2004 Pakistan Special Weapons News Reports

2004 Pakistan Special Weapons News

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

December

PAKISTAN/MUSHARRAF VOA 30 Dec 2004 -- Pakistan's president, General Pervez Musharraf, has formally declared that he will retain the army chief's post, breaking a public pledge that he will give up his uniform by the end of the year.
Pak troops search seminary in tribal areas IRNA 29 Dec 2004 -- Pakistan`s paramilitary forces raided a seminary in the tribal areas but were unable to find anything objectionable.
PROLIFERATION: PAKISTAN VOA 29 Dec 2004 -- The beginning of 2004 saw revelations of a Pakistan-based black market, selling nuclear-weapons technology to foreign governments during the 1990s. Almost a year later questions remain about the extent of the network and allegations that Pakistan's military may have played a role.
PAKISTAN/INDIA/TALKS VOA 28 Dec 2004 -- Pakistan and India have concluded another round of their on-going peace dialogue but no significant breakthrough is reported in their most contentious territorial dispute over Kashmir.
PAKISTAN/INDIA/TALKS VOA 27 Dec 2004 -- Pakistan and India have reported progress in their year-long peace process but they remain far apart on ways to resolve their territorial dispute over Kashmir, the cause of two of the three wars between them.
PAK / MUSHARRAF / CONVICTION VOA 24 Dec 2004 -- A military court in Pakistan has convicted two soldiers for their involvement in assassination attempts on President Pervez Musharraf.
PAKISTAN / POL VOA 22 Dec 2004 -- Authorities in Pakistan have freed the husband of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto from house arrest, a day after he was detained for failing to attend a court hearing.
PAKISTAN POLITICS VOA 21 Dec 2004 -- Police in Pakistan have re-arrested the husband of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto for failing to appear at a court hearing in a murder case
Pakistan: Islamists Protest Musharraf's Bid To Remain As Army Chief RFE/RL 20 Dec 2004 -- The announcement on 17 December by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf that he intends to remain in the dual posts of president and army chief has angered opposition parliamentarians in the country. That's because Musharraf had made a political deal last year to step down from the post of army chief in exchange for the legitimation of his presidency and an expansion of presidential powers.
Pak religious groups to protest against Musharraf`s uniform IRNA 19 Dec 2004 -- Hundreds of activists of Pakistan Islamic groups announced in a rally on Sunday to hold rallies on January 1 across the country if President General Pervez Musharraf did not quit as army chief by December 31.
Pakistani Islamists Protest Musharraf Plan to Remain Army Chief VOA News 19 Dec 2004 -- Pakistan's opposition Islamic alliance has vowed to observe New Year's Day as a "black day" across the country if President does not quit as army chief.
PAKISTAN/POLITICS VOA 18 Dec 2004 -- Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf is confirming plans to keep his dual role as armed forces chief and head of state, and says he will soon explain why he is going back on plans to retire from the military.
Blast rocks Pakistan provincial minister offices block IRNA 18 Dec 2004 -- A bomb rocked a multi-storey building that houses offices of ministers in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta on Saturday but there was no casualty, a senior police officer said.
Musharraf says will not quit as army chief, opposition vows to protest IRNA 18 Dec 2004 -- Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has been quoted as saying that he will remain the army chief despite his earlier commitment to relinquish the post by the end of the year.
Pakistan, France discuss defense production IRNA 16 Dec 2004 -- Pakistan and France have expressed desire to enhance collaboration in defense production sector, a statement of Defense Ministry said here Thursday.
Pakistan, India N-talks remain inconclusive but `constructive` IRNA 15 Dec 2004 -- Pakistani and Indian officials on Wednesday did not reach any agreement during their two-day talks on ways and means to avert any possible nuclear conflict but described the talks as constructive and cordial.
PAKISTAN-INDIA TALKS VOA 15 Dec 2004 -- Negotiators from Pakistan and India have completed two days of talks on measures to avoid the possibility of a nuclear war between the two nations. The talks are due to resume at a later date.
US jets violate Pak airspace: daily IRNA 14 Dec 2004 -- The US planes violated Pakistan`s airspace at North Waziristan Agency, close to Pak-Afghan border.
No CIA bases in Pakistan, says Army IRNA 14 Dec 2004 -- Pakistan has denied a newspaper report that US Central Investigation Agency (CIA) had set up covert bases in the country`s remote tribal regions to hunt down Osama bin Laden.
PAKISTAN BOMBING VOA 10 Dec 2004 -- An apparent terrorist bombing in southwestern Pakistan has killed at least nine people and injured a dozen others.
Pakistan rules out impact of missile test on dialogue with India IRNA 09 Dec 2004 -- Pakistan has said that the Wednesday`s test-fire of its nuclear capable missile will not affect the on-going dialogue process with neighboring India.
200 Pakistan soldiers killed in anti-militants operation: Army IRNA 09 Dec 2004 -- Pakistan`s army said on Thursday that some 200 security personnel have been killed in operations against foreign militants and their local supporters in the South Waziristan tribal region.
Pakistan test-fires nuclear capable ballistic missile IRNA 08 Dec 2004 -- Pakistan carried out successful test-fires of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile on Wednesday as part of efforts to boost its nuclear capability, the state-owned television reported.
INDIA/PAKISTAN TALKS VOA 08 Dec 2004 -- India and Pakistan have ended two days of talks on a popular proposal to start a bus service linking the capitals of divided Kashmir. But the two sides apparently failed to resolve their differences over how to implement the proposal.
BRITAIN / PAKISTAN VOA 07 Dec 2004 -- Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf is appealing to moderate Muslims to stand up and confront Islamic extremists who are promoting terrorism. The president expressed his views in a speech in London
BRITAIN / PAKISTAN VOA 06 Dec 2004 -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf says he is confident his country is winning the war on terrorism. He spoke after meeting British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London to discuss the war on terrorism and other issues.
Remarks at Stakeout Outside the Mayflower Hotel Washington File 05 Nov 2004 -- Secretary comments after "good meeting" with Pakistan's Musharraf
PAKISTAN / MUSHARRAF VOA 05 Dec 2004 -- Pakistani President, General Pervez Musharraf, says his country's troops do not know the whereabouts of wanted al-Qaida terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, who is believed to be hiding somewhere along the Afghan-Pakistan border.
BUSH/PAKISTAN VOA 04 Dec 2004 -- President Bush says Pakistan is playing an important role in the war on terrorism, and could serve as a model for other Muslim nations. V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports from the White House, Mr. Bush spoke at the conclusion of talks with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.
PAKISTAN-INDIA RAIL VOA 03 Dec 2004 -- Rivals Pakistan and India have agreed to reopen a key rail link between the two countries that has been closed for almost 40 years. The deal may be one of the most important transportation agreements between the two countries since air links resumed last year.
November
PAKISTAN / MUSHARRAF VOA 30 Nov 2004 -- In a final formality, a bill allowing Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to retain his concurrent post as armed forces chief has now been signed into law. Opposition protests over Mr. Musharraf's dual roles seem to be having little effect.
Pakistan Contributes To Coalition Maritime Campaign Plan Navy NewsStand 29 Nov 2004 -- Pakistan Navy Ship Babur (DDG 182) conducted operations with USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) and French frigate FS Surcouf (F 711), in the Gulf of Oman as part of the Coalition Maritime Campaign Plan (CMCP) executed by Commander Task Force (CTF) 150 in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) Nov. 21.
Pakistan testfires nuclear-capable missile IRNA 29 Nov 2004 -- Pakistan conducted a test of its nuclear-capable ballistic missile on Monday as part of efforts to boost its defenses, the state-run television reported.
Pakistan denies reports it is allowing inspection on N-sites IRNA 27 Nov 2004 -- Pakistan has denied reports appearing in a section of the US media that Islamabad had agreed to a limited inspection of its nuclear facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Pakistan, IAEA reach primary agreement on issue of nuclear pollution IRNA 26 Nov 2004 -- Pakistan and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have reached primary agreement on defining the source of pollution in some Iran`s nuclear installations, diplomatic sources announced here on Friday.
Pakistani national arrested in Indian Capital for spying IRNA 26 Nov 2004 -- A Pakistani national has been arrested here on charges of alleged spying with police claiming to have recovered "sensitive defense related documents and photographs from him.
INDIA PAKISTAN TALKS VOA 24 Nov 2004 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is concluding a two-day trip to India, where he discussed a number of topics, including the disputed region of Kashmir -- the main issue dividing the two nations. Both sides say they remain committed to the peace process, although, as expected, the talks produced no new developments.
INDIA / PAKISTAN UPDATE VOA 23 Nov 2004 -- Hours after the start of a visit to India by Pakistan's Prime Minister, leaders say both sides want to press ahead with the stalled peace talks. Still, no major breakthrough between the two nations is expected.
PAKISTAN/POLITICS VOA 23 Nov 2004 -- Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto denies she struck a deal with the current government to secure here husband's release from jail, saying her political party will continue its opposition to the country's military president, Pervez Musharraf.
PAKISTAN/BHUTTO VOA 22 Nov 2004 -- Pakistan's highest court has granted bail to the jailed husband of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, paving the way for his release after eight years in prison. The government is promising to honor the decision.
PAKISTAN / AZIZ INDIA SCENESETTER VOA 21 Nov 2004 -- The prime ministers of India and Pakistan will meet this week (Tuesday) in the Indian capital, New Delhi, to prepare for a second round of peace talks this month over the long-disputed region of Kashmir.
PAKISTAN/ARRESTS VOA 19 Nov 2004 -- Pakistan says that following a new series of arrests almost all the suspects wanted for the major political terror attacks in the country over the past three years are now dead or in custody.
PAKISTAN / KASHMIR VOA 19 Nov 2004 -- Pakistan's president says he is not happy with all of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's comments this week about the disputed territory of Kashmir. But the Pakistani government is taking a wait-and-see approach as a peace dialogue between the sides continues.
PAKISTAN/IRAN NUKES VOA 18 Nov 2004 -- Pakistan has denied an Iranian opposition claim that Iran received a nuclear bomb design and enriched uranium used in such weapons from a leading Pakistani scientist. Iranian authorities also have denied the allegations.
PAKISTAN MILITANTS VOA 17 Nov 2004 -- Both the Pakistani army and anti-government militants in the remote tribal area of South Waziristan say they are open to negotiations to end months of fighting in the region.
PAKISTAN/AL-QAIDA HUNT VOA 13 Nov 2004 -- Pakistan's military says it has flushed out hundreds of al-Qaida-linked militants from its semi-autonomous South Waziristan tribal area bordering Afghanistan. But there is still no sign of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.
INDIA KASHMIR TROOPS VOA 12 Nov 2004 -- India has announced it will reduce troops in the disputed region of Kashmir in the next few months because of a decline in separatist violence. Pakistan and Kashmiri leaders are praising the decision and say it could give a boost to the peace talks.
