15 April, 2009

Pakistan eyes $4 bln in aid as allies seek assurances
Reuters – USA
By Robert Birsel ISLAMABAD, April 15 (Reuters) – Pakistan’s allies and aid donors are expected to promise about $4 billion this week but will also try to …
uk.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUKISL414509

PRI.ORG | Pakistan’s protest music
A pair of Pakistani professors sings songs of protest — the music is new, but the lyrics are based on the words of iconic poets from the past.
www.pri.org/arts-entertainment/music/pakistani-protest-music.html

Pakistan caught between a Rock and a Hard Place as India Refuses …
By Chris Devonshire-Ellis
Apr 15 – Pakistan is in danger of near complete economic and political isolation as India continues to maintain the cessation of composite dialogue talks …
www.2point6billion.com/2009/04/15/pakistan-caught-between
-a-rock-and-a-hard-place-as-india-refuses-composite-dialogue
-process-1287.html

In the Age of Pirates
New York Times – United States
I’m wondering if President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton aren’t those students, trying to deal with the leaders of Pakistan, Afghanistan, …
www.nytimes.com/2009/04/15/opinion/15friedman.html?ref=opinion

Seven soldiers die in avalanche, 8 rescued
Chandigarh Tribune – India
Seven soldiers were buried alive under a snow avalanche that hit an Army post in the Shamshbari range of forests in Kupwara district during the intervening …
www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090415/main6.htm

Pakistan’s “Trust Deficit” | The Moderate Voice
By ROBERT STEIN
John Kerry, in Pakistan this week as head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is greeted by a statement from the Prime Minister: “The U.S. should not attach conditionalities to the assistance package being presented to the U.S. …
themoderatevoice.com/29015/pakistans-trust-deficit/

Pakistan: New suspect arrested over Mumbai attack – Adnkronos Security
By webinfo@adnkronos.com
(AKI) – Pakistan’s top civilian security official has revealed that authorities have arrested a fifth suspect linked to last year’s deadly siege in the Indian city of Mumbai. …
www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=3.0.3213716582

Pakistan Sharia law infringes rights, democracy: US – GEO.tv
WASHINGTON: The White House said Tuesday that an accord signed by Pakistans president putting Malakand Region under Islamic law in a bid to combat the Taliban went against human rights and democracy.
www.geo.tv/4-14-2009/39858.htm

Indian Elections 2009 : Live Coverage & Video Streaming | Pro Pakistan
By Pro Pakistani
Com – Pakistan Premier Video Sharing Website · Pakistan Vs Srilanka 2009 (Live Video Streaming Links, Schedule, Squads, Pictures) · LG Cookie KP500 in Pakistan – Cheapest Touch Screen Phone Available …
www.pro-pakistan.com/2009/04/14/indian-
elections-2009-live-coverage-video-streaming/

Islamic Law Now Official for a Valley in Pakistan
New York Times – United States
By SABRINA TAVERNISE ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan signed a measure that would impose Islamic law in the northwestern valley …
www.nytimes.com/2009/04/15/world/asia/15pstan.html?ref=world

Indian Court to Start Trial of Gunman Held for Mumbai Attacks
Bloomberg – USA
“I will show evidence against Kasab and Lashkar-e-Taiba,” the Pakistan-based group accused of staging the raid. The attacks killed 164 people and derailed a …
www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601
091&sid=aplTdpID5Cmc&refer=india

Pakistan Aid Effort Hits Saudi Hurdle
Wall Street Journal – USA
By JAY SOLOMON WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is seeking to help Pakistan raise $4 billion to $5 billion at an international aid conference in Tokyo …
online.wsj.com/article/SB123975195596418735.html

Islamabad seeks terror suspects’ details
Financial Times – London,England,UK
Wajid Shamsul Hasan, Pakistan’s high commissioner to the UK, told the Financial Times that his government promised to protect the rights of any Pakistanis …
www.ft.com/cms/s/212f66a6-2854-11de-8dbf-00144feabdc0.html

