Terminal X

Indian Coast Guard commissions vessel 'Vaibhav'

2013-05-23T10:03:00.000+05:00

[Brahmand News Service]

CHENNAI (BNS): Indian Coast Guard ship ‘Vaibhav’ the 3rd in the series of 90 meters class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) has been commissioned at Tuticorin.

Vaibhav which means ‘grandeur’ was commissioned on Tuesday by ICG Director General, Vice Admiral Anurag G Thapliyal, a coast guard release said.

The offshore patrol vessel is an indigenously designed and built vessel with state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machines.

It has features like Integrated Bridge System (IBS), high power external fire fighting system (abs fi-fi class—1) and one indigenous close range naval gun (crn-91) along with an optical fire control system, the release said.

The ship is designed to carry a helicopter and five high speed boats for search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrol and was also capable of carrying pollution response equipment to combat oil spill at sea, it said.

It was also fitted with advanced global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS), making it an ‘apt platform’ to carry out search and rescue. Propelled by two diesel engines, it can attain a maximum speed of 26 knots and can stay at sea for 15 days without any replenishment.

The ship on joining coast guard fleet will be deployed extensively for the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) surveillance and such other duties as enlisted in Coast Guard charter.

"The vessel will be exploited extensively in the Eastern region, more so, in the sensitive Gulf of Mannar and up to the International Maritime Boundary Line with Sri Lanka, to safeguard the maritime interests of India,” the release said.

ICGS Vaibhav will be manned by 10 officers and 84 men under the command of Deputy Inspector General Sanjiv Trikha, and will be based at Tuticorin under the administrative and operational control of the Commander Coast Guard Region, East.

India's supersonic BrahMos cruise missile annihilates target off Goa coast from frigate INS Tarkash

2013-05-23T09:57:00.000+05:00

NEW DELHI, May 22 2013 (PTI): The BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile was successfully test fired from the Indian Navy's newest guided missile frigate INS Tarkash off the coast of Goa today.

The missile performed high-level "C" manoeuvre at pre-determined flight path and successfully hit the target. The surface-to-surface missile, having a range of 290-km, was test launched from the Russian-built Project 1135.6 class warship at 1100 hrs on the 22nd of May 2013.

The launch was carried out by Indian Navy as part of Acceptance Test Firing (ATF) of the ship.

Indian Navy commissioned INS Tarkash on 9 November, 2012. The warship along with two other frigates of the class - INS Teg and INS Trikand have been built as part of a $1.6 billion contract signed between India and Russia in July, 2006. INS Teg was commissioned on 27 April, 2012 and the commissioning of INS Trikand is expected soon.

The advanced warship has been fitted with an upgraded multi-role combat suite to make it one of the most potent platforms of the Indian Navy.

The weapons suite of INS Tarkash includes surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missile systems, 100 mm medium range gun, close-in weapon system, torpedo tubes and anti-submarine rockets. The BRAHMOS surface-to-surface missile system is capable of engaging targets at extended ranges at supersonic speed.

All the three ships will be equipped with 8 vertical launched BRAHMOS missile system as the prime strike weapon.

The new missile frigates are designed to accomplish a wide range of maritime missions, primarily hunting down and destroying large surface ships and submarines.

The vertical launch configuration of BRAHMOS enhances the stealth capabilities of the ship as the missiles are under the deck and not exposed. The Universal Vertical Launcher (UVLM) being used in these ships has a unique design, developed and patented by BrahMos Aerospace. The same also ensures manoeuvring of the missile in any direction after launch, independent of ship movement, thereby providing the surprise attack concepts to the ships.

Jointly developed by India and Russia, the BRAHMOS missile has a flight range of up to 290 km and is capable of carrying a conventional warhead of 300 kg. The missile can cruise at a maximum speed of 2.8 Mach.

China rubbishes Indian concerns on Pak-China nuclear cooperation

2013-05-23T09:43:00.000+05:00

by Shaiq Hussain
[Pakistan Today]

ISLAMABAD - China has brushed aside Indian concerns about its cooperation with Pakistan in the field of civilian nuclear energy and it may agree to build more nuclear power reactors on Pakistani soil to help its neighbour overcome the grave energy crisis that has crippled the country’s economy.

The Indian leadership expressed its concern to China during the visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to India that concluded on Wednesday, diplomatic sources said.

However, they said the Indian authorities had been told by the Chinese leadership that there concerns regarding Pakistan-China civilian nuclear energy cooperation were not valid, as that cooperation was meant only for peaceful purposes to help a friendly nation overcome the severe energy crisis it was confronting.

The Chinese PM reached Islamabad on Wednesday from India and discussed with Pakistani leadership in detail the problem of prolonged power shortages along with other issues of mutual interest, sources said.

“The Chinese leadership is very concerned over Pakistan’s energy crunch and it has assured all possible assistance to Islamabad to overcome this crisis that has paralysed the country’s economy,” a source said while seeking anonymity.

He said China could also give its nod to the building of more nuclear power plants in Pakistan given the serious nature of Islamabad’s energy needs and requirements.

However, he said he was not aware of any specific talks on Wednesday between the Chinese PM and Pakistani leadership on the construction of nuclear power plants.

