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After diplomatic front, ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: After fighting over Kashmir on the diplomatic front for decades, Pakistan and India have taken their.....more Pak
citizen pleads BOSTAN, Feb 27: A 24-year-old Pakistani citizen pleaded guilty in US district court to charges he attempted to illegally.....more No UN arms inspectors UNITED NATIONS, Feb 27: Unrelenting, Iraq’s Foreign Minister has said UN arms inspectors would be barred from his country even if 10-year-old UN......more CIA
claims Indian nuke WASHINGTON, Feb 27: India is continuing its nuclear weapons development programme and relies on foreign assistance for key missile and.....more |
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US blasts China on rights, WASHINGTON, Feb 27: The United States has said that China’s human rights record deteriorated further in 2000, issuing a report certain to anger ....more Families
in 2 Koreas SEOUL, Feb 27: The chance of a lifetime came for 200 elderly Koreans yesterday as rare reunions in the capitals of the North and South offered a glimpse.....more Iran stockpiles several WASHINGTON, Feb 27: Iran has stockpiled several thousand tonnes of chemical weapons and the bombs and artillery shells...more Chinese
continue to give WASHINGTON, Feb 27: Pakistan is moving toward serial production of solid-propellant short range ballistic missiles with Chinese entities.......more |
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After
diplomatic front, India, Pak takes ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: After fighting over Kashmir on the diplomatic front for decades, Pakistan and India have taken their dispute into the film theatre, which critics say will only fuel animosity among their people. A series of films released in the past few months by the Pakistani film industry, popularly called ‘Lollywood’, have themes centred on allegations of human rights excesses by Indian security forces against the people of Indian-administered Kashmir. "These movies are our rejoinder to a number of Indian films that linked Pakistani forces and intelligence agencies to subversive activities on Indian soil, particularly the insurgency in the disputed Kashmir territory," wrote film critic Shahid Naqvi, in the Urdu-language newspaper ‘Ausaf’. But not all associated with Pakistan’s film industry agree that the medium should be used for political purposes. "We should use the popular medium of films to reduce rifts and differences among people," says Ejaz Gul, Managing Director of the Government-run National Film Development Corporation. He believes that films have potential to create wars. "Since the people of India and Pakistan have access to each other’s movies and television programmes, the producers should seize the opportunity to promote peace and harmony, instead of catching on to the themes that fuel hatred," he adds. Pakistani journalist Najeem Haider Zaidi, who works with a domestic news agency, agrees. "Peace is not an isolated effort made by Governments," he points out. However, a large number of cinema viewers in Pakistan think that lollywood’s new productions, ‘Terey Piyar Mein’ (in your love) and ‘Musalman’ (Muslim), are a fitting response to similar films made by the Indian film industry. "A number of Indian movies have put down Pakistan and its forces over the last few years...These movies were nothing but a bunch of lies," says Nadia Rehmat, a student in a local girls college. Still showing in cinema halls after its release in December 2000, Terey Piyar Mein is about an Indian Sikh girl who falls in love with a Pakistani boy during a visit to Sikh holy shrines in Pakistan. Her Pakistani lover follows her to India where he is caught by an Indian Army officer, who is also in love with the Sikh girl. The film ends with Kashmiri militants helping the Pakistani boy escape jail and cross the border into Pakistan with the Sikh girl. In keeping with the Pakistan Government’s allegations against Indian security personnel in Kashmir, the film shows the Indian Army officer torturing the Pakistani man in jail. "I am glad that Pakistan has finally started using cinema for rousing feelings of nationalism in the young people," says Begum Tasadduq, an elderly woman who watched the film in Islamabad. "India has made many movies against freedom fighters in Kashmir that are viewed by our youth...I feel that the Government should patronise such efforts that portray the true feelings of the Pakistani nation," she adds. She was referring to the high popularity of Indian films ‘Roja’, ‘Border’, ‘Mission Kashmir’ and ‘Refugee’ in the Pakistani home video market. These films, which depict the Indian view of the Kashmir issue, are being secretly rented after a ban by the Government, which dubbed them as Indian propaganda. "We cannot give out these movies though we get frequent demands," says an attendant at a home video rental in Islamabad. Films made by India’s Hindi cinema industry, known as ‘Bollywood’, are highly popular in