Global Pakistan

Most awaited games of 2009

2009-02-08T08:05:00.001-08:00

By most standards, 2008 was a pretty good year for gamers. Gamepad crushers feasted on the super success of Game Theft Auto IV, Super smash bros brawl, Lost odyssey and Devil may cry 4.
All in all, if 2008 was a fish, gamers sure would not have chucked it back in the water. But, what about the year 2009?
Well, gaming pundits would have us believe that, although we might not see something as high-profile as the Game Theft Auto 4, the year could be a busy one for gamers, with some rather interesting games due for release. So, here we bring you the most awaited games of 2009.
Following the timeline set by its previous versions, Killzone: Liberation and Killzone, this one takes the battle to the next level with the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance marching right to the enemy lines of Helghan, the home of the Helghast. The aim is simple: Capture the Helghast leader, Emperor Visari, and bring the Helghast war machine to a halt. Are you ready for it?

What we have here is the long awaited next installment of the genre-establishing fighting game series -- Street Fighter. This game has revolutionised the fighting genre and created a global legacy like no other. You will see the return of four classic warriors in this version: Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, and Dhalsim. The characters and environments are rendered in stylised 3D computer graphics, while the game is played in the classic Street Fighter 2D perspective with additional 3D camera flourishes. So sit tight and let the fights begin! Just when you thought the menace of biohazard had ended, here comes along a new terror, all set to send shivers down your spine. You’re a member of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance and are being sent to Africa where people and animals are transformed into mindless, maddened creatures. So fasten your gas masks and get set for combat!
Combining spectacular Hollywood-style stunts with a gripping storyline, Wheelman provides an adrenaline-fuelled, cinematic thrill ride guaranteed to leave you breathless. Vin Diesel stars as an undercover agent and highly skilled driver who must infiltrate the Barcelona underworld to gather intelligence surrounding a covert heist. Posing as a driver-for-hire, he ends in a crossfire of corruption and chaos while trying to stay one step ahead of local law enforcement and rival gangs.

Experience the fun and excitement of air hockey, on your desktop. Shoot into your opponent’s base and stop him from scoring. Think you’re quick? Think again.

First look: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

2009-02-07T23:09:00.000-08:00

Harry Potter fanatics were more than a little miffed at the decision to delay Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince till 17 July 2009, and understandably so.
After all, by that point, it will have been two full years since Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix launched in July 2007, the longest wait yet between instalments of the much beloved bespectacled boy wizard film series, of which Half-Blood Prince is the sixth.
Well, this weekend gave the hardcore Harry fans a reason to rejoice, albeit a small one. The first international trailer has lead, showing numerous new scenes from the film in the process, and can be seen here at trailer-addict.
What do we see? The youngsters are growing up -- note Ron snatching a smooch from Lavender Brown! -- and it's time for Harry to learn more about his legacy and to undertake more responsibility. And what of all the darkness and evil? Draco, Death Eaters and Tom Riddle make appearances, to name a few.
So, all you Potter maniacs, check it out. Perhaps it can tide you over till summer!

Check Out The Trailer >>>

Game review: FIFA `09

2009-02-07T22:57:00.000-08:00

I have been a pocket gamer for a while now, and the idea was always to enjoy a game in between things, in a cab, heating my food, or even when I am watching a boring film.
That is partly also because handheld games are never the real thing, the game play is short and the graphics are not quite the same. And you always want to play the real thing on a console to enjoy the full experience.
But some time back I paid Rs 1600 and bought FIFA `09 for the PSP.
And to my surprise this game had my attention as soon as I popped the disc in.
FIFA `09 looks refreshingly good on the PSP, but if you have played the earlier installments of FIFA, then the game play is not a revolution but an evolution.
Every year, they make small changes that make the game more real. But what I liked was a long game list of game modes (more than any other game on the PSP) that will take you a long time to master and provide good depth for all gamers. Here are a few: Football IQ is great, as it tests you on your football knowledge in a fun quiz format and really tells how little you know about the game.
Be a pro: Here you step into the shoes of your favorite super star and rise the ranks to lead the team.
Online play is also fulfilling I just wished there were more WiFi hot spots in India
But what takes the cake is the music. All I can say is that if you buy this game you can leave your iPod at home.
But on the down side the game has a steep learning curve and putting balls behind the net can be very frustrating too. Simply put, if you don’t love the game step aside this one is not for you.

