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| January 26, 2006 | Thursday | Zilhaj 25, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Interpol issues arrest notice for Benazir Bhutto ISLAMABAD, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - Interpol has issued international notices following a request by Pakistan for the arrest of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and her husband on corruption charges, officials said Thursday. The police body said "red notices" have been sent out for Bhutto, Pakistan's first female premier, and Asif Ali Zardari, but stressed that they were not arrest warrants and that member countries decide whether to take any action. "I can confirm that red notices have been issued for Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari," Interpol spokeswoman Rachel Billington told AFP by telephone from France. Bhutto, who served twice as premier in the 1980s and 1990s, has lived in self-imposed exile in Dubai and London for the past seven years because of the money laundering allegations against her. Her husband was released from prison on bail in December 2004 after eight years in detention for alleged corruption. He is now with his wife and children. "A Red Notice is notification that a bona fide arrest warrant exists for an individual suspected of committing a crime, or convicted by a court, in any of Interpol’s 184 member countries," Interpol added in a statement. "A Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant." The Pakistani anti-corruption body pursuing the case said it had requested that Interpol issue the red notices to speed up the arrest of Bhutto and her husband.(Posted @ 16:40 PST)
Pakistan standing firm on Iran pipeline plan: Musharraf LONDON, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) Pakistan has no plans to ditch a natural gas pipeline deal with Iran amid pressure from the United States, President Pervez Musharraf said told the Financial Times newspaper published on Thursday. At the same time, he signalled the possibility that the United States could pay Pakistan to step away from the deal. "Our industrial growth, foreign direct investment, depends on availability of energy," Musharraf said in an interview conducted on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alpine village of Davos."We are proceeding with the pipeline. It is in our economic interest. If somebody wants to stop us they should compensate us ... But at the moment we are going ahead." Turning to other issues, Musharraf condemned a suspected US air strike earlier this month in remote Pakistan. "It has been very clearly told to the US we do not want anybody to take such actions within the borders of Pakistan," he said. He also brushed aside fears about militant groups in Pakistan. "There is no instability issue in Pakistan at all. Pakistan is absolutely safe and secure," he added.(Posted @ 09:55 PST)
Veteran Pakistani opposition politician Wali Khan dies PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) Veteran Pakistani politician and nationalist ethnic Pashtun leader Abdul Wali Khan, who had close ties with Moscow and New Delhi, died Thursday, his party said. He was 89. Khan had been in a coma since suffering a stroke three days ago and died at a hospital in Peshawar, a spokesman for his Awami National Party said. He was the son of Abdul Ghaffar Khan, known as the "Frontier Gandhi" for his friendship with India's freedom movement leader Mahatma Gandhi. The party spokesman said delegations from India and Afghanistan were expected to attend Khan's funeral in his home town of Charsadda on Friday, but gave no immediate details. (First Posted@ 12:00 PST Updated@ 14:21 PST)
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates calls on President Musharraf DAVOS, Jan 26 (APP): President Pervez Musharraf Thursday said Pakistan has laid a comprehensive network for promotion of information technology as it considers it an important component of the countrys economy in the coming years. Speaking to Bill Gates, Chairman of Microsoft who called on him on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF), he said effective use of information technology is fundamental to Pakistan achieving its strategic economic objectives. "With its large domestic market and strategic location, Pakistan could be used as a hub for Microsoft initiatives in Central Asia and Afghanistan", the President added. Bill Gates discussed possible areas of Microsoft- Pakistan collaboration and investment in the country's promising IT sector. They also discussed Gates Foundation involvement in relief efforts in the earthquake-hit areas. Chairman of Microsoft showed keen interest in expanding operations in Pakistan and agreed to visit Pakistan in the near future.(Posted @ 21:48 PST)
Bihar Governor Buta Singh resigns after Supreme Court indictment NEW DELHI, Jan 26 (APP): Bihar Governor Buta Singh today resigned amid indictment by the Supreme Court that he had acted with undue haste in sending his report which led to the dissolution of the Bihar Assembly. "I have faxed my resignation letter to President," Singh told reporters in Patna.(Posted @ 21:48 PST)
