Two suicide attacks on Iran mosque kill more than 27
Hindutva goons attack TV Today office
ISI paid Rs25L to LeT to buy boat for 26/11 attack: Headley
14 killed in N. Waziristan drone attack
Army chief must not speak on politics: Farooq
US opposes French Muslim veil ban
Shrine blown up in Khyber
22 militants killed in Orakzai
Dutch lawmaker forms anti-Islam group
Europe’s Backlash Against Islamization
CIA paid $5m to scientist: report
Several projects approved for development of Urdu
Issues of the graveyards to be resolved soon: CM of Delhi
Madrassas not benefitting from govt schemes: Muslim scholar
Pak still ‘epicentre’ of terror: Holbrooke
Pakistan has nothing to do with Kashmir infiltration: Qureshi
NIA withdraws plea seeking NBWs against Headley, Rana
Osama’s son wants to date Drew Barrymore
Spat erupts at Indo-Pak peace talks briefing
Tycoon plans to fight veil ban
Suicide bomber misses target in Swat; five die
Pornistan? Pak tops world in ‘sex’ searches
Five killed, 44 injured in Pak blast
‘Sayedee’s sermons threat to peace, development’
UAE cultural heritage project seeks out Islamic lullabies
Pakistan, India vow to rebuild trust through dialogue
‘Resolve Indo-Pak-Afghan issues for regional peace’
India, Pakistan find common ground on terrorism
Teenage marriage in Jordan stirs up debate
Another Israeli spy help in Lebanon
Bollywood film on Kashmir banned in Gulf states
Fatah rejects direct talks
Iraqis take charge of last prison in US control
Musharraf gets political advice but no real support
Fissures run deep but India, Pak agree to meet again
Pak must crack down on terror groups: US NSA
Israel arrests 13 Palestinians in West Bank
US envoy in new bid to get Israelis and Palestinians talking
India rejects Balochistan charge, says no proof given
Pak has assured speedy trial of 26/11 accused: India
Indian films a no-show in Pak and Middle East
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
Photo: People help survivors of a bomb blast outside a mosque in Zahedan, Iran
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Two suicide attacks on Iran mosque kill more than 27
Jul 16, 2010
TEHRAN: Two suicide bombings at a Shiite mosque in heavily Sunni southeast Iran killed more than 20 people, including worshippers and members of the elite Revolutionary Guards, state media reported.
The attack came as people celebrated the birthday of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed, a day also set apart each year to honour the Revolutionary Guards.
More than 100 people were wounded in the attacks, which came only minutes apart, at the Jamia mosque in the restive city of Zahedan, capital of south eastern Sistan-Baluchestan province.
"Two explosions in front of the Zahedan Jamia mosque left more than 100 wounded and more than 20 martyred," Fariborz Rashedi, the head of the emergency services of Sistan-Baluchestan province, told state news agency IRNA.
Zahedan MP Hossein Ali Shahriari told Fars news agency the attacks were carried out by suicide bombers one after another, with the first by a man dressed as a woman.
"The attacker, dressed in women's clothing, was trying to get into the mosque, but was prevented" when the first blast took place, Shahriari said.
"When people came to rescue those hit in that blast, another bomber blew himself up."
IRNA said the first attack struck around 9:20 pm (2200IST).
Deputy Interior Minister Ali Abdollahi confirmed that the first attack was carried out by a suicide bomber near the entrance of the mosque where worshippers were being frisked before entering.
"That attack resulted in the martyrdom of several, including some of the Revolutionary Guards," he said.
Abdollahi said the second attack left more casualties as it took place when people rushed to the site of the first bombing.
Zahedan has been repeatedly hit by attacks blamed on Sunni rebel group Jundallah (Soldiers of God), which plays on feelings of resentment among ethnic Baluchis in the province. The group's leader, Abdolmalek Rigi, was hanged on June 20 after he was captured in a dramatic operation by Iranian agents.
Soon after his death, the group vowed to avenge his execution.
Jundallah has carried out several deadly attacks in Sistan-Baluchestan, including on the Guards.
The group says it has been fighting for nearly a decade to secure rights for Sunni Baluchis who form a significant proportion of the population in the province.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Two-suicide-attacks-on-Iran-mosque-kill-more-than-20/articleshow/6174374.cms
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Hindutva goons attack TV Today office
July 16, 2010
New Delhi: After Headlines Today broke a story on saffron terror, suspected RSS workers attacked TV Today office here on Friday in retaliation.
The activists tried to barge into the building. But they were prevented from entering the offices of the media house. The TV Today's Hindi channel Aaj Tak had recently reported the alleged links of some RSS activists to Mecca Masjid blast accused. They had even done a sting operation on senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar.
In a blatant attack on the media's freedom of speech and expression, the activists broke glass panes and destroyed property in the process. A large mob gathered outside the office building and shouted slogans in support of their leaders exposed by Headlines Today's expose.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/suspected-rss-workers-attack-tv-today-office/126873-37-64.html?from=tn
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ISI paid Rs 25L to LeT to buy boat for 26/11 attack: Headley
July 16, 2010
NEW DELHI: In revelations that clearly show ISI role in the 26/11 attacks, Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley has told his interrogators that the Pakistani intelligence agency had paid Rs 25 lakh to LeT to purchase a boat which terrorists used to travel from Karachi.
Headley also identified through voice sample test two ISI officers who handled the 10 terrorists who carried out 60-hour attack in Mumbai on November 26, 2008.
