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Afghan Taliban ISLAMABAD, May 5: The radical Taliban Islamic militia ruling Afghanistan appears ready for a trial in the United States of Osama Bin Laden, the Arab.......more Musharraf
says HANOI, May 5: Pakistan’s military ruler General Pervez Musharraf today said a ban he has imposed on political rallies would not be lifted before......more US
reviewing WASHINGTON, May 5: President George W Bush has ordered a review of all US Government.....more Pak
started both wars ISLAMABAD, May 5 : A prominent Pakistani politician and former Chief of Pakistan Airforce (PAF)......more |
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US asks Lanka, LTTE COLOMBO, May 5: The United States has asked both the Sri Lankan Government and LTTE to make a commitment to cease hostilities and start peace talks as soon as possible as it believes that the ethic conflict cannot be settled by ‘military means’.....more WHO
warns about GENEVA, May 5: If current trends continue for the next 30 years, the number of smoking-related deaths will increase from 4 million to 10 million a year, the World Health Organisation predicted in a statement.....more UNITED NATIONS, May 4: India has been elected to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) and coordination board of the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. Pakistan, a nominee of the World Health Organisation for ........more |
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Afghan Taliban militia agrees to Bin Laden trial in US ISLAMABAD, May 5: The radical Taliban Islamic militia ruling Afghanistan appears ready for a trial in the United States of Osama Bin Laden, the Arab dissident in hiding in the Pariah state, accused by Washington of international terrorism, a Pakistani newspaper today reported. But "the Saudi millionaire will testify only through satellite technology (from his hideout)," Islamabad-based newspaper The News said in a report from Kandahar, the Taliban’s political seat in southwestern Afghanistan. "We cannot trust his life with those who want to kill him," an unidentified Taliban official explained why Osama would not appear before a jury in person. That was in fact an indirect reference to the american missile attack in 1998 against a Base Osama was suspected to run for training terrorists inside Afghanistan. Osama escaped the assault but 19 others were killed. The attack followed bombings targetting American Embassies in East Africa in 1998. As many as 224 people, including 12 Americans, were killed in the twin explosions for which Washington accused osama of involvement. The Taliban rulers of Afghanistan have so far resisted American pressure to have Osama shifted to the US for trial and for the same reason the Taliban are facing American-instigated UN security Council’s punitive sanctions. The hardline Taliban militia, The News believed, was shifting to a "flexible" policy on Osama and the mode of his "trial are being finalised in Kandahar." A veteran of the war the Afghans fought against the invading armies of the erstwhile Soviet Union in the 1980s, Taliban have declared Osama as their "guest" under Islamic and Afghan traditions. "Some dialogue between the representatives of the Afghans and the US Government indicates some inching forward on the Osama issue," The News wrote. Of Osama’s trial, the paper said, it could also be held in any other country besides the US but conducted only under Islamic Sharia laws. Both sides - America and Osama - "will be free to appoint their own lawyers," the report said, basing interviews with senior Taliban officials, who were not identified. They told the news Taliban would be obliged to carry out a verdict even if it meant "Osama’s expulsion from Afghanistan, his execution or life imprisonment." As for Osama’s expulsion, there is no agreement between the US and Taliban to bind them to expel each other’s criminals, according to the paper. (DPA) |
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Musharraf says no end to rally ban before polls HANOI, May 5: Pakistan’s military ruler General Pervez Musharraf today said a ban he has imposed on political rallies would not be lifted before elections next year. Speaking at a news conference in Hanoi at the end of a three-day visit to Vietnam, Musharraf said he was sure opponents taken into preventative detention to enforce the ban must now have been released. "There was a group trying to violate the rules," he said. "There had to be some preventative detentions, but I am sure by now all those people who were detained must have been released — I don’t know the exact figure." Asked when the ban on public rallies would be lifted, he said: "There will be no lifting of the ban on political activity until there are elections next year before October 2002." He said there was not a complete ban on political activity as politicians were allowed to meet indoors and also to appear live on television to state their views. "Activity to the extent of disruptionist activity outdoors is not allowed," he said. "Otherwise peaceful talking, expression of views, conveying those views to the people of pakistan is not at all banned," he said. "The ban is only on the few political elements who want to misuse their platform to create destabilisation — unnecessary law-and-order situations against the interests of Pakistan." On Thursday, Iqbal Haider, a senator in Pakistan’s suspended upper house and Law Minister under self-exiled former Premier Benazir Bhutto, said thousands of political leaders and workers were still being held after the military moved to crush a pro-democracy rally in Karachi on May 1. A senior police official in Karachi said on Wednesday most of those detained would be released later that day, but political sources contacted on Thursday said everyone was still being held. (REUTERS) |
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US reviewing all contacts with China WASHINGTON, May 5: President George W Bush has ordered a review of all US Government contacts with China following an 11-day spy plane standoff that strained relations, a White House spokesman said. After Bush signaled the review on Thursday, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said yesterday the President had directed the Departments of Defense and state and other agencies engaged with China to "take a look case by case" at their contacts with Beijing. Secretary of State Colin Powell will evaluate contacts at his department, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld at the Pentagon, and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice will review contacts in other agencies. Fleischer said the goal was "to make a determination on a case-by-case basis about which of those contacts are the most positive and productive for the United States and which may not be." officials described it as a relatively informal process and contacts that would be under review would be whether US officials had any meetings with Chinese officials planned or whether they planned to attend any conferences in China. "It’s not business as usual yet with China," said one official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Bush had signaled the review on Thursday when asked about the decision to look at US-Chinese military contacts. "We’re going to review all opportunities to interface with the chinese," Bush told reporters. "And if it enhances our relationship, it might make sense. If it’s a useless exercise, and it doesn’t make the relationship any better, then we won’t do that." US-Chinese relations have been strained by an 11-day standoff after a US spy made an emergency landing in China and by Bush’s pledge to defend Taiwan — considered a breakaway province — against any attack from China. (REUTERS) |