Even US Aid Can’t Help Pakistan’s Tribal Areas
ABC News – USA
That shift, Kerry admits, is long overdue and is necessary if both Pakistan and Afghanistan can be saved from two rising militancies. …
www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/International/story?id=7336839&page=1

14 April, 2009

The Weekly Standard
Kamran Shafi, a Pakistani journalist, provides the most scathing and revealing look at just how the recent negotiations and the legalization of sharia in northwestern Pakistan have emboldened the Taliban. After their blitzkrieg takeover …
www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/
2009/04/taliban_flaunt_power_in_pakist.asp

Biggest threat to Pakistan is takeover by militants – Columns …
By Borderline | W Pal Sidhu
Biggest threat to Pakistan is takeover by militants, Only Pakistanis themselves can solve Pakistan?s problems, Columns.
www.livemint.com/2009/04/14204531/
Biggest-threat-to-Pakistan-is.html

Afghanistan Concerned Over Pakistan Sharia Peace Deal
Voice of America – USA
By VOA News Afghanistan said its own security may be threatened by a peace deal to impose Islamic law in northwestern Pakistan. …
www.voanews.com/english/2009-04-14-voa32.cfm

Pakistan Expresses Reservations on US Aid Conditions
FOXNews – USA
Washington is due to host the next meeting among the US, Pakistan and Afghanistan May 5-7. Prior to that is this week’s conference for “Friends of …
feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/politics/~3/5l93A-1fTXo
/pakistan-expresses-reservations-aid-conditions

Mullen Promises Broad Review of Anti-piracy Operations
Systems – Atlanta,GA,USA
WASHINGTON – The US military has initiated a review to look “broadly and widely and deeply” at the overall strategy on piracy off the coast of Somalia, …
www.dvidshub.net/?script=news/news_show.php&id=32362

New Mumbai attacks suspect held
BBC News – UK
Pakistan has again said its move to try suspects has been held up by the slow pace of Indian intelligence sharing. India rejected the criticism, …
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7997606.stm

Former premier says Pakistan doesn’t need aid
GulfNews – Dubai,United Arab Emirates
By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter Dubai: Former Prime Minister and Chief of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said he has no intention to …
www.gulfnews.com/world/Pakistan/10304257.html

The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan
By Andrew Sullivan
He explained that the insurgency is spreading in Pakistan, not because of proselytizing by leaders such as Baitullah Mehsud, but because of popular anger. For every militant killed by a US Predator drone, he says, 10 more will join the …
andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily
_dish/2009/04/pakistan-looms.html

Global Voices Online “ Pakistan: Clamp On SMS Services
By Rezwan
Jazba’s blog reports that the Pakistan government is considering to suspend sms services in Pakistan to prevent the terrorists, who uses sms to execute their attacks. At present 70% of the population in the country are using mobile …
globalvoicesonline.org/2009/04/14/pakistan-sm/

t r u t h o u t | Pakistan’s Move on Islamic Law Widens Influence …
Islamabad – Pakistan’s president bowed to Islamists’ demands Monday and agreed to impose Islamic law in part of the country’s North West Frontier province, and al Qaida-allied militants overran a neighboring district just 60 miles from …
www.truthout.org/041409N

India: New Delhi to give Pakistan more aid in terror probe …
By webinfo@adnkronos.com
(AKI) – India has agreed to provide more information to Pakistan about the deadly Mumbai terror attacks, but said Islamabad should not delay its investigations…
www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=3.0.3215169995

Better news from Afghanistan and Pakistan “ Liberal Democrat Voice
By Mark Pack
Meanwhile in Pakistan, the public flogging of a teenage girl in Swat (footage of which was broadcast on Channel 4) has now triggered a government inquiry. Share this story with your friends: …
www.libdemvoice.org/better-news-from
-afghanistan-and-pakistan-13605.html

Allied Militants Threaten Pakistan’s Populous Heart – Democratic …
DERA GHAZI KHAN, Pakistan — Taliban insurgents are teaming up with local militant groups to make inroads in Punjab, the province that is home to more than half of Pakistanis, reinvigorating an alliance that Pakistani and American …
www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/
duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3830231