Giving these bits of information on the basis of interrogation of Headley carried out by an NIA team recently, official sources here said the ISI role in the attack was very clear from the revelations made by the LeT operative who is in the custody of FBI.
The ISI had paid Rs 25 lakh to Lashkar-e Taiba (LeT) terror outfit for purchase of a boat which was used by the 26/11 attackers to travel from Karachi to the Pakistani maritime boundary, where they hijacked an Indian fishing boat 'Kuber' to reach Mumbai.
Sources said Indian investigators also have information that chief of ISI Lieutenant General Ahmed Shuja Pasha had met one of the handlers of the Mumbai attack, Sajjid Mir, who is currently in a Pakistani jail.
"All these information have been shared by India with Pakistan through the multiple dossiers given to it," a source said.
Home Secretary G K Pillai had earlier stated that ISI was "literally controlling and coordinating the (Mumbai) attack from beginning to end".
Headley, who is currently in US custody, had done the recce of several terror targets in Mumbai during his multiple visits to India for the LeT which carried out the 26/11 attack.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ISI-paid-Rs25L-to-LeT-to-buy-boat-for-26/11-attack-Headley/articleshow/6177389.cms
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14 killed in N. Waziristan drone attack
16 Jul, 2010
MIRAMSHAH, July 15: Six suspected militants were killed and five others injured in a US drone attack in North Waziristan on Thursday.
Local people said that two missiles fired by the drone hit a house in Maizer Madakhel of Dattakhel tehsil, some 40km west of Miramshah.
A vehicle was also damaged in the attack.
Sources said that the dead were local Taliban who had taken shelter in the house.
AFP adds: “At least 10 militants were killed,” a senior security official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Another official said up to 14 militants were killed when three missiles slammed into the compound.
The area is a stronghold of Taliban commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur who is reputed to control up to 2,000 fighters.
It was not immediately clear whether there were any high-value targets among the dead.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/14-killed-in-n.-waziristan-drone-attack-670
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Army chief must not speak on politics: Farooq
Karan Thapar
Jul 16, 2010
New Delhi: National Conference President and Union Minister for Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah has launched a scathing attack on Indian Army Chief General VK Singh for criticising the Omar Abdullah government.
"I think the Army Chief should never make statements. Army Chief is there to keep silent and his job is to see that the Army is alert and read, he has not to make political statements and I am totally against any army chief or police chief making political statements. Political statements should come from politicians, who can answer in the assembly and who can answer in Parliament," Farooq said.
Farooq made the statement when asked by Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN's Devil's Advocate if the Army Chief was wrong when he said that at critical moments the state government had lost confidence and hadn't built on the gains of the 2008 elections.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister also dismissed as totally baseless, the speculation that he was going back to the state as the chief minister and that his sone Omar would move to the Centre in his place.
"(It) is totally wrong is totally baseless. I want to make it very clear through your channel that there is no such thing," he said about speculation that he are waiting to go back as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
"That is a wrong notion. The day I handed over this to him (Omar), I told him very clearly, it is him, the future rests in his hands and he must deliver to the people that I have not been able to deliver," he said.
Farooq admitted that he had not been able to deliver what he had promised to the people of the state and claimed that Omar was making up for what he could not do.
When asked if he saw Omar capable of fulfilling the lapses he left uncovered, Farooq replied, "Yes, I am sure he will do that. I am sure."
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/farooq-flays-army-chief-for-criticising-omar/126840-37-64.html
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US opposes French Muslim veil ban
16 Jul, 2010
WASHINGTON—US officials on Wednesday reiterated Washington’s disagreement with a measure approved by the lower house of France’s National Assembly banning the use of veils in public.”We do not think that you should legislate what people can wear or not wear associated with their religious beliefs,” said State Department spokesman Philip Crowley.
“Here in the United States, we would take a different step to balance security and to respect religious freedom and the symbols that go along with religious freedom,” he said. The bill is not yet law, as it will now go to France’s Senate in September. French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s determination to ban the Hijab and the Burka won enough political support to approve the measure, even though critics argue that it breaches French and European human rights legislation.
“I would only say that, as I understand it, this is a first step in what may be a lengthy legislative and perhaps legal process,” said Crowley.
France’s lower house of parliament has overwhelmingly approved a bill that would ban wearing the Islamic full veil in public. There were 335 votes for the bill and only one against in the 557-seat National Assembly. It must now be ratified by the Senate in September to become law. The ban has strong public support but critics point out that only a tiny minority of French Muslims wear the full veil.
Many of the opposition Socialists, who originally wanted the ban limited only to public buildings, abstained from voting after coming under pressure from feminist supporters of the bill. President Nicolas Sarkozy has backed the ban as part of a wider debate on French identity but critics say the government is pandering to far-right voters.
