Two dead, six injured in Karachi violence.

Two dead, six injured in Karachi violence.

KARACHI | Dawn | 18 Jan 2014 :: Two people, including a woman, were killed and six others were injured in incidents of violence in Karachi, DawnNews reported on Saturday

In the city's Liaquatabad area, a woman was killed in an incident of firing, whereas a man who was injured during a shooting in Gulbahar succumbed to his injuries during treatment at a hospital.

Meanwhile, in Karachi's Lyari Town, six people were injured in a hand grenade attack in Khadda market on Saturday. The wounded were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Following the hand grenade attack, fear and panic gripped the area and shops and business were closed.

Karachi, the largest metropolitan city of Pakistan, is riddled with targeted killings, gang wars, kidnappings for ransom, extortion and terrorism. Targeted operations led by Rangers’ forces with the support of police are ongoing in the city under a directive issued by the federal government against criminals already identified by federal, military and civilian agencies.

Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also declared that the operation launched in Karachi by law enforcement agencies would continue because the government was fully committed to restoring peace in the restive city.

Expressing satisfaction over the ongoing operation against criminal elements and outlaws in Karachi, he had said efforts to bring normality to the city would continue.( Courtesy : Dawn.com )

Pakistan is the epicentre of terrorism, Manmohan Singh tells Obama.

Pakistan is the epicentre of terrorism, Manmohan Singh tells Obama.

"Explained to Obama the difficulties that we face,
 given the fact that the (presence) of terrorists
 still remains focused in Pak," Singh said.

Washington | 29 Sep 2013 ::  Pakistan was in sharp focus at the Manmohan Singh-Barack Obama summit in Washington on Friday with the Indian Prime Minister telling the US President of the difficulties in dealing with its neighbour as terrorists "still remained focused in Pakistan". Manmohan Singh and Barack Obama described the relationship between two nations as indispensable after an hour long meeting. Issuing a statement after the meeting, Manmohan Singh said, "India needs US standing by our side. We have a relationship based on both principles and pragmatism.The atmosphere was more like a farewell meeting. Both Barack Obama and Manmohan Singh thanked each other profusely for helping each other and continuing support. Manmohan Singh said that he had always maintained an excellent relationship with the US and thanked the previous president George Bush and the current President Obama, who he said have made this possible. Sending out a strong message to Pakistan, the Prime Minister said that the epicenter of terrorism was still in Pakistan and it was posing a major threat to India's stability. President Obama once again mentioned the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and thanked India for engaging Pakistan in peace talks. He said that India's support was much needed to stabilise both Pakistan and Afghanistan. Describing India as a world power and not just a regional power, the US President said that America was interested in a strong India. He said, "For a very long time, they (India and US) have invested in peace and prosperity, people-people ties, business, science, academics and other areas". A smiling Obama then went on to say, "even Miss America (Nina Davuluri) is of Indian origin." He emphasised more on the conflict in Syria, tension in Iran, Afghanistan's slow march towards peace and stability and sought India's support. Referring to controversial civil nuclear deal between both the nations, Obama said that the deal between an American company and India was a good sign. A visibly tired Manmohan Singh said, "Indo-US relationship is growing and expanding. We have explored new areas like defence, security, energy and environment." He added that despite a slowdown American investment in India is growing. Obama returned the compliment by saying that India is growing at an amazing rate. Obama stressed more on the relationship Manmohan Singh shared with him and his predecessor Bush. It was almost like a farewell speech. There was a feeling of personal warmth and affection during the meeting. Manmohan Singh's visit to the US is being described as his last visit as India's Prime Minister.(Courtesy:IBN Live)

Pakistan frees top Taliban prisoner Mullah Baradar today.

Pakistan frees top Taliban prisoner Mullah Baradar today.

