Posts Tagged ‘Afghanistan’

US sees ‘positive political statements’ from Pakistan

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US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. -Reuters Photo

WASHINGTON: Pakistan has made some “helpful and positive political statements” in support of an eventual deal to end a blockade of Nato supply lines into Afghanistan, a US official said Wednesday.

But “there are a number of technical issues that we are still working through,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said, as talks continued on reopening lines that have been closed for six months.

Pakistan shut its Afghan border crossings to Nato supplies on November 26 after US air strikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

“We have had some progress (in the talks). We’ve also had some very helpful and positive political statements out of Pakistan, some political moves,”Nuland told reporters.

“While the Pakistani political leadership hasn’t yet authorized the reopening of the ground transportation routes, we understand that they did endorse the conclusion of the negotiations,” Nuland said.

She added the Pakistanis “are sending a political signal to their own negotiating team that they would like to see this wrapped up. That doesn’t change the fact that we still haven’t closed all the issues.”Nuland did not elaborate on where stumbling blocks remained.

But she added: “So they see some urgency, we see some urgency, but the negotiators have to finish it.”

When asked if the urgency was to conclude a deal before the Nato summit begins at the weekend in Chicago, she replied: “The urgency is to be able to support Afghanistan from Pakistan.”

Although Islamabad has stopped short of announcing when the transit lines will reopen, it has signaled President Asif Ali Zardari will attend talks on Afghanistan in Chicago on May 20-21, after a last-minute invitation from Nato.

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Via DAWN.com

Imran to launch campaign against resumption of Nato supplies

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Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan. – File Photo by Reuters

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan said on Wednesday that he was contacting other political parties for the opposition campaign against ,expected re-opening of the Nato supply, routes to Afghanistan, DawnNews reported.

Talking to media representatives at the press conference at Zaman Paark in Lahore, Khan criticised the parliament for its inability to implement the resolution regarding future rules of engagement with the United States.

He asked why Pakistan was compromising on its stand of  not allowing the Nato supplies through its land-routes, when the US drone attacks have not been  stopped and the US has not seek for an apology over the raid on Salala check-post that killed 24 soldiers.

The PTI chairman warned that Pakistan will have to bear financial loss and loss of human lives, if it allows reopening of the Nato supply routes.

Speaking about election commission of Pakistan (ECP), Khan said that if Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz appoints their cronies in the commission then PTI would oppose that.

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Via DAWN.com

If there were global justice, Nato would be in the dock over Libya

Seumas Milne
Libya was supposed to be different. The lessons of Iraq and Afghanistan had been learned, David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy insisted last year. This would be a real humanitarian intervention. Unlike Iraq, there would be no boots on the ground. Unlike in Afghanistan, Nato air power would be used to support a fight for freedom and prevent a massacre. Unlike the Kosovo campaign, there …

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Cabinet session: Printing money can help overcome loadshedding, suggests Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday suggested that the government should print currency notes and pour capital into the electricity sector in order to overcome loadshedding, Express News has reported.

During the federal cabinet session, Gilani said, “We can print currency notes and pour capital in the electricity sector in order to overcome loadshedding”.

Gilani’s suggestion surprised ministers present in the session, however, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, while endorsing the prime minister’s statement, said that the “2-3% rise in inflation could be overcome within a few years” and that there was no problem in printing money.

The participants also suggested that the recovery of dues that different sectors owed Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) could be handed over to Malik to curb the circular debt.

However, this idea was opposed by some ministers, saying that this will cause a dispute between the trader community and industry with Wapda.

Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said that Wapda does not have a system to gauge the amount of electricity needed by different cities. He said that Wapda needs to develop a system to properly distribute electricity within the cities, prioritising on the demand.

Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar could not answer a question asked 3-4 times in the session about the capacity of the electricity produced by Wapda.

Gilani says decision on Nato supplies be taken considering national interest

Gilani said that the decision on resumption of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) supply routes will be taken considering Pakistan’s national interest.

The prime minister said that the government has not compromised on its principles in the past and will not do so in the future.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is likely to be formally approved by the federal cabinet to reopen vital land routes for foreign forces stationed in Afghanistan.

He said that the government does not want to take an “emotional” decision which will not be beneficial for the country.

Reiterating his stance on the right to appeal the Supreme Court’s verdict in the contempt of court case, Gilani said that he is not “scared of any threats” and that he will continue to guard the constitution.