'Need for Speed' to go new

2009-02-07T22:47:00.000-08:00

Electronic Arts is steering the popular "Need for Speed" franchise in a new direction.The video game publisher announced plans to spin off the 15-year-old racing series into three driving games on different platforms. The new games will speed into three separate genres — simulation, action and arcade racing.
"It's all about crafting different games for different audiences," said Keith Munro, EA marketing vice president. "The 'Need for Speed' brand is quite powerful. It has great recognition, even outside of gaming. When we talked to consumers about what the brand meant to them, we realized that it could be stretched to new limits on different platforms."
The new games, expected to be released later this year, are "Need for Speed Shift," a first-person racing simulation for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360; "Need for Speed World Online," a multiplayer action-driving game for the PC; and "Need for Speed Nitro," an arcade-style racing game developed by EA Montreal for the Nintendo Wii and DS.
"In the past, our 'Need for Speed' games have done very well on all platforms," Munro said. "We just think we can do better with this new plan.
We actually have the opportunity to devote an entirely new studio and development team to the creation of a from-the-ground-up Nintendo-only 'Need for Speed' game. We didn't have those resources available before."
Munro said EA Black Box, the Canadian developer that created every previous "Need for Speed" game, has been collaborating with developer Slightly Mad Studios on "Need for Speed Shift" and EA Singapore on "Need for Speed World Online." He also said Black Box is continuing to work on a new action driving game, despite recent companywide layoffs.
"They will still be very much involved in the development of 'Need for Speed' products," Munro said. "Over the years, we've asked the Black Box team to deliver a new 'Need for Speed' game every year. We've gone to a couple of new studios to deliver next fall's games to inject freshness into the category and give the Black Box team time to retrench."
The new games have been in development for two years. The original "Need for Speed" was released in 1994 for the 3DO, PC, PlayStation and Sega Saturn systems. The most recent game, "Need for Speed Undercover," was released last November for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Wii and PC.

President Obama is a video game

2009-02-06T16:15:00.000-08:00

A computer game set to hit US stores the day Barack Obama is sworn in as president challenges players to see whether they can do a better job running the country than he can.
Interactive Gaming Software said it will make "Commander in Chief" available on January 20, the day of Obama's inauguration.
"Player presidents" will make budget, health, education, military, diplomatic and other decisions in simulated environments and have to virtually live with the ramifications of their choices.
"Commander in Chief" will give players information from 50 international organisations including the United Nations, G7, NATO, NAFTA, and OPEC to enhance the realism of the game made by France-based Eversim.
"You can put your own political theories into action and see the domestic and international domino effect," Eversim lead designer Louis-Marie Rocques said when plans for the game was unveiled in April.
"Anyone will now be able to develop their own exit strategy for Iraq, reverse the course of the economic recession, and attempt to prevent terrorist attacks from Al-Qaeda."
Players will start by selecting cabinet members and then go on to tackle the same social, environmental, economic, energy, cultural, and military issues facing Obama's administration.
Throughout the game there is a constant threat of terrorist strikes or invasion by foreign troops.
"We are offering the chance to step into the president's shoes and take on those difficult and influential decisions," IGS chief executive Paul Lombardi said in a release.
Players can lobby foreign leaders, invade neutral countries, topple unfriendly regimes, or plot assassinations but must bear in mind economic, political or military consequences.

Asus monitor

2009-02-06T16:12:00.000-08:00

Asus’ new 25.5-inch widescreen monitor, VK266H, boasts of a native resolution of 1920x1200 pixels, along with a contrast ratio of 20000:1 and a 2ms response time.
The device includes myriad connectivity options, offering a choice between DVI,VGA, HDMI and even component cable; and there’s also SPDIF audio output, in case you aren’t satisfied with the built-in stereo speakers.
The fullHD (1080p) device also features Asus’ video picture-enhancing technology, and five preset modes to choose from: theatre, game, scenery, night view, and standard. Equipped with a rotatable 2 megapixel Webcam.

Gaming babe Lara Croft goes sexier

2009-02-06T15:36:00.000-08:00

Gun-toting Digital heroine Lara Croft is heading for a makeover, and will be showing even more skin in her next adventure. Considering the waning popularity of the video game protagonist and economic downturn, rumours are abuzz that the next Tomb Raider game will be rated M rather than T (for teen) -- meaning it will be either sexier or bloodier, which may see efforts to make her more female-friendly. Eidos, the game's makers, have sacked 30 employees at Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics, and its shares fell 25 per cent in one day after it revised down its profit forecast, due to lower than expected sales of Tomb Raider: Underworld. Gamers have expressed their concerns that creators could exploit Croft, famously played by Angelina Jolie in the film. "I've been a fan of the series ever since the first title but isn't this just a sign of desperation? How about making an awesome game without having to pull stunts like this?" the Courier Mail quoted one fan as writing in a blog.
It is estimated that around 40 per cent of players on the world's biggest online games, like World of Warcraft and The Sims Online, are women, and the industry is finally taking them seriously.
Penny Sweetser, a senior game designer with 2K Australia, said that the options for women gamers should increase as more women worked in the industry.
Hannah Crosby, an artist with THQ Studios Australia, agreed that women were still getting a man's take on women's games. "Because there's not many women working on games I guess we're getting a very male take on what they think women want to play," she said.
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The End of White America?