The word hijab comes from the Arabic for veil and is used to describe the headscarves worn by Muslim women. These scarves come in a myriad of styles and colours. The type most commonly worn in the West is a square scarf that covers the head and neck but leaves the face clear. The niqab is a veil for the face that leaves the area around the eyes clear. However, it may be worn with a separate eye veil. It is worn with an accompanying headscarf. The burka is the most concealing of all Islamic veils. It covers the entire face and body, leaving just a mesh screen to see through. The al-amira is a two-piece veil. It consists of a close fitting cap, usually made from cotton or polyester, and an accompanying tube-like scarf. The shayla is a long, rectangular scarf popular in the Gulf region. It is wrapped around the head and tucked or pinned in place at the shoulders. The khimar is a long, cape-like veil that hangs down to just above the waist. It covers the hair, neck and shoulders completely, but leaves the face clear. The chador, worn by many Iranian women when outside the house, is a full-body cloak. It is often accompanied by a smaller headscarf underneath. BACK 7 of 7 NEXT
After the vote, Justice Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said it was a victory for democracy and for French values. “Values of freedom against all the oppressions which try to humiliate individuals; values of equality between men and women, against those who push for inequality and injustice.”
The vote is being closely watched in other countries, the BBC’s Christian Fraser reports from the French capital Paris. Spain and Belgium are debating similar legislation, and with such large-scale immigration in the past 20 or 30 years, identity has become a popular theme across Europe, our correspondent says.
The bill would make it illegal to wear garments such as the niqab or burka, which incorporate a full-face veil, anywhere in public. It envisages fines of 150 euros (£119) for women who break the law and 30,000 euros and a one-year jail term for men who force their wives to wear the burka. The niqab and burka are widely seen in France as threats to women’s rights and the secular nature of the state.
Continue reading the main story “Start QuoteDemocracy thrives when it is open-faced” End Quote Michele Alliot-Marie French justice minister
Should France ban the full veil? Hewitt: Criminalising veil-wearers “Democracy thrives when it is open-faced,” Ms Alliot-Marie told the National Assembly when she presented the bill last week. She stressed the bill, which makes no reference to Islam or veils, was not aimed at “stigmatising or singling out a religion”. —Agencies
http://dailymailnews.com/0710/16/FrontPage/index.php?id=10
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Shrine blown up in Khyber
By Ibrahim Shinwari
16 Jul, 2010
LANDI KOTAL, July 15: A collective shrine of four saints was blown up here on Wednesday night. Shrine caretaker Mohammad Umar Benuri told Dawn unknown people had planted explosives at the building at midnight.
The tomb and four walls of the 65 years old shrine, where the graves of Hazrat Baba Jee, Hazrat Agha Jee, Sahibzada Mohammad Sadiq alias Lala Jee and Gul Lala were situated, were destroyed in the explosion. An adjacent mosque was also partially damaged.Mr Benuri said the mosque was not safe now for worshippers and had to be demolished and then rebuilt.
He said his family had not filed any complaint as they had no enmity with anyone. “We didn’t receive any threats, so we aren’t blaming anyone for the attack on the shrine of our ancestors,” he maintained, adding his entire family was in shock over the incident.
“Security at the shrine is not that strict as we receive hundreds of our disciples on daily basis,” said Mohammad Ibrahim Benuri, the prayer leader of the mosque at the shrine. He said nobody had noticed the movement of any suspect person before or after the incident. “Luckily, there was nobody either at the shrine or inside the mosque (at the time of the blast) and thus there is no human loss,” he said.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/national/shrine-blown-up-in-khyber-670
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22 militants killed in Orakzai
16 Jul, 2010
KALAYA, July 15: Twenty-two militants, two of them local ‘commanders’, were killed and 13 others injured when military planes bombed suspected militant positions in Orakzai on Thursday.
The targets were hit in Ghundaki, Mishti Kandi, Dabori, Otmela and Safdara areas.
Seven houses of the militants were also damaged in the attacks.
Military sources said that helicopter gunships destroyed two bunkers and an arms depot in Shahokhel area.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/22-militants-killed-in-orakzai-670
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Dutch lawmaker forms anti-Islam group
By MIKE CORDER
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — An anti-Islam lawmaker in the Netherlands is forming an international alliance to spread his message across the West in a bid to ban immigration from Islamic countries, among other goals.
Geert Wilders told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday he will launch the movement late this year, initially in five countries: the U.S., Canada, Britain, France and Germany.
"The message, 'stop Islam, defend freedom,' is a message that's not only important for the Netherlands but for the whole free Western world," Wilders said at the Dutch parliament.
Among the group's aims will be outlawing immigration from Islamic countries to the West and a ban on Islamic Sharia law. Starting as a grass-roots movement, he hopes it eventually will produce its own lawmakers or influence other legislators.
Full report at:
Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Europe's Backlash Against Islamization
By Ryan Mauro
7-15-2010
Facing a precarious future, Europe has only just begun to reckon with increasing Muslim populations and Islamic extremism. If current demographic trends [1] persist, Europe's democratic secular foundations will be in serious jeapordy in about twenty five years. This disturbing reality is causing a backlash, forcing European governments to confront the threat of Sharia law — and even some Muslims are joining the fight. The battle for the fate of the continent is intensifying.
France took the first step in trying to stop the spread of Islam by banning any religious symbols from being worn in public schools, which included the headscarves worn by many Muslim women. This caused outrage in the Muslim world, and President Obama criticized it during his address in Cairo. Then in November, the Swiss voted [2] in favor of banning the construction of minarets on mosques. This has sparked major movements on the continent to take further measures that would have been unthinkable a decade ago.
Full report at:
http://www.aina.org/news/20100715115251.htm
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Foreigners among 30 dead in Iraq hotel blaze
Jul 16, 2010
Residents gather outside Soma Hotel after it caught fire in Sulaimaniyah, 260 km northeast of Baghdad. The fire, possibly triggered by a gas leak, killed 30 people, including foreigners, and injured at least 22 others, police said on Friday. (Reuters Photo)
SULAIMANIYAH: Guests leapt desperately to their deaths from upper-floor windows as a fire tore through a hotel in northern Iraq killing 30 people, 14 of them foreigners, police and medics said on Friday.
