Arab Spring is proof that Islam and human rights can coexist: Maldives Saudi Woman Sentenced to 10 Lashes

for driving Uyghur Organizations to Stage Demonstrations on the occasion of the Chinese Nati onal Day Scores of women train for Libyas new military, and hope for equality in new socie ty Maldives supports Sri Lankas stance on human rights issue Islamophobia Network Targets Top Performing American Schools UK Muslims demand end to Islamophobia Kyrgyz rights activists criticize unofficial ban on Muslim headscarves in school s Can t have selective approach in fighting terror: India to US Gaddafi says still in Libya, ready for martyrdom Riyadh: Shoura chief says women will bring new blood to council Facing US fury, Pak woos India Delhi cautious on Pak-US drama Pakistan PM: Stop blaming Pak, correct India tilt Beijings minister pledges full support, Taliban too back Pak Pak gushes over Chinas unwavering support to counter US offensive Pak killed US major after 2007 peace meeting Pak seeks trade to ease tension Scuffle at the United Nations Ends in an Apology to Turks 8 killed in Kashmir gun battle US missile strike kills 3 in northwest Pakistan 30 students among 37 killed as school bus crashes in Kallar Kahar Syrian forces kill 4 defecting soldiers: Activists Five dead in car bomb near Afghan police HQ Militants kill 6 in Philippine attack Roadside bomb kills 3 in Iraq Gujarat: Amit Shah was head of an extortion syndicate, CBI tells SC Gujarat: Modi, Shah may be behind Pandya murder: Sanjiv Bhatt Militants attack Egyptian gas pipeline to Israel

Norway charges three in terror plot over cartoons For China s Muslim schools, a balancing act Nepalese Muslims protest over the murder of Faizal Ahmad Three NATO oil tankers torched in Balochistan More than 7,200 Indian Jews to immigrate to Israel Krishna meets Khar, hopes Pak gets serious about dismantling terror camps India asks Pakistan to destroy 42 operational terror camps Bill introduced in US House to freeze all aid to Pakistan After snubbing US on Haqqanis, Pak vows to act against anti-china militants Taliban insists it controls Haqqanis, not Pakistan J&K mass graves: Omar Abdullah announces DNA tests of kin Did diamond mafia in MP kill Shehla Masood to silence her? Blow for India as Lisbon wants Abu Salem back China supports Pakistans sovereignty, says vice PM Book on churches in Pakistan launched Pakistan Supreme Court s website hacked Activists hack official Syrian websites Swiss Muslims Speak Out to Defend Swiss Flag against Claims it Offends Immigrant s Muslims explain sons discriminated against at two top Catholic schools Bahraini Regime Detain 40 Females Over Elections PDP walks out from J&K assembly on unmarked grave issue Hamid Ali Rao is new Indian envoy to Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia urges world to accept Palestinians

Former Tunisian Foreign Minister: Arab Spring shapes new Islamic orders U.N. urges end to violence in Yemen Yemeni defence minister Mohamed Nasser Ali survives attack Pakistanis Tied to 2007 Border Ambush on Americans In Riddle of Mideast Upheaval, Turkey Offers Itself as an Answer Libya s NTC Says Lockerbie Case Closed

UN bid

Tribesmen seize base near Sanaa Official: Syrian troops captured in central town Freed US hikers describe harrowing ordeal in Iran Egyptian detained in Lebanon for spying for Israel Bangladesh: 3 Jamaat men held in Khulna Hundreds of civilians flee Sirte SWAT: How beekeeping pulled a woman from the edge An Aid Worker Writes: Hope and Exasperation at a Kandahar Hospital Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau URL: http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamIslamicWorldNews_1.aspx?ArticleID=556 4

-------Arab Spring is proof that Islam and human rights can coexist: Maldives Sep 27, 2011 UNITED NATIONS, Sept 27 (APP): The political transitions in various Arab countri es this year demonstrate that Islam is compatible with human rights and democrac y, Maldives vice president Mohamed Waheed told the General Assembly Monday. The d emocratic uprisings across the Middle East prove that Muslims yearn for democrat ic rights just as much as non-Muslims, he said. Dr. Waheed also said that the Mal dives, a country that went through its own democratic transition in 2008 by putt ing an end to a 30-year authoritarian regime, would organize an international co nference next year on progressive Islamic jurisprudence and human rights to supp ort the movement. We must counter the false perception that people must make the choice between dev otion to Islam on the one hand, and the full enjoyment of human rights on the ot her. We strongly believe in the compatibility of Islam and human rights and seek to do our part to promote understanding and tolerance. With this conference, we hope to renew the concepts of peace and tolerance, co-e xistence and inter-faith harmony that exist in Islam, he added. In his address, Dr. Waheed also spoke about the urgency of climate change reform in the UN, echoing previous statements from other Small Island Developing State s (SIDS), urging countries to act immediately so they can respond swiftly and ad equately to natural disasters. The Maldives believes that three issues should form some of the key pillars to b e discussed and acted upon in Rio [de Janeiro] next year, he said, referring to the sustainable development conference to be held in the Brazilian city in June 2012. These issues are firstly, reform of UN support for the sustainable development o

f SIDS; a political declaration and strategy to give impetus to the roll-out and mobilization of renewable energy and green technologies; and finally, improveme nts in the integration of sustainable development principles into international and domestic policy at both strategic and project levels, he said. He also called for a shift in seeing climate change as an environmental issue t o a security one, as well as an economic opportunity. We do not view cutting carb on emissions as a burden but rather as an opportunity, an opportunity, not just to protect the climate, but also to create new jobs and grow our economies. http://ftpapp.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=155953& --------Saudi woman sentenced to 10 lashes for driving Sep 27, 2011 JEDDAH: A Saudi woman was sentenced to 10 lashes for defying a ban on women driv ing in the conservative kingdom, an activist said on Tuesday, while another woma n was arrested in the capital. Sheima Jastaniah was sentenced on Monday by a court in the Red Sea city of Jedda h, where she was caught driving in July, the activist said, requesting anonymity . She said Jastaniah "had refused to talk to media about her trial ... and we were shocked yesterday (Monday) that she was sentenced to 10 lashes." Jastaniah will appeal the verdict, she added. The sentence came a day after King Abdullah announced allowing women to vote and run in municipal polls, and to join the all-appointed Shura (consultative) Coun cil, a first in a country that imposes many restrictions on women. Amnesty International condemned the sentence, saying it demonstrated the "scale of discrimination against women in the kingdom. "Flogging is a cruel punishment in all circumstances but it beggars belief that the authorities in Saudi Arabia have imposed lashes on a woman apparently for me rely driving a car," Middle East and North Africa deputy director Philip Luther said in a statement. "Belatedly allowing women to vote in council elections is all well and good, but if they are still going to face being flogged for trying to exercise their righ t to freedom of movement then the king s much-trumpeted reforms actually amoun t to very little," he added. "Saudi Arabia needs to go much further. The whole system of women s subordinatio n to men in Saudi Arabia needs to be dismantled," added the official from the Lo ndon-based advocacy group. Meanwhile, women rights activist Madiha al-Ajrush was detained briefly on Tuesda y in Riyadh after she was caught driving around the capital with a French freela nce journalist who was working on a video documentary on women. The journalist said she herself was set free after her consulate intervened, whi le Ajrush was later released according to posts by the Women2Drive campaign on t he group s Twitter page.

Women2Drive said police requested a male guardian to sign a pledge that Ajrush w ould not drive, but when no one was reached, she was told to sign herself and le ave. "Ms Madiha is standing in the street after the officer asked her to go home in a taxi after preventing her from driving," a post on the social network page said . A group of defiant Saudi women got behind the wheels of their cars on June 17 in response to calls for nationwide action to break the ban. The call spread through Facebook and Twitter was the largest mass action since N ovember 1990, when 47 Saudi women were arrested and severely punished after demo nstrating in cars. There is no law banning women from driving. But the minister of interior formall y banned women from driving following the protest staged in 1990. Ajrush was one of the women who took part in the protest. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Saudi-woman-sentenced-to-10 -lashes-for-driving/articleshow/10144590.cms -------Uyghur Organizations to Stage Demonstrations on the occasion of the Chinese Nati onal Day September 27th, 2011 On the occasion of the National Day of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) celebr ated each year on 1 October, Uyghur organizations worldwide will stage demonstra tions to protest the occupation of their homeland East Turkestan, also known as Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China (XUAR), 62 years ago. While the Chine se government celebrate the foundation of the PRC, 1 October represents a mourni ng day for the Uyghur people since it symbolizes the loss of freedom and human r ights. With the protest actions, the Uyghur exile movement also aims to raise aw areness on the ongoing human rights abuses against the Uyghurs. Since 1949, the Chinese government has been waging an intensive and often brutal campaigns to repress all forms of Uyghur dissent, cracking down on Uyghurs peace ful religious activities and expressions of ethnicity, dilute Uyghurs culture and identity as a distinct people, and threaten the survival of Uyghur language. T he authorities have also economically marginalized Uyghurs in East Turkestan thr ough intense and blatant racial discrimination in employment. East Turkestans exc eptional economic and strategic value has amplified the Chinese governments motiv ations to accomplish these objectives. East Turkestan is Chinas largest producer of natural gas and oil and it occupies the strategically important position of bordering eight countries with connection of major energy supply routes from Cas pian region to China. Furthermore, the region comprises one-sixth of modern-day China. In the last years, East Turkestan has been turned into an open-air prison and th e egregious human rights violations by the Chinese authorities perpetrate agains t the Uyghurs include: State-sponsored mass resettlement of Han Chinese to East Turkestan and systemic, institutionalized discrimination against Uyghurs, Forcible transfer of Uyghur women and girls to factories in Eastern China,