Mullah Baradar

ISLAMABAD | 21 Sep 2013 ::  Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the senior most Afghan Taliban in Pakistan’s custody, would walk out of detention centre on Saturday amid the hope that he could be the game-changer for the stalemated reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

In order to further facilitate the Afghan reconciliation process, the detained Taliban leader, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, would be released tomorrow (21 September 2013), said a press release issued by the Foreign Office on Friday.

The announcement came hours after Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and ISI Director General Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Pakistan’s top official on foreign affairs and national security, earlier in the month had said that Baradar could be released as soon as this month.

“In principle, we have agreed to release him. The timing is being discussed. It should be very soon ... I think within this month,” said Sartaj Aziz, advisor on foreign affairs and national security to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

“Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar will be freed into Pakistan and he will remain in the country until he decides himself to move anywhere he deems necessary to initiate the peace process,” he told Dawn.com on Monday.

Aziz, however, added that the former Taliban second-in-command will not be handed over to Afghanistan. “Handing over the key Taliban commander to Afghanistan will sabotage the purpose behind the decision of releasing him,” he said.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry did not make any statement about his future but an official and a Taliban source in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa said that Baradar was expected to stay at home in Karachi where his family lived.

“He will be kept as a simple guy in the network, who can convey messages from time to time but who will not be able to reintegrate the Shura and regain power,” the Taliban official said.

Born in 1968 in the southern province of Uruzgan, Mullah Baradar fought the occupying Soviet forces in the late 1980s before becoming one of the founding members of the Taliban movement.(Courtesy:Dawn)

Army, Pakistani Taliban exchange prisoners ahead of likely talks.

Army, Pakistani Taliban exchange prisoners ahead of likely talks.

Pakistani policemen escort a suspected
 militant of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan
. – File Photo by AFP

DERA ISMAIL KHAN | AP | 11 Sep 2013  ::  The armed forces of Pakistan and Taliban militants exchanged prisoners Wednesday as a confidence building measure ahead of possible peace talks, intelligence officials and a militant commander said.

The exchange included six militants of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and two paramilitary Frontier Corps soldiers, officials and the commander said.

It occurred in the Shawal area of the South Waziristan tribal region. The militants were subsequently taken to neighboring North Waziristan, the country's main Taliban sanctuary.

Militants fired in the air with joy when their colleagues were freed, the intelligence officials said. The officials and the Taliban commander spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to journalists.

The release occurred only days after Pakistan's main political parties endorsed peace negotiations with the Taliban and their allies Monday as the best way to end a decade-long insurgency that has killed thousands of people.

The exchange was meant to build confidence between the government and the militants before formal peace talks, the Pakistani Taliban commander said.

Senior Taliban leaders are currently discussing whether to take the government up on its offer to hold negotiations, said the commander and one of his colleagues.

The Taliban said they were open to talks at the end of last year but withdrew that offer in May after the group's deputy leader, Waliur Rehman was killed in a US drone strike.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif campaigned on a platform of holding peace talks and has maintained that line since he took office in June. He scored a victory when his stance was endorsed by other parties on Monday – a decision that was generally welcomed by the Taliban.(Courtesy:Dawn)

India wants Pak to take responsibility for LoC killings.

India wants Pak to take responsibility for LoC killings.

NEW DELHI | PTI | 11 Aug 2013 :: India on Sunday said it wants the Pakistan Government to take responsibility for killing of five of its soldiers on the LoC and asserted that all issues will be factored in “objectively” in dealing with the neighbouring country.

Noting that Pakistan government will remain responsible for any such incidents, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said India has done a “lot more” to contribute to the peace process and insisted that the neighbouring country must take responsibility for the LoC incident.

“The responsibility must rest with the government. Our meeting point is the civilian elected government of Pakistan, not the Pakistan Army or any other agency,” he said.

Referring to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s statement on killing of five Indian soldiers, Mr. Khurshid rued that there was no indication of acceptance of responsibility for the attack.

“One element is that the regret about what has happened, which has certainly been mentioned. But, there is no indication of acceptance of responsibility.(Courtesy: The Hindu)Read More >>>