AGHANISTAN
1. The Afghan Intelligence Agency has claimed that the Taliban Quetta Shura Council could be involved in assassination of former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani. (Daily Intekhab, Ibrat)
SAUDI ARABAIA
1. Talking to Nawa-i-Waqt, the Saudi ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Aziz Ibrahim said that Saudi Arabia will support Pakistan in times of need. He said that a delegation from the Saudi Development Bank will visit Pakistan next month to discuss important development projects and to finalise aid for flood victims. He had presented a cheque of Rs.11 million to PM Gilani to help the flood-affected people. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
UNITED STATES
1. Despite tensions with USA, NATO containers are still passing through Pakistan to Afghanistan carrying goods for the American forces stationed there. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
2. In his column, Nazir Naji writes: it is clear that the US is very disturbed about the Haqqani Network and hence they were pressurizing Pakistan to either take action against them or to let America do so. American taxpayers are a major source of income for the Haqqani Network as American development companies working in areas under Haqqani Network’s influence pay ransom or protection money to them. For example Haqqani Network is providing safety to workers and engineers from the US, working on the Khost-Gurdez highway. The Network also takes ransom money from many Arab nations that are American allies; the US has neither raised this question at the UN nor made any effort to block funds flow to the Haqqani Network. It is indeed surprising that with a force of 15000 men the Haqqani network is creating problems for a giant like the US and that the situation is so serious that the US is actually threatening an ally like Pakistan. This could be a joint US-Pak plan to divert people’s attention from something very serious and if that is true, then the tensions would reduce soon. (Jang)
3. Daily Pak editorial is on assurance of support by China and Iran in case of US aggression and Saudi Arabia’s attempt to negotiate in order to ease tensions between US and Pakistan. “External support to Pakistan is certainly reassuring but the need for national unity and harmony among all political parties is more important”. (Daily Pak Edit)
4. Baad-e-Shimal edit says: After hearing about threats of attack from USA, friends have come forward to assure support to Pakistan. Chinese Vice- Prime Minister’s visit to Pakistan was due to increased US-Pak tensions. Even Saudi officers visited Pakistan. Pakistan has made every possible sacrifice in the war on terror, but US continues to blame Pakistan. The people of G-B will always support Pakistanis and their defence forces. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)
5. Daily Intekhab editorial: Pakistan was a small country that was under pressure, so it shouldn’t be surprising if a big power like the US considers an attack on it. Many small countries have defeated American aggression but for this, a consolidated effort is required. China’s offer of support at this juncture is highly appreciated. Pakistan should request full support from this trusted friend. (Daily Intekhab Edit)
6. Khabrain editorial: the US itself has a good relationship with the Haqqani Network though it is accusing Pakistan of nexus with the Haqqanis. India may join the blame-game with the US and like to avenge old rivalries. Commendable are Pakistani military leadership’s response to the US accusations and PM Gilani’s decision to convene an APC. Pakistan must review the situation cautiously. It is possible that the US may try to reconcile and in such an eventuality Pakistan should take advantage of the situation to achieve strategic supremacy. (Khabrain Edit)
7. Nawa-i-Waqt editorial: the troika of India, Israel and USA is also a threat for China’s security; therefore interests of China and Pakistan are interlinked. This was why China has supported Pakistan against the Indo-US defence and nuclear technology agreements. China has made many agreements with Pakistan for the procurement and development of defence technology and weapons. The government must review the national policy and the defence strategy. Islamabad must setup a defence bloc consisting of Pakistan, Iran and Turkey to counter the US, India and Israel. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit))
INDIA
1. Awami National Conference Senior Vice President Muzaffer Shah has said that India would face dire consequences if Afzal Guru was given capital punishment. (Daily Dharti)
DEFENCE
1. Former Pakistan Air Force officers and experts have said that if the US carries out another Abbotabad-like operation, it will be taken as an act of war. Total manpower of Pakistan Air Force today is 65,000, whereas the US Air Force’s manpower is 3, 29,638. Pakistan has around 550 fighter jets and the US has 5573 state-of-the-art fighter planes. Pakistan’s defence budget is USD 6 billion whereas US defence budget is USD 690 billion. Air Marshal (Retd.) Shahid Zulfiqar said that the two air forces could not be compared with regards to power but emphasized that Pakistan Air Force is determined to counter any US attack and that this time US will not be able to jam Pakistani radars. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
2. Ausaf editorial: at the special Corps Commanders conference over the weekend, it was decided that a full response would be given in case of any assault on Pakistani soil from Afghanistan. If the military and civilian leadership stands firm against American threats, the entire nation will support them. (Ausaf Edit, 27 September)
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1.Over 50 heads of religious shrines, in their meeting with the chairman of the Sunni Ittehad council, Sahabzada Hajji Mohammad Fazal Karim, and in their telephonic address announced that in case of an announcement of jihad at the state-level to repulse US aggression, they will send lakhs of their followers to the fight side-by-side Pakistani Army. Chairman of the Sunni Ittehad Council, in his letter to the President and the PM said it was time to say goodbye to USA. He said people advising the government to hold talks with the US were not sincere to the nation. He said that the Friday sermons must be used to prepare the nation mentally for jihad against the US. (Nawa-i-Waqt, Jinnah, Daily Pak)
