2. Nazir Haq in his column writes that Pakistan has made positive changes in its foreign policy. ‘Going against the dictates of USA, Pakistan has decided to enhance its relation and cooperation with Iran’. (Daily Pak)

3. Ausaf’s editorial is on the agreement to increase Pak-Iran trade to USD 10 billion and to seek new ways of cooperation in the communication and energy fields. ‘Both countries have agreed to speed up work on the gas pipeline project and on the import of electricity by Pakistan from Iran. If the gas pipeline project is completed it will end the energy crisis in Pakistan and speed up the country’s industrial progress. The government should not allow itself to come under the pressure of the US. Instead it must work to complete the gas pipeline project speedily. (Ausaf Edit, 14 September)

AFGHANISTAN
1. At a 2-day Jirga of Pakistani and Afghan parliamentarians, the Pakistani delegation raised the issue of India’s intervention in Afghanistan, stating that it was unacceptable. The Pakistan side also expressed concern over the infiltration of Afghan militants into Pakistan and demanded that those responsible for the Chitral incident be handed over to Pakistan. (Jasarat)

DEFENCE
1. Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Federal Minister for Industry, informed the Senate that no country is willing to provide sensitive and modern drone technology to Pakistan. Italy has however provided eight UAV unmanned aircraft to be used for surveillance. (Urdu Point, 14 September, Jang)

2. Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee has discussed the Karachi situation. One official, who did not wish to be named, told a reporter that the ISI Chief, Shuja Pasha gave a briefing.  Army Chief attended the meeting which also took stock of the conditions at Pakistan’s borders particularly in Chitral and Dher in the wake of Taliban attacks from across the border. (Awami Awaz)

3. AJK President Sardar Yaqub met with Gen. Khalid Shamim Wayne and Gen. Khalid Nawaz and exchanged views on various issues. Yaqub praised the military for its services during earthquakes, floods, and heavy rains. (Jinnah)

TERRORISM-EXTREMISM
1. Ajmal Pahari has admitted he got training in India with the latest weaponry for target killings. During interrogation by a Joint Investigative Team, he reportedly said that was in New Delhi for 15 days along with a person named Jeshan. He was taken into a forest by Indian Army men in civilian clothes and given training for 4-6 hours every day for a month. He told investigators that he had been trained with rocket launchers, G-3 range of weapons and also on how to fix targets. He said that he had been accompanied by three persons, Raj, Ravi and Salim. Pahari states that he was asked to strike at Karachi and other parts of Sindh after training. (Ibrat)

2. Ajmal Pahari has revealed to JIT, that he went to India by air and a person named Sunny received him and took him to a flat in Delhi, where he stayed for 15 days. Later they went to a forest far away from Delhi where Indian soldiers gave him training. He said four more persons from Karachi were under training at the camp and identified them as Zafar Khan, Shakir, Bota and Raju. He said that they were trained to operate weapons like Kalashnikov, Pistol, Grenade, Rocket Launcher, Machine Gun, MV3, G3, and MV5 G3. He said post- one month’s training they returned to Delhi and stayed for 6 months in India. He said in India he was given Salahuddin Ayyubi books to read and no other literature was made available. (Khabrain)

3. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Tariq Afridi group, was involved in the recent attack on a school bus that claimed the lives of 5 students. The group is angry over the murder of its commander. (Ummat)

4. Al-Khidmat Trust and JuD have set up relief camps for flood affected families in Sindh. JuD set relief camps in 13 cities. It has helped move over 10,000 people to safer places. (Daily Pak, Ummat)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Hamid Mir writes Zulfiqar Mirza told him that he was holding back his movement due to the flood situation and warned that those who were giving wrong suggestions to his friend Asif Ali Zardari should stop misguiding the President. Mirza also said that he would not spare anyone and would start a long march from Punjab if PPP made any agreement with MQM against its ethos. (Jang)

2. Faraz Chandiyo writing in Ibrat rubbishes the expert view that Pakistan may break up under the weight of its contradictions but concedes that terrorism and fundamentalism are coming in the way of altering its global image. (Ibrat, 14 September)

3. Abdul Basit, a former deputy president of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce, says: “ If  political leaders do not act fast to check Dengue virus that is killing people in Punjab and to end terrorism menace in Karachi, either the army will be forced to take over once again or people of Pakistan will revolt like in Egypt and Libya”. (Daily Pak)

4. MQM would postpone Zulfiqar Mirza’s London visit to avoid coinciding with President Zardari’s visit to London. During the Zardari London visit, many members of the British parliament are likely to meet him; the important meeting will be of Lord Nazir Ahmed’s who had raised in the House of Lords the issue of NATO’s weapon container allegedly stolen by the former federal minister. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

