Obama to seek easing of strains with Gilani

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and US President Barack Obama.

SEOUL: The White House made clear on Monday that President Barack Obama would seek to put strained relations with Pakistan on a more even footing when he meets Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at the end of a nuclear security summit in Seoul.
The meeting on Tuesday will be the highest-level contact between the uneasy allies since US commandos killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a Pakistani military town in May last year, a raid Pakistan called a violation of its sovereignty.
Ties plunged to a new low in November when aircraft from Nato’s Afghanistan force mistakenly attacked two Pakistani border posts and killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
“There obviously has been a fairly turbulent period in US-Pakistan relations over the course of the last several months,” US deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters in Seoul on Monday.
“We’ll want to address the state of the relationship.”
He said Obama would assure Gilani of “our continued interest in counter-terrorism cooperation” with Pakistan and stress shared interests in stabilising neighboring Afghanistan.
The Pakistani leader would bring up a parliamentary review that has been drawing up recommendations on how to proceed on ties with Washington, Rhodes said.
Pakistan’s cooperation is considered critical to US efforts to stabilise Afghanistan before most foreign combat troops leave at the end of 2014. Pakistan has strong traditional links with the Afghan Taliban and other militant groups.
Adding to tension, however, a US military official said on Saturday there were no plans to discipline any American forces over the deadly cross-border strike on Nov 26 that plunged relations into crisis.
A US military investigation last year had already exonerated American troops operating in Afghanistan from inappropriate use of force against the Pakistani forces – even as the US military acknowledged some of the blame in the incident.
In response to the incident, Pakistan shut off ground supply lines to the US-led Nato mission in land-locked Afghanistan – an issue Obama will likely address in Tuesday’s talks.
BIN LADEN RAID
Some US lawmakers were deeply skeptical when Pakistan denied any knowledge that bin Laden had been hiding out near Islamabad before US special forces tracked him down and killed him. Washington has provided about $20 billion in aid to Pakistan over the past decade.
Despite that, Rhodes said: “When we step back, we’ve continued to make significant progress against our core interest with regard to Pakistan, which is putting al Qaeda on a path to defeat. And that remains our focus.”
He said Obama would also discuss with Gilani plans for a transition to an Afghan security lead in Afghanistan and US support to an Afghan-led reconciliation process.
Rhodes was quick to dismiss Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s warning on Monday of growing instability in the West’s relations with Pakistan.
“I’m not sure that he has any particular insight into Nato’s relationship with Pakistan,” he said.
“I think Nato has had a relationship since the beginning of the Afghan war, because we have a shared interest with Pakistan and there not being violent extremist groups within their border and instability in Afghanistan,” Rhodes said.
It was unclear, however, whether Obama and Gilani’s agenda would include US concern about security of Pakistan’s nuclear materials, which are considered an area of high risk because of internal security threats from militants.

Pakistan needs nuclear technology to meet energy needs: Gilani

South Korea's President Lee Myung-Bak (L) greets Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani as he arrives for the welcoming ceremony for the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit at the Coex Center in Seoul on March 26, 2012.

SEOUL: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday urged the international community to give Pakistan access to nuclear technology for peaceful uses on a non-discriminatory basis.
Speaking at the dinner on the first day of the two-day second Seoul Security Summit here, the prime minister said that nuclear technology was required to meet Pakistan’s growing energy needs.
Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan had taken effective measures at national level which were the most important part of its efforts to enhance nuclear security.
Referring to the importance of the second Nuclear Security Summit being held in Seoul, the prime minister said, “As we meet here, we break new ground on the evolving global nuclear security architecture, the role of the IAEA, and protection of nuclear materials and radioactive sources.”
“Our concerns on these vital issues put a roadmap in our hands for concerted national actions and international coordination to enhance nuclear security,” he added.
The Prime Minister said last year the IAEA Board of Governors unanimously approved the safeguards agreements of the two civil nuclear power plants of Pakistan that showed that the international community’s continued confidence in the safety and security standards maintained by the country.
Gilani said in South Asia, Pakistan was pursuing strategic restraint and confidence building through dialogue and this process should guarantee security and stability in the region.
He said Pakistan had been active in international diplomacy to promote nuclear security.
“We have supported the work of the global initiative to combat nuclear terrorism and our reports to the UN Security Council Resolution 1540 Committee have shared details of the measures we have taken to secure sensitive materials and technologies,” he said.
The PM said Pakistan had also developed a strong nuclear emergency response mechanism, nuclear and radiological emergency coordination centres work closely with the first responders.
He said, “We have been implementing Nuclear Security Action Plan in cooperation with the IAEA and the plan reinforces physical protection of nuclear medical centres and civilian nuclear plants.”
After the Fukushima accident, Pakistan carried out comprehensive stress tests of the nuclear power plants and refined and improve the safety parameters, he added.
PM Gilani said Pakistan had been deploying Special Nuclear Material (SNM) portals at key entry and exit points to detect, deter and prevent illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials.
Gilani said the democratic government of Pakistan was fully committed to nuclear security.
“We have focused especially on capacity building and interaction with the international community,” he added.
The Prime Minister said since the Washington Summit, swift movement had been seen in the field of nuclear security.
He said: “Together, we have taken steps to create a secure world that will not live under the fear of nuclear terrorist attacks. We firmly believe that nuclear material must never fall into the hands of terrorists.”
The Prime Minister said the world leaders had invested political capital to create greater awareness about nuclear security and instil an sense of urgency in their efforts.
Referring to the first Nuclear Security Summit, the Prime Minister said three years ago in Prague, President Barack Obama took the historic initiative to convene a Nuclear Security Summit to set the common objectives for nuclear security and the Washington Summit was a great success in this regard.
Appreciating the efforts of South Korea for hosting second Nuclear Security Summit, Prime Minister Gilani said, “At this time, the Republic of Korea, a country with which Pakistan has deep, friendly ties, is carrying the torch.”