Assault on Uyghurs ethnic identity through religious and cultural repression and marginalization of the Uyghur language in the education system, Authorities failure to remedy the horrific health and environmental effects of 32 years of nuclear testing in Lop Nur Forced labor (known as hashar) for non-prisoners Brutal and lethal crackdown of a peaceful Uyghur demonstration on 5 July 2009 th rough Chinese security forces, that left hundreds, and possibly thousands of peo ple dead. Since the July 2009 events, Uyghurs have been subjected to mass and arbitrary de tentions and enforced disappearances (including of minors); arbitrary sentencing of Uyghurs to death, life, and various jail terms after trials plagued with int ense politicization and strangleholds on due process; arbitrary executions; and intensified repression of freedom of expression, including but not limited to th e detention and sentencing of Uyghur webmasters, bloggers, and journalists. Under the global war on terror, launched after the 9/11 attacks in the United St ates, the oppression of the Uyghur people has drastically increased. The Chinese authorities routinely equate Uyghurs peaceful political, religious, and cultural activities with terrorism and religious extremism. In addition, Uyghurs fleeing suppression in East Turkestan are in extreme risk o f being extradited back to China. In the past decade, at least 180 Uyghur refuge es and asylum seekers have been forcibly deported in flagrant violation of both national deportation procedures and international law standards from countries w ith strong trade and diplomatic ties to China, obeying pressure from the Chinese government: Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Burma/Myanmar, Ne pal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Uzbekistan. After their return, they disappeared, w ere detained, or sentenced to long prison terms and death, and some were even ex ecuted. As a result from the ongoing oppression and discrimination of the Uyghur people, the situation in East Turkestan remains tense, as recent violent incidents in K ashgar and Hotan have demonstrated. The Uyghur organizations in exile, including the World Uyghur Congress (WUC), ca ll on the Chinese government to establish a meaningful dialogue with the Uyghurs to resolve the situation in East Turkestan and ensure the protection of Uyghur human rights. http://www.uyghurcongress.org/en/?p=11334%20Uyghur%20Organizations%20to% -------Scores of women train for Libyas new military, and hope for equality in new socie ty September 27th, 2011 BENGHAZI, Libya Moammar Gadhafi famously surrounded himself with a personal cote rie of female bodyguards during the decades he ruled Libya. But it was more a si gn of his eccentricities than a real commitment to equality for women in this co nservative Islamic society. Now the revolutionary forces that swept the longtime leader from power last mont h are offering military training to scores of women, some of them housewives, ot

hers high school teachers. On Sunday at a military compound in the eastern city of Benghazi, dozens of women with machine guns slung over their shoulders listen ed attentively to instructions in shooting and martial arts. They are the latest group of trainees as Libyas new leaders work to build a national army. Women were at the forefront of the protests that launched the anti-Gadhafi upris ing in February, demanding democracy for the country and justice for loved ones who had been killed. Many women now hope the revolution will herald full equalit y. We should be equal and were fighting for the same goal, so why should the men have to carry the burdens of this fight while we sit and watch? said Amal al-Obeidi, 35, who teaches business management at a high school in Benghazi. The least we can do is learn to protect ourselves so the men can focus on fightin g Gadhafi on the front lines knowing that we have their back, added al-Obeidi, wh o wore a headscarf and was brimming with enthusiasm. She said Islam doesnt forbid women from fighting alongside the men. The men have died on the front lines as they had to fight with no weapons and the y sacrificed their lives to protect us ... while we were at home doing nothing t o help like a piece of a valuable antique furniture, she said as she struggled to hold a heavy machine gun with two hands at the school. Gadhafis mercenaries could come back at anytime so I want to be ready to defend myself and my house if I h ave to. Volunteers at the military training center say they felt helpless during the mon ths of fighting leading to Gadhafis ouster, especially with reports about rapes b y Gadhafi forces, and no longer want to sit on the sidelines. At least 200 women have graduated from the program since it began at Benghazis Te chnical Military Compound in late March. They are given the choice of joining th e National Security Force, which operates like the U.S. National Guard and allow s them to operate in their own cities. Theres currently no talk of sending women to the front lines. The Benghazi training center is one of several set up around the country. A unit of 20 unarmed women was deployed last month when British Prime Minister D avid Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited Benghazi and addressed a crowd in the main city square. The female guards stood watch and searched oth er women with fears high that male attackers could try to disguise themselves wi th all-encompassing robes. Abdul-Basit Haron, a military commander in Benghazi, said all revolutionary figh ters, including the women, would get a one-time fee of $5,000. Col. Mohammed Garaboli, the commander of the compound where the training takes p lace, said womens involvement in the military is important for morale. Women feel like they are neglected and they came here to prove that they are equa l to men in this society, he said. They want to show the world what the Libyans ar e made of and how open-minded they are as well. The role of women is sensitive in this conservative Muslim country, even though Gadhafi regime long touted policies it said were aimed at breaking cultural tabo os concerning womens work and status. The erratic leader had a contingent of fema le bodyguards and a small number of women were elevated to prominent positions i n government ministries.

Female soldiers a rare sight in most Arab countries were a trademark of Gadhafis regime, patrolling roadside checkpoints in khaki uniforms and Muslim headscarves and often sporting sunglasses and heavy makeup. One group of women even reporte dly ran their own interrogation center for suspected female anti-Gadhafi activis ts. However, there was not a fundamental commitment to improving womens lot in life a cross all aspects of society. Gadhafis policies were in part aimed at weakening traditional tribal and religiou s powers so he could impose his own vision of society, and just as for men, adva ncement depended on total adherence to Gadhafis authoritarian rule. Col. Sabriya Mohammed al-Shraidi, a Benghazi native who graduated from the milit ary school in the city in 1986 and specialized in military intelligence, said ei ght officers were training 36 volunteers in the current class, which she said wo uld be the fourth group to graduate. Most of these women are housewives and working ladies. They have no experience in the military and they dont know how to use guns so they come here to get the tra ining in case they have to defend themselves and their children, she said. You nev er know when you need these skills. She said theyre given training in all types of light arms and self-defense. Those who join the force will help provide security for demonstrations, banks and oth er institutions. People are wrong when they say its bad for women to be in the military, she said, p ointing out that women already had provided humanitarian aid and helped smuggle weapons to the former rebels by hiding them under their robes. Women have contributed to this revolution in many ways, she said. But they are stil l neglected and isolated and we are trying to show ... it is not a shame to be a part of the army and the society unlike during the Gadhafi era when military wo men had a very bad reputation. Wafa al-Rayth, a 29-year-old housewife, said she signed up to join the revolutio nary fighters to show the world that the Libyan women are capable of standing nex t to their brothers and we are an open-minded society. It is about time we help to spread peace and secure our cities, especially since our traditions require that women guard places where women gather and check thei r bags and make sure it is not a man dressed in womens clothes and planning to co mmit an act of terrorism. Lameis Aghnaish, a 20-year-old engineer wearing a camouflage uniform, said she h ad been trying to move abroad under Gadhafis rule, but is now proud to stay. I was planning on leaving Libya to another country because life was difficult her e and I never felt like I belonged to this country in any way, but now things ar e different, she said. I will sacrifice my life if I have to for this country. She said she was putting her career on hold to join the military. I will go back to my old job after everything has settled down because what we ne ed now is safety and security and I am helping to provide that by volunteering t o be a women guard, she said. Wafa al-Gargouri, a 49-year-old housewife who is known as a mother of the revolu

tion for her role in leading protests, said people used to revile women soldiers , calling them Gadhafis toys and speculating that he used them for pleasure. We want the people to change the way they think about the military women, she said . http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/scores-of-women-train-for-libyas -new-------Maldives supports Sri Lankas stance on human rights issue By Eleanor Johnstone September 27th, 2011 Vice President Dr Mohammed Waheed Hassan has told Sri Lankan President Mahinda R ajapaksa that the Maldives will continue to support its neighbor amidst allegati ons of war crimes and human rights violations from the United Nations (UN). The leaders reportedly discussed trade during the 66th session of the UNs General Assembly in New York last weekend. Waheed told the President that the Maldives remained supportive of Sri Lankas stance on the human rights allegations. Sri Lanka is currently conducting an internal investigation of these allegations , which refer to acts of violence committed by both government and rebel forces in the final phases of Sri Lankas civil war. Numerous human rights groups, including Amnesty International (AI) and Human Rig hts Watch (HRW), have rejected Sri Lankas investigation on the grounds that its L essons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) does not meet international s tandards. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has reported that human rights groups found the commission flawed because its members were appointed by the government , it has no real mandate to investigate war crimes in the last stages of the con flict, lacks any mechanism to protect witnesses and falls short of minimum inter national standards of a commission of inquiry. Full report at: http://minivannews.com/politics/maldives-supports-sri-lankas-stance-on-human-rig hts-issue-vp-26164 -------Islamophobia Network Targets Top Performing American Schools September 27th, 2011 This September, I was interviewed by a communications firm on the topic of Islam ophobia. The firm is planning a campaign to counteract Islamophobia in America a nd was conducting interviews with Washington policymakers who have addressed thi s topic. The interview came on the heels of a Center for American Progress (CAP) report published last month, called "Fear Inc: The Roots of the Islamophobia Ne twork in America," which found a well-financed, well-organized network of advoca tes, experts and media partners conducting a strategic campaign throughout Ameri ca and "spreading hate and misinformation," as CAP put it.

