India-Pakistan set for ODI face-off but rain could be dampener

Chennai: Honours shared in the T20 series, arch foes India and Pakistan are now set for what is likely to be an exhilarating three-match ODI series showdown but weather gods could prove to be the dampener in the opening clash here tomorrow.

If the Twenty20 matches were any indication, the ODI series is bound to leave the fans asking for more but the only concern is the rain that has lashed the city and is not expected to relent even tomorrow.

It has been raining here since last night and the met office has predicted light to heavy showers for tomorrow, which raises the possibility of the day match being called off without even a ball being bowled.

But if the weather gods do smile, the two teams could set the temperatures soaring given that their key players seem to be in good form.

For India, the biggest positive to emerge from the two Twenty20 games gone by was Yuvraj Singh`s fantastic form.

The left-hander was nothing short of inspiring with the bat smashing a 36-ball 72, which included seven sixes, in the second T20 and is set to be back in the ODI fold after the Player of the Tournament-winning show in the 2011 World Cup.

But the top-order would be a concern given that both the openers -- Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir -- have not been in the best of touch in the recent past. Both of them struggled immensely in the demoralising Test series defeat to England.

Virat Kohli, at number three, has also not been in form to an extent and these three would have to get their act together for India to be dominant in the batting department. 

In the middle-order, it could be a toss up between Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma while Yuvraj and Suresh Raina are expected to make the rest of the batting line-up.

On the bowling front, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who made a dream T20 debut by grabbing 3/9, could be handed an ODI cap as well for his impressive show in the shortest format.

After a decent outing in the T20s, Ishant Sharma would be leading the pace attack with Ashok Dinda and Bhuvneshwar as his likely partners.

The spin department would be spearheaded by local star R Ashwin in all likelihood, even though he has been far from impressive of late.

For Pakistan, it would be a change of leaders as Misbah-ul-Haq would be captaining the ODI side.
The temperamental side, which is exceptional one day and ordinary the other, also has solid performers in the line-up and should prove quite a handful for the hosts.

The openers -- Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed -- have settled down nicely into their roles. Hafeez, in fact, has been calmness personified in a mercurial team, as was evident from his Man of the Series-winning performance in the T20s against the arch-rivals.

Old warhorse Younis Khan would lend the much-required stability, while the Akmal brother --Umar and Kamran -- will provide the spark in a strong middle-order.

Pakistan have the clear edge over India as far as bowling is concerned with Umar Gul being the most potent pacer. Saeed Ajmal`s spin has always troubled the Indians even though the hosts did take him to task in the second T20. 

With not much separating the two teams, it promises to be
an exhilarating contest but the result could well be decided by the weather gods given the continuing rain in the city.

Squads:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, 

Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R 

Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Ashok Dinda, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 

Shami Ahmed, Amit Mishra.

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (Capt), Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar 

Ali, Younis Khan, Haris Sohail, Kamran Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Wahab Riaz, 

Junaid Khan, Umar Gul, Imran Farhat, Umar Akmal, Anwar Ali, Zulfiqar 

Babar.

United States and Britain were both opposed to country’s nuclear programme : Pak Defence Secretary

Pak Defence Secretary says US, UK were against country’s nuclear programme.and added that after the orders of (then) British prime minister, the British intelligence MI-6 had detained the very first Pakistani nuclear engineer.

Malik further revealed that the US used its intelligence against Pakistan, and the CIA even handed over a list of representatives working in Pakistan, the News reports.

Malik said the US and Pakistan have developed a better relation, based on mutual interests, since than, and added that the American attitude towards them has changed now, the paper reported.

Malik also clarified that there was no political cell in the ISI, and added that 95 percent of the Pakistan’s defence policies are made by country’s armed forces.

MQM chief Altaf Hussain received contempt of court notice from SC

The court issued a contempt notice to the MQM chief under Article 204 of the Constitution read with under Section 3 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance 2003.Altaf Hussain was the third political figure after former prime minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and the incumbent Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf who was served a contempt of court notice.

