Rethinking Islam with Sultan Shahin

Islamic World News

29 May 2011, NewAgeIslam.Com

Saudi Arabia launches world’s largest women-only university
	Muslim support helped me win: Kashmiri Pandit Expert warns India on Pak's N-tipped missile Taliban aims to take over Pak, its nukes Taliban suicide bomber targets Pak tribe, kills 8 Egyptian student found mysteriously missing in Islamabad $4.5bn Indo-Israel arms deal West Bengal CM will sort out Waqf mess Oman Joins Protest Wave, and 2 Die in Clashes with Police Pak Hindu migrants want to stay here Threat to nukes but Pak still in denial Pak army breached by Islamists US denies giving a clean chit to Pak over Osama ISI might have been involved in 26/11 strikes: Pakistan's ex- foreign secretary Pakistan must desert terror camps: Indian Defence Minister Judicial system is impartial: Saudi Justice Minister Where Pak-China alliance is going? Two British soldiers killed in Afghanistan Bilawal to take over as chief of Zardari tribe Karzai orders NATO to stop night raids Musharraf defends ISI, slams RAW Bin Laden fallout could force early Pakistan polls Suicide bomber kills Afghan police chief, German troops President’s chief security officer attacked: Dawn News Clinton made trip after Pak acceded list of demands UNHRC accuses Australia of racism Egypt permanently opens Gaza border crossing Temporary ceasefire in Yemen for talks CIA team visits Osama hideout, searches for over six hours Nato destroys Gaddafi home's guard towers Nato raids Gaddafi's Tripoli compound Was Major Iqbal following ISI orders? Defence questioning exposes crafty Headley Post-Osama,US gives Pak new list of 5 most-wanted Did U.S. hand over wanted list to Pakistan? Pakistani Taliban claims responsibility for suicide attack Osama raid avenged CIA deaths, kept secret until now Kashmiri, Zawahiri on US list of `most wanted' given to Pak Interpol issues global alert for Taliban fugitives Suicide bomber strikes at top NATO, Afghan leaders Syrian forces fire on protesters in east, one hurt Mubarak to pay for cutting off Internet Yemeni government and tribesmen agree truce Probe into attack on U.N. convoy to be launched: Hariri- Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau Photo: M.L. Zutshi (left) flashes the victory sign after being elected as a panch from Tahab, a Muslim-dominated village, in Pulwama district of South Kashmir on Wednesday. ------ Saudi Arabia launches world’s largest women-only university SIRAJ WAHAB RIYADH | 29th May Saudi woman applies makeup on a model during a beauty and style competition on the sidelines of the 2010 Cosmetic Expo, held for the first time in the Kingdom in December 2010. AFP audi Arabia continues to pump billions of riyals into creating a world-class educational infrastructure. Two years after attracting world attention with the launch of a 40-billion-riyal Ivy League-style university near Jeddah, the kingdom last week inaugurated the world's largest women-only university near Riyadh. Named after King Abdullah's sister, Princess Nora bint Abdul Rahman, the new university has the capacity to enroll 50,000 female students and features 15 colleges, a 700 bed university hospital, two sports clubs, commercial malls, a conference center, laboratories and research centers. There are colleges for kindergarten education, languages, pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, nursing, information technology, and translation. The university cost 20 billion Saudi riyals and is designed to be a car-free environment. Female students, who are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, can make their way around campus on the shuttle monorail train or by electric buggies. The sprawling campus sits on a site that exceeds 800 hectares. Women educators and professionals were upbeat about the opening of the university and took it as a sign that women may start to assume a more active role in Saudi Arabia's development. "I hope it will lead to a massive turnaround in the fortunes of Saudi women," said Dr. Aisha Almana, founder of Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Almana College of Health Sciences. "However, universities of the world are not known by their physical structure — they attain status and credibility by what they produce. I mean a university is known by the quality of its graduates. I hope the new university will be a trendsetter. We all know that women constitute 50 percent of the Saudi population. Recent statistics indicate that there are more women graduates than men, which means women are more aware of the need for education. They are equal partners in the development and progress of this great Muslim kingdom." Dr. Aisha Almana said Saudi Arabia should concentrate on making its people productive. "Oil is here today, and it may not be here tomorrow. Look at Japan; they had no natural resources, but it is one of most robust economies in the world — just by the sheer power of their people. We should focus on investing in human capital. It is our people who will take us far. We should concentrate on creating excellent human resources. People are our greatest asset, and we should nurture them." Jeddah broadcaster and newspaper columnist Samar Fatany said the new university should be a source of pride for Saudi Arabia. "It has bright prospects," she said. "It will be inspire the young generation of Saudi women. Hopefully it will bring in a new trend of positive thinking and produce a new group of educated women who will eventually assume leadership positions in their respective fields. We need such universities to help us excel. The new university will help our women to compete with the best women in the world and create healthy competition within the various universities in the Kingdom. It will raise the benchmark of education." "First and foremost it indicates King Abdullah's support for women," said well-known writer and physician Dr. Samia Al-Amoudi. "This is a big step in the empowerment of Saudi women. It is also significant that it is named after Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman who is the sister of the king. "For such a large, prestigious project to be named after a woman is an honor for all of us. It will have a great impact on society and how it perceives us women. I am very happy that our leadership is aware of our needs. They have placed their trust in us." "Now it is the turn and the responsibility of the women of Saudi Arabia to ensure that this university attains a high rank in the