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Jamali hints at meeting ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali today raised hopes of an Indo-Pak bilateral.....more Jamali expects structured summit with Vajpayee during summit ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Observing that the two countries have moved from a "dead-end to a silver lining" after a spate of ......more Jamali hopes Vajpayee’s visit would pave way for dialogue ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Pakistan Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali has hoped that the visit of his Indian counterpart.....more Special
device flown ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Taking no chances in the wake of two assassination attempts on Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, Indian security agencies ....more |
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Colombians fail to approve Oct vote-final tally BOGOTA, COLOMBIA, Jan 3: In a blow to President Alvaro Uribe, a referendum on austerity measures held in October failed to win enough....more US spacecraft survives close encounter with comet PASADENA, CALIF, Jan 3: A US spacecraft survived a wild ride inside the tail of a comet today, catching stardust from the streaking chunk of rock ......more UN
prepares appeal for UNITED NATIONS, Jan 3: The United Nations is dispatching an assessment team to the earthquake-devastated Iranian city of Bam today in . ......more US on brink of war during Arab oil embargo of 1973: Report JERUSALEM, Jan 3: The US Government seriously contemplated using its ....more |
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Jamali hints at meeting with Vajpayee ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali today raised hopes of an Indo-Pak bilateral engagement on the margins of the SAARC summit, by hinting at the possiblity of his holding a one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. "There is a possiblity that I will have a separate meeting with my Indian counterpart Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the two countries have now moved from a dead-end to silver-lining," Mr Jamali said in an interview with ‘The News’. He said, "we will be together in the conference and the retreat arranged here at the Prime Minister’s residence and then at informal meetings where everyone will be free to talk on issues. Besides, there is a possibility that there might be a meeting separately. That is just a possibility." In this connection, Mr Jamali’s meeting with Indian Indian High Commissioner Shiv Shankar Menon last evening appears significant. Media reports here suggested that Mr Menon had conveyed a "message" from Mr Vajpayee for the Pakistani premier. The talks between Mr Jamali and Mr Menon also focussed on bilateral issues that have bedevilled relations between India and Pakistan. Mr Jamali said, "the ice has been broken with the recent spate of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) taken by the two countries." Mr Vajpayee’s decision to participate in the SAARC summit was itself a "very positive development" and "I hope all the SAARC countries would come up with a positive approach," he said. The Pakistani Premier expected a structured Indo-Pak summit during Mr Vajpayee’s four-day stay in Islamabad. "We have achieved some breakthrough in different areas and I am hopeful that a breakthrough on ticklish issues would also be achieved this time if all goes well." He said, "we have to convice all concerned that war is not the solution and it is imperative to achieve a breakthrough for which the first requirement is to hold a composite dialogue." Mr Jamali said, "we have been able to come out of the deadlock the ice has been broken and a clear example of it is that Mr Vajpayee has consented to attend the summit." "India and Pakistan have been able to make a big breakthrough in various sectors — hot lines have started functioning well, bus service has already started and I am sure that the bus travel between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad will begin soon. The opening of the Khokhrapar-Munabao road link is also on cards," he said. (UNI) |
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Jamali expects structured summit with Vajpayee during summit ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Observing that the two countries have moved from a "dead-end to a silver lining" after a spate of Confidence Building Measures initiated by India and Pakistan, Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali said that he expects a "structured" summit to take place with his Indian counterpart Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the three-day SAARC summit beginning tomorrow. "There is a possibility that I will have a separate meeting with my Indian counterpart Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as the two countries have moved from a dead-end to a silver lining," Jamali said adding that he expects a "structured Indo-Pak summit" during Vajapyee’s stay in Islamabad. "We have achieved some breakthroughs in different areas, and I am hopeful that a breakthrough on ticklish issues will also be achieved this