KHAR: Inspector General Frontier Corps Major General Tariq Khan has said that security forces have regained full control of Bajaur besides killing 54 more militants, including seven key Taliban commanders.

While ongoing operations in Orakzai Agency and Teerah will also be completed soon, he announced.

Meanwhile, Director General Inter-Services Public Relation (ISPR) Maj-Gen Athar Abbas announced new offensive will not be launched in South Waziristan until the situation returns to normal.

Speaking to newsmen along with DG ISPR, the FC IG said a key militant commander Orangzaib, who was allegedly behind 21 suicide bombings in Punjab, is also among the dead.

To a question, Khan said the house of former MNA Haroon Rashid had become the hub of militants. It was destroyed under the FCR law. While Rashid’s brother was arrested in connection with supporting militants, Khan said.

The FC IG said that Khan of Kunar is supporting militants in Afghan province of Kunar.

Responding to a question, he said that recovery of Indian arms from country’s tribal areas and heavy presence of Indian consulates in Afghanistan raises so many questions.
Troops regain full control of Bajaur

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed willingness to fulfill the orders of the higher judiciary in their true spirit, saying he has no objection to the reopening of Swiss cases.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani assured the President that the judiciary poses no threat to democracy, sources told Geo News on Saturday.

A meeting of core group of Pakistan People’s Party held last night here at the Presidency in the joint chairmanship of the President and Prime Minister, agreed that all the future decisions will be made in consultation with the core group.

The meeting expressed its confidence in Prime Minister’s tackling of the issue of judges’ appointment.

Regarding reopening of the Swiss cases, President Zardari said there is no substance in those cases. “Had there been anything concrete in those cases, I would have already been awarded punishment,” he claimed, adding, therefore, that he has no objection to the reopening of Swiss cases.

Referring to Article-248 of the Constitution, President Asif Ali Zardari said, when required, the judiciary will be informed that he enjoys constitutional immunity under this Article.

The meeting termed as totally flawed the advice given by government advisers in connection with the judges’ appointment, causing humiliation to the government.

Federal Minister for Law and Justice Dr. Babar Awan and Adviser to Prime Minister Latif Khosa were also invited to the meeting which they excused to attend on the pretext of indisposition.
‘No objection to reopening of Swiss cases’: President

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif said he will welcome President Asif Zardari if he could visit Lahore in his presence.

Talking to media at Lahore airport after tour of Turkey and United Kingdom, Shahbaz denied the impression that he went Turkey to avoid to welcome President. He said visit of Turkey was scheduled two months ago and later he also visited London.

Chief Minister termed tours of Turkey and UK successful and said several key deals had been inked in energy, education, health and agriculture sectors during these tours.

Earlier, senior advisor Zulfiqar Khosa, IG Punjab and other high officials received Shahbaz Sharif.
Shahbaz says will welcome President Zardari

ISLAMABAD: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Friday expressed regret for past US policies that cut military ties with Pakistan, saying the move was “a grave strategic mistake” that had damaged relations.

Speaking at the National Defence University in Islamabad, he said a US ban on military contacts in the 1990s over Pakistan’’s nuclear programme undermined a bond between their armed forces and created a lingering “trust deficit”.

He vowed the United States was “prepared to invest whatever time and energy it takes to forge and sustain a genuine, lasting partnership” with Pakistan.

“I was in government in the early 1990s, when Russia left the region and the United States largely abandoned Afghanistan and cut off defence ties with Pakistan, a grave strategic mistake driven by some well-intentioned but short-sighted US legislative and policy decisions,” said Gates.

Gates told the military audience that the United States “does not covet a single inch of Pakistani soil.” The US has no plans for military bases and “we have no desire to control Pakistan’’s nuclear weapons,” Gates said.
Gates regrets past grave mistakes in Pakistan

Pak Army:No New Operations This Year:ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will not start any new operation against terrorists this year, said spokesperson for Pakistani army.
Pakistan army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told a British channel that new fronts against terrorists will not be open in next one year. The Pakistan army is engaged [...]
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Pak Army:No New Operations This Year