Pakistan N-scientist Dr Khan`s petition rejected IRNA 10 Nov 2004 -- Pakistan Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed an application, seeking release of the founder of the country`s nuclear program Dr Abdul Qadir Khan, who has not been seen in public since he confessed of leaking nuclear secrets outside in February this year.
PAKISTAN / ARMITAGE VOA 09 Nov 2004 -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage says Washington wants to further strengthen ties with Pakistan - a key anti-terrorism ally. Mr. Armitage held what he termed "wide-ranging" discussions with leaders in Pakistan.
AFGHAN/PAKISTAN VOA 06 Nov 2004 -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has personally congratulated Afghan leader Hamid Karzai on his victory in last month's presidential election. During a day-long trip to Kabul Saturday, the Pakistani leader said the two neighbors must increase cooperation in the war on terror to ensure success.
October
Pakistan: Musharraf Calls For National Debate On Kashmir Options RFE/RL 26 Oct 2004 -- Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has called for a national debate about the possibility of removing arms from regions of Kashmir as part of an effort to resolve a 57-year-old dispute with India. Speaking in Islamabad late yesterday to a gathering of Pakistani journalists, Musharraf said demilitarization is one of several options that could lead to a breakthrough in relations with India.
KASHMIR/DIPLOMACY VOA 26 Oct 2004 -- A call by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to debate bold new ways of solving the decades-old Kashmir dispute has met with a lukewarm response from India.
Pakistan tribesmen, soldiers step up militants` hunt IRNA 23 Oct 2004 -- Pakistani tribesmen and soldiers on Saturday jointly launched house-to-house search in South Waziristan tribal region to capture leader of al Qaeda-linked militant leader Abdullah Mehsud, who is wanted for kidnapping two Chinese engineers this month, one of whom was killed.
PAKISTAN SECURITY VOA 21 Oct 2004 -- Pakistan is reporting the capture of a communications operative from the al-Qaida terror network.
Pakistani forces pound militants` positions in tribal areas IRNA 20 Oct 2004 -- The Pakistani military intensified its operation in the country`s tribal region on Wednesday to capture a militant leader whose men had kidnapped two Chinese engineers last week, local correspondents and reports said.
PAKISTAN / PROTEST LAW VOA 19 Oct 2004 -- Pakistan is again tightening laws against religious terrorism. The latest legislation comes amid a boycott by the political opposition against President Pervez Musharraf.
PAKISTAN / POLITICS VOA 15 Oct 2004 -- A new bill that would allow Pakistan's president to continue serving as head of the military is generating controversy across the country. While opposition parties are furious, the reaction from the military and the general public is more mixed.
PAKISTAN/CHINA HOSTAGES VOA 14 Oct 2004 -- Security forces in Pakistan killed five kidnappers as they tried to rescue two Chinese engineers. Officials say one of the hostages died during the rescue while his companion received minor injuries.
PAKISTAN MILITARY VOA 14 Oct 2004 -- Pakistan's lawmaking National Assembly has passed a bill to allow President Pervez Musharraf to stay on as chief of the military.
PAKISTAN/CHINESE HOSTAGES VOA 11 Oct 2004 -- The kidnappers of two Chinese engineers in Pakistan are threatening to kill them if their demands are not met. The kidnappers want safe passage with their captives to the mountain hideout of their commander.
Captors of Chinese engineers linked to al-Qaeda: Pak minister IRNA 10 Oct 2004 -- The captors who kidnapped two Chinese engineers in Pakistan`s semi-autonomous tribal region may have links with al-Qaeda, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said on Sunday.
PAKISTAN/VIOLENCE VOA 10 Oct 2004 -- In Pakistan, a suicide bomb attack at a Shiite Muslim mosque has killed at least four people and injured several others. In the past two weeks violence against religious groups has killed 80 people.
PAKISTAN BOMBING VOA 07 Oct 2004 -- A car bomb in central Pakistan has killed at least 39 people and injured dozens others, in what what appears to be part of rivalry between militant Muslim sects. The government says it is sending in the Army to protect the city against further violence.
Pakistan says no to IAEA access to nuclear scientists IRNA 04 Oct 2004 -- Pakistan said on Monday it would not allow the UN nuclear watchdog access to its scientists.
Pakistan: IAEA cannot meet nuclear scientists IRNA 02 Oct 2004 -- Pakistan has said that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) cannot be allowed to meet or interview its nuclear scientists.
PAKISTAN/MOSQUE BOMB VOA 10 Oct 2004 -- An apparent suicide bombing at a mosque in eastern Pakistan has killed at least 18 people and injured dozens of others. The deadly incident may be linked to the recent killing of a top-level terror suspect by Pakistani security forces.
September
US / PAKISTAN VOA 29 Sep 2004 -- President Bush's nominee to be the next U.S. ambassador to Pakistan is pledging that if confirmed, he will work with Islamabad to enhance that government's cooperation in the war on terrorism.
Pakistan: Security Forces Kill Senior Al-Qaeda Suspect RFE/RL 27 Sep 2004 -- Pakistani authorities have shot dead an Al-Qaeda leader accused of planning a late 2003 assassination attempt on President Pervez Musharraf and involvement in the 2002 killing of U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl. The information ministry in Islamabad says Amjad Hussain Farooqi was killed in a clash with security forces yesterday in the town of Nawabshah about 130 kilometers northeast of Karachi.
PAKISTAN/AL-QAIDA VOA 26 Sep 2004 -- Pakistan says security forces have killed a top al-Qaida militant who was allegedly involved in two assassination attempts on President Pervez Musharraf, a close U.S ally in the war on terrorism.
Pakistan Army gets Sino-Pak developed Al-Khalid tanks IRNA 24 Sep 2004 -- A consignment of main battle Al-Khalid tanks, jointly developed by state-owned Pakistani and Chinese companies, was handed over to Pakistan Army on Thursday, officials said.
UN/INDIA/PAKISTAN VOA 24 Sep 2004 -- The leaders of India and Pakistan have launched a fresh effort to improve the troubled relationship between the two nuclear-armed rivals. The two men met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York. They agreed on several confidence-building measures, including the possibility of a joint gas pipeline project.
UN/India/Pakistan VOA 23 Sep 2004 -- The leaders of South Asian rivals India and Pakistan are to meet Friday (tomorrow/today) on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly debate in New York. The meeting, and conciliatory remarks by both during their visit to New York, are being viewed as signs that the nuclear armed neighbors may be ready to put an end to nearly six decades of hostility.
Bush, Musharraf Discuss War on Terror, U.S. Aid to Pakistan Washington File 23 Sep 2004 -- The war on terror topped the agenda as President Bush met with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in New York September 22. The two leaders also discussed U.S. support for Pakistan's economic development efforts, according to a joint statement issued by the White House.
Pakistan rules out sending troops to Iraq IRNA 23 Sep 2004 -- Pakistan on Thursday ruled out dispatching its army to war-ravaged Iraq "under present circumstances".
MUSHARRAF / BUSH VOA 22 Sep 2004 -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf told the United Nations Wednesday his government will do everything it can to prevent terrorists operating from Pakistan from disrupting next month's elections in neighboring Afghanistan. Mr. Musharraf discussed the issue earlier in the day with President Bush.
Pakistan Working to Stop Terrorists from Disrupting Afghan Elections Washington File 22 Sep 2004 -- Pakistan will do all it can to prevent terrorists from using its territory to disrupt the Afghan presidential election October 9, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said September 22.
INDIA/US/PAK/NUCLEAR VOA 19 Sep 2004 -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meets this week in New York with President Bush and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.
Pakistan: Musharraf Backs Out Of Deal To Resign As Army Chief RFE/RL 16 Sep 2004 -- Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf is backing out of his promise to step down as army chief at the end of the year. Yesterday's announcement by the Information Ministry has infuriated the political opposition. Islamist members of parliament last year had agreed to enhance Musharraf's presidential powers -- but only in exchange for Musharraf's promise to resign as army chief of staff by the end of this year.
PAKISTAN/MUSHARRAF VOA 16 Sep 2004 -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has indicated he is reconsidering a promise to relinquish his second post as military chief later this year. The president's political allies have issued statements supporting the move, suggesting an official policy change is on the way.
Pakistan may get F-16 planes from US: Air Force chief IRNA 15 Sep 2004 -- Pakistan expects delayed delivery of some F-16 planes from the United States while delivery of two of the six Hercules C-130s is expected in December, local press reports said on Wednesday.
Pak Assembly passes biological, N-weapons export control bill IRNA 14 Sep 2004 -- Pakistan`s National Assembly on Tuesday passed the "Export Control on Goods, Technologies, Material and Equipment related to Nuclear and Biological Weapons and their Delivery Systems Bill, 2004".
PAKISTAN / NUCLEAR VOA 14 Sep 2004 -- Pakistan's parliament has passed legislation (on Tuesday) tightening controls on the export of weapons-making nuclear and biological technology, as well as missile delivery systems.
N-control bill to be tabled in Pak assembly IRNA 13 Sep 2004 -- Pakistan government will introduce a nuclear control bill in the Lower House of the Parliament on Monday and push for its enactment the same day, a local publication wrote.
Pakistan military confirms killing 50 armed foreigners IRNA 09 Sep 2004 -- Pakistan military and official media confirmed the death of some 50 armed foreigners in a raid by fighter planes in the country`s tribal region close to Afghan border on Thursday.
PAKISTAN/OFFENSIVE VOA 09 Sep 2004 -- Pakistan says it has destroyed a suspected training facility for foreign militants near the Afghan border. Military officials say 50 people died in the attack.
INDIA/PAKISTAN VOA 08 Sep 2004 -- India and Pakistan have expressed confidence that their ongoing dialogue will lead to a peaceful settlement of their disputes. The foreign ministers of the two countries held talks earlier this week in the Indian capital.
PAKISTAN/KASHMIR LEADERS VOA 06 Sep 2004 -- While in New Delhi for two-day peace talks with his Indian counterpart, Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri was allowed to meet with separatist leaders from Indian Kashmir in an effort to unite them.
INDIA / PAKISTAN TALKS WRAP VOA 06 Sep 2004 -- India's foreign minister says modest progress was made in two days of peace talks with his Pakistani counterpart in New Delhi. The decades-old Kashmir dispute is hindering progress.
INDIA PAKISTAN TALKS DAY ONE VOA 05 Sep 2004 -- Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers have ended the first day of peace talks in New Delhi on a satisfactory note.
INDIA/PRIME MINISTER VOA 04 Sep 2004 -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has expressed New Delhi's commitment to peace with Pakistan. He has also said his government would negotiate with any militant group willing to give up violence.
INDIA PAKISTAN TALKS OPEN VOA 04 Sep 2004 -- India and Pakistan's foreign ministers are opening (have opened) key talks in the process of building peace between the neighboring countries.
PAKISTAN/CABINET VOA 01 Sep 2004 -- Pakistan's new prime minister, Shaukat Aziz, has named a greatly expanded Cabinet, retaining most of the former ministers and adding at least 12 new faces.
August
PAKISTAN/PRIME MINISTER VOA 28 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan's former finance minister Shaukat Aziz has been sworn in as prime minister. The 55-year-old technocrat is a close ally of military leader President Pervez Musharraf.