Islamophobia is on the rise in America, but this is hardly surprising. Scan rece nt American history to witness the consistent creation of an "other", whether it was anti-Catholicism and anti-Semitism in the 19th century (and beyond), the fi rst Red Scare in the early 1900s, the Japanese-American scare and second Red Sca re in the mid-1900s, or the Muslim American scare in the early 2000s. There is p urpose here. When entire races, religions or regions are dehumanized, it is easi er to wage war, expel immigrants, and forge new, discriminatory (or oppressive) domestic and foreign policies to deal with these vilified populations. Turkish-Americans are the latest to feel the heat. Despite serving as NATO s num ber two troop supplier and recently agreeing to host a NATO radar defense system , Turkey is often accused by Washington for contradicting US foreign policy aims and objectives when negotiating with Iran, Syria, Israel and Libya. Additionall y, Turkey s market-friendly version of political Islam has often rubbed the West the wrong way. Full report at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-shank/islamophobia-network-targets-top-------UK Muslims demand end to Islamophobia September 27th, 2011 British Muslims have convened a peace conference under the title of Peace for H umanity at Wembley Arena in London to demand an end Islamophobia, terror and vi olence. More than 12,000 Muslims attended the conference, whose main speaker Muhammad Ta hir-ul-Qadri, the founder of Islamic organisation Minhaj-ul-Quran International, called for global peace. "We reject unequivocally all terrorism because at the heart of all religions is a belief in the sanctity of the lives of the innocent, Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri to ld the conference. The event launched a campaign to get a million signatures to back its declaratio n for peace. We, the signatories to this London Declaration for Global Peace & Resistance aga inst Extremism , affirm that all humans everywhere possess inherent dignity and immutable rights: these including freedom from poverty, oppression, fear and pre judice and freedom of belief, worship and expression, said a statement posted on Minhaj-ul-Quran International Full report at: http://presstv.com/detail/201246.html -------Kyrgyz rights activists criticize unofficial ban on Muslim headscarves in school s Sep 27, 2011 (Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Kyrgyz human rights activists have criticized the uno fficial ban imposed on the Kyrgyz Education Ministry on Muslim headscarves in sc hools.

"Headscarves do not pose a threat to national security, they do not violate publ ic order, and do not threaten other people s health and morals," the Kyrgyz Huma n Rights Council said in a statement obtained by Interfax. The human rights activists believe such a ban "makes it impossible for believers to attend secondary schools and violates children s fundamental right to second ary education." "The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and people s rights and liberti es can only be restricted by law to protect democratic values such as national s ecurity, public order, health protection, and the protection of morals," the sta tement says. Full report at: http://abna.co/data.asp?lang=3&Id=268054 --------Can t have selective approach in fighting terror: India to US Sep 27, 2011 NEW YORK: India has conveyed to the US that countries with a "determined positio n to fight terror" cannot be selective in their approach in dealing with the men ace and have to fight the scourge together "across the board". External affairs minister S M Krishna discussed the issue of terror with secreta ry of state Hillary Clinton at a bilateral meeting that lasted here for over 40 minutes. Terming the meeting as "very good and constructive," Krishna later told reporter s that the two sides spent time on discussing the issue of terrorism and condemn ed the recent attacks on the American mission in Kabul and at the High Court in New Delhi. "I made out the point that it is necessary for all those countries which have ta ken the determined position to fight terror will have to act together and fight it across the board without being selective in our approach," he said adding tha t "Secretary Clinton agreed with us." Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Cant-have-selective-approach-in-figh ting-terror-India-to-US/articleshow/10137003.cms --------Gaddafi says still in Libya, ready for martyrdom 27 September 2011 TRIPOLI Fugitive Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi has told his supporters that h e is still fighting on the ground and is ready to die a martyr, a loyalist websi te reported on Tuesday. Heroes have resisted and fallen as martyrs and we too are awaiting martyrdom, the website of the defunct Allibiya state television channel quoted Gaddafi as sayin g in a speech broadcast on local radio in Bani Walid, one of his last remaining bastions.

The toppled despot hailed the fierce resistance put up by his loyalists in Bani Walid, a desert city, 170 kilometres (105 miles) southeast of Tripoli, which has resisted a bloody siege by forces of the National Transitional Council for seve ral weeks. The regions Warfalla tribe was a major source of recruitment for the elite troops of Gaddafis regime and the strongman told its members that they were continuing in that martial tradition. Full report at: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/international/2011/ --------Riyadh: Shoura chief says women will bring new blood to council Sep 27, 2011 RIYADH: The Shoura Council applauded the decision of Custodian of the Two Holy M osques King Abdullah on Monday to give women an opportunity to become members of the council. The second regular session of the council was chaired by Shoura Council Presiden t Abdullah Al-Asheikh. According to an announcement made by the king on Sunday, Saudi women would be al lowed to stand and vote in municipal elections and also become members of the Sh oura Council. In his opening remarks during the first session following the kings speech, Al-As heikh thanked King Abdullah for inaugurating the third year of the fifth session of the Shoura Council and pointed out that his landmark decision amply demonstr ated his support for the welfare of Saudi women in the Kingdom. "Saudi women have excelled in education, health, economics, administrative and s ocial fields in the society," Al-Asheikh said, adding that they have made remark able achievements in research studies and some have served the council as consul tants. Therefore, he added that women s entry to the council would bring new blood to a n institution where national and international problems are discussed to achieve the Kingdom s goals. Full report at: http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article507394.ece --------Facing US fury, Pak woos India Sep 28 2011 Washington: After it fawned all over China,complained to the Saudis,kissed up to Iran,Islamabad reached out to India to counter US anger at its fostering of ter rorism and acts of war against American forces. Look at all the smiles on every Pakistani face, Pakistans foreign minister Hina

Rabbani Khar was quoted as telling her Indian counterpart S M Krishna about his presence at the reception she hosted on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.She was extremely warm and I was very pleased that I did go to the reception, Krishna gushed too,saying such gestures will go a long way in improvi ng bilateral relations. While Khar and Krishna were wreathed in warm smiles,a little down south,a furiou s Washington was barely able to sheath its anger and embarrassment over Pakistan i perfidies it has long sought to play down.A shocking new report about how Paki stani soldiers unexpectedly attacked a US military team in 2007 after talks in a Pakistani village killing a US Major added to American outrage that has led to a growing chorus that Pakistan is actually a US enemy and not an ally as it long been touted. Full report at: Times of India -------Delhi cautious on Pak-US drama Indrani Bagchi Sep 28 2011 New Delhi: India is watching with keen interest US statements that could have,at different times, easily emanated from New Delhi. While Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, was berating Pakista n, India was playing host to a high-level commerce officials delegation from Pak istan in Mumbai,holding out the promise that Pakistan may grant MFN status to In dia soon. In New York, foreign minister SM Krishna dropped in on a reception hos ted by Hina Rabbani Khar. But Krishnas message remained cautious. I am sure they (Pakistan) will realize a nd they have, by now they should have (realized) that terrorism cannot be fought selectively, he said. Quoting the PM, he said, It has to be fought across the b oard. For many years,Indian officials and leaders have slammed Pakistan for supporting terror networks. The Indian embassy in Kabul was hit on July 7,2008 by a combin ation of terrorists from the Haqqani network and ISI. Intelligence tracing the a ttackers to the Haqqanis as well as their masters in the ISI was provided to the Indians by the US. Full report at: Times of India --------Pakistan PM: Stop blaming Pak, correct India tilt Sep 28 2011 Islamabad : Pakistans Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani today warned the US to st op accusing it of playing a double game and to correct Washingtons perceived tilt towards India. The negative messaging, naturally that is disturbing my people, Gilani said. If the re is messaging that is not appropriate to our friendship, then naturally it is extremely difficult to convince my public. Therefore they should be sending posi tive messages.

The US was criticising Pakistan because they expected more results from Afghanist an, which they have not been able to achieve, Gilani said. Gilani said anti-Americanism in Pakistan was partly a result of an imbalance betwe en Washingtons relationship with India and Pakistan. There is an acute shortage of electricity in Pakistan... But they (the US) are do ing the civilian nuclear deal not with Pakistan, but with India. Now how can I c onvince my public that they are your (Pakistans) friends and not the friends of I ndia? The perception matters. In Washington, however, the US kept up the pressure, with both the State Departm ent and Pentagon saying a clear message had been sent to Islamabad about what it m ust do. In a separate briefing, the Pentagon said the US had repeatedly shared d etails of Pakistani complicity with terrorists. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/stop-blaming-pak-correct-india-tilt/852811/ -------Beijings minister pledges full support, Taliban too back Pak Sep 28 2011

China today categorically extended its full support to Pakistans sovereignty, indepen ence and territorial integrity amid mounting US pressure that Islamabad has denou nced as amounting to interference in its sovereign affairs. Following a meeting with Chinas Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu, Prime Mini ster Yousuf Raza Gilani declared that a friend of China is Pakistans friend, its e nemy (is) Pakistans enemy and Chinas security (is) Pakistans security. The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Foreign Secretary Sa lman Bashir and ambassadors of both countries. Meng met Pakistan army chief Ashf aq Parvez Kayani shortly after arriving in Islamabad yesterday. Later, Malik vowed to go after militants based in Pakistan who were targeting Ch inese interests in its western provinces. Full report at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/beijings-minister-pledges-full-support-taliban -too-back-pak/852818/ -------Pak gushes over Chinas unwavering support to counter US offensive Sep 28 2011 Islamabad: As ties between the United States and Pakistan strain further, Islama bad has turned to China and Saudi Arabia for support. To help strengthen ties wi th Beijing, Islamabad has even vowed to root out Uighur militants holed up in it s territory. The Uighur rebels are known to be receiving training in Pakistans lawless tribal areas. Earlier, PM Yousaf Raza Gilani said the two countries were true friends and that they count on each other after. Thank you once again-... for (the) supp ortive statement in favour of Pakistans sovereignty and integrity.

