NATO supply route closed to fight Taliban
JAMRUD: Pakistan on Tuesday suspended supplies to more than 65,000 NATO and United States troops in Afghanistan when security forces imposed curfew in and around Jamrud tehsil of Khyber Agency to initiate a military operation against the Taliban, officials and local residents said. Two Taliban were among five people killed on Tuesday in the joint operation by military and paramilitary forces. “We have launched crackdown against people creating disturbances, and army, paramilitary and levy force is jointly conducting the operation,” Khyber Chief Administrator Tariq Hayat told reporters in Peshawar. The early-dawn operation followed recent Taliban activities, which attempted to cut off supply lines to international forces in Afghanistan and threatened Peshawar’s security. “Helicopter gunships pounded suspected hideouts of the Taliban and their local facilitators while ground forces with tanks and heavy artillery provided backup,” residents of Jamrud told newsman. Troops shelled Taliban strongholds in Ghundi, Sakhipul, Tedi bazaar, Shah Zaman Kalay and Ghuriza areas of Jamrud tehsil. “Five people were killed,” political administration officials said, but did not provide details. Dr Salahuddin at Jamrud Civil Hospital said four civilians with bullet wounds were brought for treatment. Local residents said three civilians, including a child, were killed in an area close to Tedi bazaar and Ghuriza by the shelling. Target: Tariq Hayat said the operation was targeting six Taliban-linked organizations. “This operation will continue as long as all targets are achieved,” he said. The tribal administrator said the operation was aimed at putting a stop to both attacks on NATO supply vehicles and a spate of kidnappings for ransom in the Tribal Areas, where the Taliban and Al Qaeda are active. Troops had already seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition in a raid on a warehouse in Jamrud, Hayat said, adding that a complete curfew had been imposed on the area, with paramilitary troops patrolling the streets. Local residents said the militants put up little resistance to the operation. “There was some resistance by members of an organisation, but there was no resistance at all by the militants who appear to have left the area much earlier than the operation started,” the residents said. Impact: Reuters reported NATO spokesman in Kabul Captain Mark Windsor as saying that the supply blockade “will not have a major impact, for it is temporary and we have stocks and supplies. Overall, it will be a good thing”.

Pak proposes India to deactivate forward air bases
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday asked India to send "positive signals" by deactivating its forward air bases and relocating ground troops to peace time positions, saying it is ready to cooperate in probing Mumbai attacks and bringing perpetrators of the crime to justice. "If the forward airbases activated by India are deactivated, it will be a very positive signal," Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said in a brief address on state-run PTV. Similarly, he proposed that ground forces which have been deployed to forward post should be relocated to peace time positions. "This will be a positive signal and regional tensions will reduce," he said, adding a "good atmosphere will be created to take things forward." Qureshi said there had been certain developments in the past 48 hours that "Pakistan thinks augur well for the situation". One of these developments was External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's comment that India had not given Pakistan any ultimatum with regard to the Mumbai terror attacks, he said. "Neighbours can't solve problems through ultimatums. Problems can be solved only through dialogue in a peaceful atmosphere," Qureshi said. Another positive development was the direct contact over the weekend between the Directors General of Military Operations of the two countries as this will also help reduce tensions, he said. Qureshi said Pakistan would cooperate fully with India once it shared evidence and information regarding the Mumbai attacks. India has asked Pakistan to crack down on these elements but Islamabad has said it cannot push forward its own investigation till New Delhi shares evidence and information on the terrorist incident. Qureshi praised China, saying Beijing had backed Pakistan's "approach of constructive engagement" and made it clear that conflict is not in the interest of anyone. China had also backed Pakistan's proposals to send a high-level delegation to India to defuse tensions and for a joint investigation of the Mumbai incident. The Chinese and US governments too had been in touch with India and Pakistan to de-escalate the situation in the region. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had spoken to Zardari on phone over the past two days to help defuse situation, Qureshi said.

Pakistan condemns ‘counterproductive’ Israeli raids in Gaza
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has condemned Israeli air attacks against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, calling them "counterproductive" and urging a stop to the violence. More than 300 people have died in the Palestinian territory since early Saturday, when Israel unleashed a massive air blitz, pounding the Islamist movement's installations in the densely populated enclave. "President Asif Ali Zardari has condemned the Israeli attacks in Gaza and appealed for a cessation of hostilities and violence, which have caused immense loss of precious lives," the foreign ministry said in a statement. He called the raids "counterproductive" and said they violated the UN charter.
About 600 people have been wounded in the Israeli blitz. Violence had spiraled after a six-month truce between Israel and Hamas expired on December 19.
Shaukat Tarin meets US Ambassador
ISLAMABAD: Shaukat Tarin, Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Economic Affairs held a meeting with United States Ambassador to Pakistan, Anne W. Patterson here on Monday. They exchanged views regarding the ongoing global financial crisis and its implications for the developed and the developing states.
Pakistan, India should resolve all disputes peacefully: Zardari
ISLAMABAD: Observing that there was a need to avoid "further vitiation of the atmosphere", Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday said Pakistan and India should engage in dialogue to address their differences. During a meeting with visiting Chinese deputy foreign minister He Yafei, sent to Islamabad by Beijing to help defuse regional tensions, Zardari said Pakistan wants peace and stability in the region and wants to promote friendly ties with all its neighbours, including India. Zardari "agreed on the need to avoid further vitiation of the atmosphere", said a statement issued by the Foreign Office. "Pakistan and India need to engage in dialogue to address their differences," he added. "Pakistan wishes to resolve all its disputes with India in a peaceful manner," he said. Zardari said Pakistan had offered assistance and cooperation to India to investigate the Mumbai terror attacks and "displayed restraint and conciliation". "Our constructive proposals were aimed at sustained and pragmatic cooperation to deal with the problem of terrorism," he said, adding he regretted "that instead of responding to Pakistan's positive gestures, India had engaged in a blame-game which was counter-productive".
President, PM discuss Indo-Pak situation
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani held an important meeting here Monday in which current tension between Pakistan and India besides overall situation of the region came under discussion. According to well-placed sources in Islamabad, both the leaders appreciated the role of the Pakistan's friends towards defusing the Indo-Pak tensions. The President and Prime Minister expressed agreement for easing tension with India and stressed the role of stakeholders in this regard. They were of the opinion that propaganda must be avoided in the present tense situation. "Action will definitely be taken if India provides concrete evidence regarding Mumbai attacks," they assured.