time, if all goes according to my assessment," he said in an interview to daily `The News’ ahead of Vajpayee’s arrival here today to take part in the summit. On the possibility of his one-on-one meeting with Vajpayee, he said "people are talking about one-on-one meeting or otherwise but the meetings will take place ... We will be together in the conference and at the retreat arranged here at the Prime Minister’s house and then informal meetings where every one will be free to talk on issues," Jamali, said. "Ice has been broken with recent spate of Confidence-Building Measures initiated and taken by Pakistan and India," he said. Jamali said Vajpayee’s consent to attend the SAARC summit is in itself a "very positive development" and we have been able to come out of the deadlock. The Pakistani Premier said resolution of Kashmir issue was possible as he felt comfortable discussing the issue with the Indian Prime Minister. "Prime Minister Vajpayee is a liberal and amiable man. I feel comfortable holding a dialogue with Prime Minister Vajpayee," he said. Even though they have never met, but he did talk to him on telephone a couple of times, he said adding that Vajpayee was "considerate and receptive". Hoping that a mutual dialogue would surely lead to an early and acceptable solution to all outstanding disputes and issues, including the Kashmir problem, he said "a lot of time has already been wasted. I believe India and Pakistan have moved forward vis-a-vis bilateral relations recently. I will strive to take things ahead beyond this point." Dubbing the Agra summit as a failure, he said that "since it did not work out, people naturally had their reservations. We wouldn’t want a repetition of a failure. In the 21st century, I think a breakthrough is imperative for both the countries". On the progress made by the two through various CBMs, he said "India and Pakistan are able to make big breakthrough in various sectors...The hotlines have started functioning well, the bus service has already started and I am sure that bus travel between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad will take place as dialogue is on for it. Opening of Khokharapar and Munnobao road link and ultimately rail link are on the cards". Jamali said there is a need to convince all concerned that war is not the solution and it is imperative to achieve breakthrough for which the first requirement is to hold composite dialogue. "I hope that the countries concerned would come up with positive approach and this SAARC conference will bring about a good result." He said measures taken by Pakistan reflected a positive approach and India has replied positively as well. So we are in a position to have a dialogue. Terming the ceasefire announced by Pakistan in November last year as a "good omen," he said "I think the ceasefire has proved a good omen and yielded results. The people are relieved, as all want peace, no-one wants war". On the issue of terrorism and cross border infiltration, Jamali said Pakistan has its own stand. Claiming that Pakistan was a victim of terrorism and supported war on terrorism, he said "we are not part of terrorism ... We are victim of terrorism and we cannot support terrorism. One cannot stop talking based on conjunctures, as Pakistan is supportive of anti-terrorism actions worldwide." He said Indians have their own frame of mind and free to talk on such issues. "We, however, opposed terrorism in all its manifestations." On Kashmir, he said, people have their own priorities. "Some say it is terrorism, others say that it’s a freedom movement," he said and referred to the additional protocol on terrorism. Jamali said Pakistan would carefully consider all solutions in talks with India to discuss resolution of Kashmir issue. "Unless composite dialogue takes place, the proposals are confined to oneself. One needs to hold talks on the proposals and no one is ready to disclose his cards before the dialogue is held," he said. Jamali said he strongly believed that the SAARC summit would prove fruitful in cooperation between the member-states in the social sector. "Yes, we have plans for extending cooperation in the social sector. There will be additional good news about one or two issues before the summit starts formally." Thought both the countries need peace and cooperation, it depends on the leadership to take a positive future course. "It depends on India and Pakistan how we mould ourselves in the light of the wishes of the people. For this, the first requirement was to hold a composite dialogue and I think that has to be done. We need to pave the way to get to the point where all disputes could be discussed and amicably resolved. This is how I see it politically," he said. (PTI) |