Citizens of Australia, Britain, Canada and several Asian and South American countries were among those killed in Thursday night's blaze in Sulaimaniyah, which raged for seven hours before being brought under control, officials said.
A preliminary report prepared by the city's hospital said people from 12 countries had died.
Visiting telecommunications engineers from Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Cambodia, were among the victims, according to hospital officials and the chairman of the telecoms company.
"The number killed is 30, among whom there are 14 foreigners," said Rikot Hama Rasheed, the director of Sulaimaniyah hospital, following the fire, which rose rapidly from the second floor of the six-storey Soma hotel.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Middle-East/Foreigners-among-30-dead-in-Iraq-hotel-blaze/articleshow/6176723.cms
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CIA paid $5m to scientist: report
16 Jul, 2010
WASHINGTON, July 15: The Iranian nuclear scientist who claimed to have been abducted by the CIA was paid more than $5 million by the agency to provide intelligence on Iran’s nuclear programme, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.
Shahram Amiri departed for Iran on Wednesday aboard a Qatar Airlines flight from New York after claiming that he was abducted by the CIA from a Saudi Arabian city while performing Haj.
“Mr Amiri is not obligated to return the money but might be unable to access it after breaking off what US officials described as significant cooperation with the CIA and abruptly returning to Iran,” the Post reported.
US officials told the newspaper they believed Mr Amiri might have left out of concern that the Tehran government would harm his family.
“Anything he got is now beyond his reach, thanks to the financial sanctions on Iran,” a US official said. “He’s gone, but his money’s not. We have his information, and the Iranians have him.”
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/cia-paid-$5m-to-scientist-report-670
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Several projects granted for development of Urdu
July 15, 2010
New Age Islam News Bureau
New Delhi: The National Urdu Council has granted about Rs 80 lakh for 90 programmes for the development of Urdu. This amount will be given for seminars , conferences , lecture series, short term educational programmes and projects and manuscripts of Urdu, Persian and Arabic languages, Director of Urdu Council, Dr Hamidulla Bhatt said. The decision was taken in grant-in-aid meeting of the Coucil at Farogh-e-Urdu Bhavan.
In the meeting held today, approval was given to 90 literary and cultural projects of Urdu on the national level. Apart from this, financial assistance will also be given to the scholars, institutions, organisations and universities of West Bengal. He said that under this scheme our effort would be to encourage the speakers of the language. This scheme formed the backbone of our Council, Mr Bhatt said.
The Vice- Chairman of the Council, Chandra Bhan Khayal said that as long as the speakers of Urdu language do not come to the fore and do not participate in the promotion of their language, the condition of the language will not improve.
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Issues of the graveyards to be resolved soon: CM of Delhi
July 15, 2010
New Age Islam News Bureau
New Delhi: A delegation of the Akhil Bharatiya Muslim Yuva Atakwad Virodhi Samiti led by its President Haji Md Shakil Saifi met the Delhi CM and demanded allotment of land for qabrastans and Eidgahs and proper maintenance of existing qabrastans and Idgahs. The delegation comprised members of FPNEMC. Shakil Saifi told the CM Sheila Dixit that in the colonies of Delhi a large population of Muslims lived and in case of death in a family they had to go to a long distance due to the lack of a qabristan in their own colony. He cited the case of many areas like Lal Kuan, Badar Pur, Mangolpuri, Uttam Nagar, Sangam Vihar, Jeet Pur, Jagdamba Vihar, Nangloi, Mustafabad and other colonies where the people sufferd due to lack of graveyards and Eidgahs. So he demanded that land should be allotted for qabrastans and Eidgahs in those areas. He also demanded that the boundary wall be built around the existing qabrastans, gates should be installed and wazukhanas should be built there. The Chief Minister assured that she would take appropriate steps to solve the problems of graveyards and Eidgahs. She asked the Samiti to provide her the list of places where qabrastans and Eidgahs are required and said that she would have a meeting with the officers of the departments concerned. She praised the efforts of Mr Shakil Saifi saying he strove for the solutions of the common people’s problems.
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Madrassas not benefitting from govt schemes: Muslim scholar
July 15, 2010
New Age Islam News Bureau
New Delhi: The President of Al Falah Educational Society Qari Mohammad Yasin said in a press release that the madrasas are not benifitting form the government schemes meant for them. In most cases the madrasas do not even get to know of those schemes. The officers in the offices concerned do not even talk to them politely as if the madrasa people are their enemies. If a complained is lodged against them, they are blacklisted and within days the officers come to the madrasa with a police team and brand the madrassa authorities terrorist and threw him behind the bars. This was the condition of the minorities in this country, he rued.
He further alleged that the chief of the Minority Financial Corporation, Mr Tariq Siddiquee did not even speak to the Muslims. Thanks to this attitude of the Corporation, Muslims cannot set up small industries. Majority of the Muslims are unaware of the Ladli Scheme. He further said that 15 years had passed since Urdu was granted the second language status in Delhi but the government had not created posts for even 15 teachers. Every one said that the Sheila government was doing a good job but there were hundreds of schools where there are no Urdu teachers, he observed. Is there someone listening, he asks.
