Under Punjab Police Raymond Davis Investigation Report:(Pictures,Interrogation)

Raymond Davis 1 (Pictures,Interrogation)

Raymond Davis 2 (Pictures,Interrogation)


Raymond Davis 3 (Pictures,Interrogation)


Raymond Davis 4 (Pictures,Interrogation)



Raymond Davis 5 (Pictures,Interrogation)

Raymond Davis 4 With GPS Decoder.Why did He Need This

GPS Decoder found from Raymond Davis.This Decoder is used to DECODE communication Of Pakistan Army,ISI and Most Intelligence Agencies

BENGHAZI: US President Barack Obama made his first public comments, condemning as “outrageous” and “unacceptable” attacks on protesters that have killed hundreds in 10 days and helped drive oil prices to levels that threaten global economic recovery.

Yet there seemed little cohesion and urgency in a global response, even as Washington and Brussels spoke of possible sanctions against a man whose 41 years in power have been marked by idiosyncratic defiance of the West.
“It is imperative that the nations and peoples of the world speak with one voice,” Obama said. “The suffering and bloodshed is outrageous.”

LANDI KOTAL: Five security officials were killed in a militant attack on a check post in Khyber tribal region’s Landi Kotal area

on Thursday, DawnNews reported.
Militants attacked the check post with heavy weapons as a result of which two security officials were also wounded, security sources told DawnNews.
The wounded officials were shifted to a hospital for treatment.
Security forces subsequently started a search operation in areas surrounding the check post.
Separately, in Khyber’s Bara area, three people were killed in clashes between armed militants from two banned organisations.

WASHINGTON: Two US citizens who worked for the CIA under contract as protective officers were quietly withdrawn from Pakistan after being involved in a fatal car accident last month while trying to help Raymond Davis, another CIA contractor being held by Pakistani authorities on murder charges.

Two officials familiar with US government activities in Pakistan said the two Americans who left the country worked for the CIA as protective officers.
This means they were employed as highly skilled bodyguards, like Davis, for CIA operations officers serving in Pakistan.
The two Americans who left Pakistan have not been otherwise identified by US or Pakistani authorities. The CIA declined to comment.
According to a translated Pakistani police statement obtained by Reuters, the two Americans got into the car crash while trying to go to the assistance of Davis, who US sources say claims he shot dead two Pakistanis on a motorcycle when they tried to rob him at gunpoint as he was driving in Lahore.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief, Mian Nawaz Sharif on Thursday blamed the government for all the crisis faced by the country and reiterated that his party had experts to take the country out of troubles, DawnNews reported.

Nawaz said while talking to his party workers in Model Town, Lahore that the president Zardari played his part to help convict him unfit through Justice Dogar’s court and then attacked Punjab with the Governor rule.

LAHORE: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Thursday threatened to approach the courts regarding the allotment of seats to the Unification bloc, DawnNews reported.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) reportedly decided to remove PPP ministers from the Punjab government.
The PML-N also decided to assign two ministries to members of the Unification Bloc.
PPP leader and senior provincial minister Raja Riaz on Thursday said the PML-N’s decision to ally with the Unification bloc was illegal and unconstitutional.
After meeting with Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Iqbal, Riaz told reporters that the PPP will not table a no-confidence motion in the Assembly after parting ways with the Punjab government.

TRIPOLI: Libya’s Moamer Qadhafi clung to power after a bloodcurdling vow to reclaim control, as US President Barack Obama demanded the world speak as one to confront the veteran strongman’s fraying regime.

Thousands scrambled to flee what former colonial ruler Italy said was a “bloodbath” of hundreds of protesters in the oil-rich north African state, parts of which appear to have fallen to opposition control.
One of Qadhafi’s seven sons, Saadi, told Thursday’s Financial Times that after four decades in power, his father could retreat to a “big father” advisory role under a new government.
But the 68-year-old Qadhafi himself is hardly talking of retreat, vowing in a fiery televised address on Tuesday to purge opponents “house by house” and “inch by inch”.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani spent a busy day on Wednesday consulting his coalition partners and political allies to reinforce the ramparts of his government against the onslaught the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-N is expected to launch two days later.