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Jamali hopes Vajpayee’s visit would pave way for dialogue ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Pakistan Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali has hoped that the visit of his Indian counterpart Atal Bihari Vajpayee to the country for the SAARC summit beginning here tomorrow would pave the way for a comprehensive dialogue between the two countries. Conveying this to Indian High Commissioner Shiv Shanker Menon, who called on him yesterday at his residence, Jamali said he was looking forward to Vajpayee’s visit to Pakistan. According to official APP newsagency, Jamali expressed the hope that Vajpayee’s visit would lead to further improvement in Indo-Pak relations besides paving the way for comprehensive dialogue between the two countries. Menon conveyed the greetings of Vajpayee, who flies here today, to the people and Government of Pakistan. On Indo-Pak relations, Menon said "there has been improvement in our relations. Both countries have taken certain steps. It has been made easy for people on both sides to travel but still there is a long way to go." Whatever differences there are can be resolved through talks, he said. About India’s agenda at the SAARC summit, he said "we will be stressing on social and economic factors and other issues where we can progress". (PTI) |
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Special device flown in for Vajpayee’s security ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Taking no chances in the wake of two assassination attempts on Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, Indian security agencies have flown in sophisticated gadgets to ensure "fool-proof" security for Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Security officials have also brought in an initiator device, that can detect and defuse any explosive device or material before time, preventing it from hitting the target. Top Indian security officials have been camping in the Pakistan capital for the past few days to personally monitor the security arrangements for Mr Vajpayee, who will be here for the next four days for the SAARC summit. The Indian security experts have been coordinating closely with various Pakistani agencies, entrusted with the task of ensuring Mr Vajpayee’s security. The initiator device will move ahead of Mr Vajpayee’s convoy. This new device is said to be more effective in protecting VVIPs than Jammers, which are usually used for the security of top leaders. The Indian Government has airlifted three bullet-proof bmw cars for Mr Vajpayee. Around 10,000 army and para-military personnel are manning the streets of the Pakistan capital to thwart any designs by ‘Jehadi’ groups to disrupt the three-day summit, that gets underway tomorrow. A red zone, covering a radius of 2 Km has been established around the two main hotels, where the Heads of State or Government will be lodged during their stay here. Mr Vajpayee and his entourage will stay at the Serena hotel, which has been sealed. "It is one of the most stringent security operations in the history of our country. Anti-aircraft guns and troops have been positioned in the Margalla hills (which overlook Islamabad). All schools, colleges and religious seminaries will remain closed for a week," a top Pakistani security official said. (UNI) |
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Colombians fail to approve Oct vote-final tally BOGOTA, COLOMBIA, Jan 3: In a blow to President Alvaro Uribe, a referendum on austerity measures held in October failed to win enough support but voters approved a ban on corrupt politicians, final results showed today. Out of the 15-point referendum, the only proposal to pass was a ban on politicians convicted of corruption, while questions on freezing Government salaries, capping state pensions and trimming the size of Congress — the backbone of the vote — were declared invalid because of insufficient turnout, the national electoral council said. Although the results of the Oct 25 referendum had been expected, they are a major defeat for the popular uribe, who has lost his sway in Congress and now faces an emboldened opposition. Uribe, who campaigned fiercely for a yes vote, had said the proposals would have reduced graft, saved money for spending on schools and hospitals, and warded off an Argentine-style financial collapse. At least 25 percent of the electorate had to cast a ballot on each question for the result to stand. Following the expected defeat of the referendum, uribe pushed through Congress a slimmed-down tax bill that falls way short of the 7 billion dollars the Government had hoped to save by 2010 with the referendum. Uribe, branded an authoritarian by his critics, even questioned the results of the vote last month by saying that the electoral roll had mistakenly included dead people, members of the armed forces and other ineligible citizens. The national electoral council rejected last month Uribe’s request to lower the minimum number of votes needed to make the referendum count. Uribe has said he will appeal the decision to the State Council. (AGENCIES) |