The apex court also observed that on account of such assertions, the process of the court was also likely to be prejudiced, relating to implementation of the issues arising out of the directions of the court in Watan Party’s case and subsequent orders of November 01, 2012, November 26 and November 28, 2012 etc passed for the implementation of the directions issued in reported judgment.

The court directed for issuance of notices under article 204 of the constitution read with section 3 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003 to Altaf Husain to appear in person and explain as to why he should not be proceeded against for contempt of court in accordance with the constitution and the law.

Similarly, the court also directed that notices be issued to Altaf Hussain through secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs as he had made above assertions during a telephonic address from outside the country.

The secretary was directed to ascertain his correct location and ensure service of the notice on him, through representatives of the Foreign Office outside the country.Similarly, a notice was also directed to be issued to Altaf Hussain c/o Dr Farooq Sattar, Deputy Convener, MQM, 494/8, Azizabad, Karachi.

The court also directed the Sindh government through its chief secretary to furnish a statement as to why the killing in Karachi has again increased and what measures have been taken to ensure the safety and protection of the life and property of the citizens in the city.

The court directed that detail of citizens, who were killed from September 13, 2011 to date, be also furnished and adjourned the case till January 07, 2013.

SM Krishna, Hina Rabbani Khar address the media

Islamabad: Foreign ministers of India and Pakistan, SM Krishna and Hina Rabbani Khar addressed the media in Islamabad today. Here are the highlights of the presser:

Hina Rabbani Khar:
As a part of the broader vision, India and Pakistan has decided to move forward. We will not be held hostage by history.
We will build on convergences that unite India and Pakistan.
We must learn from the past and not miss opportunities. Pakistan is committed not to miss any opportunities to normalise relations.
Pakistan has sent a strong message that we are willing to move forward to a new future which is people-centric and development-centric that focuses on the people of India and Pakistan.
We have to get out of the mindset where we view everything negatively vis-a-vis each other.
Visa agreement is the first. It is a big step. It's an effort to make the people-to-people to contact stronger.
Trade normalisation between India and Pakistan expected around December 2012.
We look forward to a peaceful future. I have talked to Foreign Minister SM Krishna to ensure talks are productive.
The aspirations of Kashmiri people must be kept in mind.
The commitment and vision that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has shown must be applauded. Foreign Minister SM Krishna has led the way.

SM Krishna:

We aim to build a relationship of trust which is mutual beneficial.
Given the complexity of the relationship, we are happy with the resumed talks.
We are happy that Pakistan has given its commitment in bringing the perperators of the Mumbai 26/11 to justice.

A car filled with explosives rammed into a U.S. government vehicle,killing two people and wounding five others.

The incident occurred a short distance from the US Consulate and an office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at Aabdara Road in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. 
Police officer Pervez Khan said the vehicle was attacked in the northwest city of Peshawar on Monday after it left the U.S. Consulate.

 Khan said some of the wounded were foreigners. The identities of those killed were unclear.

A News channel reported a foreigner was among the dead but there was no official word in this regard. Witnesses said some foreigners were in the car that was targeted. The powerful explosion was heard from several kilometres away.

A delegation of Mutahidda Qaumi Movement will hold a important meeting with President Zardari.

MQM delegation to meet Zardari on Monday :

According to sources, law and order situation in Karachi and new Local Government law will come under discussion during Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) delegation meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday.
The MQM delegation will apprise the president about their party’s reservations on talks with Pakistan People’s Party on new Local Government law.

12 people have been killed and 60 injured in a Taliban attack on a U.S. military base in Afghanistan.

On Saturday, a truck bomb was detonated near the gate of the base in the Saidabad district of Wardak province. The bombing killed two Afghan policemen and ten civilians and injured two U.S. soldiers and 58 other people, Press TV reported.

