Deal will see US troops in Afghanistan until 2024

LONDON:-

                     The US and Afghanistan are close to signing a pact which would allow thousands of United States troops to remain in the country until at least 2024. The agreement would allow not only military trainers to stay to build up the Afghan army and police, but also for American special forces soldiers and air power to remain, reported Daily Telegraph.

The prospect of such a deal has already been met with anger among Afghanistan’s neighbours including, publicly, Iran and, privately, Pakistan. It also risks being rejected by the Taliban and derailing any attempt to coax them to the negotiating table, according to one senior member of Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai’s peace council.

A withdrawal of American troops has already begun following an agreement to hand over security for the country to Kabul by the end of 2014. But Afghans wary of being abandoned are keen to lock America into a longer partnership after the deadline. Many analysts also believe the American military would like to retain a presence close to Pakistan, Iran and China.

Both Afghan and American officials said that they hoped to sign the pact before the Bonn Conference on Afghanistan in December.

US President Barack Obama and Karzai agreed last week to escalate the negotiations and their national security advisers will meet in Washington in September. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Karzai’s top security adviser, told Daily Telegraph that ‘remarkable progress’ had been made. US officials have said they would be disappointed if a deal could not be reached by December and that the majority of small print had been agreed.

Spanta said a longer-term presence was crucial not only to build Afghan forces, but also to fight terrorism. “If [the Americans] provide us weapons and equipment, they need facilities to bring that equipment,” he said. “If they train our police and soldiers, then those trainers will not be 10 or 20, they will be thousands.

“We know we will be confronted with international terrorists. 2014, is not the end of international terrorist networks and we have a common commitment to fight them. For this purpose also, the US needs facilities.”

Afghan forces would still need support from US fighter aircraft and helicopters, he predicted. In the past, Washington officials have estimated a total of 25,000 troops may be needed. Spanta added: “In the Afghan proposal we are talking about 10 years from 2014, but this is under discussion.” America would not be granted its own bases, and would be a guest on Afghan bases, he said. Pakistan and Iran were also deeply opposed to the deal.

Andrey Avetisyan, Russian ambassador to Kabul, said: “Afghanistan needs many other things apart from the permanent military presence of some countries. It needs economic help and it needs peace. Military bases are not a tool for peace.

“I don’t understand why such bases are needed. If the job is done, if terrorism is defeated and peace and stability is brought back, then why would you need bases? “If the job is not done, then several thousand troops, even special forces, will not be able to do the job that 150,000 troops couldn’t do. It is not possible.”

A complete withdrawal of foreign troops has been a precondition for any Taliban negotiations with Karzai’s government and the deal would wreck the distant prospect of a negotiated peace, Avetisyan said.

Abdul Hakim Mujahid, deputy leader of the peace council set up by Karzai to seek a settlement, said he suspected the Taliban had intensified their insurgency in response to the prospect of the pact. “They want to put pressure on the world community and Afghan government,” he said

Hafeez briefs PM on economy

OUR STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD:-

                            Federal Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh met Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani here Thursday and briefed him on the state of national economy, which is showing positive indicators since the start of new fiscal year.

The finance minister said that the revenue collection during the month of July was Rs 105 billion, an increase of 36 percent over the corresponding period of last July. The exports, he said, were 2.3 billion dollars, an increase of 27 percent as compared to the month of July last year. He further said that the remittances in July during the FY-2011-12 stood at 1.1 billion dollars, representing an increase of 35 percent over July 2010-11.

The finance minister informed the Prime Minister that the government did not resort to borrowings from the State Bank of Pakistan during the first month of FY-2011-12.

He apprised the Prime Minister about the deliberations of the High-Powered Committee constituted by the Prime Minister under his chairmanship to seek out-of-box solution to unscheduled loadshedding in the country. Dr Hafeez Sheikh informed that the Committee would submit its recommendations to the Cabinet soon after the month of Ramazan.