2009-02-06T15:29:00.000-08:00

The Election of Barack Obama is just the most startling manifestation of a larger trend: the gradual erosion of “whiteness” as the touchstone of what it means to be American. If the end of white America is a cultural and demographic inevitability, what will the new mainstream look like—and how will white Americans fit into it? What will it mean to be white when whiteness is no longer the norm? And will a post-white America be less racially divided—or more so?
by Hua Hsu
Link to This Article is >>
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200901/end-of-whiteness

Pakistan court declares AQ Khan a free citizen

2009-02-06T15:24:00.000-08:00

Islamabad High Court on Friday declared disgraced nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan a free citizen and abolished his house arrest.
Chief Justice of the high court Sardar Muhammad Aslam while announcing a verdict on several petitions filed against house arrest of Dr AQ Khan declared him a free citizen and said that he is free to move across the country, Pakistan’s The News said. According to PTI, Khan said Pakistan's military is capable of tackling any threats, including from India.
"The government is strong and the armed forces can tackle everyone," he said outside his heavily-guarded home while interacting with the media for the first time after the restrictions imposed on him were eased.
Khan stated this when asked if he had any advice for coping with possible threats from India in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.
However, he said "there is no threat, nothing like that has happened."
The scientist, who spoke to the media shortly after TV channels reported that he had reached a secret out-of-court settlement with the government, said he had no plans to associate himself again with Pakistan's nuclear programme.
He said he would dedicate himself to educational activities, including starting new institutions and advising people in the sector.
To a question on international institutions wanting to quiz him in connection with nuclear proliferation, Khan said: "Nonsense, no comments. I am not obliged to give answers to anybody else. I am obliged only to answer to my government, not to any foreigner or anybody."
Khan, lionised by many Pakistanis as the father of the country's atomic bomb, was pardoned but placed under house arrest in 2004 by the then president, Pervez Musharraf, soon after he made a televised confession to selling nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya. "The high court has declared him a free citizen," one of Khan's lawyers, Iqbal Jaffry, told a television station, after a decision by the court on a challenge to restrictions on Khan. "He will have all rights available to people under the constitution and the Quran," he said. According to a Reuters’ report, Khan's house arrest had been relaxed over the past year and he had been allowed to meet friends. He gave a series of interviews to media after a new government came to power last March.
The 72-year-old scientist, who has been treated for prostate cancer, irked the army by making comments about the smuggling of nuclear equipment that appeared to implicate the military and former army chief and president Pervez Musharraf. A court upheld his detention last July and barred him from talking to the media about nuclear proliferation while he was under house arrest.
Last year, a UN nuclear watchdog said Khan's network smuggled nuclear weaponisation blueprints to Iran, Libya and North Korea and was active in 12 countries. Last month, the department said it had imposed sanctions on 13 individuals and three private companies because of their involvement in Khan's network.
Pakistan regards the Khan nuclear proliferation case as closed, but US and international nuclear experts investigating proliferation still want to question Khan. Due to security reasons, Khan will have to inform government about his movement in advance. The verdict has directed the government to provide security to him on immediate basis. VVIP security would be given to him.
Khan will be free to express his views, talk to media and carry out research and get treatment of doctor of his own choice.

Musharraf to counter Indians 'on their home ground'

