2. Jasarat edit on the Afghanistan Conference in Turkey says analysts believe this conference was held at US behest. One of the objectives of the conference is also to open an office in Turkey to negotiate with Taliban. Edit says that the conference failed to achieve its objectives. (Jasarat Edit)

3. Daily Intekhab editorial on the Afghanistan Conference says that despite giving countless sacrifices, Pakistan is still being criticized. It advises Pakistan to separate itself from autocratic forces and to work for peace in the region with the help of peace-loving neighbours. (Daily Intekhab Edit)

INDIA-MFN
1. National Assembly Standing Committee for Commerce Chairman Engr. Khurram Dastgir said that giving India the MFN status was not in Pakistan’s interest. He added that pharmaceutical, car manufacturing, cottage and heavy industry would be affected by this decision and export-import ratio would also change. He added that the decision was taken without taking the NA into confidence and that the government has ignored every wrong perpetrated by India including India’s cruelty in Kashmir, stealing of Pakistan’s water and terrorism in Balochistan. (Ummat)

2. Abdul Rashid Turabi JI AJK chief said that conferring MFN status to an enemy like India was against Pakistan’s ideology and a conspiracy of Akhand-Bharat. Turabi alleged that India had announced war against Pakistan and it was behind destructive activities in Pakistan through Afghanistan. Turabi also said giving India MFN status was a negation of the Nazarya-e- Pakistan. (Nawa-i-Waqt, Daily Dharti)

3. Former AJK PM Raja Farooq Haider said that Pakistan’s decision to give India MFN status has put AJK’s state identity at stake. He added that his party will convince all political and religious parties of AJK and Pakistan to start an agitation at an international level against Pakistan government’s decision. (Daily Dharti)

4. Nawa-i-Waqt editorial sees the MFN decision as a threat to national security. It says: Economists state that MFN status to India is not in Pakistan’s interests and that Pakistan will lose out on Afghan market. Economists have said that this decision will also have a negative effect on Pakistani industry and agriculture. The decision has disturbed the people as they feel that this is more serious than the time when Pakistani troops surrendered to India during the fall of Dhaka. India has continued its anti-Pak stance and that this decision is. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

5. Ummat says Pakistan government is trying to get close to Pakistan’s greatest enemy. Edit says that India has never spared a chance to ditch Pakistan; it claims that this would only bring loss to Pakistan. Edit also says that unfortunately, the government has thrown Kashmir out of the process. It is of the opinion that unless the Kashmir issue is resolved, peace would not be restored to the region and hence, no agreement would work out of Pakistan’s benefit. Edit ends by saying that this decision is without the consensus of the NA and has definitely been taken under foreign pressure to destabilize Pakistan. (Ummat Edit)

6. Jinnah edit criticizes the government for granting MFN status to India. (Jinnah Edit)

7. Daily Dharti says the hue and cry over Pakistan’s decision to give MFN status to India would not continue for long. Edit adds politicians have done nothing for Kashmiri interests and people would have to change their priorities. (Daily Dharti Edit)

8. Jang welcomes the federal cabinet’s decision to give MFN status to India. Its editorial says that Pakistan has no other option but to start trade relations with regional nations, instead of being dependent on aid. Pakistan should conduct trade with India openly and without any hesitation as it would give a new life to Pakistan’s entertainment industry, which in turn would support the hotel industry. Pakistan would get an entry into European markets due to Indian clout in WTO. It says that as far as the Kashmir issue is concerned, trade on both sides has already started increasing and better business relations would allow both nations to resolve the dispute amicably. It says that though many sections in Pakistan are objecting to this decision, if trade relations with India are worked out meticulously and positively, it would be great for Pakistan’s economy. (Jang Edit)

9. Khabrain opines that the MFN decision shows Pakistan wants to establish good relations with its neighbours. It says apart from trade, other controversial issues like water, Kashmir issue and dams should also be discussed with India. (Khabrain edit)

10. China has welcomed Pakistan’s decision to give MFN status to India. (Khabrain)

UNITED STATES
1. Nuclear scientist AQ Khan has said that Pakistan should establish an equal relationship with the US. He said that no one dared to invade Pakistan as it was a nuclear power but it could be harmed economically. Talking in support of hydro-electricity, Khan said that electricity production from nuclear plants takes time and is very expensive, but hydroelectricity was cheaper and easier to produce. He also said that western nations profit from wars between India and Pakistan. (Daily Pak, Jinnah)

2. Qurban Baloch’s report on the fourth strategic Pak-US water meeting held recently says the US has indicated on cooperating with Pakistan on the construction of the Diamir Bhasha and the Karam Tangi dams. The US has also offered to cooperate on collection of water data and a national water commission is also under consideration. The American delegation said it will give support to enhance Pakistani experts’ capabilities, improve irrigation system and also work out measures to save water. Pakistan’s representative said that water management depended upon water availability and increasing population. Imtiyaz Qazi, Secretary, Water and Electricity Ministry, said that Pakistan wants co-operation in modern training for its officials on how to save water. The next round would be in Washington in April 2012. (Kawish, 3 November)