Beijing has already provided Islamabad with two nuclear reactors, each with a capacity of 300MW at Chashma near Mianwali. According to some media reports, Pakistan and China are also planning to build two more reactors with the same capacity at Chashma.

The reports also speculated about the construction of a fifth nuclear power plant by China in Pakistan, but the sources said Chinese authorities had yet to give their nod to any such project.

They said the Chinese were sympathetic and they understood the gravity of the energy situation that Pakistan was facing, but so far they (Chinese leaders) had not made any decision on the nuclear power plant about which speculations were being made in the media.

India has been opposing cooperation with Pakistan in the field of civilian nuclear energy cooperation not only on part of China, but also the United States, despite the fact that it has clinched such an accord with the US itself.

India claims that China’s supply of nuclear reactors to Pakistan is against the guidelines of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), a 46-nation global body that prohibits the sale of nuclear technology to countries that have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

New Delhi had to secure the NSG waiver before the conclusion of its civilian nuclear deal with the US, but it opposes any such relaxation for Islamabad.

The sources said China’s reaction to India’s opposition to the nuclear energy cooperation with Pakistan showed the depth of ties between Islamabad and Beijing.

They said that the visit of Chinese PM to Pakistani capital would go a long way in further cementing the bilateral cooperation in various sectors including energy, defence and economy.

“Apart from cooperation in the field of energy, China may also extend the financial support to Pakistan for the next budget,” a source added.

Egypt agrees with Israel for more soldiers in Sinai, says spokesman of Egyptian Army

2013-05-23T09:29:00.000+05:00

[Anadolu Agency]

CAIRO - The spokesman of Egyptian army Ahmed Mohamed Ali said Egypt reached an agreement with Israel to increase the number of Egyptian soldiers in Sinai Peninsula.

Ali said that a unit was established between Egypt and Israel for security regulations and to help communicating to launch a military operation.

"The number of soldiers was increased in accordance with Camp David Summit," Ali underlined.

Regarding the release of 7 security forces who were kidnapped earlier, Ali said "those who were responsible for kidnapping were identified by security forces".

NATO Air Command bids farewell to Izmir, Turkey

2013-05-23T09:25:00.000+05:00

[Anadolu Agency]

IZMIR - Closing ceremony (deactivation) for NATO Air Command was held in Turkey's western Izmir province on Wednesday.

Serving since August 11, 2004 in "Orgeneral Vecihi Akin" headquarters in Buca town of Izmir, NATO Air Command would close as a result of NATO's new organizational settlement and Izmir would give service as single center in its land forces.

Commander of NATO Allied Joint Force Command Naples Admiral Bruce Clingan delivered a speech at the closing ceremony where he stated that Izmir hosted NATO commanders in an excellent way since 1952.

Stating that command names, duties, infrastructure and many other things changed, Clingan said one thing that remained still was the warm hospitality of Izmir.

Lieutenant General Ralph Jodice, commanding general for NATO Air Command (AC), also emphasized the beauty of Izmir and said that he would miss everything about the city including the weather, people, food and added, "Izmir really is the pearl of the Aegean."

The soldiers would begin serving in their new places of duty as of June 1 and allied land forces command, serving since December 1, 2012 in Izmir, was expected to reach the beginning capacity via increasing its personnel.

Members of the alliance complete the new command structure, what they had started to handle in the 2002 summit in Prague.

At the basis of the transformation of organization was to attribute functionality instead of geographical position for alliances' command adaptation.

Being founded during the Cold War era and serving since then, NATO's most important transformation was "New Strategy Document", adopted in 2010. The document stated that the Alliance would not follow a constant process and continue to transform.

After the document was published, new command centers gained certainty in NATO Defence Ministers' meeting in Brussels on June 8, 2011.

With the new received decision, land forces command was built in Izmir in place of the air command. Izmir was to serve as one of three main headquarters, directly allied air commands of Mons province of Brussels as well as to be the single land forces command of NATO. Thereunder, the land forces both in Germany and Spain delegated their duties to Izmir.

New structure of the alliance provides for overcoming the "clumsy and costly" construction, for closing four main bases and decreasing 30 percent of its personnel. Besides, NATO's air commands are to be hosted by Germany and naval forces by Britain in new NATO.

Private Israeli security firm operating in Arab countries

2013-05-23T09:17:00.000+05:00

Max Security Solutions Ltd, an Israeli security firm, has been working in many countries around the world, exploiting Arabic and Islamic markets.

According to Al Alam network, Max Security Solutions Ltd., while giving its services to Arab countries, is also providing security services to the Israeli army in the area of prisons and inspection check-points in the Occupied Territories.

The Arab Organization for Human Rights in England exposed the issue: Max Security Solutions Ltd. was established in 1996 in Israel with the help of military and security officers of the Zionist regime. The following are some of the key figures in Max Security firm:

Noam J. Schiller, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company with 12 years work experience in the Special Forces, a unit of the Israeli army.

Dour Raffi, Director of Security Intelligence and crisis management with 5 years experience in the Israeli army.

Cynon Shahr, Section Operations Manager, former employee of SHABAK and also of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Daniel Nisman Max, Section Intelligence regional Manager, has 3 years of work experience in the Special Units to collect intelligence; he continues to work as a reserve officer for collecting intelligence in the Northern Palestinian Occupied Territories.

