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Pak approves plans to sell embassy buildings in US

          New York, Oct 25: The Pakistan Government has reportedly approved plans for the sale of two buildings that house its embassy in Washington and its consulate in New York. The Daily Times quoted Munir Akram, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, as saying that the building was up for sale because of its inadequate car parking space and its distance from the United Nations Headquarters. Former Pakistan envoy Shamshad had asked for four million dollars to be spent on the renovation of his office. However, the Pakistan Government has only sanctioned the release of 45,000 dollars. Prince Karim Aga Khan's father Prince Aly Khan had gifted these two buildings to the Pakistan Government.

Kashmiris excited over prospects of family reunion

          Srinagar, Oct 25: The Central government's latest initiative to revive the peace process with Pakistan has brightened hopes of reunion of Kashmiri families living on either side of the border between India and Pakistan. Abdul Aziz who last visited his relatives in Muzaffarabad in 1990 for a family wedding is excited to know that India would soon open new border crossings with Pakistan, including one in disputed Kashmir. "In these 10-15 years we have not been able to visit them. It is very sad that we are unable to participate in their happiness and sorrow. We want some way out, so that the relatives who are there (Pakistan occupied Kashmir) and some who are living in India can meet and it would be a really good thing," said Aziz.

          The reopening of a direct bus service from Muzaffarabad and Srinagar will drastically reduce the distance to 170 kms as compared to the present 536 km route between Delhi and Lahore. Aziz's wife who could not visit her relatives across the border to mourn the death in the family was happy to know about New Delhi's decision. "A few days back my sister had expired, then after a few days my nephew also expired. But we could not go. But now we are very happy that if this route is opened then we can meet them very easily," said Shammen.

          India maintains that that Pakistan stop Muslim separatists crossing into Kashmir to join a bloody 14-year revolt and said dialogue was not possible with Islamabad unless evidence was seen on the ground that "cross-border terrorism" was being brought to an end. Pakistan said it would give serious consideration to the new Indian proposals but rejectscharges that it arms and trains such groups. India and Pakistan started on a shaky peace path in April and restored full diplomatic relations and a sole bus route. But the process slowed amid rising violence in Kashmir and Islamabad's concerns about the pace of progress in New Delhi.

Pak will show 'good faith' to India's proposals (Go To Top)

          Islamabad, Oct 25: Pakistan's Foreign Office has said that it will show and express "good faith" to the 12 proposals announced by India for the betterment of bilateral ties, which Islamabad still feels is "devoid of sincerity". "Conditions on the ground as well as some contents in the proposals show that they are conflicting signals," the Daily Times quoted Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan, as saying in an interview on the PTV program News Night.

          "The Indians have given conflicting signals while announcing the proposals. Sometimes they are willing to hold talks with Pakistan. Then they retreat saying no talks unless infiltration ends. Yes, they are ready to talk to Kashmiris but not Pakistan. Then they gun down six innocent Kashmiris in the AJK along the Line of Control," he said. "The Indians say they want to resolve the Kashmir issue but they will not enter into a dialogue process with Pakistan. It is sheer misperception on India's part to think that they will achieve a solution of their choice on Kashmir by closing eyes from realities on the ground," he added.

          Pakistan was ready to respond positively to the Indian proposals provided there were no conditions attached and was result- oriented, Khan said. He also rejected the Indian media-led contention that New Delhi had taken the lead by extending the proposals, but the ground realities reflected something else. "Beginning from the Agra summit, President Pervez Musharraf had time and again demanded resumption of dialogue. They made heavy deployment of their armed forces on the Indo-Pak borders, creating a very dangerous situation," he said.

Kasuri says India is stalling dialogue process (Go To Top)

          Islamabad, Oct 25: Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri has once again accused India of deliberately stalling Islamabad's request for a resumption of bilateral dialogue, adding that New Delhi's recently announced proposals were an eyewash. "We have noted these proposals and I cannot help saying that it is just an attempt to prolong the matter. We do not have an attitude like that of India to blow hot and cold. We want to adopt a positive attitude," Online News quoted Kasuri as saying. Pakistan wants an early resumption of dialogue wherein the entire spectrum of issues between the two countries should come under discussion, he said.

          On Wednesday, India had announced a slew of measures, ranging from restoration of air and rail links to resuming sporting contacts to normalise ties with Pakistan. Kasuri said India was giving the impression as if it was offering some special concessions to Pakistan and as though it had taken the diplomatic initiative while this was not actually so. "We have to be careful as we have a great deal of experience regarding the Indian attitude in this regard. Frankly speaking, we are at an advantageous position as we don't use the anti-Hindu or anti-India factor in our politics," he said. "I am not so enthusiastic regarding the Indian initiative, but it doesn't mean that I don't want them. We kept our tongue in control as we know the basic problem of the subcontinent is poverty, which can only be fought effectively when relations between the two countries are good," he said.

Backlash against Army possible: Pak Opposition (Go To Top)

          Islamabad, Oct 25: Pakistan's combined opposition has warned the government and the Pakistan Army of a possible backlash from people living in the country's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The News quoted opposition leaders Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Maulana Meraj Din, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Raja Pervez Ashraf and Liaquat Baloch as saying that if the government and the armed forces did not stop their alleged atrocities on tribals, there would be a resentful reprisal of sorts. Qazi, the parliamentary leader of the MMA, said he feared that the day was not far when the tribesmen would confront the oppressive measures being taken against them. Maulana Meraj Din warned the government against continuing the operation in tribal agencies, adding that the people would take to streets and the world would see an organised movement against the government and law enforcement agencies. He accused the Pakistan Army of violating the Constitution by interfering in the affairs of the tribal areas. PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafiq challenged the legitimacy of operations in tribal areas. "Musharraf is acting like a slave of the United States and desires the nation to follow his path," he said.

