Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari Saturday said his party favoured resumption of the India-Pakistan dialogue, but only after Islamabad dismantled all terrorist training camps in its territory and stopped cross-border terrorism from its soil. Speaking to Indian journalists in Beijing, Gadkari said Pakistan has failed to take action against the perpetrators of the [...]
Posts Tagged ‘terrorism’
No dialogue till Pakistan stops terrorism: Gadkari
January 22nd, 2011 |
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Biggest Terrorism Scaremongers Are THEMSELVES Promoting Terrorism
January 3rd, 2011 |
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The biggest scaremongers regarding the threat from terrorism are themselves promoting terrorism.Don’t believe me?Well, Pulitzer-prize winning investigative reporter Seymour Hersh says that the Bush administration (and especially Dick Cheney) helped to …
Terrorism fears increase in Europe
December 24th, 2010 |
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Fears of terrorist attacks in Europe have increased this holiday season following a series of incidents in various European countries, VOA reports. This including parcel bombs that exploded in embassies in Rome.
Enhanced economic ties between Pak, Afghanistan can tackle terrorism threat: Gilani
December 6th, 2010 |
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The common threat of terrorism can be tackled through enhanced economic ties and increased trade relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said. “The high level contacts have proved very useful in developing a better understanding between the two countries,†the Daily Times quoted Gilani, as saying. The interactions have also [...]
Intl. course on fight against terrorism completed
November 27th, 2010 |
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International course organized by the Ankara-based NATO Centre of Excellence in cooperation with Serbia’s Defense Ministry, was completed in Belgrade Friday.
The aim of the five-day course titled “Defense against Terrorism: Conceptual Approach in Combating Terrorism†was reviewing anti-terrorism strategies and different dimensions and trends of emerging terrorism threat, the Defense Ministry’s website read.
No foreign hand behind terrorism
November 22nd, 2010 |
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KARACHI – Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Sunday said that there was no external hand involved in creating terrorism in Pakistan and it is the local people who were involved in these crimes.
Talking to reporters at Karachi Airport, Malik said Taliban, Al-Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi were all coordinating with each other. He said Lashkar-e-Jhangvi was involved in creating terrorism in Karachi and that no terror activities could take place in the country unless terrorists had local support.
He said conditions in Karachi were better as there was a sharp decline in target killing incidents and there was no need to call in the Army.
He maintained the militant outfits were now feeling the heat as the Army has launched a massive crackdown against them in the northwestern areas as well as other parts of the country.
Later, while chairing a meeting, he said, “We are chalking out a strategy to fix the scanners at Entry and Exit points of the metropolis to prevent smuggling of weapons.”
According to sources, a meeting of National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) chaired by Interior Minster Rehman Malik reviewed the law and order situation of the city as well as measures against terrorism.
The suggestions being considered in the meeting for the preventive measures aimed at deweaponisation, included crackdown against arms smugglers and traders of illegal weapon in the city. Sources further said that the provincial interior ministry proposed installations of scanners at all the entry and exit points besides discussing 17 unofficial points of entry and exit across he city. It was also suggested that a scheme ahead of the submission illegal weapon should be announced that would offer the compensation to the volunteers submitting their weapons. In the meeting the participants also urged to maintain the record of legal weapons across the country through National Database Registration Authority (Nadra). The meeting in order to prevent the arrival of militants, resolved to maintain the record of the relatives and guests of the local people who arrive from up county and stay in the city.
While talking to the media at Karachi Airport Malik ruled out the involvement of external hand in creating terrorism and said that local Pakistanis were involved in acts of terrorism.
Malik said that Lashker-e-Jahngvi was behind terrorism in Karachi. Interior Minister also ruled out the possibility of any terrorist activity without the support of the local people.
Malik warned people involved in corruption and said that if there were complaints regarding corruption, the FIA would investigate the matter.
Earlier, Interior Minister Malik held a meeting at NCMC to review the matters of human trafficking, smuggling and anti-corruption drive etc.
DG FIA, Director FIA Balochistan and other officials concerned were also present in the meeting.
Interior Minister took a serious notice of illegal deportation of 106 Pakistanis at Taftan check post. Out of these deportees 54 were from Punjab while 52 belonged to Balochistan. Interior Minister ordered DG FIA to ensure arrest of all the fake agents who facilitated human trafficking. Interior Minister directed Director FIA Balochistan to visit border post himself and keep a vigilant eye on the smuggling of sugar, raw sugar and other commodities to Afghanistan.
