Musharraf begins European visit

Beginning in Brussels, the visit will take him on to the UK, France and the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

The tour is President Musharraf's first trip abroad since his controversial re-election and the murder of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.
He aims to clear "misperceptions" of recent events in Pakistan, he said.
On Monday Mr Musharraf is due to meet EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, Nato secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and to address the influential foreign affairs committee of the European Parliament.

BBC Brussels Correspondent Oana Lungescu says the Pakistani leader is bound to face tough questions about the conduct of a postponed general election scheduled for next month, democratic reforms and the role of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism.

The trip is seen by EU officials as a charm offensive designed to show Mr Musharraf is still in control, after his credibility has been undermined by months of instability and violence in Pakistan, our correspondent reports.
MEP Michael Gahler, who will head a 100-strong team of European election observers, told the BBC that Pakistan still had much to do to ensure that next month's poll would be free, fair and transparent.

EU officials are also expected to question Mr Musharraf's commitment to democratic reforms and his record on fighting extremists both at home and in neighbouring Afghanistan.

The EU is Pakistan's biggest trading partner, with an annual trade worth $9 billion.

Along with Nato - which leads a force of about 40,000 troops in Afghanistan - it has a strategic interest in the stability of nuclear armed Pakistan, our correspondent says.

Press reports in Spain have linked the arrest of 14 mainly Pakistani terrorist suspects in Barcelona on Saturday with the possibility of attacks in several European countries to coincide with Mr Musharraf's trip.

But Belgian authorities said that the security measures in place would be the same as for a visit by any other head of state.

During his trip, President Musharraf is also due to meet his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
He will also hold talks in Davos with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, and the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri Maliki.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7199502.stm

Pervez Musharraf to seek backing in Europe

By David Brunnstrom
Reuters
Sunday, January 20, 2008

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf will seek support from the European Union and NATO on Monday at the start of a four-country trip to Europe where he is also expected to face tough questions over his rule.

Musharraf, whose popularity at home has slumped over recent months, leaves a country racked by militant attacks and on edge over prospects for a parliamentary election on February 18 that is meant to complete a transition to civilian rule.

Speaking to representatives of Belgium's Pakistani community on the eve of the formal part of his Brussels visit, Musharraf vowed on Sunday that the election would be democratic, and said the goal of his trip was "correcting perspectives" in Europe.

"There will be free and transparent elections," he pledged at the meeting in a Brussels hotel, lauding what he said were improvements in the economy and security under his rule.

Fears for nuclear-armed Pakistan's stability were aggravated sharply by the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in a bomb and gun attack on December 27.

A surge of attacks by al Qaeda-linked militants based on the Afghan border has raised concern about prospects for the country and its efforts to support NATO and U.S. forces struggling to subdue Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.

On Sunday, Pakistan villagers said army helicopter gunships launched strikes in the remote South Waziristan tribal region regarded as a stronghold of a Taliban commander linked with the assassination of Bhutto.

Ahead of the trip, former foreign secretary Tanvir Ahmed Khan said he expected Musharraf to seek to impress on Europeans that he was Pakistan's best hope of stability.

"He's trying to establish his credentials with the key Western powers with the same old message: that he's indispensable, they don't have a better friend than him, without him the war on terror would unravel and Pakistan's economic progress would collapse," Khan said.

Musharraf will meet Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in Brussels.

He will go on to Paris to meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy and then attend the World Economic Forum in Switzerland before talks in London with Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

While Musharraf may get the backing he seeks from European leaders, the former army chief who seized power in a 1999 coup can also expect them to tell him that he must do more to promote democracy and curb the activity of militants.

On Saturday Spanish police arrested 14 South Asians, among them 12 Pakistanis, on suspicion they may have been plotting attacks in Barcelona. The arrests came after police found explosives and other equipment during raids at five addresses.

Asked to comment on the developments in Spain, which suffered Europe's deadliest Islamist attack in March 2004 when 191 were killed in train bombings. Musharraf said:

"This is not good for Pakistan, this is not good for Islam."

(Writing by Mark John; editing by Keith Weir)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...012001832.html

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Geo is back

KARACHI: After 77 days of being off air, the transmission of the voice of the nation- Geo News- was restored Monday at 6: 00 pm.

All four of the network's channels were put off air hours before emergency was declared in the country on November 3, 2007.

Although other channels were also closed at the same time but they allowed to go back on air soon afterwards except for channels of Geo Network.

The transmissions of Geo News and Geo Super back to on air today at 6: 00 pm.

