Zardari Keen to Have All Children in Politics

* Bilawal, Bakhtawar and Asifa to start with PPP’s students’ wings

Bilawal, Bakhtawar and Asifa Zardari, the children of Asif Ali Zardari and Benazir Bhutto, are likely to start their political career with the People’s Students Federation and the PPP women’s wing,

Sources in the Pakistan People’s Party told Daily Times on Saturday that Mr Zardari told a delegates from the PSF and the Ladies’ Wing at Bilawal House this week that he wanted to see his children become active in politics.

The three children, who at present study in Dubai where Ms Bhutto lives in self-exile, will not be able to play an active role in politics until the completion of their education, the sources said.

However, they will remain in contact with seniors in the students’ and women’s wings of the PPP for political training.

“Mr Zardari said he wanted Bakhtawar and Asifa to learn from the seniors in the Ladies’ Wing,” said MNA Nafisa Raja, who is president of the organisation’s Karachi chapter.

Mr Zardari, who son of former MNA Hakim Ali Zardari, also has other members of his family in politics. One of his sisters, Faryal Talpur, is nazim of his home district of Nawabshah and another, Dr Azra Pechuho, is MNA from there.

Sources in the PPP said that the announcement of Bakhtawar and Asifa joining the Ladies Wing could be made at the organisation’s next convention.

Mr Zardari reportedly hinted at having Bilawal join the PSF when an official of the Sindh People’s Students Federation complained that the PPP leaders do not allow their sons to join the party’s students wing.

Zardari calls for unconditional talks with India

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari urged India on Monday to resume the process of composite dialogue ‘unconditionally’ to jointly address common problems, including terrorism.

Violence and militancy were no solution to political problems, the president said during a meeting with Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, the executive director of Kashmir Centre in Washington.

The president said the ‘merchants of war’ promoted violence for settling political disputes, but this had to be resisted through recourse to peaceful indigenous political movements.

The dialogue was halted by India after the Mumbai attacks in November last year.

The president said: ‘Pakistan wants an honourable, equitable and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir.’

He said the opening of trade across the Line of Control in Kashmir by Pakistan would bring Kashmiri people closer and pave way for a peaceful political resolution to the dispute.

‘No resolution will be equitable or honourable which is not in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Kashmir.’

The president praised the Kashmir Centre for highlighting the Kashmir issue internationally.

Mr Fai thanked the president for his government’s support to the cause of Kashmiri people.

Oil and gas sector

During a meeting with the chairman of BRIDAS, an international oil company of Argentina, the president praised the Argentine government for taking interest in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project and in exploration and development of gas fields in Balochistan and Sindh.

He said the petroleum exploration and production policy for 2009 offered great incentives to investors, adding that his government had adopted an approach based on the principles of de-regularisation, liberalisation and privatisation.

President Zardari said that in view of the increasing energy demand over the next five years and low indigenous production, Pakistan’s oil sector offered vast opportunities for investment.

Investment Minister Waqar Ahmed Khan, Board of Investment Chairman Saleem H. Mandviwala, Special Petroleum Secretary G.A. Sabri, Secretary Investment Tariq Iqbal Puri and Secretary General Salman Faruqui and Ambassador of Argentina Carlos Bulgheroni attended the meeting.

Upper Dir

Later, the president handed over to Najmuddin Khan, the Minister for State and Frontier Region, and MPA M. Anwar Khan a cheque for Rs11.2 million for the victims of Friday’s suicide blast in a mosque in Upper Dir.

Zardari urges PIA to develop corporate culture

President Asif Zardari on Thursday ordered the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to develop a corporate culture to turn the national flag carrier into a profitable venture. He was talking to office-bearers of the Pakistan Airlines Pilots Association (PALPA) and PIA Managing Director Ejaz Haroon. Zardari was informed that the PIA management was taking necessary steps for the welfare of pilots. The PALPA members said their salaries were low compared to other developing countries and said they were prepared to negotiate the salary structure with the management without disrupting the service.

Pakistani state is not going to collapse, says Zardari

Pakistani state is not going to collapse, says Zardari

* President calls for international efforts to fight extremism
* Says Taliban threat not Pakistan-specific

WASHINGTON: President Asif Ali Zardari denied on Sunday Pakistan is on the verge of collapse, as top US officials welcomed a military offensive against the Taliban in Swat.