He also directed the officials to check the illegal entry of Afghan nationals from border areas and keep a close liaison with Chaman border Police to reinstall bio-metric system as agreed between Pak-Afghan governments. Interior Minister also ordered suspension of FIAs shift In Charge at Islamabad Airport on the complaint of two passengers namely Zeeshan and Khalid about alleged demand of Rs20,000. He directed the DG FIA to initiate criminal enquiry against FIA officials and register case, if they found guilty. The Interior Minister categorically directed zero tolerance level regarding illegal immigration or human trafficking and misbehaviour by immigration authorities at all airports.
He also directed to display his own mobile number 0321-2033383 and mobile number of DG FIA and email: ncmccontrol@dsl.net.pk at all entry and exit points of all airports. Interior Minister directed DG FIA to constitute a task force to make spot-checking and interview the passengers to check implementation of directives. He discussed the ongoing anti-corruption drive in the country. The progress of roadmap regarding the anti-corruption strategy was also reviewed. DG FIA informed that FIA had received quite a good number of complaints and departmental inquires which would be duly reviewed and investigated.
Interior Minister directed all public dealing departments to install complaint boxes and notice boards mentioning the procedure of lodging complaints against any corrupt practice.
France arrests terrorism suspects
November 9th, 2010 |
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Five people believed to have trained as Islamist militants in Pakistan’s troubled Afghan border region have been arrested in and around Paris. Some of those arrested were picked up in the suburb of Roissy, where France’s largest airport is located, security sources said on condition of anonymity.
Yemen’s local and global terrorism: No quick fixes
November 4th, 2010 |
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Fighting terrorism in Yemen requires patience and partners
JUST as mist often cloaks its spiky mountain peaks, Yemen tends to fade from outsiders’ view until an alarming event there commands sudden interest. The foiling of al-Qaeda’s Halloween plot to sneak two parcel bombs onto aircraft bound for America is just such an attention-grabber.
The attackers hid the devices in ink cartridges inside computer printers and sent them by scheduled courier services from the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, addressed to synagogues in Chicago. The plan may have been to explode them en route, perhaps as the plane was landing. That highlights a security hole in global transport (see article) as did a separate series of primitive bombs sent, apparently by Greek leftists, to the German chancellor Angela Merkel and other European targets. …
Big Brother Has Come to the Birthplace of America
September 21st, 2010 |
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Pennsylvania is literally the birthplace of the United States of America. The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia, and that is where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed.It is therefore disconcerting that Pennsyl…
The Warped Mission of the American Military: “Out-Terrorize the Terrorists”
September 12th, 2010 |
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A number of American soldiers are blowing the whistle on the American military practice of indiscriminately killing Iraq civilians – by randomly firing bullets in a 360 degree circle – anytime that an improvised explosive device hits a U.S. soldier.As …
What Does the New Wikileaks Release Mean?
August 26th, 2010 |
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Wikileaks released a CIA report today discussing whether foreign nations will view the U.S. as an “exporter of terrorism”.What does it mean?Not much.As the former director of the National Security Agency said: By any measure the US has long used terror…
State Department: No terrorist acts in Kosovo
August 8th, 2010 |
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In 2009, there were no direct acts of terrorism in Kosovo, the U.S. State Department’s 2009 Reports on Terrorism stated. However, the report did note that Islamic extremists were involved in domestic and international terrorism plots.
National policy to fend off terror
July 5th, 2010 |
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ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, in consultation with all the four Provincial Governments and AJK Government, has formally announced to convene All Parties Conference (APC) soon for evolving national strategy against the menace of terrorism.
Addressing an Inter-Provincial Conference held at PMÂ’s Secretariat on Monday to review law and order situation of the country, the Prime Minister said that all political and religious parties would be invited to attend the conference.
“As a first step we would like to convene a national conference to formulate a national policy on terrorism,” he said and added that all the major political parties of the country whether or not they were in the Parliament would be requested to participate in it and bring tangible suggestions to eradicate the scourge of terrorism from our society.”
The meeting was attended by Chief Ministers of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan, Federal Ministers, Home Ministers of the provinces, Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir, DG ISI, heads of law enforcement departments and other concerned high officials. Information Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mian Iftikhar attended the meeting on behalf of his Chief Minister who did not turn up owing to illness.