Bush says he wants Abbas to stay in office WASHINGTON, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush said Thursday that he would like to see Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas remain in office, despite the sweeping victory of the radical group Hamas in the Palestinian elections."We'd like him to stay in power," Bush said at a news conference, when asked whether Abbas should remain in office in light of the vote results. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice earlier also assured the moderate Palestinian leader of Washington's continued support despite Hamas's election win. Rice told Abbas during a phone call that "the United States would continue to support president Abbas and his policies," said a spokesman in the office of the Palestinian Authority president.(Posted @ 21:20 PST)
Militants kill two Afghan soldiers, tanker blown up KABUL, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - Suspected Taliban fighters ambushed an army post in Paktika province late Tuesday and killed two local soldiers, while a bomb destroyed a tanker supplying fuel to US-led troops, defence officials said Thursday. "Two soldiers were also wounded," said General Akram Sami, commander of the army's southeastern corps. In the province of Kandahar, a bomb attached to a fuel tanker supplying the main base for US-led coalition troops caused the vehicle to explode near the provincial capital on Wednesday, a defence ministry spokesman said. No one was hurt. Another bomb was discovered and defused on a second tanker just outside the city of Kandahar, General Mohammad Zahir Azimi said. In another incident on Wednesday six mortars were fired at an Afghan army base in neighbouring Uruzgan province but caused no casualties, Azimi said. Security forces in the usually calm western province of Herat discovered and defused 10 rockets rigged up to be fired at the main provincial airport the same day, he said. About 50 kilogrammes (110 pounds) of explosives, including rockets, were meanwhile discovered Wednesday in Mazar-i-Sharif. These were apparently intended for use against a base of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), an official said.(Posted @ 21:18 PST)
Saudi Arabia recalls its ambassador from Denmark RIYADH, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - Saudi Arabia said Thursday it has recalled its ambassador to Denmark in protest at the Danish government's position on the publication of cartoons depicting the Holy Prophet. The cartoonist at the Danish Jyllands-Posten daily received death threats after it published the caricatures in September. The images were reprinted in a Norwegian magazine earlier this month sparking uproar in the Muslim world. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen last month refused to agree to a meeting demanded by 11 ambassadors of Muslim nations to discuss the controversy. He upheld freedom of expression as a fundamental human right but condemned any action "which tries to demonise certain groups due to their religious or ethnic background". Arab foreign ministers in December lashed out at Copenhagen, expressing "surprise and indignation" at its reaction, while the International Union of Muslim Scholars threatened to urge a boycott of Danish and Norwegian products.(Posted @ 21:12 PST)
Hamas must renounce call to destroy Israel: Bush WASHINGTON, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush said Thursday that the United States would not deal with Hamas unless it renounced its call to destroy Israel. "The United States does not support a political party that wants to destroy our ally Israel," Bush said during a White House news conference. "People must renounce that part of their platform. "A political party that articulates the destruction of Israel as part of its platform is a party with which we will not deal. "If your platform is the destruction of Israel, it means you're not a partner in peace. We're interested in peace," he said.(Posted @ 21:12 PST)
Bush supports Russian compromise plan for Iran nuclear dispute WASHINGTON, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush on Thursday gave public support for a Russian plan to end the Iran nuclear dispute. Bush told a press conference he would support a civilian nuclear energy programme in Iran if all the nuclear fuel was manufactured in Russia and the Russian authorities collected all the waste that could be used for nuclear weapons.(Posted @ 21:10 PST)
Iraqi Industry Minister escapes assassination attempt BAGHDAD, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Industry Minister Osama Abdel-Aziz al-Najafi escaped an assassination attempt when a roadside bomb hit his convoy near Balad, 90 km (55 miles) north of Baghdad. Three of his bodyguards were killed and another was wounded. In a western district of Baghdad, gunmen attacked a convoy of oil trucks with rocket propelled grenades, setting at least one truck on fire, police said. Gunmen also killed a policeman and wounded three civilians in southern Baghdad in yet another incident, police said adding that two clerics were killed and the sister of one of them wounded when gunmen opened fire on their car in southern Baghdad. In Falluja, a U.S. soldier died after his vehicle was hit by a rocket during combat operations on Wednesday, the U.S. military said Thursday in a statement.(Posted @ 21:05 PST)