Zardari, in an NBC interview aired after a week of talks in Washington, also demanded a global effort to fight extremism as Afghan President Hamid Karzai said a new surge of US troops in his country had been overdue. “Is the state of Pakistan going to collapse?” Zardari said. “No. We are 180 million people. There the population is much, much more than the insurgents are.”

Zardari admitted that Pakistan had “a problem” with the Taliban inside its borders and called for an international approach to extremism as a whole, “because it’s not Pakistan-specific”.

“I think we need to find a strategy where the world gets together against this threat, because it’s not Pakistan-specific,” he said. “It’s not Afghanistan-specific. Like I said, it’s all the way from the Horn of Africa. You’ve had attacks in Spain. You’ve had attacks in Britain. You’ve had attacks in America. You’ve had attacks in Africa, Saudi Arabia,” he said.

“So I think the world needs to understand that this is the new challenge of the 21st century, and this is the new war.”

Zardari acknowledged his country will need US help to succeed in the “It’s an accepted position that ... we cannot work this problem out unless Pakistan, Afghanistan and America are on the same page,” he said.

But the president rejected suggestion that some limits on US aid be imposed based on performance by Pakistan. agencies

Zardari assures keeping collateral damage to minimum

NEW YORK: Reaffirming Pakistan's resolve to defeat the militant insurgency, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Sunday that every effort would be made to keep collateral damage to the minimum, while fighting extremism in the hope of finding a solution.

"We don't want to make one million dead," the president said, while citing the killings that took place in the anti-terror operations in Algiers and in Afghanistan, among other countries.

Addressing a largely attended meeting of Pakistani-Americans at a local hotel here, he urged them to read contemporary history, not age-old history, about several instances of large-scale deaths resulting from several countries' attempts to wipe out insurgencies.

"We want to avoid bloodshed," so that the effect was minimal and a solution found. "This moment calls for a lot of courage and at the same time a lot of thinking."

Fauzia Wahab's Comments on criticism to the President's visit

PPP Central Information Secretary and Member National Assembly, Fauzia Wahab has strongly condemned the analysis of Ansar Abbasi that appeared in The News and Daily Jang on May 16, 2009 on the topic of "Zardari’s foreign jaunts leave pressing issues unattended". The analysis is yet another attempt to depict President Asif Ali Zardari as non serious and "indifferent" to the crises being faced by Pakistan by citing his foreign visits since he took over as President of Pakistan in September 2008. Fauzia Wahab reminded that the visits of President Zardari have focused on engaging players that are key in global fight against terror in which Pakistan is playing the role of frontline state. "Is it not a necessity that the foreign powers need to be informed about the seriousness of the Pakistan government in rooting out extremist elements who are threatening our way of life?", she asked. These powers have been the USA and UK while engaging the time and tested friends like China , Turkey , Saudi Arabia , Iran and Libya is the cornerstone of the PPP's foreign policy. The recent visit to Paris by the President has helped in restarting dialogue for the transfer of civilian nuclear technology to Pakistan . French President Sarkozy has been quoted as saying that "What can be done for India (nuclear technology for energy) can be done for Pakistan as well."

"We can see positives coming out of the trips of the Head of State to these foreign countries", said Fauzia Wahab. She also reminded that previously the President was lambasted in sections of the press on his personal visits to the UAE, UK and Saudi Arabia . "Fingers were pointed towards the President on spending from the national exchequer, however, the same elements went quiet when the National Assembly was informed that the expenses on the personal visits were deposited by the President".

On the point that the President has left Prime Minister and the parliament totally subdued, she reminded that the In Camera Briefing to political leaders by the Army Chief, Central Executive Committee & Federal Council Meetings of the PPP and the All Parties Conference, are all being held with the Prime Minister in chair while the President is away from Pakistan . "Doesn’t this show that there is cohesion between the President and Prime Minister? We welcome criticism from the media, but one should call 'a spade a spade' and not corner public opinion against the national leadership", she requested.

Zardari felicitates Manmohan on election victory

LAHORE: President Asif Ali Zardari telephoned Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to greet him over UPA’s electoral win, Hindustan Times has reported. The paper said Zardari was one of the first foreign leaders to congratulate Singh over the Congress-led alliance’s poll victory. President Zardari “has been saying that he was waiting for the new government to assume office in India so that the bilateral dialogue could be resumed”, Hindustan Times reported. India suspended dialogue with Pakistan after the November 26 terrorist attacks in Mumbai and “has maintained that talks could resume only after Pakistan takes concrete action against those behind the strikes”. daily times monitor.