PAKISTAN / PRIME MINISTER VOA 27 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan's parliament has elected former Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz as new prime minister of the country in a vote boycotted by the opposition.
Pakistan: Islamabad Says UN Calls for More Border Security 'Unfair' RFE/RL 26 Aug 2004 -- The UN's chief envoy in Afghanistan has called for greater security to safeguard Afghanistan's upcoming elections. But Jean Arnault's appeal prompted a strong reaction from Pakistan, which said it is already making considerable efforts to secure its border. Pakistan's UN ambassador told a UN Security Council briefing yesterday that most of Afghanistan's security problems are internal and that the international community needs to provide greater assistance to protect against interference in the October presidential polls.
PAKISTAN / TERROR VERDICT VOA 25 Aug 2004 -- An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan has sentenced nine men to life in prison for an attack nearly two years ago on the Macedonian diplomatic mission in Karachi.
PAKISTAN POLITICS VOA 25 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan's caretaker prime minister has stepped down, clearing the way for Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz to take control of the country's Parliament.
Pakistan: Western Diplomats Urge Islamabad To Rein In Taliban As Well As Al-Qaeda RFE/RL 24 Aug 2004 -- In Islamabad, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has promised visiting Afghan Transitional Administration Hamid Karzai that militants will not be allowed to use Pakistani territory to disrupt Afghanistan's 9 October election. But "The New York Times" newspaper is quoting Western diplomats in Kabul who say Pakistan's security forces are, in fact, turning a blind eye to Taliban fighters who have training camps in Pakistan's autonomous tribal regions. They also warn of intelligence reports saying the Taliban may be planning a series of major attacks in Afghanistan on election day.
PAKISTAN/AL-QAIDA/AFGHANISTAN VOA 23 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan's military says it has killed at least four suspected foreign militants hiding in a semi-autonomous tribal region near the Afghan border.
Pakistan: Islamabad Says It Has Stopped Al-Qaeda Plot To Kill Hundreds RFE/RL 23 Aug 2004 -- Officials in Islamabad say the recent arrest of 10 Al-Qaeda suspects has prevented a series of terrorist attacks in Pakistani cities that could have killed hundreds of people. They say suicide-bomb attacks were planned against President Pervez Musharraf's residence, Pakistani government buildings, and the U.S. Embassy.
Libyan plotted suicide attacks: Pak president IRNA 23 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan`s President General Pervez Musharraf has said that a Libyan Al-Qaeda suspect masterminded the two attempts on his life in December.
PAKISTAN TERRORISM VOA 22 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan has arrested least ten suspected terrorists planning attacks on key government buildings as well as the U.S. Embassy.
Talks with India to continue despite `infiltration charges` IRNA 21 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan`s Prime Minister Shujaat Hussain Saturday said that dialogue process with India will continue despite "infiltration charges" by some Indian leaders.
Pakistan Says Militants Killed Near Afghan Border RFE/RL 21 Aug 2004 -- The Pakistani military says that its forces were hunting Al-Qaeda linked rebels in the South Waziristan tribal region near the border with Afghanistan today.
PAKISTAN / AL-QAIDA VOA 20 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan has arrested two suspected al-Qaida members, following a shootout in the conservative western city of Peshawar.
PAKISTAN TORTURE VOA 19 Aug 2004 -- Pakistani police are investigating allegations that officers tortured and killed a detainee suspected of militant ties. Pakistan's Human Rights Commission believes police are regularly covering up such torture deaths.
PAKISTAN ELECTIONS VOA 19 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan's finance minister has won an election, paving his way to become the country's next prime minister. VOA's Michael Kitchen reports from Islamabad, the ruling party's choice to lead Parliament shows its new focus on economic issues.
PAKISTAN ELECTIONS VOA 18 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan's finance minister appears headed for victory in two by-elections, paving his way to become the country's next prime minister. The ruling party's choice to lead Parliament shows its new focus on economic issues.
PAKISTAN: THE OFFENSIVE AGAINST AL-QAIDA US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign Media Reaction 17 Aug 2004
PAKISTAN/MUSHARRAF/TERRORISM VOA 16 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf, a key ally in the U.S.-led war on terror, says terrorists linked to the al-Qaida network are being forced to fle
Pakistan denies US magazine report on al-Qaeda meet IRNA 16 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan military spokesman has denied remarks attributed to President General Pervez Musharraf in the American Time magazine`s interview that al-Qaeda members had held a meeting in the country`s tribal region in March this year.
Al-Qaeda on run from Pakistan, says Musharraf IRNA 16 Aug 2004 -- President General Pervez Musharraf has said that al-Qaeda is on run from Pakistan because of his government campaign against the group.
INDIA/PAKISTAN/TERRORISM VOA 15 Aug 2004 -- In India, at least 12 people have been killed and several injured in a powerful bomb blast in the northeastern state of Assam. The explosion took place as India and Pakistan celebrated their independence from British rule with vows to crush terrorism and improve relations with each other.
Pakistan says arrested five more `al-Qaeda` suspects IRNA 13 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan`s Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat has said that another five suspects have been arrested in two days, adding that it is far too soon to know if they are connected with al-Qaeda.
India/Pakistan: Talks Bolster Hopes For Peace Process RFE/RL 12 Aug 2004 -- India and Pakistan say two days of talks between their interior ministers have enhanced the peace process by allowing both sides to share their views on terrorism and drug smuggling. Both issues are linked to their wider dispute over the divided region of Kashmir. So far, the peace process launched in January has achieved little concrete progress beyond agreements for further talks. But one prominent U.S. expert on South Asia predicts the nuclear-capable neighbors will achieve a major breakthrough as soon as September that will reduce the risk of a nuclear confrontation.
PAKISTAN AL-QAIDA VOA 12 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan's interior minister says his country's aggressive pursuit of suspected al-Qaida operatives will continue, but warns that some news reports about the sweep are incorrect. The minister is also urging U.S. officials to keep information from the investigation secret.
PAKISTAN INDIA TALKS VOA 11 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan and India have wrapped up two days of talks, describing the meetings as "candid" and "constructive."
Pak security agencies enter Al-Qaeda network, says minister IRNA 10 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan`s Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that security agencies have entered into Al-Qaeda`s network.
PAKISTAN / INDIA / TALKS VOA 10 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan and India have begun a new round of talks in Islamabad (Tuesday) to discuss how to fight drug smuggling and terrorism.
World: U.S., Pakistani Authorities Hail Antiterrorism 'Breakthroughs' RFE/RL 09 Aug 2004 -- Pakistani and U.S. authorities say they have opened a new front in the war on terrorism. In the latest development, authorities in the United Arab Emirates arrested Qari Saifullah Akhtar, a leader of the outlawed Pakistan militant group Harakat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami, and delivered him to Islamabad on 8 August. U.S. officials say they believe Al-Qaeda's plans to attack the United States have been undermined by the recent arrests.
PAKISTAN / EXPLOSIONS VOA 08 Aug 2004 -- Two synchronized explosions near a religious school in Pakistan's largest city have killed at least seven people and injured dozens of others.
200 Al-Qaeda suspects arrested in two weeks in Pakistan IRNA 08 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan`s law-enforcement agencies have arrested as many as 200 Al-Qaeda suspects in two weeks, newspaper reports said on Sunday.
PAKISTAN/TERROR VOA 08 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan has taken custody of an alleged al-Qaida operative suspected of involvement in two assassination attempts on the country's president.
PAKISTAN/AL-QAIDA VOA 06 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan's nationwide crackdown on suspected al-Qaida operatives continues, as authorities detain 18 more people in Punjab province. The move follows the arrest of several high-profile al-Qaida members.
Pak President for more steps to upgrade N-programme IRNA 06 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan`s President General Pervez Musharraf has called for more measures to upgrade the country`s nuclear programme.
Pakistan to acquire P-30 aircraft, spares from US: Naval chief IRNA 06 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan hopes that the United States will provide P-30 aircraft and its spare parts, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Shahid Karimullah said here on return from his official visit to US on Thursday.
CHINA/PAKISTAN MILITARY VOA 06 Aug 2004 -- China and Pakistan have held joint anti-terror military exercises in China's predominantly Muslim northwestern region.
Pakistan: Islamabad Hoping Arrests Will Show It's Serious About Terrorism RFE/RL 05 Aug 2004 -- Recently, Pakistan has announced some major arrests in the international fight against terrorism, including some suspected Al-Qaeda members on the U.S. most-wanted list. Officials are reluctant to divulge all of the names, but the list includes a Tanzanian man said to be heavily involved in the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Africa. Pakistan says the arrests highlight its commitment to fighting terrorism. But just this week, "The New York Times" reported that elements in Pakistan continue to aid remnants of the Taliban militia in Afghanistan. Pakistani officials deny those allegations, but the report raises suspicions that no matter how many terrorists it arrests, Pakistan's involvement in the war on terror is half-hearted at best.
Pakistan takes new measures to fight terrorism: minister IRNA 05 Aug 2004 -- New measures are being taken to fight the war against international terrorism and for securing the country, Interior Minister Syed Faisal Saleh Hayyat said on Thursday.
Pakistan winning war on terror, says Musharraf IRNA 05 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan is winning its war on terrorism, which the government was confronting frontally, said President General Pervez Musharraf.
PAKISTAN/AL-QAIDA VOA 05 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan says that, in recent weeks, it has captured a total of 20 suspected al-Qaida militants, including locals and foreigners, and officials say much important information has been obtained from them.
PAKISTAN / SOUTH AFRICA TERROR VOA 04 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan is questioning two suspected South African terrorists captured by local police last week, but says it is too early to confirm reports that the men were planning attacks in their home country.
Pak military says foreign militants flushed out in tribal region IRNA 04 Aug 2004 -- The Pakistani military said on Tuesday that its security forces, during recent operations in the country`s tribal area, not only flushed out foreign militants but also gained control of the area and, in the process, have seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition.
Pakistan Says Has Captured High-Value Al-Qaeda Suspect VOA 04 Aug 2004 -- Pakistani Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat says one of several suspected Al-Qaeda operatives arrested by security forces in recent days has "a multi-million dollar bounty on his head."
Pakistan arrests more al-Qaeda suspects IRNA 03 Aug 2004 -- Authorities in Pakistan said Tuesday that more al-Qaeda suspects have been arrested over the past couple of days in the eastern Punjab province.
PAKISTAN / U-S TERROR VOA 02 Aug 2004 -- Security officials in Pakistan have uncovered valuable information from two senior members of the al-Qaida terror network.
PAK ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT VOA 02 Aug 2004 -- Pakistan's information minister says police are close to discovering who was behind last week's failed assassination attempt on the country's prime minister-designate.
July
Night curfew in Pak tribal areas IRNA 31 Jul 2004 -- A night curfew has been imposed in vast areas of the South Waziristan Agency in Pakistan`s tribal areas close to the Afghan border over the last three days.