Analysts say Islamabad is trying to ensure that China fills any diplomatic and e conomic void if the US severs or downgrades ties.China and Pakistan have long en joyed good ties and share wariness of India and a desire to prevent growing US i nfluence. Beijing had called Osama bin Ladens killing a progressive development but defend ed Islamabad on charges of failing to find the global fugitive. President Asif A li Zardari acknowledged that Pakistan was grappling with many challenges simulta neously and that Chinese assistance was most welcome in stabilizing the situatio n. Full report at: Times of India -------Pak killed US major after 2007 peace meeting Sep 28 2011 A group of US military officers and Afghan officials had just finished a five-ho ur meeting with their Pakistani hosts in a village schoolhouse settling a border dispute when they were ambushed by the Pakistanis. An American major was killed and three American officers were wounded, along wit h their Afghan interpreter, in what fresh accounts from the Afghan and American officers who were there reveal was a complex, calculated assault by a nominal al ly. The Pakistanis fired on the Americans, who returned fire before escaping in a blood-soaked Black Hawk helicopter. The attack, in Teri Mangal on May 14, 2007, was kept quiet by Washington. The re construction of the attack, which several officials suggested was revenge for Af ghan or Pakistani deaths at American hands, takes on new relevance given the wor sening rupture in relations between Washington and Islamabad. The 2007 was seen, even at the time, as a turning point by officials managing da y-to-day relations with Pakistan. Full report at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/pak-killed-us-major-after-2007-peace-meeting/8 52820/ -------Pak seeks trade to ease tension Sep 28 2011 Appeal for peace from centre of 26/ 11 attack PAKISTANS commerce minister and a group of businessmen on Tuesday appealed to Ind ia to take bold steps to dismantle trade barriers that could ease tensions betwe en the two countries and benefit all, ironically, from the same Ball Room of the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, which was witness to murder and mayhem at the hands of heavily- armed Pakistani terrorists. In that attack of November 26, 2008, Pakistani terrorists had gunned down 34 inn ocent people.

The delegation that is currently visiting India believes that growing trade rela tions between the two sides would ultimately force both the governments to softe n their stance against each other and trade could be the catalyst for achieving peace and prosperity in the region. To achieve this they asked for relaxation in visa norms, uninterrupted mobile te lephone services while travelling and opening up of more border posts other than Wagah for uninterrupted bilateral trade that is now restricted to $ 2 billion. Full report at: Mail Today -------Scuffle at the United Nations Ends in an Apology to Turks By NEIL MacFARQUHAR Sep 27, 2011 Resurgent Turkey has become a Middle East story to watch, and just how perilous standing in its way can be became abundantly clear to a few somewhat hapless Uni ted Nations security guards during the annual General Assembly meeting of world leaders. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was apparently pushed by a United Nations gu ard while demanding to enter the General Assembly hall through the wrong entranc e on Friday, according to diplomats and United Nations officials. An ensuing mel ee sent one guard to the hospital and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon scurrying ov er to the Turkish mission to apologize, they said. Details of the incident remain murky, despite Mr. Bans often declared commitment to transparency. The United Nations spokesman, Martin Nesirky, refused to clarify w hat happened beyond saying the unfortunate misunderstanding had been satisfactorily resolved. The Turks made no official comment. But some particulars have emerged from diplomats and at least one United Nations official who overheard the altercation. Full report at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/world/world-peace-still-elusive-as-un-guards-s cuffle--------8 killed in Kashmir gun battle Sep 27 2011 Srinagar : Eight persons, including an Army officer and five militants, were kil led in a fierce overnight gun battle in north Kashmir s Kupwara district, offici als said. The encounter broke out at Awathkul forest area of Kralipora, 130 kms from here, yesterday when police assisted by Army launched a search operation following in formation about presence of heavily armed militants, they said. Intermittent firing was going till late tonight, IG (Kashmir) S M Sahai said, ad ding, "We have lost two boys (policemen) and an Army Lieutenant in the gun battl e."

An army spokesman said five militants were killed in the operation so far. He said the casualties suffered by militants could not be ascertained immediatel y as "it is a difficult terrain and so far we have not recovered body of any mil itant from the scene of the gun battle." http://www.indianexpress.com/news/8-killed-in-kashmir-gun-battle/852783/ -------US missile strike kills 3 in northwest Pakistan Sep 28 2011 DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan An American drone fired two missiles at a house in a northwestern tribal region near the Afghan border Tuesday, killing three people, Pakistani intelligence officials said. The two officials said some people were also wounded in the strike near the town of Wana in South Waziristan. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief r eporters. Washington has fired scores of missiles into northwest Pakistan since 2008 to ta rget Taliban and al-Qaida-linked operatives. Some have hit their intended target s, while others have also killed civilians The latest strike comes at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Islamabad following a recent claim by top U.S. military officer, Adm. Mike Mulle n, that Pakistan s main spy agency backed militants who carried out attacks agai nst American targets in Afghanistan. Pakistani officials have denied the allegations and said Washington is trying to use Pakistan as a scapegoat for its troubled war in Afghanistan. In a bid to beef up ties with other world powers, Pakistani leaders met with vis iting Chinese Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu in Islamabad on Tuesday. China has helped Pakistan bolster its defense. Full report at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44681546/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/ -------30 students among 37 killed as school bus crashes in Kallar Kahar Sep 27, 2011 CHAKWAL: At least 37 people 30 students, six teachers and a school principal wer e killed and more than 65 suffered serious injuries when a school bus overturned in Kallar Kahar area on Monday night. According to police, the accident took place near Salt Range after brakes of the bus failed. The school principal was identified as Mr Hafeez. Students of the Grammar School, situated in Millat Town of Faisalabad, accompani

ed by teachers, were returning to Faisalabad from Murree and Islamabad where the y had gone on a picnic. They were on way to Faisalabad via Kallar Kahar, also a picnic point, when the tragedy struck and more than 100 students were on board t he bus. The bus overturned nside it, DPO Syed tudents were taken Rasheed, district after its brakes failed, trapping all students and teachers i Ali Mohsin told Dawn. Bodies of the victims and the injured s out of the vehicle after cutting open body of the bus, Kamran in-charge of Rescue 1122, said.

He said all bodies and the injured people were taken to Fauji Foundation Hospita l, Kallar Kahar, and DHO hospital, adding that the rescue agency was shifting so me of the critically injured people to hospitals in Rawalpindi and an emergency had been declared in all hospitals concerned to cope with the situation. Full report at: http://www.dawn.com/2011/09/27/30-students-among-37-killed-as-school-bus-crashes -in--------Syrian forces kill 4 defecting soldiers: Activists Sep 27, 2011 BEIRUT: Four Syrian soldiers were shot dead on Monday as they tried to escape a military camp and troops sealed off towns in a continuing crackdown on opponents of President Bashar Assad, activists said. The military campaign has focused on towns and villages north of the city of Hom s, where increasing numbers of defectors have been organizing and mounting guerr illa raids on roadblocks manned by troops and gunmen loyal to Assad. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, said the four soldier s were killed by military police when they tried to flee their post in the north ern province of Idlib, which borders Turkey. Another seven soldiers were arreste d. In the town of Rastan, north of Homs, three people were injured when troops open ed fire with heavy machine guns mounted on tanks surrounding the town, which lie s on the main northern highway leading to Turkey, residents said. Faced with expanding street protests demanding an end to 41 years of Assad famil y rule, the president has sent troops and tanks into cities and towns across the country. The military crackdown has killed at least 2,700 people, including 100 children, according to the United Nations. Syrian authorities say 700 police and army hav e been killed during the unrest which they blame on terrorists and mutineers. Full report at: http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article507414.ece --------Five dead in car bomb near Afghan police HQ Sep 27, 2011

LASHKAR GAH: A suicide car bombing killed five people and wounded two dozen othe rs near a police headquarters in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, officials said . Mohammad Rasoul, a spokesman for the Afghan army, said three police were killed and three others wounded in the blast in Lashkar Gah, capital of troubled Helman d province. Enayatullah Ghafari, public health director in the province, told AFP that two d ead civilians were also brought to local hospitals. Im sure there are more dead, Ghafari added. Some 25 other people, both police and civilians, were also wounded, he said. Lashkar Gah was one of seven areas handed over to Afghan government control by N ato forces in July in a first wave of transition which will see all foreign comb at forces leave by the end of 2014. Full report at: http://www.dawn.com/2011/09/27/five-dead-in-car-bomb-near-afghan-police-hq.html --------Militants kill 6 in Philippine attack Sep 27, 2011 The Philippine military says al-Qaeda-linked militants have killed a soldier and five villagers and wounded five others in an attack in a restive southern islan d province. Provincial military commander Col Alex Macario says Abu Sayyaf gunmen attacked t he homes of pro-government militiamen outside Sumisip township on Basilan Island before dawn Tuesday. Macario says the militants killed a soldier, one militiaman and four villagers a nd wounded five other residents. The assault comes two days after about 50 members of an armed Muslim group with links to the Abu Sayyaf attacked Philippine marines guarding a US-funded school construction project on Jolo Island south of Basilan. That clash killed 13 gunmen, two marines and two villagers. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=32595 --------Roadside bomb kills 3 in Iraq Sep 27, 2011 BAGHDAD: A roadside bomb in northern Iraq killed three people Monday, while in B aghdad gunmen wounded two government officials in failed assassination attempts, officials said. Police Brig. Gen. Sarhat Qadir said the blast struck a car carrying four people