Ayal Ben Shaoul, Executive Director of the firm's branch in India. Max Security Solutions Ltd's headquarter is in the Palestinian Occupied Territories.

The company has already opened offices in Africa, in the city of Lagos, Nigeria, a branch in Europe (Italy) and has opened an office in Mumbai, India.

According to Arab Organization For Human Rights In England, Max Security Solutions Ltd operates in Islamic and Arabic countries, under the guise of giving air travel protection to businessmen, but in reality it collects maps of some Arab countries from sensitive places, police headquarters, other military places, embassies and intelligence services.

According to the British human rights organization, Max Security Solutions Ltd. is focused on including Arab states of the Persian Gulf, Egypt, Iraq, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Algeria and Palestine.

The human rights organization had asked the Arabs and Islamic countries who have relations with Max Security Solutions Ltd, to reconsider their ties with the firm.

Pics: Chinese Army's new-type amphibious assault vehicles in live-ammunition

2013-05-23T09:01:00.000+05:00

Pics: Chinese electronic warfare unit in simulated offence/defence drill

2013-05-23T08:54:00.001+05:00

[China Military Online]

An electronic warfare unit of the Sanya Training Base of the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducted simulated offense-and-defense training at the end of April, in a bid to comprehensively improve troops' capability of setting up complex electromagnetic environment.

Is India's Jaipur air force station on Pakistan's radar?

2013-05-23T08:33:00.001+05:00

[Daily News & Analysis India]

Jaipur: After the arrest of Army clerk BK Sinha from West Bengal’s Darjeeling for spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), one more arrest was made on Wednesday. Total five persons have been arrested so far.

Meanwhile, in a sensational revelation, Sinha said he was given a task to make contacts at Jaipur Air Force Station to extract vital information. However, he was arrested before getting any information. ADG intelligence Dalpat Singh Dinkar said, “The arrested army employee has revealed that he was assigned the task of developing links in air force station and he approached a civilian employee of the station, but failed in his mission.”

Giving details about the person arrested on Wednesday, Dinkar said the accused Gopal Viswakarma belongs to Panighata area of Darjeeling, where he was arrested. He used to work as a middleman and give info acquired by Sinha to the Pakistan agent in Kathmandu.

The other three arrested persons are Magan Bahadur, Mesauria alias Manoj and PK Pardhan. Magan Bahadur is a retired Army man who allegedly introduced Sinha to the ISI agent in Nepal. All the accused belonged to same area in Darjeeling. The accused are on a 10-day police remand in West Bengal.

The ADG said after the remand they would try to bring them to Jaipur on production warrant from West Bengal police. This year, three were arrested from Rajasthan on charges of spying for Pakistan. In February, Sumer Khan was arrested, and this month the police arrested Roshan Khan.

Pics: Tri-national aerial exercise 'Peace Hawks 1' concludes in Saudi Arabia

2013-05-23T08:28:00.001+05:00

Pakistan Air Force Chief visits tri-national air exercise 'Peace Hawks 1'

2013-05-22T20:50:00.000+05:00

ISLAMABAD, May 22 (APP): Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt visited International Air Exercise Peace Hawks 1 in Taif, Saudi Arabia. On his arrival he was presented with the Guard of Honour. The Air Chief was given a comprehensive briefing on the exercise. Chief of the Air Staff, Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lt. General Mohammed Fayadh bin Hamid al-Ruwaili and Commander Turkish Air Force (TuAF), General Mehmet ERTEN also witnessed the exercise.

According to a press release issued by PAF here on Wednesday, too benefit from the expertise and professionalism of each other, the Tri Nation International Air Exercise Peace Hawks 1 among RSAF, TuAF and PAF was held at King Fahd Air Base, Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 6 to 22 May.

PAF Contingent comprising F-16s, Mirages Rose-II and 180 personnel participated in the Exercise with members of other two brother countries.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have a long history of military cooperation.

The Air Forces of these brotherly countries have been successfully conducting joint exercises for many decades to enhance mutual understanding among them.

In this exercise, the contingents of three Air Forces undertook joint planning and execution of various combat missions.

The exercise will hone their professional skills and enhance existing brotherly relations between the three countries and their Air Forces.

Earlier, Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, who is on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, also called on Lt. General Mohammed Fayadh bin Hamid al-Ruwaili, Chief of the Air Staff, Royal Saudi Air Force at RSAF HQs.

Both the dignitaries discussed matters of mutual interest and various fields of future cooperation between the two brotherly Air Forces.

The Air Chief also met with Pakistani contingent which is providing training of Mushshak aircraft to RSAF personnel at King Faisal Air Academy.

Russia develops new air-defence target simulator

2013-05-22T09:51:00.000+05:00

MOSCOW, May 21 (RIA Novosti) - Russia is developing an advanced target simulation system for its air defense units based on the short-range Pantsyr system, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

The new system "can launch up to 12 targets in one salvo simulating cruise missiles or multiple rocket launcher rounds," the ministry said.

A prototype of the new simulator has been tested jointly with the Air Force’s antiaircraft units at the Ashuluk test site in the Volga area of Astrakhan, the Defense Ministry said.