At least a dozen hurt in violent Nepal strike KATHMANDU, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Nepal police used live rounds for the first time in nearly a year to quell a general strike against municipal elections and King Gyanendra's refusal to restore democracy, witnesses and party officials said. Police opened fire at a rally in the resort town of Pokhara, 200 km (125 miles) west of Kathmandu, wounding one man. At least a dozen people were hurt and hundreds detained in Thursday's protests as police also used batons and fired tear gas shells to break up protest rallies. The election commission said it was collecting names of the candidates after the nominations for the municipal polls closed at 5 p.m. (1115 hours GMT). But opposition claimed no candidate from any major political party had registered.(Posted @ 20:18 PST)
Rice says Palestinians want peace despite Hamas victory DAVOS, SWITZERLAND, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - The United States remains opposed to the militant group Hamas but is convinced the Palestinian people still want peace despite its stunning election victory, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday.(Posted @ 20:18 PST)
Musharraf says Pakistan did not give permission for US strikes DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - Pakistan did not give permission for a botched US airstrike against Al-Qaeda suspects that killed 18 civilians this month, nor was it asked to do so, President Pervez Musharraf told newsmen here Thursday. He said that US and Pakistani forces, while each operating on either side of the Pakistani-Afghan border, shared intelligence. "While we condemn this attack, there are foreigners" in Pakistan, he said adding that "any interference in force by any country is violation of sovereignty, but so is the presence of foreigners on our soil." Musharraf said Pakistan was fully involved in the fight against Al-Qaeda. "We are attacking them in the mountains, we are occupying their sanctuaries." He said he did not know where Zawahiri or Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden were or whether they were still alive.(Posted @ 20:18 PST)
Dealing with risk is a global affair: WEF DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - The world faces risks ranging from terrorism and bird flu to electromagnetic fields and climate change that must be tackled on a global level before they turn into disasters, the World Economic Forum said Thursday. "Our common vulnerabilities to global risks, from terrorism to natural disasters, were on tragic display in 2005," the WEF noted as it presented "The Global Risk Report 2006" during its annual meeting here. "The key to mitigating global risks is understanding their systemic nature and building consensus on how to best deal with them," Forum founder Klaus Schwab was quoted as saying. A wide range of threats was identified, including an oil-price spike, or epidemics of influenza, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.(Posted @ 20:16 PST)
Australian Open tennis results - Day 11 MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan 26 (AFP) - Results from day 11 of the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park here Thursday (x denotes seeding): Women's singles {Semi-finals) Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL x8) bt Maria Sharapova (RUS x4) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4; Amelie Mauresmo (FRA x3) bt Kim Clijsters (BEL x2) 5-7, 6-2, 3-2 retired. Men's single (Semi-finals) Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) bt David Nalbandian (ARG x4) 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.(Posted @ 19:48 PST)
KASHMIR: Indian R-Day observed as Black Day Srinagar, occupied Kashmir, January 26 {PPI) Kashmiris all over the world and particularly on both sides of the observed Indian Republic Day as Black Day to attract attention of the people and the governments at large to the unjust, undemocratic and stubborn attitude of India towards resolving Kashmir dispute, reports Kashmir Media Service. In occupied Kashmir, a crippling strike was observed. All business houses, government and private offices and educational institutions remained closed and public transport remained off the road. Troops patrolled the streets and residential areas around Bakhshi Stadium, the venue of an official function, were put under siege as inmates were not allowed to move out.(Posted @ 19:28 PST)
Pakistan will never compromise on its national Security:Shaukat ISLAMABAD, January 26 (PPI) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Thursday Pakistan stands for peace but will never compromise on its national security whether internal or external. Speaking at the sixth National Security Workshop at National Defence College he said defence, economy, education, energy, infrastructure, diplomacy, science and technology, services and good governance play vital role in the National security. He said Pakistan strictly adheres to the principles of minimum nuclear deterrence and it has devised an effective command and control system. He said Pakistan is cognizant of its defence requirements and would continue to strengthen it as strength ensures peace. Referring to various political and economic reforms, the Prime Minister said the government has ensured devolution of power at the lower level, opposition which is an important part of democracy is working well within the norms of democratic behaviour and media has been given unprecedented freedom and is playing a positive role. We intend to institutionalize these reforms to ensure continuity of policies for moving forward. Earlier, in his welcome address, the commandant of the College highlighted the objectives of the course and informed that the government has decided to upgrade the National Defence College in to a university.(Posted @ 19:25 PST)