US, Pakistan have shared anti-terror interest: Clinton

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (R) and Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul speak to the media at the State Department in Washington, DC. -AFP Photo
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WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that the United States and Pakistan share interests in fighting terrorism after a panel in Islamabad made demands over the troubled relationship.
Clinton declined to comment in-depth on the panel’s recommendations but said that the United States was committed to an “honest, constructive, mutually beneficial relationship with Pakistan.”
“We’ve been working through these difficulties and challenges. We believe we have shared interests. We believe we have the same enemies,” Clinton said a news conference with Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul.
“We believe that it’s important to support counter-terrorism against the insurgents who kill and maim tens of thousands of Pakistani people, who send teams across the border to kill and maim people in Afghanistan and to kill and maim our soldiers and others,” Clinton said.
Pakistani lawmakers on Tuesday demanded a US apology over Nato air strikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in November, leading Islamabad to close supply lines for US forces into Afghanistan.
Lawmakers also demanded taxes on Nato convoys and an end to drone attacks in which the United States has killed militants in Pakistan’s lawless border areas. Pakistan has voiced anger over civilian deaths.
Clinton said that she would not comment on the recommendations until the panel’s findings come up for debate before the Pakistani parliament

India beat Pakistan by six wickets

India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, center, flanked by teammates Virat Kohli, right, and Suresh Raina, left, celebrate their win in the Asia Cup cricket match against Pakistan in Dhaka. -AP Photo

DHAKA: India defeated Pakistan by six wickets in the Asia Cup one-day tournament in Dhaka on Sunday.
Virat Kohli smashed a 148-ball 183 as India achieved the stiff 330-run target with 13 balls to spare in the day-night match, the first between the two teams since the World Cup semi-final at Mohali last March.
Pakistan made it to the final despite the defeat, finishing with nine points from three games, while India (eight points from three games) and Bangladesh (four points from two games) are still in contention.
Bangladesh need to win their final league match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday to knock India out.
Nasir Jamshed (112) and Mohammad Hafeez (105) earlier hit centuries as Pakistan scored a challenging 329-6 after electing to bat.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 329-6 in 50 overs; India 330-4 in 47.5 overs

Iran says will hit back at any attack by Israel, US

In this photo released by an official website of the Iranian supreme leader's office on Tuesday, March 20, 2012, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivers a message for the Iranian New Year in Tehran. -AP Photo

TEHRAN: Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned on Tuesday his country would hit back at any attack by the United States or Israel, firming tensions in the showdown over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
“We have said that we do not have atomic weapons and we will not build any. But if there is any attack by the enemies, whether it be United States or the Zionist regime, we will attack them at the same level as they attack us,” he said in live televised speech to mark the start of the Iranian new year.
The comments reinforced Iran’s position as it faces off against the West over its nuclear activities, and as it confronts Israeli and US threats of possible military action.
Khamenei, who was speaking in the western city of Mashhad, said Iran had a divine right to retaliate if struck.
“The Koran states that if an enemy attacks you first, the enemy will certainly be defeated,” he said.
“This is God’s law. We are not thinking of attacks and aggression, but we are attached to the existence and identity of the Islamic republic.”

Strong, long 7.6 quake shakes Mexico City

Workers and resident gather at the Angel de la Independencia square after evacuating buildings during a 7.9 earthquake in Mexico City on Tuesday. – Photo by AP

MEXICO CITY: A strong, long 7.6 earthquake with an epicenter in Guerrero state shook central southern Mexico on Tuesday, swaying buildings in Mexico City and sending frightened workers and residents into the streets.
The US Geological Survey set the intensity at 7.6 and said the epicenter was 11 miles underground. Mexico’s National Seismological Survey said the temblor had an epicenter southwest of Ometepec and was felt strongly in Oaxaca.
Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard’s Twitter account said the water system and other ”strategic services” were not experiencing problems.
”I have problems with pressure, I felt I was going to faint,” said Rosa Maria Lopez Velazquez, 62, outside a mall in Mexico City.
There were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries. Telephone service was down in the city and throughout the area where the quake was felt.

Operation to continue till purging Karachi of extortionists: Malik

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Rehman Malik said on Tuesday that the operation against the extortionists would continue in Karachi till the complete elimination the criminal activity.
Speaking to media representatives outside the Parliament House, the interior minister said the police and the Rangers had started the joint operation in various areas of the metropolis and made arrests in this connection on the complaints of people.
He said a one-point strategy had been chalked out at a high level meeting in consultation with the Sindh chief minister, home minister and other stakeholders to arrest all the criminals involved in extortion and other street crimes.
Steps were being taken on the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari who has taken a serious notice of the complaints of extortion in Karachi, he added.
Malik said that government’s top priority was to redress the grievances of the public in general and traders in particular against the extortionists.
He said the biggest challenge for the government was target killings in Karachi which had been controlled to a great extent and now it would control the extortionists as well.
The minister said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) respected its coalition partners and would redress the concerns of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), particularly with respect to extortionists in Karachi.