near the city of Kirkuk, some 290 km north of Baghdad. One person was wounded in the explosion. Kirkuk sits on top of one of Iraqs largest oil reserves and has long been a point of friction among Arabs, Kurds and Turkomen who are vying for control of the ci ty and the land surrounding it. In Baghdad, two government officials were wounded in separate assassination atte mpts, police and hospital officials said. Gunmen shot judge Munir Hadad in his hand during a drive-by shooting on a highwa y in central Baghdad. Hadad served as the spokesman for the Iraqi High Tribunal formed to prosecute Saddam and his aides. Also, senior Finance Ministry official Mohammed Ali Al-Safi was wounded in weste rn Baghdad after assailants opened fire on his car. Both police and medical officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they w ere not authorized to release the information. Attacks on Iraqi forces and officials have stepped up in recent months as the US military prepares to withdraw from the country. http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article507410.ece --------Gujarat: Amit Shah was head of an extortion syndicate, CBI tells SC Sep 27 2011 New Delhi : The CBI today alleged that former Gujarat minister Amit Shah was hea ding an extortion syndicate culminating in the fake encounter killing of Sohrabu ddin Sheikh. Appearing before a bench of justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Prakash Desai, addit ional solicitor general Vivek Tankha, cited statements recorded before the judic ial magistrate and disclosure statements by various witnesses who had accused Sh ah of running an extortion racket. He cited the purported statements of several real estate owners and businessmen who had testified that the former minister of state for home had let loose a rei gn of terror by engaging top police officials like D G Vanzara to extort money b y threatening to kill them in fake encounters. Tankha alleged that Tulsiram Prajapati, one of the witnesses, was eliminated by Gujarat Police as he knew about the killing of Sohrabuddin and his wife Kauser B i in November 2005. The CBI had earlier filed an application for cancellation of Shah s bail on the ground that he has considerable clout to intimidate witnesses. The agency had fi led the cancellation application after the Gujarat High Court had in October las t year granted him bail. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/amit-shah-was-head-of-an-extortion-syndicate-c bi-tells-sc/852749/ -------Gujarat: Modi, Shah may be behind Pandya murder: Sanjiv Bhatt

Sep 28 2011 Suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt has filed an affidavit before the Gujarat Hig h Court (HC) putting on record a possible link between the fake encounters of So hrabuddin Sheikh and Tulsiram Prajapati and the killing of former state minister Haren Pandya. Bhatt has also hinted at the possible involvement of CM Narendra Modi and former minister Amit Shah in Pandyas murder. The CBI had arrested Shah in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case, but he is now out on bail. Bhatt says in his affidavit that he has intentionally refrained from disclosing th e details of the evidence in this regard since he would be required to depose be fore other legally empowered fora. Bhatt made these revelations while contesting one of the state governments conten tions with reference to a 1990 case of custodial torture and murder registered a gainst him and six other policemen in Jamnagar district. According to Bhatt, in November 2003, when he was posted as the Superintendent o f Sabarmati Central Jail, he had sent a very important documentary evidence rega rding the role of certain highly placed state functionaries/politicians and senio r police officers of the state of Gujarat in the killing of Haren Pandya to the H ome Department. However, on the same day, Bhatt added, the then minister of stat e for home Amit Shah telephoned him and expressed severe displeasure about the e vidence forwarded. Full report at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/modi-shah-may-be-behind-pandya-murder-bhatt/85 2952/ -------Militants attack Egyptian gas pipeline to Israel Sep 27 2011 El-Arish : Security officials say gunmen have attacked Egypt s gas pipeline to I srael in the northern Sinai Peninsula. The officials say assailants in two pickup trucks struck a pumping station on th e pipeline about 15 miles (25 kilometers) west of the region s main city of el-A rish before dawn Tuesday, causing a loud explosion and fire. It was not immediately clear whether the blast was the result of gunfire or whet her the gunmen planted explosives and detonated them. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authoris ed to brief the media, said one person was injured in the attack. The pipeline in question, has been targeted several times this year by saboteurs . Although the cause of this latest explosion has not yet been established, Israel s supply of gas from Egypt has been regularly disrupted since Egypt s former pr esident Hosni Mubarak was toppled in February.

Full report at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/militants-attack-egyptian-gas-pipeline-to-isra el/852465/ -------Norway charges three in terror plot over cartoons Sep 27, 2011 Prosecutors in Norway have charged three men with conspiracy to commit terrorism in connection with the 2005 Prophet Muhammad cartoon controversy. The three are accused of planning to attack Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard a nd the newspaper Jyllands-Posten, which published his cartoons. The men - of Iraqi Kurdish, Chinese Uighur and Uzbek origin - were arrested in N orway and Germany in 2010. They had allegedly acquired bomb components and tried to buy a gun. The three are expected to be tried next month. They were named as Mikael Davud, a Norwegian of Uighur origin, Shawan Sadek Saee d Bujak, an Iraqi Kurd residing in Norway, and David Jakobsen, an Uzbek also liv ing in Norway. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15074372 --------For China s Muslim schools, a balancing act ANANTH KRISHNAN Sep 27, 2011 For the Ningxia Islamic College s 420 students, lessons can often be confusing. During their morning classes, the students, all from China s 10 million-strong H ui Muslim minority group, recite verses from the Koran and study Arabic. When afternoon lessons resume, after prayers, their teachers shift tack: the stu dents pore over Chinese textbooks on Socialist theory, learning about capital, l abour and Communist Party philosophy. Socialism and Islam are, usually, not the most compatible of subjects, says Ma Min g Xian, the vice dean of the college, with a smile. Getting the equation right in the curriculum is just one of many balancing acts that Islamic schools routinely face, in a country home to 20 million Muslims but has national education policies directed by an officially atheist ruling party. Full report at: http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article2485102.ece ---------

Nepalese Muslims protest over the murder of Faizal Ahmad Sep 27, 2011 KATHMANDU Gunmen shot dead a Muslim community leader in the Nepalese capital Kat hmandu on Monday, police said, sparking angry protests by supporters and grievin g relatives. Faizan Ahamad Ansari, 36, general secretary of the Islamic Association, an organ isation promoting education among Muslims, was gunned down in the street by two raincoat-clad assassins, police said. "He was rushed to the Bir Hospital but was declared dead by the doctors," police spokesman Binod Singh told AFP. "He had injuries to his head, neck and chest." Ansari had just been praying in a mosque opposite the city s main police station when the gunmen struck. Kathmandu metropolitan police chief Kuber Singh Rana said two assassins in their 30s fled the scene immediately after one had pulled out a gun concealed in his coat and opened fire in the pouring rain. Full report at: Copyright 2011 AFP. --------Three NATO oil tankers torched in Balochistan By Shehzad Balcoh September 27, 2011 QUETTA: Unknown gunmen torched three Afghanistan bound oil tankers near Dasht ar ea in Mastung district on Tuesday. According to Balochistan Levies, three oil tankers carrying fuel for North Atlan tic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces stationed in Afghanistan were on their way to Kandahar from Karachi when armed men opened fire on them. As a result, fire erupted from the oil tankers. One of the drivers also sustained injuries in the attack. The oil tankers were completely gutted, a local official said, adding that levies and other law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area immediately after the i ncident. Fire tenders from Quetta and nearby township also reached the spot. The militants often target NATO suppliers in Balochistan which is the second lar gest route for allied forces combating in Afghanistan. http://tribune.com.pk/story/261537/three-nato-oil-tankers-torched-in-balochistan / --------More than 7,200 Indian Jews to immigrate to Israel Sep 27, 2011

JERUSALEM: The Israeli government is expected to approve the long awaited aliya h (immigration) of more than 7,200 Indian Jews from the north-eastern states of Manipur and Mizoram in the coming weeks, a media report said. The decision to allow the last members of the "lost" Bnei Menashe tribe to immig rate to Israel is being greeted with excitement by local Evangelical Christian g roups, who view it as fulfillment of Biblical prophecy and who have pledged fina ncial support for the move, The Jerusalem Post daily reported. The ministerial committee on immigration and absorption, headed by foreign minis ter Avigdor Lieberman, decided, about three months ago, "in principle" to bring the remaining 7,232 members of the northeastern Indian community to the Jewish s tate "I am very optimistic that within the next few weeks we will at last have a hist oric breakthrough which will allow the lost tribe of Bnei Menashe to return to Z ion," Michael Freund, founder and chairman of Shavei Israel, a Jerusalem-based o rganisation that has been at the forefront of Bnei Menashe immigration to Israel , was quoted as saying. Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/More-than-7200-Indian-Jews-to-immigrate -to--------Krishna meets Khar, hopes Pak gets serious about dismantling terror camps Sep 27, 2011 NEW YORK: Asserting that there cannot be a "selective approach" in the fight aga inst terrorism, India today hoped that Pakistan will be "serious" in dismantling terror camps on its soil and live up to its pronouncements. "I am sure they (Pakistan) will realise and they have, by now they should have ( realised) that terrorism cannot be fought selectively," external affairs ministe r SM Krishna said after meeting his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar at a reception hosted by her here. "It has to be fought across the board" as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has stre ssed repeatedly, Krishna told reporters here. Krishna recalled that Khar had mentioned during her visit to New Delhi in July t his year that her country too was a victim of terrorism. Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Krishna-meets-Khar-hopes-Pak-gets-serio us--------India asks Pakistan to destroy 42 operational terror camps Sep 27 2011 New Delhi : India today asked Pakistan to destroy 42 terror camps operational th ere, saying a resurgent Taliban could be a security threat to the country after US

forces pull out from Afghanistan. There are 42 terror camps which are still operational. We want all of them to be destroyed, Defence Minister A K Antony told reporters on the sidelines of the Coa st Guard Commanders Conference here when asked about India s concerns over the existing terror camps in Pakistan. In the recent past, reports have suggested that a large number of terrorists are waiting on the other side of the Line of Control (LoC) to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir. To a query on the impact of the pullout by the US forces from Afghanistan in the next couple of years, he said, a resurgent Taliban can be a security concern for us after western forces leave the war-torn country. American troops are scheduled to leave Afghanistan by 2014 and are engaged in th e process of building capabilities of the Afghan National Army to enable it to h andle security on its own. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/india-asks-pakistan-to-destroy-42-operationalterr.../852563/ --------Bill introduced in US House to freeze all aid to Pakistan Sep 27, 2011 WASHINGTON: A key American lawmaker from Texas has introduced a resolution in th e House of Representative to freeze all US aid to Pakistan. The House Resolution (No HR 3013) if passed will freeze all US aid to Pakistan w ith the exception of funds that are designated to help secure nuclear weapons. "Since the discovery of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan has proven to be disloyal, deceptive and a danger to the United States," Congressman Ted Poe sai d in a statement after tabling the resolution in the House on Friday. "This so-called ally continues to take billions in US aid, while at the same tim e supports the militants who attack us. "The United States must immediately freeze all aid to Pakistan," said Poe, who i s a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Pakistan has made it "painfully obvious" that they will continue their policy of "duplicity and deceit" by pretending to be US ally in the war on terror while s imultaneously promoting violent extremism, the Congressman said. Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Bill-introduced-in-US-House-to-freez e-all-aid--------After snubbing US on Haqqanis, Pak vows to act against anti-china militants Sep 27, 2011