The PML-N has been beating war drums since it declared that its negotiations with the ruling Pakistan People’s Party on the implementation of its “10-point reforms agenda” had broken down and many of its leaders publicly threatened that the party would expel PPP ministers from the Punjab government.
PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif also had lengthy consultations with his senior party members at his Raiwind residence. He has already convened a party meeting in Islamabad on Friday to announce the future course of action.

NICOSIA: Al-Qaeda’s branch in North Africa has vowed to do everything in its power to help an uprising against Libyan strongman Moamer Kadhafi, according to a statement posted Thursday by the SITE monitoring group.

“(We) will do whatever we can to help you, with power from Allah, because your fight is the fight of every Muslim who loves Allah and His Messenger,” the statement from Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) said, according to SITE.

FAISALABAD: Three men forcibly gave poison on Wednesday night to maternal uncle of Shumaila, who had committed suicide after the murder of her husband, Faheem, by US national Raymond Davis.

Sarwar was residing with his family, including Shumaila’s mother and brother Afzal, in Chak 189-JB, Rasoolpura, Nethari, in the precincts of Chak Jhumrah police station.
According to sources, two motorcyclists had warned Sarwar on Feb 11 not to pursue the case registered against Raymond Davis. After the incident, the police had provided them security.
Afzal, another uncle of Shumaila, told Dawn that three men entered the house through a ventilator, grasped Sarwar and subjected him to severe torture.

RAWALPINDI: Police arrested at least 105 suspects from different areas of Rawalpindi on Thursday, DawnNews reported.

Police said the operation was initiated to arrest a suspected militant and was conducted by 20 police teams.
The police teams included commandos, female police officers and operatives from the special branch.
The operation was being led by SP Rawal Town Matloob Hussain.

Amid a fresh wave of violent crackdown on revolution in Libya, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has urged Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi to meet public demand.

President Ahmadinejad addressed leaders of countries who replied the popular revolutions “with a bullet” and said, “I highly recommend leaders of these countries to let their people express their words and that they should follow public views,” IRNA reported Wednesday. 

He expressed the world's outrage at “bad behavior of the Libyan government towards the people” and added, “All should yield to demands of their own nation. Otherwise, the outcome is already clear.”

The Iranian chief executive warned that resistance against demands of a nation would result in no achievement, stressing world leaders to “hear the voice of their people.”

President Ahmadinejad pointed out that world leaders should be along with people, behave and live like them and make efforts for their progress and development. 

The UK Prime Minister has admitted that Britain played a direct role in destabilizing the Middle East region by supporting dictators who suppress their own people.

David Cameron conceded to his country's support for despots in the region while he was addressing the Kuwaiti Parliament on Tuesday on the second leg of his tour of the Middle East region where he was paying a visit along with the heads of eight giant British weapons manufacturing companies. 

The Prime Minister said that popular uprisings now flaring across the Middle East showed that the West, Britain and the US in particular, had been wrong to support dictators and oppressive regimes that suppress human rights.

"History is sweeping through your neighborhood," he said.

"Not as a result of force and violence, but by people seeking their rights, and in the vast majority of cases doing so peacefully and bravely", added Cameron. 

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has returned home after three months of treatment abroad for a back ailment.

The 86-year-old king arrived in the capital Riyadh on Wednesday and was treated by a red carpet reception, state-run al-Akhbariya television news network reported. 

The Saudi king headed to the United States to undergo medical treatment on a herniated disc in his back in November. Abdullah first underwent a successful operation on November 24. He had a follow-up back surgery on December 3 to stabilize several vertebrae in his spinal column. 

He left the New York Presbyterian Hospital / Weill Cornell Medical Center in good health on the night of Dec 21, 2010 to spend a period of convalescence and complete his physiotherapy at his residence in New York. 

King Abdullah arrived in Casablanca in Morocco on January 22 from New York to complete physical therapy and recovery. source

Members of Iran's Parliament (Majlis) have condemned the recent violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters by the governments of Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, and Morocco.

In a statement issued by 191 Iranian lawmakers, the recent brutal onslaught by rulers of the four Arab countries were censured, Mehr News Agency reports. 

“The regretful events in Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, and Morocco and the ruthless slaughter of unarmed people of these countries by the authoritarian rulers is reminiscent of crimes that all dictators throughout history have committed in order to stay in power,” read the statement.

