Malik vows civil guards for public schools

ISLAMABAD : Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik Wednesday said full-fledged arrangements are being taken up for the security of the educational institutions, as 300 civil guards are being provided for the security of public schools. Talking to media here, he said nobody even thought of such an incident of terrorism at an educational institution, adding the security at educational institutes would be aggrandized. The interior minister said one main committee and three sub-committees have been instituted in a meeting held here in connection with the security. He informed that the federal capital has been divided in seven zones as regards the security, and the terror incident at Islamic University occurred at least 24 km away from Islamabad. Commenting upon the Indian allegations, Malik warned against them, saying Indian Home Minister should see about their home first, as it is beset with flaws, adding criticizing Pakistan would not set their issues aright. Rehman Malik stressed that Pakistan may give well-substantiated threats better than those India gave, adding Pakistani offer regarding negotiations should not be deemed as its frailty.

Two female students killed in Islamic University suicide blasts

# ISLAMABAD: Two female students have been killed and several others injured in twin suicide blasts in new campus of Islamic University Islamabad. The first suicide explosion happened in a cafeteria near girls hostel whereas another occurred in Sharia block few minutes later. According to SSP Tahir Alam, both were suicide blasts. Talking to Geo News, a student of Islamic University said it was an intense explosion that damaged the building severely. Thirteen injured including 11 female students and two men have been shifted to PIMS hospital where four have bee reported in a critical condition. According to Executive Director of PIMS Hospital, the injured students identified as Samra, Najma Idrees, Nadia, Ayesha Ambreen and Asma whereas the male student identified as Muhammad Idrees. One suspect has been arrested near the campus. Police and law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the blast site.

US defence secretary encouraged by Pakistan push

WASHINGTON: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said he was encouraged by the Pakistani offensive in South Waziristan but added it was too early to gauge the impact. "I'm obviously encouraged by the Pakistani operations. I think that the terrorist attacks that have been launched inside Pakistan in recent days made clear the need to begin to deal with this problem," he said. "And so we obviously are very supporting of what the Pakistanis are doing. But it's very early yet." The fighting is a new test of the Pakistani government's determination to tackle an increasingly brazen insurgency that has seen a string of attacks in different parts of the country, including an assault on army headquarters.

US says trusts Pakistan government on terror war

WASHINGTON: US has said combating war on terrorism is in interest of both Pakistan and United States and it has full trust on Pakistani government and will continue extending support to Pakistan in this connection, Geo news reported Monday.

Briefing media here, the spokesman to US state department Ian Kelley said he was unaware of an agreement to keep some militant factions out of the fight for now, but other U.S. officials said the strategy is not surprising or necessarily worrisome.

Because the faction loyal to Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud poses the most direct threat to the Pakistani government and army, it is the logical first target, U.S. officials briefed on the offensive said.

He said conducting operation in tribal mountainous areas is an uneasy job but Pakistan army successfully carried out military offensive against Taliban in Swat and now is engaged in South Waziristan Agency (SWA), which reflects its determination to toot out terrorism.

The United States, while criticizing the suicide bombing on Iran, mentioned that it is not involved in the attack.

Spokesman Kelly said, “We condemn this act of terrorism and mourn the loss of innocent lives”. "Reports of alleged US involvement are completely false," he added.

India will fight Taliban at any cost: A K Antony

NEW DELHI: Warning that the situation in Pakistan is "very serious", India's Defence Minister A K Antony on Monday said terrorism is "spreading" in that country and asserted that India is prepared to meet any challenge from Taliban militants

"The situation in Pakistan is very serious and terrorism is spreading," he told reporters on the sidelines of the Territorial Army Day parade here

Pakistan has been in the grip of a terror wave with six major attacks in the last fortnight by suspected Taliban militants, the latest being a suicide bomb attack in Peshawar in the restive North West Frontier Province on Friday last killing 14 people

Asked if Talibans' threat to carry out attacks on India was a cause of concern, Antony said, "We are always prepared to meet any challenge to our territorial integrity and national security from any quarter.

Nawaz urges govt not to pass ‘corruption’ from Parliament

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif has raised objection on use of Parliament for passing ‘corruption’ into law.

Talking to media here in Model Town on Saturday, Nawaz Sharif urged the government not to pass National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) by the Parliament. “If this law is passed, it will be a stigma on (National) Assembly,” he added.

He said the government should avoid putting the Parliament, opposition and itself to a test. “Because if (NRO) is passed, ‘corruption’ will get a legal cover,” he maintained, adding, “this will not only bring a bad name to the politicians but also to Pakistan.”

The PML-N Chief said the government will have to break the begging bowl if it holds dear the sovereignty of the country. He said the country can manage without aid.

“The nation should be ready to stand on its own feet,” he said, adding, “the country can progress if the people pay taxes and work hard.”

Russia's Putin warns against sanctions on Iran

BEIJING: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned major powers on Wednesday against intimidating Iran and said talk of sanctions against the Islamic Republic over its nuclear programme was "premature".

Putin, who many diplomats, analysts, and Russian citizens believe is still Russia's paramount leader despite stepping down as president last year, was speaking after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Moscow for two days of talks.

"There is no need to frighten the Iranians," Putin told reporters in Beijing after a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

"We need to look for a compromise. If a compromise is not found, and the discussions end in a fiasco, then we will see."

"And if now, before making any steps (towards holding talks) we start announcing some sanctions, then we won't be creating favourable conditions for them (talks) to end positively. This is why it is premature to talk about this now."

Clinton failed to secure any specific assurances from Russia on Iran during her visit, leaving her open to criticism at home that she had not received anything from Moscow after earlier U.S. concessions on missile defence.

Iranian, Russian, French, U.S. and U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency officials will meet in Vienna on Oct. 19 to discuss how to implement a plan agreed in principle at talks in Geneva for low-grade Iranian uranium to be enriched overseas to a purity suitable for nuclear reactors but not weapons.

The Geneva talks on Oct. 1 also produced Iranian agreement for international inspectors to visit a second enrichment plant now under construction near Qom. Apparent Iranian concession reduced pressure for a widening of economic sanctions some analysts said could be extended to the oil and gas industry.