Zardari speaks with Altaf Hussain on telephone, discuss Karachi

ISLAMABAD:-
                              President Asif Ali Zardari has spoken with MQM Chief Altaf Hussain on the telephone about the prevailing situation in Karachi in which he took him into confidence about efforts being made to improve law and order in the city.
Sources have told DawnNews that President Asif Zardari reassured Altaf Hussain that security will be provided for the people of Karachi and that legal action will be taken against miscreants involved in violence.
President Zardari said that Karachi is the economic hub of the country and that peace in the city is vital for economic progress. Whereas Altaf Hussain said that peace must be restored in Karachi at all cost.
Both leaders also discussed other political issues in the country including talks between the PPP and the MQM.

Zardari summons meeting

ISLAMABAD:-

                          The fresh of wave of killing in Karachi has forced President Asif Ali Zardari to convene an important meeting of the Sindh coalition government to discuss the deteriorating law and order today (Friday).

According to official sources, Sindh chief minister along with five cabinet colleagues will attend the meeting in which Prime Minister Gilani and Interior Minister Rehman Malik are also likely to participate. The meeting will be held at Aiwan-e-Sadr to review the situation and accordingly take necessary security measures to tackle the fresh wave of violence in the port city.

In a related development, MQM Convener Dr Farooq Sattar met with the US Ambassador Cameron Munter here Thursday and discussed the law and order situation in Karachi. “I do not know what they discussed, but Farooq Sattar met with Ambassador Munter on request”, US Embassy spokesperson confirmed to TheNation.

Sources further said that these developments might delay plans of the MQM to rejoin the PPP-led ruling coalition. According to the plans, MQM was to rejoin the ruling coalition after PPP high command accepted its demand to restore LG system in Karachi and Hyderabad.

Both the political players have agreed to make necessary amendments in the local government laws to implement the agreement, which envisages scrapping of the revived commissioner system in the province and delimitation of constituencies in Karachi and Hydereabad.

With the proposed amendments, Sindh government would implement the new law throughout the province. This move has also created reaction within the provincial government as one of the important coalition partners ANP rejected the PPP-MQM deal. The nationalist political forces of Sindh also rejected

27 US invaders killed, 34 injured in Paktia martyrdom operation: Taliban

By Zabihullah Mujahid:-

                                            As many as 27 American invading troops got killed more than 34 were hurt in martyr attack on US invaders army base in Gardez city, the capital of Paktia province on Thursday morning at about 6:00 am local time. The martyr operation was carried out by a brave Mujahid, who rammed his van full of 7000 kilograms explosives into one of the largest US military base in the country, killing and wounding several dozen of the American cowards in addition to damaging the facility, a number of military vehicles and a helicopter inside the base.

A local interpreter, on the condition of anonymity, said the attack came as the US invaders were going for breakfast and the explosion was so powerful and devastating that it not only killed and wounded scores of the US invaders but also damaged the base along with one helicopter and several vehicles which caught fire in the base. It is worth saying the heroic operation was carried out by an elderly man of 70 years old, Abdul Aziz, resident of Nooristan province. (Taliban Website)

FIA DG resigns over NICL probe

ISLAMABAD:-

                            FIA Director General Tehsin Anwar Shah submitted his resignation to establishment secretary on Wednesday, after he presented the same in the Supreme Court and was told by the court to tender it to the authorities concerned.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general told a three-member bench hearing the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam case on Wednesday that he could not work under a junior. Tehseen said: “I am head of FIA, therefore, cannot work under Zafar Qureshi and tender my resignation as this is also against the FIA Act 1975.” The chief justice said to the DG, “Don’t give this kind of threats and submit your resignation before the competent authority.”

The chief justice also directed Zafar Qureshi’s team members Deputy Director Javed Hussain Shah, Assistant Director Mohammad Ahmed, Assistant Director Khalid Anees and Inspector Muhammad Sarwar to work under Qureshi with same vigour and honesty and if they feel pressure from any quarter, inform him (CJP) in his chamber. The chief justice directed the team members, who expressed willingness to continue the investigation, to complete the investigation soon, adding the investigation in the NICL case would continue even after the retirement of Zafar Qureshi.