Pantsyr-S, manufactured by Russia's KBP, combines a wheeled vehicle mounting a fire-control radar and electro-optical sensor, two 30-mm cannons and up to 12 57E6 radio-command guided short-range missiles. It is designed to engage a variety of targets flying at low altitudes.

Pantsyr can destroy targets up to 20 km (12 miles) away with missiles and 4 km (2.5 miles) using its cannons, KBP claims.

Photo © RIA Novosti. Mikhail Fomichev

US Defence Secretary meets with Russian Security Council Chief

2013-05-22T09:47:00.002+05:00

MOSCOW, May 22 (RIA Novosti) - US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel held a meeting with Russian National Security Council chief Nikolai Patrushev on Tuesday discussing bilateral and international issues, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

“Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel met with Russian Federation Security Council Secretary General Nikolai Patrushev today at the Pentagon to discuss a range of issues including missile defense, increasing military to military cooperation and the ongoing crisis in Syria,” Little said.

According to the press secretary, Hagel also expressed his intention to meet with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

“Secretary Hagel looks forward to continued dialogue with Russian security leaders and meeting with his counterpart, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, in the future,” he said.

Patrushev is currently on an official visit to the United States, where he is expected hand over to President Barack Obama a letter from his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Putin’s letter will be a response to Obama’s message that US National Security Advisor Tom Donilon brought to Moscow a month ago.

Erdogan says Hezbollah, foreign countries fighting in Syria

2013-05-22T09:44:00.000+05:00

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected on Tuesday criticism against his government's support for the Syrian opposition, saying that Turkey only provides "logistical support" for the opposition Today's Zaman reported.

Speaking upon his return from a visit to the US, the prime minister said that Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah and others are involved in fighting along with forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and slammed his critics for turning a blind eye to that.

Erdogan's statement came as Hezbollah fighters joined the Syrian soldiers and militiamen loyal to Assad during fighting in the opposition stronghold of Qusair, a town close to the Lebanese border, on the weekend.

Erdogan's government was under fire in the past week by the Turkish opposition for pulling Turkey into the quagmire in Syria after twin car bombs killed at least 51 civilians in the district of Reyhanlı on the Syrian border. The Syrian government, along with Iran, accused Ankara of interfering in what they called Syria's "internal affairs" as Turkey continues to provide assistance to the opposition fighting to oust Assad.

"Those who describe Turkey's logistical support for the opposition as foreign intervention do not make the same comments about those who are actively fighting in Syria," he said of the domestic critics. "It is not only Hezbollah. There are others as well." He did not specify about whom he referred to and said his government's critics as well as the media should expose which countries have "agencies" operating inside Syria.

It was not immediately clear to which countries he was referring to but a number of reports indicated that Shiite fighters from Iraq and military advisers from Iran were involved in the fighting.

"If there is any armed element from Turkey in Syria, they should reveal that. Logistics support, yes, we are providing that. There is medicine and food aid we offer to the suffering people. But Turkey has never done and is not doing what Hezbollah and some countries are doing in Syria."

Hezbollah's role in the Qusair battle, its biggest military commitment yet in support of Assad, has prompted international alarm that Syria's civil war may spread to Lebanon and beyond. The United States has called urgently for restraint.

Increase in cooperation between Pakistan and Ukraine heeded

2013-05-22T09:23:00.001+05:00

[Pakistan Observer]

Wednesday, May 22, 2013 - Islamabad — Volodymyr Lakomov, Ambassador of Ukraine has congratulated the people of Pakistan with successful democratic general elections and PML-N with convincing victory.

“Ukraine considers the Islamic Republic of Pakistan as an important partner in the region of South Asia. I am pleased to note traditionally friendly relations between our countries, dynamic development of trade and economic cooperation,” the ambassador said in his message of congratulation to the govt and Pakistani people.

He said “Our common goal is to raise a trade and economic cooperation between our countries to a qualitatively new level. Thus, the urgent task for both sides is to create more favourable conditions for building up mutually beneficial business cooperation. Primarily, it refers to the intensification of political contacts, the further development of a proper legal base for trade-economic, financial, transport, launching a fruitful inter-regional, cross-industry cooperation”.

“Ukraine is ready to play its part in the development of Pakistan and would welcome any efforts to search new avenues for cooperation and expending ties with Pakistan in various sectors,” Lakomov said. The Ambassador said, “In our opinion, both sides should look closely into the issue of joint participation of Ukraine and Pakistan in the multinational energy projects.”

“I believe that Ukraine and Pakistan have a significant potential and opportunities to further increase the list of successful projects, and we will reach great success through joint efforts”.

“Availing myself of this opportunity I wish to new members of Parliament and new team of Government successful state activity for the benefit of compatriots, mutually advantageous Ukraine-Pakistan cooperation,” he said.

Turkey can act as gateway to EU for Pakistan

2013-05-22T09:19:00.002+05:00

[Daily Times]

KARACHI: Pakistan is the gateway to Central Asian Republics, South Asia, Middle East and China whereas Turkey can act as the gateway to European Union (EU) for Pakistan and other Asian countries in respect of commerce.

President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Haroon Agar talking to a business delegation of Turkey said ‘One-Nation, Two-States’ was the phrase which best described the relations between Turkey and Pakistan.