“Their [the dictators'] fate, from Pharaoh to [former Iraqi dictator] Saddam [Hussein], [ousted Egyptian dictator Hosni] Mubarak and [deposed Tunisian ruler Zine El Abidine] Ben Ali has been a humiliating collapse,” it said. 

Governments across the world have condemned the Libyan regime's severe suppression of pro-democracy protesters as the death toll from the country's uprising climbs.

EU foreign ministers issued a statement on Tuesday, expressing great concern over the crisis in Libya and called for an end to the violence. 

"The legitimate aspirations and demands of people for reform must be addressed through open, inclusive, meaningful and national Libyan-led dialogue," the statement said.

The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, said separately that he was "horrified by the growing number of human casualties among demonstrators".

As many as 1,400 Libyans have been killed so far by the Libyan forces under Muammar Gaddafi's rule.

Amid recent unrest in Libya, UK airlines have cancelled their flights to the country but arranging commercial flights for British people to leave the North African country.

Of UK airlines, British Airways and British Midland International have cancelled their services to the capital of Libya, Trablus. The Foreign Office has also arranged commercial flights as well as charters to help British people leave the country. 

At the same time other European governments, including Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Austria and Portugal are sending airplanes to get their people out of the unrest.

Manchester Airport spokesperson, which has always been in a daily connection with Trablus, said that all flights were cancelled. 

Greece has been hit with a general strike for the first time this year, as the country's largest public and private sectors engage in protest rallies against the government's austerity policies.

The walkout was organized by the country's largest private and public sector unions, the GSEE and ADEDY,on Wednesday. 

The strike has paralyzed maritime traffic and train services, disrupting urban transport in Athens and was set to cause a four-hour flight blackout, AFP reported.

The strike has affected operations in hospitals and schools and has even resulted in the closing down of public administration offices.

Papandreou agreed to adopt austerity measures in return for bailout loans worth EUR 110 billion by the EU and the IMF last May.

Reports say Gaddafi has reportedly ordered security forces to bomb oil pipelines to disrupt crude supplies to the Mediterranean countries.

A source close to the Gaddafi regime says Libya's embattled ruler has ordered security services to start sabotaging oil facilities, Time Magazine reported. 

The forces loyal to Gaddafi will start by blowing up several oil pipelines, cutting off the flow to the Mediterranean ports, he added.

Meanwhile, shipping groups have announced that all Libyan ports and terminals are temporarily closed due to the ongoing violence.

Many top Libyan officials, including Interior Minister Abdul Fattah Younis, have quit Gaddafi's government. 

At least thirteen Palestinians, including children, have been injured in two separate Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, medics say.

The incident took place during a brief incursion by Israeli forces into eastern Gaza City on Wednesday, a Press TV correspondent reported. 

Eleven Palestinians were injured after an Israeli tank shell hit eastern part of the Gaza City. 

The incident came shortly after a number of Israeli tanks and bulldozers rolled into the Palestinian territory in an apparent effort to destroy agricultural lands along the occupied border zone. 

Three members of the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, and three children are among the injured. 

Western military alliance NATO says it is keeping a close watch over Iranian naval presence in the Mediterranean, although Tehran has described the naval mission as peaceful and cordial.

Two Iranian warships sailed through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean for the first time since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, after receiving authorization from Egypt. The vessels, Khark and Alvand, have docked at the Syrian coast for training. 

On Wednesday, AFP quoted NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu as saying, "We follow events in the region and we follow these two Iranian warships.” 

"We are monitoring events,” Lungescu added. 

Iran's Navy has made clear that the mission is aimed at strengthening friendly relations with other countries and conveying Tehran's message of peace and security in international waters. 

Several Western countries have been accused of turning a blind eye to the deadly crackdown in Libya in order to safeguard their economic interests.

Gaddafi's ties with the West have had ups and downs, but relations between Italy and Libya have warmed over the last few years. 

Libya currently provides about 20 percent of Italy's oil imports. It has developed cordial relations with Britain, France and the United States as well. 

Experts say Western countries have turned a blind eye to crimes being committed against Libyan people by Gaddafi's autocratic regime due to economic interests 

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has ruled Libya for more than four decades. 