2009-02-06T15:20:00.000-08:00

Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is loving every moment of his retired life and is looking forward to his lecture tour to India next month as he plans to "counter the Indians on their own home ground".
After being at the helm of affairs for nine years, the former military ruler is currently keeping himself busy giving lectures. He has just returned to Pakistan after a two-week lecture tour to the US.
"I love this life. I am relaxed and satisfied. And I am enjoying my lecture tours. Next month I am going to India for the same purpose. Let's counter the Indians on their own home ground," Musharraf, who still occupies the well-guarded Army House, the official residence of the army chief in Rawalpindi, told the influential Dawn newspaper.
The report did not provide specific details of his planned visit to India.
Musharraf also said he has no regrets about any of his actions since the military coup that brought him to power in October 1999.
He said politicians were equally responsible for the state Pakistan was in and explained that the reason he resigned as President -- a difficult decision for him -- was because Pakistan was facing "critical circumstances".
Musharraf was the "big speaker" at the prestigious Stanford University during his lecture tour of the US. Despite a campaign by some Pakistanis to not let him speak, hordes of Americans showed up to hear him and the retired general is believed to have made quite a fortune.
Musharraf said democracy was the only system of government that must continue, but its British model was not suitable for Pakistan. He said the country needed a democratic model tailored to its specific needs.
He also appeared annoyed with those who believed the Inter-Services Intelligence agency was double crossing the Americans. "How can one assume the ISI is playing a double game? It was, in fact, the ISI that captured hundreds of al-Qaida operatives from Pakistan," he said.
"I made it clear to the Americans that Pakistan is doing enough in the war against terror. I warned them not to distrust the ISI which has played a key role in breaking Al Qaida networks in Pakistan."
Musharraf rejected allegations that he had been showing leniency towards Taliban militants. Referring to the abortive assassination attempts on his life, he said there was no way that he would have taken such elements lightly.
While he was reluctant to talk about national politics, Musharraf spoke extensively on the war against terror and Pakistan's relations with India. He believed that a half-hearted operation in the tribal areas and the northwestern Swat valley would serve no purpose.
He claimed that during his tenure the militants were on the run, but they took undue advantage of recent peace initiatives of the incumbent government.
Musharraf proposed a sizeable increase in the strength of the paramilitary Frontier Corps, saying it should be provided tanks and the latest weaponry to take on the militants.
His critics have been blaming him for secretly allowing the US to carry out drone attacks in Pakistan's tribal areas. But he dismissed as untrue such allegations, though he admitted that he was under strong American pressure to allow the missile strikes. "I made it clear to them that only Pakistani security forces had the authority to operate in the tribal areas."
Musharraf also expressed no desire to re-enter politics in the near future. He said he would deliver lectures in different parts of the world.

Conditional non-military aid to Pakistan: Obama

2009-01-20T22:23:00.000-08:00

The new Obama administration cautioned Pakistan that it would be held accountable for the security in the border regions of Afghanistan and that its performance in the fight against terrorism would be linked to the financial aid to them. "(President Barack) Obama and (Vice President Joe) Biden will increase non-military aid to Pakistan and hold them accountable for security in the border region with Afghanistan," the White House said in its foreign policy agenda document released soon after Obama occupied the Oval office. Biden, a known expert on Afghanistan and Pakistan, then in the capacity as the Chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had introduced legislation in the US Senate in this regard. Co-authored jointly by the Republican Senator, Richard Lugar, the legislation proposes to triple non-military aid to Pakistan in the next five years. The legislation authorises USD 7.5 billion over five years in aid that can be used for development purposes, such as building schools, roads and clinics. The bill also calls for greater accountability on security assistance, to improve Pakistani counterterrorism capabilities and ensure more effective efforts against the Taliban and al-Qaida. The foreign policy agenda of the Obama administration on Pakistan is in tune with the well known policies of Biden, which was also echoed by the Secretary of State-designate, Hillary Clinton
during her nomination hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee early this month. As the key points of the Obama's foreign policy agenda revealed yesterday indicated, the new administration is expected to follow the key elements of Biden-Lugar proposals introduced last year. In lieu of USD 1.5 billion of non-military aid to Pakistan, Islamabad would be required to making concerted efforts to prevent al-Qaida and associated terrorist groups from operating in its territory and make concerted efforts to prevent the Taliban from using its territory as a sanctuary to launch attacks within Afghanistan. Islamabad would also need to ensure that it does not materially interfere

Flying car reality within two years

2008-11-03T11:24:00.000-08:00

Flying cars may soon leap from the world of science fiction into reality, if automobile engineers are to be believed. A team at Moller International is designing a flying car, called 'Autovolantor', based on a 200,000-pounds Ferrari 599 GTB model, which it claims would be in the market in just two years' time. According to them, the vehicle will have the ability to take off vertically and hover, thanks to its eight powerful thrusters which direct air down for take off. Vents then tilt so the car can fly forward. The flying car is expected to be able to do 100 mph on the ground and 150 mph in the air. The calculated airborne range is 75 miles and ground range is 150 miles. Chief Designer Bruce Calkins said that the flying car "features a specially designed hybrid fuel and electric system to power the thrusters, creating as much as 800 horse power", and it would be able to fly at altitudes of up to 5,000 ft. "The Autovolantor is powered by eight fans mounted in the fuselage of the vehicle. On the ground these fans push the vehicle around with a firm but not-too-powerful thrust of deflected air. Small vanes in the exit area of the ducts can direct the air forward or back, or remain in the neutral position for vertical take off and landing. "Once in the air the vehicle manoeuvres like a helicopter, tilting nose down to move forward, rolling right or left for changes in direction. While maximum altitude could be much higher, the energy to obtain altitudes above 5,000 ft would be significant and so we expect it to stay below that height," 'The Daily Telegraph' quoted Calkins as saying.

