11/1/08

A bigger threat than al-Qaeda: Pakistanis See U.S. as Greatest Threat 07 Jan 2008
Amid reports that the administration of U.S. President [sic] George W. Bush is considering aggressive covert actions against armed Islamist forces in western Pakistan, a new survey released here Monday suggested that such an effort would be opposed by an overwhelming majority of Pakistanis themselves. The survey, which was funded by the quasi-governmental U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) and designed by the University of Maryland’s Programme on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA), also found that a strong majority of Pakistanis consider the U.S. military presence in Asia and neighbouring Afghanistan a much more critical threat to their country than al Qaeda or Pakistan’s own Taliban movement in the tribal regions along the border with Afghanistan.
www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=40693

IAEA seeks to soothe Pakistan ire over ElBaradei comments
by Staff Writers
Vienna (AFP) Jan 10, 2008
The UN atomic watchdog attempted Thursday to smooth over a spat with Pakistan over recent comments made by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei on the issue of nuclear safety.
www.spacewar.com/reports/IAEA_seeks_to_soothe_
Pakistan_ire_over_ElBaradei_comments_999.html

Pakistan hits out at UN nuclear chief
by Staff Writers
Islamabad (AFP) Jan 9, 2008
Pakistan rejected the UN nuclear chief’s criticism of its atomic weapons safety Wednesday, saying its arsenal would not fall into the hands of extremists and chastising his “irresponsible” remarks.
www.spacewar.com/reports/Pakistan_
hits_out_at_UN_nuclear_chief_999.html

Scotland Yard beefs up Bhutto probe in Pakistan
Islamabad (AFP) Jan 9, 2008 – Scotland Yard strengthened its team aiding the probe into the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto on Wednesday as concerns for the country’s nuclear security grew. Three more detectives arrived from London, including an expert in the type of explosives used in the gun and suicide bomb attack which killed Bhutto and nearly two dozen of her supporters at a rally in Rawa
www.spacewar.com/reports/Scotland_Yard
_beefs_up_Bhutto_probe_in_Pakistan_999.html

‘A Heartbeat Away’ From War With Iran and Pakistan :
As the American people amuse themselves with the illusion that they have any say in the way they are presently governed, our rulers are moving toward war. Two recent incidents underscore the imminence of this prospect.
snipurl.com/1x453

Stay Out of Pakistan, Musharraf Warns US
Tough-talking Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf warned that American troops will be treated as invaders if they cross the border from Afghanistan into Pakistan. The US would “regret that day” if it proceeds with a plan under …
www.newser.com/story/16137.html?rss=y

Suicide bomb kills 23 in Pakistan
Boston Globe – United States
LAHORE, Pakistan – A suicide bomber detonated his explosives near the Lahore High Court in eastern Pakistan yesterday, killing at least 23 people and …
www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/
2008/01/11/suicide_bomb_kills_23_in_pakistan

IAEA seeks to soothe Pakistan ire over ElBaradei comments
AFP –
VIENNA (AFP) — The UN atomic watchdog has attempted to smooth over a spat with Pakistan over recent comments made by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei on the …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g_N8jw-Ym4zJ4CsUm49jDFkMWgiw

Pakistan Warns US Not to Enter Northwest
The Associated Press –
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — President Pervez Musharraf warned that US troops would be regarded as invaders if they crossed into Pakistan’s border region with …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hMbayc
E4lN7G1kMmjgHB31jrIHegD8U3FJDG1

Pakistan defeats militant attack in tribal region: army
AFP –
WANA, Pakistan (AFP) — Pakistani troops defeated an attack by hundreds of Islamic militants in a restive tribal region this week, inflicting heavy…
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g0-ReOGBgUtSR0LLhdqIs83hxpLA

Pakistan takes a step backwards
Asia Times Online – Kowloon,Hong Kong
By Syed Saleem Shahzad KARACHI – At a time when Pakistan’s national decision-making institutions are suspicious of international plans to make the country’s …
www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JA12Df01.html

Iran may not sign gas pipeline pact with Pakistan next week
Economic Times – Gurgaon,Haryana,India
11 Jan, 2008, 1520 hrs IST, PTI NEW DELHI: Iran is unlikely to sign next week a bilateral agreement with Pakistan for export of natural gas and has said it …
economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/
Energy/Iran_may_not_sign_gas_pipeline_pact_with_Pakistan
_next_week/articleshow/2692628.cms