USAID sponsored vouchers distributed in Bagh district ISLAMABAD, Jan 26 (PPI) The USAID is providing $100-vouchers to ten thousand families in the quake hit Bagh district of Azad Kashmir, says a Press release. The vouchers enable families to purchase items of their choice to supplement shelter kits containing corrugated iron and plastic sheeting besides provisions like rice, sugar etc while stimulating the local economy. On Thursday, voucher packages were distributed to approximately 400 families. Families are entitled to purchase goods from nearly 140 designated local merchants participating in the program.(Posted @ 19:23 PST)
President Musharraf discusses bilateral relations with Swiss President DAVOS (Switzerland), Jan 26 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf discussed bilateral and international relations with Swiss President Moritz Leuenberger on the opening day of the World Economic Forum Wednesday. The president briefed him on Pakistan's recent economic achievements and the investment and business environment it offers to foreign enterprises. The two leaders also discussed the ways to enhance the bilateral relations.(Posted @ 19:22 PST)
Accident involving school bus in Florida kills 7 children LAKE BUTLER, Florida Jan 26 (APP/AP) _ Seven children , all related, were killed Wednesday when their car was crushed between a truck and a parked school bus in rural northern Florida. At least three children on the school bus were seriously injured. The truck hit the car from behind and pushed it into the bus, causing the car to burst into flames, said Lt. Mike Burroughs of the Florida Highway Patrol. The children’s ages ranged from 15 years to 21 months.(Posted @ 19:20 PST)
US official arrives in Bangladesh for counter-terrorism talks DHAKA, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca met Foreign Minister Morshed Khan at the start of a three-day visit that will feature talks on trade, economic and counter-terrorism cooperation, foreign secretary Hemayet Uddin said.(Posted @ 18:24 PST)
Pakistan arrests 37 Indian fishermen KARACHI, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - Pakistan has arrested 37 Indian fishermen and seized their four boats for poaching in Pakistani waters in the Arabian sea, Maritime Security Agency spokesman ,Lieutenant Commander Ateequr Rehman said Thursday. The arrests bring the number of Indian fishermen detained in Pakistan during the current season to 235, Rehman said.(Posted @ 18:15 PST)
Australia beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in ODI ADELAIDE, Australia, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - Australia defeated Sri Lanka by five wickets in their triangular series limited-overs cricket match at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday. Scores: Sri Lanka 218-8 (50 overs) Australia 219-5 (48.3 overs)(Posted @ 18:15 PST)
Pakistan's Musharraf enjoys centre stage at Davos forum DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf took centre stage Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, pushing his country's economic progress and projecting its image after October's disastrous earthquake. In his address, he said the quake which devastated Pakistan and Azad Kashmir had drilled home the importance of not ceding to panic and remaining, as a leader, visible and in touch. At a smaller event devoted to regional organisations, he said such groups were the "right way forward for mutually beneficial progress and prosperity," but while the European Union and Association of Southeast Asian Nations were success stories, he regretted there was not "such a success story" in his own region of Asia, which includes India, Afghanistan and Iran. Musharraf laid out conditions for regionalism to work, citing political harmony, an environment of trust and confidence, and the spirit of sacrifice. "It cannot come about in an environment if dispute, conflict and lack of trust. Small countries need to feel that they can gain," he said. The spirit of accommodation, of sacrifice, "has to come from the partner with more means. When it comes from the smaller and the weaker, all the negative conotations are going to it," such as submission and appeasement, he added. Musharraf acknowledged that some loss of sovereignty was a common factor in regionalism but argued in favour of such a move provided two pre-requisites were met: security and development. The "common urge of every nation is security, development and sovereignty." "In regionalism there is inherent loss of sovereignty," but was feasible "if success and development is ensured."(Posted @ 18:15 PST)
Sri Lanka nets Indian fishermen with bomb detonators COLOMBO, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's navy Thursday arrested five Indians in the island's territorial waters and seized their trawler carrying 61,000 bomb detonators, police said. The five men were detained by the navy off the island's northwestern coast of Mannar and handed over to police.(Posted @ 17:35 PST)