Stop cross-border missile strikes: Pak tells US

2008-11-03T11:21:00.000-08:00

Pakistan has told the US that cross-border missile strikes in its tribal areas were "unacceptable and must be stopped immediately," lest they generate anti-America sentiments. The issue of missile strikes by US drones from Afghanistan which have strained ties between the two countries was taken up by Pakistan's political and military leadership with visiting Gen David H Petraeus, the top US army commander overseeing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Petraeus arrived in Pakistan on Sunday as part of his first international visit after being appointed head of the US Central Command. He is accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State Richard A Boucher. During a meeting with the US officials, President Asif Ali Zardari said the missile strikes in the country's tribal belt were "unacceptable and must be stopped immediately", TV channels reported. A similar stand was adopted by army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. He told Petraeus and Boucher during a meeting at the army's General Headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi that the missile strikes are counter-productive for the war on terror. US officials also met Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, who asked the US to respect Pakistan's "sovereignty and territorial integrity because the frequent drone attacks could generate anti-America sentiments as well as create outrage and uproar among the people", said a statement from the defence ministry.

Pakistan hopes for Saudi aid amid financial crisis

2008-11-03T11:18:00.001-08:00

Pakistan is turning to Saudi Arabia for financial aid to ease an economic crisis that already has forced the militancy-wracked South Asian nation to start talks with the International Monetary Fund. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari arrives Tuesday in the oil-rich Arab nation to request a deferral on oil payments and other possible support, the Foreign Ministry said. Another potential topic: Negotiating with the Taliban. Nuclear-armed Pakistan needs billions in outside assistance to avoid defaulting on its international loans. The impoverished nation of 170 million people is hampered by high inflation, chronic power outages and a sinking currency, as well as a violent Islamist insurgency, all of which threaten to undermine the fledgling pro-US government. Analysts said Zardari's visit could yield some temporary relief, but that he was unlikely to return with a package that would render moot politically unpopular IMF aid. An IMF assistance package would likely come with painful requirements to cut government spending that could affect programs for the poor, making it a tough choice for the politicians. Economist Muzammil Aslam predicted Zardari would ask for $3bn in deferred oil payments from the Saudis, but warned that Pakistan should prepare for IMF assistance. "If you miss the IMF now, you will need it again some months later, and that time you will have to accept more tough conditions," he said. Pakistan hopes that its front-line role in the war on terrorism will nudge its allies to prevent its economic downfall. But Saudi Arabia, the US and other nations may condition any aid they give on Pakistan submitting to an IMF package, which would come with strict spending rules, said Shahid Hasan Siddiqui, a top economist. Pakistan Finance Ministry chief Shaukat Tareen has said that if he does not get indications of a forthcoming bailout from allies by Nov. 10 "there is no other option but to go to the IMF." One outlet Tareen and others have turned to is a new group of countries called "Friends of Pakistan," among them the US and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan hopes the group and the World Bank will provide about $5bn to help it avoid the IMF. But in a recent visit to Pakistan, US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher said the group's "goal was not to throw money on the table," indicating unconditional or even direct financial aid was unlikely. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said Zardari's visit to Saudi Arabia would also look at "efforts to counter the menace of terrorism and extremism," an indication that discussions about possibly negotiating with the Taliban may also be on Zardari's agenda. At a recent meeting, top Afghan and Pakistani officials decided to reach out to the militants whose insurgency has bedeviled their countries. The Taliban's former ambassador to Pakistan said the two sides recently had contacts in Saudi Arabia. Top US military officials have indicated support for negotiation efforts with moderate elements of the Taliban.

Paris and I are very happy: Benji Madden

2008-10-26T12:45:00.000-07:00

Pop star Benji Madden has revealed that his relationship with Paris Hilton is better than ever.

The ‘Good Charlotte’ guitarist was totally devastated to hear about claims that he cheated on his girlfriend of nine months and branded the report to be ‘definitely untrue’. "It's very frustrating when you finally find yourself in a good relationship and people attack it. I wear my feelings on my sleeve. I'm very open about how in love I am – Paris and I are very happy,” People magazine quoted Madden, as saying. Madden also revealed that he and the hotel heiress follow the Johnny Cash relationship rule. "I read this Johnny Cash book and it said they were never were apart for more than four or five days, so when Paris and I started getting serious, I was like, we shouldn’t be apart that much. We try not to go longer than a week without at least seeing each other for a day or two. That's kind of our rule,” he said.