 

A spokesman for the governor of Wardak said that the attackers had targeted the U.S. forces. 

 

"There were two heavy blasts which damaged some parts of the district chief's office and the police headquarters, and ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) forces are also there," Shahidullah Shahid said. 

 

The blast also destroyed military and non-military buildings near the base. 

 

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack on the U.S. base. 

 

The U.S.-led war in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity continues to rise across the country, despite the presence of about 130,000 U.S.-led troops. 

 

In another incident on Saturday, two U.S. soldiers were killed in eastern Afghanistan. 

 

"Two US Forces-Afghanistan service members died following an insurgent attack in Ghazni province, Afghanistan today," ISAF said in a statement, but provided no further details. 

 

The increasing number of military casualties in Afghanistan has caused widespread anger in the United States and other NATO member states, undermining public support for the Afghan war. 

 

According to the website icasualties.org, 321 foreign troops, mostly U.S. personnel, have lost their lives in Afghanistan so far this year.

 

A total of 566 U.S.-led forces died in Afghanistan in 2011. However, 2010 remains the deadliest year for foreign military casualties, with a death toll of 711. 

Rebels seized an air defence facility and attacked a military airport in eastern Syria.

The attacks in the oil-producing Deir al-Zor province come as part of an apparent strategy change by rebels who are now prioritising Syrian air force assets.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says rebels seized several anti-aircraft rockets.

                                                                                 

Amateur video purportedly shows fresh shelling by government forces in Homs, the nerve-centre of the uprising.

Other footage, said to have been filmed on Saturday, shows much of the northern town of Azaz reduced to rubble. Activists there claim they have been subjected to almost daily attacks by the Syrian regime.

The ongoing violence continues to force thousands of residents to flee to the Turkish border.

Ankara has temporarily closed its checkpoint at Bab al-Salam as it struggles to cope with an influx of around 80,000 refugees. Turkey says it will open four more camps by next week.

On Saturday, the Syrian government freed more than 200 detainees from police stations in Damascus, Aleppo and Homs.

The groups had apparently been involved in anti-government activities but it is not clear if any were members of the Free Syria Army.

                                                     

Prisoners signed declarations that they would not rejoin the uprising.

Gunmen shot dead seven persons in two separate incidents in Quetta .

Gunmen shot dead seven Shiite persons in two separate incidents in Quetta on Saturday, police said.

"Four gunmen riding two motorbikes intercepted a bus near Hazarganji area, pulled five Shiite vegetable sellers off the vehicle and shot them dead," senior local police.

Nobody has so far claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The province suffers from sectarian violence that has left thousands of people dead since the late 1980s.

At Least 5 suspected militants were killed in US Drone strike in North Waziristan.

A US drone strike targeting a militant compound on Saturday killed at least five rebels in the Degan area of North Waziristan,Pakistani officials said.

The Degan area of North Waziristan, known as a bastion of Taliban and al Qaeda.Two intelligence officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to brief the media, said U.S. drones fired seven missiles at targets in the village of Degan in an area of North Waziristan close to the Afghan border.
A drone strike a week ago in North Waziristan killed Badruddin Haqqani, one of the sons of the founder of the Haqqani network. The U.S. has blamed the group for a number of high-profile attacks in Afghanistan and considers it one of the key factors in undermining security there.
Washington considers Pakistan’s semi-autonomous northwestern tribal belt as the main hub of Taliban and al Qaeda militants plotting attacks on the West and in Afghanistan.

Another security official confirmed the strike and casualties.

He said the area had been the target of US drone strikes in the past, which killed several foreign militants.

The district is a stronghold of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur militant group, he said, adding that militants from the Afghan Taliban allied Haqqani network also operate in Degan.

Iran has doubled its capacity in an underground uranium enrichment facility, International Atomic Energy Agency said. But Iran Rejects IAEA report.

