ISLAMABAD PAKISTAN : The power crisis has worsened in the country as a fault developed at Guddu transmission line caused prolonged power shutdown in various districts of Baluchistan.

Unknown persons blew up a power transmission tower at Kolpur Dasht in Baluchistan causing power breakdown in Quetta and other districts of the province, power company Quesco officials said. The power supply to Qalat, Khuzdar, Mastung, Noshki, Kharan, Chaman, Ziarat, Qila Abdullah and adjoining area has also been suspended.

The tubewells in the area have also been closed due to the power supply disruption.

The repair of the tower will take at least 12 hours, the company officials said.

An angry mob protested against unannounced load shedding before KESC complaint centre at Gulshan Hadeed phase II in Karachi. The infuriated protesters tried to break the gate to enter forcefully in the office and thrown burnt tyres at the complaint centre.

The police reached to the office and held talks with the protesters who later dispersed from the area.

Lahore High Court put off the cases against President Zardari for holding dual offices and using Governor House for political activities till March 29.
A bench comprising Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Justice Iftikhar Hussain, Justice Umar Ata, Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman and Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard the case. Advocate AK Dogar told the court that its against the constitution for president to hold the post of chairmanship of a political party simultaneously.

He added that he has made the Governor House his political camp and requested the court to stop this. The Attorney General did not attend the proceeding.
Giving the AG the last chance, LHC adjourned the hearing.

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Blaze ravages chemical factory in Industrial State at Lahore : Lahore, Pakistan:- Chemicals and machinery worth of millions of rupees were destroyed when a huge fire broke out in a chemical factory in Green Town, Lahore. Fire brigade is trying to contain the fire.

Fire brigade sources said that the blaze broke out late night in the factory, they added that the cause of the fire could not be immediately ascertained, though an electric short-circuit was believed to have caused it. 10 to 12 fire brigade engines were pressed into service to contain the fire; however it is feared that the fire cannot be put out until the entire quantity of chemical is burnt. The fire fighters are trying to stop the fire from reaching neighboring factories.

KARACHI: Karachi police claimed to have arrested two aides of the former regime during a dress Orangi Town late on Thursday.

At the same time, another associate managed to escape but the police, however, recovered heavy cache of explosives in their possession.

Police sources said the raid took place when he attacked the remarks were planting in the region, which lies within the borders of Pakistan Bazaar police station.

Has been handed over to the investigation team, said a police official to the media.

Quetta: At least 16 districts of Balochistan province faced severe electrical loads including Quetta when some unidentified miscreants bomb the main transmission line with explosives late Thursday night.

Repair work can not be started until late in the night because of the lack of security clearances.

The situation has brought about difficulties for many consumers, especially the sick in hospitals has also been postponed several operations while some were, but was suspended until the restoration of electricity from 4 in Quetta, according to sources.

The worst affected areas is still Qallat, Khazdar, Mastung, Noshki, Kharan, Washak, Shaman, visits, Qilla Abdullah and others.

LONDON: The arrest of key Taliban leaders in Pakistan put a halt to secret peace talks with the United Nations, the former UN special representative to Afghanistan said Friday in an interview.

Kai Eide, who stepped down from the post earlier this month, confirmed for the first time that he had held talks with senior Taliban figures but said these ended when Pakistan made a series of high-profile arrests.

“Of course I met the Taliban leaders during the time I was in Afghanistan,” said the Norwegian diplomat, talking to the broadcaster at his home in Oslo.

“The first contact was probably last spring, then of course you moved into the election process where there was a lull in activity, and then communication picked up when the election process was over, and it continued to pick up until a certain moment a few weeks ago.”

Face-to-face talks were held in Dubai and other locations, and he described the discussions as “in the early stages… talks about talks.”

Such negotiations would have been impossible without the authorisation of the movement’s leader, Mullah Omar, the diplomat believes.

The process had accelerated a few months ago, but Eide said it had come to a standstill after a top Taliban military commander and other figures from the militia were captured in Pakistan.

“The Pakistanis did not play the role they should have played. They must have known about this,” he said.

