Pakistan, China to jointly develop satellite

October 1st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan issued a commemorative postage stamp Thursday to mark the 60th anniversary of Communist China, and Beijing's envoy described Sino-Pakistani relations as "higher than the Himalayas, deeper than the Arabian sea and sweeter than honey". Federal Minister for Postal Services Nawabzada Mir Israr Ullah Khan Zehri and China's ambassador Luo Zhaohui unveiled the stamp issued by the Pakistan Post at its headquarters here.

September 19th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has signed an agreement with China to provide a 220-million-dollar financial grant to help the Islamic country launch a communication satellite. The operational life of Pakistan's existing satellite PAKSAT-1 will be over in November 2011.

September 5th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Taking their bilateral relations to a next level, China has said that it would provide financial assistance to Pakistan for launching its first satellite. Addressing a press conference here, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Lou Zhaohui said China is ready to extend all help to Pakistan regarding its space mission, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard would be signed next week.

August 18th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Dr. Samar Mobarakmend, member, planning commission for science and technology, Government of Pakistan, has said that the country's first satellite would be launched in April, 2011.

June 22nd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The United States' Central Intelligence Agency chief, Leon E Panetta, will visit Pakistan soon in a bid to persuade Islamabad to let New Delhi play an important role in the US-led counter-terrorism efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Though US Embassy declined to comment on the matter officially, The Nation's diplomatic sources revealed that Panetta, in line with US AfPak policy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, would discuss these proposals with Pakistani authorities during his upcoming visit.

June 11th, 2009 BEIJING - Pakistan's Ambassador to China Masood Khan has said Beijing has assured Islamabad of all practical help in its war against terror. Talking to media persons here, Khan said both Pakistan and China have expressed their desire to counter the increasing extremism in the region with full force.

June 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - MM Pallam Raju, Minister of State for Defence after taking charge of his office on Monday said that India is keeping an eye on growing influence of China in Pakistan and other neighbouring countries and steps are taken that it does not pose a threat to India. "There is no shortfall in preparedness from our side in this regard.

June 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju Monday said India is concerned over Pakistan's growing nuclear arsenal and asked the world to exert pressure on Islamabad not to cross minimum deterrent threshold.

May 8th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - China has expressed concern over the rising US 'influence' in the region, including Pakistan. Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Lou Zhaohui, while raising concerns over the presence of US troops in the region, said the number of foreign forces was 'too high' across the region.

May 5th, 2009 ATARI - India-bound passengers on board the India-Pakistan Samjhauta Express train commented on the dominance of Taliban in Pakistan. Passengers said that the fear of Taliban is on the minds of the people in Pakistan.

April 27th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Britain and Pakistan on Monday expressed a firm resolve to jointly fight against terrorism. Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani addressing a joint press conference along with his British counterpart Gordon Brown, said Pakistani is united in the battle against terrorism.

April 21st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - With India launching its first spy satellite, RISAT-2, to keep an eye on all activities along Pakistan border, experts believe that Pakistan too would initiate a programme to counter the Indian move. Experts are of the view that Pakistan would not remain insensitive over the issue and would soon follow India to boost its surveillance potential.

April 17th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will station its first squadron of the JF-17 Thunder combat jet that has been jointly developed with China at Peshawar, the capital of the restive North West Frontier Province (NWFP), it was announced Friday. 'The first fighter squadron of JF-17 Thunder aircraft will be raised and stationed at Peshawar,' PAF chief Air Chief Marshal Qamar Suleman said on a visit to the base.

March 31st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Expressing sympathies over the terror attack on a Pakistani police academy, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Tuesday that both countries should jointly take on terrorists. 'I have always said that India and Pakistan have to face jointly the scourge of terrorism,' he told reporters on the sidelines of the civil investiture ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan here.

February 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - India should undertake a strategic and comprehensive review of its space programmes as quickly as possible given 'the military character and military functions' of China's space programme, a senior US expert in Asian military affairs said Saturday. Painting a 'horror picture' of China's rapidly expanding global military reach, Richard Fischer Jr., a senior fellow at the International Assessment and Strategy Center in the US, said Indian private universities should begin satellite or space development programmes as has been done in the United States.