Turkish delegation headed by General Manager of Turkish Airlines Huseyin Cepni accompanied by regional Director Pak-Turk International Schools Ali Karan and Director Public Relations Huseyin Demirdelen visited KCCI.

KCCI attaches high level of significance to Pakistan-Turkey Bilateral Trade and relationship due to geo-strategic locations of two brother Muslim countries.

He appreciated the Turkish Airlines was vibrantly operating in Pakistan while providing quality services for Eurasian region and entrance to European Union countries via Istanbul and of course to other countries worldwide.

Indeed the Turkish flag-bearer airline was not only connecting the business communities of two countries but also providing air cargo services, he added.

Agar invited Turkish Airways to exhibit in the Turkish Pavilion of KCCI’s 10th My-Karachi Exhibition 2013 in July 2013.

Regular flights between two countries are crucial to facilitate the business travelling and transportation of air cargo, particularly for perishable goods, he maintained.

Husseyin Cepni said Turkish Airline aimed to provide services to Pakistanis to fly from Pakistan to worldwide. He announced during his recent visit to Airlines Headquarters at Turkey, he got special approval for discount to KCCI’s members. All KCCI’s members can avail exclusive 5 percent discount on ticketing from any Turkish Airlines office operating in Pakistan while showing their membership card. He apprised KCCI members Turkish Airlines was providing quality services to Pakistanis travelling between Pakistan and Turkey and to other regions of the world particularly Europe. From Istanbul, Turkish Airlines fly to all leading European countries and their major cities on daily basis. The Turkish Airlines is also offering air cargo services between two countries and other destination.

He confirmed participation of Turkish Airlines in the Turkish Pavilion of My-Karachi Oasis of Harmony Exhibition 2013.

Turkish Airlines will offer free tickets and gift hampers to the visitors of My-Karachi Exhibition through luck draw.

Turkish Airlines is state-owned enterprise and the Turkish national carrier is negotiating with Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority to start daily operations from Karachi and also flights from Islamabad and Lahore.

Turkish Airline is also good friend with Pakistan’s national carrier having joint arrangements on some routes. Turkish Airlines is a Star Alliance member having youngest fleet of more than 200 aircrafts was ranked as best airline in Europe last year and one of the top ten airlines of the world.

The Airline flies to more countries than any other airline in the world, he told.

Pakistan backs Palestine’s bid for fresh move to resolve Middle East conflict

2013-05-21T15:44:00.000+05:00

UNITED NATIONS, May 21 (APP): Pakistan has endorsed a call by Palestine’s lead negotiator for renewed international focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in an effort to correct the historic justice, paving the way for peace in the Middle East.

“We understand the excruciating pain of Palestinians as they pass through these difficult times of occupation and extreme privation,” Ambassador Masood Khan told the Palestinian Rights Committee on Monday.

“Continued attention of the international community is extremely important.”

The Pakistani envoy spoke after Saeb Erakat, a prominent Palestinian official, said they were exerting every possible effort to ensure the success of current efforts to re-start peace negotiations with Israel. Calling on member states to make their positions on the issue clear, Erakat underlined how important it was that US Secretary of State John Kerry succeed in bringing about a resumption of talks.

In his remarks, Ambassador Masood Khan said, “While the US engagement is welcome, the Quartet—comprising the U.N., European Union, the U.S. and Russia—and the Security Council should also play their role in this regard.”

Resumption of the peace process should mean action with clear benchmarks and deadlines, he added. “A sustainable resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict lies only through the establishment of an independent, viable and contiguous State of Palestine on the basis of pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” the Pakistani envoy told the committee.

“The very important and major concession afforded by the Arab League in this regard should be appreciated.” Masood Khan said, “Two States, living side by side, in peace and security, is the goal that we ought to pursue single-mindedly".

“All Security Council resolutions relating to Palestine, including Resolution 1860 must be fully implemented. Settlement activity must stop, Palestinian detainees must be released, religious freedom should be restored , efforts aimed at financially stifling the Palestinian Authority must stop".

The culture of impunity must end. “Peace in the Middle East has been a continuing quest for more than six decades. Pakistan has all along been a supporter of the inalienable right to self-determination for Palestine. Let me assure you of our continued unflinching support.”

Erakat, describing himself as the most disadvantaged negotiator in the history of mankind, pointed out that he had no army, navy, air force or economy, and that his people were fragmented.

Nonetheless, Israel faced a stark choice: it could choose live and let live, which called for two States based on the 1967 borders, or it could go for one State.

The Palestinian negotiator said that, while he could talk to Israeli negotiators about that option, the persistence of the current situation was not at all possible.

The status quo would not be maintained under any circumstances, and the apartheid existing today could not last, he emphasized, pointing out that the Palestinian population was growing faster than the Israeli one.

Erakat said he had no conditions for re-starting negotiations. A halt to settlement activity was not a condition, but a must.

Israel needed to make a choice: settlements or peace. Kerry was working on three tracks political, economic and security with all three closely interlinked as a package.

