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India-Pakistan

Confrontation with president could result in martial law: Rao Sikandar

2008-08-08

Confrontation with the president will harm democratic institutions and would result in another martial law, former defence minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal said on Thursday. Rao was speaking to reporters at his residence. He said the coalition of the ruling party was taking the country away from democracy. "Pakistan is facing lawlessness and external aggression, so it is not fair to open any other front that is likely to damage the nation's sovereignty. All we need is to solve the issues and to work in the nation's interest," he said.

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India-Pakistan

Liberal parties rout mullahs in NWFP : All the King's men, gone!

2008-02-19

President Pervez Musharraf’s political allies, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), appear to have lost their grip over the country’s parliament, with the Pakistan People’s Party-Parliamentarians (PPPP) and the PML-Nawaz (PML-N) overtaking the “bicycle” in the election race. Lion roars again: The PML-N swept Punjab despite low voter turnout in all 35 districts of the province. PML-Q’s Sheikh Rashid lost to PML-N’s Makhdoom Javed Hashmi in NA-55. He also lost to PML-N’s Muhammad Hanif Abbasi in NA-56, according to unofficial results. Shujaat lost to PPPP’s Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar in his hometown of Gujrat and was lagging behind PML-N’s Rana Abdus Sattar in Sialkot. PPPP’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi also won his seat. PPPP’s Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan beat out PML-Q’s Chaudhry Amir Hussain. PML-Q Punjab President Pervaiz Elahi was losing on two NA seats but won a third in Attock. PML-Q’s Chaudhry Shahbaz Hussain, former population welfare minister, lost his seat for NA-62. Other PML-Q bigwigs that lost include Rao Sikandar Iqbal, Sher Afgan Niazi, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, Nasir Khan, Hamid Nasir Chattha, Humayun Akhtar Khan, Chaudhry Amir Hussain, Ijazul Haq, Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Daniyal Aziz. Meanwhile, showing that the PML-Q was not completely out, Faisal Saleh Hayat of the party beat PPPP’s Abida Hussain in NA-88. PPPP comes home: The PPPP, based on early results, appears to have overtaken the PML-N and the MQM in Sindh, establishing the party as a force to be reckoned with in its home state. PPPP’s Amin Fahim was one of the big winners in the province. ANP kicks in: The Awami National Party (ANP) took the maximum number of seats based on early poll results, leaving the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal in the dust. PML-Q NWFP President Amir Muqam and Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, both ‘King’s men’, won the seats in their respective constituencies. According to unofficial results, Jamiat Ulema-e-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman won in NA-26, but lost NA-24 to Faisal Karim Kundi. Business as usual: Balochistan witnessed a historic low turnout in the parliamentary elections and the early poll results did not show a clear winner in the province, although the PML-Q appeared to be leading.

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India-Pakistan

Musharraf celebrates Eid in Rawalpindi

2007-01-02

ISLAMABAD (Online): President General Pervez Musharraf would celebrate his Eid in Rawalpindi while Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in Federal Capital. President Musharraf would offer sacrifices of two goats on Eid-ul-Azha. The doors of Awan-e-Sadar would be opened for needy and poor people on the eve of Eid where high-level officers of presidency would distribute Eid among them. Get yer programs, scorecards, and GPA coordinates ready... The high-level officers of Pakistan Armed Forces including Navy, Army and Air Force, besides Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would greet Eid with President Musharraf in Awan-e-Sadar. Likewise, President Pakistan Muslim League Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain would perform his Eid prayer in Gujrat, Former President Farooq Leghari in Choti Zareen, Chief Minister Sindh Arbab Ghulam Rahim in Karachi, Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and Governor Khalid Maqbool in Lahore, Chief Minister NWFP Akram Khan Durrani in Peshawar and Chief Minister Balochistan in Quetta. Following performing Eid prayers, they are schedule to leave their native villages to celebrate Eid and offer sacrificial of animal. Similarly, Federal Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal, Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sher Afghan Khan Niazi would perform their Eid prayers in Rove Ra, Charsadda and Mianwali respectively.