The number of centrifuges at the Fordow facility, about 130 km from Tehran, had more than doubled to   around 2,000 from around 1,000 in May.
The report also showed that Iran had produced nearly 190 kg of higher-grade enriched uranium since 2010, up from 145 kg in May.The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on Thursday indicated that despite threat of an Israeli or U.S. military strike on Tehran's nuclear facilities, the Islamic Republic was rapidly increasing the enrichment capacity of its Fordow site, buried deep underground to withstand any such hit.

 Tehran denies this, saying it needs nuclear technology to generate electricity.

But Iranian lawmaker says UN watchdog report revealing doubled nuclear capacity at the underground Fordow facility is nothing but a "political move" aimed at overshadowing Non-Aligned Movement conference in Tehran.

"It seems that this report is a scenario for psychological warfare because Iran was able to show its authority and international position at the NAM summit," said  lawmaker Kazem Jalali  

Iran has portrayed its hosting of the summit of the 120-nation group of developing nations as proof that Western efforts to isolate it for its disputed nuclear programme have failed.

Iran is "never seeking nuclear weapons" and will not give up its right to develop nuclear energy, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei  told a summit of non-aligned countries that opened in Tehran that "I insist that the Islamic Republic of Iran is never seeking nuclear  weapons," Khamenei said, rebutting Western and Israeli suspicions his country was engaged in pursuing such a goal.He called the use of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction "a major and unforgiveable sin."Khamenei also said that "we will never give up the right to peaceful nuclear energy," underlining Iran's determination to push ahead with its atomic programme.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Addressing Western economic sanctions designed to pressure Iran on the nuclear issue, he said: "Sanctions -- which those who babble call 'paralysing' -- not only do not and will not paralyse us, but have made our steps steadier and elevated our resolve and boosted our confidence in our assessments," he said.

At least 12 people including two workers of MQM were gunned down in different incidents of violence in Karachi.

A Rangers man walking on the road near Star Gate within the limits of Airport police station was shot dead by unknown assailants. Police said deceased Muhammad Younus was on his way when gunmen riding a motorbike targeted him and managed to flee near old Airport building.In Model Colony, a man identified as Khalid Kashmiri, 40, was shot dead, said the police. They claim that he worked for the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Muttahida Organising Committee and was in-charge of the committee’s unit 189 in Malir.  Shah Faisal SP Latif Siddiqui said that five suspect attacked Kashmiri on his way home. He was shot multiply times and died on the spot. The body was taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. Another party worker identified as 28-year-old Shaukat was killed near his house in New Karachi, said the Bilal Colony police. They claim that unidentified men on a motorcycle opened fire at him. The body was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.Meanwhile, a man sitting outside his home was shot dead within the remit of Sohrab Goth police station. Police said that Muhammad Ahsan Siddique was sitting outside his home when gunmen riding a motorbike targeted him with bullets and managed to flee. He was taken to the hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. Police have so far been unable to ascertain the affiliation of the deceased with any political party.The body of 18-year-old Reema Khan was found in a graveyard in Orangi Town. The body was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. The police claim that Reema was killed over a family dispute. The body of an unidentified woman was found in Korangi, said the Ibrahim Hyderi police.  

Haji Shair Ahmed was on loading pickup when unknown gunmen targeted him at sector 5, Orangi Town. He was shot twice and was rushed to the Abbasi Shaheed hospital where doctors pronounced him dead and handed over his body to the family after autopsy. Police said that the deceased was a resident of Lines Area and had gone to Orangi Town to deliver some stuff. Police have so far been unable to ascertain the motive behind the murder. 

At least 9 security personnel were martyred and several others were injured in militants attack in South Waziristan

At least eight soldiers were martyred and 18 militants were killed in a clash after militants attacked a chek-post in South Waziristan Agency on Wednesday.
Soon after the incident the security, putting a wide cordon around the entire area, began a search operation. 

