Pakistan to join Saudi coalition against Yemen rebels: senior official

(GNN) - Pakistan will send troops to Saudi Arabia to give military support to a coalition of mainly Gulf states fighting Yemeni Houthi rebels, a senior government official said on Monday.

Largely Sunni Muslim Pakistan - a regional ally of Saudi Arabia, the Gulf's main Sunni Muslim power - would join a Saudi-led military coalition conducting air strikes against Shi'ite Houthi forces, the official said.

The air strikes are targeting the rebels' southward advance on the port city of Aden, the last bastion of Saudi-backed president, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaj Asif denied that the country had made a decision to send troops to Saudi Arabia, saying a delegation led by him and foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz, would go to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and then decide.

Saudi Arabia has not decided yet whether to send ground troops into Yemen but is keeping its options open, its ambassador to the United States said on Sunday, but was committed to completing its air campaign. [ID:nL2N0WV09R]

Nuclear-armed Pakistan shares a long border with Iran, considered to be the center of Shi'ite power, and has a warm relationship with Saudi Arabia, Iran's main regional rival. An estimated 20 percent of Pakistanis are Shi'ite.

"We have already pledged full support to Saudi Arabia in its operation against rebels and will join the coalition," the Pakistani official said.

The Pakistani delegation, led by Asif and Aziz, had been due to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Monday but delayed the trip at the request of the Saudis, the official told Reuters.

On Monday night, Aziz and Asif met Pakistan's military chiefs and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

"Pakistan remains firmly committed to supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Pakistan," a statement from Sharif's media office said.

"Pakistan stands committed to playing a meaningful role in arresting the deteriorating situation in the Middle East."

There are already about 750-800 Pakistani servicemen in Saudi Arabia but none are combat troops. On Monday, a Pakistani military spokesman said 292 Pakistani soldiers were meeting Saudi troops for annual, pre-scheduled military exercises.

Saudi and United Arab Emirates planes are leading the air attacks and alliance spokesmen have not confirmed whether any other Gulf Arab states are taking part in the strikes, although Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain are members of the alliance.

Residents said ships believed to be Egyptian shelled a column of Houthi fighters trying to advance on Aden.

The United States is providing intelligence support, and a Gulf diplomatic official said France was giving similar help.

Pakistan has already had small demonstrations both for and against military intervention.

Right-wing religious groups demonstrated last week vowing to defend Saudi Arabia. But some civil society groups and opposition politicians spoke against intervention, in the view that it could further inflame sectarian tensions at home.

Sharif has long enjoyed close relations with the Saudi royal family. After his second term as prime minister was ended by a military coup in 1999, he was sent into exile in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia lent $1.5 billion to Pakistan last year to help Islamabad shore up foreign exchange reserves. Pakistani officials initially refused to divulge the source of the loan.

(Reuters)(Additional reporting by Katharine Houreld; Editing by Louise Ireland)

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Pakistan militants deny 30 killed in renewed Khyber fighting

(GNN) - Pakistan security forces killed 30 militants in gunbattles in the mountainous northwestern Khyber region on Saturday, a senior official said, but a spokesman for the militants denied suffering any losses.

The two sides have been making conflicting claims about their success in clashes in Tirah Valley, near the Afghan border, and there is no way to confirm casualties independently as the area is sealed off to journalists.


"The security forces had started advancement towards the hilltops where the terrorists had established sanctuaries," a senior security official in Peshawar, who requested that he not be identified, said.

"So far, 30 terrorists have been killed and a number of their compounds de‎stroyed." He said "fierce" fighting was continuing.

The government said on Saturday 32,347 people had been arrested on charges "aimed at ridding the country of terrorism and extremism" since the launch of the National Action Plan in December, Pakistan's APP news agency reported.

The plan was introduced after the Dec. 16 killing of 132 schoolchildren by suspected Taliban militants in Peshawar. The APP did not say what had happened to those detained.

The air force, struggling to reclaim land lost to the militants years ago, has been pounding positions in the Tirah Valley for days and the military said before Saturday's clashes it had killed more than 100 militants. At least seven soldiers had also been killed, it said.

Salahuddin Ayubi, a spokesman for the Lashkar-e-Islami, which announced an alliance with the Pakistani Taliban earlier this month, denied suffering losses on Saturday.

Ayubi said fighting between the militants and Pakistani forces started early on Saturday in parts of the valley.

"We didn't suffer human losses. Our fighters are engaged in fighting and didn't vacate their posts in Tirah," he told Reuters.

‎Taliban sources said that leaders had urged fighters to get to the valley and support Lashkar-e-Islami.

The Pakistani and Afghan Taliban share a similar jihadist ideology but operate as separate entities. The Pakistani Taliban is focused on toppling the state and establishing strict Islamic rule.

A military official said on condition of anonymity on Friday it would be extremely difficult for Pakistan to commit troops to a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen as it was already overstretched on its own borders.

(Reuters)(Reporting by Jibran Ahmad in Peshawar and Saud Mehsud in Dera Ismail Khan; Writing by Nick Macfie; Editing by Andrew Roche)

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ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 - Live Match

(GNN Sports) ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 - Live Match

Now Playing:  Match Highlights 3rd Quarter Final | Pakistan v Australia | Australia won by 6 wickets.