Premier Gilani said that the political and religious parties would be requested to give suggestions to tackle the menace of terrorism. He reiterated that neither the Federal nor the Provincial Governments alone could deal with this challenge. Therefore, he said, besides the Army and law enforcing agencies, the terrorism, sectarianism and ethnic divide need to be handled by the important pillars of the state including public representatives from the all political parties, religious leaders and civil society.
The Prime Minister said that after successful operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA, the terrorists were now targeting cities as soft targets and killing innocent people. He directed Federal and Provincial Governments to streamline and enhance sharing of intelligence information with one another.
The Prime Minister has also appealed to the nation to get united against terrorism and extremism, adding terrorists had no religion and nationality. He said that the Government was determined to completely eradicate terrorism and would never bow before terrorists, adding no one would be allowed to challenge the writ of the Government.
Condemning suicide attack on Data Darbar, Gilani said that the recent wave of terrorism was a matter of concern for entire nation, saying people of the country were in shock from Karachi to Gilgit-Baltistan after the attacks.
The meeting was convened in the aftermath of the twin suicide blasts at the shrine of Hazrat Ali Hajveeri alias Data Ganj Bakhsh in Lahore. The meeting thoroughly reviewed the security situation and more stern steps are likely to be taken to curb militancy.
New law against banned outfits on the cards
July 4th, 2010 |
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ISLAMABAD (Agencies) – Ulema from across the country who met Interior Minister Rehman Malik here on Sunday adopted a resolution against terrorism.
Talking to media after the meeting, Rehman Malik said new legislation is being introduced against banned outfits and that the federal government is working in close coordination with all the provinces including Punjab to tackle the scourge of terrorism, reported a private TV channel.
As many as 27 ulema representing all schools of thought met the Interior Minister.
Malik termed the deadly attacks on Data Darbar an assault on Islam. “The third force is attempting to trigger sectarian violence and execute acts of terrorism,” he added.
He warned the ‘enemies’ that the nation has consensus on putting an end to terrorism and that the ulema have already issued a ‘joint fatwa’ against the suicide attacks. “The entire nation is closely united against the attempts to fan sectarian violence and hatred,” he added.
The Interior Minister said the President, the Prime Minister as well as Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif all are on same page for elimination of terrorism. “They (President and PM) are ready to meet wherever Shahbaz Sharif wants on the issue of terrorism,” he added.
Ulema on the occasion read out the joint resolution which condemned the Data Darbar carnage and also called upon the government to take effective measures for rooting out terrorism. They also called for action against terrorists and extremist outfits. “All religious schools of thought are united against the terrorism,” they added. The meeting also decided to hold a peace walk and that the ulema will put forth recommendations for promotion of religious harmony in the country.
Saarc nations for joint anti-terror strategy
June 26th, 2010 |
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ISLAMABAD – The three-day conference of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries concluded on Saturday with a resolve to extend cooperation to each other against terrorism.
At the end of the final session, Secretary General SAARC Dr Sheel Kant Sharma and PakistanÂ’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik in a joint press conference termed the moot as the most successful. They said that during the meeting it was felt by the member countries that terrorism was badly afflicting the region, which resulted in extensive loss of precious human lives and properties.
Dr Sheel Kant Sharma said that during the meeting, all the member countries agreed on 12-point agenda. In reply to a question, he said that plan of establishment of Institute of Criminology was underway. He said that paper work for increasing maritime security suggested by Maldives would be finalised soon. He lauded the Home Ministers’ countries and said, “This was another level of comfort among SAARC Ministers evident from the fact that there was no split among them.” He applauded both India and Pakistan for holding talks saying things could be changed through dialogue. The SAARC Secretary General said that during the meeting all members were on the same page against terrorism, drug trafficking and human smuggling. To a query, he said that despite having some differences, all member countries have been supporting the SAARC decisions.
He said the next meeting of SAARC Interior Ministers would be held in Bhutan next year. To a question regarding the SAARC police, he said modalities are being finalised for constitution of regional police. “We need capacity building of law enforcement agencies. We will work to find out deficiencies. The minister said that it was agreed that the SAARC platform would be strengthened and coordination among member states would be enhanced. He said it is time to think above country level and make efforts at regional level to wipe out terrorism.
To a question about terrorism, he said all the countries had been on the same page against terrorists. “If Taliban are here today, tomorrow they will proceed to other countries,” he remarked. To a query, Malik said that Pakistani students in India would be treated like other countries’ students.
