ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have turned down Afghan President Hamid Karzaiís plea to play a role in in facilitating a dialogue with the Talib

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ISLAMABAD: The US embassy on Wednesday while condemning the ?vicious terrorist attack? in the Lower Dir District confirmed death of three US military personnel.

?The Americans were U.S. military personnel in Pakistan to conduct training at the invitation of the Pakistan Frontier Corps,? said a statement issued by US embassy spokesman.

The US military personnel were in Lower Dir to attend the inauguration ceremony of a school for girls that had recently been renovated with U.S. humanitarian assistance.

The terrorist attack also injured two US personnel in a bomb explosion, while a number of Pakistani citizens, including children, are believed to have been killed and injured in the blast.

?We express our condolences to the families of the deceased and our sympathy and support to the wounded,? the statement said.

?The carnage at the school in Lower Dir clearly shows the terrorists? vision.

The United States and Pakistan are partners in fighting terrorism - and our people are working together to build schools,? the statement said.

The US embassy said it was continuing to gather the facts about the incident and added that the U.S. Department of Defense will provide additional details as they become available.

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DIR: Ten people including three US soldiers and 4 female students were killed while 126 others were wounded in a bomb blast in Tehsil Balambat of lower Dir.

According to a foreign news agency, the Taliban have claimed the responsibility of the attack.

The Americans were U.S. military personnel in Pakistan to conduct training at the invitation of the Pakistan Frontier Corps, said a statement issued by US embassy spokesman.

The blast occurred at the roadside of Koto village when a security force?s convoy was passing from Taimargara to Tehsil Maidan.

The explosion also damaged a government middle school, a government girls? school and five houses.

Those killed included 3 US soldiers, 4 female students, a security man and two civilians while 2 US soldiers and over 70 girl students are among 126 injured who have been shifted to hospitals in Taimargara, Swat and Peshawar.

Funeral prayers of 3 girl students have been performed.

The US embassy condemning the ?vicious terrorist attack? in the Lower Dir District confirmed death of three US military personnel.

The US military personnel were in Lower Dir to attend the inauguration ceremony of a school for girls that had recently been renovated with U.S. humanitarian assistance.

It said the terrorist attack injured two US personnel in a bomb explosion, while a number of Pakistani citizens, including children, are believed to have been killed and injured in the blast.

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ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said Wednesday that certain elements were conspiring for collision of state institutions but they will fail in their nefarious designs.

This he said while addressing a public meeting held in connection with election campaign of AJK PPP candidate for Legislative Assembly Constituency 40,Valley 5 bye-election to beheld on Feb 7.

Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Mian Manzoor Wattoo,former AJK Prime Minister Sardar Yaqub and senior AJK PP leaders also addressed the gathering.

Kaira said that overall the media was playing a constructive role in the country, but a section of the media was targeting only one personality and trying to create instability in the country.

He said that PPP government respects the judiciary and was implementing its verdict on National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO)in letter and spirit. “Out of 8034 cases, 8032 have been reopened and the ministers are appearing in the courts. It is our stance that President and Governor Sindh enjoy immunity under the Constitution, so these cases cannot be opened. But some people have no interest in 8033 cases, they only want reopening of the cases against the President”, the minister said.

The minister further said that PPP has given sacrifices for the restoration of superior judiciary and it respects it. He said that if the court has some reservation against the conduct of the government, it can summon it or it can write to the government, but some vested interests give negative interpretations of the court verdict.

He said that some prophets of doom every now and then predict the fall of PPP government, but with the grace of Allah and support of the masses the government would continue to serve the people of Pakistan.

Kaira said that PPP entered the corridors of powers only when the country was facing serious crisis. The minister said that the government will overcome all the crises being faced by the country with the cooperation of political forces and support of the peopleof Pakistan.

He said that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed introduced the politics of reconciliation to steer the country out of multiple problems and the present government was following her vision. He said that national political leadership realizes that in the presentsituation, no political force can steer the country out of crisis single-handedly,and there was need of joint efforts in this regard.

Kaira said that when the PPP and its allies government came to power Taliban were Only 60 kilometers from the Federal Capital but now their major networks have been broken and they are on the run. Hesaid that credit for this achievement goes to valiant Armed Forces of Pakistan and the leadership of the present coalition government.

Qamar Zaman Kaira said that there would be no compromise on Kashmiris right to self-determination and the government of Pakistan would continue supporting the Kashmir cause.

He said that Kashmir struggle was one of the reasons of PPP creation and its leadership through generation has been struggling for Kashmir freedom and it would never let down the Kashmiri masses.

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LAHORE

PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday visited the residence of late Col (Retd) Muhammad

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ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Syed Munawar Hasan has said that new block comprising Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and Iran should be formed in this region.

Speaking at a seminar held in Islamabad to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day, the JI Amir said Pakistani people stand by their Kashmiri brothers in their struggle for freedom.

The Kashmir struggle would see a sharp surge, which would continue till complete freedom.

AJK President Raja Zulqarnain Haider also spoke on this occasion.

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ISLAMABAD: The Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) has been assigned a significant role in the National Command Authority (NCA) while the

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LAHORE: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt has formed a six-member committee for reviewing the poor performance of the national cricket team on the tour of Australia while he said that the resignation of Iqbal Qasim has not been accepted and he has been asked to continue his job until the Twenty20 World Cup.

Talking with media here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday, the chairman PCB said that all matters are now under process so the resignation of Iqbal Qasim cannot be accepted and he has been directed to continue as chief selector.

Ijaz Butt said that the PCB has formed a six-member committee which will be headed by Wasim Bari and will include Wazir Ali Khoja, Yawar Saeed, Haroon Rasheed, Zakir Khan and Tafazzul Rizvi.

Besides reviewing the team?s performance, the committee will also review the violations of discipline and other matters and then it will submit its recommendations to the chairman.

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WASHINGTON: Pakistan Muslim League-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi arrived in Washington on Wednesday for a week-long visit.

He will attend a breakfast meeting with US President Barack Obama at the White House besides meeting several Congress leaders.

Elahi is accompanied by MNA Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain, MPA Monis Elahi and Imtiaz Ranjha.

Earlier, the former chief minister of Punjab was received by PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Shamshad and Chaudhry Shafqat at the airport.

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ISLAMABAD: Right Honourable Bill Rammell MP, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, UK called on General Tariq Majid, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) at Joint Staff Headquarters on Wednesday.

During the meeting they exchanged views on the evolving regional security situation, revised US strategy for Afghanistan and the region and enhancement of bilateral cooperation between Defence Forces of both countries.

CJCSC appreciated the resolute commitment of UK in striving for stability of our region and thanked the visiting dignitary for UK?s assistance to Pakistan in diverse fields.

Discussing the security situation in Afghanistan, General Tariq Majid stressed on the need to evolve a prudent mechanism to address the issue of re-integration of Taliban, and bridging the North-South divide while maintaining the traditional neutrality of Afghanistan.

Right Honourable Bill Rammell MP lauded the sacrifices made by the people and Armed Forces of Pakistan and assured UK?s continued support in its efforts to eradicate terrorism and violent extremism.

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Pakistan News