The injured were shifted to the hospital while sources confirmed that a search operation was also under-way in the area after the attack. 

Pakistan Vs Australia

Batting has always remained a worry for Pakistan as coach Dave Whatmore said on Sunday that they snatched defeats out of the jaws of victory against Sri Lanka during the recently concluded series which they lost 4-1.
Younus Khan’s absence is another cause of concern for the hosts because the dependable Khan used to build the innings whenever the openers failed to fire.
Australian stand-in coach Steve Rixon was surprised by this decision.
Kamran Akmal’s inclusion definitely gives Pakistan more options but their middle order looks brittle. They have to come up with a positive approach to counter the bowlers like James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc who have won the game for Australia against the brave Afghanistan on Saturday night.
On other side AUSTRALIA has dropped its only frontline spinner Xavier Doherty for the opening match of their one-day international series against Pakistan to be played in heatwave conditions.While Pakistan are expected to rely heavily on spin trio Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez, Australia will go into the Sharjah clash with an attack of quicks and part-time spinners.

Pakistan's captain is Misbah-ul-haq and vice-captain is Mohammad Hafeez.

Australian team: Michael Clarke (capt), David Warner, Matthew Wade, Mike Hussey, David Hussey, George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson, Dan Christian.

31 militants were killed, while three security personnel lost their lives during the clash in Bajaur agency.

At least 37 people, 31 of them militants and four Pakistan Army soldiers, including an officer, were killed and several others received injuries in fierce fighting between security forces and Afghanistan-based Pakistani militants in the mountainous Batwar area of Salarzai tehsil of Bajaur Agency on Monday.

 “During the clash, 31 militants were killed, while three security personnel” lost their lives, said a senior official of the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC), which is leading the operations to purge the area of militant presence. 
Among the dead, two were members of the Salarzai Amn Lashkar, who have been fighting side by side with the security forces and had given a tough time to militants hiding in narrow valleys in the mountains in Salarzai tehsil near the Afghan border. According to sources, around 300 militants from Malakand and Bajaur tribal regions based in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Nuristan provinces had jointly launched the attack from their bases in Afghanistan on Salarzai tehsil in Bajaur Agency on August 23 and took control of six small villages near the Afghan border.

Meanwhile, spokesman for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Ihsanullah Ihsan in an email to media organisations claimed they had killed several Pakistani soldiers and members of the peace committee during the four days of fighting.

Thousands of Pakistanis have lost their lives in bombings and other militant attacks since 2001 when Pakistan joined an alliance with the United States in Washington’s so-called war on terror. 

Supreme Court has given PM Ashraf three more weeks to reopen corruption cases against the president.

PM Ashraf appeared before the court Monday and pledged to resolve the situation, which resulted in his predecessor being disqualified from office.The Supreme Court, on August 8, issued a contempt notice to Prime Minister Ashraf for not implementing its order of writing a letter to the Swiss authorities to reopen a money-laundering case against President Zardari. 

The court, however, expressed its displeasure over the frequent ridiculing statements made by the Sindh governor and asked him to take control of it.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira told reporters that Mr. Ashraf will go before the court again on September 18.

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PM Raja Pervez Ashraf will appear before the Supreme Court in the contempt of court case,

Pakistani Prime Minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf, will appear before the Supreme Court on Monday in contempt of court proceedings, presidential spokesman said late Sunday.Leaders of the Pakistan People's Party-led government's coalition partners will accompany the Prime Minister as he presents himself before the apex court.

The decision was made at the high-level meeting of the government's allies presided over by President Asif Ali Zardari here at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Sunday.

Prime Minister  Raja Pervez Ashraf

 The Supreme Court had ordered Ashraf to personally appear on Aug. 27 to explain as to why he is not writing to the Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.The court disqualified Yusuf Raza Gilani as Prime Minister in June following his refusal to write to the Swiss authorities.

The government has reduced the profit rates on National Saving Schemes.