world and the Middle East in particular," said Saudi teacher Huda Al-Shehri. "This university is the first of its kind dedicated exclusively to women. It offers courses that are not traditional or conventional in nature. These courses are more in line with the needs of the job market." Dr. Aisha Almana agreed and called for implementing the Indian education model. "It is my conviction that we should follow the India model. Immediately after attaining independence, they concentrated on professional courses rather than humanities and arts," she said. "The recent turnaround in India is a result of that paradigm shift in education. I recently came back from Bangalore and saw the transformation myself. We should similarly focus on professional studies." http://www.sunday-guardian.com/investigation/saudi-arabia-launches-worlds-largest-women-only-university ------ Muslim support helped me win: Kashmiri Pandit MIR BASIT HUSSAIN NEW DELHI | 29th May The ongoing panchayat elections in Kashmir have witnessed the victory of at least two Pandit candidates, thus reflecting a shift in attitudes at the ground level. Makhan Lal Zutshi is one such Pandit who won the elections from Tahab village in Pulwama district of South Kashmir. Before Zutshi, Asha Bhat, a 52-year-old peon in a government office won from Kunzar village in North Kashmir and became the first Pandit woman to do so. Zutshi, a retired official with the power development department, won the seat uncontested as he enjoyed the support of all 3,300 Muslim voters in the village. After his overwhelming win the villagers persuaded him to contest for the post of sarpanch, but he lost that election by a narrow margin. "My Muslim brothers and sisters persuaded me to fight the election for the post of sarpanch. I had not thought of it," Zutshi told The Sunday Guardian over telephone. "I am not unhappy that I have lost. In fact I am very proud to see the trust which the people of the village have in me. Nobody contested against me and that is proof of the trust which people have in me." Zutshi credits his Muslim neighbours who campaigned for him for his win: "My Muslim sisters and brothers trusted me and supported me. That's why I won." "Trust is what binds the Muslims and Pandits of Kashmir. I was always there and my win and Ashaji's win prove that the trust is still there," he added. "Things have changed. Earlier, Pandits did not participate in certain discussions. But now we can talk about those issues without any threat. Not only can we challenge candidates from the majority community, but also win elections," said Zutshi. The retired government official, who has a son and two daughters, says that if Kashmiri Pandits living outside the Valley want to return, they can do so. "I have lived in Tahab and I plan to die here. I am not under any threats. There were problems in the 1990s because of militancy, but not anymore," he said. Zutshi has a message for Pandit organisations working in Delhi: "I want to tell them that they should urge Pandits to return to Kashmir. If they are afraid of the Muslims here, let me tell them that the Muslims are the shield that will protect us if anybody tries to harm us." According to him, "The gun culture, which was one of the reasons why the Pandits left, is negligible now." "I know how Pandits living outside Kashmir must be feeling. I was afraid of feeling like that, the reason why I did not leave Kashmir," he said. http://www.sunday-guardian.com/investigation/muslim-support-helped-me-win-kashmiri-pandit ------- Expert warns India on Pak's N-tipped missile MAY 29, 11 Sachin Parashar, NEW DELHI: Pakistan's recent testing of NASR or Hatf-9 short range missile, coupled with its rapidly growing stockpile of low-intensity nuclear weapons, suggests that it is actually preparing to cross the nuclear threshold in case of a conflict with India. One of world's most authoritative voices on Pakistan's nuclear strength and American nuclear expert Hans Kristensen told TOI that a nuclear-tipped NASR seemed more like a weapon intended for use against Indian forces advancing into Pakistani territory. "While that wouldn't threaten Indian survival in itself, it would of course mean crossing the nuclear threshold early in a conflict, which is one of the particular concerns of a short-range nuclear weapon,'' said Kristensen, who is also Federation of American Scientists' Nuclear Information Project director. While the 60-km short range of the nuclear capable missile doesn't threaten the security of any major Indian city, it certainly makes the Indian army and security forces vulnerable in case India does try to implement its much talked about Cold Start Doctrine, which entails making deep and precise incursions into Pakistani territory in the event of another Mumbai-like attack. Pakistan clearly seems to be raising the game considering that India will indeed be under pressure to destroy terror camps in Pakistan in the event of another state sponsored terror attack on India. "A NASR would have to drive all the way up to the Indian border to be able to reach important targets in India. Amritsar would be one candidate, as would several smaller cities along the border. But that would also expose the missile to counter attack,'' Kristensen said as he emphasized that with its range of only 60 kilometres, the multi-tube NASR system is not intended to retaliate against Indian cities but be used first against advancing Indian Army in a battlefield scenario. Kristensen had earlier described Pakistan's production of Hatf-9 as a worrisome development for South Asia and for efforts to prevent nuclear weapons from being used. He said it was time for Pakistan to explain how many nuclear weapons, of what kind, and for what purpose are needed for its minimum deterrent. Pakistan announced earlier that NASR "carries nuclear warheads of appropriate yield with high accuracy, shoot-and-scoot attributes" and that it was developed as a quick response system to add deterrence value to Pakistan's nuclear weapons. According to Kristensen though, the talk about Pakistan surpassing France in terms of the strength of its nuclear arsenal is ``a decade or two ahead''. "Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is not equal to the number of warheads that could potentially be produced by all the highly-enriched uranium and plutonium Pakistan might have produced. The size also depends on other factors such as the number of delivery vehicles and other limitations,'' he