Earlier, Gilani had said that Pakistan’s relationship with 48 countries serving in the Nato cannot be put on stake just because of the US.

On Tuesday, Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) finally gave a go-ahead to lift the almost six-month old blockade on Nato supplies passing through the country.

The supplies were suspended in November last year in reprisal to a Nato air raid on a Pakistani border post that had killed 24 soldiers and strained Pakistan-US relations to the breaking point.

PM briefs cabinet on UK visit

The prime minister said that during his visit to the United Kingdom from May 8 to May 13, 2012, he met UK’s Queen Elizabeth on her diamond jubilee and her reign of 60 years as head of the Commonwealth at the British Deputy High Commission.

He said that he also attended a parliamentary reception held by the speaker.

“I also visited Buckingham Palace for a meeting with Duke of York,” said Gilani. “Apart from the enhanced strategic dialogue review, all major ministers called on me for detailed discussions on various strands of cooperation between Pakistan and the UK.”

The premier said that the warm welcome given to him as an elected prime minister reflects the importance and confidence the UK government attaches to its relations with a democratic Pakistan.

He said that British Prime Minister David Cameron applauded the fact that the current government of Pakistan was working to strengthen democracy in the country.

“His categorical statement that Pakistan’s friend is UK’s friend and Pakistan’s enemy is UK’s enemy was a strong reiteration of Pakistan’s standing and importance in the committee of nations.”

Gilani further said that the UK has vowed to build a deeper, stronger relationship with Pakistan and that that it wants to strengthen relations in the fields of trade, defence, health and education.

“We [Pakistan and the UK] have also agreed to boost bilateral trade,” he said.

Cabinet apprised of CASA-1000 project

While reviewing the status of the implementation of the cabinet’s decisions pertaining to Water and Power Division, the cabinet meeting was informed by Qamar that the CASA-1000 Megawatt project meeting being held in Dubai was expected to make substantial progress.

CASA-1000 is a joint project of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Prime Minister Gilani told the cabinet that economic indicators of Pakistan’s economy were moving in the right direction despite the global recession and the devastating floods of 2010 and 2011.

Shaikh assured the cabinet that full financial support will be extended to the Ministry of Water & Power to eliminate unscheduled loadshedding immediately and also to decrease scheduled loadshedding at the same time.

For this purpose, it was decided to utilise the full thermal and hydal power generation capacity in the country.

Pentagon confident supply routes in Pakistan will soon be reopened

WASHINGTON – A Pentagon spokesman expressed confidence Wednesday that U.S.-Pakistan relations are on the mend, and that Islamabad soon will re-open routes used to supply American troops in Afghanistan.
Pakistan closed two border crossings used by the U.S. military in Chaman and Torkham after a Nov. 26 NATO strike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. That was just the latest incident to further …

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Key decision: Chicago invite further smoothes NATO route

ISLAMABAD: A Nato invitation to Pakistan for a key summit in Chicago hours before a high-level civil-military huddle says it all: The decision to reopen vital land routes for the foreign forces stationed in Afghanistan was a foregone conclusion.

As was expected, the high-powered Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) on Tuesday finally gave a go-ahead to lift the almost six-month old blockade on Nato supplies passing through the country.

The supplies were suspended in November last year in reprisal to a Nato air raid on a Pakistani border post that had killed 24 soldiers and strained Pakistan-US relations to the breaking point.

But after weeks of hectic overt and covert negotiations, the two sides have finally struck a deal.

The DCC, the highest coordination forum between the civil and military authorities on issues of national security, authorised relevant ministries/departments to conclude the ongoing negotiations on the new terms and conditions for resumption of GLOCs (Ground Lines of Communications).

According to the official announcement, the new terms and conditions should incorporate a clause, as recommended by parliament, to the effect that only non-lethal cargo would be allowed to transit through Pakistan to Afghanistan.

Though the statement did not give any timeline, official sources disclosed that the new terms and conditions have already been finalised for the resumption of Nato supplies.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is likely to be formally approved by the federal cabinet, which is due to meet today (Wednesday) in the federal capital.

Interestingly, the government went ahead with its decision without getting an unconditional apology from the US for the deadly US air raid and a halt in the drone attacks inside the tribal regions.

Those two were the main preconditions set by parliament last month for reconfiguring ties with the United States.

In an attempt to tame the possible public backlash, the DCC decided that the foreign ministry would continue to remain engaged with the US on other parliamentary recommendations, including the question of a formal apology and cessation of drone attacks.