Grasp the moment, Musharraf urges India over Kashmir dispute DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - President Pervez Musharraf called Thursday on India to join Pakistan in working out a mould-breaking solution to their Kashmir dispute that could lead to self-governance and make the Line of Control "irrelevant." In comments on the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Musharraf urged a step-by-step approach that would start with defining Kashmir's borders and end with a joint cross-border administration. "I am extremely flexible, and I am bold enough to go for an out-of-the-box solution," he told reporters. "But we cannot clap with one hand. I expect India to join." "Grasp these fleeting moments at this time," he went on. "Fleeting moments come and go. It is incumbent on all leaders to grasp these moments, otherwise they are not leaders." He said that after Kashmir's geographical status had been identified, the entire province would be demilitarised. It would get self-governance and officials from Kashmir, India and Pakistan would jointly manage the area on both sides of the current Line of Control. By doing that, he said, "we have made the Line of Control irrelevant."(Posted @ 17:30 PST)
DAVOS-Musharraf to monitor quake rebuilding, thanks aid DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf pledged on Thursday to monitor personally reconstruction of areas devastated by last October's earthquake and thanked the world for $6.2 billion worth of aid pledges. Musharraf told leaders and business chiefs at the World Economic Forum "we have already successfully implemented the relief part, and now need to successfully implement the reconstruction and rehabilitation." "I will keep monitoring that and going down myself to make sure that this is being done."(Posted @ 17:30 PST)
Abbas to ask Hamas to form government without Fatah RAMALLAH, West Bank, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas is to ask the radical Islamist movement Hamas to form a new government without Fatah, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said Thursday. "President Abbas will give Hamas the task of forming the government, in which Fatah will not participate," Erakat, a leading member of the previously dominant Fatah faction, told AFP. "The victors must assume their responsibilities towards our people in every field -- political, security, economic and national," he added.(Posted @ 16:55 PST)
Bush says US will 'exhaust all diplomacy' on Iran nuclear issue WASHINGTON, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush said his government will "exhaust all diplomacy" and work with US allies as it seeks to address Iran's disputed nuclear program, according to a newspaper interview."The objective is to continue to work with many nations around the world to convince Iran to get rid of its nuclear weapons ambitions. That's the objective," Bush told The Wall Street Journal in an interview published Thursday. The president said that "it's important for us to exhaust all diplomacy, and so you're watching a diplomatic effort evolve."(Posted @ 16:53 PST)
Kosovo bids farewell to independence leader Rugova PRISTINA, Serbia-Montenegro, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - Top international envoys joined tens of thousands of mourners Thursday at the funeral of Kosovo president Ibrahim Rugova. The coffin containing the body of Rugova, who symbolised the ethnic Albanian bid for independence from Serbia, was mounted on a carriage and transported with an honour guard escort from parliament where his remains had lain in state for three days. Rugova died of lung cancer on Saturday at the age of 61. His death has left a political void that has forced the United Nations to postpone the first face-to-face talks between ethnic Albanian Kosovars and Serbia on Kosovo's future status since it was placed under UN adminstration in 1999 after NATO air raids forced Serbian troops to abandon a crackdown on separatist Albanian rebels.(Posted @ 16:50 PST)
Sudanese aid worker killed in Darfur helicopter crash KHARTOUM, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - A Sudanese woman working for a humanitarian agency was killed when a helicopter evacuating aid workers from a conflict zone in Darfur crashed shortly after takeoff, her employers announced Thursday. She was identified as Miss Hadja Hamid, a nutritionist attached to the aid agency GOAL. One of the 16 people on board was unaccounted for and that the other 15 were alive, some of them having sustained injuries but which were not life threatening, a statement said.(Posted @ 16:48 PST)
Musharraf says Pakistan all set to compete with regional economies DAVOS, Jan.26 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Wednesday said Pakistan was resolved to compete with regional and international economies to emerge as an attractive destination for the world business. "I know we are bit late, but we are determined to catch up and compete with the regional economic powers," he told a select gathering of business leaders, who had gathered at the Swiss resort of Davos to attend the World Economic Forum. The President, who arrived here on Wednesday evening, hosted a working dinner to project Pakistan as an emerging market of inimitable incentives and opportunities in different areas of the economy. Referring to the construction of Gwadar, he said "Pakistan will serve as a trade and energy corridor and we are putting in place all necessary infrastructural facilities for investors," he added. He particularly referred to the country's cheap but skilled workforce. Assuring all legal protection to foreign investors, he said Pakistan has been "the victim of poor perception abroad." He counted information technology, building and construction, agro-based industry, fisheries etc as areas having huge potential for foreign entrepreneurs.(Posted @ 12:00 PST)
