27 March, 2009

Suicide bomber kills 48 at mosque in Pakistan
Los Angeles Times - CA,USA
Peshawar, pakistan -- A suicide bomber struck a packed mosque during Friday prayers in northwestern Pakistan, killing at least 48 people, a government ...
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fgw-pakistan-bombing28-2009mar28,0,5562606.story

Pakistan supreme court to review Sharif disqualification case
Xinhua – China
ISLAMABAD, March 27 (Xinhua) — Pakistan’s Supreme Court formed a five-member bench on Friday to review the petition filed by the government on the …
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/27/content_11084546.htm

Pakistan terms US drone attack as counter-productive
Xinhua – China
ISLAMABAD, March 27 (Xinhua) — Pakistan on Friday said that the US drone attacks inside its territory from Afghanistan are counter-productive, …
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/27/content_11083435.htm

The Herald | HeraldOnline.com – Afghan intel chief: Pakistan spies …
Afghanistan’s intelligence chief accused Pakistan’s spy agency of helping Taliban militants carry out attacks in his country, highlighting one of the biggest challenges facing the Obama administration as it prepared Thursday to launch a …
www.heraldonline.com/wire/world/story/1226939.html

Global Voices Online “ Pakistan: Persecution of Religious Minorities
By Rezwan
Rumbold at Pickled Politics comments: “Before the latest round of violence, the situation was already bad for minorities in Pakistan. But now increased numbers are fleeing as more of them are targeted by religious extremists.” …
globalvoicesonline.org/2009/03/27/pakistan-persecution/

World Bank approves $500 mn loan for Pakistan | Sindh Today
By Sindh Today
Washington, March 27 (IANS) The World Bank has approved a $500-million interest-free loan to help stablise Pakistan’s economy, Geo TV reported Friday.
www.sindhtoday.net/pakistan/79741.htm

US Predators Provoke Pakistan by Michael Carmichael “ Dandelion Salad
By dandelionsalad
Commenting to the New York Times about the rapidly deteriorating situation in Pakistan, Admiral Dennis Blair, the Director of National Intelligence, admitted, “No one that I have talked to has come up with a grand strategy for that area …
dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2009/03/26/us-
predators-provoke-pakistan-by-michael-carmichael/

Pakistan to get billions from US despite oversight concerns
USA Today – USA
By Emilio Morenatti, AP By Ken Dilanian, USA TODAY WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is planning billions in new assistance to Pakistan, yet the record …
www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-03-26-pakistan_N.htm

White House: US to ‘Disrupt, Dismantle, and Destroy’ Al Qaida
Voice of America – USA
By VOA News US officials say President Barack Obama’s new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan will significantly increase the committment of US troops and …
www.voanews.com/english/2009-03-27-voa2.cfm

Pakistan Denies Tacit Support for US Strikes on Its Territory
Bloomberg – USA
By Michael Heath March 27 (Bloomberg) — Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry denied the government has given the US “tacit permission” to use drones to attack …
www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20
601091&sid=aQqQiMwrM_D0&refer=india

Pakistan’s Tribal Areas Pose Test for New US Strategy
Voice of America – USA
By Barry Newhouse One of the most difficult issues facing the Obama administration as it shapes its new strategy for stabilizing Afghanistan and Pakistan, …
www.voanews.com/english/2009-03-26-voa67.cfm

Nominee to Be US Ambassador to Afghanistan Calls for More Aid To …
Voice of America – USA
Eikenberry said there can be no lasting success in Afghanistan until the problem of terrorist sanctuary in Pakistan is addressed. The New York Times reports …
www.voanews.com/english/2009-03-26-voa49.cfm

In Pakistan, fighting terrorists the five-star way
Los Angeles Times – CA,USA
By Mark Magnier Reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan — I’m living on the edge and doing my bit to make sure the terrorists don’t win — from the cloud-like, …
www.latimes.com/news/la-fg-pakistan
-marriott27-2009mar27,0,6871054.story

Obama Continuing ‘Robot War’ In Pakistan
By The Huffington Post News Editors
Obama Continuing ‘Robot War’ In Pakistan – The Huffington Post.
www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/26/
obama-continuing-robot-wa_n_179749.html