said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Pak-looks-to-cross-nuclear-threshold-against-India/articleshow/8630962.cms -------- Taliban aims to take over Pak, its nukes MAY 29, 11 The Taliban has said they have no plans to attack Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, asserting that it is the only Muslim state possessing such weapons and the terror group aims to take over the country, as well as its nukes. Taliban has stepped-up violent campaign to avenge Osama bin Laden’s death has ren ewed fears that the country’s warheads could be vulnerable. Declaring that “Pakistan is the only Muslim nuclear power state,” Taliban Spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan said that his group had no intention of changing the fact, Wall Street Journal reported. The Taliban, after all, aim to take over Pakistan and its weapons, he said. A well coordinated Taliban attack on Pakistan key naval airbase at Karachi had triggered fresh global alarm that radical militant groups operating from the country’s restive tribal areas bordering Afghanistan might be out to snatch nuclear weapons. Seeking to dismiss these concerns, Ehsan claimed that US was using this as an excuse to pressurise Pakistan government and military into fighting Taliban, whom he portrayed as country’s true protectors. Bomber kills 5 in Pak A suicide bomber blew himself up in a small restaurant in Pakistan’s Bajaur tribal region on the Afghan border on Saturday, killing five civilians and wounding 10, officials said. The latest blast occurred in Salarza, about 15 km north of region’s main town of Khar. ANP leader shot dead A leader of Pakistan’s Awami National Party (ANP), Muzaffar Ali Khanwas, was gunned down along with two of his associates, in Swat valley in the northwest tribal region, a media report said on Saturday. http://www.hindustantimes.com/rssfeed/Americas/We-want-Pakistan-and-its-nukes-says-Taliban/Article1-703093.aspx -------- Taliban suicide bomber targets Pak tribe, kills 8 29th May Khar: A suicide bomber targeting a pro-government tribe on Saturday killed at least eight people and wounded 11 others at a market in a restive Pakistani tribal area, officials said. The attacker blew himself up at Pasht bazaar in the northwestern Salarzai region, some 35 kilometres from Khar, the main town of the restive Bajaur tribal district, which borders Afghanistan. Earlier the officials had said a timed bomb exploded. "Initially it looked like a bomb blast, but later investigators found out that it was a suicide bombing and the body of the attacker was also found," local government official Saad Mohammad said. "Eight people were killed and 11 others were wounded in the attack," he added. Health department official Khan Saeed said that condition of three of the wounded was critical. "Two tribal elders , Malik Tehsil Khan and Malik Mayn Jan also died in the bomb blast," local government official said. Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Taliban-suicide-bomber-targets-Pak-tribe-kills-8/articleshow/8633107.cms ------ Egyptian student found mysteriously missing in Islamabad 29th May Defence of Human Rights held a press conference on 27th May 2011 04:00 PM in National Press Club Islamabad. Chairperson expressed concern over recent abductions, especially condemning the illegal arrest of Abdullah s/o Muhammad Abdul Raheem, a 23 year old youth studying in the 2nd semester of Electrical Engineering in Air University Islamabad. The incident took place on 24th May when Abdullah was found mysteriously missing from his hostel, Al-Asar in F-8 katcheri Islamabad, at around 06:00 PM. Mother Mona and brother were also present in the press conference, who appealed the government of Pakistan to trace Abdullah and defend the rights of all those citizens who have migrated long ago to settle down in Pakistan for good. Abdullah’s father who had come to Pakistan in 1980’s and had build his house and established his business here, took a permanent nationality of Pakistan after giving up his Egyptian one. After the press conference, the family of Abdullah along with DHR officials went to register FIR in Margallah Police Station in F-8 Islamabad. Telling the SHO Fayaz Tanoli about the whole background how father and elder son was abducted and extradited to Egypt. FIR under section 365 of illegal abduction was registered. FIR no. 305/27.5.11 A phone was received from Attock where rest of the younger siblings of Abdullah were waiting in fear and hope. The younger brother Ibraheem told that special branch police have arrived in their home and they are questioning them. Amina Masood Janjua talked to them and comforted them. On the hand she called the Crisis Management Cell, director operations and secretary of the commission for the Enforced Disappeared Mr. Fareed Khan. “The Embassy of Egypt was approached but it was closed therefore it was decided to report it on Monday” Sunday 29th Mar 2011: At around 11:30 AM Abdullah’s youngest brother Ibraheem went to the Market in Attock to buy milk and bread, BUT DID NOT RETURN. When Ahmad went after him, the market shopkeeper told him to be careful as your brother has been picked up. He also told that there we two vehicles on surveillance of your house last night and as soon as your brother came out the special branch police followed him and picked him. Terrified the family of mother Mona and four younger siblings told eldest brother Abdul Rehman in Egypt about the whole situation. Abdul Rahman immediately contacted Mrs. Amina Masood. Again Mr. Fareed Khan was approached and Mrs. Janjua recorded her strongest verbal protest at this blatant and repeated violation of human rights. She condemned these atrocities committed to a peaceful and law abiding Egyptian Family, who have migrated 30 years back and made Pakistan their adopted homeland. Mr. Fareed Khan also lamented the fact, and asked her to bring both the two FIR’s in his office (National Crisis Management Cell, Ministry of Interior) on Monday. Amina Masood Janjua has asked CPO Rawalpindi to provide transport and escort to her so that she can go to Attock city for the comfort of the family and register FIR for Ibraheem’s abduction in Attock Police Station. ------ $4.5bn Indo-Israel arms deal ANURADHA MUKHERJEE NEW DELHI | 29th May India and Israel are in the process of inking a $4.5 billion (Rs 20,000 cr) arms deal for air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles and other related systems. The deal could put Israel in the forefront