Some 1,400 people have been killed by Libyan security forces in bomb attacks against pro-democracy demonstrators in the North African country. 

A Libyan military aircraft has reportedly crashed near the city of Benghazi after pilots refused to bomb peaceful pro-democracy protesters, reports say.

The pilot and co-pilot had refused bombing orders and parachuted out of their aircraft in an uninhabited area. 

A Libyan daily says the plane had orders to bomb the city but the crew refused to carry out the deadly mission. 

This comes after Libyan tyrant Colonel Muammar Gaddafi pledged to crush the popular revolution in the oil-rich country. The government has even used air raids to suppress persisting mass demonstrations. 

Happy Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi

david vs goliath

Squadron Leader Najeeb A.Khan OC No 7th Squadron recalls his first bombing mission for Adampur air base at the outset of the Indo-Pak war of 1965.

Squadron Leader Najeeb A.Khan had brought a formation of 4 B-57s to Peshawar air base and on landing was informed of his first bombing mission. He was tasked to undertake the first night bombing mission, leading a formation of four B-57 bombers to Adampur on the night of 6th September 1965, one of the heavily defended air base of the Indian Air Force located near Jullundur.

Najeeb narrates: ”It was the first hot mission of my career. The time had come for which I had joined Air Force and had been trained day and night for over 13 years in the PAF. Myself, Flt. Lt.Bashar, Flt. Lt.Osman, Flt. Lt.Mazhar were the pilots of four B-57 bombers with Flt.Lt. Irfan, Flt. Lt. Rashid, Flt.Lt.Harney and Flt.Lt.Ghorey as the respective navigators. At the time of take-off from the Peshawar air base Flt.Lt. Osman was delayed a little. Flt Lt Bashar and I took off first and a couple of minutes later Osman and Mazhar joined us.”

Pakistan is will soon be get J10B

Military Forum Of China Super Camp - the most influential military forum LONDON February 11 news: According to the Russian Military News Network February 10 reports, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has announced that China and Pakistan jointly developed the JF-17 "Lightning" (China as FC-1 "Fierce Dragon") fighters in the Pakistan territory into mass production phase, the project's implementation is two an "all-weather ally" the results of military-technical cooperation.

It is reported, JF-17 fighters in Pakistan has started the aviation industry in the Kamla City, integrated plant production. Pakistan Air Force Chief of Staff of Sulaiman had announced that Pakistan had set up their first JF-17 fighter brigade, a total of 22 aircraft. Pakistan air force under the plan, Pakistan Ministry of Defence this year, JF-17 fighters will purchases an additional 50 planes, in the future will be equipped with a total of 270.

Air-To-Air Tactics & Combat Formations

Jian-10 Multirole Fighter Aircraft: Chengdu J-10/F-10 Aircraft

The Chengdu J-10 (Jian-10, or F-10 in its export name) is a single-engine, all-weather, high-performance multirole fighter aircraft capable of both air-to-air and air-to-ground roles. The aircraft was designed by Chengdu-based 611 Aircraft Design Institute and manufactured by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIC). The aircraft is available in single-sear fighter (A variant) and tandem two-seat fighter-trainer (B variant) versions. The aircraft first flew in 1998 and entered the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) service in 2003. About 50~70 examples are expected to have been delivered by 2006. These planes are powered by a Russian-made AL-31FN turbofan engine, while on later production variants this will be replaced by Chinese indigenous WS-10A “TaiHang” turbofan. The total number of production may be as many as 300.

F-16 4.5-generation multirole version

This is the 4.5-generation multirole version which uses more Chinese components, including radar, engine, and missiles. China is interested in reducing its reliance on foreign technology for both cost reasons and a desire to improve its domestic research and design. It is reported that one regiment of J-11Bs are currently in service, but this seems to contradict with the latest information provided by the Chinese government: In May, 2007, the existence of J-11B was finally acknowledged by the Chinese government for the first time when the state-run Chinese TV stations first aired the report on J-11B in PLAAF service, which were subsequently publicized in various domestic Chinese media such as state-run websites and newspapers (like Xin Wen Hua Bao, New Culture Newspaper). However, the official Chinese report claims that there are only two squadrons of J-11Bs in service, instead of a regiment, which is consisted of three squadrons (as of end of 2007). According to the Chinese report, which is agreed by some western sources such as Information Group, the J-11B is superior to Su-27SK in the following areas:

US Senate urged to help upgrade Pakistan’s F-16s

WASHINGTON, Oct 14: The US administration on Tuesday held a special briefing to persuade Senate to help finance mid-life upgrading of Pakistan’s ageing fleet of F-16 aircraft.