Abbas accepts Palestinian PM's resignation RAMALLAH, West Bank, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas said Thursday that he had accepted prime minister Ahmed Qorei's resignation after Hamas's apparent victory in a general election.(Posted @ 16:15 PST)
Hamas calls on US to respect Palestinian vote result GAZA CITY, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) - Radical Islamist faction Hamas called Thursday for the United States to respect the result of the elections and "the will of the Palestinian people"."I call on the American administration to respect ... the will of the Palestinian people and the result of the ballot," chief Hamas candidate Ismail Haniya said."Hamas is not going to work alone, but with the other groups who represent the Palestinian people," he said.(Posted @ 16:00 PST)
Rail track blown up in southwest Pakistan QUETTA, Pakistan, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) Suspected tribesmen blew up a stretch of railway track in Balochistan Thursday, disrupting services but causing no casualties, officials said. The blast happened two hours before the arrival of a passenger train from Lahore to Balochistan, a Pakistan Railways official said. Explosives planted on the main line at Machh, some 65 kilometers south of the Quetta blew up five feet of the track, the official added. Traffic was restored three hours after the blast which disrupted the schedules of three incoming trains, he said. (Posted @ 14:25 PST)
China opposes sanctions to resolve Iran dispute BEIJING, Jan 26 (Reuters) China said on Thursday it opposed sanctions over Iran's nuclear ambitions, as Tehran's nuclear negotiator held talks in Beijing aiming to fend off the West's push to refer the dispute to the United Nations. Ali Larijani held extensive talks with Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing. "We oppose impulsively using sanctions or threats of sanctions to solve problems. This will complicate problems," Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan told a news conference. "We hope the concerned parties can take practical measures to ease tensions," he added. (Posted @ 14:24 PST)
Two U.S. troops wounded in Afghan blast KABUL, Jan 26 (Reuters) Two American servicemen were wounded when their vehicle was hit by a bomb blast while on patrol in Kunar province on Wednesday, the U.S. military said on Thursday. (Posted @ 14:24 PST)
Militants kill two Afghan soldiers, tanker blown up KABUL, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) Suspected Taliban fighters ambushed an army post late Tuesday in troubled Paktika province and killed two local soldiers, while a bomb destroyed a tanker supplying fuel to US-led troops in the volatile southern province of Kandahar, defence officials said Thursday. Another bomb was discovered and defused on a second tanker just outside Kandahar city, an official said. (Posted @ 14:21 PST)
India flexes military muscle in Republic Day parade NEW DELHI, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) India flexed its military muscle at the annual Republic Day parade Thursday with guest of honour Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah reviewing elite troops, weapons and folk dancers in the national capital. Abdullah, flanked by lance-bearing liveried cavalry, was escorted by President Abdul Kalam to New Delhi's Central Vista parade grounds. The military displayed its Russian-built T-90 tanks as well as howitzers and models of its nuclear-capable Agni (Fire) ballistic missile. Thousands of troops from various services including elite commando units with machine guns guarded the fortified venue. Also the Indian air force staged flypasts of its frontline Sukhoi-30 interceptor jets and Mirage-2000 multi-role fighter planes.(Posted @ 12:30 PST)
Maoist attacks rock India's Republic Day celebrations NEW DELHI, Jan 26, 2006 (AFP) Maoist rebels bombed railways tracks and attacked a police station in eastern India hours before the start of annual Republic Day celebrations, officials said Thursday amid unprecedented security. Train services were thrown out of gear in Bihar state as some 60 left-wing guerrillas dynamited train tracks in the insurgency-hit Gaya district, a spokesman from the state-run utility said. The rebels also bombed a police station in Bihar's Banka district, local police chief said. The guerrillas attacked officers and stole arms and ammunition, he added. Indian troops, meanwhile said, they foiled a major attack in the district of Poonch in Occupied Kashmir after troops recovered military-grade explosives including anti-tank landmines close to the site of a Republic Day parade, officials said.(Posted @ 10:20 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 90.86 points: KARACHI, Jan 26: At close of trading,the KSE-100 index was at 10304.87, up 90.86 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:30 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Jan 26: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 59.97 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:30 PST)
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