WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday acknowledged the Pakistani democratic leadership?s efforts towards fostering national anti-terror resolve,

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ISLAMABAD: An Indian TV channel has claimed that foreign ministers of India and Pakistan have held ?result oriented? talks, saying the two sides have agreed on holding meetings of their trade and culture secretaries.

According to sources the Indian external minister S M Krishna invited his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi to pay a friendly tennis match.

Meanwhile, the time has been changed twice for giving media briefing after the meeting of the two foreign ministers held here earlier today (Thursday). The new time for the briefing is 6 PM.

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ISLAMABAD: The foreign ministers of India and Pakistan had what they called a prolonged discussions aimed at paving the way for serious, comprehensive and sustained dialogue on issues of mutual interest and concerns.

Indian Minister for External Affairs, S M Krishna and Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi held a press briefing after holding a comprehensive meeting in Islamabad on Thursday.

The briefing had to be delayed for six hours because what Krishna said that ?the nature of the discussion we had was such that it could not be concluded on time?.

?India is committed to being a sincere partner in the effort to establish peaceful and progressive relationship between India and Pakistan,? the Indian External Minister asserted, reiterating that India desires peaceful, stable and prosperous Pakistan.

To a question regarding Indian involvement in Balochistan unrest, Krishna said: ?This was mentioned in Sharm al-Shaikh, where the two prime ministers met. We have been waiting for some evidence being provided by Pakistan of Indian involvement. If credible evidence or any evidence is provided to the government of India of our involvement, India will certainly look into it.?

Shah Mehmood replying to the same question said, the issue of destabilization in Balochistan and Brahamdagh Bugti was raised during the meeting with his Indian counterpart. He demanded of the Indian government to cancel the Indian passport held by Brahamdagh Bugti.

The Indian External Minister said there has been an increase in infiltration across the line of control, particularly in 2008 and 2009 and government of India has been monitoring these infiltrations.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi reacted to it by saying, ?infiltration is not he policy of Pakistan or any intelligence agency of Pakistan.? He said he told the Indian delegation to deal firmly with the individuals who cross over; Pakistan would cooperate.

He said that DGMOs could have taken up the issue of infiltration, if any, during their weekly interaction, saying it is the only appropriate way to tackle the issue.

Regarding investigation into Mumbai attacks, S M Krishna said all evidence has been given out to Pakistan including the leads provided by Richard Headley and ?I am going back with the assurance coming from the highest level of the political leadership of the country.? He said he is pleased that the Foreign Minister Qureshi has assured him to bring all the perpetrators of Mumbai attack to justice.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the matter said that ?we should allow the judicial process to take its time in undertaking the due course.?

Replying to a query on human rights violations by Indian government in parts of occupied Kashmir, the Indian External Affairs Minister said: ?We have an institution to monitor human rights violation besides NGOs. The state government and appropriate human rights agencies will certainly take up any violation that takes place there.?

Earlier, S M Krishan said the two foreign ministers had a cordial exchange of views on a number of issues including the current state of bilateral relations, keeping in view the mandate given to them by their respective prime ministers.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi said relations between Indian and Pakistan have been complex. ?Let?s not forget the difficulties, let?s not forget history and impediments that have come between us. Today we are democracies which engage. We are politicians who believe in dialogue. We will never come to dead ends.?

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MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has reserved its judgement on the petition filed by suspended IPL chairman Lalit Modi against the BCCI until on Thursday

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LAHORE

DISTRIC and Sessions Judge Zawar Ahmed Sheikh will not work until the return of chief justice of Lahore High Court, who is on leave, whi

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ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari said on Thursday that destinies of the people of both Pakistan and India and the development of the entire region lies in friendly, cooperative and good neighbourly relations between the two countries.

The president said this during a meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna, who called on him here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Thursday.

The president while appreciating the re-engagement between the two countries said, “heavy responsibility devolves on both Pakistan and India to have sustained dialogue and steer our nations from conflictual path to a cooperative course for the uplift and welfare of the region and people of the two countries”.

President Zardari said that the resumption of composite dialogue would help remove mistrust and restore confidence in relations between the two countries and would also help resolve all outstanding issues, including occupied Jammu and Kashmir, water, Sir Creek, Siachen, terrorism and other issues impeding the mutual cooperation.

He said the water issue was becoming serious as it had adverse impacts on our agriculture and added that the Indus Water Treaty should be fully honoured and implemented.

He said that trade relations between the two countries would see a marked increase once the resumed dialogue process continues without any interruption.

The president while referring to Pakistan’’s fight against extremism said that terrorism was a common enemy and Pakistan was against militancy and terrorism in any form and in any location and both the governments needed to work more closely for eliminating this menace.

He stressed for timely information and intelligence sharing between the two counties to prevent any incident of terrorism and violence and that “terror incidents do not affect our ties in the future”.

The Indian Foreign Minister also conveyed to the president greetings of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Indian External Affairs Minister was accompanied by Ms. Nirupama Rao, Indian Foreign Secretary and Sharat Sabharwal, Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan.

From Pakistani side, those who attended the meeting included Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Secretary General to the President M. Salman Faruqui, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Kamal Majidullah, Secretary to the President Malik Asif Hayat, Secretary Foreign Affairs Salman Bashir, Pakistan’’s High Commissioner in India Shahid Malik and spokesperson to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar.

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Pakistan News

LORD?S: Australia will resume its second innings in the first test against Pakistan at Lords on Wednesday.

Mohammad Asif took three wickets in a dramatic burst either side of tea as Australia finished on 229 for nine when bad light forced an early close on the first day of the first Test against Pakistan at Lord’’s here on Tuesday.

Asif took three wickets for no runs in seven balls on his way to a return of three for 53 in 17 overs.

Meanwhile teenage left-arm quick Mohammad Aamer, his new ball-partner, made the early inroads on his way to a haul of three for 66 in 18 overs.

Australia’’s batsmen all struggled after Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi won the toss and elected to field in overcast, seam-bowler friendly, conditions.

Only left-handed opener Simon Katich, who made 80 but might have been lbw for two, had so far got past fifty although Michael Hussey was 39 not out, with Doug Bollinger unbeaten on nought, at stumps.

Asif struck with the last ball before tea when he had Clarke lbw for 47 to end a third-wicket stand worth 120 with Katich.

And nine balls after the break, Katich pushed uncertainly outside off-stump against Asif and was caught behind by wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal for 80.

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Karachi

Rejecting media reports that the degree of the sister of President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP MNA Faryal Talpur is ?doubtful?, Adviser to

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LAHORE

AN election tribunal of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday sought educational record of a PML-Q MPA from the University of the Punjab an

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LAHORE

Awami Jamhoori Forum (AJF) Wednesday condemned the target killings of progressive nationalists in Balochistan.

In a statement by

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