US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher, who looks after South Asian affairs at the State Department, said that upgrading the F-16s would increase Pakistan’s effectiveness in the war against terror.

Pakistan has a total of 34 F-16s purchased mostly in the 1980s.

The US government has already accepted Pakistan’s request to upgrade the aircraft, equipping them with modern technology and weapon systems to make them compatible with newer versions of the F-16s. The mid-life upgrading will cost a total of $891 million. Pakistan agreed to pay $417 million and asked the United States to provide $474 million.

Chinese On The Way Of Development

Pentagon details China's new military strategies
By Bill Gertz
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
May 25, 2007
The Pentagon's forthcoming annual report on Chinese military power will reveal a growing threat from Beijing's new forms of power projection, including anti-satellite weapons and computer network attack forces.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said yesterday that the report, scheduled for release today, shows how China "has steadily devoted increasing resources to their military."
According to defense officials familiar with the report, it also highlights new strategic missile developments, including China's five new Jin-class submarines, and states that Beijing continues to hide the true level of its military spending. 

U.S. report on Chinese developments: Foreign Military Acquisitions and PLA Modernization

PLAAF EQUIPMENT TRENDS
By Richard D. Fisher, Jr.
Senior Fellow, Jamestown Foundation
For the National Defense University Conference,
“PLA and Chinese Society in Transition”
October 30, 2001
INTRODUCTION 
Despite its never having done so before in a large fashion, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) is pursuing an overall modernization program to enable the conduct all-weather offensive and defensive operations in a modern high-technology environment. This is consistent with the general doctrinal goal to build a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) capable of waging “Local War Under High Tech Conditions.” Expansion of all-weather offensive capabilities is a relatively recent and ominous trend in the PLAAF. Apparently, this could include offensive naval strike missions for the PLAAF and greater consideration of using Airborne Forces in a strategic strike capacity. 

U.S. report on Chinese developments

Foreign Military Acquisitions and PLA Modernization
written_testimonies of Richard D. Fisher, Jr., Center for Security Policy,
Before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission
February 6, 2004
I would like to begin by thanking the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission for this opportunity to present written_testimonies on the modernization of China’s People’s Liberation Army. In addition, I would like to note my gratitude to the Commission for supporting my research over the last year, which has allowed me to produce a much longer report for the Commission titled, “The Impact of Foreign Weapons and Technology on the Modernization of China’s People’s Liberation Army.” [1] This written_testimonies draws from that much longer report.

Pakistan also needs to develop an indigenous attack helicopter like the Cobra.

It only makes sense to produce something locally if you are going to induct them in large numbers, or if you are going to sell them in large numbers. As of yet, the Army has no intention to expanding Army Aviation to a much larger level, as far as I know. And even if we did, it would be worthwhile to get ToT of an already pre-existing attack helicopter (China, Turkey, Russia, anybody) and improve it in-house than to create our own attack helicopter.

I don't know the desired size of a UCAV force in any of the three services. It could be that the Air Force would operate the UCAVs, whereas the Army and Navy would operate their own ISR UAVs, or all three services could modify UCAVs for see and land attacks. We just don't know how many we will need, and what types, what we do know is that we'll need a significant amount in all three services. Hence, it makes sense to go for an indigenous UCAV option

QUETTA, Pakistan - Having already gained experience and guidance from the United States on the effective use of drones, Pakistan is working on its own Predator-like unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which have helped revolutionize warfare.

The growth of Pakistan's indigenous UAV industry is of great importance for the country's defense, as the nation is on the front line of the "war on terror".

State-owned defense enterprise Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) in Kamra, east of the capital, Islamabad, is engaged in


manufacturing Falco pilotless planes in collaboration with Selex Galileo of Italy. Initially, the Falco system is for aerial reconnaissance and information gathering. The country later plans to induct UAVs equipped with weapon systems to carry out offensive operations.

