Rezaul H Laskar In Islamabad

Stories by Rezaul H Laskar In Islamabad

Why can't Pak track down Al Qaeda, asks US

Why can't Pak track down Al Qaeda, asks US

Rediff.com   30 Oct 2009

"Al-Qaeda has had safe haven in Pakistan since 2002. I find it hard to believe that nobody in your government knows where they are and couldn't get them if they really wanted to," Clinton told a group of senior Pakistani journalists in Lahore on Thursday.

US vows to stand by Pak in fight against terror

US vows to stand by Pak in fight against terror

Rediff.com   28 Oct 2009

Stating that Pakistan was at a 'critical point' of history, the United States on Wednesday offered to stand soldier-to-soldier with the country in its fight against 'tenacious and brutal terror groups'. "This is not Pakistan's fight alone," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced hours after a car bomb in Peshawar killed at least 95 people and injured over 200. "Pakistan is in the midst of a struggle against tenacious and brutal terror groups," she said.

26/11: Pak court  told to redress suspect's woes

26/11: Pak court told to redress suspect's woes

Rediff.com   27 Oct 2009

A Pakistani anti-terror court conducting trial of seven suspects arrested for involvement in Mumbai attacks, including the Lashkar-e-Tayiba's operations chief Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, was directed on Tuesday by the Lahore High Court to take into account the views of the accused and redress their grievances.

Islamabad: Brigadier escapes ambush by militants

Islamabad: Brigadier escapes ambush by militants

Rediff.com   27 Oct 2009

Suspected motorcycle-borne militants on Tuesday made a brazen attempt to assassinate another senior Pakistan army officer, raking his vehicle with indiscriminate fire, but the brigadier escaped unhurt, in an ambush similar to one just five days ago that resulted in killing of an army officer and a soldier.

Pak army faces stiff resistance in Waziristan

Pak army faces stiff resistance in Waziristan

Rediff.com   26 Oct 2009

Pakistani forces fought pitched battles with Taliban fighters in their bid to wrest their hub of Sararogha in South Waziristan killing 34 militants to raise the terrorist death toll to 227, but lost 11 soldiers as insurgents opened new fronts in the lawless region.

Pakistan: 26/11 trial adjourned till Oct 31

Pakistan: 26/11 trial adjourned till Oct 31

Rediff.com   26 Oct 2009

The new Pakistani judge, hearing the Mumbai terror attacks case, on Monday adjourned till October 31 the trial of the seven suspects, including Lashker-e-Tayiba operative Zakiur Lakhvi.Judge Malik Muhammad Akram Awan of the anti-terror court, who was appointed last week to conduct the in-camera trial, began hearing the case today morning at the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.Awan replaced Judge Baqir Ali Rana, who had requested to be taken off the case.

Pak dismisses India's call to secure nuke assets

Pak dismisses India's call to secure nuke assets

Rediff.com   24 Oct 2009

Pakistan on Saturday dismissed India's call to effectively secure its nuclear assets as 'self serving' and said New Delhi should instead work with it on establishing a 'regional strategic restraint regime'. Following a suicide attack on Friday outside the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex at Kamra, considered a base for some of the country's strategic weapons, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao had said that India hoped Pakistan would "continue to take steps to secure nuke assets."

Pak army captures Hakimullah's hometown

Pak army captures Hakimullah's hometown

Rediff.com   24 Oct 2009

Pakistani troops entered Kotkai, the hometown of Hakimullah Mehsud and his close aide Qari Hussain, also known as trainer of suicide bombers, late on Saturday night after subjecting the village to heavy bombing by fighters and attack helicopters. In the intense battle, 13 militants and two soldiers were killed.

Pak appoints new judge to conduct 26/11 trial

Pak appoints new judge to conduct 26/11 trial

Rediff.com   24 Oct 2009

Judge Malik Muhammad Akram Awan of anti-terrorism court replaced Rana on the orders of Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court Khwaja Mohammad Sharif. Rana was conducting in-camera the trial of the seven suspects, who included senior Lashker-e-Taiba operatives Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and Zarar Shah, in the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

'Failure not an option in Waziristan operation'

'Failure not an option in Waziristan operation'

Rediff.com   23 Oct 2009

Pakistan's military operation against the Taliban in South Waziristan will be taken to its logical conclusion despite a wave of attacks by the militants as 'failure is not an option,' Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Friday.