PAKISTAN / MINISTER / ATTACK VOA 30 Jul 2004 -- Pakistan's prime minister-designate, Shaukat Aziz, has survived an assassination attempt. The suicide bomb attack in central Punjab province left at least five people dead.
Pakistan questioning top Al-Qaeda suspect: minister IRNA 30 Jul 2004 -- Authorities in Pakistan are questioning a top Al-Qaeda suspect, wanted by the United States, who was arrested in the country`s eastern Punjab province on Sunday, said Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat Friday.
PAKISTAN AL-QAIDA VOA 30 Jul 2004 -- Pakistan has captured an alleged al-Qaida ringleader wanted by the United States for the 1998 attacks on its embassies in East Africa. Authorities are hoping the arrest will lead to other key al-Qaida figures.
PAKISTAN AL-QAIDA VOA 29 Jul 2004 -- Pakistan has captured an alleged al-Qaida ringleader wanted by the United States for the 1998 attacks on its embassies in East Africa. Authorities are hoping the arrest will lead to other key al-Qaida figures.
Pak president, PM condemn killing of nationals in Iraq IRNA 29 Jul 2004 -- Pakistan`s President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain have condemned the reported murder of two kidnapped Pakistanis by their captors in Iraq.
Pakistan seeking bodies of nationals killed in Iraq, says FM IRNA 29 Jul 2004 -- Foreign Minister of Pakistan Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri Thursday said the government is in touch with its embassy in Iraq and with the Iraqi embassy in Pakistan for the recovery of the bodies of two executed Pakistanis.
Pak opposition warns against sending forces to Iraq IRNA 29 Jul 2004 -- Parliamentary parties in Pakistan on Thursday condemned killing of two Pakistan nationals in Iraq and warned the government not to send troops to the war-shattered country, as it will be against the aspirations of the people.
PAKISTAN / HOSTAGES / REACTION VOA 29 Jul 2004 -- The Pakistani government has denounced the slaying of two of its nationals by Iraqi militants, calling it a humanitarian and religious crime. Officials also dispute the militants' claim that Pakistan plans to send troops to Iraq.
PAKISTAN/INDIA/TALKS VOA 23 Jul 2004 -- Pakistan and India say they're committed to settling their territorial dispute over Kashmir. The divided region is at the center of decades of hostility between the two nuclear-armed rivals.
Pak, US hold nuclear safety talks - report IRNA 22 Jul 2004 -- For the first time, the United States and Pakistan discussed safety of Islamabad`s civilian nuclear reactor program in Washington.
PAKISTAN/INDIA/TALKS VOA 19 Jul 2004 -- Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan are set to meet this week in Islamabad to discuss a peace process to improve bilateral ties. The talks will take place on the sidelines of a meeting of the regional forum known as South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, SAARC.
Islamabad denies militant training camps in Pakistan IRNA 16 Jul 2004 -- Islamabad said Friday that there are no militant training camps in Pakistan, rejecting claims by the US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.
PAKISTAN/U-S/INDIA VOA 15 Jul 2004 -- The United States is again urging both India and Pakistan to take steps to reduce the violence plaguing the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir. During a trip to the region, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage urged India to improve the human rights situation in Kashmir, and urged Pakistan to dismantle remaining terrorist training camps. The top U.S. diplomat's visit comes ahead of peace talks between the two countries later this month.
US to buy small arms from Islamabad - Pak daily IRNA 15 Jul 2004 -- The United States will buy from Pakistan small arms and ammunition for Iraq and Afghanistan.
US to consider supply of necessary weapons to Pakistan: Armitage IRNA 15 Jul 2004 -- The United States will consider providing weapons to Pakistan to alleviate any security gap to deal with terrorism, visiting US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said on Thursday.
PAKISTAN/U-S/INDIA VOA 15 Jul 2004 -- The United States is again urging both India and Pakistan to take steps to reduce the violence plaguing the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir.
PAKISTAN/TERRORISM LAWS VOA 13 Jul 2004 -- Pakistan is planning to tighten its anti-terrorism laws in an effort to close legal loopholes. Pakistan's Interior Ministry believes progress in the fight against terrorism is greater than some think.
Pakistani army, militants clash in tribal region IRNA 11 Jul 2004 -- Pakistani troops and `foreign` militants clashed in the country`s tribal region on Sunday but there was no report of any casualty, a military spokesman said.
Pak, Afghan, US officials discuss military cooperation IRNA 09 Jul 2004 -- Pakistani, Afghan and US military and diplomatic officials have met in Afghanistan to develop a "common understanding" of current operations along the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan, said a US statement received here Friday.
Pakistan concerned over Indian defense budget increase: minister IRNA 09 Jul 2004 -- Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Friday Islamabad is "concerned" but not worried over the increase in the Indian defense budget.
June
Centcom chief Gen Abizaid begins Pakistan visit IRNA 29 Jun 2004 -- US Central Command Chief General John P Abizaid arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday on a two-day official visit to Pakistan, military said.
INDIA/PAKISTAN PEACE TALKS VOA 28 Jun 2004 -- India and Pakistan have agreed to hold a sustained dialogue to solve their long-standing dispute over Kashmir. The two countries will also reopen consulates in their largest cities, the latest sign that relations between the South Asian rivals are improving.
INDIA/PAK TALKS VOA 27 Jun 2004 -- Indian and Pakistan officials have opened talks in New Delhi aimed at tackling their dispute over Kashmir and easing five decades of hostility between them.
PAKISTAN/JAMALI VOA 26 Jun 2004 -- Pakistan's Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali has resigned from office.
INDIA/PAKISTAN NUCLEAR VOA 20 Jun 2004 -- India and Pakistan have agreed to establish a telephone hotline for nuclear issues and have pledged not to conduct further nuclear tests. The agreements are the fruit of two days of talks held in the Indian capital on confidence-building measures between the rivals.
Pakistan to strengthen intelligence agencies network, says PM IRNA 19 Jun 2004 -- Dubbing recent wave of killings as terror acts, Pakistan on Saturday decided to strengthen its network of intelligence agencies to effectively combat the menace.
INDIA/PAKISTAN NUCLEAR TALKS VOA 19 Jun 2004 -- Indian and Pakistani officials have opened talks in New Delhi on ways to reduce the risk of nuclear war between the two countries. Tthe talks aim to build confidence between the two governments.
PAKISTAN/AL-QAIDA VOA 18 Jun 2004 -- Security forces in Pakistan have killed a rebel tribal leader in an operation against al-Qaida-linked terror suspects in a remote mountainous region. Pakistani officials say that nearly 70 suspected terrorists have been killed in the area in less than two weeks.
INDIA/PAKISTAN/NUCLEAR TALKS/PREVIEW VOA 18 Jun 2004 -- An eight-member Pakistani delegation has arrived in India to hold talks on nuclear issues. The talks will focus on reducing the chances of a nuclear conflict between the two countries.
Pak planes pound `al-Qaeda` hide out IRNA 17 Jun 2004 -- Pakistani fighter planes pounded a suspected al-Qaeda hide out in the country`s tribal area on Thursday in a fresh offensive amid reports of clashes between `foreign` militants and Pakistani troops, a military spokesman and local correspondents said.
PAKISTAN OFFENSIVE VOA 17 Jun 2004 -- Security forces in Pakistan have launched a fresh offensive against al Qaida linked militants in a mountainous region on the border with Afghanistan. Clashes between Pakistani troops and alleged terrorists erupted earlier this month and have killed more than 50 militants and 18 government soldiers so far.
PAKISTAN/US ALLIANCE VOA 17 Jun 2004 -- Pakistan has welcomed President Bush's decision to name the nation a major non-NATO ally of the United States. Top government officials say the move is an acknowledgment of Pakistan's "positive role" in the U.S.-led war on terror.
Two militants, one soldier killed in Pak tribal clash IRNA 16 Jun 2004 -- At least two militants and one soldier died in a clash between Pakistani paramilitary forces and armed suspects early Wednesday in the country`s tribal region, close to the Afghan border.
Pakistan Arrests Al-Qaeda Suspects With Links to Uzbek Militants RFE/RL 14 Jun 2004 -- Pakistan says it has arrested a leading Al-Qaeda member along with at least eight foreign militants -- including some from Central Asia. Their previously unknown extremist group is being linked to Uzbek militants near Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.
Key Al-Qaeda suspect among 10 arrested: Pak official IRNA 14 Jun 2004 -- Pakistani law enforcement agencies have arrested a key Al-Qaeda suspect and nine others blamed for last week`s assassination attempt on a senior military commander, the interior and information ministers said Sunday.
Pakistan Arrests Al-Qaeda Suspects With Links to Uzbek Militants RFE/RL 14 Jun 2004 -- Authorities in Islamabad say they have arrested the nephew of a top former Al-Qaeda planner along with eight other Islamic militants suspected of carrying out recent attacks across southern Pakistan.
PAKISTAN/AL-QAIDA ARRESTS VOA 13 Jun 2004 -- Authorities in Pakistan say that they have arrested ten suspected foreign militants of the al-Qaida terror network, including a key member of the group with a one-million dollar bounty on his head.
Foreign militants cordoned in Pak tribal region: Army IRNA 12 Jun 2004 -- Pakistan security forces have cordoned three "targets" in the country`s semi-autonomous tribal areas where cross-firing with over 50 foreign militants continued on Friday, military spokesman Major Gen Shaukat Sultan said.
PAKISTAN/AFGHAN BORDER VOA 12 Jun 2004 -- Pakistan's air and ground forces intensified an offensive against suspected al-Qaida hideouts in a mountainous region near the border with Afghanistan. At least 61 people, including 18 government soldiers, have died as the fighting enters its fourth day.
PAKISTAN/AFGHAN BORDER VOA 11 jun 2004 -- In Pakistan, thousands of troops, supported by helicopter gunships are attacking suspected hideouts of the al-Qaida terror network in a semi-autonomous tribal region near the Afghan border. Nearly 60 people have died in the three-day offensive, including 15 government soldiers.
Pak Islamic groups reject use of force in tribal area IRNA 11 Jun 2004 -- Pakistani Islamic groups on Friday condemned the military operation in the country`s tribal region along the border with Afghanistan and called for its immediate halt.
Tribal operation to continue: Pak minister IRNA 11 Jun 2004 -- Security forces in Pakistan launched a major operation in the tribal region on Friday to eliminate "terrorists and extremists," Interior Minister Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat told the National Assembly.
PAK / AFGHAN BORDER FIGHTING VOA 11 Jun 2004 -- Military officials in Pakistan say thousands of troops are engaged in heavy fighting with suspected foreign militants for a third day in a tribal region bordering Afghanistan.
Seven soldiers among 10 killed in Karachi army convoy attack IRNA 10 Jun 2004 -- At least seven soldiers and two policemen were killed early Thursday morning in an attack on a convoy carrying local army commander in Pakistan`s violence-stricken port city of Karachi, a military spokesman said.
PAKISTAN/KARACHI ATTACK VOA 10 Jun 2004 -- In Pakistan, the army commander in the troubled city of Karachi has escaped an assassination attempt. The attack has left at least 10 people dead, mostly soldiers.