PAF starts drone production

Pak Air Force has formally started the production of pilotless drone planes in collaboration with an Italian company, a news channel reported Thursday.

FALCO UAV - Pakistan According to details issued by the PAF, the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra has commenced producing the pilotless planes Falco UAV in collaboration with Selex Galileo of Italy. Aeronautical Complex chief Air Marshal Farhat Hussain said pilotless Falco UAV highly important for the country’s defence, adding the production of the planes will greatly add to the professional capabilities of PAF.

Farhat said Pakistan is now a member of the club of countries manufacturing drone planes. The system will be used mainly for aerial reconnaissance and information gathering, although the PAF will later also induct UAVs equipped with weapon systems to carry out offensive operations.

source

Pakistan using UAVs in 'drone war' against terrorist elements

Robert Hewson Air-Launched Weapons Editor - London

Key Points

Pakistan has been using Falco UAVs to help combat militants in the country's remote tribal areas

The Falco has been deployed on surveillance and target 'hunting' missions


Pakistan has quietly been conducting its own 'drone war' against militant forces and terrorist elements using Selex-Galileo Falco tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has learned.

According to a number of industry officials who have been in Pakistan and experienced UAV operations there, the Pakistani military is using unarmed Falcos for traditional surveillance tasks but also in a 'hunter' role - targeting air strikes, providing real-time coverage of attacks and then delivering battle damage assessments. 

American carrier-based drone made its first flight

American carrier-based drone X-47B, designed by Northrop Grumman, made its maiden test flight, according to Agence France-Presse in the Sunday, Feb. 6, with reference to the command of the U.S. Navy - the customer's aircraft.

X-47B, the report says the U.S. Navy, first flew on Air Force Base Edwards, California on February 4 at around 14:00 local time. The first flight lasted 29 minutes, a new carrier-based drone rose to a height of 5,000 feet (about 1.5 kilometers) from the landing gear. The tests were successful, maneuvers performed X-47B during the first flight,

The company Northrop Grumman has been developing X-47B in 2007, winning a contract for 636 million dollars from the U.S. Navy. Originally it was assumed that the first flight of X-47B will be

Pakistan celebrate the birth of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) on 12 Rabi-ul-Awal

Muslims across Pakistan celebrate the birth of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) on 12 Rabi-ul-Awal, which falls on February 16 this year.

ISLAMABAD: The US has failed to show progress from billions of dollars in aid given to Pakistan over the past few years to help the country with basic needs like electricity, health care and education, said an inspector general’s report.

The finding comes as some in the US have questioned the wisdom of lavishing Pakistan with military and civilian aid given the government’s reluctance to target militants based on its territory who regularly attack American troops in Afghanistan.
The US has committed nearly $4 billion to projects in Pakistan since 2009 to help the country address critical infrastructure needs, provide basic services and improve government performance, said the report released Monday.
But the largest contributor, the US Agency for International Development, has not committed to a way to measure the success of its programs, said the report, which was written by officials at USAID, the State Department and the Defense Department.

Buoyed by a burst of optimism about the global economy _ and mindful of the ”new reality” that has framed it in the aftermath of the financial crisis _ some 2,500 business leaders, politicians and social activists will tackle an array of issues on the first day of the World Economic Forum.

This year’s annual meeting in the picturesque Alpine town of Davos will take on several issues including concern over China’s growing clout, simmering anxieties about Europe’s debt crisis and consideration of whether the financial crisis that has wrought layoffs, cutbacks and austerity measures has completed the worst stages.
The five-day meeting starts Wednesday and will feature a keynote address by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev who postponed his planned arrival by a day after a suicide bombing killed 35 people in his country’s busiest airport amid lax security.
The topic of Medvedev’s speech hasn’t been shared, but given the intense security surrounding the meeting, and the fact that terrorism remains an issue of both political and commercial concern, his audience is expected to listen keenly to what Medvedev has to say.

US aid chief Rajiv Shah warned American lawmakers on Saturday that slashing assistance to Pakistan and Afghanistan could undermine US national security.

Mr Shah`s warning follows a recommendation from a 165-member Republican Study Group for a $100 billion cut in the government`s spending during the current fiscal year.