Are We at (Robot) War in Pakistan? (Updated) | Danger Room from …
By Noah Shachtman
Washington and Islamabad are drawing up a fresh list of terrorist targets for Predator drone strikes in Pakistan, according to the Wall Street Journal. Militants crossing the border into Afghanistan.
blog.wired.com/defense/2009/03/is-the-us-at-ro.html

The Washington Independent “ The U.S.-Pakistan War In Pakistan
By Spencer Ackerman
What Obama probably won’t spend much time discussing is what military measures we’re taking in Pakistan, where the havens are located — or beyond them. According to a fantastic piece of reporting in The Wall Street Journal, …
washingtonindependent.com/35949/the-us-pakistan-war-in-pakistan

Jihad Watch: Pakistan emstill/em aiding Taliban
By Robert
Pakistan’s double game is still alive and well, and yet no one in official Washington seems to be even getting close to suggesting that maybe we should cut off the jizya to Pakistan. “Afghan Strikes by Taliban Get Pakistan Help, …
www.jihadwatch.org/archives/025405.php

democracyarsenal.org: We Know Not What We Do in Pakistan Pt. 2
By Patrick Barry
Yglesias makes the point that ongoing problems with the ISI reflect the failure of the US to encourage rapprochement between Pakistan and India: However much the war in Afghanistan may be termed a “necessary war,” the United States has …
www.democracyarsenal.org/2009/03/we-know
-not-what-we-do-in-pakistan-pt-2.html

Matthew Yglesias “ The Governance Problem in Pakistan
By myglesias
I was saying earlier that if we want to see Pakistan’s ISI not undermining what we’re doing in Afghanistan that we would need to do something that changes their regional calculus regarding India. Patrick Barry says this misses some …
yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2009/03
/the_governance_problem_in_pakistan.php

MichaelMoore.com : Afghan intel chief: Pakistan spies support Taliban
Afghanistan has repeatedly called on Pakistan to sever all links with the Taliban, which came to power in Afghanistan in the 1990s with significant support from Pakistan’s military intelligence agency, known as the Directorate for …
www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=13615

Pakistan set to reap $35 billion windfall from terrorism …
Ignoring confirmation about the Pakistan’s continued support and use of terrorism obtained through electronic surveillance and informants, and even brazen affirmation by Pakistani officialdom itself, the Obama administration is set to …
www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/
duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3801945

Internally displaced in northwest Pakistan | FP Passport
By Preeti Aroon
Pakistan has engaged in its own “war on terror” against Islamist militants in the northwest part of the country. The collateral damage: at least 450000 Pakistanis forced from their homes, according to the UNHCR. …
blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/03/26/
yet_another_huge_problem_in_pakistan

26 March, 2009

Obama ditches Bush administration policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan
guardian.co.uk – UK
The Obama administration believes it has only a small window of opportunity, possibly just a year, to turn around Afghanistan and Pakistan before US public …
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/26
/obama-afghanistan-pakistan-policy-change

British official tells police to look into torture claims
International Herald Tribune – France
Mr. Mohamed — an Ethiopian who moved to Britain as a teenager — was arrested in Karachi, Pakistan, in 2002. He asserts that he was tortured in Pakistan and …
www.iht.com/articles/2009/03/26/europe/london.php

World Bank Provides $500M Interest-Free Loan To Pakistan
Wall Street Journal – USA
WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)—The World Bank approved Thursday a $500 million interest-free loan to Pakistan to help the country regain economic stability. …
online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090326-716658.html

GOP Senate Leaders Skip Obama Briefing on Afghanistan and Pakistan
New York Times – United States
By Peter Baker President Obama briefed Congressional leaders at the White House on Thursday on his new policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan, but Senate…
thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/26/gop-senate
-leaders-skip-obama-briefing-on-afghanistan-and-pakistan/

Pakistan’s ISI aiding Taliban in southern Afghanistan: NYT …
The Taliban’s widening campaign in southern Afghanistan is made possible in part by direct support from operatives in Pakistan’s military intelligence agency, the New York Times said, citing US government officials. …
www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/d
uboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3801951