Bill to punish nuclear proliferation moved in Pak assembly IRNA 08 Jun 2004 -- In a significant development, the Pakistan government has moved a bill in the national assembly designed to punish nuclear proliferation.
Pakistan buys 13 Russian choppers IRNA 07 Jun 2004 -- Pakistan has purchased 13 new MI-17 helicopters from Russia, including 12 for the army at the cost of US dollar 50.7 million.
Japan criticizes Pakistan`s ballistic missile test IRNA 04 Jun 2004 -- Japan has expressed its "deep regret" over Pakistan`s testing of a ballistic missile.
Pakistan army hints new operation in tribal region IRNA 04 Jun 2004 -- Hinting a new military operation against foreign al-Qaeda suspects in a tribal region, Pakistan military said Thursday that security forces with fresh reinforcement have completed their development and established a number of additional check posts.
PAKISTAN VIOLENCE VOA 01 Jun 2004 -- In Pakistan, angry Shi'ite Muslims have clashed with police during funerals of 19 people killed in an apparent suicide bombing of a mosque Monday in Karachi.
May
PAKISTAN/BLAST VOA 31 May 2004 -- A bombing at a major Shiite Muslim mosque in Pakistan's largest city, Karachi, has left at least 15 people dead and dozens injured. The incident has prompted violent rioting in the area. The blast marks the second act of apparent religious violence there in as many days.
US delivers helicopters to Pakistan for border security IRNA 31 May 2004 -- The US government has delivered three HUEY II helicopters to Pakistan for use by the Ministry of Interior Air Wing, said a US Embassy news release received here on Monday.
PAKISTAN/ASSASSINATION VOA 30 May 2004 -- Mass riots have erupted across Pakistan's largest city, Karachi, after the assassination of one of the country's top religious leaders.
Pakistan test fires ballistic missile IRNA 29 May 2004 -- Pakistan on Saturday test fired a medium-range Ghauri missile, a military spokesman said.
Operation starts against Pak tribesmen who failed to hand over foreigners IRNA 29 May 2004 -- Scores of tribesmen were taken into custody in Pakistan`s semi-autonomous tribal belt on Saturday after their failure to offer any cooperation in the registration of foreign militants hiding there, reports from the area said.
US warplanes, copters intrude in Pak airspace: report CNA 29 May 2004 -- US warplanes and Apache helicopters violated Pakistan`s air space on Pak-Afghan border hours after a flag meeting was hold among US, Pakistani and Afghan officials in the area, press reports said Saturday.
Pakistan, China to hold regular naval exercises IRNA 29 May 2004 -- Pakistan and China have decided to continue holding naval exercises, particularly in non-traditional security fields to strengthen their defence capabilities and enhance processional skills.
MALAYSIA/NUCLEAR VOA 29 May 2004 -- Malaysia says it arrested a suspected senior figure in a network that traded in nuclear secrets because his presence in Malaysia exposed the country to possible attacks and economic sanctions.
PAKISTAN / NUCLEAR / ARREST VOA 28 May 2004 -- Malaysia has arrested a Sri Lankan businessman who is accused of acting as the chief financial officer in a Pakistani-led global nuclear weapons smuggling ring.
Pakistan to send 1700 troops to Burundi, Ivory Coast IRNA 27 May 2004 -- Pakistan will send an additional 1700 troops and other supporting personnel to Burundi and Ivory Coast that will take the total number of its troops to almost 10,000, a senior Pakistani diplomat said on Friday.
PAKISTAN MUSHARRAF ATTACKS VOA 27 May 2004 -- Pakistan's president and top military leader, General Pervez Musharraf, says junior army and air force officers were involved in two failed attempts on his life last year. The Pakistani leader escaped unhurt from the December bomb attacks on his motorcades.
U-S PAKISTAN BORDER VOA 27 May 2004 -- Pakistani and U-S military officials have met to discuss alleged incursions by U-S troops from Afghanistan into Pakistan.
PAKISTAN/INDIA VOA 24 May 2004 -- Pakistans President Pervez Musharraf says that in a telephone conversation with Indias new Prime Minister, they have agreed to continue a peace process aimed at resolving bilateral disputes.
India asks Pakistan to put back talks on nuclear issues- Islamabad IRNA 23 May 2004 -- Pakistan says India on Sunday requested for the postponement of the scheduled talks on nuclear confidence building measures, citing the reason that its external affairs minister has not yet taken office.
PAKISTAN/COMMONWEALTH VOA 22 May 2004 -- Pakistan is welcoming its readmission into the the 53-member Commonwealth, comprising mostly former British colonies. The Commonwealth announced its decision Saturday, saying the country has made progress on democratic reforms. The bloodless military coup in October 1999 that put President Pervez Musharraf in power had led to Pakistan's suspension from the group.
Pakistan Tells Foreign Fighters To Surrender RFE/RL 22 May 2004 -- Senior Pakistani military officials have repeated their demand that hundreds of Al-Qaeda-linked fighters near the Afghan border surrender to government authorities.
PAK-U-S VOA 21 May 2004 -- Pakistan's foreign minister says his country would consider contributing troops to help provide security in Iraq, but must consider domestic political repercussions before it makes any such move.
PAKISTAN / INDIA REACTION VOA 20 May 2004 -- Pakistan is welcoming Indian prime minister-designate Manmohan Singh's stated intention to continue the peace process with Islamabad.
POWELL / PAKISTAN VOA 19 May 2004 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell discussed South Asian issues, including the elections in India, Wednesday with Pakistan's foreign minister, Kursheed Mahmoud Kasuri. Both agreed they do not think the change in government in New Delhi will derail the peace process between India and Pakistan.
Pak troops re-deployed in tribal area: reports IRNA 18 May 2004 -- Pakistan has re-deployed troops in its tribal region near the Afghan border for possible action after foreign militants failed to accept an offer of amnesty.
Pakistan reports no breakthrough in foreign militants` registration IRNA 15 May 2004 -- Deadlock over the registration of foreign militants, said to be hiding in Pakistan`s tribal region, continued on Saturday as a strong local tribal commander has not agreed to a government`s call that all the foreigners must register themselves with the authorities.
PAKISTAN/INDIA/REACTION VOA 13 May 2004 -- Pakistan says it is confident the peace process with India will continue, despite the unexpected results of the Indian elections.
20 Pakistanis to be freed from Guantanamo: official IRNA 12 May 2004 -- The United States has agreed to release some 20 Pakistani prisoners held at the Guantanamo Bay jail in Cuba by the end of this month, a senior Pakistani official said on Wednesday.
Senior US official to discuss `serious issues` with Pak leadership IRNA 11 May 2004 -- The United States will take up "serious ssues" with Pakistan on Tuesday, local publication reported.
PAKISTAN/BORDER AREAS VOA 11 May 2004 -- In Pakistan, renegade tribesmen are refusing to provide the government details of suspected foreign militants believed to be hiding in a remote border region. Authorities insist they need the information to determine if the foreigners have links with al Qaida or any other terrorist organization.
Pakistan`s tribal areas in spot light IRNA 10 May 2004 -- Pakistan`s tribal areas, which did not grab so much media attention, habe been in the spot light since 9/11 events.
No deal on foreign suspects` registration: Pak tribal commander IRNA 09 May 2004 -- Pakistani tribesman who signed a peace deal with the military last month to end fighting in the country`s tribal region, said on Sunday registration of foreign militants, believed to be hiding there, is not part of the deal.
PAKISTAN/BOMBING VOA 07 May 2004 -- An apparent suicide bombing at a Pakistani mosque has left at least 12 worshippers dead and about 100 injured.
14 years jail term for N-proliferation in Pakistan IRNA 06 May 2004 -- Pakistan has approved a draft bill to prevent the proliferation of nuclear and biological technology, material weapons and their delivery system.
PAKISTAN/U-S/MILITARY VOA 05 May 2004 -- Pakistan says it has lodged a protest with the United States over what it says is an incursion into its territory by U-S troops hunting fighters linked to the al-Qaida terror network. The U-S military has not commented.
Coalition forces intrude into Pak territory: reports IRNA 05 May 2004 -- US-led coalition forces intruded into Pakistani territory and searched a number of shops before moving back to Afghanistan on Monday evening, press reports said Wednesday.
PAKISTAN / CHINA / NUCLEAR VOA 04 May 2004 -- China has signed an agreement to build a second nuclear power plant in Pakistan.
PAKISTAN/CHINA BLAST VOA 04 May 2004 -- Authorities in Pakistan have detained 13 men in connection with a car bombing that killed three Chinese engineers Monday in the southwest of the country.
Gwadar bomb exploded by remote control: Pak Minister IRNA 03 May 2004 -- A remote control was used in a car bomb near a deep sea port in Pakistan southwestern Baluchistan`s province which killed three Chinese engineers and injured eleven other people, including nine Chinese nationals, a minister said on Monday.
PAKISTAN/BOMB VOA 03 May 2004 -- An apparent bomb explosion in southeastern Pakistan has killed three Chinese nationals and left 11 others injured, some critically.
Pakistan, India to hold nuclear talks on May 25-26 IRNA 02 Apr 2004 -- Pakistan and India are set to hold nuclear talks later this month as part of confidence-building measures between the nuclear-armed rival neighbors.
April
No foreign militant surrendered as deadline ends in Pak tribal area IRNA 30 Apr 2004 -- Not a single foreign militant said to be hiding in Pakistani tribal areas appeared for registration as the deadline for their surrender to the authorities passed on Friday, an official said.
PAKISTAN/MILITARY CUTS VOA 28 Apr 2004 -- Pakistan plans to cut 50-thousand soldiers from the army as part of a restructuring plan to save money and make its forces more "hard-hitting." This is the first military reduction in Pakistan, one of Asia's poorest countries.
AFRICA/W-M-D THREAT VOA 27 Apr 2004 -- The African Union is expressing deep concern about the possibility of some uranium-rich, but economically impoverished African countries selling the raw materials needed to manufacture weapons of mass destruction. The founder of Pakistan's nuclear program may have made numerous trips to Africa, seeking to obtain and traffic nuclear material.
PAKISTAN/AL-QAIDA VOA 24 Apr 2004 -- After months of off-and-on fighting in Pakistan's remote tribal region, renegade tribesmen have accepted the government's offer of an amnesty.
Pakistan welcomes Indian response to nuclear talks IRNA 21 Apr 2004 -- Pakistan has welcomed the Indian response to its proposal to hold talks on nuclear confidence building measures.
PAKISTAN/KHALILZAD VOA 20 Apr 2004 -- The United States' ambassador to Afghanistan has tempered his recent criticism of neighboring Pakistan, after the Pakistanis lodged a formal protest with Washington.
Key reshuffle in Pak Army this year - report IRNA 20 Apr 2004 -- Notwithstanding whether or not President General Pervez Musharraf will quit as army chief, the Pakistan army will get two full generals, five lieutenant generals with dozens of promotions this year, a local publication wrote Tuesday.