The proposal — by a group which now controls the lower house of the Congress — represents the deepest annual cut in funding in recent US history.
The Republican plan calls for $1.39 billion in annual savings from the US Agency for International Development. The USAID operating budget for fiscal 2010 was approximately $1.65 billion.
Mr Shah warned that the proposed slashing had real and drastic negative implications for American power and the ongoing missions in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: US Senator John Kerry on Wednesday met with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, DawnNews reported.

Earlier today, Kerry held meetings with Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
Kerry and Hafeez Sheikh discussed matters of mutual interests with special reference to economic relations between the two countries.
Hafeez Sheikh briefed Kerry about the economic reforms initiated by the government for the stability of national economy, economic growth and socio-economic development of the country.

Hours after police in Lahore submitted a preliminary investigation report in a court accusing American national Raymond Davis of killing two Pakistanis on a street in Lahore on Jan 27, US President Barack Obama urged Pakistan to abide by the Vienna Convention, treat Davis as a diplomat and release him.

President Obama, while insisting that Pakistan must not prosecute Mr Davis, said he also was concerned about the loss of Pakistani lives in the incident. “Obviously we’re concerned about the loss of life,” Mr Obama said at a Washington press conference. Still, he said, Mr Davis should be treated as a diplomat. “There’s a broader principle at stake that I think we have to uphold.”
In his first public remarks on a case that has strained US relations with Pakistan, Mr Obama noted that the Vienna Convention for diplomatic immunity granted Mr Davis some right.
“We expect Pakistan… to abide by the same convention,” he said. “We’re going to be continuing to work with the Pakistani government to get this person released.”

Taking one for the nation?

I have never written anything regarding the government or any specific leader without negativity nor without sarcasm – but today that changes, to a certain extent at least. Today, former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi changed a lot of things – especially the perception that all our leaders will buckle down under pressure and go miles for a bit of extra weight in their pockets.

With so much speculation regarding the Raymond Daviscase, where everyone from US leaders to our very own embarrassing Fauzia Wahab have given contradictory statements, Qureshi stands firm on his stance – Davis does not enjoy blanket immunity. Said out loud in plain and simple terms.

I am perhaps a part of that generation that often sinks into apathy and then jumps to extreme patriotism and vice versa. The generation that has spent most of its youth being embarrassed by the representatives of Pakistan. But today that

A history of anti-Americanism in Pakistan

In 2009 the monthly Herald published the results of an elaborate survey that it undertook to determine the extent of anti-Americanism in Pakistan. The findings suggest nothing that we do not already know.

Though anti-Americanism during the Cold War (1949-89) was mostly the ideological vocation of pro-Soviet leftists, today (some twenty years after the collapse of the Soviet Union), one can safely suggest that America is experiencing its most detested hour.

It hasn’t been hated across the board with so much fervour as it is today, mainly thanks to the bungling of the arrogant Bush administration and its utter deficiency in the art and skill of empathetic and prudent diplomacy.

However, the anti-Americanism virus — at least in most Muslim countries — today is such that the critique that comes with it is largely rhetorical and at times, rather obsessive-compulsive.

ISLAMABAD: Regarding the issue of Raymond Davis, former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday said while he was the foreign minister the US national did not enjoy full diplomatic immunity.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Qureshi said the foreign office had briefed him on January 31 that Davis did not enjoy the blanket immunity that the US was claiming for him.
Qureshi said that after studying the Vienna Conventions of 1961 and 1963 and Pakistan’s Diplomatic Law of 1972, one could conclude that “the blanket immunity as being demanded by the US embassy was not valid”.
He said that after seeing relevant documents, it was his “considered opinion” that Davis did not enjoy diplomatic immunity. He had informed the Core Committee of the Pakistan People’s Party of his view on the subject.

President Zardari assures Armed Forces of support

President Asif Ali Zaradi promised that despite the financial problems, the government will do all things necessary to satisfy the needs of the armed forces.He said that during a meeting with the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Khalid Shameem Wynne.

The CJCSC briefly informed the President about the issues of the armed forces, the latest information about the war on terrorism and the security situation in the country.