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US spacecraft survives close encounter with comet PASADENA, CALIF, Jan 3: A US spacecraft survived a wild ride inside the tail of a comet today, catching stardust from the streaking chunk of rock and ice that could give clues to how the solar system, and even life on earth, began. The stardust, or particles from the tail of the comet, wild 2, will be returned to earth in 2006 for study by scientists. The control room at NASA’s jet propulsion laboratory in pasadena erupted in cheers and clapping at 11:40 AM PST (2510 IST) as monitors showed an uninterrupted flow of data from the stardust spacecraft during its closest encounter point with the comet. "We’ve flown through the worst of it and we’re still in contact with our spacecraft." JPL project manager Tom Duxbury said moments after the encounter. "We’re still exuberant. What a deal." Duxbury said the bookcase-sized spacecraft performed flawlessly during the intense, eight-minute hailstorm of particles inside wild 2’s coma, or tail. The historic "fly-by" happened 390 million Km from earth after a five-year journey when stardust passed within 303 Kms of wild 2. Initial data from the encounter showed that the spacecraft’s systems functioned as planned — snapping pictures of the comet’s nucleus and scooping up dust particles destined to be the first cometary samples returned to earth for study. A capsule carrying the samples will ultimately separate from the spacecraft and reenter earth’s atmosphere for a landing in the Utah desert in January 2006, while stardust veers back into space. Scientists say the dust samples, containing particles gathered by the comet since its formation at the dawn of the solar system and during its own ancient interplanetary wanderings, may hold clues to how the solar system, and even life on earth, began. (AGENCIES) |
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UN prepares appeal for aid for Iran quake victims UNITED NATIONS, Jan 3: The United Nations is dispatching an assessment team to the earthquake-devastated Iranian city of Bam today in preparation for an emergency global appeal for relief funds to be launched next week. The appeal, scheduled for Thursday, aims to raise enough money to meet the area’s humanitarian and rehabilitation needs over the next three months, officials of the UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs said yesterday. The UN team is due to arrive in the ancient silk road city as the focus of emergency workers already on the ground shifts to relief and recovery from search and rescue efforts. The team is expected to return to Tehran on Monday after wrapping up its work. Last Friday’s earthquake destroyed some 90 percent of Bam’s mostly mud-brick buildings and killed at least 30,000 people. Iranian officials say the final death toll may reach 50,000. The UN office says most of the people remaining in the area have been allocated a tent and settled in the vicinity of their former home as heavy machinery clears the rubble and continues the search for buried bodies. While the quake destroyed some 23 area schools and badly damaged a number of others, the authorities are planning to reopen those schools that survived the quake on Jan 10, the United Nations said. But nearly all of the health facilities have been affected and will require extensive rehabilitation, the Iranian Health Ministry said, encouraging other countries and private relief groups to "adopt" a health center and help rebuild it. The quake devastated 95 of the area’s 96 health houses, all 23 health centers and two out of three hospitals, the ministry said. (AGENCIES) |
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US on brink of war during Arab oil embargo of 1973: Report JERUSALEM, Jan 3: The US Government seriously contemplated using its military to seize oil fields in the west Asia during the Arab oil embargo of 1973 with Iraq seen as a potential threat, backed by the Soviet Union, intervening in the capture of Kuwaiti oil. According to a declassified British Government document revealed on Thursday, the top-secret document says that President Richard Nixon, was prepared to act more aggressively than earlier believed to secure America’s oil supply if tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbours continued to escalate after the October 1973 middle east war, or if the oil embargo did not abate, International Herald Tribune (IHT) said in a report. The embargo was eventually lifted in March 1974 but oil prices shot to a new high during this year-and-a-half of sanction used to pressurise the international community to make Israel withdraw from Arab land. In case of the "dark scenario" continuing, the United States would have considered sending airborne troops to seize oil fields in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi. However, the use of military force would have been a measure of "last resort," IHT quotes the report as saying. The US intentions are said to have been conveyed by Defence Secretary James Schlesinger to Tbritish Ambassador in Washington Lord Cromer. The potential for conflict was taken so seriously by British intelligence that it wrote a report assessing the situation and listing the likeliest scenarios for the use of force and their consequences. The report titled "UK eyes Alpha" was sent to Prime Minister Edward Heath, a conservative, by Percy Cradock, head of Britain’s joint intelligence committee. The memorandum was one of hundreds of documents released by Britain’s national archives under a law that makes Government papers public fter 30 years. As outlined, the military action was seen to be relatively straightforward with two brigades needed to seize the Saudi