Troops for Iraq under UN mandate: Pakistan IRNA 19 Apr 2004 -- Pakistan hinted on Monday to send troops to Iraq under UN mandate.
PAKISTAN/AL-QAIDA VOA 19 Apr 2004 -- Hundreds of Pakistani tribesmen are continuing their hunt for suspected terrorists in a remote region near the Afghan border. A government deadline for tribal leaders to flush the militants out, or face military action expires on Tuesday.
Pak Navy to join US-led coalition plan IRNA 17 Apr 2004 -- The Pakistan Navy will join the US-led Coalition Maritime Campaign Plan (CMCP) next week in line with the country`s general policy of participation in international peacekeeping/peace enforcing efforts.
Pak FM rules out "foreign intervention" IRNA 14 Apr 2004 -- Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said Pakistan as a sovereign state will not allow any foreign intervention in its internal matters.
Pakistan says pardon to Dr. Khan was conditional IRNA 14 Apr 2004 -- The government of Pakistan on Wednesday said that the pardon granted to senior nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan was conditional on his continued cooperation with the nuclear proliferation investigation.
PAKISTAN/IRAQ VOA 14 Apr 2004 -- For the first time, Pakistan says it will consider a request from the United States to send some of its troops to Iraq. Pakistan insists a deployment would have to be linked to a United Nations presence in Iraq.
Pak Army setting up air base in Wana IRNA 12 Apr 2004 -- The Pakistan Army is establishing a military air base in South Waziristan`s Wana area as part of operations to take on Al-Qaeda and Taliban elements.
Afghan refugees to shift before action in Pak tribal belt IRNA 12 Apr 2004 -- Pakistan plans to shift some 40 thousand Afghan refugees from North Waziristan Agency to Tank district in Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP), as reports said another military operation is in the offing.
Another missile test-fire any time: Pak scientist IRNA 12 Apr 2004 -- Pakistan`s prominent nuclear scientist Dr Samar Mubarakmand has said that second test-fire of Shaheen-II missile would be conducted any time.
Pakistan favors peaceful use of N-technology: Kasuri IRNA 12 Apr 2004 -- Pakistan`s Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmoo Kasuri said on Monday his country looks forward to increasing technical cooperation among member countries of the Regional Cooperation Agreement (RCA) for the promotion of peaceful use of nuclear technology for socio-economic development.
PAKISTAN/POL VOA 12 Apr 2004 -- A Pakistani court has sentenced a key opposition leader and lawmaker to 23 years in prison for defaming the army and other charges.
US plans $ 700m Pakistan package IRNA 11 Apr 2004 -- The US administration is increasing its financial assistance to Pakistan during the next fiscal year, as it has proposed a package of US dollar 700 million for Islamabad.
Pakistan pilots test Thunder aircraft IRNA 09 Apr 2004 -- Pakistan Air Force pilots on Friday tested the JF-17 Thunder aircraft.
Pakistan fighter plane crashes, pilot dies IRNA 08 Apr 2004 -- A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter plane crashed in eastern Punjab province on Thursday while on a training mission, killing the pilot, PAF spokesman said.
Foreign forces won`t be allowed to conduct operations: Pak minister IRNA 07 Apr 2004 -- Pakistan on Wednesday declared that no US or allied troops would be allowed to conduct any operation inside the country against Al-Qaeda and Taleban terrorist suspects.
U-S / AFGHANISTAN VOA 06 Apr 2004 -- The U-S ambassador to Afghanistan says Pakistan misunderstood remarks he made earlier about Islamabad's efforts to clean out terrorist sanctuaries along the border area. The ambassador's remarks ignited a firestorm in Pakistan.
Pakistan angrily reacts to US envoy`s remarks over Taliban IRNA 06 Apr 2004 -- Pakistan angrily reacted on Tuesday to remarks by US Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmey Khalilzad on the Taliban`s activities in Pakistan, describing his remarks as irresponsible.
PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN / U-S VOA 06 Apr 2004 -- Pakistan officials are angrily rejecting criticism by the U-S ambassador to Afghanistan about Islamabad's anti-terror efforts.
Pakistan seeks nuclear talks with India IRNA 05 Apr 2004 -- Pakistan has proposed to India talks on nuclear confidence-building measures (CBMs) next month, Foreign Office announced in Islamabad on Monday.
PAKISTAN / INDIA / TALKS VOA 05 Apr 2004 -- Pakistan has offered to hold nuclear disarmament talks with India next month in Islamabad.
PAKISTAN/SHOOTING VOA 04 Apr 2004 -- Authorities in Pakistan say unknown gunmen have killed five policemen (Sunday) in what they are calling a terrorist attack in the southern city of Karachi.
Pak tribal hit force to punish mly convoy`s killers IRNA 01 Apr 2004 -- More than 3,000 armed tribesmen from the Mahsud tribe in South Waziristan will build up a force that is set to launch operation against suspects who killed 20 troops, causing injuries to 24 in an ambush on a military convoy on March 22.
Pakistan may sign frigate deal with China in June - Navy IRNA 01 Apr 2004 -- Pakistan Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Shahid Karimullah has said Pakistan would sign a deal with China for supply of four frigates in June, local press quoted him saying.
March
W-M-D/NONPROLIFERATION VOA 30 Mar 2004 -- A top U-S official says the Bush administration is pressing ahead with efforts to learn all it can about the details and extent of the nuclear proliferation network of Pakistani scientist, A. Q. Khan. Undersecretary of State for arms control, John Bolton, appeared (Tuesday) before a congressional committee examining U-S nonproliferation policy and ongoing efforts with Iran and North Korea.
PAKISTAN / ANTITERRORISM VOA 30 Mar 2004 -- In a just-completed operation, Pakistani army troops launched a massive offensive against suspected terrorist hideouts in a remote border region. Officials have declared the operation a success and the troops have been withdrawn from the area. But expectations may have been too high about the operation.
Pakistan: Offensive Against Suspected Militants In South Waziristan Ends RFE/RL 30 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan has started withdrawing its troops from the tribal region near the border with Afghanistan after a major offensive. No major Al-Qaeda or Taliban militants appear to have been captured or killed, however, and analysts say the operation cannot be termed a success.
PAKISTAN/AL-QAIDA VOA 30 Mar 2004 -- Authorities in Pakistan say suspected Islamic militants have shot dead two government hostages in a remote tribal region near the Afghan border. The mountainous area has been the scene of bloody clashes between security forces and armed fighters linked to the al-Qaida terror network for nearly two weeks.
Pak gov`t plans tribal areas` disarmament IRNA 29 Mar 2004 -- The Pakistan government plans to launch a disarmament campaign in the country`s tribal areas shortly.
Pak forces achieve "major objectives" in tribal area operation IRNA 29 Mar 2004 -- The Pakistan government has wounded up its operation in Kaloosha South Waziristan region, saying it has achieved its "major objectives."
Al-Qaeda intelligence chief killed in tribal operation: Pak spokesman IRNA 29 Mar 2004 -- A key member of al-Qaeda was killed during the 12-day operation in tribal region, bordering Afghanistan, a military spokesman said Monday.
PAKISTAN/AL-QAIDA VOA 29 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan says its troops have killed the spy chief of the al-Qaida terror network in the recently concluded military operation near the Afghan border.
PAKISTAN / MUSHARRAF VOA 28 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan's president, General Pervez Musharraf, is downplaying concerns about his safety, saying he is not losing any sleep over recent terrorist threats against his life.
Pak tribes hand over 12 military captives IRNA 28 Mar 2004 -- Militants in Wana, South Waziristan tribal agency, handed over 12 of the 14 officials they had captured to representatives of the local jirga comprising tribal elders and religious leaders.
500 Pak mariners to leave for Iraq next week: report IRNA 28 Mar 2004 -- A contingent of the Pakistan Navy will leave for Iraq next week, a local publication reported Sunday.
PAKISTAN/AL-QAIDA VOA 28 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan says a two-week military campaign against suspected al-Qaida militants near the Afghan border is now in its final stages. The military says it has killed more than 60 foreign militants and their local supporters, and detained about 160 others.
Ex-Pak PM Bhutto decries "corruption" in military IRNA 27 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan`s Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto Saturday expressed shock at the reports of a forty billion rupees massive corruption scandal within the army which was tabled to the Parliament following an audit report.
Terrorists serving nothing to Islam, harming Pakistan: Musharraf IRNA 27 Mar 2004 -- Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf says that tribal operations are being carried out against terrorists who are harming Islam.
Pak tribals agree to handover 12 captives Sunday IRNA 27 Mar 2004 -- The militants in Wana, South Waziristan tribal agency on Saturday agreed to hand over 12 of the 14 officials to the representatives of Jirga comprising on tribal elders and religious leaders.
PAKISTAN / AL-QAIDA VOA 26 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan has condemned as malicious and baseless a taped message said to be from a senior member of the al-Qaida terror network, calling for the overthrow of the government of President Pervez Musharraf, a close U-S ally in the war on terrorism.
Pakistan: Clashes Continue As Islamabad Maintains Offensive Against Suspected Militants RFE/RL 24 Mar 2004 -- Pakistani forces are continuing to fight suspected Al-Qaeda militants and their supporters in the country's tribal area near the Afghan border, while internal opposition to the offensive appears to be growing.
Pakistan`s missile, N-program continuing: scientist IRNA 23 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan`s nuclear scientist Samar Mubarakmand has said Pakistan`s missile and nuclear programs are continuing as the government has provided necessary budgetary resources.
Chinese Defence Minister for furthering Pak-China ties IRNA 23 Mar 2004 -- The Defence Minister of China, General Cao Gangchuan, has said that Beijing wants to further enhance and strengthen its relations with Islamabad in all areas concerning the three services, it was officially announced Tuesday.
3 Pak troops killed, 4 wounded in missile attack IRNA 23 Mar 2004 -- At least three Pakistan Army troops have been killed and four others injured when unidentified gunmen attacked their check-post with rockets in tribal belt, raising the number of soldiers, casualties to 15 in less than 24 hours.
PAKISTAN / TRIBAL AREAS VOA 22 Mar 2004 -- The border areas where al-Qaida militants are battling Pakistan army troops have long been lawless regions where the central government has no control. In moving troops into the region, the Pakistan government is breaking a mutual understanding with the fiercely independent tribesmen who live there.
PAKISTAN/AL-QAIDA VOA 22 Mar 2004 -- Authorities in Pakistan say some suspected members of the al-Qaida terror network may have escaped a weeklong siege near the Afghan border through a series of secret tunnels. Thousands of Pakistani troops have surrounded the heavily armed militants, many of the foreigners, in a remote mountainous tribal region known as South Waziristan.
Non-NATO US ally status to benefit Pakistan: Spokesman IRNA 22 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan said Monday it would benefit from military sales, training and in research and development programmes after being notified as a non-NATO US military ally.
US paying Pakistan $100m monthly for logistics support: report IRNA 22 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan receives almost $100 million per month, on account of logistics support, it provides to the US troops in the war against terrorism, reports said Monday.