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Pak still ‘epicentre’ of terror: Holbrooke
S Rajagopalan , Washington
With five major ongoing insurgencies in its midst, Pakistan continues to be the “epicentre” of terrorism and the situation is “enormously complicated”, says US Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke.
At a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the Afghan situation, Holbrooke also commented that Pakistan’s role in the current bid for reconciliation in Afghanistan was “ambiguous and opaque at this point”.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, he disclosed, would shortly be visiting Islamabad to hold high-level security talks before heading to Kabul for the major international conference being convened by the Afghan government next week.
“While the Kabul Conference has attracted more international attention, the secretary’s visit to Islamabad will be equally significant,” Holbrooke said during his testimony, mentioning that he would be joining Clinton.
Holbrooke said he would also be visiting India during his current trip to the region, but did not give out precise dates.
Full report at:
http://www.dailypioneer.com/269430/Pak-still-%E2%80%98epicentre%E2%80%99-of-terror-Holbrooke.html
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Pakistan has nothing to do with Kashmir infiltration: Qureshi
Islamabad, July 16, 2010
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi declared emphatically on Thursday that Pakistan had nothing to do with the infiltration of terrorists from his country into Jammu and Kashmir. In response to a question at the press conference after his talks with his Indian counterpart SM Krishna, Qureshi said: "Infiltration is not the
policy of Pakistan or any intelligence agency of Pakistan. Period."
"But if there are individuals who have crossed over, deal with them firmly."
Qureshi's comments came soon after Krishna said that there had been an increase in infiltration of terrorists from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir so as to create instability "in that part of India".
Full report at:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Pakistan-has-nothing-to-do-with-Kashmir-infiltration-Qureshi/H1-Article1-573062.aspx
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NIA withdraws plea seeking NBWs against Headley, Rana
Jiby Kattakayam
NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday withdrew from a court here its application that sought issuance of non-bailable warrants (NBW) against David Coleman Headley, Tahawwur Hussain Rana and six others for plotting attacks in India.
It, however, filed a fresh application seeking NBWs against the six others. Among them is Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed.
Justifying the exclusion of Headley and Rana before District and Sessions Judge S.P. Garg at the Patiala House court here, the NIA said its officers received access to interrogate Headley and Rana, who were now in custody in the United States. India had an extradition treaty with the U.S.
The six others were residents of Pakistan, with which India had no extradition treaty.
Counsel for the NIA argued that an NBW would help in their arrest, either through issuance of an Interpol Red-Corner Notice or through diplomatic channels.
One of the provisions for issuing an Interpol Red-Corner Notice was the issuance of warrant for arrest.
Full report at:
http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/16/stories/2010071664080100.htm
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Osama's son wants to date Drew Barrymore
Jul 15, 2010
LONDON: Omar bin Laden, the son of fugitive al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, says he is dreaming of a date with Hollywood "most beautiful" actress Drew Barrymore.
The 29-year-old, who recently split from his British wife Zaina, a six-time married grandmother and 25 years his senior, said he is now single and wants to date Drew Barrymore, 35.
"I want to go to America and I would love to meet Drew Barrymore. I am single now and she is the most beautiful woman in Hollywood," he told 'The Sun'.
The junior Laden also spoke about his love of American culture, saying that he enjoys Jim Carrey films, American football, rock music and even Laurel And Hardy.
He also admires Pop singer Madonna. "She's such a great dancer for a woman of her age," he said.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/Osamas-son-wants-to-date-Drew-Barrymore/articleshow/6172645.cms
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Spat erupts at Indo-Pak peace talks briefing
Rajeev Deshpande
Jul 16, 2010
ISLAMABAD: The foreign ministers' meetings between India and Pakistan all but collapsed in a welter of accusations on Thursday. Pakistan steadfastly refused to engage in any substantial manner with the critical areas of Mumbai attacks, cross-border terrorism and infiltration, choosing to argue that Islamabad could not speed "judicial" processes.
The joint press conference, which started around 9pm, instead of the scheduled 2.15 pm, saw foreign minister S M Krishna and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi take on each other in what turned out to be a bruising spat beamed live.
The divergence came out starkly on Balochistan and infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir as the interaction with the media almost degenerated into a joust.
Asked about India's "role" in Balochistan, Krishna responded, "Forget about credible evidence, we have not received a shred of evidence".
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Spat-erupts-at-Indo-Pak-peace-talks-briefing/articleshow/6174188.cms
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Tycoon plans to fight veil ban
By Lizzy Davies
16 Jul, 2010
PARIS: A French property tycoon enraged at his government’s plans to ban women from wearing the full veil in public has promised a fund of EUR1m to help any Muslim who is fined for wearing the niqab in the street.
Rachid Nekkaz, a businessman of Algerian origin who launched a short-lived campaign in the 2007 presidential elections, has already put EUR200,000 into a bank account aimed at bailing out women who find themselves on the wrong side of the new law.
He insists that the ban, which was approved by the lower house of parliament on Tuesday and is set to be ratified by the senate in September, is “anti-constitutional” and a move that could put France on a slippery slope towards greater intolerance.
While he has no problem - like most of the French population - with an idea initially mooted by MPs of banning the full veil in state areas such as town halls and post offices, he is vehemently against a law that applies to women simply walking down the street.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/international/tycoon-plans-to-fight-veil-ban-670
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Suicide bomber misses target in Swat; five die
By Hameedullah Khan
16 Jul, 2010
MINGORA, July 15: At least five people were killed and 58 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a crowded bus terminal in Mingora bazaar on Thursday. Two women were among the dead.