Petroleum ministry contradicts Imran Khan’s statement

ISLAMABAD: The spokeperson of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources taking exception to the statement of Imran Khan has said that the statement made by him about petroleum prices in Pakistan is devoid of facts.

In a statement, he said that in fact the present government has substantially decreased the price of petrol already up to 30 rupees, which is based on actual import price in the past five months.

The prevalent per litre petrol price of Rs 78.28 in Pakistan is far cheaper compared to other countries in the region as per litre prices in India, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are rupees 105, 92 and 97 respectively.

Petroleum prices are expected to be decreased further in February 2015, he added.

APP

Death toll in Shikarpur blast rises to 49

SUKKUR: The death toll in the blast in Shikarpur Imam Bargah has risen to 49 while 55 others were injured on Friday.

This was informed by Deputy Commissioner Shikarpur (DC) Haadi Bux Zardari.According to SSP Shikarpur, Saqib Ismail Memon the explosion took place inside an imambargah in Lakhi Dar area during Friday prayers.

Heavy contingent of Rangers reached the scene.
Locals residents shifted the injured to nearby hospitals.

Injured people were rushed to civil hospitals in Sukkur, Larkana and Khairpur where ermergency has been declared.

The CM Sindh has directed the medical authorities for provision of best medical facilities to the injured.

The Opposition leader in NA, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah strongly condemned the incident.

He expressed condolences with the bereaved families.

APP

Anti-Charlie rally in Pakistan draws 5,000

(AsiaTimes.ga) - Around 5,000 people rallied against French magazine Charlie Hebdo in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore on Sunday, and the founder of a group banned for militant links urged protesters to boycott French products.

Hafiz Saeed, who founded Lashkar-e-Taiba, an organization banned for launching attacks in neighboring India, told protesters: "We will launch a movement against the insulting caricatures of our beloved prophet."

French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo published a picture of the Prophet Muhammad weeping on its cover last week after two gunmen stormed its offices and killed 12 people. The gunmen said their attack was revenge for previous cartoons the magazine had published mocking Islam.

Saeed urged traders to stop importing French products and for Pakistani leaders to try to get an international law against blasphemy passed.

Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan.

On Friday, protesters trying to storm the French consulate in the southern city of Karachi shot and injured a photographer working for French news agency AFP.

Saeed called for more rallies next Friday. He says he has no links to militancy these days and only runs a charity, which is banned by the U.S. government for suspected militant links. The U.S. government has offered $10 million for information leading to Saeed's conviction.

(Writing by Katharine Houreld; Editing by Clelia Oziel)(GA, Reuters, Asia Times)

President, Prime Minister meet business people #pmln

(ATimes) President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday that every possible facility will be provided to the business community to bolster trade activities in the country. The President and Prime Minister expressed these views in a meeting with a delegation of businessmen and industrialists here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

The Prime Minister earlier held a one-on-one meeting with the President. President Mamnoon said the importance of strong economy has increased manifold in the era of globalisation and termed liberal trade policies a vital factor in this regard.

He said the government is sincerely taking steps in the right direction for the improvement of national economy and promotion of business activities. He urged the business community to benefit from the trade policies of the government and mentioned the flexible business policies of the country.

The President said that law and order situation and energy crisis are major impediments towards smooth continuation of business activities in the country, however expressed hope that these issues would be overcome soon.

Prime Minister Sharif said the government is taking steps towards facilitating businesspeople. He mentioned that the country was facing big challenges of terrorism and energy shortages, and added that efforts were afoot to meet these challenges and increase electricity generation. Besides, he said the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet energy demand.

He said infrastructure development was the government’s major priority and said a motorway would be constructed from Lahore to Karachi.

Sharif said, “We have discouraged lethargy in the government’s decision-making and are bringing an economic turnaround in the country.” He said economic indicators are improving, foreign currency reserves and stock market are high and rupee was stable against dollar. The Prime Minister said a 20-point agenda has been prepared for rooting out terrorism and extremism from the country. He said the 21st Amendment and the amendment to the Army Act are important steps “to clear this mess.”

He said swift justice is key to eradicating terrorism and the people spreading hatred and sectarianism would be tried in military courts. He said the Operation Zarb-e-Azb has played an important role in dismantling terror infrastructure and those terrorising society in the name of religion will be brought to justice.

Under the National Action Plan, another operation was being launched to make the country peaceful, he added. “These decisions have been taken in national interest and should have been taken earlier,” he said. The PM said the government will give incentives to the business community and said steps will be taken to woo overseas Pakistanis to invest in Pakistan.

He asked the Federal Board of Revenue to consider decreasing tax rates to encourage more people pay taxes resulting in larger revenue collection. He directed the Chairman FBR to hold a meeting with members of the business community to sort out their issues and apprise him personally on the outcome.

The Prime Minister also directed the Ministry of Water and Power and Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) to expedite approvals of pending cases of power plants and immediately remove all hurdles. The businesspeople gave relevant suggestions to the President and the Prime Minister. They regarded the unity displayed by all parties on the issue of terrorism as a good omen.

The meeting was informed that overseas Pakistanis are sending 25 billion dollars annually through different channels, and also Free Trade Agreement 2 is being negotiated with China. It will be independent of FTA 1, signed nine years ago. Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Minister for Water and Power Khwaja Asif, Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Chairman FBR and Secretary Water and Power were present.

APP, Asia Times