Ajay Kaul And Rezaul H Laskar In Islamabad

Stories by Ajay Kaul And Rezaul H Laskar In Islamabad

Journo's death: Scribes stage token walkout

Journo's death: Scribes stage token walkout

Rediff.com   2 Jun 2011

Pakistani and foreign journalists on Thursday staged a token walkout of the weekly news briefing at the Foreign Office here to protest the killing of Asia Times Online bureau chief Syed Saleem Shahzad, whose body was found in Punjab province a day after he was reported missing.

'Slain Pak scribe wanted to relocate to UK'

'Slain Pak scribe wanted to relocate to UK'

Rediff.com   2 Jun 2011

Journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad, slain two days after he filed a report alleging the possible infiltration of the Pakistan Navy by Al Qaeda, had spoken to close friends about relocating abroad with his family after receiving several threats in recent months.

Journo's death: 'ISI should not be above the law'

Journo's death: 'ISI should not be above the law'

Rediff.com   2 Jun 2011

Reacting sharply to Inter Services Intelligence's denial of involvement in the murder of journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad, a leading Pakistani newspaper publisher has claimed that the reporter had received death threats from the spy agency on at least three occasions.

'We will make Pakistan free of terrorism'

'We will make Pakistan free of terrorism'

Rediff.com   2 Jun 2011

Pakistan government will 'think whether there is any need' for a military operation in North Waziristan and not take dictation from anyone on launching a campaign against militants in the tribal region, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said

Pakistanis react with anger over scribe's death

Pakistanis react with anger over scribe's death

Rediff.com   1 Jun 2011

Pakistanis on Wednesday reacted with revulsion and anger to the "silencing" of investigative journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad, whose body was found days after he went missing in the wake of authoring a report that alleged al-Qaeda had infiltrated the Pakistan Navy.

Missing Pak journo who 'dared ISI' found dead

Missing Pak journo who 'dared ISI' found dead

Rediff.com   31 May 2011

A prominent Pakistani journalist who went missing over the weekend, was found dead in Punjab province on Tuesday and his body bore marks of torture, police said.

Musharraf a 'proclaimed offender': Pak court

Musharraf a 'proclaimed offender': Pak court

Rediff.com   30 May 2011

A Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Monday declared former President Pervez Musharraf a "proclaimed offender" or fugitive for failing to cooperate with investigators probing the 2007 assassination of former Premier Benazir Bhutto.

Anti-Taliban leaders among 8 killed in Pak blast

Anti-Taliban leaders among 8 killed in Pak blast

Rediff.com   28 May 2011

A powerful explosion ripped through a market in Bajaur tribal region of northwest Pakistan on Saturday, killing eight persons, including two anti-Taliban tribal elders, and injuring 12 others.

Pakistan: Sucide bombing toll rises to 39

Pakistan: Sucide bombing toll rises to 39

Rediff.com   27 May 2011

The death toll in a devastating suicide car bomb attack in northwest Pakistan rose to 39 on Friday as more bodies were pulled out of the rubble of buildings that collapsed when the attacker detonated his explosives-laden vehicle in a congested area of Hangu city.

Take decisive steps against terror: Clinton to Pak

Take decisive steps against terror: Clinton to Pak

Rediff.com   27 May 2011

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday arrived in Pakistan on a surprise visit amid severe strains in bilateral ties following the American raid that killed Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden earlier this month.

'Pak Prez opposed Aziz as India interlocutor'

'Pak Prez opposed Aziz as India interlocutor'

Rediff.com   26 May 2011

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari had wanted to retain military ruler Pervez Musharraf's close aide Tariq Aziz as a key Pakistani interlocutor for India but the move was opposed by Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, a United States diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks has said.

Pakistan reacts to errors in India's fugitive list

Pakistan reacts to errors in India's fugitive list

Rediff.com   21 May 2011

Pakistan on Saturday skirted the issue of errors in a list of 50 wanted fugitives sought by India and said it would consider New Delhi's requests for tracing suspects believed to be on Pakistani soil with "great seriousness". To the embarrassment of India's home ministry and security agencies, it recently emerged that two men on the list of 50 most wanted fugitives were in India. The list, handed over to Pakistan earlier this year, included the names of five Pak army officers

ISI chief warns India against strikes inside Pak

ISI chief warns India against strikes inside Pak

Rediff.com   15 May 2011

Inter Services Intelligence's powerful chief Ahmed Shuja Pasha has warned India that any Abbottabad-like attack by it would invite a befitting response from Pakistan. Pasha's warning came as he addressed the in-camera joint session of the Senate and National Assembly held behind closed doors on Friday. Pasha is facing fire over the inability of the ISI to track down Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, where he was living.

Prayers for bin Laden in Pakistan Parliament

Prayers for bin Laden in Pakistan Parliament

Rediff.com   11 May 2011

Pakistani Parliamentarians were left stunned when a lawmaker led a prayer for slain al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in the National Assembly despite being told by Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi not to do so.

We were caught by surprise: ISI

We were caught by surprise: ISI

Rediff.com   3 May 2011

Pakistan's failure to trace Osama bin Laden to the compound near Abbottabad where he was killed was an "embarrassment" for the Inter-Services Intelligence agency, BBC reported on Tuesday.

Mystery shrouds death of Osama bin Laden

Mystery shrouds death of Osama bin Laden

Rediff.com   2 May 2011

The killing of Osama bin Laden by United States forces in a compound located just 800 yards from the Pakistan Military Academy near Abbottabad ended the hunt for the world's most wanted man though several aspects of his death remained shrouded in mystery.

No new cantonments in Balochistan: Kayani

No new cantonments in Balochistan: Kayani

Rediff.com   19 Apr 2011

Pakistani army will hand over security responsibilities in the insurgency-hit Balochistan province to paramilitary forces within two months after battalion deployed in the restive Sui town returns to the barracks, its chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said.

We are trying to secure drone tech from US: Gilani

We are trying to secure drone tech from US: Gilani

Rediff.com   19 Apr 2011

Demanding an end to the American drone attacks in the restive tribal belt, Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani has said Pakistan was trying to secure the spy plane technology from the United States and seeking enhanced intelligence- sharing so that it can act on its own against militants.

Pakistan test-fires nuclear capable missile

Pakistan test-fires nuclear capable missile

Rediff.com   19 Apr 2011

Pakistan on Tuesday test-fired a newly developed short-range surface-to-surface missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, the military said. The Hatf-9 missile, with a range of 60 km, can "carry nuclear warheads of appropriate yield with high accuracy," the military said in a statement. The "multi-tube ballistic missile" system had been developed to add "deterrence value to Pakistan's strategic weapons development programme at shorter ranges," it said.

Pak lodges protest with US over drone strike

Pak lodges protest with US over drone strike

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2011

Pakistan on Thursday said US drone attacks in its tribal belt had become a "core irritant" in bilateral relations and top Pakistani leaders have clearly conveyed this position to their American counterparts. "Drone attacks have become a core irritant in the counter-terrorism campaign," Foreign office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua told a weekly news briefing.