Pakistan. Terey Piyar Mein is not the first effort of famed producer Shahzad Gul to cash in on the anti-India sentiment in Pakistan. A year ago he produced the highly successful ‘Ghar Kab Aao Gey (when will you return home?) that dealt with subversive activities, allegedly carried out by Indian intelligence agencies in Pakistan. "The success of the movie has made me work on such themes as I realised how a majority in this country thinks," Gul said in a press interview. What Gul did not mention was the help he got from the Pakistani Army’s Inter Services Press Relations Department in filming many of the scenes. Terey Piyar Mein was also made with the technical support of the military’s Public Relations Department. The military’s Press Relations Wing has also given financial and technical help to state-run Pakistan television in the filming of the popular drama series ‘Angaar Wadi’, (The Valley of Flames), which deals with the operations of the Indian security forces in Kashmir. Critics, however, say that by cashing in on such sentiments, the producers of these films are hurting efforts to build trust between the people of Pakistan and India. "What are we trying to achieve through these movies? simply, indoctrinating people that we cannot live in harmony with people across the border," says journalist Zaidi. (IPS) |
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Pak citizen
pleads Guilty to export BOSTAN, Feb 27: A 24-year-old Pakistani citizen pleaded guilty in US district court to charges he attempted to illegally export US military equipment to Pakistan. Tahir Satti admitted to violating the US arms export control act by attempting to smuggle US military items to Pakistan with the aid of an undercover US customs officer. Satti admitted he attempted to procure and ship the military goods to Pakistan through third-party companies in various foreign countries without the required export licenses. Military exports to Pakistan have been prohibited since October 1990 when the US Congress banned the furnishing of military assistance, equipment and technology to Pakistan after Pakistan’s failure to restrict nuclear development and testing. Satti was arrested by customs agents last July in San Francisco where he arrived to complete plans for the procurement and shipment of sophisticated night vision goggles to be used by members of the Pakistan army in night-time tank and airplane warfare. Satti was lured to the United States by the undercover agent’s requirement he personally inspect and approve the arms cache prior to shipment. Had Satti gone to trial, evidence presented would include videotapes of Satti’s September 1998 meeting with the undercover agent, prosecutors said, wherein Satti acknowledged the risk they faced if the arms shipment went through.(AFP) |
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No UN arms inspectors even if sanctions gone: Iraq UNITED NATIONS, Feb 27: Unrelenting, Iraq’s Foreign Minister has said UN arms inspectors would be barred from his country even if 10-year-old UN trade sanctions were abolished. Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahaf told reporters, after a crucial morning meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, that no inspectors would return to Iraq. And if they did, they had to visit all countries in the region and "first Israel because they have atomic arsenals and all other arsenals." "There will be no return for any inspectors to Iraq — even if the sanctions are totally lifted," Al-Sahaf said. He spoke after the opening session between his high-level delegation and UN officials on ways to break the impasse on decade-old trade sanctions, linked to allowing the UN arms monitors into Iraq after a two-year hiatus. Disarmament issues were on the agenda for Monday morning and humanitarian concerns in the afternoon. Any unfinished business will be taken up on Tuesday during the first attempt in years to move beyond the status quo. Al-Sahaf said Baghdad had fulfilled all Security Council requirements and "that means an immediate lift of sanctions," imposed in August 1990 when Baghdad’s troops invaded Kuwait. Iraq has refused to allow weapons inspectors back into the country since December 1998, when the United States and Britain conducted a four-day bombing raid to punish Baghdad for failing to cooperate with searches for forbidden weapons. Asked what the Iraqi team had brought to the table, he said there were no new proposals. Instead, he said the Iraqis had submitted detailed reports proving Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction. Annan, shortly before the two-day talks started on Monday, said he did not "expect miracles" but was encouraged by various Governments re-evaluating their policies. Although expectations were low for the two-day sessions, Annan said there was an "important and healthy shift" which stemmed from discussions in capitals of Security Council members on what to do next, including a review by the US administration of its Iraq policy. "For a long time the attitude has been ‘this is our policy, this is the way we do things,"’ Annan said. "But I think recently we have put on the table that critical question — ‘what should we be doing?"’ he said. No one expects the talks to produce an early agreement on issues that have eluded a divided 15-nation Security Council —especially allowing arms inspectors to verify Iraq no longer has any dangerous arms. "I am encouraged the Iraqi delegation is here," Annan said. "I hope we can find some ways as we move forward of breaking the current impasse, which no one finds satisfactory." "I do not expect miracles in the two days of talks but at least it is a beginning," he said. For the United Nations, Annan will have little to negotiate until the Security Council agrees on a common position. France, Russia and China all want an immediate suspension of the sanctions, while the United States and Britain are conducting a review of their policies. For a start, some US officials said this could include releasing some of the 1,600 contracts from Iraq, worth close to 3 billion, that the United States has frozen over the past few years. They include mainly infrastructure repairs. Western diplomats said it was crucial that Washington and London find common ground with France, a European community member. They said the meetings would be considered a small success if Iraq acknowledged they were the beginning of a dialogue, rather than a one-shot session. Annan too said he hoped the two days of talks would be a prelude to further discussions. He noted there had been considerable progress made in the last decade in ridding Iraq of nuclear arms and long-range ballistic missiles. But he said there was work to be done in the biological and chemical weapons areas and only inspectors could judge how much, "once they have been able to get back into Iraq." US Secretary of State Colin Powell is in the Middle East trying to convince moderate Arab leaders to rebuild the now-frayed alliance against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. But most have lost interest in sanctions, are critical of repeated US and British attacks on Iraqi air defenses and are worried that Israeli-Palestinian violence will enhance Saddam’s prestige. (REUTERS) |
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CIA claims Indian nuke weapons prog continuing WASHINGTON, Feb 27: India is continuing its nuclear weapons development programme and relies on foreign assistance for key missile and dual-use technologies which it gets from entities in Russia and western Europe, the CIA claimed in its semi-annual report to congress. "India continues its nuclear weapons development programme for which its underground nuclear tests in May 1998 were a significant milestone," it said in the report —acquisition of technology relating to weapons of mass destruction and advanced conventional weapons. India, the American Central Intelligence Agency claimed, continues to rely on foreign assistance for key missile and dual-use technologies, where "it still lacks engineering or production expertise in ballistic missile development." Entities in Russia and western Europe remained primary conduits of missile-related technology transfers during the first half of 2000, it said. "The acquisition of foreign equipment could benefit new delhi in its efforts to develop and produce more sophisticated nuclear weapons," it said adding "India obtained some foreign assistance for its civilian nuclear power programme during the first half of 2000, primarily from Russia." The CIA claimed India is continuing an across-the-board modernization of its armed forces through Advanced Convention Weapons (ACW), mostly from Russia, although many of its key programmes have been plagued by delays. Despite overall improvements in Russia’s economy, the CIA said, the state-run defence and nuclear industries remain strapped for funds, even as Moscow looks to them for badly needed foreign exchange through exports. "We remain very concerned about the nonproliferation implications of such sales in several areas. Monitoring russian proliferation behaviour, therefore, will remain a very high priority." The CIA said that Russian entities during the reporting period continued to supply a variety of ballistic missile-related goods and technical know-how to countries such as Iran, India, China and Libya. It also said that Russia remains a major supplier of conventional arms, adding Moscow’s commitment, willingness and ability to curb proliferation-related transfers "remain uncertain." (PTI) |