It was also decided that the military authorities should negotiate fresh border ground rules of Nato/Isaf to ensure that Salala-like incidents do not recur.

It welcomed the ‘unconditional invitation’ extended by Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen to President Asif Zardari to attend the historic gathering of over 60 world leaders to discuss the Afghan endgame.

Earlier, Rasmussen telephoned President Zardari and invited him to the Nato summit being held in Chicago on May 20-21.

Last week, the Nato chief had tacitly linked Pakistan’s participation in the summit with the resumption of supply lines.

However, the presidential spokesperson insisted that the invitation was unconditional and not linked to the opening of Nato supply routes or to any other issue. The DCC endorsed the president’s visit to the summit. The committee also discussed parliament’s call for the expulsion of foreign fighters, if found, on Pakistan’s soil.

(Read: Reopening the supply routes)

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2012.

Zardari will attend Chicago summit: Spokesperson

WASHINGTON: After US set aside the condition of reopening Nato supply route for the presence of Pakistan at the Chicago summit, President Asif Ali Zardari too has decided to attend the crucial meeting this weekend, the Pakistan Embassy in Washington said on Tuesday. It brought closure to speculation that Islamabad might be omitted from high-level talks on Afghanistan’s future.

Nadeem Hotiana, an embassy spokesman, confirmed that Zardari would attend the conference, scheduled for May 20-21.  Given that Washington, which had earlier extended the invitation despite an agreement on the reopening of the supply line yet to be reached, demonstrated that they valued Pakistan’s presence at the summit more.

Pakistan had shut the land communication route in November after a Nato attack that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

Observing this, the Defence Committee of the Cabinet announced that it would endorse Zardari’s presence in Chicago later in the week.

Senior Pakistan officials including Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had both signalled a need to reopen the supply lines, observing that keeping the route shut was detrimental for Pakistan.

US looks forward to resolving Nato supply route issue with Pakistan

The US state department, quizzed over whether extending Pakistan an invitation to the Chicago summit meant abandoning the demand of reopening supply route, spokesperson Victoria Nuland reiterated that negotiations were still underway but it was considered important that Pakistan attend the moot.

“We are continuing our discussions with the Pakistanis. Our technical team is still there. We are making progress. We have not yet completed an agreement. We do consider the agreement important, but we also consider — and all of our NATO partners considered it important — to have Pakistan in the ISAF and neighbours event at the summit in Chicago,” she said.

Explaining the invitation to the summit, she said that “as a neighbour of Afghanistan, Pakistan does have an important role to play in supporting Afghan security. We do want to see these land routes opened. We are continuing to work on it. But we thought it was important to have them at the summit in this partnership role.”

Nuland though hoped that the route reopens before the summit commences. “Obviously, it’ll be a wonderful signal if we can get it done by the time of the summit. But we decided nonetheless — NATO countries all together decided that it was important to have Pakistan in the ISAF meeting.”

She reminded the gathered media persons that negotiations with Pakistan were far from over. “But it’s not finished till it’s finished.”

Way cleared for Zardari to attend Chicago summit: Talks with US continue over apology: Nato routes set to reopen

ISLAMABAD, May 15: The Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC), the main decision-making body on country’s security policy, on Tuesday cleared the way for President Asif Ali Zardari to attend the coming Nato summit and gave its nod for the conclusion of an agreement for opening of ground supply routes, used for sustaining needs of coalition forces in Afghanistan, after de-linking the matter from demand for apology over the killing of 24 soldiers in last year’s border attack.

The stalemate over apology by the US, which had impeded progress in bilateral talks for re-engagement, has been left for further dialogue, along with negotiations on the parliamentary demand for cessation of drone attacks.

“The DCC welcomed the unconditional invitation by the Nato secretary general to the president of Pakistan to attend Nato summit in Chicago. The DCC fully endorsed the visit of the president for the summit,” said a statement issued after a meeting of the committee, chaired by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

It was attended by federal ministers for defence, interior, foreign affairs and information, the chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, the three services chiefs and the director general of ISI. Before the start of the meeting, Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen telephoned President Zardari to invite him to the May 20-21 summit in Chicago. The invitation came a day after Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar indicated Pakistan’s willingness to reopen the suspended Nato routes by saying it was now time to move on.

President Zardari, according to his office, told Mr Rasmussen that he would consider the invitation in the light of the guidelines of parliament and the advice of the government.