2. TTP has sent a letter to a news agency stating that they would attack SSP CID Chaudhary Aslam again. (Ummat)
3. Taliban faction led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur has informed a British agency that they would give a full response to the US in case it attacks Pakistan. (Ummat)
4. Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, PTI chairman Imran Khan said that action against the Haqqani Network was not in Pakistan’s interests. He also said that no one can control Afghans and that military action was not a solution to terrorism. All political parties should protest against a possible American military operation and should adopt a single strategy of dialogue to end terrorism. Khan also offered to play a role in brokering peace with the Haqqani Network. (Jasarat, Daily Intekhab, Jang, Khabrain)
5. Talhe-Assaif writes about the charity work of Al Rehmat Trust and states that in order to reach out to flood victims, people should donate to the Al Rehmat Trust. (Al Qalam Weekly, 23 September to 29 September)
6. Naved Masood Hashmi asks readers to donate to the Al Rehmat Trust that has been carrying out relief work for flood victims. (Al Qalam Weekly, 23 September to 29 September)
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Senate Committee for Defence said if the Americans carry out any military action on Pakistani soil, Pakistan reserves a right to respond. Chairman of Senate, Gen (Retd) Javed Ashraf Qazi, said that the American allegations will only benefit terrorists; the US should resolve issues through diplomatic channels. Qazi also said that the Haqqani Network has demanded a withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan. Haqqanis control4 provinces and in 7 provinces, even the governors belonged to them. He said that the Haqqani family members had been living in North Waziristan for years and the US demand for an action against them is not possible. (Jasarat, Ibrat)
2. Former President Gen. Musharraf has said that Pakistan should maintain good relationships with the US but relationships with Russia and India are not good for Pakistan’s interest. He said having friendly relationships with China was a guarantee of Pakistani security. He also termed as irresponsible Mike Mullen’s allegations against the ISI. (Khabrain, Ibrat)
3. Pakistan Supreme Court’s website has been hacked. (Jasarat)
KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWAH (NWFP/FATA)
1. Leaders of the Mehsood, Wazir, Barki, Sulaiman Khel, and Dotani tribes belonging to North Waziristan have vowed to fight along with the Pakistan Army in case the US attacks Pakistan. Addressing a Jirga, leaders from these tribes said that the US had lost the war in Afghanistan and wanted to blame Pakistan for it. (Daily Intekhab, Ummat, Jang, Jinnah)
PUNJAB
1. A small, American-made, remote-control aircraft fell on a house in Mustafabad area of Kasur. Sensitive agencies have got control of the wreckage for further investigations. (Jasarat)
SINDH
1. An American company, ‘Overseas Private Investment Corporation’ will provide a loan of USD 2 crores to build a 28-storey building in Karachi for business and corporate offices, Finance Minister Hafiz Sheikh was informed at a function in Karachi. (Baad-e-Shimal)
2. Columnist Aijaz Mungi criticizes Pakistani leadership for making a hue and cry about ‘saving the country from the US’ and ignoring the plight of the flood-affected people. (Awami Awaz, September 27)
3. Columnist Mithal Jiskani writes: what is the need to make Chinese compulsory in Sindh schools, as all people from Sindh will not go to China, nor the Chinese would talk to all people here. The first priority should be to make the education system of high quality. There should be centres for learning all major foreign languages including Chinese across the country and not just in Sindh. People should be free to learn foreign languages as per their requirements. (Ibrat)
POK NEWS
1. Muhammad Arif Janyalvi, president of PPP (Chashma), said that former AJK PM Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhary’s visit to Srinagar has started links between Kashmiri leaders on both sides of the LOC. He said that Chaudhary’s visit has added a new dimension to Kashmir liberation movement. (Ausaf, 27 September)
2. Peace Movement International-UK chairman Nazar Abbas Shah met Muslim Conference supreme head, Sardar Mohammad Abdul Qayyum Khan and Muslim Conference President Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan and discussed the current political situation in AJK and the problems faced by the Kashmiri community in UK. (Baad-e-Shimal)
3. AJK Information Minister, Syed Bazil Naqvi said that the Kashmiri community stands in support with Pakistani leaders and the Pakistani Army for the country’s stability, strength and unity. He said that if a foreign power thinks it can overcome Pakistan with the use of force, then it is wrong. (Baad-e-Shimal)
4. WAPDA has started increasing the duration of load-shedding in AJK. Now the load shedding extends to 12-13 hours a day. Mangla Dam is actually a property of AJK, but electricity generated here is transmitted to Punjab. It is necessary that AJK’s electricity requirements are catered to first by Mangla before it supplies electricity to other provinces. Obtaining electricity from Mangla Dam is a basic right of the people of AJK. (Daily Dharti Edit)
GILGIT-BALTISTAN NEWS
1. Members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Union of Journalists have said journalists are always humiliated in the region and that there is no media freedom. They have cited in this context the experience of journalist Imtiyaz Gulab who was tortured by G-B forces. (Ausaf, 27 September)
2. Infrastructure in the Ghizer district of Gilgit-Baltistan which was destroyed by last year’s floods has still not been reconstructed due to unavailability of funds. (Ausaf, 27 September)
