Pakistan

Zardari meets Obama in Washington

WASHINGTON: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari arrived at the White House on Friday for talks with US President Barack Obama on the key but often uneasy anti-terrorism alliance between their countries.

Zardari flew to Washington for a memorial service later in the day for the late US envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke who died last month at the age of 69.A small pool of photographers was ushered into the Oval Office to record the meeting, but the two presidents made no substantive remarks. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was also in the room.The presidential-level talks follow Vice President Joe Biden's trip to Islamabad this week, which saw him deliver a bold message of support for Pakistan.The vice president said that militancy in Pakistan was a threat to both countries, and he referred to the killing last week of Punjab governor Salman Taseer, who was shot dead by his bodyguard over his outspoken opposition to strict blasphemy laws.
Obama and Zardari were to discuss "aspects of the US-Pakistan strategic partnership, including our mutual commitment to economic reform, support for democracy and good governance, and joint efforts to combat terrorism," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters on Thursday.Contacts between high-level US and Pakistani officials frequently include discussions on the issue of extremist sanctuaries in lawless areas alongside the Pakistan-Afghan border.A senior administration official said that Biden brought up the issue in his talks in Pakistan, the latest instance of US pressure for the Pakistani government to do more to tackle home grown extremism."What we've seen over the past year is a significant effort by Pakistan against a number of extremist groups," the official told reporters as Biden flew home to Washington on Thursday.But the official noted that Obama said when he unveiled a review of Pakistan and Afghan strategy late last year that "it's still not enough, and we hope to see more."But the official added that Biden had concluded that "increasingly there's an understanding and an awareness in Pakistan that at the end of the day, extremism is a problem that we both confront."
olbrooke, a larger-than-life diplomat who helped broker peace in the Balkans a decade ago, was credited in Pakistan with drawing international attention to the humanitarian disaster of massive floods last year.


Posted by The Awaz Norway


 Fear grips Karachi as death toll rises to 22

KARACHI: Another wave of target killings hit Karachi leaving 22 people killed in the last 24 hours including Geo News reporter Wali Khan Babar in different parts of the country's commercial capital, Geo News reported.
At least seven people were killed yesterday while fifteen more lost lives today.Gulistan-e-Jauhar's Pahalwan Goth area was once again under the grip of violence where two groups exchanged fire. Sindh CM's helicopter pilot Major Iqbal Kaashmiri was shot dead near Rabia City and another man was killed on Jam Sadiq Bridge in Korangi Industrial Area.Two injured people also succumbed to the injuries.The most serious incident occurred in Orangi Town when armed men attacked a bus of route 1-D near Qasba More, in which six people, including a seven-year-old girl Dua and a woman, were killed.The bodies and the injured were shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed and Qatar Hospitals.Those killed were identified as Faraz, Rashid Anwar, Javed and Dua while two remained unidentified. Later, large contingents of police and Rangers started patrolling the affected areas.In another incident, a man identified as Hamaad, an MQM supporter, was shot dead in Liaquatabad area late night that was laid to rest today. Police said the victim was standing outside his house when two armed men riding a motorcycle opened fire on him.
Earlier, unidentified assailants riding a two-wheeler opened fire on ANP Sindh Secretary General Basheer Jan and his colleague Arshad near the Civic Center. As a result, both received injuries and were rushed to the JPMC, where their condition is stated to be out of danger.Police said that Basheer Jan had come to visit an office in Gulshan area when he was attacked by some unknown armed men who later managed to flee from the scene. The ANP leader received bullets on both hands and on the back, hospital sources said. Police have registered a case and started investigation.Violence and firing incidents were reported from different parts of the city, including Manghopir, Orangi Town, Qasba More and the Kati Pehari area.

Posted by The Awaz Norway