth, I thought maybe he had just been listening to a tape recorder as part of a form of mental torture.
“However, we now know the screams came from a woman who has been held in Bagram for some years. And without compromising anyone, we can also reveal from impeccable sources that her prison number is 650.
“This information has been enough to scramble the Pakistan media into action by demanding the return of this woman to her homeland immediately,” added Ridley.
Joining her at the open air press conference in Islamabad at the headquarters of Khan's PTI party was Saghir Hussain, a lawyer and member of Cage.
He handed over a dossier prepared by Cage which reveals the full extent of the Disappeared from Pakistan… individuals who have been literally kidnapped from the streets.
“Prisoner 650 is just the tip of a very nasty iceberg of human rights abuses, illegal detentions and rendition flights. It is a shameful episode in Pakistan's history which must be put right.”
***click the link to read the full story*** British journalist Yvonne Ridley flew to Pakistan on a whirlwind trip this week to highlight the plight of a woman who has been held i... more
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