Kerry: Pakistan needs more urgency in terror fight
The Associated Press
ISLAMABAD (AP) — A top US senator on Tuesday urged Pakistan to “ratchet up” its sense of urgency in battling the spreading militancy in its northwest, …
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hkiM
xbHNH0BqgpWA2ZG6VD6wVTmAD97IC1HO0

Taliban, Punjabi militants take insurgency to Pakistan’s heartland …
Hindustan Times – India
As they come under US Drone attacks in the tribal areas on the Pakistan-Afghan border, Taliban militants have joined hands with Punjabi militants to push …
www.hindustantimes.com/Redir.aspx?ID=228d72c8-
c82b-4d92-acbd-8f9ad2d0fdf9&SectionName=Cricket

Joint chiefs chairman: Piracy not a new problem
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s top military officer says the United States is ready to meet any retaliation that might result from Navy SEALs shooting a …
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeq
M5gSXyAok3YrJTZLKD31SAjC9pfvkgD97I73A80

7 Soldiers Killed in Kashmir Snow Avalanche
NewsBlaze – Folsom,CA,USA
… which was activated recently to keep a watch on the militants trying to infiltrate into Kashmir through the Pakistan controlled Kashmir (PcK). …
newsblaze.com/story/20090414093947kash.nb/topstory.html

JURIST – Paper Chase: Pakistan president signs legislation to …
[JURIST] Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] signed legislation Monday that would establish Islamic Sharia law [CFR backgrounder; JURIST news archive] in the volatile North West Frontier Province …
jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2009/04/
pakistan-president-signs-legislation-to.php

Two Banks Show Interest RBS Pakistan, Report Says – DealBook Blog …
By By DealBook
Two Pakistani banks, MCB Bank and Habib Bank, have asked for permission from the country’s central bank to conduct due diligence on RBS Pakistan, assets which the Royal Bank of Scotland inherited from its purchase of Dutch lender ABN …
dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/14/two-
banks-signal-interest-rbs-pakistan-report-says/

Pakistan detains ‘Mumbai plotter’ – Democratic Underground
Pakistan detains ‘Mumbai plotter’ … Pakistan detains ‘Mumbai plotter’, Updated at 2:45 PM. Source: Al Jazeera English Pakistan has confirmed the arrest of another alleged plotter of the Mumbai attacks and sought further details from …
www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/
duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3830381

Taliban’s ‘Extensive Links’ Into Punjab Threaten Pakistan’s Stability
By The Huffington Post News Editors
Taliban’s ‘Extensive Links’ Into Punjab Threaten Pakistan’s Stability – The Huffington Post.
www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/14/
talibans-extensive-links-_n_186578.html

Pakistan Signs On to Sharia Law in Swat Valley; Taliban Creeps …
Pakistan isn’t doing much to assuage Western fears that the country is headed for disaster.
www.wowowow.com/politics/pakistan-signs-sharia-law-
swat-valley-taliban-creeps-further-country-267334

Instapundit “ Blog Archive “ BARACK OBAMA’S India-Pakistan Mess…
By Glenn Reynolds
BARACK OBAMA’S India-Pakistan Mess. Posted at by Glenn Reynolds at 6:12 pm. RSS Feed · Podcast RSS Feed · Email Instapundit. Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc! Making even the dumbest sh** interesting! — Oxblog …
pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/76545/

Pakistan warns on strings-attached aid
United Press International – USA
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, April 14 (UPI) — The $7.5 billion in aid proposed by US President Barack Obama should be free of conditions, Pakistani officials told …
www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/04/14/Pakistan-
warns-on-strings-attached-aid/UPI-59541239715453/

Troops in fatal Kashmir avalanche
BBC News – UK
Correspondents say that Kupwara is close to India’s de facto border with Pakistan, 130km (80 miles) north of Srinagar, the summer capital of the Indian …
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7997989.stm