Pakistani Taliban Welcome Osama to Swat

Earlier today, Pakistan's prime minister said the situation in Swat is "returning to normal," despite the fact that four members of the security forces were kidnapped, and the cleric that the government negotiated the peace deal with called the Pakistani government illegitimate and advocated for Islamic law nation wide.
As if on cue, the Taliban gave Prime Minister Gilani another reason to reconsider his statement. Muslim Khan, the spokesman for the Swat Taliban, invited Osama bin Laden and others terrorists to shelter in Swat. "Osama can come here. Sure, like a brother they can stay anywhere they want," he said. "Yes, we will help them and protect them."
Khan also admitted to an alliance with other international and Pakistani terror groups:
The Taliban spokesman counted among his allies several groups on U.N. and U.S. terrorist lists: Lashkar-e-Taiba, blamed for last year's bloody siege in Mumbai, India; Jaish-e-Mohammed, which trains fighters in Pakistan's populous Punjab province; the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan; al-Qaida, and the Taliban of Afghanistan.
"If we need, we can call them and if they need, they can call us," Khan said.
The Pakistani government's reaction was predictable: shock and outrage, and even an empty threat:
"We would have to go for the military operation [if Osama shelters in Swat]. We would have to apply force again," said Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira. "We simply condemn this. We are fighting this war against al-Qaida and the Taliban."
The Pakistani Taliban have been clear about their loyalties to the Taliban and al Qaeda. The government knows exactly who they are dealing with, so the charge that they are fighting the Taliban in Swat rings hollow.

Taliban moving on Mardan

The Taliban continue their advance in northwestern Pakistan. The district of Mardan in the Northwest Frontier Province may be the next region to fall to the Taliban as the terror group has stepped up its attacks in the area.
The Taliban murdered two women in Mardan yesterday, signaling the district is marked for takeover. A female aid worker for the non-governmental organization National Rural Support Program was killed in a bombing at her office. A local Taliban commander named Habibur Rehman claimed credit for the attack. "He accused NGOs of propagating obscenity and vulgarity and threatened further attacks," Dawn reported. The Taliban also gunned down a female councilor for a local union.
The murders were the latest in a series of attacks in Mardan that signal the Taliban is setting its sights on the district.

Younis urges mates to give off their best

DUBAI: Pakistan skipper Younis Khan said on Monday his boys have a golden opportunity of beating Australia in the series that will include five One-Day internationals and a Twenty20 game.He believes that a forceful showing in the series will help Pakistan recover from a series of setbacks, including the shifting of 2011 World Cup matches from the country because of security concerns.The series opener against Australia to be played at the brand-new Dubai Sports City Stadium on Wednesday is the first One-Dayer between the two teams in more than four years."This is a very big series for several reasons," said Younis, who took over from Shoaib Malik in January this year following a humiliating 234-run defeat against Sri Lanka in Lahore."If we play well, we can become like Inzi (Inzamam) and Bob Woolmer's sides in 2005 and 2006," said the experienced batsman referring to a successful run from the Pakistan team when the late Bob Woolmer was the coach and Inzamam-ul-Haq the captain."If we win (against Australia), then people will have to take notice because it is Australia."Younis pointed out that good performances from his players in the series will bolster their international careers."Any guy who takes the opportunity here and does well, it'll be a massive break for them internationally. This is how I am looking at it personally and trying to instil in the team. I am fairly sure they are aware of it. If as a player you take off in this series, nobody will be able to bring you down."Australia is without its captain Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee but Younis warned that, beating them would still be tough."They are still very balanced and the style of play and their motivation doesn't ever change," he said."They are the only team in the world where players come in and go out and it makes very little difference. They are still a top side. If we do well, play to our potential and win a few matches, then I really think we can start getting out of this phase and move on."

Iqbal’s 71st death anniversary today

LAHORE: The 71st death anniversary of great national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal is being observed across the country today to acknowledge his services for getting a separate homeland for Muslims of the Subcontinent. President Asif Ali Zardari has resolved to build Pakistan in accordance with the dream and aspirations of the great visionary Allama Muhammad Iqbal. In his message on the 71st death anniversary of Allama Iqbal, president said Pakistan can be best built by understanding Islam in the light of Allama Iqbal's teachings and by refusing to let armed militants impose their interpretation of Islamic thought and morality on the people through guns and bullets. "This indeed is the best tribute we can pay to Allama Iqbal today."Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that the spirit of freedom aroused by the Poet of the East, Allama Iqbal can guide the people even today in their quest for progress and prosperity. The Prime Minister said this in a message issued on the occasion of seventy-first death anniversary of Allama Iqbal. He said Allama Iqbal held the value of freedom in high esteem. This was evident from the lecture he delivered at Allahbad in the year 1930.

Quake strikes near Loralai

QUETTA: A 3.7 magnitude earthquake struck near Loralai in Northern Balochistan.Earlier, magnitude earthquake struck a remote area of Quetta but there were no casualties, metrological office said. The quake struck at 5:17 am.

Altaf asks why are champions of judicial supremacy mum on Sufi’s statement?

LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Quaid, Altaf Hussain deeply hurt over TNSM leader, Sufi Muhammad openly threatening national, provincial assemblies and senate, besides declaring the entire democratic, judicial system, Supreme Court, High Courts, unanimously accepted 1973 constitution ‘Ghair Sharai’ and ‘Kufr’, enquired from all those political and religious parties, civil society and the lawyers community, who until the other day were even ready to sacrifice their lives for the supremacy of judiciary as to how come all of them maintaining criminal silence on such profane remarks against the revered institutions of the society.MQM Quaid in a statement issued from London addressing all patriotic people, who wanted the safety and security of Pakistan, asked as to why they themselves not questioning these political and religious parties, civil society and other associations on their immoral silence and making them accountable? He said that the world media today writing volumes on Pakistan’s stability and integrity saying that Pakistan was on the brink of fracturing into fiefdoms and in such a situation only the army, other law enforcing agencies, police and MQM alone could not save the country, unless the people themselves practically get involved in the process of salvaging and saving the country.

NWFP faces insurgency since few years: Ameer Hoti

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister NWFP Ameer Haider Khan Hoti said NWFP is facing insurgency since past few years.Addressing a police Darbar here on Tuesday, chief minister praised NWFP police role in present circumstances and said measures would be taken to improve the infrastructure and to train police. He announced the 100% raise in NWFP police salaries and increment in compensation for martyrs from Rs.one million to 1.5 million.Earlier, IG NWFP Malik Naveed addressing the Darbar vowed that terrorism would be rooted out and the role of NWFP police in war against terrorism will be written in golden letters. Police personnel sacrificed their lives to protect people and maintain law and order.