ISLAMABAD:Profit rates on National Savings Schemes down.The government has reduced profit rates on National Savings Schemes (NSS) for the investment made on or after August 27 in a response to the recent cut in discount rate by SBP.According to the Central Directorate of National Saving Schemes‚ the new profit rate on Special Saving Certificates – a three-year maturity scheme on which profit is paid semi-annually – will be 10.8%.New rates for Regular Income Certificate have been decreased by 1.32 per cent to 11.04 per cent. Similarly, new rates for Defence Savings Certificates have been slashed by 1.18 per cent to 11.5 per cent. Meanwhile new rates for Savings Accounts have been reduced by 1.24 per cent to 7.40 per cent.

 Officials said that the move was in accordance with the government’s policy to provide market-based competitive rate of return to investors of National Savings.

A Taliban spokesman said in an email sent to reporters that Haqqani is alive and in good health in Afghanistan.

A Taliban spokesman in Afghanistan rejected reports that the son of the founder of the powerful Haqqani militant network has been killed.

Zabiullah Mujahid said in an email sent to reporters late Saturday that Haqqani is alive and in good health in Afghanistan."A number of media have reported that Badruddin Haqqani has been killed. We would like to inform all media that this rumor is not correct," Mujahid said in the email.Pakistan is investigating whether the son of the founder of the powerful Haqqani militant network, which has been blamed for high-profile attacks and kidnappings in Afghanistan, was killed in a U.S. drone strike this week, officials said Saturday.

Pakistani intelligence officials have also said they are 90 percent certain he was killed in an American missile strike Tuesday in the North Waziristan region. They said their information was based on reports received from their agents in the field but acknowledged they haven't spoken to anyone who has seen the body.The U.S. has long viewed the Haqqani network as one of the biggest threats to U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan as well as the country's long term stability. The group has shown little interest in negotiating with the Washington, and has pulled off some of the highest-profile and most complex attacks in Afghanistan, although not necessarily the most deadly.

More than 200 bodies were found in a town outside Damascus.

Dozens of bodies were found Saturday in a town outside Damascus that has been the focus of what activists described as a scorched-earth campaign by Syrian troops aiming to wipe out rebels and their sympathizers in several suburbs of the capital.

Forty to 50 bodies were found in the town of Daraya, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based group with a network of activists inside Syria. The town had already sustained heavy shelling, and bodies have been turning up there for days in the wake of army raids, leading activists to count more than 100 dead since Wednesday.

Most of the victims were found Saturday in the basement of one building, activists said.

Maher al-Mikdad, the spokesman for the family clan that kidnapped more than 30 Syrians in retaliation for the abduction of a relative this month in Syria, told reporters that his family let most of the captives go "as a goodwill gesture."

He said that in order to press for the release of his relative, Hassan al-Mikdad, the clan would hold onto four Syrians who he said are members of the Free Syrian Army, the main group of rebel fighters in Syria, and a Turkish man who was also kidnapped.

The al-Mikdad is a powerful Shiite clan in Lebanon.

Bangladesh won by 5 wicket against Pakistan in Under-19 World Cup.

Pakistan batting first and made 235 for the loss of 8 wickets in the allotted 50 overs. Muhammad Nawaz was a top soccer from the Pakistani side. He scored 82 runs.Pakistani bowlers were failed to bowled well.Bangladesh achieved the target in 46.2 over for the loss of five wickets. 

Bangladeshi captain inam-ul-haq 

Captain Inam-ul-Haq was a top soccer. He scored a century to help his team defeat Pakistan by 5 wickets.
Captain  Inam-ul-Haq was declared the Man of the match.
Bangladeshi bowlers bowled very well,
Taskeen Ahmad took 3 wickets, while Shahid Ilyas and Diwan Sabir took 2 wickets each. 
 
Bangladesh got seventh position in under-19 World cup.