ISLAMABAD: Ruling out any possibility to act against the Haqqani network which W ashington blames for attack on its embassy in Kabul, Pakistan on Tuesday vowed t o eliminate Chinese militants hiding in the country s volatile tribal regions. The strong show of support was made by interior minister Rehman Malik after his meeting with visiting Chinese vice premier Meng Jianzhu. "We will strike very hard against them," Malik said. "Anybody who is the enemy o f China is the enemy of Pakistan." Leading a Chinese delegation, Jianzhu, who is also China s top security official , landed in the capital on Sunday and held talks with Pakistani civilian and mil itary leaders. Malik had earlier claimed that Pakistan had killed and extradited several Chines e militants. However, he did not specify when or from where those militants were arrested. However, militants of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) who carried out terrorist attack in China s western Xinjiang province were known to be training in Pakistan s tribal areas along with al-Qaida and other internation al extremist networks. Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/After-snubbing-US-on-HaqqanisPak--------Taliban insists it controls Haqqanis, not Pakistan Sep 27, 2011 KABUL: The Taliban took the unusual step Tuesday of insisting that it, not Pakis tan, controls the Haqqani network, with Islamabad under growing US pressure to c ut alleged ties with the group. The militia advised Pakistan to prioritise Islamic and national interests and stan d firm in the face of Americas two-faced and implacable politics. Neither are our bases in Pakistan nor do we need residence outside of our country , said the English-language statement in the name of the Islamic Emirate of Afgha nistan the Talibans name for itself on its Voice of Jihad website. All the military and civilian activities in the country are our own initiatives a nd our own actions. The respected Maulawi Jalaluddin Haqqani (the groups founder) is (one of the) Isla mic Emirates honourable and dignified personalities and receives all guidance for operations from the leader of the Islamic Emirate. Most analysts consider the Haqqani network a powerful Taliban faction loyal to T aliban supreme leader Mullah Omar, with strong ties to al Qaeda. Our advice to the people of Pakistan and its government is that it should deliber ate on Americas two-faced and implacable politics, said the Taliban. It should always give precedence to its Islamic and national interests and they s hould have a firm belief that America will never be happy with them until they l oot all their material and moral assets.

http://www.dawn.com/2011/09/27/taliban-insists-it-controls-haqqanis-not-pakistan .html --------J&K mass graves: Omar Abdullah announces DNA tests of kin Muzamil Jaleel Sep 28 2011 Srinagar : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said his governm ent was ready to begin DNA profiling of relatives of missing persons to determin e the identities of those buried in the states unmarked graves. He also promised to implement recommendations of the State Human Rights Commission in this regard. This was the first time the matter was discussed in the state Assembly. The disc ussion that lasted more than two and a half hours included an emotional address by the ruling National Conferences Kupwara legislator Mir Saifullah, on how his n eighours and friends had disappeared. NC legislator Kafeel-ur-Rehman alleged a 1, 000-ft deep gorge in his border constituency where crows are eating corpses. Those people whose loved ones are missing, first of all they should register an F IR with the human rights cell (of the SHRC). They should give DNA samples, they should provide us hints where to look... It wont happen overnight, we have to con duct DNA tests and make DNA profiles, Omar said. The Indian Express first reported the SHRC finding of over 2,000 unmarked graves in north Kashmir. Full report at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/j&k-mass-graves-omar-announces-dna-tests-of-ki n/852916/ -------Did diamond mafia in MP kill Shehla Masood to silence her? Sep 28 2011 SHEHLA Masood, the RTI activist who was shot dead in front of her house last mon th, appears to have paid the price for exposing illegal diamond mining in Madhya Pradeshs ( MP) Chhattarpur district. It has now come to light that Shehla probably knew about the involvement of poli ticians and bureaucrats in the illegal work being carried out by one of the worl ds leading mining companies in the states Bunder region, which is considered one o f the largest diamond reserves. Interestingly, the foundation stone of the company in MP was laid by CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan himself. I strongly believe Shehlas murder is linked to a mining deal for which some polit icians and bureaucrats were lobbying. Five days before her death, she had told a friend that she had information which could shake the BJP government in the sta te, Ayesha, Shehlas sister, said. Full report at: Mail Today

-------Blow for India as Lisbon wants Abu Salem back Sep 28 2011 IN AN embarrassment to the government, the Portuguese High Court has ordered ter mination of extradition of underworld don Abu Salem for breach of agreement by I ndia for slapping offences which attract death penalty. A Lisbon High Court allowed the plea of extradited gangster, being tried in eigh t criminal cases including the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, that he be sent back t o Portugal, lawyers associated with the case said. Salem, a gangster extradited from Portugal in November 2005, was also charged wi th the MCOCA for allegedly making extortion calls to a Delhi- based businessman Ashok Gupta in 2002, demanding 5 crore as protection money. The Portuguese court said that in view of the new charges against Salem which en tail death penalty, the authorisation granted for his extradition has been termi nated. Full report at: Mail Today -------China supports Pakistans sovereignty, says vice PM Sep 27, 2011 ISLAMABAD: China on Tuesday extended its full support to Pakistans sovereignty, i ndependence and territorial integrity and vowed to work with Pakistan for progre ss and peace in the region and the world. Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani who met the Deputy Premier of China Meng Jianzh u here at the PM House termed China as its close friend. Jianzhu said Pakistan was the only country enjoying all-weather friendship with China. Gilani said a friend of China is Pakistans friend, its enemy Pakistans enemy and Ch inas security Pakistans security. He said the two countries together can progress and prosper and bring the divide nds of development to their people. The meeting was also attended by Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Foreign secreta ry Salman Bashir and ambassadors of the two countries. http://www.dawn.com/2011/09/27/china-extends-support-to-pakistan%E2%80%99s-sover eignty-integrity.html --------Book on churches in Pakistan launched By Peerzada Salman Sep 27, 2011

KARACHI: A book titled Churches of Pakistan by Safdar Ali Shah was launched at t he British deputy high commission here on Monday. Introducing the book to the audience, head of a publishing firm Iqbal Saleh Moha mmad said it was a tribute to Pakistani Christians who had done so much for the country. He said there were many an unsung and unremembered member of the Christian commu nity who had served Pakistan in different capacities. He began by naming S.P. Si ngha and Mr Gibbons, who before partition voted in favour of the division of Pun jab in the legislative assembly. He also talked about Brig Harold Boyd Rodham, a n Indian army officer, who after partition opted for Pakistan and joined the Pak istan Army. He touched upon the invaluable services rendered by Justice Corneliu s to Pakistan he was a judge even before independence and became the Chief Justi ce of Pakistan after 1947. Squadron Leader W.D. Harney and Wing Commander Mervyn Leslie Middlecoat were giv en a mention. He said despite the fact that the Christian community comprised on ly three per cent of the countrys total population, its contribution was signific ant. He claimed that one of the many feats that the book would achieve was that itd ma ke students aware of an outstanding minority. Full report at: http://www.dawn.com/2011/09/27/book-on-churches-in-pakistan-launched.html --------Pakistan Supreme Court s website hacked Sep 27, 2011 ISLAMABAD: The website of Pakistan s Supreme Court was today defaced by a hacker who asked the Chief Justice to ban all pornographic websites and do more to hel p the poor. A message posted on the apex court s website by the hacker using the name Zombie _Ksa mocked security measures, saying the site was in "wrong, untalented hands". The hacker, who appeared to be a Pakistani, said the Supreme Court s website was chosen for hacking to "convey a message" to Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. "So I am here to request you to go out there and help the poor, needy and hungry ," the message posted by the hacker said. The hacker, in the message peppered with expletives, called on the Chief Justice to initiate suo motu action to ban pornographic websites in Pakistan. The Supreme Court s website has been defaced by hackers on at least one occasion in the past. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Pakistan-Supreme-Courts-websit e-hacked/articleshow/10136938.cms --------Activists hack official Syrian websites