He said that terrorism badly affected all countries of the region in general and Pakistan in particular. All the member countries were agreed that it was the real time for intelligence information sharing, and existing Sri Lankan based SAARC Terrorism Offences Monitoring Desk would be strengthened to the real time information sharing,” Malik added.
He said that there should be interfaith harmony among the members as no religion allowed to carry out terrorism activities. He also informed that in this connection a moot on interfaith harmony would be held in Sri Lanka in near future.
The text of the Islamabad SAARC Ministerial Statement on Cooperation against terrorism” passed at the end of the three-day moot says, “Recognising that terrorism poses a serious threat to the peace and security of our region;
Expressing deep concern at the continuing scourge of terrorism afflicting the region, which has caused extensive loss of human life, destruction and damage to property; Taking note of the fact that peace and harmony, friendly and good neighbourly relations, and cooperation and prosperity of the region are being threatened by terrorism; Recognising that sovereign equality, mutual respect and the principles of non-intervention and non-interference in the internal affairs of Member States consistent with the SAARC Charter, shall remain the basis of our cooperation in the war against terror;
1)We the Interior/Home Ministers of SAARC Member States today in Islamabad.
a. Recall and uphold the Colombo Ministerial Declaration on Cooperation in Combating Terrorism adopted by the Thirty-first Session of the Council of Ministers of February 2009.
b. Reiterate our commitment to strengthen the SAARC regime against terrorism.
c. Reaffirm our commitment to further strengthen cooperation to fight and eradicate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
d. Emphasize the importance of a coordinated and concerted response to combat terrorism.
e. Underline our commitment to implement measures against the organisation, instigation, financing and facilitation of a terrorist activity.
f. Reiterate to take appropriate measures, administrative and legal, to ensure that our respective territories are not used for terrorist installations or training camps or for the preparation or organisation of terrorist acts intended to be committed against other States or their citizens.
g. Express our resolve to ensure that our nationals and entities within our territories that commit or attempt to commit, facilitate or participate in the commission of terrorist acts are appropriately punished
h. Underscore our commitment to apprehend and prosecute or extradite persons connected, directly or indirectly, with the commission of acts of terrorism.
i. Reiterate that we shall contribute to the efforts in the UN General Assembly for early adoption of the UN Draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism
j. Emphasize that linkages between terrorism, the illegal trafficking in drugs and psychotropic substance, illegal trafficking of persons and firearms and threats to maritime security remain a matter of serious concern and reiterate our commitment to address these problems in a comprehensive manner.
k. Emphasize the need to strengthen regional cooperation to fight terrorism and Transnational organised crime and reaffirm our commitment implement the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and its Additional Protocol and SAARC Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
l. Underscore the importance of the SAARC Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and call for its ratification.
2) Our respective countries shall extended cooperation to each other against terrorism while remaining within the purview of our national laws and procedures and our international commitments and following the principle of non-interference and non-intervention in each otherÂ’s affairs.
Pak, India agree to insulate dialogue from terrorism
June 24th, 2010 |
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ISLAMABAD – Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan and India claimed Thursday to have bridged the trust deficit and that the upcoming talks between the leadership of two nuclear-armed neighbours would yield desired results.
“People across the border want peace and friendly relations between two countries, we have to ensure it and we are optimistic to do the same,” said Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan and India during a press briefing in the Foreign Office.
Contrary to what both of the foreign Secretaries told the representatives of local and foreign media during their jointly addressed press conference, the analysts say that they are expecting no progress in the days to come.
With Pakistan wanting India to broaden the scope of talks in terms of giving ‘Kashmir issue’ the central position and when the Cross border Terrorism tops India’s agenda including taking action against LeT, one wonders how can Foreign Secretaries claim to have overcome the differences to improve the trust deficit between them, Foreign policy experts and analysts questioned when contacted.
According to the foreign policy experts, doubts had already been cast over the outcome of the ongoing meeting, after the Indian side insisted Pakistan to take action against LeT while Pakistan once again played the Kashmir card.
Inside sources informed TheNation on Thursday that Pakistan also wanted India to reduce the Indian troops from the border.
When questioned, Nirupama made it loud and clear that India was willing to resume the composite dialogue which was meaningful and comprehensive. It is pertinent to mention here that the foreign secretaries of India have met for the second time this year.
Earlier, both Salman Bashir and Nirupama had led their delegations during the secretary-level meetings in New Delhi on 25th February 2010 and which bore no fruit.