oil fields and one each for Kuwait and Abu Dhabi. In the case of Abu Dhabi, the Americans would have perhaps asked for British military cooperation. The document is quoted to have said that the greatest threat would arise in Kuwait, "where the Iraqis, with Soviet backing, might be tempted to intervene." The British warned in their assessment that any occupation of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi might have to last as long as 10 years. The use of force would also anger and alienate Arab countries and irritate the Soviet Union, although a military confrontation with the Soviets would be unlikely, the report said. Discontent among western allies was also cited as a possible consequence of military intervention. "Since the United States would probably claim to be acting for the benefit of the west as a whole and would expect the full support of allies, deep US-European rifts could ensue," it said. (UNI) |
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US reports seizure of hash-Laden vessel in Arabian sea WASHINGTON, Jan 3: US led naval forces seized a vessel in the northern Arabian sea carrying an estimated 2,800 pounds of hashish, the US military’s Central Command has said. The seizure on Thursday also netted 15 suspects with the drugs, which have an estimated street value of 11 million dollars, the US statement said. US officials suspect links in the drug trafficking to Al-Qaeda, the terrorist network led by Saudi fugitive Osama bin Laden. The September 11, 2001 suicide attacks on New York and Washington were blamed on Al-Qaeda, which was forced from its refuges in Afghanistan by US-led military action later that year. "It is easy to see how Al-Qaeda could use this money-making network to fund their operations," Vice Admiral David Nichols, Commander of Central Command Naval Forces, said in the statement. (DPA) Negligence led to deadly China gas leak -Reports BEIJING, Jan 3: Chinese investigators have found a series of missteps by workers and negligence by gasfield developers triggered a toxic cloud that spewed from a natural gas well and killed 234 people in late December. A five-day investigation by a State Council team found the December 23 disaster in the southwestern municipality of Chongqing "was caused by numerous acts of workplace negligence", reports in state media said today. The toxic cloud from the well spewed into the night sky, killing people as they slept or fled, poisoning thousands and turning a 25 Sq Km area into a death zone. The cabinet-level probe into the accident, caused when the well burst while being drilled, would soon turn to meting out punishment, reports said. "The next step...Is to decide who was responsible for the disaster and have them pay the price," the official China daily quoted Sun Huashan, Vice Minister of the State Administration of work safety as saying. He gave no specifics. State-run China National Petroleum Corp, operator of the gasfield and parent of listed oil major petro China, has pledged to compensate victims, state media have reported. More than 64,000 villagers had to be evacuated from the area for about a week until emergency crews capped the well and workers cleaned up and buried the corpses of cattle, pigs, chickens and other animals killed by the fumes. The investigation found developers had underestimated production capacity of the well and were not technically prepared for a well producing so much gas with such a high sulphur content. "Moreover, workers on site did not follow operational regulations strictly and did not allow enough time for sufficient drilling mud to circulate to control the pressure," the China daily said. Investigators also found that a pressure control valve had been removed mistakenly from equipment "which was the direct cause of the blowout going out of control", the Xinhua News Agency said. (AGENCIES) JUI (F) to felicitate Vajpayee ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Pakistan’s top Islamic party Jamaat Ulema Islami (Fazlur) has decided to felicitate Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee when he arrives here today to attend the three-day SAARC summit beginning tomorrow. JUI(F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who made a politically significant visit to New Delhi last year and met Vajpayee, approached the Indian High Commission officials here to enable party leaders to felicitate the Indian Prime Minister. Rehman told reporters that he has made a request to the Indian officials and hoped to meet Vajpayee during his four-day stay here. JUI (F) has the largest number of Parliamentarians in the six-party Islamist alliance Muthahida Majlis Amal (MMA). Rehman’s decision to felicitate Vajpayee, however, has not been appreciated by the Indian hardline Jamat Islami. (PTI) Egyptian jetliner disappears after take-off CAIRO, Jan 3: An Egyptian Boeing 737 airplane carrying 135 passengers and six crew disappeared minutes after take-off from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt’s official news agency Mena reported today. Mena quoted an aviation ministry official as saying the plane "probably had an accident." (AGENCIES) |
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