The Raw Story | Pakistan suicide blast kills 10
He was previously allied to Baituallah Mehsud, Pakistan’s most-wanted militant, but later joined a peace committee with his Bhotani tribe to support the government’s anti-militant drive, the local official said. …
rawstory.com/news/afp/Pakistan_suicide_blast_kills_10_03262009.html

Pat Dollard | Young Americans | Blog Archive “ Pakistan Tied To …
By drillanwr
Pakistan’s support for the Taliban, coordinated by operatives inside Pakistan’s Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence, reportedly includes military supplies, money and guidance for the militant group’s leaders. …
patdollard.com/2009/03/pakistan-tied-to-taliban-in-afghan-attacks/

Officials : Suicide attack kills 11 in NW Pakistan | Asia Daily …
By Asia News
Officials : Suicide attack kills 11 in NW Pakistan DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan — A suicide bomber struck a restaurant in volatile northwest Pakistan on.
english.siamdailynews.com/asia-news/southern-asia-news/pak
istan-news/officials-suicide-attack-kills-11-in-nw-pakistan.html

The Jawa Report: Taliban Takeover of Pakistan’s Emerald Mines
By mjpechar@yahoo.com
After giving up the Swat Valley to the Taliban, the Pakistan government just watched as the Taliban took over operation of the emerald mines in the region. The mines are known to be part of the largest emerald deposits in South Asia. …
mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/196966.php

Pakistan Urges Halt to US Missile Strikes in Tribal Areas
Voice of America – USA
A key part of the plan is rooting out terrorist cells in Pakistan and boosting diplomatic efforts. An estimated 30 missile strikes from unmanned aircraft …
www.voanews.com/english/2009-03-26-voa47.cfm

New York Times: Widening Taliban Insurgency Aided by Pakistan
Voice of America – USA
By VOA News A published report says Pakistan’s military intelligence operatives are providing support to the widening Taliban insurgency in southern …
www.voanews.com/english/2009-03-26-voa41.cfm

Britain to investigate possible MI5 role in torture
Reuters – USA
Mohamed, an Ethiopian citizen who moved to Britain as a teenager and has British residency, was detained in Pakistan in April 2002 as he tried to leave the …
www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLQ596652

Jihad Watch: Pakistan: “Schools” preparing boys for jihad, via …
By Raymond
Both facilities are run by an al Qaeda-linked terror network, Jaish-e-Mohammed, in the heart of Pakistan, hundreds of kilometres from the Afghan border that is the global focus of the fight against terrorism. …
www.jihadwatch.org/archives/025389.php

NewsDaily: Pakistan hopes for U.S. re-think on missiles
By Alamgir Bitani
Pakistan wants the United States to reconsider its use of pilotless drones to attack militants, a government spokesman said on Thursday, hours after 11 people were killed in two missile attacks.
www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre52p14g-us-pakistan-missile/

Pakistan Taliban: Bomb that killed 11 was revenge Asharq Alawsat …
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) – A suicide bomber struck a restaurant in volatile northwest Pakistan on Thursday, killing at least 11 people, including pro-government fighters opposed to the country’s top Taliban commander, …
www.aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=1&id=16191

Pakistan: Suspected drone attack in northwest – Adnkronos Security
By webinfo@adnkronos.com
(AKI) – A suspected US drone aircraft fired two missiles at a house in Pakistan’s North Waziristan region on the Afghan border on Thursday, killing four people and wounding five others…
www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=3.0.3143890226

Britain to investigate possible MI5 role in torture
Reuters – USA
Mohamed, an Ethiopian citizen with British residency, was detained in Pakistan in April 2002 as he was trying to leave the country on a false passport. …
www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLQ488978

Envoy choice cites urgency of boosting war effort
The Associated Press
He said US goals in Afghanistan are clear and are inseparable from problems inside Pakistan, which is threatened by an Islamic extremist insurgency and has …
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM
5jKY4iNthfrWNxfCa-BcrVoXEKT6gD975PSM00