Disparity between Pak govt, army may weaken US-led war on terror

October 8th, 2009 KARACHI - The Pakistan Army's top brass, while objecting to the terms and conditions attached with the Kerry Lugar Bill, has also raised apprehensions regarding the presence of some persons within the Gilani government who are trying to weaken the nation's Armed Forces and the premier intelligence agency, the Inter State Intelligence (ISI), The News reports. According to sources, the Army has substantial evidence regarding the presence of some 'elements' in the government who lobbied heavily for the inclusion of anti-military and anti-nuclear programme clauses in the controversial Kerry Lugar Bill.

October 8th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has rejected reports regarding a rift between the government and the Army over the Kerry Lugar Bill issue. Responding to queries about altercations between the government and the Pakistan Army over the 'severe' terms and conditions attached with the US aid bill, Kaira said: "There is no clash between the government and Army." Kaira said Pakistan was not bound to accept the terms and conditions in the bill, as it has not inked any deal with the US in this regard.

October 5th, 2009 PESHAWAR - Much of the 6.6 billion-dollar American aid meant to strengthen Pakistan's role in the war on terror never reached the Pakistan Army, ex-Pakistani ambassador to the US, General Mahmud Durrani, has revealed. Between 2002 and 2008, while al-Qaida regrouped, only 500 million of the 6.6 billion-dollar American aid made it to the Pakistani military.

September 28th, 2009 LAHORE - Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has admitted that his government's secret agreement with the Taliban had backfired. The Daily Times quoted Musharraf, as saying that the Taliban had misled his administration.

September 24th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani has said the military is close to winning the war against terrorism. Addressing troops during his visit to South Wazirisitan and Tank, General Kayani said the strategy adopted by the army during its all out operation against the extremists in the region together with the people's support has helped security forces dismantle the terror network.

September 11th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Home Minister P. Chidambaram met US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington to brief her about Pakistan's inaction against perpetrators of Mumbai terror attacks Chidambaram, who wraps up his four-day visit to the United States today, told Clinton that Pakistan simply has not taken any action against the perpetrators of 26/11, and mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

September 4th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Army has decided not to allow the US to expand its 'war on terror' inside the country's geographical territory, sources said. Sources privy to the 121st Corps Commander Conference chaired by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at General Headquarters (GHQ) said the Army top brass discussed in detail the country's security scenario and voted in favour of not succumbing to US pressure.

August 24th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the 'minus-one' formula was just a ploy to weaken and dislodge the PPP government at the centre. During an informal meeting with his close associates here on Sunday, a source quoted Gilani as saying: 'I am well aware of the designs of the opponents of my party.

July 31st, 2009 BEIJING - The Chinese army is formulating rules of engagement for Anti-Terrorism Combat Operations to deal with growing terrorist threat facing the country. "The army is drafting an Ordinance for Anti-terrorism Combat Operations based on its experience in anti-terror missions over the past few years," The China Daily quoted Major General Meng Guoping, as saying.

July 6th, 2009 LONDON - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari says targeting the Taliban rather than India does not rankle his army because the two nuclear armed countries no longer pose threats to each others territories. "It rankles the small mind," he told the Daily Telegraph in an interview published Monday.

May 24th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Taliban has threatened Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and other top Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) leaders, saying they would face dire consequences if the military offensive is not discontinued immediately. In a letter to the PPP Information Secretary Fouzia Wahab, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) warned that the country's leadership would be targeted if the operation against them is not stopped.

May 19th, 2009 LAHORE - US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said the Pakistan Army is capable of neutralising the Taliban, but is maintaining contacts with the terror outfit as they are not sure who is going to win in Afghanistan. He said it was up to Pakistan to clear the Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists out.

May 2nd, 2009 KARACHI - A majority of Pakistani civilians are of the view that the presence of allied forces led by the United States poses a bigger threat to them rather than the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. According to an annual assessment report of Pakistan issued by an US think tank, Centre for American Progress, more Pakistanis consider US presence in Asia as a threat to their country.

April 21st, 2009 LAHORE - Responding to top US commander in Afghanistan, General David McKiernan's comments that Pakistan must do more to dismantle the terror safe havens operating on its soil, Pakistan has also asked NATO to 'do more' in Afghanistan. The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told a private television channel that the Pakistan Army is 'doing enough' in the war on terror, and asked NATO forces to intensify its operations in Afghanistan.

April 2nd, 2009 LAHORE - Cricketer turned politician Imran Khan has strongly opposed US aid saying the assistance being offered by Washington has resulted in the Pak Army killing its own civilians. Khan termed the US aid as 'stringed', and one which would not serve the real purpose of establishing peace in the region.