Bin Laden writing his memoirs: Report

2008-10-26T12:43:00.000-07:00

World's most wanted fugitive, al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden is reportedly writing a book on the struggle of his terrorist network that dispenses money, logistical support and training to radical groups in over 50 countries. The book, being written in Arabic, will later be translated into English. Bin Laden decided to write the book to counter "propaganda" against al-Qaida, Geo News channel reported. Bin Laden is writing the book with the assistance of a "young man with a Middle Eastern background who will later translate the text into English", the channel reported. The book will reportedly highlight atrocities allegedly being committed on Muslims by the Western world. Bin Laden will also discuss how the medieval Crusades greatly impacted the growth of Western influence in world affairs and ultimately helped the US to control the oil reserves of the Muslim states. The book will shed light on the evolution of al-Qaida and 9/11 terror attacks on the US. Bin Laden, who was born in Riyadh on March 10, 1957, is a member of the prominent bin Laden family of Saudi Arabia. The al-Qaida leader has been indicted in a US federal court for his alleged involvement in the 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya and is on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's list of 10 most wanted fugitives. Though bin Laden has not been indicted for the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US, he has reportedly claimed responsibility for the strikes. Reports suggest he earned a degree in civil engineering in 1979, or a degree in public administration in 1981. Bin Laden also operated from Pakistan for a brief while in the 1980s as part of the Mujahideen movement against the Soviet forces that had occupied Afghanistan.

US training Pakistani forces to fight Taliban

2008-10-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

US special forces have begun teaching a Pakistani paramilitary unit how to fight the Taliban and al-Qaida, hoping to strengthen a key front-line force as violence surges on both sides of the border with Afghanistan. The sensitive mission puts rare American boots on the ground in a key theater in the war against extremist groups, but it risks fanning anti-US sentiment among Pakistani Muslims already angry over suspected CIA missile attacks on militants in the same frontier region. "The American special forces failed in Afghanistan and Iraq," said Ameerul Azim, an official in the hard-line Islamic party Jamaat-e-Islami. "Those who failed everywhere cannot train our people." Despite such complaints, the training program comes as some tribes in the frontier zone are setting up militias to help the Pakistani government combat extremist movements. The new forces have been compared to the Sunni Arab militias in Iraq that helped beat back the insurgency there. Still, the US training program is reportedly smaller than originally proposed and was delayed, apparently reflecting misgivings in Pakistan's government about allowing US troops on its territory. Its start has not been officially announced, but a Pakistani military officer and a US defense official told the news agency that two to three dozen trainers arrived earlier this month. The Pakistani said the Americans had already begun training senior personnel of the paramilitary Frontier Corps at an undisclosed location in Pakistan's restive northwest, adjacent to Afghanistan. He said the course included classroom and field exercises. The Pentagon official said the Americans would stay for a few months. He said that it would likely be a one-time effort and that there were no plans to send more trainers. Both officials agreed to discuss the program only if granted anonymity, because details had not been made public. Asked about the program Thursday, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman declined to give any specifics. But he contrasted the mission with much larger U.S. training efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, where U.S. soldiers are embedded with local units on the battlefield. "It is a train-the-trainer type of concept," Whitman said. "They are not actually conducting operations.'' The Frontier Corps is a relic of British rule that was long a poorly armed, untrained police force that the government hopes can be remade into a potent unit capable of confronting Taliban militants. Its troopers are local men, in contrast to the army, which is dominated by ethnic Punjabis and is viewed as an occupying force by the Pashtun tribes living on both sides of the border. U.S. and Pakistani officials argue that the corps' local knowledge and cultural sensitivities make it the best tool in a battle where winning hearts and minds is crucial. The goal is that a strong Frontier Corps can take on most combat duties, allowing a gradual pullback of the army that is hoped will ease tensions in the northwest. The US has poured some $10bn into Pakistan since the then-president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, turned against his former Taliban allies in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11 attack on the US Most of the money has gone to the army, including the $70m earmarked for the Frontier Corps program. US forces already trained Pakistan's Special Services Group, a commando unit that crushed militants holding Islamabad's Red Mosque last year. Washington also has supplied the helicopter gunships that are seeing heavy use in army offensives in several Pakistani border regions. But with the war dragging in Afghanistan, US lawmakers and commentators have questioned why Pakistan still seems unable to eradicate militant sanctuaries on its side of the border. "This thought has come pretty late in the day,'' Rasul Bakhsh Rais, a professor of political sciences, said of Pakistan's decision to let the trainers in. "But still, I don't think it is too late, given the fact that this is going to be a very long war.'' With many Pakistanis accusing their army of fighting a proxy war against its own citizens at Washington's behest, US officials have said Pakistan was reluctant to accept foreign training, but softened its stance in the light of mounting losses. Musharraf, who was forced out of office earlier this year, announced a plan in 2007 to build up the Frontier Corps so it could confront Taliban fighters. At the time, its troops had no body armor, few vehicles and an arsenal of only aging rifles. With US help, the corps has received several more battalions, been armed with tanks and artillery and is now heavily involved in fighting in the Bajur and Swat areas. American officials have said they are also supplying equipment such as helmets, flak vests and night-vision goggles. "The hope is that the more trainers we train, the more effective they will be in training their forces and the more capable forces will then be able to take the fight to the militants in the tribal areas where they operate,'' Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said. The training program has begun despite strains in Pakistani-US relations. Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who replaced Musharraf as army chief, and the former leader's successor as president, Asif Ali Zardari, have maintained close ties with Washington. But they have condemned the recent US missile strikes, the latest of which killed nine people on Thursday. Cooperation has also been chilled by an incident in June when US warplanes killed 11 Frontier Corps troopers at a border post. US officials said the action during a skirmish with militants was justified. Pakistan's army insists no shots were fired from the post. US officials suspect some Frontier Corps troops sympathize with the Taliban and ignore militants sneaking though mountain passes into Afghanistan to attack US and NATO troops. Pakistani officials agree the corps has problems, but analysts say a better trained force is more likely to have the confidence to take on the militants. American officials also hope it will become a better partner for cross-border cooperation.