Pak to start JF-17 production from tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: A joint production of Pak-China JF-17 thunder jet would be started at Kamra from tomorrow (Tuesday).

Launching ceremony of JF-17 sub assemblies to be held at Pakistan Aeronautical complex Kamra tomorrow. Air Chief Marshal Tanveer Mahmood Ahmed will be the chief guest.



SRIHARIKOTA: India today "successfully" launched an Israeli satellite 'Polaris' from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here by a homegrown Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

This is the second time that a "core alone" PSLV configuration had put a satellite into orbit, a spokesman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said.

In April 2007, an Italian satellite Agile was put into the launch of the radar-imaging, remote-sensing satellite, weighing about 300 kgs, was shrouded in secrecy.

ISRO had in the past announced date for its launches but it was not the case with this Israeli spacecraft.

The launch of the "spy satellite" was originally scheduled in September last year though no date was specified.

Geo News

Portugal concerned about terrorism during Musharraf's visit


Lisbon - Portuguese police experts were to meet Monday after Spain warned the country of a possible risk of Islamist attacks, media reported.

Twelve Pakistanis and two Indians were detained in Barcelona over the weekend on charges of planning an attack.

Two Pakistanis linked to the network could have passed through or still be in Portugal, according to Spanish police.

There were fears that Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's visit to Brussels on Monday could increase the risk of an attack in Europe, Portuguese police sources were quoted as saying.

Internal Administration Minister Rui Pereira called an urgent meeting of the Security Coordination Cabinet (GCS).

The police team was to review the security situation, though there was no information about the possible presence of the Pakistani suspects in Portugal, GCS secretary general Leonel de Carvalho said.

'We don't have any indications pointing to a major risk,' he said, explaining that the level of alert would probably not be raised.

Prime Minister Jose Socrates earlier said that Portugal took all terrorist threats 'very seriously,' though there was no 'special threat' for the country.

The GCS last met several months ago over the discovery that members of the Basque separatist group ETA had hired cars in Portugal in order to stage attacks in Spain.


http://news.monstersandcritics.com/e...sharrafs_visit

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US CENTCOM chief arrives today

ISLAMABAD: US Central Command Chief Admiral William Fallon is to reach Pakistan today (Tuesday) to hold negotiations with Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani.

Both officials are scheduled to discuss Pak-US military relations. They will also discuss Pakistan’s role in the war against terrorism.

The situation in Afghanistan and the tension along the Pak-Afghan border will also come under discussion during the meeting. The two military chiefs will discuss different statements published in various US newspapers concerning the military operation in FATA and NWFP.

Fallon will be in Pakistan for one day only. online

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Iran and Pakistan to be at the heart of Rice’s Europe trip

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will begin a new tour of Europe in Berlin on Tuesday, in which she is expected to focus on the nuclear standoff with Iran and Pakistan’s political turmoil. In Germany’s capital, Rice will meet with her counterparts from Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China to discuss a proposal to impose new sanctions against Iran over its refusal to halt its disputed nuclear program. Washington and its European Union (EU) allies are pushing for a third set of UN sanctions against Iran. China and Russia, which have important trade relations with Iran, have been reluctant to back any more punitive measures. The CIA has concluded that Al Qaeda and allies of tribal leader Baitullah Mehsud were responsible for former premier Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, and that they are also behind a new wave of violence threatening Pakistan’s stability, The Washington Post reported on Friday, citing the agency’s director. “You’ve got this nexus now that probably was always there in latency but is now active, a nexus between Al Qaeda and various extremist and separatist groups,” CIA chief Michael Hayden told the Post. “It is clear that their intention is to continue to try to do harm to the Pakistani state as it currently exists,” he said. afp

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US helping Pakistan tackle extremism in its own way’

* Boucher says cooperation can ‘end this problem’

ASADABAD: The US is working to help Pakistan deal with extremism “in its own way,” a top US diplomat for the region said here on Monday.

The envoy, Richard Boucher, was responding to a question about reports that the US could send troops into the Pakistan tribal belt bordering Afghanistan to root out extremists, including from Al Qaeda, based there.

The government has said any unauthorised military strike by international forces against Al Qaeda militants on its soil would be considered an “enemy act” and tantamount to an invasion.

“It is their country, their problem, and we are going to try to help them deal with it in their own way ... ,” Boucher told reporters after meeting officials in the town of Asadabad, near the Pakistan border.