Now with the formality of government endorsement fulfilled, the president is set to fly to Chicago for the summit.

Afghanistan will top the agenda of the summit, to be attended by 28 Nato heads of state and government, leaders from many of the 50 nations that make up the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) and countries providing supply routes to the trans-Atlantic politico-military alliance. The summit will also consider a long-term strategic partnership with Afghanistan for promoting security and stability there.

The government, fearful of isolation over Afghanistan and losing leverages in Afghan endgame, looked desperate to get an invitation to the summit, even though its media managers vehemently denying this impression.

President Zardari took special interest to see that the impasse in talks with Washington was addressed in time to secure the Chicago invitation.

Pakistan had suspended Nato supply routes following the Salala border attack on Nov 26 and ordered reassessment of terms of cooperation with the US and Nato by the parliament. The parliament sought apology over the incident, cessation of drone attacks, respect for Pakistan’s sovereignty and formalisation of cooperation pacts with the US, besides recommending restoration of the supply routes for non-lethal supplies and expulsion of foreign fighters who had taken refuge in Pakistani territory.

Demands for an end to unmanned predator drone strikes and apology became sticking points in the subsequent Pakistan-US negotiations.

However, technical groups from both sides continued discussions on new conditions for the ground supplies and are said to have already settled on a broad memorandum of understanding that would cover issues pertaining to costing, security of shipments, routes and type of goods to be transported.

“In keeping with the letter and spirit of the parliamentary committee’s recommendations, the DCC authorised officers of relevant ministries/departments to conclude the ongoing negotiation on the new terms and conditions for resumption of GLOCs (Ground Lines of Communications).

“The new terms and conditions should incorporate a clause, as recommended by parliament, to the effect that only non-lethal cargo will be allowed to transit through Pakistan to Afghanistan,” the DCC statement said.

The green signal from the DCC for concluding the agreement implies that the new pact on supply routes will be signed any time now.

Diplomatic sources say President Zardari will announce formal resumption of supplies at the Chicago summit.

Although it was evident that the government would not be able to keep the supply routes blocked for long, the course followed for reopening was essentially meant to minimise the chances of protest by hardliners opposed to supporting international efforts in Afghanistan.

The only news on divisive issues of apology and drones was that the Foreign Office had been asked to continue negotiations with the US.

“The committee further decided that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to remain engaged with the government of the United States on other parliamentary recommendations, including the question of apology and cessation of drone attacks,” the statement released to the media said.

The DCC also discussed a recommendation for “expulsion of foreign fighters, if found, on the Pakistani side,” in addition to asking the military to settle fresh border ground rules with Nato/Isaf for preventing recurrence of Salala-like mishaps.

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Via DAWN.com

US targets ‘D Company’

WASHINGTON, May 15: The United States targeted on Tuesday two lieutenants in a South Asian drug gang, freezing their US assets and barring Americans from doing business with them.

The US Treasury Department designated Chhota Shakeel and Ibrahim “Tiger” Memon as senior figures in a criminal organisation run by Dawood Ibrahim, known as “D Company”.

Treasury said the D Company gang smuggles heroin and hashish from Afghanistan and Thailand to the United States, among other countries.

The Treasury Department has designated more than 1,000 individuals and entities under the Kingpin Act since June 2000 as part of an effort to apply financial pressure against significant foreign narcotics traffickers and their organisations.—Reuters

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Via DAWN.com

Islamabad gets Chicago invitation

ISLAMABAD – Nato on Tuesday invited Pakistan to key talks on the future of Afghanistan in Chicago next week as Islamabad signalled it was about to end a nearly six-month blockade on supply routes.
Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen telephoned President Asif Ali Zardari Tuesday afternoon and invited him to the May 20-21 summit, said presidential spokesperson Senator Farhatullah …

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Corps commanders to meet today

RAWALPINDI – Corps Commanders will meet here on Wednesday (today).
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is expected to take the corps commanders into confidence over a possible resumption of supplies to Nato troops in Afghanistan, sources were quoted as saying.
Islamabad shut its Afghan border to Nato supplies after US airstrikes killed 24 soldiers in November. But …

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US sabre-rattling against Iran

In the wake of the recent IAEA report on Iran’s nuclear programme, Israel and its western allies are once again planning for a military confrontation against Iran. Worst results and huge expenditures of Iraq and Afghanistan wars prove that wars provide nothing except deaths, destruction and a waste of money.
Confrontation and exchange of hard statements still continue between both …

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What’s Nato ever done?