once again as one of India's leading arms suppliers. Official sources told The Sunday Guardian that the deal could contain a package of Derby and Python missiles, and even a hybrid of them, and other related equipment. The indigenous fighter, Tejas, is to be fitted with Derby air-to-air missiles from Rafael Advanced Systems. Recent visits by the deputy chief of staff of the three services to Israel as part of a delegation led by Union Defence Secretary Pradip Kumar a few weeks ago indicated that the deals were meant for both the Air Force and the Navy. DRDO chief V.K. Saraswat was also in Israel recently to participate in the talks. Full report at: http://www.sunday-guardian.com/news/45bn-indo-israel-arms-deal ------ West Bengal CM will sort out Waqf mess SUSENJIT GUHA KOLKATA | 29th May West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is working towards sorting out the legal problems surrounding Waqf properties in the state so that their revenue can be distributed for the socio-economic benefit of the Muslim community. Speaking to this newspaper, historian Khajim Ahmed said, "The Chief Minister has sought data on the matter as Waqf properties are worth more than Rs 70,000 cr in West Bengal, the highest anywhere in India. Muslims will not need any government help if Waqf revenues are used for their benefit." Full report at: ttp://www.sunday-guardian.com/news/mamata-will-sort-out-waqf-mess ------ Oman Joins Protest Wave, and 2 Die in Clashes with Police 29th May BEIRUT, Lebanon — Oman, the normally quiet sultanate along the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, joined the wave of two-month-old political protests shaking the Arab world on Sunday, as hundreds of demonstrators clashed with the riot police in the northeast port city of Sohar. Oman’s state news agency, ONA, said two protesters were killed. Shortly after the violence, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who has led oil-rich Oman for the past 40 years, gave orders to create 50,000 jobs, ONA reported. He also ordered that the equivalent of $386 a month be given every job seeker. Full report at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/28/world/middleeast/28oman.html?_r=2&hp ------ Pak Hindu migrants want to stay here JATINDER PREET LUDHIANA | 29th May The migration of Hindu families from Pakistan continues 64 years after partition. Several of them have come to India in recent years on valid visas and have not gone back. They stay mainly in Punjab's Khanna and Rajpura towns and are seeking Indian citizenship. According to the estimates of the Pakistan Hindu Council, at present, more than seven million Hindus live in Pakistan's different provinces, the majority of them in Sindh. While there have been accusations of forced conversions and persecution in Pakistan, many of the Hindus who migrated mainly from the Swat area say they did not face any problems before the Taliban came into prominence. And now that they have been in India for years they do not want to go back as they feel more at home here. The migrants' numbers have swelled with many Hindu families from Balochistan and Sindh joining the others. Full report at: http://www.sunday-guardian.com/investigation/pak-hindu-migrants-want-to-stay-here -------- Threat to nukes but Pak still in denial MAY 29, 11 Rahimullah Yusufzai After a devastating vehicle-borne suicide bombing on May 26 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in which 33 people,including 10 policemen,were killed,survivors and common citizens refused to admit that Pakistani Taliban could be involved in the attack. Almost every person at the scene of destruction argued that no Muslim,Pakistani or real Islam-loving Taliban could kill fellow Muslims.In their view,enemies of Pakistan ranging from the United States to India and their intelligence agencies were behind the wave of terror attacks that have shaken their country following the May 2 assassination of Osama bin Laden. Full report at: http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?pageid=18&pagesize=&edid=&edlabel=CAP&mydateHid=29-05-2011&pubname=&edname=&publabel=TOI -------- Pak army breached by Islamists MAY 29, 11 Washington: Pakistani military generals are concerned that their ranks have been penetrated by Islamists who are aiding militants in a campaign against the state. Even the powerful army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani was so shaken by the discovery that terror mastermind Osama bin Laden was sheltering so close to the Pakistani capital that he told US officials in a recent meeting that his first priority was bringing our house in order,the Washington Post reported on Saturday quoting senior Pakistani intelligence officers. We are under attack,and the attackers are getting highly confidential information about their targets, said the official,who cited a personal conversation with Kayani. Full report at: http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?pageid=19&pagesize=&edid=&edlabel=CAP&mydateHid=29-05-2011&pubname=&edname=&publabel=TOI -------- US denies giving a clean chit to Pak over Osama MAY 29, 11 US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has not given clean chit to Pakistan’s ISI over Osama bin Laden’s presence in the country, her spokesman said on Saturday. “ I don’t think she ( Clinton) gave them ( ISI) a free chit,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters at his daily news conference when asked if Clinton has given a clean chit to ISI with regard to its links to terrorists. “ We acknowledge that there are difficulties in the relationship, but the bottom line is that this is a relationship that’s in our interest and in Pakistan’s interest, and so we need to work through these challenges moving forward,” he said. Full report at: http://epaper.mailtoday.in/epaperhome.aspx?issue=2952011 -------- ISI might have been involved in 26/11 strikes: Pakistan's ex- foreign secretar MAY 29, 11 NEW DELHI: Pakistan's former foreign secretary Shaharyar Khan has acknowledged that ISI might have been involved in the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai — in the first-ever confession of its kind by a member of Pakistani establishment. In an interview to an Indian TV channel on Saturday, Khan said that "low-level" ISI personnel may have been involved in the terrorist attack on Mumbai. Speaking against the backdrop of the disclosures made by David Coleman Headley about serving ISI officers — Major Iqbal and Major Sameer — Khan told the Indian channel, "I think there is no doubt that whosoever is this Major Iqbal is, was in touch with this man (David Headley)," he said. "I think I would certainly accept that," he added. Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ISI-might-have-been-involved-in-26/11-strikes-Khan/articleshow/8630946.cms -------- Pakistan must desert terror camps: Indian Defence Minister MAY 29, 11 Defence Minister AK Antony said it would be difficult to have “permanent cooperation” in IndoPak relations without Islamabad dismantling terrorist camps functioning in Pakistan. India's grievance with Pakistan is that about 42 terrorist camps are functioning in that country, Mr. Antony told reporters here. “Without destroying these terrorist camps, it would be difficult to achieve permanent cooperation in IndoPak relations,” he said. However, the government's view was to continue with dialogue, he said, adding, Defence Secretaries of India and Pakistan would hold discussions on May 30 and 31. Emphasising on the need for dialogue, Antony said India wants to have good relations with Pakistan. “We can change our friends, but we cannot change our neighbours,” he said, adding “We know the reality that we have to live along with our neighbours. Even though we have problems with our neighbours, we are trying to reestablish our friendship.” India cannot agree on all stands being taken by the US, Antony said, noting that large quantity of arms supplied by America to Pakistan in the name of fighting terror in Afghanistan was being used against India. India had already brought this to the notice of the US, he said. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=187673 -------- Where Pak-China alliance is going? MAY 29, 11 JEDDAH: Justice Minister Muhammad Al-Eissa on Saturday emphasized Saudi Arabia’s fair justice system and said it does not differentiate between people on the basis of religion or ideology. Opening a judicial seminar titled Causes of Judicial Verdicts here, he also noted the distinguished features of Islamic law as well as the ability of Saudi judges to deal with modern developments. Speaking about cases related to terrorism and state security, the minister said there are Shariah laws that incriminate persons involved in such crimes. He disclosed the ministry’s plan to publish the laws related to terrorism and state security shortly. Full report at: http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article437718.ece -------- Two British soldiers killed in Afghanistan MAY 29, 11 Two British soldiers were killed by a homemade bomb while on patrol in southern Afghanistan, defence officials in London said yesterday. The Royal Marines, from 42 Commando, were on an operation on Friday with Afghan forces to clear parts of Nad-e Ali district in Helmand province when they were hit by the blast, the defence ministry said in a statement. Full report at: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=187679 -------- Bilawal to take over as chief of Zardari tribe MAY 29, 11 29 May 2011 ISLAMABAD - President Asif Ali Zardari has decided to forego the title of chief of the Zardari tribe following the death of his father and pass it on to his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. A statement from the Presidency said that President Zardari has decided not to become the tribal chief and pass on the mantle of tribal leadership to his son and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. According to the tribal tradition, consequent upon the death of the tribal chief the eldest son takes over as head of the tribe. President’s father Hakim Ali Zardari died here last week. Full report at: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/international/2011/May/international_May1290.xml&section=international&col= -------- Karzai orders NATO to stop night raids MAY 29, 11 KABUL: The Afghan president ordered on Saturday that only Afghan forces may carry out special operations and night raids, and not NATO troops — an effort meant to stymie popular anger over the international troops' nighttime assaults that he said kill civilians. Hamid Karzai's announcement also said the international coalition should not proceed with any raids that have not been coordinated beforehand with the Afghan side. It wasn't immediately clear what impact, if any, Karzai's orders could have on NATO's actions. The coalition promptly defended the raids as a necessity to flush out insurgents from their hideouts. Full report at: http://arabnews.com/world/article437626.ece -------- Musharraf defends ISI, slams RAW MAY 29, 11 DUBAI – Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday defended his country and took yet another dig at India. Musharraf accused India's intelligence services -- RAW for shielding Pakistan's most wanted terrorists, including Brahmdagh Bugti and his family. In a TV interview, Musharraf said that since 1948 India and Pakistan are n a confrontationist course and RAW and ISI trying to hurt each other. He said RAW and Indian army separated Pakistan’s eastern wing, now Bangladesh. RAW also led to Indianattacks on Siachen, he stressed. Full report at: http://dailymailnews.com/0511/29/FrontPage/index.php?id=4 -------- Bin Laden fallout could force early Pakistan polls MAY 29, 11 ISLAMABAD: The embarrassing revelation that Osama bin Laden was living in a military garrison town and the fallout from the US raid that killed him are threatening to bring down Pakistan’s government and force early elections. Since Pakistanis woke up to the shocking news from the city of Abbottabad on May 2, confidence in the country’s civilian government and military has crumbled, both at home and abroad. If the masses showed little inclination to mourn the al Qaeda leader’s death or denounce the American raid, they have loudly lamented the humiliating failures of their much-garlanded military to root him out on their doorstep. Full report at: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\05\29\story_29-5-2011_pg7_9 -------- Suicide bomber kills Afghan police chief, German troops MAY 29, 11 KUNDUZ: The police commander for northern Afghanistan and two German soldiers were among six people killed Saturday in a suicide bombing at a provincial governor’s office, officials said. The attacker struck in Taloqan, capital of Takhar province, soon after a meeting regarding security had finished. The Taliban claimed responsibility in what was their latest example of high-profile target selection. The slain