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Afghanistan

Waziristan peace deal raises concern in Kabul

2006-09-08

Pakistan’s peace deal with pro-Taliban tribes along the Afghan border in North Waziristan has raised concern with analysts in Afghanistan asking if the militants could be trusted to halt the cross-border movement of insurgents. In a word, no. They also questioned the timing of the accord in North Waziristan on Tuesday, on the eve of a visit to Kabul by President Pervez Musharraf who said “the deal was an achievement”. By that standard, Quasimodo's hump was an "achievement." The deal aims to end two years of violence in the semi-autonomous tribal zone of North Waziristan. Crucially for Afghanistan, the Taliban said militants would not be allowed to move across the border to carry out attacks. Right. That'll happen. In Perv we trust. In turn, the government will drop check posts, consult locals before carrying out attacks and pay compensation for losses during the military operations. The government has already released the 132 people it had arrested, and returned seized vehicles and weapons. Soldiers will continue to operate in the area “against the terrorists”, including Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, said Pakistani Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal. "Oh, yasss! Many many operations by the mighty Pakistani army are in the works!" Musharraf insisted at a media briefing with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday the deal meant that there would be “no Taliban activity on our side of the border or across the border in Afghanistan”. His lips move. Words come out. They make no sense.

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India-Pakistan

Pakistan denies Fokker plane crash act of sabotage

2006-07-12

(KUNA) -- Pakistan Tuesday ruling out the possibility of sabotage in Mondays plane crash that had no survivor, said a Dutch team of experts will help it investigate the "accident." "I can not say at this time what caused the plane crash but it was an accident, believe me", Federal Defence minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal told newsmen after inspecting the site of the plane crash in central city of Multan, about 450 kilometers from here. He said a joint team of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Civil Aviation Authorities (CAA) was conducting inquiry, adding that a Dutch team of experts would also reach Pakistan to investigate the incident. Some members of the team have arrived and remaining would reach soon, he said. The minister said that the inquiry would hopefully be completed within two and a half month time and its report would be made public. "We will investigate it thoroughly."

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India-Pakistan

Pakistan and North Korea to strengthen ties

2006-07-05

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea have reiterated their mutual desire to further expand and broaden bilateral relations in the area of trade, economy and defence. This was discussed during a meeting between Senior Federal Minister and Minister for Defence, Rao Sikandar Iqbal, and the ambassador of Democratic Republic of Korea to Pakistan, Ri Yong Hwan, who called on the Minister here Tuesday. Both sides underlined the need for closer cooperation particularly in the field of defence. The Minister briefed the envoy about the steps taken by the present government for the social, economic and political development of the country. The envoy deeply appreciated the policies initiated by the government.

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India-Pakistan

Pak, South Africa to strengthen defence ties

2006-04-18

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and South Africa on Monday agreed to reinforce cooperation in areas of defence and military training. An understanding to this effect was reached between Pakistani Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal and visiting South African Deputy Defence Minister M. George in the garrison town of Rawalpindi, an official statement here said. "Iqbal briefed George on the capability and potential of the Pakistani defence industry and equipment, including lightweight aircraft, tanks, naval frigates and armoured personnel carriers, being produced in the country," said the statement. Because when you want a frigate, the first place you think of is Pakistan. Don't laugh. The Chris Craft showroom in Multan is absolutely splendid. Pakistan annually sells weapons and military equipment worth millions of dollars to a number of countries, particularly in African, Middle Eastern and Gulf regions. The Pakistan-manufactured al-Khalid tank is currently undergoing trials in Saudi Arabia after the latter showed interest in it. "Andres, what the heck is that?" "Our new target drone, Jøhann. Watch what happens when we hit it." A number of countries in the Gulf and Middle East regions are regular buyers of Pakistani Super Mushshak or Cessna aircraft, manufactured at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). Pakistan is also set to begin serial production of the JF-17 (Thunder) combat aircraft from next year, which it jointly manufactured with China. The aircraft has already carried out test flights in China. Later, George also met Pakistani Minister for Defence Production Habibullah Warriach. "The two sides agreed to undertake joint ventures in the areas of defence production and research and development," said the statement.

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Afghanistan

German troops shifting to northern Afghanistan

2005-12-22

Germany next year will shift most of its 2,500 troops in Afghanistan from Kabul to the north, the military announced Thursday. Of the 1,400 German troops now in the capital, only 500 will remain by the end of 2006, German Defence Minister Franz-Josef Jung said during a visit to Afghanistan, and the most important German base would then become Mazar-e-Sharif. However, he added that the danger would not pass for the soldiers with the redeployment. "We have malicious attacks here that we must prepare for," he said in the capital. Germany has the largest contingent in the 9,000-strong International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF), which is helping Afghanistan's government with security. The 36-nation force was established four years ago by the United Nations. Since mid-November, four suicide attacks have been carried out against ISAF forces. In one of the attacks on November 14, a German soldier was killed "It is a dangerous assignment," Jung told troops during his visit. He ruled out a German deployment in restive provinces, however. The ISAF now is deployed in and near Kabul as well as in northern and western Afghanistan, but next year, it is to expand its operations into provinces in the south where remnants of the ousted Taliban regime and fighters with the al-Qaeda terrorist network have been fighting Afghan and U.S. troops. The United States now has 2,500 soldiers in the south, but British and Canadian forces are also to be sent in. Jung told German ZDF television that no more German troops will be sent to Afghanistan and that he hoped the democratisation and stabilization of the country would continue so Germany could soon send some troops home. After his one-day visit to Afghanistan, Jung returned to Islamabad for talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Rao Sikandar Iqbal, on increasing cooperation in defence, military education and training as well as meet with German troops engaged in relief and rescue efforts in the aftermath of the October 8 earthquake there. He is also to call on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. Jung's trip is his first overseas after the new German government took power last month. He first stopped in Washington before visiting German troops on the Horn of Africa and flying to Pakistan. He is to leave Islambad Friday to return to Berlin.