“I don’t believe these people were arrested by coincidence. They must have known who they were, what kind of role they were playing — and you see the result today.”

Pakistani officials have insisted the arrests were not aimed at wrecking the talks, media reported.

Taliban military commander Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar was captured last month in the southern Pakastani city of Karachi in Pakistan, in what US media said was a joint operation with American spies.

Other senior Taliban commanders have also reportedly been captured in Pakistan recently.

Senior US general David Petraeus last month hailed “important breakthroughs” and detentions in Pakistan, as he visited the country.

The developments were interpreted in the US as a sign of success in efforts to persuade Pakistani authorities to act against Afghan Taliban leaders on its territory.

Growing Indian influence in Afghanistan alarms Pakistan : U.S. Ambassador Azmat Hassan is a former ambassador to Pakistan, Malaysia, Syria, Morocco and Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations. He is currently a Visiting Professor at the Lahore University of Management Sciences.

U.S. policymakers may come to regret the day when the administration of President George W. Bush decided to expand the scope of intervention in Afghanistan. Eight and a half years after the ouster of the Taliban and install an effective president, Hamid Karzai, the United States finds itself bogged down in Afghanistan.

Karzai’s government has failed to provide the war – citizens are fed up with a reasonable degree of peace or security. Suicide bombings, killings of foreigners and Afghans alike with disturbing frequency in the big cities, while attacks by militants from the Taliban flexibility is still claiming the lives of large numbers of U.S. and NATO forces.

Corruption, drugs and run rampant. To stay in power, Karzai consort with a number of warlords who are the masters of the trivial in their sectors. Karzai’s brother, and overlord in Kandahar, and has the reputation of being both the CIA, and the province’s largest drug dealer.

In Mkhmra that Afghanistan is today, and India and Pakistan both gain more influence. Poor Afghan people are caught in the middle of this zero-sum game.

India, and the seizure of Afghanistan and pains, has pumped in more than one billion dollars for Afghanistan to improve economic and social structures. In the face of it, should be considered in this gallant gesture would be worthy of praise.

But the ruling circles of Pakistan and its armed forces and are especially alarmed by India’s burgeoning influence in Afghanistan. India and economic generosity as well as the opening of consulates in the Afghan provinces near the Pakistani border, alarm bells in Islamabad.

Pakistan fears that surround both the Indian east coast and now increasingly its western border, would prevent the regional cooperation in calming the situation in Afghanistan.

General McChrystal has warned his superiors in Washington that Karzai’s pro-India orientation – in addition to India and Afghanistan in the forward position by alienating Pakistan, a key ally – would adversely affect the interests of the United States in Afghanistan.

It is not known whether McChrystal advice had been heeded by the Obama administration. However, a recent statement by General Petraeus suggests that he understands, and perhaps support Pakistan in seeking to obtain the strategic depth in Afghanistan and friendly.

While the war in Afghanistan in the ongoing US-Pakistan relations is currently facing a downward path. The United States is not satisfied that Pakistan is not doing everything they can against some of the factions of the Afghan Taliban based in Pakistan who are fighting U.S. and NATO forces.

Pakistanis are not satisfied with the United States of dragging its feet to meet its financial obligations to the Pakistani army, which contributed significantly to the “war on terror” against the Taliban.

This level of mistrust between the two allies is a matter of concern. There is an ongoing dialogue at the political and military is the only antidote to prevent further erosion of this alliance is crucial.

We hope, in his forthcoming visit to Washington, and will be veteran Pakistani army chief General Kayani and help clear the air. Both in the United States and Pakistan need each other to get on a hill in Afghanistan. Pakistan needs to help the United States to a significant increase in the indicators of economic and social development.

Without Pakistan’s support and cooperation, it is difficult to imagine that the United States achieve its goals in Afghanistan. This in turn may affect the exit strategy for U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

The United States needs to become more active in pushing India and Pakistan to resolve their differences – one major, from the perspective of Pakistan, being Kashmir.

India does not want to join Pakistan in a comprehensive dialogue to Pakistan restrictions terrorist attacks from its territory – such as murder in Mumbai – by non-governmental actors. India believed that some elements in the Pakistani government to encourage such attacks, instability in India. Improving relations between India and Pakistan could help to curb the competition in Afghanistan.