US concern over Saudi-Pak nuke nexus (Go To Top)

          Washington, Oct 25: A Washington-based defence policy group has said Saudi Arabia could be a "silent partner" of Pakistan's nuclear programme. John Pike, a fellow with the Global Security, said the Sunni-domniated Arab nation felt seriously threatened by Iran, which it says is working towards having nuclear capability. Pike said Saudi Arabia would do anything to beat Iran and Pakistan was their obvious choice to achieve it. "I think the Saudis may have been a silent partner in Pakistan's nuclear programme under the theory that if Iran got the atomic bomb, Saudi Arabia wouldn't want to be too far behind. As Iran gets closer to having an atomic bomb, I think the Saudis are, may be looking at getting their own nuclear weapons capability and they would have to turn to Pakistan for that assistance," Pike said in an interview to Asia News International on Friday.

          Recent media reports said that the two nations have already concluded a secret agreement with the Gulf country promising cheap oil in return for nuclear technology. The issue was highlighted after a 26-hour state visit to Islamabad last week by Crown Prince Abdullah Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler. Pike said Pakistan, an arch-rival with neighbouring India and under intense scrutiny for its dangerously ambitious WMD programme, is in league with North Korea. "I think that the reality is that Pakistan has been cooperating with Iran, has been cooperating with North Korea for at least the past five years, in the development of nuclear weapons and in the development of long range missiles and there would be nothing terribly shocking if there was a fourth silent partner to help finance that, Saudi Arabia," Pike said. However, Saudi Arabia, whose nuclear ambitions have been suspected for long, has strongly denied the claim.

Kalam returns from maiden foreign trip (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Oct 25: President APJ Abdul Kalam returned here on Saturday after a weeklong state visit to the United Arab Emirates, Sudan and Bulgaria. It was Kalam's first foreign tour after assuming the high office. Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, who greeted him with "welcome back to India," received him at the airport. Among the others present at the airport were Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Satyanarayan Jatiya, Cabinet Secretary Kamal Pande, Home Secretary N Gopalaswamy and the three services chiefs. Kalam was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Communication and Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie, MPs Suresh Prabhu and Sarla Maheshwari and RM. Abhayankar, Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry.

A hearty gesture by Pakistan (Go To Top)

          Karachi, Oct 25: Reciprocating the recent Indian gesture to provide free medical treatment to 20 Pakistani children, the National Institute of Cardio-Vascular Diseases (NICVD), Karachi, has offered to undertake coronary angiography and bypass surgery on 20 poor Indian patients without any charge. Dawn quoted an NICVD press release as saying the procedures would be performed within the next 12 months. "Pakistani cardiologists wish to share the benefits of their long experience in this field with deserving Indian heart patients who may not be able to afford such treatment in India." NICVD Executive Director Prof Azhar Masood A. Faruqui said that coronary angiography and bypass surgery were being performed routinely at his institute since 1978, earlier than in India. "Before this year we used to do these procedures occasionally." In response to a question, Prof Faruqui said 2,000 heart surgeries were undertaken annually at the NICVD. "Of this number, 1,000 are bypass surgeries. And every year about 5,000 angiographies are performed. "We undertake thousands of procedures every year and 20 additional patients will not be a problem at all." Asked about the provision of funds, he said many philanthropists and donors had expressed their willingness to help the NICVD in this regard.

Canadian PM visits Golden temple (Go To Top)

          Amritsar, Oct 25: Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien arrived on Saturday at the spiritual capital of Sikhs, Amritsar, and paid obeisance at the Golden temple. Head Granthi Giani Puran Singh presented him a siropa in the sanctum sanctorum. Chretien took a parikrama of the Golden temple and received 'prasad. He wished `Happy Diwali' and shook hands with devotees who had come to the temple to pay obeisance on the occasion of Diwali . Visibly pleased over his visit, Chretien wrote in the visitors' book, "What a good day, Happy Diwali"!

          During his brief address he said he had come here on behalf of the people of Canada to pay homage to Sikhs who constitute two percent of Canadian population. Admiring Sikhs of Canada, Chretien said Sikhs were great citizens of Canada and have even made their place in the Canadian cabinet, which he said "shows openness of Canada". Chretien also laid the foundation stone of the deluxe wing for pilgrims at Sri Guru Arjun Dev Niwasm

India's forex reserves cross 91 billion dollars  (Go To Top)

          Mumbai, Oct 25: After registering a rise of over two billion dollars in the previous week, India's forex has crossed the 91 billion dollar mark in the week ending October 17. The country's foreign exchange reserves rose from 90,353 million dollars to 91,315 million dollars in the period under review, according to Reserve Bank of India's weekly statistical supplement released here on Saturday. The reserves have gone up mainly due to fresh inflows and depreciation of US dollar vis-a-vis other foreign currencies. The RBI said that the foreign currency assets grew by 962 million dollars at 87,392 million dollars.

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