Cooperation “Our goal and our job ... is to be cooperative so this common problem that exists, that affects us, that affects you, that affects Pakistan, so we can all end this problem together,” Boucher said.

“All of us want to see a more peaceful life for the people here, all of us want to see an end to the bombs, we want to see an end to the fighting,” he said.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, a regular visitor to Afghanistan, met President Hamid Karzai in Kabul on Sunday for talks that likely focused on the US contribution to the country. afp

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Gunships pound militant stronghold

* Army says militants fired rockets on helicopters carrying supplies

WANA: Pakistani helicopter gunships and artillery pounded militant positions on Sunday in tribal area bordering Afghanistan after coming under attack, residents and officials said.

The military said they fired artillery after being fired upon in Ladha village of South Waziristan. Chief Military Spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said three soldiers were injured when militants fired rockets on three helicopters that had gone into the area with supplies.

The strikes came a day after authorities said they had arrested a 15-year-old boy in northwestern Pakistan alleged to have been involved in the December 27 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who was critical of rising Islamic extremism in the country.

Residents however said that shells fired from six helicopter gunships killed two people and left seven others wounded, but officials did not confirm the civilian deaths.

“Two civilians were killed and five others wounded in the attacks near the border close to the towns of Ladha and Makin,” said Fazal Subhan, a Makin resident. Military Spokesman Major General Abbas said there were no reports of casualties in the operations. The military said Saturday that troops captured 50 Islamist militants in an operation in the rugged Chaghmalai and Ladha areas of South Waziristan.

The clashes started after hundreds of heavily armed militants overran a Pakistani paramilitary fort on Wednesday, killing seven soldiers and leaving another 15 troops missing, presumed kidnapped. Fighting in South Waziristan in recent days has killed more than 100 soldiers and militants. agencies

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Pakistan is ruled by three As - Army, America and Allah.

‘Winning party will get power’

* President Musharraf vows free elections, asks for patience
* Terms Western preoccupation with human rights and democracy ‘obsessive’ * Blames Baitullah Mehsud for Benazir’s killing, other suicide attacks

BRUSSELS: President Pervez Musharraf on Monday pledged that next month’s elections would be free and fair, but urged Western patience as he started a four-nation European tour.

“We must have fair and transparent elections,” he said. “Whoever wins, obviously power will be handed over to them.” Talking to reporters, NGOs and business leaders, he urged the West to allow Pakistan more time to work toward democracy, reported AFP.

Obsessive: Responding to concerns over human rights and democracy in Pakistan, he said he believed in both but termed Western preoccupation with the issues ‘obsessive’. Musharraf also said the media, which he conceded had been restricted during emergency rule, was free to cover the polls, adding that “there is no limit on their freedom”.

Blames Mehsud: On Benazir’s Bhutto’s assassination, the president said that militant leader Baitullah Mehsud had “targeted Benazir Bhutto”, and blamed other suicide bombings on him as well. Later, addressing a large gathering of Pakistanis, he lamented that some political elements were trying to exploit the ‘tragic’ assassination of Benazir, reported APP. He said there was no question of setting up ghost polling stations, as all of these have already been notified for the forthcoming elections.

During his trip to Brussels, the president also met with Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and held wide-ranging talks reinforcing the two countries’ resolve to work jointly for peace and stability. Later, he met with European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana, who said the EU’s engagement with Pakistan depends on the holding of free, fair and secure elections.

President Musharraf also met NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop and discussed bilateral cooperation in fighting terrorism. He also held a meeting with Slovenia Foreign Minister Dr Demitriji Rupel.

Addressing the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, the president said he strongly believed in democratic norms and hoped that Pakistan would move towards true democracy following elections. He assured the members of parliament that the forthcoming elections would be completely fair and transparent. He also dispelled allegations levelled by some elements that the elections would be rigged.

According to Online, Musharraf cited the 30 percent increase in investments as proof of his regime’s struggle for democracy.

The president will depart Brussels for Davos, Switzerland today (Tuesday). agencies

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Pakistan is ruled by three As - Army, America and Allah.

Mehsud’s close aide arrested

KARACHI: Police have arrested militant commander Baitullah Mehsud’s close associate Younas Mehsud, Daily Times learnt on Monday. Sources said that the police, after arresting Younas, had shifted him to an unknown place for investigation. They said the police had also recovered weapons and explosive materials from Younas who is a ‘right hand man of Baitullah Mehsud’ and brother of his spokesman, Wahab Mehsud. staff report

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Aarwaa

Pakistan is ruled by three As - Army, America and Allah.