Sep 27, 2011 BEIRUT: Two online activist groups said they hacked several official Syrian webs ites in the latest tactic to oppose President Bashar Assad s authoritarian regim e. Online hackers RevoluSec and Anonymous said Monday they were behind the latest I nternet attacks, which targeted the websites of several ministries and some majo r Syrian cities. The activists said they replaced the websites with caricatures of Assad and mess ages that read: "Don t let Bashar monitor you online." The presence of larger-than-life photos of Assad throughout Syria combined with a brutal security crackdown on dissent serve as continuous reminders for Syrians of the government s watchful eye on anti-government activity. The government fr equently blocks and disables Internet access in Syrian cities where protesters a re demanding Assad resign. Monday s Internet hacking comes as activists said at least four people were kill ed in central Syria. The United Nations estimates that more than 2,700 civilians have been killed in the government s crackdown on the uprising that began mid-M arch. Thousands more have been detained as Syrians. Anonymous said on its website that 12 websites had been defaced by RevoluSec. Mo st of the websites have since been restored, but some were still down. The carto ons of Assad have been removed. Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Activists-hack-official-Syr ian-websites/articleshow/10136921.cms --------Swiss Muslims Speak Out to Defend Swiss Flag against Claims it Offends Immigrant s Sep 27, 2011 (Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Muslims in Switzerland have distanced themselves from a suggestion to do away with the current Swiss flag in order to accomodate reli gious minorities. The suggestion, which has caused unwelcome tensions between the Swiss majority a nd the country s 5% Muslim minority, was actually made by a Christian multi-cult uralist. Ivica Petrusic, vice president of immigrant association Secondos Plus, suggeste d dropping the cross from the Swiss flag and adopting a different flag instead. Petrusic says he himself is Christian, but he does not think a Christian symbol should be used in a country with so many atheists and people who profess other religions. He says the cross does not represent the religious and cultural diver sity in Switzerland today. In an 18 September interview with the Swiss newspaper Aargauer Zeitung, Petrusic

said the cross has a Christian background and while the Christian roots of Swit zerland should be respected, "it is necessary to separate church and state" beca use "Switzerland today has a great religious and cultural diversity. One has to ask if the State wants to continue building up a symbol in which many people no longer believe." Full report at: http://abna.co/data.asp?lang=3&Id=268065 --------Muslims explain sons discriminated against at two top Catholic schools Sep 27, 2011 (Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - FOUR MUSLIM families have alleged their sons are bein g discriminated against at two leading Catholic boys secondary schools in south Co Dublin. In two instances, the Department of Education has overturned decisions by each s chool St Benildus and Oatlands Colleges not to enrol Muslim boys when parents ap pealed under section 29 of the 1998 Education Act. However, of the four Muslim families who have daughters, they said they have enc ountered no difficulty in enrolling them in girls secondary schools in the same S tillorgan area. Azzedine Medbou and his wife are from Algeria and have been in Ireland since 199 9. Their five daughters and one son attended Our Ladys Grove primary school on Go atstown Road, with the older girls progressing to the nearby Jesus Mary College. As it says on Our Ladys Grove website: From the primary school the girls may trans fer to Jesus Mary College, and the boys to Oatlands College and St Benildus Coll ege. Their son, Ilyes, applied to enrol at St Benildus for the year 2012/2013, in October 2010. His application was rejected. Full report at: http://abna.co/data.asp?lang=3&Id=268043 --------Bahraini Regime Detain 40 Females Over Elections Sep 27, 2011 (Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Bahraini security forces have arrested and beaten mor e than 40 females protesting against the parliamentary by-elections in Bahrain, the country s main opposition group, al-Wefaq, says. The female Bahrainis, including seven minors aged between 12 and 15, were arrest ed on Friday, one day before the by-elections -- boycotted by the opposition -to replace 18 lawmakers who resigned from the parliament in protest to the crack down on anti-government demonstrators. "More than 40 Bahraini women were savagely arrested... in a commercial centre, al -Wefaq said in a statement on Monday, adding that they were "beaten and humiliat ed."

Al-Wefaq condemned the females arrests as "savage and inhumane, saying that t hey had only been expressing their "right to freedom of expression". Election results in Bahrain show that more than 80 percent of the electorate ref used to vote in the by-elections in the country. According to a Bahraini government website, less than one in every five voters c ast their ballots on Saturday. Full report at: http://abna.co/data.asp?lang=3&Id=268015 --------PDP walks out from J&K assembly on unmarked grave issue Sep 27, 2011 SRINAGAR: People s Democratic Party members on Tuesday staged a walk-out from th e state assembly after Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone rejected their adjournment mo tion seeking discussion on the unmarked graves issue in place of the question ho ur. Speaking to the media outside the assembly , PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti said that they wanted a discussion on the unmarked graves issue . "Thousands of unmarked graves were found in various districts in Jammu and Kashmir and this has been ev en reported by the State Human Rights Commission. The issue needs a thorough dis cussion in the assembly," she said. Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PDP-walks-out-from-JK-assembly-on-unmar ked-grave-issue/articleshow/10138413.cms --------Hamid Ali Rao is new Indian envoy to Saudi Arabia Sep 27, 2011 JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia): Hamid Ali Rao, an Indian Foreign Service officer from the 1981 batch, has taken charge as India s ambassador to Saudi Arabia. He succeeds Talmiz Ahmad who retired from the service last month. Hailing from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, Rao is presently the permanent representat ive of India at the United Nations Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. Rao is the son of late Kunwasr Mohmood Ali Khan, a former governor of Madhya Pra desh. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Hamid-Ali-Rao-is-new-Indian -envoy-to-Saudi-Arabia/articleshow/10128856.cms --------Saudi Arabia urges world to accept Palestinians Sep 27, 2011

UN bid

UNITED NATIONS: Saudi Arabian foreign minister Prince Saud al-Faisal urged the U nited Nations on Monday to accept the Palestinians request for full membership in the world body and to recognize it as an independent state. "As a result of the continued Israeli intransigence and disruption of the peace process, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia calls upon all member states of the United Nations to state of Palestine on the border of June 4, 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital, and to grant it full membership of the United Nations," Faisal s aid. The Saudi foreign minister did not appear in person to give his speech. His stat ement was issued in written form at the end of Monday s speeches at the annual U N General Assembly session in New York. Faisal s comments will add to the pressure on Washington, which has vowed to vet o the Palestinian UN membership application that Palestinian President Mahmoud A bbas delivered to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday. The UN Security Council will meet on Wednesday to hand the issue to a committee that will review and assess the Palestinian application. Abbas has said he wants the council to make a decision within weeks, but Western diplomats say that the process could take much longer. Full report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Saudi-Arabia-urges-worldto-accept-Palestinians-UN-bid/articleshow/10135662.cms --------Former Tunisian Foreign Minister: Arab Spring shapes new Islamic orders September 27, 2011 Some Arab countries are following up their march towards democracy with a far mo re vital debate: what kind of Islam to have. As transitional governments from Tu nisia, where the so-called Arab Spring started, to Egypt and Libya reboot their old political systems and grapple with new Legal processes, they are looking tow ards modern constitutional frameworks. Street fighters may have been the face of the uprisings, but many of the real ba ckers of the uprisings for example in Libya - are either constitutional experts or political scientists with established teaching careers in Europe. There are s igns of a new Islamic order - one in sync with modern political systems emerging out of their hands. Islam is not a red line that it cannot be crossed, Ghazi Ghrairi, former Tunisian foreign minister, told Hindustan Times, on the sidelines of the International Fo rum for Democratic Transitions in Moroccan capital Rabat on September 16-17. Full report at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/africa/Arab-Spring-shapes-new-Islamic--------U.N. urges end to violence in Yemen Sep 27, 2011

The U.N. Security Council is urging all sides in Yemen to reject violence and ta ke urgent steps towards a political transition. The U.N.s most powerful body backed the Gulf Cooperation Councils transition plan, which calls for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign and hand over power to h is vice president in exchange for immunity from prosecution. In a statement Monday, the council expressed grave concern at the continued serio us deterioration of the economic and humanitarian situation in Yemen and at the wo rsening security situation, including the threat from al-Qaeda in parts of Yemen . Yemen has been wracked by violence since February when an uprising broke out to demand Mr. Salehs ouster. Government forces have killed hundreds in an attempt to stamp out the revolt. http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article2489871.ece --------Yemeni defence minister Mohamed Nasser Ali Sep 27, 2011 Yemen s defence minister has escaped an attack on his convoy in the southern cit y of Aden, officials say. They said a car bomb exploded near Mohamed Nasser Ali s convoy, injuring several soldiers. Other reports said grenades were thrown. There has been a surge in violence in Yemen as supporters and opponents of Presi dent Ali Abdullah Saleh battle each other in the capital, Sanaa. Mr Saleh, who survived an attack in June, returned to Yemen on Friday. Details of Tuesday s attack in Aden are still emerging. One report said a car packed with explosives had been detonated by remote contro l. Another said the car was driven by a suicide bomber. It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack. In southern Yemen, security forces have been battling al-Qaeda militants who hav e taken advantage of the country s political instability. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15074619 --------Pakistanis Tied to 2007 Border Ambush on Americans By CARLOTTA GALL Sep 27, 2011 KABUL, Afghanistan A group of American military officers and Afghan officials ha d just finished a five-hour meeting with their Pakistani hosts in a village scho olhouse settling a border dispute when they were ambushed by the Pakistanis. An American major was killed and three American officers were wounded, along wit survives attack