JOHN LaFORGE
Wondering why anyone would confront Nato’s summit in Chicago this month? A look at some of its more well-known crimes might spark some indignation.
Desecration of corpses, indiscriminate attacks, bombing of allied troops, torture of prisoners and unaccountable drone war are a few of Nato’s outrages in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, Yemen and elsewhere. On March 20, 2012 …

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NATO invites Pakistan to Chicago summit

ISLAMABAD: NATO has invited President Asif Ali Zardari to next week’s summit in Chicago, a presidential spokesperson told AFP on Tuesday.

Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen had called Zardari in the afternoon to invite him to the summit.

Spokesperson to the President, Farhatullah Babar said that the invitation was unconditional and not linked to the reopening of ground lines of communication for Nato or to any other issues.

Zardari said that he would consider the invitation in light of the guidelines of the Parliament and the advice of the government. He said that the decision will be communicated to Nato later.

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said Pakistan had “an important role” to play in the future of Afghanistan, which will be the focus of the second day of the summit.

“We’re working very closely with Pakistan to allow the opening of the transit line because obviously this is in everybody’s interest,” she said.

The defence committee of cabinet is to convene at around 1430 GMT, followed by a cabinet meeting on Wednesday which is widely expected to decide to reopen overland NATO supply lines into Afghanistan, closed since November.

Sources familiar with the discussions told AFP the government had effectively decided to end the blockade, probably by the beginning of next week.

Both sides had found “broad agreement” on logistics for the fuel and other non-lethal supplies that would go overland through Pakistan to Afghanistan, one source said.

“The meetings will indicate that the decision has the backing of all the stakeholders,” the source told AFP.

“This should minimise the prospect for militant groups to exploit the situation in the hope that they’ll get the backing of the military establishment.”

Pakistan previously negotiated a fee of $160 per 40-foot container and is now looking to secure anywhere from $320 to $500, although the figure has yet to be agreed, one source told AFP.

The United States has also guaranteed payment of at least $1.1 billion should the borders reopen, as compensation for fighting militants, the source added.

Mir Mohammad Yousuf Shahwani, chairman of the All Pakistan Oil Tanker Owners Association, told AFP he had been informed by a senior official in the petroleum ministry that Pakistan would reopen the supply line within days.

The invitation comes a day after Foreign Minister Khar had stated that Pakistan wanted to ‘move beyond’ the Salala incident as it had made its point by keeping the Nato routes shut for almost six months.

Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen had said earlier this week that Pakistan’s participation in the summit in Chicago, scheduled for May 20-21, hinges on its decision on the supply route for the alliance’s mission in Afghanistan.

Both Khar and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had made it clear on Monday that the government is ready to drop its insistence on a formal US apology over the killing of two dozen Pakistani troops in the airstrikes on border posts in Salala, Mohmand Agency.

Nato supply routes have been closed for over six months in response to a US attack on a check post that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

Karachi port: Books for Afghan students held up in NATO containers

The curriculum books for grade 10, 11 and 12 Afghan students were published in Dubai with Nato support for educational institutions in the eastern parts of the country, said the education ministry.

Afghan Minister of Education Farooq Wardak told media on Sunday that his government has already raised the issue with the Pakistani authorities at the highest level. “They assured us of quick resolution of the issue, but it is yet to happen,” said Wardak.

He said the Pakistani authorities were impressed upon that politics must not deprive children of their basic right to education.

“I do not know why Pakistan has stopped our books. We are facing a shortage of books here,” said Nangialy, a 12 grade student of Dari language and literature at Kabul University. Another student of Pashto language grade 11 Abida Nazish appealed to the Pakistani government to immediately release the books.

The students said they got to know from the local media that the books were stuck at the Karachi Port due to ban on Nato supplies through Pakistan.

A lecturer at the university Ajmal Shakalay told The Express Tribune that the delay in arrival of new books could cause a failure in replacing the old curriculum. He further claimed that certain schools were closed due to shortage of books.

Education Ministry spokesperson Amanullah Iman said that fresh term in majority of schools in the country already began in May. However, in 40% schools the new term starts in August, but the curriculum changes are made simultaneously across the country, which could now be delayed, he added.

“The delay in the release of books’ containers were perhaps due to misunderstanding as the Pakistani authorities thought there were Nato supplies in the containers,” said Iman.