Pak military tough against militants: Boucher

2008-10-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

Praising Pakistan for taking "tough action" against militant groups in its restive tribal areas, a top US diplomat on Monday assured the country of Washington's full support in tackling its economic and security challenges. "The US will continue its multi-pronged strategy to help Pakistan modernise its army, other institutions and the tribal areas and to bolster the health, education and energy sectors," US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher said on Monday. The visiting diplomat told a news conference in the US embassy here that during his meetings with the Pakistani interlocutors he had learnt that the government is not holding any talks with the militant groups and the military is taking "tough action" against rebels following the failure of peace agreements. Acknowledging that Pakistan is facing an acute energy problem, Boucher said, "the country has a lot of potential to develop hydropower, coal and other energy resources and the US will provide USD 30 million for the development of its energy sector." The Pakistan government is determined to take tough decisions to restore fiscal stability and overcome economic problems, he said, adding that the US had announced aid worth USD 110 million to help the country meet its challenges in the food and agriculture sector. The US will also provide assistance to meet the food and shelter requirements of people displaced by anti-militancy operations in the Bajaur tribal region, he said.

Pakistan to get refurbished warship from US

2008-10-20T11:26:00.000-07:00

Pakistan will receive a refurbished warship from the United States for being a "major non-NATO ally", a special status which allows it to receive surplus defence equipment from the American armed forces. President George W Bush signed an order on Friday enabling Pakistan to receive the multi-purpose frigate USS McInerney. The US Congress had approved the transfer on September 27. Since the warship is 32-year-old, Pakistan has asked for it to be refurbished at a cost of USD 65 million. The overhaul will include the fitting of an anti-submarine missile system, modern guns and other weapons. Though equipment received from the US under the excess defence article (EDA) arrangement are free, Pakistan will have to bear the expenses for the refurbishing. The Pakistan Navy is expected to receive the frigate in August 2010. The US recently completed the delivery of 14 refurbished F-16 jets to Pakistan under the EDA arrangement. Pakistan was designated a "major non-NATO ally" in June 2004 and became eligible to receive surplus defence equipment from the US military. However, there was strong opposition to the transfer of USS McInerney on Capitol Hill, which forced the Pakistan embassy to launch a major lobbying effort to get Congressional approval. The embassy feared that the proposal could be deferred to the next Congress after the US elections, and this could have delayed the warship's transfer by at least another year. Surplus defence equipment are weapons and gear no longer needed by the US military. Under the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act, such equipment can be offered to foreign governments or global organisations in support of US national security and foreign policy objectives.

No plans to re-enter politics, says Musharraf

2008-10-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

Former Pakistani military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, who had a brief brush as civilian president, on Saturday said he had no plans to re-enter politics. Musharraf, who had nine year stint at the helm of affairs in turbulent Pakistan, said he had distanced himself from the political arena after he stepped down as president this August. The former military ruler, who had to bow out in the phase of intense public pressure sought to brush off reports that he plan to re-enter politics, after he severs all links with army by moving out of the army chief's official residence in Rawalpindi. Though Musharraf quit almost two months ago he has not moved out of the Army House in the garrison town of Rawalpindi. Musharraf said he had not even thought about the issue of joining politics. The retired general said he would soon shift from Army House to his farmhouse at Chak Shahzad on the outskirts of Islamabad. The farmhouse will be a personal residence and will not be used for political activities, Musharraf told Dawn news channel. Musharraf, who stepped down to avoid impeachment by the new Pakistan People's Party-led government, also said he was not meeting any politicians as he had been distancing himself from politics.

China to help Pakistan build two more nuclear plants

2008-10-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

Energy-hungry Pakistan said on Saturday that China had agreed to help it build two more nuclear power plants in a major boost to the country's long-term plans to end crippling electricity shortages. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi announced the deal after President Asif Ali Zardari returned from a four-day state visit to China which Qureshi said had been "very significant." Pakistan, which already has one Chinese-built nuclear power station and another under construction, would benefit from an extra 680 megawatts of energy from the two extra plants, he said without giving further details. The government has an "energy security plan" envisaging an increase in nuclear power generation from the current 425 megawatts to 8,800 megawatts by 2030 to meet its growing energy demands. China is one of Islamabad's closest allies as well as its largest arms supplier. Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme has been under the spotlight since a 2004 confession by Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of its nuclear programme, that he sold atomic secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea. Khan was pardoned by then president Pervez Musharraf in 2004 but has been kept at his Islamabad villa ever since, guarded by troops and intelligence agents. Pakistan has rejected international demands for access to Khan.