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US blasts China on rights, sets tone for George Bush WASHINGTON, Feb 27: The United States has said that China’s human rights record deteriorated further in 2000, issuing a report certain to anger Beijing as President George W Bush works out his approach to the communist giant. The State Department, releasing its annual global human rights report yesterday, also announced that Washington would again sponsor a motion at the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva this year condemning Beijing’s record. China, by diplomatic maneuvers, has avoided even a vote on the resolution in recent years but human rights groups and members of Congress urged bush to go ahead, fearing China’s success in evading rebuke was undermining the Geneva process. The State Department report, which regularly draws expressions of outrage and accusations of American hypocrisy from Beijing, said: "China’s poor human rights record worsened during the year." It added: "The Government’s respect for religious freedom deteriorated markedly ... As the Government conducted crackdowns against underground christian groups and Tibetan Buddhists and destroyed many houses of worship." It detailed widespread use of torture and condemned the crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual movement. Many Falun Gong practitioners have been arrested, including many in mass arrests in public places like Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. In another potential blow to China relations, the top democrat on the House of Representatives’ International Relations Committee, Tom Lantos of California, said he would introduce a resolution in two weeks opposing China’s bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games. Lantos, who described China’s rights record as deporable, sponsored a similar resolution in 1993, which passed with a bi-partisan majority. At that time the international committee decided to grant Sydney the 2000 games rather than Beijing. The US rights report said that in 2000 thousands of unregistered religious institutions in China were closed or destroyed, hundreds of Falun Gong leaders were jailed, sent to "re-education through labor" camps or to mental institutions. "Various sources report that approximately 100 or more falun gong practitioners died as a result of torture and mistreatment in custody," it added. At the same time, the report noted that decentralization by the communist authorities and other economic reforms had "markedly reduced state control over citizens’ daily lives." Many Chinese had more individual choice, greater access to information and expanded economic opportunity, it said. Parmly said the Chinese Government faced a dilemma. While trying to suppress any activity seen as a threat to the Government it faced a people striving to play a greater role in the international system. Release of the report coincided with a visit to Beijing by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, who urged the Chinese authorities to scrap the "re-education through labor" system it has used to lock up dissidents and many Falun Gong members. Although compiled from data gathered under former President Bill Clinton, who took what many Republicans consider too soft a line toward Beijing, the report added to the impression of a tougher line emerging under Bush. In his election campaign last year, Bush promised to transform what was billed as a policy of making China a "strategic partner" into one in which the emerging economic powerhouse would be seen as a "strategic competitor". Bush made clear he wanted to focus his Asian policy on US allies, primarily Japan, which he said Clinton had ignored. Bush’s relations with Beijing are already off to a rocky start. Last week he was faced with reports that Chinese workers were helping Iraq install fiber-optic technology after allegations that they were helping upgrade Baghdad’s air defense systems, which were bombed by US aircraft. "It’s troubling that they be involved in helping Iraq develop a system that will endanger our pilots," Bush told reporters. US officials said the presence of the technicians could contravene UN sanctions. In another key decision that could set the tone for Bush’s relations with China, his administration is due to decide in April on Taiwan’s annual requests for arms sales. China claims the self-governing island is a rebel province. Beijing has also been critical of Bush’s determination to deploy a US anti-missile defense system, a key element in his proposals for transforming US national security but one China says will trigger a new arms race. Zhou Mingwei, a senior Chinese official dealing with Taiwan, is holding talks in Washington this week and Qian Qichen, China’s most senior foreign affairs official is due in the United States in March. The State Department report was being posted at its website www.State.Gov. (REUTERS) |