A security convoy passing through the area could have been the target of the attack but it narrowly escaped.
The injured were taken to the district headquarters hospital in Saidu Sharif, several of them in critical condition. An emergency was declared at the hospital.
The dead were identified as Safyan and Ms Almas from Gujranwala, Tahir Zeb from Peshawar, Ms Delarama from Charsadda and Amjad Ali from Gogdara.
The powerful blast destroyed seven vehicles and 12 shops and damaged windows of several nearby buildings.
Security personnel cordoned off the area and a curfew was imposed. Panicked shopkeepers put up the shutters. A large number of passengers were stranded at the bus stand because of the curfew.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/suicide-bomber-misses-target-in-swat-five-die-670
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Pornistan? Pak tops world in 'sex' searches
Jul 16, 2010
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan — the land of the pure — has notched up a rather unenviable first place, for porn searches per person across the world, according to Google search trends.
According to a Fox News report, Pakistan is "top dog in searches for 'horse sex', since 2004, 'donkey sex' since 2007, 'rape pictures' and 'rape sex' since 2004, 'child sex' between 2004 and 2007 and since 2009, 'animal sex' since 2004 and 'dog sex' since 2005".
The country also tops or has topped in searches under the categories of sex, camel sex, rape video, child sex video and some other unprintables. The Pakistani embassy did not reply to a request for an interview, the report said.
So far, Pakistan has banned 17 websites for offensive or blasphemous material and is monitoring seven others (including Google, Yahoo, YouTube and Amazon).
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Pornistan-Pak-tops-world-in-sex-searches/articleshow/6174245.cms
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Five killed, 44 injured in Pak blast
Jul 15, 2010
PESHAWAR: A suicide bomber struck a crowded bus stand in the restive Swat district in northwest Pakistan today, killing at least five persons, including a woman, and injuring 44 others.
Police said the suicide attacker targeted the bus stand in Mingora, the headquarters of Swat district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
Most of the injured are tourists, they said. Hospital officials told PTI that five persons were killed and 44 others injured in the blast. A woman was among the dead.
The blast represented a major setback to Pakistan government's efforts to revive the tourism industry in the scenic Malakand division, which includes Swat.
The bus stand was packed with passengers, mostly tourists, when the explosion occurred.
Malakand Division police chief Qazi Jamilur Rehman ordered an investigation into the attack.
Police and rescue workers rushed to the site and took the injured to Saidu Sharif Hospital.
The condition of some of the injured was described by officials as critical.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Five-killed-44-injured-in-Pak-blast/articleshow/6172029.cms
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‘Sayedee’s sermons threat to peace, development’
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka
Speakers at a discussion meeting in Dhaka on Thursday observed the waz (sermons at Muslim congregations) of Nayeb-e-Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islam Delwar Hossain Sayedee has become an open threat to development, peace and democracy.
They said Bangladesh's image as a moderate Muslim country in the international arena has been affected due to provocative waz of Sayeedi in the name of Quran and Islam.
Mentioning that war criminals including Sayeedi had urged the international community to collect money and arms for Osama Bin Laden of Al Quada and his associates, the speakers expressed their concern that Bangladesh could be a target of the `war on terror' led by the USA against this backdrop.
Full report at:
http://www.newagebd.com/2010/jul/16/nat.html
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UAE cultural heritage project seeks out Islamic lullabies
July 16, 2010
Wissam Keyrouz
ABU DHABI: Musicologists funded by Abu Dhabi are roaming Muslim countries in search of lullabies and children’s songs, one of the first projects emerging from a center that aims to preserve the musical heritage of the Muslim world.
The Al-Ain Centre for Music in the World of Islam seeks to document, digitize and sustain the musical traditions of Muslim countries and Islamic communities anywhere in the world. Operating from Abu Dhabi until its premises are completed in 2013 in Al-Ain, the oasis city from which it takes its name, the center also plans to help preserve the music of non-Muslim minorities in Muslim countries.
The institution will “research and document the musical practices, traditions, and heritages of the world of Islam,” said Sami al-Masri, the vice-director of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, which launched the center.
It also aims “to acquire items related to musical heritage, such as studies, documents, publications, and ancient musical instruments,” in a bid to “save and sustain” this heritage, he added.
Full report at:
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=4&Article_id=117087#ixzz0
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Pakistan, India vow to rebuild trust through dialogue
July 16, 2010
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India ended their engagement with a positive note on Thursday, as foreign ministers of both countries termed their talks ‘useful’ and vowed that the talks would pave the way for serious, comprehensive and sustainable dialogue between the two countries.
During their joint press briefing no breakthrough announcement was made, but both Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his Indian counterpart SM Krishna claimed that they had discussed all outstanding issues.
They said they had prolonged discussions aimed at paving the way for serious, comprehensive and sustained dialogue on issues of mutual interest and concerns. Qureshi said he would visit India in the near future to continue the dialogue process.
Full report at:
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\07\16\story_16-7-2010_pg1_1
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‘Resolve Indo-Pak-Afghan issues for regional peace’
16 Jul, 2010
WASHINGTON: Addressing the lingering India-Pakistan-Afghanistan complications may offer the most effective way to resolve the ongoing conflict in the region, a top US senator said on Thursday.