However, he said Israel continued to claim it had no partner, likening that complaint to a broken record. Palestine could have Mother Teresa as President, Montesquieu (French political thinker) as Speaker and Thomas Jefferson (former U.S. president and a renowned political philosopher) as Prime Minister but Israel would still manage to relate them back to Osama Bin Laden, he added.

Six JF-17 jets to escort Chinese PM's plane as it enters Pakistani airspace

2013-05-21T15:35:00.002+05:00

ISLAMABAD (APP): Six JF-17 Thunder fighters of the Pakistan Air Force will escort the aircraft of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang as it enters Pakistani air space on Wednesday, at the startof his two-day State visit.

The JF-17s — a symbol of deep Sino-Pakistan friendship – will guide the special Air China Boeing 747 aircraft of the Chinese dignitary to the Nur Khan Air Base, where a 21-gun salute will herald his arrival.

The JF-17s will fly past over the air base.

In a rare gesture of cordiality and warm feelings for China, President Asif Ali Zardari and the caretaker Prime Minister Justice(R) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso will receive the chief guest on his first visit to Pakistan, since assuming office in March.

President Zardari will host a luncheon for the distinguished guest in which all the major leadership of political parties have also been invited.

The Prime Minister will also host a banquet for his Chinese counterpart.

On the second day of his visit, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Nawaz Sharif will meet Li Keqiang.

The two countries will also sign a number of memoranda of understanding for close cooperation in various fields.

The Chinese Premier will also address the Senate of Pakistan on May 23.

He will also hold a joint meeting with the Senate Chairman and the Speaker of the National Assembly.

Later, he will visit the Pak-China Friendship Centre and witness a cultural show.

Prime Minister Khoso will bid farewell to the Chinese Premier on Thursday and the six JF-17s will escort the dignitary’s aircraft till the aerial limits of Pakistan.

The Government and people of Pakistan look forward to the visit of Premier Li Keqiang and a warm welcome awaits him, a Foreign Office statement said.

US appreciates India’s role in Afghanistan

2013-05-21T10:57:00.000+05:00

by Lalit K. Jha
[Pajhwok Afghan News]

Washington (PAN): The United States on Monday praised India’s role in Afghanistan, but refrained from making any comment on the reported move by President Hamid Karzai to seek military equipment from New Delhi post 2014.

“We welcome efforts by Afghanistan's neighbors and other regional actors to promote Afghanistan's stability and economic development,” the State Department spokesperson, Patrick Ventrell, told reporters at his daily news conference.

“We continue to welcome India's generous bilateral assistance program with Afghanistan, its leadership on private sector investment there, its leadership promoting regional economic integration and linkage,” he said

“I don't have anything for you on a military relationship,” Ventrell said when asked on the India visit of Karzai during which according to local media reports is expected to seek military supplies for its armed forces.

Pakistan's military can shoot down drones, says politician

2013-05-21T10:11:00.005+05:00

[Terminal X Desk]

A prominent Pakistani politician says the country's military "can shoot down US drones", however "the nation must then be ready to face its outcomes".

Khawaja Saad Rafique, Member National Assembly on behalf of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) party, which emerged as a victor in the recent national elections, made clear that the Pakistan military has full capabilities to shoot down drones but the subsequent reaction from the American side will have to be faced by the countrymen.

He added that the PML (N) will utilize sources in the diplomatic community to persuade the US to put an end to the illegal strikes.

Pentagon to take over some CIA drone operations

2013-05-21T09:37:00.000+05:00

by Tabassum Zakaria & Mark Hosenball
[Reuters]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's administration has decided to give the Pentagon control of some drone operations against terrorism suspects overseas that are currently run by the CIA, several U.S. government sources said on Monday.

Obama has pledged more transparency on controversial counterterrorism programs, and giving the Pentagon the responsibility for part of the drone program could open it to greater congressional oversight.

Obama will make a speech on Thursday at the National Defense University in Washington that will include discussion of the government's use of drones as a counterterrorism tool. It is unclear whether he will announce the drone program shift in that speech or separately.

Four U.S. government sources told Reuters that the decision had been made to shift the CIA's drone operations to the Pentagon, and some of them said it would occur in stages.

Drone strikes in Yemen, where the U.S. military already conducts operations with Yemeni forces, would be run by the armed forces, officials said.

But for the time-being U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan would continue to be conducted by the CIA to keep the program covert and maintain deniability for both the United States and Pakistan, several sources said.

Ultimately, however, the administration's goal would be to transfer the Pakistan drone operations to the military, one U.S. official said on condition of anonymity.

The internal debate within the administration about whether to switch control of drone strikes to the military has been going on for months. Obama is under heightened pressure to show that his administration is transparent, after a series of scandals about civil liberties and allegations of government overreach broke last week.

A White House National Security Council spokeswoman and a CIA spokeswoman each declined comment.

DECISION AFTER MONTHS OF DEBATE

One of the reasons to make the shift is that it would help the CIA to return to more traditional spying operations and intelligence analysis, rather than paramilitary operations involving killing terrorism targets, officials have said.

The U.S. military is not engaged in ground combat in Pakistan, where the population in tribal areas has been angered by drone strikes and governments do not want to acknowledge that they allow U.S. unmanned aircraft to operate.

But in Yemen, the same sensitivities do not exist because the U.S. military is working with Yemeni forces in counterterrorism operations and so drone strikes in Yemen will shift to the Pentagon, two sources said.