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Afghanistan/South Asia

Elections without women will be void, says CEC

2005-08-11

The lips are saying that they're not going to allow the NWFP primitives to indulge their traditional impulses toward violence. I guess we'll see what the hands eventually do. Insh'allah. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar warned on Wednesday he would take stern action against anyone barring women from local polls next week, including cancelling results in affected areas. He spoke out after police and rights groups said candidates in parts of the NWFP were ganging up to stop women casting their votes. “This is an electoral offence, legal action will be taken against anyone involved and such a poll will be void,” Justice Dogar told a news conference. He said he had ordered district officials in the province to investigate complaints about stopping women from filing nomination papers or casting their votes. “I also facilitated 506 women in filing their nomination papers in four districts of the NWFP by extending time by one day,” Dogar said, referring to the hardline Battagram, Lower Dir, Upper Dir and Kohistan districts. He also said the Election Commission (EC) had started proceedings against 103 cases of political interference in the local council election process, had cancelled 63 transfers and postings of officers and had issued notice to many violators including Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal. “I have called for explanations from the authorities for violating the ban on transfers and postings besides starting disciplinary action against cases of political interference,” he added. Election Commission Secretary Kanwar Dilshad also provided a detailed report of the actions taken against complaints so far taken by the commission.

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Iraq-Jordan

Iraq Seeks Arms Cooperation With Pakistan

2005-02-01

I think I'd suggest arms cooperation with the U.S., myself. Pakistan's not real good at winning wars. Iraq seeks defense and military cooperation with Pakistan. Iraqi Defense Minister Hazem Shalaan held talks with Pakistani leaders in late November in the first effort by a post-Saddam Hussein government to forge defense and military cooperation with Islamabad. On Nov. 23, Shalaan met President Pervez Musharraf and Defense Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal. Shalaan was said to have discussed proposals for defense cooperation between the two Muslim countries. I'm assuming we're tossing the Paks a bone here. Pakistani officials said Islamabad has offered to sell weapons and military platforms as well as provide training to the Iraqi military and security forces. Just as well, I guess. You never know: we might have to fight them again someday. Pakistan has been a leading military ally of Saudi Arabia, who has offered assistance to Baghdad. And look at all the wars Soddy Arabia's won! The officials said Islamabad briefed Shalaan and his delegation on a range of Pakistani platforms. They were said to include Al Khalid main battle tank and the Super Mashak air trainer.

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Afghanistan/South Asia

Saudi defence team arrives

2004-12-11

A 40-member defence delegation, led by His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, assistant minister of defence for military affairs of Saudi Arabia, arrived in Islamabad on Friday. Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal, State Defence Minister Zahid Hamid and senior officials received the Saudi delegation. Prince Aziz told reporters at the Chaklala Air Base that his visit would strengthen relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The prince will visit Pakistan Aeronautical Complex in Kamra, the Heavy Industries Complex in Taxila and will meet President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz during his four-day tour.

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Iraq-Jordan

Iraq seeks defense and military cooperation with Pakistan

2004-12-06

Iraqi Defense Minister Hazem Shalaan held talks with Pakistani leaders in late November in the first effort by a post-Saddam Hussein government to forge defense and military cooperation with Islamabad. On Nov. 23, Shalaan met President Pervez Musharraf and Defense Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal. Shalaan was said to have discussed proposals for defense cooperation between the two Muslim countries. Pakistani officials said Islamabad has offered to sell weapons and military platforms as well as provide training to the Iraqi military and security forces. Pakistan has been a leading military ally of Saudi Arabia, who has offered assistance to Baghdad. The officials said Islamabad briefed Shalaan and his delegation on a range of Pakistani platforms. They were said to include Al Khalid main battle tank and the Super Mashak air trainer.

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