Pakistan protests airspace violation by US chopper IRNA 22 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan has lodged protest on air space violation by an American chopper across border with Afghanistan in Waziristan tribal region, local media reported Monday.
Anti-Al Qaeda tribal operation to continue: Pak Military Spokesman IRNA 22 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan said on Monday the operation in tribal area is going on and will continue till all the terrorists and those giving them refuge surrender voluntarily, apprehended or evicted.
Pakistan Probes Suspects Arrested In Al-Qaeda Battle RFE/RL 21 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan intelligence officials are today interrogating over 100 fighters arrested in the battle with Al-Qaeda suspects and their local tribal supporters near the frontier with Afghanistan.
100 arrested in anti Al-Qaeda operation: Pak military IRNA 20 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan military said Saturday that 100 miscreants, including foreign militants, have been arrested in four days in operation against Taliban and al-Qaeda suspects and those harbouring them in tribal area, bordering Afghanistan.
US-led coalition `mistaken" fire pounds Pak territory IRNA 20 Mar 2004 -- Helicopters of US-led coalition forces, engaged in operation against Taliban and al-Qaeda along Pak-Afghan border, have pounded Pakistani territory "mistakenly", a government official said Saturday.
PAKISTAN/AL QAIDA VOA 20 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan says a fierce military offensive has captured dozens of suspected al-Qaida militants, and the operation is continuing in a remote mountainous region near the Afghan border. Military officials say the militants may include a senior Chechen or Uzbek leader.
PAKISTAN / AL-QAIDA VOA 19 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan says its forces have surrounded as many as 400 foreign and local militants in a remote tribal region near the Afghan border. As Ayaz Gul reports from Islamabad, officials say the gunmen possibly include a top member of the al-Qaida terror network.
Rice Adopts 'Wait and See' Mode Toward Action in Pakistan AFPS 19 Mar 2004 -- Whether al Qaeda's second-in-command is, indeed, surrounded in a firefight near the Afghanistan border in Pakistan remains unknown, the president's national security advisor said in television interviews today.
Pakistan: U.S. Rewards Islamabad For Antiterrorism Alliance RFE/RL 19 Mar 2004 -- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell gave Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf an unexpected sweetener during his visit to Islamabad yesterday. He said that the United States will recognize Pakistan a "a major non-NATO ally."
Pak military: 2 `foreigners` killed, 8 arrested in operation IRNA 19 Mar 2004 -- At least two "foreigners", apparently Arab and Chechen, were killed as Pakistani troops used gunship helicopters and artillery on the fourth day of operations in tribal regions against al-Qaeda suspects and local tribesmen whom the government says have given shelter to suspected militants, a military spokesman said.
PAKISTAN/AL-QAIDA VOA 19 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan's military forces have continued to pound suspected hideouts of the al-Qaida terror network near the Afghan border. The militants are said to be putting up fierce resistance, leading to suggestions they may be trying to protect a senior al-Qaida leader.
Powell Praises Musharraf's Commitment to Oppose Terror, Proliferation Washington File 18 Mar 2004 -- The status of Pakistani military operations in the northwestern border provinces and the unfolding story of the A.Q. Khan nuclear proliferation network were among questions fielded by Secretary of State Colin Powell en route to Kuwait March 18.
Pakistan May Have No. 2 Al Qaeda Leader Surrounded AFPS 18 Mar 2004 -- Pakistani officials believe they have the No. 2 man in al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, cornered.
PAKISTAN/AL-QAIDA VOA 18 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf says government forces may have surrounded "a high value target" in a remote tribal region bordering Afghanistan. Pakistani troops are engaged in a major operation in the region aimed at flushing out suspected
AL ZAWAHARI / AL QAIDA VOA 18 Mar 2004 -- Senior Pakistani officials say they believe troops may have surrounded a top al-Qaida member in a remote tribal region bordering Afghanistan. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say troops believe they have cornered Osama bin Laden's deputy Ayman al-Zawahari. President Pervez Musharraf said in a pre-recorded interview with C-N-N today (Thursday) that a high valued target could be among the militants because of the stiff resistance by those fighting government troops. U-S officials have not speculated on the identity of the high value target.
U.S. Will Designate Pakistan a Major Non-NATO Ally Washington File 18 Mar 2004 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell said the United States will designate Pakistan as a "major non-NATO ally," signaling closer military relations between the two countries.
Pakistani President Says 'High-Value Target' Surrounded RFE/RL 18 Mar 2004 -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said in an interview with CNN today that Pakistani forces have a "high-value target surrounded" in a security operation in northern Pakistan.
POWELL / PAKISTAN VOA 18 Mar 2004 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell is in Kuwait after a three-nation South Asian tour, capped by talks Thursday with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on the A-Q Khan nuclear proliferation network and military operations on the Pakistani-Afghan border.
Pak forces launch helicopter operation in tribal areas IRNA 18 Mar 2004 -- Pakistani troops have used helicopter gunships in operation in tribal region against al-Qaeda suspects and local tribesmen who the government says have given shelter to foreign militants, military spokesman said.
Pak military: Anti Al-Qaeda operation progressing smoothly IRNA 18 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan military has said that a major operation launched on Thursday in tribal belt to nab miscreants and foreign elements hiding in the border area is progressing smoothly.
POWELL-PAKISTAN VOA 18 Mar 2004 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell met President Pervez Musharraf and other senior Pakistan officials in Islamabad for talks on terrorism, nuclear-non-proliferation and India-Pakistan peace efforts. Underlining the increasingly-close bilateral relationship, Mr. Powell said Pakistan is being designated as a major non-NATO U-S ally.
Pakistan/U.S.: Powell, Musharraf to Discuss Terrorism, Proliferation, Kashmir RFE/RL 17 Mar 2004 -- America's top diplomat, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, is due to arrive in Pakistan later today for talks with President Pervez Musharraf.
POWELL/PAKISTAN VOA 17 Mar 2004 -- U-S Secretary of State Colin Powell is in Islamabad for talks with President Pervez Musharraf and other officials Thursday on military efforts against Taleban and al-Qaida remnants along the Pakistan-Afghan border. He will also seek more information on the proliferation ring of Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan.
PAKISTAN / TERROR VOA 17 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan says fierce clashes between security forces and suspected terrorists near the border with Afghanistan have left at least 40 people dead, including 15 paramilitary troops.
Powell to arrive in Islamabad amid "fears of talks on N-program" IRNA 16 Mar 2004 -- Amid apprehensions by all opposition parties over Pakistan`s nuclear program, United States Secretary of State Colin Powell is to arrive here on Wednesday.
Pakistan rules out compromise on N-program IRNA 16 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan on Tuesday categorically ruled out any compromise on the national nuclear program.
PAKISTAN / AFGHAN REBELS VOA 16 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan says four of its paramilitary soldiers were killed and two injured during a day-long operation in the country's semi-autonomous tribal region Tuesday. Three suspected militants were also killed.
PAKISTAN / U-S BOMB VOA 15 Mar 2004 -- Pakistani police have defused a large car bomb planted outside the U-S Consulate in the port city of Karachi. The attempted bombing comes as U-S Secretary of State Colin Powell prepares to visit the country.
PAKISTAN/LIBYA VOA 15 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf says a Libyan member of the al Qaida terror network was behind two attempts on his life in December.
U.S. Urges Pakistani Restraint in Nuclear and Missile Tests Washington File 10 Mar 2004 -- Answer to question taken at March 9 State Department briefing
U-S / PAKISTAN VOA 10 Mar 2004 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell is scheduled to leave Sunday (3/14) (has left) for a trip to South Asia, including stops in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. The trip to Islamabad is expected to involve discussions on hunting down the remnants of the al-Qaida terrorist organization and cooperation on crushing a recently revealed proliferation network run by Pakistan's top nuclear scientist.
Pakistan testfires N-capable Shahin-II missile IRNA 09 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan said Tuesday it "successfully" testfired a nuclear-capable ballistic missile.
Pak missile test to relax roll-back compromise apprehensions IRNA 09 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan Tuesday test-fired its first intermediate range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, capable of carrying nuclear warheads deep into distant targets, which aimed at satisfying the opposition at home and also airing a message to the international community of continuation of its strategic arms program.
PAKISTAN MISSILE VOA 09 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan has successfully test-fired an intermediate-range missile that is capable of reaching all of neighboring India's major cities. The missile is also capable of carrying nuclear payloads.
Pakistan to retaliate against Indo-Israel radar deal "soon" IRNA 06 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan said Friday it will shortly retaliate against India`s deal to purchase three Falcon airborne early warning radar systems from the Zionist regime, saying this would disturb the strategic balance in South Asia.
IAEA/LIBYA/IRAN VOA 06 Mar 2004 -- The International Atomic Energy Agency opens several days of top-level meetings Monday, and Iran and Libya will be high on the agenda. The agency's board of governors also is expected to discuss the nuclear technology network run by Pakistan's top nuclear scientist, Abdul Qadeer Khan.
Pakistan rejects report about N-transfer to Nigeria IRNA 05 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan has rejected a news item issued by an international news agency, attributing to General Muhammad Aziz Khan, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, regarding unspecific military assistance including nuclear power to Nigeria, local media said Friday.
POWELL / SOUTH ASIA VOA 05 Mar 2004 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell will visit India, Pakistan and Afghanistan on a week-long South Asian trip later this month. He'll lend support to revived peace talks between India and Pakistan and discuss reconstruction and counter-terrorism efforts in Afghanistan.
PAKISTAN / BRITAIN / NUCLEAR VOA 04 Mar 2004 -- British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is praising Pakistan for its crackdown on nuclear proliferation. His statement, made on a visit to Islamabad, follows calls by France for Pakistan to join an international forum on nuclear issues.
Pak puts 5,000 soldiers along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir IRNA 03 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan has moved about 5,000 soldiers to the line of Control (LoC) to back up, for the first time ever, its claims of doing its best to prevent cross-border militancy.
Pakistan to test series of ballistic missiles soon - spokesman IRNA 03 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan Wednesday announced the testing of its series of ballistic missiles Shaheen `soon` as part of President General Pervez Musharraf`s recent announcement that Islamabad will continue improving its strategic arms for self defense.
PAKISTAN: Authorities arrest suspect in connection with Quetta attacks IRIN 03 Mar 2004 -- Pakistani authorities have arrested a man suspected of being involved in a deadly attack on Tuesday on a religious procession in the city of Quetta, capital of the south-western province of Baluchistan which borders Afghanistan, according to the country's information minister.
PAKISTAN BOMBING VOA 03 Mar 2004 -- Officials in Pakistan say the death toll has reached at least 43 in Tuesday's attack on a Shi'ite religious procession. The dead include six police officers reported to have been killed in the cross-fire.
PAKISTAN / ATTACK VOA 02 Mar 2004 -- In Pakistan, gunmen have killed at least 37 people in an attack on a procession of Shi'ite Muslim mourners marking a major religious holiday. More than 100 worshippers were injured; hospital officials say the death toll could rise because some of the wounded are in critical condition.
