Zardari says Taliban present in 'huge amounts' of Pak land

President Asif Ali Zardari has made a startling admission that Taliban militants are present in "huge amounts of land" in Pakistan and his government is fighting for the "survival" of the country. "(The Taliban) do have a presence in huge amounts of land in our side. Yes, that is the fact," he said in an interview to CBS television network.

Once confined to the country's tribal area bordering Afghanistan, from where they carried out strikes against the US-led coalition forces in the war-torn country, the Taliban had extended their influence in Pakistan's inland to cities like Peshawar and the Swat Valley, Zardari said. "We are aware of the fact ... Taliban... (is) trying to take over the state of Pakistan," he said. "So, we're fighting for the survival of Pakistan. We're not fighting for the survival of anybody else." The Taliban, he said, had been taken for granted for a long time. "It's been happening over time and it's happened out of denial. Everybody was in denial." Many thought they were weak and they would not be able to take over or challenge the government, Zardari said. As a result, the forces to challenge them were not increased. But "we have weaknesses and they are taking advantage of that weakness," he said. Zardari's remarks follow US President Barack Obama's assertion that "safe havens" for Taliban and al-Qaeda would not be allowed in Pakistan. PTI

BACK

'We will not hand over Kasab to Pakistan'

The state home ministry has decided not to hand over terrorist Ajmal Kasab to Pakistan anytime soon. At the same time, it has demanded that Pakistan should hand over the terror masterminds to the Mumbai police. Reacting to Pakistan interior minister Rehman Malik's statement that they may seek Kasab's custody if the "investigators recommend it or the courts ask for him", home minister Jayant Patil told TOI, "We will try Ajmal Kasab here first. If at all, we may hand him over to Pakistan on completion of the sentence.''

BACK

Drone attack kills 27 in Pakistan

Pakistan was on Saturday up against the double-shock of a U.S. missile strike in its tribal areas that killed at least 27 people and a threat by the kidnappers of a UNHCR official to kill him unless their demands are met within 72 hours.

Apparently dismissive of the Pakistan leadership’s concerns that missile strikes by U.S. Predator aircraft in violation of Pakistani sovereignty are “counter-productive”, an American drone struck in South Waziristan, a tribal area on the Afghan border.The unmanned aircraft fired two missiles that reportedly hit a militant camp belonging to Beithullah Mehsud, leader of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, an umbrella group of militant organisations.

According to local media reports, the death toll in the strike on the building in Ladha, including local and foreign militants, is at least 27. Geo Television said 32 people were killed.

BACK

Obama plans to sign stimulus measure Tuesday

Savoring his first big victory in Congress, President Barack Obama on Saturday celebrated the newly passed $787 billion economic stimulus bill as a "major milestone on our road to recovery. "Officials said he would sign the measure on Tuesday in Denver. Speaking in his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama said, "I will sign this legislation into law shortly, and we'll begin making the immediate investments necessary to put people back to work doing the work America needs done." At the same time, he cautioned, "This historic step won't be the end of what we do to turn our economy around, but rather the beginning. The problems that led us into this crisis are deep and widespread, and our response must be equal to the task."

BACK