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Families in 2 Koreas recount lost decades SEOUL, Feb 27: The chance of a lifetime came for 200 elderly Koreans yesterday as rare reunions in the capitals of the North and South offered a glimpse of decades lost through war and the cold war animosities it left behind. Lee Hu-Dok, 77, embraced a daughter whose fateful decision to work an overtime shift more than 30 years ago put them on opposite sides of one of the most fiercely defended borders in the world. Her daughter, Sung Kyoung-Hee, was a flight attendant working for Korean air lines who worked overtime on a flight that was hijacked to North Korea in December 1969. Yesterday, Lee flew to Pyongyang with 99 other South Koreans selected for rare family reunions due to last until Wednesday. "Mother," Sung, now 55, repeatedly cried, as the two women hugged. "I thought I was the most unfortunate person," her mother was quoted in pool reports saying. "Now, I am the happiest mother on earth." This week’s reunions are only the third of their kind since last June, when the leaders of the two koreas pledged to start rebuilding trust after a half century of conflict. Most people taking part have been separated even longer that Lee and her daughter, and Monday’s meetings in Seoul and Pyongyang were a precious opportunity to piece together lost decades shrouded in mystery. Embraced son In Seoul, 91-year-old Kim In-Soo embraced a son she last saw as a schoolboy over 50 years ago. Kim was one of hundreds of South Koreans who gathered in a seoul convention centre to meet 100 visiting North Korean relatives as a similar drama unfolded in Pyongyang. "Every morning for the last 50 years I have had these by my bedside and prayed for him," Kim said, Clutching faded photos of a son now grown up and with a family of his own. Her son, Jong Tu-Myong, 66, a composer of military music, got down on his knees and cried out: "Mother, is it really you?" Together with his sister and brother they wept as Jong raced to fill in the mystery of a lost half century. He showed his relatives a watch with North Korea founder Kim Il-Sung’s name engraved on it, adding proudly: "They don’t just give these out to everyone." His sister, Chung Sook-Hee, lives in Los Angeles and flew to Seoul to meet a brother she believed for decades was dead. "I’m so happy my heart is about to burst," Chung said. As in the first two gatherings, the North Koreans wore Kim Il-Sung Lapel Pins but were careful to pay their respects to current leader Kim Jong-Il. "I left Pyongyang only a short while ago but I already miss our great general (Kim Jong-Il)," said Cho Ki-Woon, 67, shortly after landing in Seoul to meet his mother and sister. North Korea carefully screens participants for the reunions seeking "exemplary" citizens, including some of the north’s most famous academics and artists. In the south, tens of thousands applied to take part but preference was given to those in their 70s or older. Those lucky enough to be chosen get little true privacy with their families, however. They are forced to stitch together lost lives in just hours accompanied by reporters and Government "minders" monitoring their every word. Each participant is allowed to meet just five family members at designated hotels and the schedule is tightened yet further by visits to tourist attractions as both countries try to impress their visitors with modern facilities and cultural properties. Impossible dream The tearful reunions, like those held last August and November, strike an emotional chord in both countries, where some ten million people have family ties that cross the border. The idea of being able to meet until last year’s summit had long seemed an impossible dream. "I can’t believe it’s you, finally," Kim said when she met her son, whose sister remembered waving good-bye as teenagers in 1950. "Mother I told you I’d be back soon," he replied, as the family wept. President Kim Dae-Jung won the nobel peace prize last year for his efforts to reach out to the north, which culminated in last June’s summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il. Lower level talks since have focused on opening a road and rail link between the two countries and fostering economic ties. Chun Jeom-Ie, 79, said she hoped there was still time to rebuild part of what has been lost for her and younger brother Chon Jong-Hak, 70, who had come from Pyongyang. "We said good-bye at masan train station a few weeks before the war broke out (in 1950)," said Chun, trembling with tears. "I just hope the railroad is completed before I die so I can see him one more time," she said. (REUTERS) |
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Iran
stockpiles several thousand WASHINGTON, Feb 27: Iran has stockpiled several thousand tonnes of chemical weapons and the bombs and artillery shells for delivering them, the CIA said in its latest proliferation report to US Congress. The evidence collected in the first six months of 2000 indicates determined Iranian efforts to acquire Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and Advanced Conventional Weapons (ACW), related equipment, materials, and technology focused primarily on entities in Russia, China, North Korea and Western Europe, it said. "Tehran is attempting to develop an indigenous capability to produce various types of weapons — chemical, biological and nuclear — and their delivery systems." Tehran continues to seek production technology, training, expertise, equipment and chemicals that could be used as precursor agents in its chemical warfare programme from entities in Russia and China, it said. It said Tehran expanded its efforts to seek considerable dual-use biotechnical materials, equipment and expertise from abroad-primarily from