Pakistan rejects report of deal with US on Osama hunt PLA Daily 02 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan Monday categorically rejected reports that it would allow US troops to use Pakistani territory to hunt for Osama bin Laden, the elusive al-Qaeda leader.
Eight Al-Qaeda men held in Pak province IRNA 01 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan`s law-enforcement agencies have arrested eight Al-Qaeda suspects in the last 48 hours in Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP).
Pakistan rejects deal with US on Bin Laden hunt IRNA 01 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan has rejected reports that it would allow American troops inside Pakistani territory to hunt for Osama Bin Laden.
PAKISTAN TRIBAL AREA VOA 01 Mar 2004 -- Pakistan plans to investigate the reported deaths of 11 civilians in its semi-autonomous tribal area, following what the army says was a shoot-out with suspected militants. The military also denies a report that U-S forces will be allowed to search for alleged terrorists in the region.
February
Pak President shocked by tribal killings, orders inquiry IRNA 29 Feb 2004 -- Pakistan`s President General Pervez Musharraf Sunday ordered a probe into the killing of eleven persons by soldiers in the country`s tribal region, bordering Afghanistan.
France says Pakistan`s N-capability a "reality" IRNA 28 Feb 2004 -- France acknowledged Monday that Pakistan`s nuclear capability is a "reality" and "fact".
PAKISTAN/OSAMA VOA 28 Feb 2004 -- A top U-S anti-terrorism official says al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is on the run, amid what officials say is an intensifying hunt for fugitive members of the terror network. The U-S official says he believes Osama bin Laden wil
Pakistan Nuclear Network VOA 27 Feb 2004 -- The man known as the father of Pakistan's nuclear program was pardoned in January after admitting he leaked nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea.
Pak-Russia anti-terrorism talks fruitful: Russian diplomat IRNA 26 Feb 2004 -- A senior Russian diplomat here on Thursday said Pakistan and Russian officials held "fruitful" discussions on the cooperation against terrorism this week.
Pakistan committed to nuclear non-proliferation: PM PLA Daily 26 Feb 2004 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali here on Wednesday said the country is a responsible nuclear state and it is firmly committed to nuclear non-proliferation.
Pakistan to maintain nuclear edge: spokesman PLA Daily 26 Feb 2004 -- Pakistan will maintain competitive edge of its nuclear program and enhance this capability qualitatively and quantitatively, Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan said Wednesday.
Pak army gets first consignment of 80 Chinese-origin tanks IRNA 26 Feb 2004 -- Pakistan Army on Thursday was handed over the first consignment of eighty upgraded Al-Zarar tanks of Chinese origin to meet its operational needs.
Pak intelligence agency chief replaced IRNA 26 Feb 2004 -- Citing no reasons, Prime Minister of Pakistan Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has replaced the director general of Pakistan`s Intelligence Bureau (IB).
PAKISTAN COMMONWEALTH VOA 26 Feb 2004 -- The Commonwealth appears set to readmit Pakistan, after the international group suspended the South Asian nation four years ago. Pakistan sees the move as symbolic but important.
South Asia: Pakistan Clamps Down On Al-Qaeda, Taliban Suspects As Reports Fly Over Bin Laden's Whereabouts RFE/RL 25 Feb 2004 -- Pakistani troops have arrested some 20 suspects in an operation aimed at tracking down Al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters believed to be hiding in remote tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan. This latest offensive comes amid heightened speculation that U.S.-led forces are closing in on Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
Pakistan, Russia set to boost defense ties IRNA 25 Feb 2004 -- Pakistan said on Wednesday it is set to reinvigorate relations with Russia and expand bilateral relations in all fields particularly defense and communications.
Pakistan to maintain nuclear edge: spokesman IRNA 25 Feb 2004 -- Pakistan will maintain competitive edge of its nuclear program and enhance the capability "qualitatively and quantitatively", Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan said Wednesday.
Pakistan Arrests 20 Suspects in Hunt for Al-Qaida Members VOA News 25 Feb 2004 -- Pakistan has arrested at least 20 suspects as it wrapped up a new operation to flush out suspected foreign terrorists in its semi-autonomous tribal area. The operation may provide important leads in the hunt for members of the al-Qaida terror network.
Pak army launches operation against foreign suspects IRNA 24 Feb 2004 -- Pakistan army on Tuesday launched major operation in remote tribal areas, bordering Afghanistan, to capture al-Qaeda and Taliban suspects, believed to be hiding there, an army spokesman said.
IRAN NUCLEAR VOA 22 Feb 2004 -- Iran has admitted that it has acquired some components for its nuclear program from dealers in South Asia, but it stopped short of saying they were part of a nuclear proliferation ring led by Pakistan's top nuclear scientist. The Iranian government says it has reported all of its purchases to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Pak troops deploying in tribal areas for anti-Al Qaeda operation IRNA 21 Feb 2004 -- The authorities in Pakistan`s semi-autonomous areas, close to the border with Afghanistan have started deployment of troops ahead of impending action against terrorists, reports said.
Pak, US officials hold talks on arms control IRNA 20 Feb 2004 -- Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control Stephen Rademaker held talks on strategic stability with Pakistani officials in Islamabad on Friday, Pakistan`s Foreign Office said.
PAKISTAN/PROLIFERATION VOA 20 Feb 2004 -- Malaysian police say Pakistan's top nuclear scientist made three-million-dollars from one black-market sale of nuclear weapons material. A police report, based on Malaysia's questioning of a suspected middleman in the transaction, also says that illegal deals by Abdul Qadeer Khan sent nuclear technology to Libya and Iran.
PAKISTAN/MILITARY OPERATION VOA 20 Feb 2004 -- Pakistan is stepping up efforts to hunt down suspected terrorists believed to be hiding in its semi-autonomous tribal area. The move comes amid what the U-S military is describing as an intense hunt for fugitive leaders of the al-Qaida terror network.
Hailing progress in talks between India and Pakistan, Annan urges leaders to stay course UN News Centre 19 Feb 2004 -- Encouraged by the "steady progress" being made in the bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today urged the two South Asian neighbours to press forward in tackling sensitive issues.
Pakistan, India agree to peace roadmap IRNA 18 Feb 2004 -- Pakistan and India agreed on Wednesday to a roadmap for composite dialogue to discuss and arrive at peaceful settlement of all bilateral issues including Jammu and Kashmir to the satisfaction of both sides.
EU Troika, Pakistan to discuss N-proliferation, terrorism IRNA 18 Feb 2004 -- A Ministerial-level European Union (EU) Troika began two-day visit to Pakistan on Wednesday to discuss nuclear proliferation, security issues, Afghanistan and improving Indo-Pak ties, according to a EU note distributed in Islamabad.
PAKISTAN/INDIA/TALKS VOA 18 Feb 2004 -- Pakistan and India have drawn up an agenda for a groundbreaking series of peace talks to end more than a half-century of conflict between the nuclear-armed rivals. Officials say the new dialogue stands a much better chance for success than past efforts to end the cycle of conflict.
PAKISTAN / INDIA/TALKS VOA 17 Feb 2004 -- Pakistan and India have broadly agreed on the framework for sustained peace talks about Kashmir and other disputes straining bilateral ties.
Pak opposition senators condemn N-scientists` detention IRNA 17 Feb 2004 -- Pakistan Senate has taken up a debate on recent events pertaining to the nuclear question as the opposition senators on Monday condemned the government for what they called mishandling of the issue.
Relatives of Pak N-scientists announce mass campaign IRNA 17 Feb 2004 -- The relatives of detained nuclear scientist have announced to launch countrywide mass mobilization campaign to save Pakistan`s national strategic assets and its national heros.
Pakistan, India resume dialogue process PLA Daily 17 Feb 2004 -- Pakistan and India here on Monday restarted their dialogue process after an over two-year gap, official sources from Pakistani foreign office told Xinhua.
PAKISTAN/INDIA/TALKS VOA 17 Feb 2004 -- Officials from India and Pakistan have met for a second day of peace talks in Islamabad. A Pakistani official says that one issue likely to be discussed is a mechanism to keep disputes between the two neighbors from degenerating into nuclear war.
South Asia: India, Pakistan Start Talks On Kashmir Agenda RFE/RL 16 Feb 2004 -- India and Pakistan today began three days of talks focusing on nuclear security and their half-century dispute over Kashmir.
Senior Pak N-scientist in good health: Foreign Office IRNA 16 Feb 2004 -- Pakistan`s top nuclear scientist, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan is in good health and suffering no cardiac disease, Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan said here Monday.
Pakistan, India conclude opening session of talks IRNA 16 Feb 2004 -- Senior Pakistani and Indian officials wrapped up on Monday the opening session of three-day talks, which will set agenda for sustained dialogue over Kashmir and other issues of dispute, sources in the Foreign Office said.
Pakistan says talks with India were `cordial, constructive` IRNA 16 Feb 2004 -- Pakistan described as `cordial and constructive` the talks with India on Monday and said the two sides discussed modalities and time-frame for the resumption of the composite dialogue between the two countries.
PAKISTAN/INDIA/TALKS VOA 16 Feb 2004 -- Pakistan and India have resumed a stalled peace dialogue after a gap of nearly three years. The three-day discussions are primarily to establish a framework for a long process of engagement between the nuclear-armed rivals, who have fought three wars with each other.
PAKISTAN / INDIA TALKS VOA 15 Feb 2004 -- A delegation from India has arrived in Pakistan to prepare high-level talks on how to resolve the two nations' long-running dispute over Kashmir. The nuclear-armed rivals are returning to the negotiating table after a gap of nearly three years, during which they almost went to war.
Pakistan denies US team paid secret visit IRNA 13 Feb 2004 -- Pakistan has denied that a 24-member delegation, led by a top United States official visited Islamabad on Wednesday.
Pakistan may sign NPT if declared N-power: report IRNA 13 Feb 2004 -- Pakistan may consider signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the world community formally recognises Islamabad as the sixth member of the atomic club.
PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN VOA 12 Feb 2004 -- Pakistan has admitted for the first time that some anti-government activities in neighboring Afghanistan are originating from Pakistani soil.
Something happening in Afghanistan from Pakistan: Musharraf IRNA 12 Feb 2004 -- Pakistani President General Pervez Musharra said Thursday that something has happened in Afghanistan from Pakistani side but rejected the notion that everything happening in the neighbouring is from Pakistan.
PAKISTAN /AFGHANISTAN VOA 12 Feb 2004 -- Pakistan has admitted for the first time that some anti-government activities in neighboring Afghanistan are originating from Pakistani soil.
INDIA / PAKISTAN TALKS VOA 12 Feb 2004 -- Indian and Pakistani officials are expected to meet next week (Feb 16-18) for the first time since the two nations agreed to renew talks aimed at ending decades of hostility. The three-day meeting will set the agenda for future higher-level discussions on disputes - including the region of Kashmir and the question of nuclear proliferation.

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

2004 Pakistan Special Weapons News