• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Lankan Press accords wider coverage to PM's engagements

COLOMBO, July 31 (APP) :The print and electronic media of Sri Lanka has given a prominent and wider coverage to Pakistan Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif's visit, his main SAARC speech, meeting with his Indian counterpart and the press conference. Daily 'The Island' in a report Thursday described Nawaz Sharif's address at the Tenth SAARC Summit as "markedly different from the other leaders." It has quoted Sharif saying that the problems facing SAARC countries could not be wished away. "These require to be faced squarely and solution found." 'The Island' has published a 2-column story about talks held by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian premier Atal Behari Vajpayee as second lead, saying: "India-Pakistan to Resume Talks." It flashed a 4-column colour picture on the front-page. Besides a 5-column lead story about the opening of SAARC Summit with a quotation from Sri Lankan President's speech that "Indo-Pak nuclear tests concerns all SAARC nations."

SAARC leaders discuss regional issues at simmit on second day

COLOMBO, July 31 (APP) :The Heads of State/Government of the SAARC countries attending the 10th 3-day SAARC Summit held collective informal consultations at their "Retreat" at the Taj Exotica, a resort hotel in the Southern coastal town of Bentoa, 62 Km from Colombo. On arrival the leaders were received at the Retreat by President Chandrika Bandranaike Kumaratunga, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadiragamar, SAARC Secretary General Naeem-ul-Hasan and Secretary to the President. According to official sources prior to the commencement of closed door sessions which are confined to the Heads of State/Government and their respective Foreign Ministers, the leaders stepped out to the lawn overlooking the sea for a photo opportunity. Conference spokesman Ravinatha Aryasinha said, informal consultations which commenced at 11 A.M. lasted till lunch time and further consultations continued in the afternoon. There was no formal agenda for the sessions and proposals that were to emerge from the consultations and were expected to be incorporated in the "Colombo Declaration" which would be announced at the conclusion of the 10th Summit on Friday.

Summit offers vital forum to formulate approach to challenges

COLOMBO, July 31 (APP) :The SAARC Secretary General Naeem Ul Hasan has said that the 10th Summit offers the member countries an important occasion on how to approach the challenges facing us and fully seize the opportunities. In his report at the 10th SAARC Summit which opened here Friday, Naeem said "we have a common stake to not this occasion go by without imparting a much needed new vitality and purposefulness to our Association." "By acting together, we can aspire to translate into reality the spirit of constructive cooperation and address the challenges before South Asia". Naeem said that since its establishment 13 years back, SAARC has made strides in promotion of cooperation in core economic areas, implementation of an impressive social agenda, development of the region's abundant human resources, initiation of collecive action in such key areas as environment, education and science and technology, articulation of common SAARC position as global forums; and bringing of the cross section of peoples in South Asia closer through greater people-to-people contact.

Premier Nawaz to leave for Male on Friday afternoon

COLOMBO, July 31 (APP): Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif leaves here Friday afternoon for Male, Maldives at the end of 3-day 10th SAARC Summit. On arrival in the Maldive Capital for a 2-day official visit, the Prime Minister will be welcomed by Maumoon Abdul Ghayyum, President of Maldives. After the airport welcome ceremony, the Prime Minister will leave for Kurumba Village resort. On Saturday the Prime Minister will have a call on President Maumoon Abdul Ghayyum and will later proceed to Parliament House and perform its inauguration at a special session of the People's Majlis. The ceremony will also be addressed by President Maumoon Abdul Ghayyum and Abdulla Hameed, Speaker of the Majlis. His other engagements in Male include a meeting with Pakistani Community.

India should work for durable solution of diputed issues : Nawaz

COLOMBO, July 31 (APP) :Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that Pakistan has given a proof of its love for peace by agreeing to resumption of talks and it is now for the Indian Government to adopt a positive attitude for the lasting solution of disputed issues so that huge expenditures being incurred on defence could be diverted to industrial development, education and health. In an informal interview to Radio Germany, the Prime Minister while replying to a question with reference to his peace, security and development initiative, said that personally he advocates economic development, peace and security and never wanted to demonstrate Pakistan's nuclear power. However, he pointed out, the Indian Government created lot of dangers for Pakistan's security by conducting nuclear tests and the threatening and aggressive statements issued by its leadership, forced Pakistan to go nuclear.

Pakistan committed to meaningful dialogue with India: Nawaz

COLOMBO, July 31 (APP) :Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that Pakistan is committed to a meaningful dialogue with India which addresses in a substantive and specific manner the outstanding issues including the core issue of Jammua and Kasmir. He stated this while talking to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid who called on him here on Thursday. The Prime Minister added that the world recognised that Jammu and Kashmir dispute was the root cause of tensions in the region and, therefore, had to be addressed with a view to resolving it. He said it was regrettable that India had shown intransigence and was neither prepared to honour the UN Security Council resolutions it had signed nor acccept mediation by third parties. The history of Pakistan-India disputes showed that the major ones had been resolved not through bilateral talks, but through the good offices of third parties. In this context the Prime Minister referred to the Indus Water Treaty and the runn of Kutch dispute.

Pakisatn committed to dialogue process with India

COLOMBO, July 31 (APP) :Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday that Pakistan is committed to a dialogue process with India in order to resolve the outstanding issues. These talks have to be meaningful and should address the core issue of Jammua and Kashmir. But regrettably India did not appear to be serious in the talks with Pakistan, the Prime Minister said while talking to the Prime Minister of nepal Girji Prasad Koirala who called on him here Thursday on the sidelines of SAAC Summit. The India, Nawaz Sharif said only seemed to be interested in talks for the sake of talks rather than addressing the outstanding issues in a serious and meaningful manner.

Nawaz, Vajpayee hold an other meeting in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, July 31 (APP) :Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Atal Bihari Vajpayee had an another meeting in Sri Lanka on Thursday and discussed measures to reduce tension between the two countries. Foreign Minister Gohar Ayub Khan said that the two leaders who met at the southern beach resort of Bentota discussed ways and means to strengthen peace and security in the region. It's understood that the Kashmir issue was also discussed which is the root cause of tension between the two countries.

Pakistan, India resume secretary level talks

COLOMBO, July 31 (APP) :Pakistan and India have resumed stalled secretary level talks in Colombo aimed at improving relations between the two countries. Pakistan Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmad and his Indian counterpart K. Ragunath exchanged views for removing differences between the two countries. Diplomatic sources say it's in the interest of the region that both the countries hold constructive talks on the issue of peace and security including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. The United States while welcoming the resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan has said that still a lot more to be done to remove the differences between the two countries. A White House spokesman has expressed the hope that the two countries will continue bilateral talks which will reduce tension. The Chinese Foreign Office in Beijing has also expressed the optimism that Pakistan and India would settle their differences through bilateral dialogue.

IMF Board gets Pakistan briefing

WASHINGTON, DC, July 31 (APP) :The Board of Directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was informally briefed about the economic progress and financial needs of Pakistan by Paul Chabrier, Director of the IMF Middle East Region, here today. Chabrier who recently visited Pakistan to assess the economic progress and the fulfilment of IMF conditions presented his report verbally to the board. The IMF Board starts its three-week long vacation on Monday; however, the vacation will not cause any delays in sending a delegation to Pakistan as it will be a decision taken by the bureaucracy of the IMF and not by the Board. An IMF official told APP that if IMF decides today to quickly renegotiate the loan, an IMF delegation might leave for Pakistan next week.