There have been 355 drone strikes in Pakistan and 66 in Yemen, according to a widely cited drone attack database run by the New America Foundation think tank. (Database: http://natsec.newamerica.net/)

The United States has also carried out drone strikes in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and East Africa, some of them operated by the military.

The use of armed drones jumped in 2008 when President George W. Bush authorized the use of "signature" strikes, allowing the targeting of terrorism suspects based on behavior and other characteristics without knowing the targets' identities.

Rosa Brooks, a New America Foundation fellow and Georgetown University law professor, said the problem with the targeted killing program was "an assertion by the executive branch that it has this essentially unconstrained and unreviewable power to kill people."

Brooks, who previously served at the Pentagon, said she hoped that Obama would publicly release the legal justifications and analysis for the targeted killings overseas, including of U.S. citizens.

"I would also like to see the president say that we will acknowledge all strikes, that we will publicly report on identities of who was targeted, at least after the fact," she said.

Australia eyeing US Navy drone

2013-05-21T09:31:00.000+05:00

[psnews.com.au]

Australia is investigating the possible purchase of a US Navy unmanned aircraft that could be deployed in maritime surveillance.

Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith joined the Minister for Defence Materiel, Mike Kelly, to announce the Australian Government would issue a Letter of Request to the United States to gain access to detailed cost, capability and availability information on the United States Navy’s MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft.

The Ministers said the Government intended to replace the AP-3C fleet with P-8A Poseidon aircraft, complemented by unmanned aircraft capable of undertaking broad area maritime surveillance and fleet overwatch.

“The goal is to provide long-range, long-endurance maritime surveillance and response and an effective anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capability,” they said.

“The acquisition of high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft for maritime patrol and other surveillance is being developed under project AIR 7000 Phase 1B.”

They said one of the options being considered for AIR 7000 Phase 1B was the United States Navy MQ-4C Triton Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System produced by Northrop Grumman.

“The MQ-4C Triton is a developmental variant of the Global Hawk surveillance aircraft which is being specifically developed for maritime surveillance roles,” the Ministers said.

“To help assess the suitability of the Triton for Australia’s requirements, the Government will establish a Foreign Military Sales Technical Services Case with the United States Navy to obtain detailed cost, capability and availability information to inform future Government consideration of Project AIR 7000 Phase 1B".

“The release of a Letter of Request for the FMS Technical Services Case does not commit Australia to the acquisition of the MQ-4C Triton.”

They said Defence would continue to investigate options for a mixed manned and unmanned aircraft fleet to inform Government consideration later in the decade.

“Defence will analyse the value of further investment in unmanned aircraft for focused area, overland intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, including for use in border security operations,” they said.

“This will include the potential expansion of the role of these assets in the ADF to include interdiction and close air support, subject to policy development and Government consideration.”

General Dan Allyn becomes 20th commanding general of US Army Forces Command

2013-05-21T09:17:00.001+05:00

by Captain David Chase & Robert Harrison
[US Army Forces Command]

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - The soldiers, Army civilians and family members of FORSCOM welcomed the command's 20th commanding general as Gen. Dan Allyn took charge of the Army's largest organization in a ceremony at Marshall Hall on Fort Bragg, N.C. Before accepting the FORSCOM colors from Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, Allyn was promoted to the rank of general. Allyn comes to FORSCOM from his previous position as Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps. Hooah and Army Strong!

Gen. Daniel B. Allyn assumed command of the Army's largest organization--U.S. Army Forces Command--during a ceremony May 10 on Fort Bragg, N.C.

FORSCOM is responsible for 265,000 active-duty soldiers and 560,000 Army Reserve and National Guard soldiers stationed across the country. These men and women are the strength of the United States and the U.S. Army, Allyn said during his remarks.

"They are why it is such a privilege and joy to serve and lead, and [they] have borne the brunt of the nation's burden since 9/11 with grace, confidence, competence and quiet professionalism," he said.

"Our mission in Army Forces Command remains vital to our nation's defense," Allyn said.

"Forces Command sustains its legacy of excellence because of a solid foundation based on commitment to service and our Army values. On this foundation stand the determined Soldiers and talented civilians of Forces Command who understand the importance of the work the Army is doing at home and around the world."
To ensure the Army's readiness, FORSCOM will exemplify the teamwork so routinely exhibited by deployed forces, Allyn said.

"We do this across all components ... tightly integrated with our partner commands across the Army … and our sister services as a joint force, in order to maintain an operational force that is ready to execute any mission across the full range of military operations," Allyn said, "in any environment; against any threat."

FORSCOM will continue to maximize partnerships in order to be responsive to the nation's requirements for mission-ready forces, Allyn said. These partners not only include joint, interagency and multinational organizations and leaders, but also local friends and neighbors to the military community.

"The military and the civilian communities surrounding our FORSCOM installations across the country are tightly integrated," Allyn said. "Our military communities are present in times of need, particularly as we enter our second decade of repetitive deployments worldwide. We, your Army family, are grateful."

During the ceremony, Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, U.S. Army Chief of Staff, promoted Allyn to the rank of general before passing him the FORSCOM colors in front of an audience of nearly 300, including U.S. Army and local civilian leaders.