3. In his article, Hussain Leghari says even if the US wants, it cannot take an extreme step against Pakistan as the balance of power is tilting in the new global scenario. He says that if Pakistan successfully exploits this situation, it can leave the US behind. Leghari says that politics in South Asia was being completely overhauled as the US wanted to favour India at the cost of Pakistan. He says that there is a possibility of a cold war between Afghanistan and Pakistan in the future; he claims that even if Pakistan did not act against the Haqqani Network, it would still have to face Afghanistan that is being supported by the US and India. (Ibrat)

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. 179 American and allied forces have been killed in various fidayeen attacks in Afghanistan recently. Taliban have shot down 2 helicopters and one drone. (Al Qalam Weekly, 4 November to 10 November)

2. Al Rehmat Trust is taking care of patients in medical camps in flood-affected areas. 1459 patients have taken the benefit of medical services provided so far. Due to the onset of winter, difficulties of the flood –hit have increased. (Al Qalam Weekly, 4 November to 10 November)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Abdul Razak Chaudhary, Rabeta Press Secretary of Jamiat-e-Ahle-e-Hadis (UK) said that all Pakistani institutions had declined and that corruption was the reason why its Railways was on the verge of collapse; Chaudhary said that retired employees had been denied their pensions. (Ausaf, Nov 3)

2. About 50 PPP dissident leaders met PPP leader, Nahid Khan. They reportedly deliberated on starting a campaign under the slogan "PPP Bachao". (Kawish, Nov 3)

ECONOMY-WATER- ENERGY
1. Ausaf commenting on delays in the Neelum-Jhelum Project says the Prime Minister has given orders to end mismanagement and get the project completed as early as possible. Edit writes that the government has collected money from the people for this project in the form of surcharges in the monthly electricity bills, but the people responsible for the project have not shown the urgency required to complete it. (Ausaf Edit, Nov 3)

SINDH
1. Speaking at Pano Akil, former Sindh Interior Minister Zulfikar Mirza said ordinance for the new civic system is being kept under wraps until tomorrow. In case there is any conspiracy against Sindh, he will come out on the roads. He said that PPP’s corrupt ministers are now hand-in-glove with MQM and are giving a bad name to PPP. He also alleged that true Bhutto loyalists are being kept away from the party. (Ibrat)

2. Syed Jalal Mahmood Shah, Chairman of the Sindh Bachao Committee and also the chief of Sind United Party, has said the day the government announces the new civic system in Sindh he will hold demonstrations and rallies. He will stage a sit-in in front of the Governor’s House on November 19th. He said he would also challenge the new civic system in the SC. (Awami Awaz, Nov 3)

3. Karam Hussain Wassan and other leaders of Awami Jamhuri Party have said in a statement that they will not tolerate bowing down before MQM and would not accept any administrative divisions of Sindh. They said that the establishment has been conspiring against the interests of small provinces ever since Pakistan was formed; attempts have been made to usurp Sindh’s resources and also to take over Karachi. They also alleged that blood thirsty mafia and militant groups were being groomed to bleed Sindh. (Awami Awaz, 3 November)

4. Habib Jatoi and others leaders from Jiye Sindh Tehrik said the government has no concern for either Sindh or Sindhis. They said that the PPP-led government was busy appeasing its alliance partner MQM. They also alleged that parties like PPP and MQM were opportunistic and have malafide intentions. They demanded that the government give up projects like the Zulfikarabad City. (Awami Awaz, 3 November)

5. Hundreds of people came out on roads against the new city project of Zulfikarabad. Jiye Sindh Quami Mahaz has organized the demonstrations against the project across Sindh; it will stage a sit-in at Thatta on November 25th in front of the DCO office. (Awami Awaz)

6. A Hindu youth, Prithvi Kumar Menghora, was reported missing10 days ago, while he was on way to his village Lakhi at Deepli. His body has since been found at a salt pan near his village; a case had not been registered till the time of going to the press. (Awami Awaz, 3 November)

BALOCHISTAN
1. Ausaf editorially commented on Balochistan High Court’s directive to the government to present all accused in the Akbar Bugti murder case, including Musharraf. In Pakistan’s history, military generals have not been punished for their crimes whereas politicians were hanged. The daily notes that former PM Shaukat Aziz had filed a statement in the court saying that he had nothing to do with Bugti’s murder and that Musharraf had carried out the operation. It opines that it would be difficult to bring Musharraf to justice. (Ausaf Edit, 3 November)

POK NEWS
1. Speaker of the AJK Assembly Ghulam Sadiq Khan said that they were proud of Pakistan’s progress in missile technology. He said that the successful test of the Babar cruise missile will increase Pakistan’s defence capabilities. He also stressed on the inclusion of Kashmiris in the dialogue with India to resolve the Kashmir issue. (Ausaf, 3 November)

G-B NEWS
1. Senior leader of PPP (Gilgit-Baltistan) Sharafat Hussain said that terrorists will have no place to hide in Gilgit. He demanded that wherever a terrorist incident takes place in G-B, a clean-up operation should be undertaken. He also said that if the Ulema stop defending such elements, peace will be established. He said that Shias, Sunnis and Ismailis had struggled together to liberate G-B from Hindus but some elements were promoting sectarianism in the name of religion. (Ausaf, Nov 3)

2. Coordinator of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (Gilgit-Baltistan) Israruddin Isral said that violence against women has increased in Gilgit-Baltistan and that 35 women had committed suicide in the current year. (Ausaf, 3 November)