A Pakistani government official, requesting anonymity, said that it was surprising that books were being transported in Nato containers. He said the authorities were not certain as Nato containers, as per contract, are not opened to check the supplies.

“Naturally, and commonly they (containers) carry weapons and supplies for troops and not books for Afghan schools,” said the official. However, he said he could not comment on how soon the containers could be released as they were addressed to Nato authorities and not the Afghan government.

“The parliament will decide on opening the Nato supply routes. Until then, nothing could be done,” the official added.

The Afghan education ministry said the books were published by Oriental Publishing Company in Dubai under the support of Nato command. Therefore, they were being transported in the Nato containers.

An official of education ministry denied that schools were closed due to shortage of books. Rather a security threat to certain schools was the reason for their closure but they will be opened soon, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2012.

Fresh push to kick-start dormant Gwadar port

QUETTA: In the latest efforts to expedite the process of making Gwadar Port functional, Rs3 billion has been pledged by the government for the completion of a link road connecting Gwadar to Upper Sindh and Punjab.

A high level meeting was held in the provincial capital to discuss the currently dormant port which, once operational, can greatly boost economic development.

The Planning Commission of Pakistan’s Deputy Chairman Dr Nadeem ul Haq said the federal government will prepare a “master plan for coastal development.” He added that the government will also release Rs3 billion for the completion of the Rato-Dero-Gwadar link road connecting Gwadar with Sindh and Punjab, which will be completed by June next year.

Gwadar Port Authority’s Director General Pervez Rehmat and Additional Chief Secretary, Development, Dr Umer Babar briefed the participants on the master plan’s salient features.

It was agreed in the meeting that if the government decides to restore the Nato supply route to Afghanistan, the supplies should be directed from the Gwadar Port. A formal demand will be made to the federal government regarding this. It was also suggested that the port be used for Afghan transit trade.

Participants of the meeting were told that the government has already spent Rs50 billion over the construction of Gwadar Port and the Coastal Highway. It was noted that the earlier decision of appointing the chief minister of Balochistan as chairman of the Gwadar Port Authority is yet to be implemented and no formal notification has been issued by the federal government to this effect.

The participants agreed that all pending decisions regarding the development authority should be implemented at the earliest in order to expedite the process of making the port operational. Dr Haq said Gwadar would be made a special economic zone for speedy development of the entire region.

He assured the meeting that the commission would ensure the availability of necessary funds for dredging and improving facilities at the port.

Haq added that the prime minister has issued clear instructions to provide funds to Balochistan to ensure development is at par with other provinces.

He said the provincial government was asked to study the feasibility report and look into possible future developments based on the model of prosperous neighbouring ports like Iran’s Chabahar and UAE’s Jabal-e-Ali.

The chief minister of Balochistan also stressed that the province’s progress was directly linked with making the port operational.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2012.

Gilani chairs DCC meeting over US ties

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani chairs a Defence Committee of the Cabinet meeting at the PM House. — File Photo by Online

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday is chairing an important meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) to review Pakistan’s troubled ties with the United States, DawnNews reported.

Heads of all three forces, chairman joint chiefs of staff committee, ISI chief as well as federal ministers from defence, interior, foreign affairs, finance and information ministries are also attending the meeting.

The meeting will review country’s stranded ties with the war ally US and will also reflect on ways to come to a ‘face-saving deal’ that would allow both sides to move beyond the Salala issue which has been holding up the crucial relationship for months.

Nato, earlier on Tuesday, invited Pakistan to key talks on the future of Afghanistan in Chicago next week as Islamabad signalled it was about to end a nearly six-month blockade on supply routes.

Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen telephoned President Asif Ali Zardari to invite him to the May 20-21 summit, Islamabad said, a day after Pakistan’s foreign minister said it was time to “move on” after US air strikes killed 24 soldiers last November.

Islamabad shut its Afghan border crossings to Nato supplies after the deaths and its relations with the United States, already frayed by the discovery of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, plunged into their worst ever crisis.

As the government is convening back-to-back meetings of the country’s highest defence policy coordination forum —Defence Committee of the Cabinet— and the federal cabinet on Tuesday and Wednesday, it was more than clear that the moment of decision in ties with the United States, which have been in an indeterminate state since the Nov 26 Salala incident, has finally arrived.

At the two meetings, the civil and military leadership will decide on how to go ahead with resumption of normal relations with Washington, including the reopening of Nato supply routes.

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Via DAWN.com