Vol. III Issue. 20
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Forces deployed at Siachen only to answer India, says Kayani
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21 April 2012
Islamabad: Daily Jasarat /Ausaf, April 19, 2012. Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, while briefing the media after his visit to Gayari sector of Siachen, said that deploying troops at Siachen in 1984 was an answer to India's militarisation of the region. He called for resolution of Siachen and other disputes through bilateral peace process. He also insisted on the need to concentrate more on the welfare of people and not solely on defence. The Siachen issue should be resolved through mutual understanding and agreements and then the heavy expenditure to maintain military presence at such high altitudes can instead be used for socio-economic development of the nation.
The chief of Muslim League (N), Nawaz Sharif, has also called for the demilitarisation of Siachen. He said that given India's concern about China's activity in the region, Pakistan should take the initiative to vacate the disputed region.
Restoration of NATO supplies routes before the NATO conference
Islamabad: Daily Ausaf/ Jasarat /Jang, April 17-18-19, 2012. A federal Government official has revealed that President Asif Ali Zardari will attend the NATO conference to be held in Chicago on May 20 and that the Government is fully determined to announce the resumption of the NATO supply land routes to Afghanistan before the conference. Deputy Advisor to the US National Security Council Ben Roads hoped that it the NATO conference would facilitate a meeting among US, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The conference is expected to deliberate on the withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan in 2014 and increasing stability to prevent an outbreak of civil war.
Meanwhile, Liyaqat Baloch, the National Secretary General of Jamaat-i-Islami, condemned the Parliament's decision to reopen NATO supply routes, describing it as an act of slavery. He said that the Parliament bribed the opposition to get the resolution passed. He also threatened to start a fresh wave of protests against the Government's decision.
The federal Government has issued an order to the Ports and Shipping Ministry to offload war vehicles, arms and ammunitions during security checks and allow only non-lethal items like uniforms, blankets, bed sheets, soaps and eatables.
Hizb ut-Tahrir stands against opening of NATO supply
Karachi: Daily Jasarat, April 17, 2012. A protest rally of religious scholars and Islamic students of the Shia community was held at the Karachi Press Club against the arrest of Hizb ut-Tahrir member Habeebullah Saleem. The protesters pressed for the immediate release of Habeebullah and termed his arrest as an act of subservience to US demands.
Hina Rabbani has betrayed the Kashmiri people: Munawar Hasan
Lahore: Daily Jasarat, April 19, 2012. Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sayyed Munawar Hasan said that Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has stabbed at the back of Kashmiri people, with her statement that Kashmir will not be a barrier in Pak-India relations. In reality, she does not understand that the Kashmir freedom movement is now entering its 66th year. Hasan demanded the closure of trade transit rights to Afghanistan through Pakistan which the PPP Government granted India to please it. He said that it is shameful politics that the PPP government is providing facilities to India, who stopped the supply of water resources with the building of sixty dams over Pakistani rivers. He also demanded the resignation of Rabbani over the issue.
Taliban spent Rs two crore on Bannu prison attack
Peshawar: Daily Khabrain / Jasarat, April 17, 2012. A Taliban commander who claims to have planned the recent attack on Bannu prison revealed that the raid cost Rs two crore. In an interview to a foreign reporter, he said that the plan to free 384 prisoners, including few important members for the terrorist group was completed in one hour with the help of civilians. The freed prisoners were transferred to a secured militant zone.
Kashmir conference in America
Islamabad: Daily Ausaf / Jinnah / Jang, April 20, 2012. A two-day Kashmir Conference, held at the University of North Texas in the US, was attended by many prominent scholars on Kashmir and its freedom movement. Dr. Chitralekha Zutshi of the William Merry College of Virginia, Prof Sadaf Munshi of Denton University, Dallas resident and Kashmiri leader Raja Muzaffar, Dr Kaiser Abbas, Head of History of Nartah University, Kashmiri leader Dr Vijay Sajawal, film maker Ajay Rana and actress Arti attended the conference. The speakers said the Kashmir problem has been the biggest obstacle in the development of South Asia.
They suggested making a joint resolution committee to explore a political solution to the problem. Both India and Pakistan should fund development of the region instead of spending huge amount on wars, they said.
The Pakistan Foreign Office expressed happiness on the conference's conclusions. The leaders of Muzaffarabad also noted their satisfaction over the conference.
This is prepared by Shahid Raheem, Media Researcher, Observer Research Foundation
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