entities in Russia and Western Europe "ostensibly for civilian use." "We judge that this equipment and know-how could be applied to Iran’s Biological Warfare Programme." The CIA said work continues on the construction of a 1,000 MW Russian nuclear power reactor at Bushehr that will be subject to international atomic energy safeguards. In addition, Russian entities continued to interact with Iranian research centres on various activities. These projects would help Iran augment its nuclear technology infrastructure. It said the expertise and technology gainel channels and contacts established could be used to advance Iran’s nuclear weapons Research and Development Programme. "We suspect that Tehran most likely is interested in acquiring fissile material and technology for weapons development as part of its overall nuclear weapons programme." The CIA said entities in Russia, North Korea and China continued to supply the largest amount of ballistic missile-related goods and technology to Iran which Tehran is using to support production programmes and to achieve its goal of becoming self-sufficient in ballistic missiles production. "Against the backdrop of sustained cooperation with Russian, North Korean and Chinese entities, Tehran intends to develop a longer range ballistic missile capability," it said. The CIA said throughout the first half of 2000, North Korea continued to export significant ballistic missile-related equipment and missile components, materials and technical expertise to countries in the Middle East, South Asia (Pakistan) and North Africa. On Iraq, the CIA said it, having lost its on-the-ground access, is more difficult for the UN or the US to accurately assess the current state of Baghdad’s WMD programmes. It said Pyongyang continues to acquire raw materials from out-of-country entities needed for WMD, especially through firms in China. The CIA said Libya continued its efforts to obtain ballistic missile-related equipment, materials, technology and expertise from foreign sources. Libya is also seeking to acquire the capability to develop and produce biological warfare agents. The agency said it is highly probable Syria is also developing an offensive biological warfare capability. During the reporting period, Sudan sought to acquire a variety of military equipment from various sources. (PTI) |
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Chinese continue to give nuke assistance to Pak: CIA WASHINGTON, Feb 27: Pakistan is moving toward serial production of solid-propellant short range ballistic missiles with Chinese entities continuing to assist Islamabad’s missile programme, the CIA said in a proliferation report. During the first half of 2000, Chinese entities provided significant assistance to Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme and with this assistance Pakistan "is rapidly moving toward serial production of solid-propellant SRBMs," the Central Intelligence Agency said Pakistan’s development of the two-stage Shaheen-II missile also requires continued Chinese assistance, adding "the impact of North Korea’s assistance throughout the reporting period is less clear." CIA said Pakistan continued to acquire nuclear-related and dual-use equipment and materials from various sources, principally in Western Europe. "Islamabad has a well-developed nuclear weapons programme, as evidenced by its first nuclear weapons tests in May 1998. Acquisition of nuclear-related goods from foreign sources will remain important if Pakistan chooses to develop more advanced nuclear weapons," it said. The American agency said that China had pledged not to assist unsafeguard nuclear facilities in any state, including Pakistan. "(But) we cannot rule out some continued contacts between Chinese entities and entities involved in Pakistan’s nuclear weapons development." The CIA said Pakistan continues to rely on China and france for its advanced conventional weapon requirements. Pakistan received upgraded Mirage III/V fighters from France and continued negotiations to purchase an additional 50 F-7 fighters from China. In the first six months of 2000, the CIA said, the Chinese continued to take a very "narrow" interpretation of their bilateral nonproliferation commitments with the us. Beijing has repeatedly pledged not to sell missile technology control regime category I (highest category) systems but has not recognized the regime’s key technology annex. "Chinese missile-related technical assistance to Pakistan continued to be substantial during this reporting period. In addition, firms in China provided missile-related items, raw materials, and/or assistance to several other countries of proliferation concern such as Iran, North Korea and Libya." The CIA said China’s "involvement" with Pakistan will continue to be monitored closely. It said that many of countries such as India, Iran and Pakistan do not adhere to the export restraints embodied in supplier groups as the nuclear supplier group and the missile technology control regime. (PTI) |
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