During the course of proceedings, Justice Amir Hani Muslim put a question to FIA Lahore Director Waqar Haider, “Who had ordered to lock up the gate on August 13?” He replied that on that day he was in Islamabad for an official meeting but when he came to know about the incident he directed the officials at the FIA camp office Lahore to immediately call the bomb disposal squad and inform the police. The honourable judges further inquired from Waqar Haider, “Why did you not hand over the NICL case files to Zafar Qureshi earlier.” The director stated that the files were with FIA Lahore Deputy Director Basharat Shahzad, who had gone to Umrah. However, the DG FIA handed over the NICL case files to Zafar Qureshi before the bench.

Justice Amir Hani asked the director, “By telling a lie you are aggravating the contempt charges against you.” He inquired from the FIA director where the prisoners locked up at the FIA camp office were shifted on August 13. Justice Hani further questioned, “Was the record of prisoners on that specific day maintained and where they were shifted?”

FIA Assistant Director Khawaja Hammad appearing before the bench informed that on Friday (August 12) Director Waqar Haider came to his office and said that he was under pressure, therefore, adopted such a plan that Zafar Qureshi could not enter the building. Hammad said as he had a close relationship with Zafar Qureshi, therefore, he had informed him on telephone on August 12 at night that there would be some drama at the Camp Office to prevent him from entering the building. He also said a similar incident had happened when Moonis Elahi was brought at the trial court.

The chief justice directed Hammad to prepare his statement during the course of the day and submit a copy of it at the SC Registrar office and give one copy to Waqar Haider so that he could file his reply in the next date of hearing.

Attorney General for Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq placed on record the copy of FIR registered at the Civil Lines Police Station, Lahore, regarding a hoax call on August 12. The court directed the PPO Punjab to ensure independent investigation of it and submit its report at the SC Registrar office.

The court has deferred the contempt of court proceedings against those FIA officers who had defied August 8, 2011 SC order. The DG FIA and others relevant authorities were directed in the judgment not to create hindrance in the investigation being conducted by Zafar Qureshi and his team. The case was adjourned for an indefinite period of time.

Nawaz demands immediate elections

LAHORE:-

                   PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif has demanded that fresh elections should be held in the country immediately.

Talking to a private TV channel on Wednesday, the PML-N chief said problems faced by the country could only be solved if elections were held immediately. He added it was the responsibility of the nation to stand up against the government and ensure that no one played with their mandate. On supporting the PPP, Nawaz said his party tried working with the PPP initially but there was no substance to the relationship.

Nawaz Sharif said all the political parties should go to the people and the people should decide about the future of Pakistan.

The two-time premier said he had advised President Asif Ali Zardari four months ago to hold fresh elections. “It was a sincere advice but President Zardari turned down the proposal,” he said. He said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani could dissolve the National Assembly or lower house of the parliament and announce fresh elections just as he (Sharif) had done in 1993 when he was the premier.

The PPP-led government has rejected similar demands from other opposition parties and said fresh elections will be held in early 2013 after it completes its five-year term.

Sharif has been critical of the government’s policies since he pulled the PML-N out of the ruling coalition in 2008 but never sought fresh polls. The PML-N had joined the government after the 2008 general election in the national interest but could not go along with the PPP because of its policies, he said.

This is the first time that Sharif has called for fresh polls, though other leaders of his party have often said the country’s problems, including corruption and the perceived inefficiency of the Pakistan People’s Party-led government, can only be resolved through mid-term elections.

Meanwhile, PPP’s Information Secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira said that Nawaz Sharif should focus on the next general elections instead of long march as it would be useless. Talking to the media at Allama Iqbal international Airport here before leaving for India, he said staging a long march was right of everyone but the PML-N president should justify it and tell the masses if it aimed at toppling the government.

He said the PPP wanted stability in the country and it was effort of the government and the party to resolve issues by taking all parties on board.

He advised Nawaz Sharif “to resolve problems within the PML-N and to prepare for the next elections which were only one-and-half year away