h their Afghan interpreter, in what fresh accounts from the Afghan and American officers who were there reveal was a complex, calculated assault by a nominal al ly. The Pakistanis opened fire on the Americans, who returned fire before escapi ng in a blood-soaked Black Hawk helicopter. The attack, in Teri Mangal on May 14, 2007, was kept quiet by Washington, which for much of a decade has seemed to play down or ignore signals that Pakistan wou ld pursue its own interests, or even sometimes behave as an enemy. The reconstruction of the attack, for Afghan or Pakistani deaths at he worsening rupture in relations ten been restrained by Pakistans Full report at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/world/asia/pakistanis-tied-to-2007-attack-on--------In Riddle of Mideast Upheaval, Turkey Offers Itself as an Answer By ANTHONY SHADID Sep 27, 2011 ISTANBUL Not so long ago, the foreign policy of Turkey revolved around a single issue: the divided island of Cyprus. These days, its prime minister may be the m ost popular figure in the Middle East, its foreign minister envisions a new orde r there and its officials have managed to do what the Obama administration has s o far failed to: position themselves firmly on the side of change in the Arab re volts and revolutions. No one is ready to declare a Pax Turkana in the Middle East, and indeed, its for eign policy is strewn this year with missteps, crises and gains that feel largel y rhetorical. It even lacks enough diplomats. But in an Arab world where the Uni ted States seems in retreat, Europe ineffectual and powers like Israel and Iran unsettled and unsure, officials of an assertive, occasionally brash Turkey have offered a vision for what may emerge from turmoil across two continents that has upended decades of assumptions. Not unexpectedly, the visions center is Turkey. Turkey is the only country that has a sense of where things are going, and it has the wind blowing on its sails, said Soli Ozel, a professor of international rela tions at Istanbul Bilgi University. Full report at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/world/europe/in-mideast-riddle-turkey-offers-i tself--------Libya s NTC Says Lockerbie Case Closed Sep 27, 2011 LONDON (Reuters) - The investigation into the 1988 bombing of a U.S.-bound airli ner over Lockerbie in Scotland is closed and Tripoli will not release more evide which several officials suggested was revenge American hands, takes on new relevance given t between Washington and Islamabad, which has of strategic importance.

nce that could lead to others being charged, Libya s interim leaders said on Mon day. The British Foreign Office, however, said the investigation into the bombing "re mains open." Scottish prosecutors had asked Libya s National Transitional Council (NTC) to gi ve them access to papers or witnesses that could implicate more suspects, possib ly including deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi. Libya s interim justice minister Mohammed al-Alagi turned them down, telling rep orters: "The case is closed." But the Foreign Office in London said it had talked with the NTC late on Monday and it had promised continued cooperation. "NTC chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil has already assured the prime minister that th e Libyan authorities will cooperate with the UK in this and other ongoing invest igations," a Foreign Office spokesman said. Full report at: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2011/09/26/world/africa/international-us-libya--------Tribesmen seize base near Sanaa Sep 27, 2011 SANAA: Anti-government tribesmen overran an army base housing an elite unit nort h of Yemen s capital early Monday, killing the commander and capturing 30 soldie rs and dealing a blow to the prestige of the powerful Republican Guards led by t he son of the country s embattled president. The assault by the tribesmen on the Republican Guards base at Dahrah took place early Monday. The Defense Ministry said in a statement that base commander Brig . Ali Al-Keleibi was killed in the fighting. The officials said the tribesmen captured 30 guards when they seized control of the facility. At least four tribesmen were killed and 27 wounded in the fighting . It was the second Republican Guards base to be captured in a week. Protesters b acked by renegade soldiers overran a base belonging to the guards last week in S anaa as the opposition stepped up its campaign to oust President Ali Abdullah Sa leh. Full report at: http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article507402.ece --------Official: Syrian troops captured in central town Sep 27, 2011 BEIRUT: A Syrian official says gunmen have kidnapped 14 army officers in an ambu sh that killed six soldiers and a security agent.

The official says the incident occurred Sunday outside the town of Qusair near t he border with Lebanon. The official spoke Monday on condition of anonymity in l ine with regulations. Qusair is in the central province of Homs, which has been witnessing intense vio lence since the uprising against President Bashar Assads regime began in mid-Marc h. Activists in Homs have said most clashes of the clashes pitted troops against army defectors. http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article507231.ece --------Freed US hikers describe harrowing ordeal in Iran Sep 27, 2011 Two American hikers being held in an Iranian prison got a big surprise one day a fter their exercise routine: Instead of being blindfolded and led back to their cell, they suddenly heard the words, Lets go home. Thats what a diplomatic envoy from Oman told them before whisking them away to th e Tehran airport and freedom, the two men said Sunday at a Manhattan news confer ence. After 781 days of prison, Shane and I are now free men, a jubilant Joshua Fa ttal announced, hours after he and Shane Bauer landed at Kennedy International A irport. Safe on US soil, the two spoke for the first time in public about their ordeal o f more than two years at the hands of Iranians accused of spying for their count ry by illegally walking across the Iran-Iraq border. They say they simply got lo st while hiking with another American, Sarah Shourd, who was released last year. The three paid a brutal price for their adventure, they said. Many times, too ma ny times, we heard the screams of other prisoners being beaten and there was not hing we could do to help them, Fattal said. Full report at: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\09\27\story_27-9-2011_pg4_8 --------Egyptian detained in Lebanon for spying for Israel Sep 27, 2011 BEIRUT: The Lebanese Army says it has detained an Egyptian man and his Lebanese wife in southeast Lebanon on suspicion of collaborating with Israels Mossad spy a gency. An army statement said Monday that the man confessed to accepting money in retur n for spying and that he traveled to Israel three times since 1999. The army says Lebanese authorities found in his home equipment used for spying a nd CDs with pictures of security locations. More than 100 people have been arrested in Lebanon since 2009 on suspicion of sp ying. Lebanese officials maintain that Israel regularly recruits spies in Lebanon and

has penetrated the countrys telecommunications networks. The two countries remain in a state of war. http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article507409.ece --------Bangladesh: 3 Jamaat men held in Khulna Sep 27, 2011 Police arrested three leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in Khu lna city Tuesday morning foiling a pre-scheduled press conference of the party. The arrestees are: Munshi Mainul Islam, assistant secretary of Khulna city unit Jamaat; Azizur Rahman Swapon, Jamaat president of Khan Jahan Ali unit under Khul na metropolitan area; and Dr Yasin Uddin, a member of the city unit Jamaat; repo rts our Khulna correspondent. SM Kamruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Khulna Sadar Police Station, said they capt ured the trio from in front of Khulna Press Club around 11:30am on suspicion tha t they might carry out subversive activities. Khulna city unit Jamaat fixed 11:30am for holding a press conference at the pres s club demanding immediate release of their party leaders and activists arrested recently. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=32602 --------Hundreds of civilians flee Sirte Sep 27, 2011 SIRTE, Libya: Hundreds of civilians fled Muammar Qaddafi s hometown Monday to es cape growing shortages of food and medicine and escalating fears that their home s will be struck during fighting between revolutionaries forces and regime loyal ists. Anti-Qaddafi fighters launched their offensive against Sirte nearly two weeks ag o, but have faced fierce resistance from loyalists holed up inside the city. Aft er a bloody push into Sirte again over the weekend, revolutionary fighters say t hey have pulled back to plan their assault and allow civilians more time to flee . NATO has kept up its air campaign since the fall of Tripoli last month. The alli ance said Monday its warplanes struck eight military targets near Sirte a day ea rlier, including an ammunition and vehicle storage facility and rocket launcher. Sirte, 400 km southeast of Tripoli on the Mediterranean coast, is one of the las t remaining bastions of Qaddafi loyalists since revolutionary fighters stormed i nto the capital last month, ending Qaddafi s rule. The fugitive leader s support ers also remain in control of the town of Bani Walid southeast of Tripoli and po ckets of territory in the country s south. Civilians fleeing Sirte Monday described grave shortages of food, fuel, drinking water and medicine.

Full report at: http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article507396.ece --------SWAT: How beekeeping pulled a woman from the edge By Fazal Khaliq September 27, 2011 SWAT: Shahi Bakhta has single-handedly steered her life and those of her childre n out from the depths of poverty and managed to economically stabilise her famil y. Bakhta, 38, lives with her five children in Nehrabad village in Swats Kabal town. She was widowed in May 2009 at the peak of the Swat insurgency when her husband , Mohammad Rashid, was hit by a stray bullet in crossfire between the security f orces and militants. In that one moment, Bakhtas life changed and she was left to provide for her thre e sons and two daughters alone. I have seen some tough and very bitter days in li fe. My children would ask for bread and I had nothing to offer to them. Sorely d isappointed, I made many suicide attempts. But my childrens innocent faces stoppe d me. Rashid worked as a labourer but also operated a business on the side, where he b red honeybees. After his death, desperate for financial assistance, Bakhta decid ed to take over the business. I had to sell all the equipment of honeybee keeping to arrange for money for my c hildren. I also sold poultry and other things one by one for survival, she told T he Express Tribune, adding that she would do odd jobs from dawn till dusk but no t earn enough money to make ends meet. Full report at: http://tribune.com.pk/story/260475/how-beekeeping-pulled-a-woman-from-the-edge--------An Aid Worker Writes: Hope and Exasperation at a Kandahar Hospital By JESSICA BARRY Sep 27, 2011 Each time I walk along Mirwaiss crowded corridors, or visit the wards bustling wi th mothers and sick children, it is a new experience. No two visits are ever the same. There are more patients, more anxious mothers, more men gathered in gossi ping groups on the stairwells; more prayer beads turning, more busy staff, more noise. I love visiting Mirwais, despite its clamor and hospital smell and tragedy. It i s where life happens before your eyes. Afghan life that is, with all its beauty, poverty, struggle, hope, anger, resignation and dignity. Today in the cacophonous wards, there are more victims of traffic accidents than there are war wounded. That says a lot. Over the past 10 years of a booming war

economy, some people, in urban areas at least, have enjoyed a relative prosperi ty. In addition, the construction of roads and buildings has been done using dai ly workers, providing thousands of temporary jobs to village men who would other wise struggle to feed their large families out in remote rural areas. Full report at: http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/ URL: http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamIslamicWorldNews_1.aspx?ArticleID=556 4 Forward to a friend COMMENTS 9/27/2011 3:23:00 PM Print