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Pak started both wars against India:PAF chief ISLAMABAD, May 5 : A prominent Pakistani politician and former Chief of Pakistan Airforce (PAF) has said India never posed a security threat to Pakistan and held Islamabad responsible for starting both the 1965 and 1971 wars against India. "Pakistan started the war with India by sending troops to Runn of Kutch in 1965, and later created such conditions in east Pakistan in 1971 that India had to wage a war to liberate it," Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan, who heads Pakistan’s Tehrik-e-Istaqlal political party, said in an interview with daily `The News’. "India never started a war with Pakistan," khan said. Since India never posed a threat to Pakistan’s security, there was no need to revamp Pakistan Air Force (PAF), he said. "Also Pakistan need not spend so much money on Defence as India would never dare attack Pakistan," he said. Referring to anti-India sentiments in Pakistan, Khan blamed a certain "section of society" who created hysteria stating that Jehad (holy war) should be launched against India and the US. On the Kashmir issue, khan said both India and Pakistan should agree for establishing an "independent" state of Jammu and Kashmir. "Both countries could undertake joint responsibility of defence of Kashmir by stationing few brigadiers from each side and permit Kashmiris to rule themselves peacefully." Stating that people of Kashmir could not be won over with force, he said "Pakistan and India should make efforts to find a durable solution to establish peace in the region." (PTI) |
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US asks Lanka, LTTE to cease hostilities COLOMBO, May 5: The United States has asked both the Sri Lankan Government and LTTE to make a commitment to cease hostilities and start peace talks as soon as possible as it believes that the ethic conflict cannot be settled by ‘military means’. This view was conveyed yesterday by Secretary of State Colin Powell during a meeting with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakhsman Kadirgamar, who is in Washington. Mr Kadirgamar and Mr Powell discussed bilateral and multilateral issues besides the security situation in Sri Lanka. An US Embassy statement said the United States has long believed that the Sri Lankan conflict cannot be settled by military means. For this reason, we hope the Sri Lankan Government and LTTE will make a commitment to cease hostilities and start peace talks as soon as possible . The statement also said Mr Powell expressed strong understanding of the terrorist challenge confronting the Sri Lankan Government and had great sympahty for the tens of thousands of dead and the hundreds of injured and displaced persons affected by the conflict. He also extended strong support for the efforts by Norway to bring about the commencement of peace talks. The US had declared LTTE as a terrorist organisation in 1997. The Sri Lankan Government and LTTE are now locked horns over conditions such as ceasefire and de-proscription. The LTTE had called off the four- month unilateral ceasefire on April 24, accusing the Government of not responding positively to its goodwill gesture intended to create a conducive climate for talks. The Government dismissed the LTTE ceasefire as a ‘farce’ and asked the LTTE to be sincere and honest and to come for talks first before asking for a ceasefire. The tigers also wanted the Government to lift the ban imposed on their organisation before participating in the talks. (UNI) |
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WHO warns about dangers of
tobacco GENEVA, May 5: If current trends continue for the next 30 years, the number of smoking-related deaths will increase from 4 million to 10 million a year, the World Health Organisation predicted in a statement. It made the announcement in Geneva, as the second round of negotiations on the WHO’s framework convention on tobacco control came to an end. The WHO said yesterday aggressive advertising campaigns by tobacco companies have led to an increase in smoking among young people. Representatives of 191 member states took part in the week-long convention negotiations, and most submitted proposals. The next round of negotiations is set for November, when the various proposals are to be compiled into a single document. Negotiations are to conclude in two years, when the convention becomes binding for its signatories. The convention’s goals are to curb tobacco use, advertising and smuggling. Several proposals to prohibit cigarette advertising have little chance of being adopted, sources said, and the amount for a tax on tobacco production remains contentious. (DPA) |
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UNITED NATIONS, May 4: India has been elected to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) and coordination board of the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. Pakistan, a nominee of the World Health Organisation for INCB, suffered a defeat. India has been made member of the prestigious bodies even though it is not a member of the 54-strong United Nations Economic and Social Council which elects the two bodies. India, along with seven other countries, was elected as programme coordinators to the UN AIDS programme uncontested. The election to INCB are fought by individual candidates nominated by the Governments and Madan Mohan Bhatnagar was the successful Indian candidate. The first round of secret ballot saw the victory of Austrian Rainer Wolfgang Schmid and Robert Lousberg of the Netherlands. In the second round Jacques Franquet of France and Rosa Masriadel Castillo of Peru were elected. Bhatnagar was elected in the third round defeating Germany’s nominee. Among the candidates nominated by the World Health Organisation, Hamid A Ghodse of Iran, was declared elected. In the second round, Brazil’s Elisaldo Carlini won, defeating nominees of Pakistan and the joint candidate of Canada and Chile. Others were Burundi and Kenya from Africa, the Philippines from Asia, Russia from Eastern Europe, and Brazil from Latin America and Caribbean group and Germany and Spain from western Europe and others groups. Norway was elected to complete Finland’s term ending December 31 next year. (PTI) |
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