"Forces Command and Dan Allyn, as its leader, will play an important role in guiding our future force, as we implement new readiness concepts and new doctrine with the same requirement to ensure that our forces are ready to deploy at a moment's notice," Odierno said during the ceremony. "These challenges are significant, and will require an experienced and innovative leader … who help us rebalance all our components as we posture our Army to be successful for the future."

"I'm totally confident that Dan Allyn is that leader," Odierno said, citing Allyn's experience commanding military units of various sizes and capabilities in combat, to include light airborne mechanized, ranger and combined joint formations. Allyn has also worked closely with the U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard throughout his career, Odierno said.

As the FORSCOM Commanding General, Allyn is responsible for providing trained and ready conventional land power to combatant commanders worldwide in defense of the United States at home and abroad. This mandate includes manning, equipping and training the Army's active-duty conventional combat and combat-support units, as well as providing training and readiness oversight to the Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve. FORSCOM's subordinate units, located across the continental United States, include five headquarters led by lieutenant generals (U.S. Army Reserve Command, 1st Army, I Corps, III Corps and XVIII Airborne Corps) and nine division headquarters led by major generals.

"Today we are at a critical juncture in our nation's history," Odierno said. "We are experiencing a time of fiscal constraint, worldwide uncertainty and the continuous evolution of warfare. This is all occurring simultaneously as we wind down from over 12 years of conflict."

FORSCOM is at the fore-front of ensuring the U.S. Army is ready when it's needed to serve the nation, Odierno said, emphasizing that almost 60,000 Soldiers were serving in Afghanistan as he spoke. Thousands more were serving in Kuwait, the Horn of Africa, Kosovo and the Sinai.

"Since 2001, these great young men and women have earned over 15,000 medals of valor, to include seven medals of honor, 27 distinguished service crosses and 692 silver stars; and these numbers continue to grow every day," Odierno said, praising these Soldiers' courage, commitment and willingness to sacrifice themselves for their fellow soldiers.

"It's our solemn responsibility to ensure they are prepared, trained, ready and well-led--whenever our nation might call on them to continue to protect this great country of ours," he said.

Along his path of military service, Allyn said he's had the good fortune to work with, and for, the greatest leaders of this generation over the past three decades. He's come this far in the military thanks to teamwork, trust and an Army that allows its members to lead heroic Soldiers in historic outfits, he said.

Allyn's past command assignments within FORSCOM include the XVIII Airborne Corps and 1st Cavalry Division. Since graduating the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. in 1981, he's served overseas in Korea, Grenada, Egypt, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan, and is both a combat infantryman and a master parachutist.

"The challenges we face are tremendous, but we will prevail," Allyn said. "We will continue to deliver mission success to the highest standards in all that we do."

Pentagon requests $79.4 billion for combat operations

2013-05-21T08:39:00.000+05:00

by Chris Carroll
[Stars and Stripes]

WASHINGTON – The Pentagon on Friday sent two budget items to Congress – one to provide funding for combat operations next year, and another to limit the sting of sequestration this year.

The Defense Department is asking for $79.4 billion for its overseas contingency operations, or OCO, budget in 2014. The department did not include the OCO request with the $526.6 billion Pentagon base budget request submitted in April, saying that continuing deliberations over troop levels in Afghanistan made the spending picture unclear.

Troop numbers in Afghanistan will decline markedly during fiscal 2014, which starts Oct. 1. The Obama administration has said it would remove just over half the current number of troops before stabilizing the level at about 34,000 by February. The drawdown is expected to continue after Afghan elections are held in April, during which U.S. troops will assist with security.

The new OCO request is the smallest since 2005. Congress approved $86.5 billion for war spending in the current fiscal year.

Though troop numbers will be far lower, the OCO request only fell marginally in part because DOD needs to withdraw equipment and remove facilities that have been built up in Afghanistan over 12 years of fighting, Pentagon press secretary George Little told reporters Monday.

“It’s not all about cost-per-troop in the OCO budget,” he said.

The department also sent a $9.6 billion reprogramming request to Congress to shift funds from military personnel and investment accounts into those with pressing shortfalls as a result of nearly $40 billion in sequestration cuts in the current fiscal year.

“We’re trying to scrape for every penny, dime and nickel to achieve an additional $37 billion in cuts between now and the end of September,” Little said.

If Congress approves the measure, the money would support training and military operations, as well as higher-than-expected fuel costs this year.

“The main goal that we’re trying to deal with right now… is to limit the impact of sequestration on military readiness, particularly operations, training and maintenance accounts,” he said.

Pentagon officials hope the reprogramming request is approved by Congress by early June, Little said.

Azerbaijan dismisses reports on arms purchases from North Korea

2013-05-21T08:36:00.000+05:00

[AzerNews.az]

Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has denied reports from several media outlets on the possibility of a weapons purchase from North Korea.

"Recently a number of media outlets, in reference to a UN report, propagated information stating that Azerbaijan allegedly buys weapons from North Korea. This information does not reflect reality," Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev told journalists on May 20.

Azerbaijan will study this issue in detail, Abdullayev added.

The foreign ministry is also investigating how this information was reflected in the report of the United Nations, he said.