Pakistan rejects call for conditions on US aid
Reuters – USA
By Robert Birsel ISLAMABAD, Jan 11 (Reuters) – Pakistan rejected on Friday a call by US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for President George W. Bush to …
www.reuters.com/article/mediaNews/idUSISL14302520080111

Pakistan investigators try to identify Lahore bomber
Reuters – USA
By Mubasher Bukhari LAHORE, Pakistan, Jan 11 (Reuters) – Pakistani investigators were trying on Friday to identify a suspected Islamist militant suicide …
www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSISL342777

Attacks bode ill for Pakistan elections: analysts
AFP –
ISLAMABAD (AFP) — With Pakistan’s crucial elections already postponed until next month after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, fresh violence could place …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5huYySdVJvWAd80l1k4WVl7-qFraA

Suicide attacks, sectarian tensions put Pakistan on alert
AFP –
LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) — Pakistani investigators on Friday said “tribal” elements were behind a suicide attack which killed 22 policemen, as security forces …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hjuSyB3uvDBidgUun5qxtXhO6_FA

Report: Musharraf warns US on intervention
Xinhua – China
11 (Xinhua) — Pakistan’s president Pervez Musharraf warned that any unilateral intervention in his country by coalition forces fighting in Afghanistan …
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/11/content_7405516.htm

Musharraf warns US not to intervene in Pakistan
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has warned the US-led coalition in Afghanistan that any unauthorised incursion into his country will be treated as an invasion.
www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/11/2136847.htm

“The west has not just repressed democracy. It has aided terror”
By Hassan Abbas(Hassan Abbas)
It read: “US weighs new covert push in Pakistan”. Washington was authorising “enhanced CIA activity” in the country while US Democratic candidates declared they were all ready “to launch unilateral military strikes in [Pakistan] if they …
watandost.blogspot.com/2008/01/west-
has-not-just-repressed-democracy.html

Police claim woman ‘was not a suicide bomber’ – Pakistan Dawn
By eiop
Police claim woman ‘was not a suicide bomber’ Pakistan Dawn, Pakistan – 4 hours ago A high-ranking official told Dawn that police believed the woman was not a suicide bomber and the explosion had been caused by a remote-controlled …
donoevil.propeller.com/story/2008/01/10/police-
claim-woman-was-not-a-suicide-bomber-pakistan-dawn

Pakistan warns against unilateral action on rebels
Reuters – USA
By Sanjeev Miglani SINGAPORE, Jan 11 (Reuters) – Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said any unilateral action by US-led coalition forces against…
www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSSP258238

ElBaradei remarks not Pakistan specific: IAEA
Pakistan Dawn – Karachi,Pakistan
VIENNA, Jan 10: The UN atomic watchdog attempted on Thursday to smooth over a spat with Pakistan over recent comments made by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei …
www.dawn.com/2008/01/11/top13.htm

Pakistan’s survival lies in good ties with India: Zardari
Mangalorean.com – Mangalore,India
New Delhi, Jan 11 (IANS) Asif Ali Zardari, husband of assassinated former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto, has said that the survival of Pakistan lay …
mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=63533

Bomb Kills at Least 23 in Pakistan
New York Times – United States
By SALMAN MASOOD ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A suicide bomber walked into a crowd of police officers outside a courthouse in Lahore on Thursday and set off a …
www.nytimes.com/2008/01/11/world/
asia/11pakistan.html?ref=asia

Senate leader wants Bush to pressure Pakistan
Reuters – USA
WASHINGTON, Jan 10 (Reuters) – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Thursday urged President George W. Bush to consider cutting aid to Pakistan unless it …
www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN10224616

Pakistan Parties Say Terrorism Threat Damages Election Campaign
Bloomberg – USA
11 (Bloomberg) — The threat of terrorist attacks in Pakistan is damaging the campaign for next month’s elections, political parties said as a suicide …
www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601
087&sid=aqq677GT0D_U&refer=home

India and Pakistan
By Andrew Sullivan
Both India and Pakistan are “front page” news today, all over the world. India, because TATA unveiled the world’s cheapest car. Pakistan, because, yet another suicide bomber killed 25 people in Lahore. The contrast is breathtaking, …
andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_
daily_dish/2008/01/india-and-pakis.html

Give youth a chance
By Jaroka: Tele-healthcare(Jaroka: Tele-healthcare)
It is no wonder that 70% of the population of Pakistan (WHO statistic) never gets to see a doctor in their entire life. For a country of 160 Million people, that is a gigantic population (almost 110 million) without access to basic …
blogs.tele-healthcare.org/2008/01/give-youth-chance.html