police chief, General Mohammed Daoud Daoud, was a key figure in Afghanistan’s recent history. A former military commander of Ahmad Shah Massoud’s Northern Alliance, he oversaw the siege of Kunduz, the final major battle of the US-led invasion that followed the September 11 attacks in 2001. Full report at: http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/29/suicide-bomber-kills-afghan-police-chief-german-troops.html -------- President’s chief security officer attacked: DawnNews MAY 29, 11 KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari’s Chief Security Officer Bilal Shaikh was attacked by unknown assailants late Saturday, DawnNews reported. Shaikh was on his way from Firdous Colony to Khamosh Colony when unknown men opened fire. The assailants fled the scene after security forces fired back, leaving behind their car and weapons. Full report at: http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/29/president%E2%80%99s-chief-security-officer-attacked-dawnnews.html -------- Clinton made trip after Pak acceded list of demands MAY 29, 11 WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton decided to make the trip only after Pakistan acceded to a list of demands that included allowing CIA access to Osama bin Laden compound in Abbottabad. According to a US newspaper, Clintons’ visit was so brief that she arrived just after breakfast and was headed home by early afternoon. http://www.thenews.jang.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=16239 -------- Nato air strike kills 14 civilians MAY 29, 11 KANDAHAR: At least 14 civilians were killed and six wounded in a Nato air strike in southern Afghanistan, the local authorities said on Sunday. US Marines in Nawzad district of Helmand province called in air support Saturday after their base came under attack from small arms fire, the provincial governor's office said in a statement. Full report at: Full report at: http://www.thenews.jang.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=16249 ------ UNHRC accuses Australia of racism LAKSHMAN MENON LONDON | 29th May The UN Human Rights Commissioner has chastised Australia for a strong undercurrent of racism "which I see as rather inhumane treatment of people, judged by their differences, racial, colour or religions". In remarks which will annoy the Labour government of Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Ms Navi Pillay said that Australia's long standing policy of locking up asylum seekers seemed to be completely arbitrary and "cast a shadow over Australia's human rights record": "I come from South Africa" Pillay said, "and lived under this, and am [in] every way attuned to seeing racial discrimination". Speaking to reporters at the end of her six-day visit to Australia, Pillay expressed deep concern about the government's new plan to send hundreds of asylum seekers to Malaysia, which is not a signatory of the UN refugee convention, for refugee processing in an attempt to appease voter concern about "boat people". 134 boats carrying 6,535 people arrived on Australian shores last year, prompting the government to toughen its already hard immigration policy. Australia has long been accused of pursuing both a racist immigration policy and of fostering an inbuilt contempt for non-white immigrants. It was only in 1973 that Australia allowed non-whites to immigrate to the country, and although its current "points" system does not discriminate between people of different ethnic origins, there is a groundswell of admittedly minority, but vocal, opinion against non-white immigrants. In the 1990s, the politician Pauline Hanson inveighed that "a multicultural country can never be a strong country". In 2009 Indian students held mass protests against what they claimed were series of racist attacks. Pillay also took exception to the government's policies towards indigenous Aborigines, saying: "In my discussions with Aboriginal people, I could sense the deep hurt and pain that they have suffered because of government policies that are imposed on them". Australia's 460,000 Aborigines make up only 2 % of the population, but suffer higher rates of unemployment and a shorter lifespan. -------- Egypt permanently opens Gaza border crossing MAY 29, 11 RAFAH, GAZA STRIP: Egypt lifted a four-year-old blockade on the Gaza Strip's main link to the outside world Saturday, bringing relief to the crowded territory's 1.5 million Palestinians but deepening a rift with Israel since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak earlier this year. The Egyptian move will allow thousands of Gazans to move freely in and out of the area — heightening Israeli fears that militants and weapons could easily reach its doorstep. Israel and Egypt imposed the blockade after the Islamic militant Hamas seized control of Gaza in June 2007. The closure, which also included tight Israeli restrictions at its cargo crossings with Gaza and a naval blockade, was meant to weaken Hamas, but it also fueled an economic crisis in the densely populated territory. Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Egypt-permanently-opens-Gaza-border-crossing/articleshow/8629146.cms -------- Temporary ceasefire in Yemen for talks MAY 29, 11 SANAA: An informal ceasefire between president Ali Abdullah Saleh's security forces and a tribal group brought a pause in fighting on Saturday after nearly a week of deadly clashes left Yemen near civil war. Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Temporary-ceasefire-in-Yemen-for-talks/articleshow/8633282.cms -------- CIA team visits Osama hideout, searches for over six hours MAY 29, 11 ISLAMABAD: A CIA forensic team has carried out an extensive search of slain al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden's Abbottabad hideout hunting for concealed chambers where he might have stashed his terror blueprints. The CIA team which flew to the spot in a helicopter scoured the three storied complex for more than six hours in the compound, 'The Dawn' reported. Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/worldarticlelist/articleshow/8625255.cms -------- Nato destroys Gaddafi home's guard towers MAY 29, 11 TRIPOLI: Nato aircraft destroyed the guard towers at Muammar Gaddafi's compound in Tripoli, a Nato official said on Saturday, then staged a rare daytime air strike on the Libyan capital , heightening pressure on him to quit. "RAF Typhoons, along with other Nato aircraft, last night used precision-guided weapons to bring down guard towers along the walls of Colonel Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziyah complex in the centre of Tripoli," Major General John Lorimer, chief British military spokesman, said in a statement. "Last night's action sends a powerful message to the regime's leadership and to those involved in delivering Colonel Gaddafi's attacks on civilians that that they are no longer hidden away from the Libyan people behind high walls," he said. "The massive compound has not just been his home, but is also a major military barracks and headquarters, and lies at the heart of his network of secret police and intelligence agencies," Lorimer said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Nato-destroys-Gaddafi-homes-guard-towers/articleshow/8633180.cms -------- Nato raids Gaddafi's Tripoli compound MAY 29, 11 Nato carried out fresh bombing raids at the heart of Tripoli's regime yesterday, the military alliance said after G8 world powers intensified the pressure on Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi to go. The alliance launched a first salvo at 1:00am followed by another strike nine hours later in Gaddafi's Bab Al-Aziziya compound, which Nato aircraft have targeted for four successive days. Full report at: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=187665 -------- Was Major Iqbal following ISI orders? MAY 29, 11 New Delhi: In an interview to an Indian TV channel,Pakistans former foreign secretary Shaharyar Khan has acknowledged that ISI might have been involved in the 26/11 attacks. The statement comes at a time when Chicago trial of 26/ 11 co-accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana and Headleys testimony in the same court has trained the spotlight on the use of terror by ISI to promote Pakistans strategic objectives.In his interview to CNN-IBN,Khan tried to backtrack soon after admitting ISIs involvement in the Mumbai attack.But the crucial question is that did Major Iqbal act under instruction from ISI hierarchy or is he one of these people who are operating on their own at lower levels, he said. Full report at: http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?pageid=16&pagesize=&edid=&edlabel=CAP&mydateHid=29-05-2011&pubname=&edname=&publabel=TOI -------- Defence questioning exposes crafty Headley MAY 29, 11 Shalini Parekh Chicago: In the Tahawwur Rana trial in Chicago,the stark and remorseless statements of David Headley are throwing into question the alleged complicity or support of his childhood friend Rana,in the terror plots of Mumbai and Denmark.The defence is also systematically trying to discredit the manipulative Headley. Dressed in a blue striped T-shirt,and a dark blue coverup,Headley looked unfazed and unruffled by the defence cross-examination.His multiple,nefarious and simultaneous liaisons with a string of organizations,including LeT,ISI,the Drug Enforcement Authority,al-Qaida,and a series of wives,drew a portrait of him as a duplicitous man,who not only manipulated his friend Rana,but managed his handlers from the different agencies skilfully. Full report at: http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?pageid=18&pagesize=&edid=&edlabel=CAP&mydateHid=29-05-2011&pubname=&edname=&publabel=TOI -------- Post-Osama,US gives Pak new list of 5 most-wanted MAY 29, 11 Islamabad/Washington: Post slaying of Osama bin Laden,the US has drawn up a list of five terrorists,including al-Qaidas second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri,Mullah Omar and Illyas Kashmiri,on whom it expects Pakistan to provide intelligence immediately and possibly target them in joint operations,according to US officials. The list was discussed during three meetings between Pakistani and US officials in the past two weeks,including secretary of state Hillary Clintons talks with Pakistani leaders,ABC News quoted the US official as saying. Full report at: http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?pageid=19&pagesize=&edid=&edlabel=CAP&mydateHid=29-05-2011&pubname=&edname=&publabel=TOI -------- Did U.S. hand over wanted list to Pakistan? MAY 29, 11 Anita Joshua ISLAMABAD: Continuing with the veil of secrecy that has always shrouded U.S.-Pakistan relations, both governments on Saturday refused to confirm or deny a news report that Washington had handed over a list of five terrorists it wants Islamabad to ensnare, possibly in a joint operation. Asked about the list, Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua refused to confirm or deny its existence. “I will not go into operational details; at this point we need to focus on the larger picture,'' she said, while describing the bilateral engagement in Islamabad during U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit on Friday as an attempt at course correction. Neither did the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad respond to a similar query. Full report at: http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/29/stories/2011052964341300.htm -------- Pakistani Taliban claims responsibility for suicide attack MAY 29, 11 Anita Joshua ISLAMABAD: Maintaining the tempo of attacks on anything associated with the government, the Pakistani Taliban on Saturday claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack on a pro-government tribe in the tribal agency of Bajaur. Two tribal elders who were part of a pro-government peace committee were killed in the attack that consumed eight lives. Eleven persons were also injured in the attack at a marketplace in the Salarzai region of Bajaur which had seen military operations last year in a bid to clear the agency from terrorists. A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban told the AFP that the tribesmen were attacked because they joined the government and were maligning the Taliban. The TTP spokesman also claimed that the tribesmen had been warned of dire consequences if they did not disband the peace committee and added that more such attacks would take place if they refused to fall in line. http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/29/stories/2011052957081100.htm -------- Osama raid avenged CIA deaths, kept secret until now MAY 29, 11 FOR A small cadre of CIA veterans, the death of Osama bin Laden was more than just a national moment of relief and closure. It was also a measure of payback, a settling of a scores for a pair of deaths, the details of which have remained secret for 13 years. To m Shah and Molly Huckaby Hardy were among 44 killed when a truck bomb exploded