In fact, is that both India and Pakistan have been victims of violence and extremism. Both face multiple insurgencies within their borders. Rather than play the blame game, and should both be urged to work together to reduce this common danger.

The United States must pay more attention to remove the mutual distrust between the two nuclear neighbors. Being a neutral observer version anodyne statements are not good enough in the current scenario.

There is a coordinated regional approach between Pakistan and India and Karzai’s regime with the active encouragement of the United States can improve the situation in Afghanistan. And then in the United States could leave with a manifestation of the dignity and honor.

- S. Azmat Hassan

SIALKOT PAKIISTAN : A 22-year-old man died in a hospital on Thursday after he was allegedly tortured by law enforcers in Sambaryal Police Station.

Resident of Fazalpura, Tariq, was under police custody in a robbery case, while he was on police remand for the last 10 days.

Victim’s mother alleged that police have killed his son by torturing in custody.

However, DPO Waqar Ahmed Chohan said that the detained person was killed after eating poisonous pills present in his breakfast.

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Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue : Pak-US strategic dialogue will be held on March 24 in Washington. Preparation for the dialogue has already started as American high officials have commenced visiting Islamabad. Recent trip of the US National Intelligence Director Dennis C Blair is an example.

During the strategic dialogue in 2008, both sides had discussed regional and international issues of common interest. The US had expressed support for continued dialogue and improved relations between Pakistan and its neighbours. Washington and Islamabad had also agreed to co-operate in the fields of education, science, technology and energy. However, the United States did not compensate Pakistan fully in terms of its promises and the losses which the latter bore during war on terror. Instead a blame game against Islamabad was started coupled with the maxim, “do more” against the militants. The result was trust deficit between Islamabad and Washington.

On March 13, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said the objective of strategic dialogue with the US is to enhance people-to-people strategic relationship which will bridge the trust deficit. Gilani elaborated that the dialogue would broadly cover economic, defence, security and social sectors. He further stated that his government’s objective is not only to upgrade the dialogue status, but also to develop a solid and enduring framework for long-term Pakistan-US relations.

However, Washington meeting will be of utmost importance for both the US and its frontline ally in the war on terror. The significance of the Pak-US strategic dialogue could be judged from the fact that Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaque Kayani is the first army chief who will also be part of the delegation headed by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Recently, General Kayani held a meeting with Foreign Minister Qureshi to discuss the agenda for the Pak-US strategic dialogue. In the said meeting, the COAS exchanged views on matters related to Pakistan and India. If read between the lines, this exchange is actually going to be the focal point of the agenda at the meeting in Washington.

Sources suggest that during the Pak-US strategic dialogue, Pakistan would reiterate its demand for civil nuclear cooperation for power generation and greater access to the US markets or preferential trade agreement for Pakistan so as to stabilise its economy.

As regards Reconstruction of Opportunity zones (ROZs) Pakistan had a multi-pronged policy, and the establishment of ROZs was a part of this strategy, but the country right now needed immense economic relief by America in the short term.

Islamabad is fighting against militancy to ensure the global peace. In this regard, Pakistan’s armed forces have already broken the backbone of the Taliban militants through successful Swat-Malakand and Waziristan military operations. In this context, US-led western countries have highly appreciated Islamabad, donating million of dollars. Now, Pakistan deserves that US must fulfill its needs by extending cooperation in the nuclear, energy and drone technologies.

Pakistan has made enormous sacrifices and suffered immensely in the global war against terrorism. Nonetheless, if we judge the losses of any country regarding war on terror in the last eight years, Pakistan as a frontline state has given great sacrifices in terms of human life, collateral damage and economic losses. In this context, the economy suffered huge losses in terms of exports, foreign investment, privatization and industrial production. Chairman Pak-US Business Council and VP SAARC CCI Iftikhar Ali Malik had pointed out on March 24, 2009: “Pakistan’s economy has suffered irreparable loss of $68 billion due to turmoil in Afghanistan.