2008-10-02T09:35:00.000-07:00

Zardari says Osama, Zawahiri will be tried if captured in Pak

2008-09-30T11:12:00.000-07:00

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that if al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden and his deputy Al Zawahiri were caught in his country, he might hand over the duo to the US for trial, but would do so only on the advise of "friends". "The two al-Qaida leaders could also be handed over to the US to face trail if 'friends advise' Pakistan to do so," the Daily Times quoted Zardarin as saying in an interview with the CNN. He added that Pakistan can also initiate a trial against Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden or his second-in-command Aiman Al-Zawahiri, if it captures them. The President further said that those who killed his wife former premier Benazir Bhutto could also target him. "Those who killed my wife are also after me," he said. About the US' incursions, Zardari said such attacks into the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) would be "counterproductive". Ruling out the possibility of a war between the two countries amid US incursions on Pakistani soil, he said: "Friendly fire is a normal thing even among US soldiers."

New ISI head close to Pak Army Chief

2008-09-30T11:10:00.000-07:00

Amid intense US pressure to deliver on the war on terror, the chief of Pakistan's powerful ISI has been shunted out of Islamabad and replaced by Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha, considered close to the reform-minded Army Chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. Lt Gen Nadeem Taj, on the hit list of US for alleged ties to Taliban extremists and militant groups in the Pak-Afghan border, was replaced by Pasha, who was serving as Director General of Military Operations in the General Headquarters. An army statement on Monday announced the elevation and appointment of Pasha, said to be close to army chief Kayani, to the sensitive post of Director General of the ISI to replace Taj, who was hand-picked by Gen (Retd) Pervez Musharraf, the former Pakistani President. Pasha's appointment was approved by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who directly looks after the affairs of the intelligence establishment, 'The News' daily reported. Pasha has been overseeing Pakistani military operations against insurgents in the country's restive northwest. He had also commanded troops for the UN mission to Sierra Leone in 2001-2002 and was appointed as an adviser on peacekeeping operations by the world body last year. Taj, a distant relative of Musharraf, has been transferred to head the Gujranwala-based 30 Corps. He was appointed as head of the ISI in September last year, shortly before Musharraf stepped down as Army Chief. The US had been pressing Pakistan hard to replace Taj as late as Sunday night. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari reportedly met CIA Director Michael Hayden this weekend in New York. What they discussed specifically is unclear but Hayden reportedly provided Gilani with a proposal for "ISI reform" in July, media reports said.

Major reshuffle in ISI, new chief appointed

2008-09-30T11:07:00.000-07:00

In a major reshuffle in the hierarchy of the Pakistan Army, Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha was on Monday appointed the new chief of the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency. Fourteen new appointments were made and several corps commanders were changed as part of the reshuffle by the army headquarters in Rawalpindi, Dawn News channel reported. Pasha, who was serving as Director General of Military Operations in the General Headquarters, will replace Lt Gen Nadeem Taj a distant relative of former President Pervez Musharraf as Director General of the ISI. Taj was transferred to head the Gujranwala-based 30 Corps. He was appointed as head of the ISI in September last year, shortly before Musharraf stepped down as army chief. Taj was with Musharraf when the government of former premier Nawaz Sharif allegedly tried to prevent the aircraft carrying them back to Pakistan from Sri Lanka from landing in Karachi in October 1999. Shortly thereafter, Musharraf deposed Sharif and took power in a military coup. The reshuffle in the army followed the promotion of seven major generals to the rank of lieutenant general earlier in the day. The officers who were promoted are Ahmad Shuja Pasha, Tahir Mahmood, Shahid Iqbal (all from the infantry), Tanvir Tahir (EME), Zahid Hussain (artillery), Mohammad Mustafa Khan and Ayaz Saleem Rana (armoured corps). Lt Gen Mohammad Mustafa Khan was appointed Chief of General Staff and Lt Gen Shahid Iqbal the commander of the Karachi-based 5 Corps. The reshuffle was widely anticipated in the wake of Musharraf's resignation as President last month as army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani was expected to make changes in the force's hierarchy to bring in a new set of commanders. Since taking over as chief, Kayani has distanced the army from politics to focus on combating militancy in Pakistan's restive tribal areas. The US has stepped up pressure for reforms within the ISI after the agency was linked to the July 7 suicide bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul that killed 58 people.