“The complications of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, we all know very well. It is very, very difficult with years and years of history, suspicion, conflict and paranoia. But if that can somehow be managed, that may be, by far, the most effective way to resolve this conflict,” Democratic Senator John Kerry said.
Kerry was chairing a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, where US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke also testified.
Full report at:
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\07\16\story_16-7-2010_pg7_30
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India, Pakistan find common ground on terrorism
16 Jul, 2010
India and Pakistan agreed after key talks on Thursday to further a tentative rapprochement process between the nuclear-armed rivals and bring perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks to justice.
India’s foreign minister and Pakistani leaders spent the day locked in the third high-level contact in a six-month thaw since New Delhi broke off peace talks after Islamist gunmen killed 166 people in Mumbai in 2008.
Talks ran into extra time, delaying a news conference by six hours as the agenda focused on Indian concerns about terrorism and allegations that Pakistani spies orchestrated the Mumbai carnage, rather than on confidence-building measures.
India’s SM Krishna said he would return to New Delhi ‘with an assurance from the highest level’ of Pakistan’s political leadership over leads thrown up by the interrogation of David Headley, a suspect arrested in the United States.
Full report at: Newagebd.com
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Teenage marriage in Jordan stirs up debate
By Musa Hattar
16 Jul, 2010
AMMAN: Wesal Jamil was 16 when her family arranged her marriage to a man in his thirties. A decade later, the mother of seven regrets her lost youth.
“My dream was to become a teacher but my marriage deprived me from education and now I have many duties,” Jamil told AFP.
“I regret that. Education would have secured me a job to at least help my husband shoulder financial responsibilities,” she added.
Jamil is one of thousands of Jordanians under 18 who get married every year after obtaining court permission. In the past two years, 14,000 teenagers have tied the knot, according to court records.
The issue stirred up debate in Jordan after proposed amendments to the civil status law in May retained a clause that allows 15-year-old girls to marry.
While Islamists support such marriages, women’s activists cry foul.
“Allowing a 15-year-old girl to get married is like legalising rape,” said Nadia Shamrukh, head of the Jordanian Women’s Union.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/international/teenage-marriage-in-jordan-stirs-up-debate-670
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Another Israeli spy help in Lebanon
16 Jul, 2010
BEIRUT: Lebanon has arrested a suspected accomplice of a telecom technician who is charged with spying for Israel, a source close to the investigation said on Thursday.
“We can say a second arrest has been made and that the suspect is likely an accomplice of Charbel Azzi,” the source said.
The news comes after high-profile arrest of Charbel Azzi, a technician at the Alfa mobile service provider, last month as part of a national crackdown on suspected Israeli espionage rings.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/international/another-israeli-spy-help-in-lebanon-670
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Bollywood film on Kashmir banned in Gulf states
16 Jul, 2010
MUMBAI, July 15: A hard-hitting Bollywood film about the sensitive issue of life in occupied Kashmir has been banned in a number of Gulf states, its makers said.
Five states — the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman — will not show “Lamhaa” (The Moment), which claims to tell the true story behind violence in the Muslim-majority region.
“We got the film cleared from the Indian government and there was nothing objectionable,” director Rahul Dholakia said. “But the Gulf film authorities didn’t feel so. I am extremely disappointed.” Dholakia said he was shocked “Lamhaa” had been banned as he believed his film was about “peace and brotherhood”.
Producer Bunty Walia said the film’s Middle East distributor had confirmed the ban.
The film, which was released in India last Friday, stars the veteran actor Sanjay Dutt and female co-star Bipasha Basu.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/international/bollywood-film-on-kashmir-banned-in-gulf-states-670
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Fatah rejects direct talks
16 Jul, 2010
RAMALLAH: Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas should not hold direct talks with Israel because indirect negotiations had yielded nothing, his Fatah movement said on Thursday.
The movement’s statement came as US envoy George Mitchell was expected in the region on his latest visit to press Israel and the Palestinians to re-launch direct talks, suspended during the 2008-2009 Gaza war.
Since May, the two sides have been holding proximity talks through Mitchell but Abbas has said he will not move to direct negotiations unless there is progress on the contentious issue of borders and security.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/international/fatah-rejects-direct-talks-670
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Iraqis take charge of last prison in US control
16 Jul, 2010
BAGHDAD, July 15: Iraq assumed control of the last US-run prison camp in the country on Thursday, a milestone that casts a spotlight on the Iraqi government’s troubled record of caring for inmates amid allegations of torture and overcrowding at Iraqi-run facilities.
The change in command at Camp Cropper — which was renamed Karkh Prison — marks the end of a troubling chapter in the US presence in the country, which was marred in the early years by photographs showing American soldiers abusing inmates at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/international/iraqis-take-charge-of-last-prison-in-us-control-670
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Musharraf gets political advice but no real support
By Ahmad Hassan
16 Jul, 2010
ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), launched by former military dictator Pervez Musharraf a couple of months ago, seems to be in the doldrums as it has failed to attract any of the well-known leaders from the several PML factions.