At least 18 people were killed and 14 others injured in three US drone attacks in North Waziristan

18 people were killed and 14 other injured in U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan's tribal area (North Waziristan) on friday.Marking a sharp escalation of the controversial CIA-led campaign that continues to roil Pak-America  relations. 
Just a day before Islamabad had formerly protested over drone attacks and said them, illegal and against the International laws.Drones fired at least six missiles at three locations in thickly forested, mountainous area in North Waziristan tribal agency, two Pakistani security officials and a local Taliban commander said.Friday was the fifth day of strikes in North Waziristan this month, four of which targeted the Shawal Valley. 
The identity of those killed was not immediately known. Previous strikes in the area have targeted both individual commanders and fighters in trucks headed for the nearby Afghan border.The sources said that the drone attacks were carried out after 11am. In the first attack, US drone fired three missiles at a compound at Makki Qamar and killed six suspected militants.

In the second strike, a drone fired two missiles at another compound at Tonda Darra, killing four people. Both the targeted compounds were destroyed completely.

Since this year, at least 175 people have reportedly been killed in such drone attacks.It was recently reported by a website which quoted two US official that US President Barack Obama has ordered a “sharp increase” in drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal area. Last week, the US attack in NWA killing over a dozen people. 

Asian Oil markets down

Oil markets fell Friday as disappointment over weak economic indicators from the United States, China and Europe offset hopes for more stimulus from central banks. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in October shed 34 cents to $95.93 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for October delivery dipped 49 cents to $114.52.
Japan's declined 1 percent to 9,085.79 and China's benchmark Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.2 percent to 2,109.07. Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 1.2 percent to 19,899.2. 

Crude markets were down as "revived hopes for more stimulus from the US Federal Reserve faded and doubts about Europe's ability to address its debt crisis crept back in focus," Phillip Futures said in a report.  Elsewhere in Asia, South Korea's Kospi declined 0.5 percent to 1,922.79 and Taiwan's Taiex lost 0.4 percent to 7,471.94. Singapore's Straits Times Index shed 0.5 percent to 3,041.1, while Australia's S&P ASX 200 was off 0.8 percent at 4,349.3. Benchmark oil for October delivery fell 49 cents to $95.77 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $1 to finish Thursday at $96.26 per barrel. 

Former Pakistani wicket keeper Zulqarnain uploads video of his injuries.

Zulqarnain Haider has uploaded a video on social networking website facebook, which shows him battered and bruised.

He had criticised the selection committee and Kamran Akmal a few days back and the board issued a show cause notice to him in this regard.

In 2010, the wicketkeeper-batsman had leveled allegations of match fixing against some national players but could not provide any evidence.

"At this juncture, my initial belief is that we should not pull back in our contact with the Afghans," Marine general John Allen.

The heightened concern within the U.S. military leadership about the growing number of “insider attacks” is not new. Infiltration of the Afghan National Army by the Taliban has been a known issue for some time. 

Marine Gen. John Allen said during a video conference with Pentagon reporters. "We perhaps need to be more watchful, Afghans and coalition, for the emergence of a threat and be able to react quickly to that."
Trust between coalition and Afghan forces is central to that strategy. "The closer the relationship the more secure, ultimately, our troops will be," Allen said.

Overall, Allen said the campaign in Afghanistan is succeeding.

"Coalition and Afghan forces have maintained unrelenting pressure on the insurgents, and we have denied and disrupted their operations and have largely pushed them out of the population centers," Allen said.

"We've taken scores of their leaders and fighters off the battlefield," he said.

Pakistan has formally launched a protest with the United States over the Drone attacks.

The Foreign Office (FO) summoned a senior US diplomat and protested against the US drone strikes in the country.  

Pakistan made it clear to the US that missile strikes in its tribal territory, especially North Waziristan Agency (NWA), are against international laws. The protest came up after the stepped up drone attacks during the last one week. Many people were killed in these attacks in North Waziristan on Eid days.