Iran minister in Pak, busting Jundullah on agenda

Iran minister in Pak, busting Jundullah on agenda

Rediff.com   23 Oct 2009

Iran has for long claimed that members of Jundullah, a Baloch Sunni militant group, are active in Pakistan's Balochistan province and get support from some intelligence officials there.

Pak Army HQ attack masterminds nabbed

Pak Army HQ attack masterminds nabbed

Rediff.com   23 Oct 2009

The two commanders identified only as Iqbal and Gul Muhammad, both hailing from Faisalabad were arrested earlier this week by law enforcement agencies.

7 killed in suicide attack near Pak air force base

7 killed in suicide attack near Pak air force base

Rediff.com   23 Oct 2009

Seven people were killed in a suicide blast near a Pakistan air force base in Kamra on Friday morning. Nearly 12 people were injured in the blast

10 injured in blast outside Peshawar restaurant

10 injured in blast outside Peshawar restaurant

Rediff.com   23 Oct 2009

At least 10 people were injured on Friday in a car bomb blast outside a restaurant in the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar, hours after seven people were killed by a suicide bomber near a strategic air force complex in Punjab province. Witnesses said the blast occurred soon after a man parked a car outside a restaurant in Hayatabad on the outskirts of Peshawar. The walls and windows of the restaurant were shattered by the blast.

SC imposes fine on Pak govt over Saeed case

SC imposes fine on Pak govt over Saeed case

Rediff.com   22 Oct 2009

Pakistan's Supreme Court, which is hearing petitions against the release from house arrest of Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, on Thursday imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each on the federal and Punjab governments, for delaying the case with their 'non-cooperative attitude'. Saeed, the founder of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Tayiba, has been accused by India of masterminding the terror attack on Mumbai.

Pak brigadier killed in audacious attack

Pak brigadier killed in audacious attack

Rediff.com   22 Oct 2009

Unidentified gunmen riding on motorcycles ambushed an army vehicle in the Pakistani capital on Thursday, unleashing a hail of bullets that killed a brigadier and his guard and injured another soldier, in the latest in a wave of deadly attacks targeting the security forces

Pak judge wants to quit 26/11 trial

Pak judge wants to quit 26/11 trial

Rediff.com   21 Oct 2009

In a possible setback to the trial of the seven suspects arrested by the Pakistan police for their involvement in the terror attack on Mumbai, the judge hearing the case has said he can no longer continue with the proceedings. Citing 'unavoidable reasons', Judge Baqir Ali Rana of the anti-terrorism court, who has been conducting the trial within the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, has requested the Lahore High Court to excuse him from hearing the case.

Twin blasts in Pak varsity kill 5, injure 40

Twin blasts in Pak varsity kill 5, injure 40

Rediff.com   20 Oct 2009

Two bomb explosions on a university campus in Islamabad have reportedly killed 15 persons and left 10 injured. "It was a bomb blast. It was inside the Islamic university building. There was another one a few minutes later," a police official was quoted as saying.

60 militants killed in Pak's Waziristan offensive

60 militants killed in Pak's Waziristan offensive

Rediff.com   18 Oct 2009

Pakistani jets and artillery pounded Taliban bases for the second day on Sunday killing 60 militants in the lawless Waziristan region as ground forces continued their push into the strongholds of the Taliban and captured two key towns from them despite stiff resistance.

Pak army launches major ground offensives

Pak army launches major ground offensives

Rediff.com   17 Oct 2009

Backed by tanks and fighter jets, Pakistan Army launched the much-awaited major ground offensive on Friday to flush out Taliban from their stronghold of Waziristan tribal region and immediately ran into heavyresistance. Troops were locked in fierce clashes with Taliban, who were reported using heavy weapons, to hold back the army advance, officials said.