After he was apparently ditched by his chief political supporters of yesteryear, the Chaudhrys of Gujrat, Mr Musharraf has also failed to win over to his side other important PML leaders who met him in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, according to sources. Mr Musharraf nowadays spends considerable time in the United Arab Emirates.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/national/musharraf-gets-political-advice-but-no-real-support-670
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Fissures run deep but India, Pak agree to meet again
Muzamil Jaleel
Jul 16 2010
Islamabad: After seven hours of extended talks in Islamabad on Thursday, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi emerged to spell out the outcome of the dialogue, but the initial warmth and commitment to restore confidence soon evaporated. It was replaced by tit-for-tat responses on a range of issues — laying bare the fissures over Kashmir, infiltration across the Line of Control, alleged rights violations in the Valley, contradictory views on action against perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks and disagreement over Balochistan.
Yet the two countries agreed to continue their dialogue — it was announced that the two ministers would meet next in India in the near future.
Full report at:
http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/647307/
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Pak must crack down on terror groups: US NSA
PNS , New Delhi
US National Security Advisor (NSA) James Jones met the Indian leadership in New Delhi during his two-day visit, ending Thursday, and discussed preparations for President Barack Obama’s visit to Delhi later this year besides bilateral issues including regional security and terrorism.
Jones, who came here on the invitation of his Indian counterpart Shiv Shankar Menon, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister AK Antony, Home Minister P Chidambaram, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley and Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee Air Chief Marshal PV Naik.
A statement by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said the two sides reviewed the status of bilateral strategic partnership besides discussing preparations for Obama’s visit.
Full report at:
http://www.dailypioneer.com/269422/Pak-must-crack-down-on-terror-groups-US-NSA.html
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Israel arrests 13 Palestinians in West Bank
Jul 15, 2010
NABLUS (Palestinian Territories): Israeli soldiers on Thursday arrested 13 Palestinians in the West Bank, using tear gas during the arrests, the army said.
Troops used tear gas to disperse Palestinians who hurled rocks while the soldiers were conducting the arrests of eight people in Beit Furik village near Nablus.
Palestinian security sources said the eight, two of them women, were members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
The Israeli army said a further five Palestinians were arrested in other villages near Nablus.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Israel-arrests-13-Palestinians-in-West-Bank-/articleshow/6171560.cms
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US envoy in new bid to get Israelis and Palestinians talking
Jul 16, 2010
JERUSALEM: US President Barack Obama's Middle East peace envoy started his sixth round of shuttle diplomacy between the Israelis and Palestinians today seeking to move the two sides to direct talks for the first time in over 18 months.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah movement, however, urged its leader to stay away from the negotiating table, saying that indirect talks mediated through Mitchell since May had so far yielded nothing.
As Mitchell was meeting Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak, the US State Department said it expected that direct talks would nevertheless resume sooner or later.
"I think we have a strong belief that at some point in time direct negotiations will be renewed," spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters in Washington.
"Whether that's days from now, weeks from now, I don't think we're in a position to say at this point."
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/US-envoy-in-new-bid-to-get-Israelis-and-Palestinians-talking/articleshow/6174368.cms
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India rejects Balochistan charge, says no proof given
Jul 15, 2010
ISLAMABAD: Indian external affairs minister S M Krishna on Thursday rejected Pakistan's charge of New Delhi's alleged role in the unrest in Balochistan, saying not a shred of evidence has been provided by Islamabad to bolster its claim.
"Forget about credible evidence. Till now, not a shred of evidence has been given to the Government of India," Krishna replied when a Pakistani journalist asked about India's alleged role in the insurgency in Balochistan.
If evidence is provided, the Government of India will look into it and will take responsibility for it, Krishna said at a joint media interaction with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi after their wide-ranging discussions here.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/India-rejects-Balochistan-charge-says-no-proof-given/articleshow/6173704.cms
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Pak has assured speedy trial of 26/11 accused: India
Jul 15, 2010
India's Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna (L) and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi take questions from the media during a joint news conference in Islamabad July 15, 2010. (REUTERS Photo)
ISLAMABAD: Airing its concerns over cross-border terror, India on Thursday told Pakistan that the speedy trial of the 26/11 accused and unravelling of the larger Mumbai attack conspiracy can be the "biggest confidence-building measure (CBM)" that could help normalise strained ties between the two countries.
Describing his talks with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi as "good and constructive," external affairs minister S M Krishna said at a joint press conference that Pakistan has promised speedy trial of the 26/11 Mumbai attack accused and had given a fresh assurance not to allow this country's territory to be used for terror against India.
"The bottom-line is that the discussions were good and constructive," Krishna said after his wide-ranging talks with Qureshi that covered a wide array of issues of mutual concern, including terrorism, Jammu & Kashmir and humanitarian CBMs to ease trust deficit between the two countries.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Pak-has-assured-speedy-trial-of-26/11-accused-India/articleshow/6173821.cms
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Indian films a no-show in Pak and Middle East
Bharati Dubey
Jul 16, 2010
MUMBAI: Two of the three films releasing this Friday, 'Lamhaa' and 'Tere Bin Laden', may not find their way to cinema halls in Pakistan and the Middle East. And Ajai Sinha's film, 'Khap' (scheduled for release next month), is also facing problems with the Khap community saying it will not allow the release of the film.
'Lamhaa' producer Bunty Walia said, "The Middle East has objected to the film although the countries have not given any reason; it is also obvious that Pakistan, too, may not release the film." The film's Srinagar special screening, too, is being cancelled because of the situation in the Valley. Walia said, "It will not be viable at all. There is also a question mark over the film's release in Jammu."
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indian-films-a-no-show-in-Pak-and-Middle-East/articleshow/6174452.cms
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Sultan Shahin
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