The Foreign Office (FO) summoned a senior US diplomat and protested against the US drone strikes in the country. 

Pakistan made it clear to the US that missile strikes in its tribal territory, especially North Waziristan Agency (NWA), are against international laws. The protest came up after the stepped up drone attacks during the last one week. Many people were killed in these attacks in North Waziristan on Eid days.There has been a dramatic increase in US drone strikes in Pakistan since May, this year.
Since this year, at least 175 people have reportedly been killed in such drone attacks.It was recently reported by a website which quoted two US official that US President Barack Obama has ordered a “sharp increase” in drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal area. Last week, the US attack in NWA killing over a dozen people.

Eid Gift: The government announce an increase in prices of petroleum products.

Under pressure from the Finance Ministry, the government has decided to increase the prices of CNG and petroleum products even before the Eid holidays are over despite an announcement made by the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Petroleum, Dr Asim Hussain, on Aug 13 that petroleum prices would not be increased during August as an Independence Day gift to the nation.

The new prices will be implementable after midnight on Thursday, according to a notification. It was earlier announced that the prices of petroleum products would be kept unchanged for now.Sources in the Petroleum Ministry said the petrol price would go up by Rs3.21 per litre to Rs96.78 from Thursday. The new price of HOBC, with an increase of Rs4.85, is Rs125.01 per litre and of kerosene Rs96.35 with an increase of Rs3.52.
The rate of CNG for Region One, Potohar, Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, has been raised by Rs3.21, setting the new price at Rs88.61/kg. The CNG price for Region Two, Punjab and Sindh, has increased by Rs2.68 bringing it up at Rs80.94/kg.

This step is taken because of increasing the oil/petroleum in the international market.  
With this increase, the CNG prices will reach their highest ever level.

Two civilians were killed and 11 others including three children injured in Quetta Bomb blast.

The death toll of a blast that rocked Pakistan's southwest Quetta city Tuesday morning has risen to three, said local media.

Local Urdu TV channel Geo said that one was killed on the spot and another two died later at hospital.

The blast also wounded 13 others including five women and four kids.

The explosives-packed car went off after vehicles of the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) passed, FC spokesman Murtaza Baig told AFP.

Senior police official Wazir Khan Nasir told AFP: “The victims of the blast were all civilians who were passing from the area. The toll includes one man killed and 12 others wounded including two women and three children.”.
No group has claimed responsibility for the blast.

Pakistan has rejected as "unfounded" India's assertion that elements in this country were using social media networking sites to whip up communal sentiments.

Islamabad: Interior Minister Rehman Malik said he had asked India to provide evidence that elements in Pakistan are using social media networking sites to whip up communal sentiments and create a scare among north-eastern people in India.

“The Indian (Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde) has said that rumours were generated from Pakistan through cellular services,” he told reporters during an interaction about his phone conversation with Shinde earlier in the day.

The Minister said, “I had requested him (Shinde) to provide evidence in this regard to us and we will take care of it”.

Malik said he and Shinde had discussed the regional situation, including rumours which forced thousands of people from Assam to flee Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu states.

He said India and Pakistan have expressed their resolve to work for the eradication of terrorism from the region and for the progress of the people of the two countries.

The Interior Minister telephoned Shinde to convey greetings for Eid-ul-Fitr and briefly spoke about pending issues between the home and interior ministries of the two countries.

During the conversation, Shinde expressed concern over the social media networking sites being misused by elements based in Pakistan to circulate false pictures and stories to whip up communal sentiments in India.

This was the first direct contact between the two ministers and Shinde sought Pakistan’s cooperation in neutralising such elements.

People from northeastern states crowd a railway station after disembarking from a train from Bangalore in Guwa“We will have to work jointly for the safety of the region,” he saMalik said he had invited Shinde to visit Pakistan to take forward work on a revised visa agreement between the two countries.