5. MQM chief, Altaf Hussain claims that his party has expelled criminal activists after a thorough investigation. (Jasarat, Urdu Point)

6. Khabrain editorial has taken the government to task for its failure to check dengue virus and the flood of fake anti-dengue medicines and spray. Instead of announcing 10-day holiday to schools as it did, the government will do well to take effective action to control the virus. (Khabrain Edit)

PUNJAB
1. Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba will have a three day convention at the Punjab University from 15th to 17th October. Invitations have gone out for 20 lakh students. (Jasarat)

SINDH
1. Former Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid has said that the interiors of Sindh are reeling under unprecedented poverty, and the rains have made life miserable for poor farmers as their homes and harvest have been washed away. Rains have also taken a huge toll on areas like Dadu and Jamshoro in Sindh. (Ibrat)

2. Spokesman for the Pakistan Army, Major Gen. Athar Abbas said that over 1300 soldiers are taking part in relief work in Sindh. He said it is inappropriate to comment on the government’s ability to cope with the situation at present. (Ibrat)

3. Many rain-affected at camps in Dadu including women and children have been reduced to begging in the main bazaars. They said that they had been ousted from the relief camps and were made to squat on the roads. (Awami Awaz)

4. More than 1 crore people have been impacted by the rains in Sindh; the worst affected area is Kacha. Preliminary reports show that irrigation network has sustained major losses; 2136 miles of main canals and branch canals have been destroyed. (Kawish)

5. At least 6000 villages in 30 districts and 6000 villages have been affected in Sindh, says Federal Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh. 50 lakh people have been hit and 2.5 lakh people have been shifted to tents. Hafeez also states that 6 lakh houses have been destroyed. (Ausaf, 14 September)

6. Certain goods coming in as relief material for the rain-affected people are being sold in markets in Hyderabad; four persons have been arrested in this connection. (Ibrat)
7. Zafar Imam writing about rains in the Sindh says, instead of looking at conspiracy theories on why rains have been lashing Pakistan especially Sindh, it is necessary to find a scientific reason for the phenomenon. On his part, he attributes the heavy rains to global warming. (Ibrat)

8. Jinnah’s editorial has commended chief justice Iftekhar Chaudhry’s call to the government against support to armed groups. It says the government must act on the apex court instructions and proceed against miscreants responsible for the Karachi situation. (Jinnah Edit)

POK NEWS
1. Human Rights Observer (Gilgit Baltistan) issued a notice in which it stated that the federal government should withdraw its ban on recruitment in Gilgit Baltistan. It stated that silence maintained on the issue by the CM of Gilgit Baltistan and MLAs was shocking. HRO states that due to unemployment, youths have been lured by sectarian organizations and miscreants. (Ausaf, 14 September)

2. AJK government has asked the federal government to provide 3 billion rupees to bridge a deficit of 2.5 billion rupees. The request followed the State Bank’s refusal to provide an overdraft. (Ausaf, 14 Sept)

3. Rawalkot by-elections would take place on 23rd October, said sources. (Daily Dharti)

4. AJK Premier Chaudhary Abdul Majeed said PML-N’s negative politics was the biggest obstacle in the way of development and construction in AJK. (Daily Dharti)

5. PPP – AJK Activists are not ready to allow former Premier Sardar Atiq Ahmad Khan’s son Usman Atiq to contest the Muzaffarabad by-election. (Daily Dharti)

6. Mohsin Industry has asked GB police for protection to the foreign engineers working on its projects. The request was made by the company’s Country President, Haji Abid Ali Beg, Gen. Manager-Col (Retd) Karim Ahmed Shah and Security Chief Officer-SP (retd) Anwar when they met the GB-IGP. The police chief agreed to the request and ordered the posting of one Asst Sub Inspector, one Head Constable and ten constables at the company site for security of the foreign engineers. (Baad-e-Shimal)

7. Gilgit-Baltistan produces top quality fruits in huge quantities annually, but does not have access to the international market. (Baad-e-Shimal)

8. Raja Afrasiyab in Daily Pak writes that there is a strong case not only to activate Muzaffarabad and Rawalkot airports but also upgrade them. Gas also should be provided to all villages.  Development of AJK will move Kashmir closer to freedom. (Daily Pak-column)

9. Baad-e-Shimal editorial has criticised the ban on recruitment to government jobs in GB in order to reduce all unnecessary development expenses and transfer the fund to help flood affected people from Sindh.  Edit hopes the  ban would be a temporary measure. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)