According to the President, the Pakistan Armed Forces are highly devoted to their job and they are one of the best armies in the world. The Pakistan Army is currently a leading force in the fight against terrorism.

The Colombian navy has seized a submarine hidden in a jungle area, believed to have been built to carry up to eight tons of cocaine to Mexico.

The 31-meter-long vessel was found on Monday in Timbiqui, in south-western Colombia, and is capable of travelling 9 meters below water, navy officials said.
The homemade submarine, which was one of the most sophisticated and biggest ever found, could carry four people and up to eight tons of cargo, and was ready to launch, the officials added. 

"It is the first submersible to be seized in the country," said General Jaime Herazo. 

Herazo believes that the ship belongs to "narco-traffickers coupled with narco-terrorists, who received a heavy blow [due to its capture]." 

Commander of the Pacific Naval Force, Adm. Hernando Wills Velez, said the submarine was equipped with professional navigational equipments, which would have allowed the crew to sail as far as Mexico.

The Argentine government is moving to lodge an official protest to Washington following the seizure of undeclared weapons and drugs aboard a US military plane.

Argentina plans to formally protest to the United States and call for assistance in investigations into the US Air Force's attempt "to violate Argentine laws by bringing in hidden material in an official shipment,” said a statement released by Argentine Foreign Ministry late Sunday, AFP reported.

On Thursday, Argentine customs officials searched a US Air Force C-17 transport plane at Ministro Pistarini International Airport, located 22 kilometers (13 miles) southwest of Buenos Aires.

Aboard the plane the officers discovered an illicit cargo which had not been declared in a manifest submitted by the US embassy to Argentine authorities. 

A serviceman with the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) force has lost his life in a non-combat related incident in the troubled eastern part of Afghanistan.

"A NATO service member died as a result of a non-combat injury in eastern Afghanistan," a Press TV correspondent cited a brief press release by the security mission on Wednesday as saying. 

The alliance did not announce the name or nationality of the victim.

The latest death brings to 47 the number of fatalities among foreign troops in war-ravaged Afghanistan so far this year.

Last year, nonetheless, with a death toll of 711, remains the deadliest year for foreign military casualties. The number eclipsed the previous record of 521 in 2009. 

Afghanistan's Minister of Energy and Water Mohammad Ismail Khan has strongly rejected a plan to erect permanent US military bases in his country.

Speaking on Tuesday in a ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of Soviet troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan, Ismail Khan slammed Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak for his support of the plan. 
Ismail Khan pointed out that the defense minister should change his stance as he had ignored the dignity of Afghan people. 

The minister of energy and water further reiterated that the Afghans would be capable of providing security in the war-hit country if foreigners stop interfering. 

“Millions of Afghans were killed and injured because they wanted to live freely, and they did not accept to be in foreigners' subjection,” Ismail Khan noted. 

The Afghan Interior Ministry says police forces have detained five Taliban attackers who intended to target government installations in the southern province of Kandahar.

The ministry said police arrested the militants, equipped with explosives-ridden jackets and homemade bombs, on Monday, before they managed to carry out the attacks. 

Kandahar province is one of the main strongholds of Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan. The militants also seem to be gaining ground in eastern and northern provinces.
Militant attacks have left hundreds of Afghan and US-led foreign troops dead over the past months.
US-led NATO has admitted to the rising power of the militants in Afghanistan despite the presence of 150,000 US-led forces in the country.

The Pentagon has admitted in several reports that the US has failed to establish security in the war-torn country. source

A Finnish soldier serving with US-led foreign troops has been killed and several others wounded in the volatile northern Afghanistan.

The soldier died in an explosion in the Northern Province of Samangan. 

Finland has around 180 soldiers in Afghanistan.

At least 44 foreign soldiers have been killed in the war-torn country so far in 2011.

Last year was the deadliest for foreign forces in Afghanistan -- with over 711 foreign troops killed.

NATO has admitted to the rising power of the militants in Afghanistan despite the presence of 150,000 US-led forces in the country.

The invasion of Afghanistan took place with the official objective of curbing militancy and bringing peace and stability to the country. Nine years on, however, Afghanistan remains unstable and civilians continue to pay the price.

The rising death toll among the US-led foreign forces has prompted growing opposition to the Afghan war in countries that have contributed troops to the mission. source