Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi can certainly be put in the ranks of politicians and leaders with a penchant for making absurd remarks – a group that includes Bush Jr and our very own President Zardari and his predecessor Musharraf, to cite just the tip of the iceberg. Given how the whole international community has failed to deliver on flood aid because of the lack of credibility of the government, it was incredible to hear Qureshi state his “horror” over the fact that the issue of transparent use of aid …

A US drone strike killed five militants in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal belt near the Afghan border. The strike hit the Dandey Darpa Khel area, about five kilometres from Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan district, a known hub for Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked militants.
“The US drone fired three missiles and hit a house used by militants. Five militants have been killed,” A senior security official in Peshawar said. An intelligence official in Miranshah also confirmed the attack and the toll. The Monday attack is the second in three days, …

Floods in Pakistan have destroyed or extensively damaged crops over 4.25 million acres of land, Food Minister Nazar Muhammad Gondal said. The total areas under cultivation is about 23 million hectares, food ministry officials say.
“The floods have destroyed or extensively damaged crops, including cotton, rice, sugarcane, maize and others over an area of 4.25 million acres,” the Food Minister said.
According to an estimated breakdown of losses prepared by the food ministry, rice was the worst hit with an area of 1.51 million acres destroyed by the floods.
Industry officials say that …

The Supreme Court has taken notice of the double murder of two brothers.

Dollar for Dollar: Canada announced matching donations for flood relief in Pakistan

New Delhi and Washington are objecting the nuclear deal between Pakistan and China under which China will export two nuclear power reactors to Pakistan in a USD 2.375-billion agreement. It has been made clear by both countries that the nuclear cooperation between the two countries was for peaceful purposes and are “totally consistent” with its international obligations and safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency”.
USA and India object that this deal will breach the international protocol, regarding the trade of nuclear equipment and material. U.S also object that this …

Senior US officials “jumped their gun” on the Times Square suspect Faisal Shahzad when they claimed that he was a trained member of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, The Washington Post wrote. In a regular column titled ‘Spy Talk,’ which reports on the activities of the US intelligence community, the Post named two senior officials, Attorney General Eric Holder and White House terrorism adviser John Brennan, who it believed rushed to judgment on this issue.
“The attorney general’s remarks, echoed by White House terrorism adviser John Brennan … smack of politics,” wrote columnist …

Clinton: there would be very severe consequences if attack like this can be trace back to Pakistan.

Renowned religious scholar and founder of Tanzeem-e-Islami Dr Israr Ahmed breathed his last in Lahore, Pakistan early morning of April 14, 2010. As a result of his death, the world of Islam lost a luminary.
Dr Israr Ahmed, 78, was suffering from backache and diabetes and was sick for the last two weeks.
Dr Israr Ahmed left behind four sons and five daughters. He authored more than one hundred books. Dr Israr Ahmed also remained Nazim-e-Ala of Jamat-e-Islami during his student life. After finishing his studies, he became a member of Jamat-e-Islamil; …

“We urge all relevant forums to give Pakistan access to nuclear technology for peaceful uses, in a non-discriminatory manner, to meet its growing demand for energy,” Pakistan informed the Nuclear Security Summit which is being attended by top leaders of some 47 countries.
Pakistan has also welcomed US President Obama’s call for security of nuclear material and hoped the summit would be a catalyst for fostering a nuclear security culture around the world while outlining its nuclear policy in a national statement at the Nuclear Security Summit. Pakistan Prime Minister Syed …