10/1/08

US ‘plans Pakistan military intervention’ 09 Jan 2008
Bush administration officials and intelligence chiefs have met to draw up plans for stepping up military intervention in Pakistan. US President [sic] George W. Bush’s top aides – including Vice-President [sic] Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice – military commanders and intelligence chiefs had met in secret at the White House to debate whether to expand the authority of the CIA and the military to ‘conduct far more aggressive covert operations in the tribal areas of Pakistan,’ the Canadian press reported.
www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=38100&sectionid=351020401

Barack Obama Would Attack Pakistan:
Democratic candidate Obama, states that as commander in chief he would do what is necessary to protect the American people. He stated as well that if this means war with Pakistan than he would proceed in that direction.
www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?storyid=32599

Pakistan’s Unstable Tribal Belt ‘Arguably Most Pressing …
By Human Security Report Project
EXCERPT: “The Pashtun tribal areas on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border have arguably become the most pressing international security issue. Having toppled the Taliban regime that harboured Al-Qaeda in late 2001, …
www.afghanconflictmonitor.org/2008/01/pakistans-unsta.html

Smith hopes Pakistan bombing won’t disrupt elections
ABC Online – Australia
Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith says he hopes a suicide bombing in Pakistan overnight will not disrupt the country’s general election scheduled for …
www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008
/01/11/2136230.htm?section=world

Editorial: Pakistan the world’s powder keg
New Zealand Herald – New Zealand
The country most likely to trouble the world in 2008 may not be Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Afghanistan or even Israel – it could be Pakistan. …
www.nzherald.co.nz/section/466/story
.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10486240

Sending the military to Pakistan? Ask Congress to raise questions
By Just Foreign Policy
The US government is considering direct military intervention in the tribal areas of Pakistan, risking an escalated conflict with Pashtun nationalists there in the name of crushing al Qaeda. A front page story in Sunday’s New York Times …
www.justforeignpolicy.org/blog/?p=315

Better atom security needed in Pakistan — ElBaradei
Reuters India – Mumbai,India
VIENNA (Reuters) – The chief of the UN nuclear watchdog sees a need to improve nuclear security in Pakistan and wherever there is atomic activity,…
in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-31341020080110

Life goes on in Pakistan
Times of India – India
A lot is being written and spoken about Pakistan these days. The media projects a gloom and doom scenario of a country on the brink of an abyss.…
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Editorial/Life
_goes_on_in_Pakistan/articleshow/2690760.cms

What, if anything, is Europe to do about Pakistan?
By Centre for European Reform(Centre for European Reform)
As if to prove that “when it rains, it pours”, Pakistan took yet another step towards chaos with the assassination on December 27th of Benazir Bhutto, the country’s former prime minister. This comes on the heels of months of protests by …
centreforeuropeanreform.blogspot.com/2008/01
/what-if-anything-is-europe-to-do-about.html

Iran and Pakistan: danger signals, Paul Rogers
Meanwhile, the possibility of direct US military intervention in Pakistan has also increased (see “The Pakistan-Afghanistan abyss”, 4 January 2008"). A White House meeting on the issue included Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice and senior …
www.opendemocracy.net/article/
global_security/iran_pakistan_danger

US, Pakistan: Personality politics
By Naxal Watch(Naxal Watch)
The assassination of Benazir Bhutto brought to an abrupt end the Bush administration’s policy of arranging a shotgun marriage between the slain leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the country’s president, Pervez Musharraf. …
intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2008/01/
us-pakistan-personality-politics.html

Pakistan at a Crossroads
By Rebecca
The assassination of Benazir Bhutto and its aftermath are an instructive lesson in the checkered history of Pakistan and its critical situation today. Both President Bush and President Musharraf were quick to blame al-Qaeda and other …
blog.oup.com/2008/01/benazir_bhutto/

Blasts becoming routine in Pakistan
NDTV.com – New Delhi,India
It seems not a week goes by without terror visiting Pakistan. On Thursday a suicide blast killed 26 people and left 40 dead outside the Lahore High Court, …
www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id
=NEWEN20080038257&ch=1/10/2008%209:44:00%20PM

The nepotism trap
International Herald Tribune – France
Declaring that his mother was Pakistan’s best hope but not the only hope, Bilawal proclaimed his faith in the power of the people to negate the assassin’s …
www.iht.com/articles/2008/01/10/opinion/bgchayes.php