However, it is noteworthy here that in the second meeting both Nirupama and Salman admitted that they had been tasked by Prime ministers Manmohan Singh and Yousuf Raza Gilani to find ways to bridge the trust deficit and prepare the ground for a meeting of the foreign ministers on July 15.
According to a press note issued by the Foreign Office, Indian Foreign Secretary, Ms. Nirupama Rao also called on the Foreign Minister and conveyed best wishes of Indian External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan desired friendly and cooperative relations with India. The Government of Pakistan would like to continue to work with the Government of India to resolve all the outstanding issues peacefully and in a just manner, he said.
Agencies add – Pakistan and India Thursday agreed that dialogue was ‘the best way forwardÂ’ and it should not get derailed by theÂ’terrorist elementsÂ’.
“We must deny terrorist elements any opportunity to derail prospects to improve the relationship,” Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said after holding talks with her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir in Islamabad. Bashir in response said: “We will not allow terrorists space to act against each other.”.
“We believe that dialogue is the best way forward,” Rao said at a packed joint news conference. She clearly indicated that the talks were the harbinger of closer dialogue between India and Pakistan in the coming months. “During our discussions, we have accepted the modalities for restoring trust and confidence for comprehensive sustained and meaningful dialogue,” added Rao, reported Indian meda.
However, she demurred from stating that this was a resumption of the Comprehensive Dialogue. “You must focus that dialogue is the best option for deepening relationship. It is not an issue of nomenclature,” said Rao.
Her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir described the talks as being marked with ‘great deal of cordiality, sincerity and earnestness’. “I would like to borrow a phrase from Nirupama Rao, that this has been a good essay in mutual comprehension,” Bashir said.
Bashir said both the countries were discussing ways to cooperate in counter-terrorism, which would be discussed in detail at the meeting of Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram and his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik Saturday.
Indian and Pakistani diplomats also pledged to strive for sustained dialogue to get their fragile relations back on track and deny militants space to derail reconciliation efforts.
Both secretaries also held talks to craft the agenda for a meeting of their ministers on July 15. Both sides said the talks were marked by “a great deal of cordiality, sincerity and earnestness,” that will pave the way for a more comprehensive dialogue, signalling a possible – and unexpected – thaw.
“Pakistan and India should work towards restoring confidence and building trust with a view to making it possible to have a comprehensive, sustained and meaningful dialogue,” Bashir said.
“After this engagement, I feel much more optimistic about a good outcome at the ministerial level and good prospects for the two countries in terms of our relationship.”
He said it was agreed that the two countries would work towards restoring confidence and trust with a view to making it possible to have comprehensive, sustained and substantive dialogue.
He said the two sides also agreed to move forward from “rhetoric” to effectively cooperate to address the issue of terrorism that was impacting them and the region.
Both the foreign secretaries said the talks had been helpful in understanding each otherÂ’s position and covered a range of issues to prepare for the meeting of the foreign ministers.
“World to face growing terrorist threats”
June 3rd, 2010 |
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Many countries may face growing global terrorism threats, the head of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Thursday. “An analysis of the current terrorism issue shows an increase in terrorism risk threats to most countries, regardless of their economic development, military potential or state structure,” Alexander Bortnikov said.
Attack on Serb returnees “terrorismâ€
May 20th, 2010 |
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Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanović has condemned last night’s shooting incident near a Serb returnee camp in Kosovo. Ivanović described the shooting as an act of terrorism, and called on the EU mission in the province, EULEX, “to act at lastâ€.
Home-grown terrorism
May 5th, 2010 |
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A Pakistan-born American citizen faces terrorism charges for the bomb in Times Square
FAISAL SHAHZAD faces charges of international terrorism and attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, among others, according to America’s attorney-general. The 30-year-old Pakistan-born American citizen attempted to set off a car bomb in New York’s Times Square on Saturday April 30th. Of the 804 people who were prosecuted for terrorism in the eight years following September 11th 2001, a plurality has been American citizens like Mr Shahzad. While many of them have belonged to recognised groups, such as Colombia’s FARC or Lashkar-e-Taiba from Pakistan and Kashmir, a majority claim no affiliation at all.
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China supports India to fight against terrorism
April 6th, 2010 |
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On Tuesday the External Affairs Minister S M Krishna seek China’s support against terrorism and insisted that all nations must get together to stop the evil of terrorism.
Krishna said that it is now really essential to raise voice against this threat under the guidance of the UN.
At an institute of Sino-Indian relations, he addressed, [...]