According to an estimate, Pakistan’s national economy is exclusively suffering a net loss of $7 billion annually as fallout of the war against terror, which has displaced thousands of people.

No doubt, Pakistan has sacrificed more than NATO and USA owing to this new style conflict. Besides other losses like suicide attacks and lawlessness in the country, more than 2000 personnel of the security forces have been martyred during war against militancy.

Moreover, since 9/11, Pakistan’s security agencies have also killed or captured many militant commanders which also include the masterminds of Al-Qaeda, namely Khalid Sheikh and Abu Faraj entailing other key leaders.

With their war phase coming to an end, the plan to leave Afghanistan is very much on the agenda of the US-led NATO forces. The Americans are seeking an honourable exit from Afghanistan, but they do not want to leave without ensuring a stable government in place. For this purpose, they need the help of Pakistan. But it seems that Pakistan is not happy with the Karzai government’s negotiations with the Afghan. In this regard, setting aside Islamabad is not a good signal. Recently, President Karzai expressed his displeasure at the arrest of top Taliban leadership from Pakistan, especially Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. Karzai has said that these measures were taken to sabotage the reconciliation process in Afghanistan and that Pakistan. The fact of the matter is that Indian RAW and Afghan Khad were trying their utmost to arrest Baradar, but failed in doing so. His arrest by the Pakistan’s security agency has irked the eyes of New Delhi and Kabul.

Meanwhile, American military and civil high officials have highly praised Islamabad in connection with the arrest of Baradar. In this respect, on February 13, this year, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates stated that Pakistan has made ‘real progress’ in the war against terrorism—the recent arrest of Taliban commander Baradar and two ‘shadow’ Taliban governors was a positive development. Besides, US Undersecretary of Defence for Policy Michelle Flournoy and Senator Joseph Lieberman also praised the role of Pakistan’s ISI, in the arrests of Afghan Taliban leaders.

Pakistan insists that India should not play an active role in Afghanistan. During the Soviet invasion and even after that, Pakistan’s western border was safe due to pro-Pakistan regime in Afghanistan. But 9/11 opened the door for India to make an entrance with its aid, reconstruction and rehabilitation programmes in Afghanistan.

In this respect, Afghanistan where India already set up terrorist training camps has also started building new cantonment areas as she announced to increase her troops up to 150,000. Under the pretext of Talibinisation of Afghanistan and Pakistan, Indian secret agency, RAW has well-established its networks, and has been running secret operations against Pakistan from its consulates of Afghanistan.Besides, causing lawlessness in our country, another aim behind is also to get a strategic depth to encircle Pakistan.

In the recent past, Secretary of Defence Robert Gates has urged India to be transparent with Pakistan about their activities in Afghanistan, while on September 20, last year NATO commander, Gen. McChrystal clearly revealed: “Indian political and economic influence is increasing in Afghanistan including significant development efforts…is likely to exacerbate regional tensions.”

Now, the American generals directly connected with war in the region have come to realise that without Pakistan, the war against Taliban cannot be won. So, this demands to keep India out of the war theatre.

Pakistan would like to be assured that the post-war Afghanistan doesn’t become a hub of Indian intrigues against it.

President Obama is almost exclusively fixated on military victory against the Taliban and that it should come before the end of year, when the US Congress goes for elections. The overwhelming feeling in Washington is that the Pakistani military can play a key role in achieving this target. All this shows a big U-turn in the US policy regarding war against terrorism.

Pakistan should be adequately compensated for the losses it has suffered due to the ongoing war; otherwise its beleaguered economy is bound to breed discontent that in turn, will produce more militancy, damaging the US global interests.

By Sajjad Shaukat, Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Mumtaz urges Zardari to unmask BB killers : KARACHI: Sindh National Front chief Mumtaz Bhutto said Thursday that “If President Asif Ali Zardari knows the killers of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto they why doesn’t he make them public?”

This he said while speaking to a member of the UN team probing Benazir Bhutto’s murder.

Speaking to reporters following the meeting, the SNF leader said that real action could be taken once the F.I.R was registered in this connection.

He said the UN team could only submit a report; it was not authorized to initiate any action.