outside the US Embassy in Kenya in 1998. Though it has never been publicly acknowledged, the two were working undercover for the CIA. Full report at: http://epaper.indianexpress.com/IE/IEH/2011/05/29/ArticleHtmls/29_05_2011_017_042.shtml?Mode=1 -------- Kashmiri, Zawahiri on US list of `most wanted' given to Pak MAY 29, 11 AFTER the killing of Osama bin Laden, the United States has drawn up a list of five terrorists, including al-Qaeda’s second-incommand Ayman al Zawahiri, Mullah Omar and Ilyas Kashmiri, on whom it expects Pakistan to provide intelligence immediately and possibly target them in joint operations, according to US officials. The list was discussed during three meetings between Pakistani and US officials in the past two weeks, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s talks with Pakistani leaders in Islamabad on Friday, ABC News quoted US officials as saying. The list also includes commander Sirajuddin Haqqani, the operating chief of Haqqani network and Atiya Abdel Rahman, the Libyan operations chief of al-Qaeda, who had emerged as a key intermediary between Osama and Qaeda’s affiliate networks across the world. Full report at: http://epaper.indianexpress.com/IE/IEH/2011/05/29/ArticleHtmls/29_05_2011_017_043.shtml?Mode=1 -------- Interpol issues global alert for Taliban fugitives MAY 29, 11 Interpol has issued a worldwide alert yesterday for 417 fugitives of an Afghan jailbreak, including Taliban considered "a major threat to global security." The France-based international police agency says it has issued a so-called Orange Notice for the fugitives who escaped the Sarposa prison in Kandahar on April 24. Authorities in Afghanistan had said more than 480 inmates escaped the jail through a tunnel dug over a matter of months. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=187678 -------- Suicide bomber strikes at top NATO, Afghan leaders MAY 29, 11 KABUL: A suicide bomber wearing a police uniform blew himself up inside a heavily guarded compound Saturday as top Afghan and international officials left a meeting, killing two senior Afghan police commanders and wounding the German general who commands coalition troops in northern Afghanistan. Two German soldiers and two other Afghans were killed in the blast, the latest in an insurgent spring offensive. The Taleban claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred about a month before a drawdown of US troops begins this summer. Full report at: http://arabnews.com/world/article437111.ece -------- Syrian forces fire on protesters in east, one hurt MAY 29, 11 29 May 2011 AMMAN - At least one man was injured when Syrian security forces opened fired to disperse a night-time demonstration on Saturday in the eastern city of Deir al-Zor, scene of growing protests against Baathist rule, a witness said. “I was hearing the bullets and the protesters chanting ‘the people want the overthrow of the regime’ at the same time,” the witness, a resident of the city, said by telephone. Demonstrations have been held nightly in Deir Al Zor and other cities and towns to circumvent heavy security which has intensified in recent weeks after street demonstrations grew in numbers and tanks were deployed in and around urban centres. Full report at: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2011/May/middleeast_May811.xml&section=middleeast -------- Mubarak to pay for cutting off Internet MAY 29, 11 CAIRO: An Egyptian administrative court fined ousted President Hosni Mubarak and two former officials 540 million Egyptian pounds ($91 million) on Saturday for cutting off mobile and Internet services during protests in January. It was the first court ruling to be made against Mubarak since he was ousted on Feb. 11. Mubarak faces more serious charges, including ordering the killing of protesters, a charge which could carry the death penalty. A judicial source said the administrative court fined Mubarak 200 million Egyptian pounds, former Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif 40 million pounds, and former Interior Minister Habib El-Adly 300 million pounds. Full report at: http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article437118.ece -------- Yemeni government and tribesmen agree truce MAY 29, 11 SANAA: Yemen's government and armed tribesmen demanding President Ali Abdullah Saleh leave power agreed on Saturday to end their confrontation which had brought the poor Arabian Peninsula country to the brink of civil war. Machinegun fire and explosions rattled Sanaa this week before clashes eased after mediation efforts. Ahmar's fighters evacuated government ministry buildings they had grabbed in return for a ceasefire and troops quitting their area. The deal included a withdrawal of armed tribesmen from government buildings and moves to normalize life in the Hasaba district of the capital Sanaa, scene of a week-long clashes that killed 115 people, a source close to mediators told Reuters. A government official told Reuters: "Yes, we have an agreement which takes effect tomorrow (Sunday) morning." Full report at: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2011/May-29/Yemeni-government-and-tribesmen-agree-truce.ashx#axzz1Nio7e5f9 -------- Probe into attack on U.N. convoy to be launched: Hariri MAY 29, 11 BEIRUT: Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri told U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon over the weekend that Lebanon was ready to launch all the necessary probes to apprehend those behind Friday’s attack on U.N. peacekeepers in the south of the country. “Lebanon is keen on carrying out all the necessary investigations and steps to apprehend the perpetrators of the terrorist crime against members of the Italian contingent [of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon] and their referral to the concerned judicial sides,” Hariri told Ban in a phone conversation Saturday. Six members of the Italian contingent of UNIFIL were wounded Friday when their convoy was struck by a bomb planted at the side of a road leading to the southern city of Sidon. Two Lebanese civilians - Tannous Tanious and Amine Dawoud - who were standing about 50 meters away from the location of the blast were also slightly wounded, security sources said. Full report at: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2011/May-28/Probe-into-attack-on-UN-envoy-to-be-launched-Hariri.ashx#axzz1Nio7e5f9 URL: http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamIslamicWorldNews_1.aspx?ArticleID=4729