Operation to continue till mission accomplished: Zardari

WASHINGTON: President Asif Ali Zardari said on Thursday that the operation against the militants would continue till normalcy was restored.

At a joint news conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and US Senators John Kerry and Richard Lugar, President Zardari stressed Pakistan’s commitment to defeating the terrorists.

‘The operation will go on till the situation returns to normal,’ the president said when asked how long would the operation Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced earlier in the day continue.

The president said that Afghanistan and Pakistan realised they needed to improve their cooperation in the fight against the extremists and were willing to enhance their efforts to defeat them.

‘There’s a realisation in the world that it’s a regional problem, a worldwide problem. It is not an Afghan or a Tora Bora problem. It is not a problem secluded in the mountains of Pakhtoonkhwa,’ said Mr Zardari. ‘This realisation brings strength to the fight.’

Responding to another question, Mr Zardari said Pakistan looked forward to building a better relationship with India after elections in that country. ‘If American friends can help us in doing so, they are welcome to.’

Supporting President Zardari’s position on the issue of better cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Mr Karzai said that during the tripartite talks in Washington, the two countries had taken important steps to improve their coordination.

‘We have taken a significant step forward for reducing the trust deficit between the two countries,’ he said. ‘One of the fundamental steps we took was to address this issue. Now we will go home and work on it and show the results.’

President Karzai said all three sides attending the Washington talks had come up with proposals for winning the war against the extremists.

Senator John Kerry, who has cosponsored a $7.5 billion aid package along with his Republican counterpart Richard Lugar, said before the news conference the two leaders had held an important meeting with the Senate committees for foreign relations, armed forces and intelligence.

The second part of the tripartite discussions focussed on ‘the real and tough problems’ faced by all three countries.

The way the two presidents summarised the problem was ‘really unprecedented’ and led to a frank exchange between all senators and the two presidents, Mr Kerry said.

‘Some questions were very pointed and very direct. The senators were impressed by the candour of the presidents and the purpose behind these answers.’

Senator Kerry said the meeting was not called to talk about what the US wanted Pakistan or Afghanistan to do. ‘We were here to listen to the presidents and learn what they believe they need.’

Senator Lugar said that questions were also asked about President Karzai’s campaign to get re-elected and about the ISI’s alleged involvement with the militants.

‘The ISI chief Gen Pasha explained why the Taliban exists and what the relationship is,’ he said. ‘We asked them what do you want us to do? Do you want the US in your countries; do your people want it?’

US special envoy Richard Holbrooke said another trilateral meeting would be held after the Afghan elections. He said the CIA and FBI chiefs also participated in the meeting with the senators.

The aim was to promote ‘real cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan because without that cooperation success is not achievable,’ he said.

Senator Kerry said he hoped the US Senate and the House would be able to overcome the differences between their bills for providing assistance to Pakistan.

‘We have a lot of confidence on how to pull that together, we have a sense of urgency, but we can’t give you a precise date,’ he said.

Operation to last until normalcy: Zardari

Operation to last until normalcy: Zardari

* Kerry says Congress will ‘urgently’ complete aid bill to stabilise Pakistan

WASHINGTON: President Asif Ali Zardari said on Thursday the military operation against the Taliban would last until “normalcy” returned to the troubled areas, AFP reported.

“It is going to carry on until life in Swat comes back to normalcy,” Zardari told reporters at the US Capitol after meeting key senators.

He was speaking after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani urged Pakistan to unite against extremists as air and ground troops pounded Taliban targets in Swat.

Stability: Meanwhile, Senator John Kerry promised on Thursday that the United States Congress would “urgently” complete an aid bill to stabilise Pakistan. He said this after talks with Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Also on Thursday, US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke said the two countries and the US would hold a new three-way meeting after Afghanistan’s elections in August.

US Acting Secretary of Defence William Lynn assured President Asif Ali Zardari that Washington would meet Islamabad’s security needs to enable it to defeat militancy and promote peace and security in the region, APP reported.

“US will continue to support Pakistan in fight against insurgency,” he said. afp/app

Zardari will meet Obama buoyed by sea-change in Pakistan

Zardari will meet Obama buoyed by sea-change in Pakistan

* Analysts agree Zardari will return from Washington with backing for his govt

ISLAMABAD: Pakistanis do not often see their country the same way as American presidents, but the fear spread by Taliban fighters turning up a few hours drive from Islamabad has finally put them on the same page.

Politicians of every hue, the media and the public have all been seized by the urgent need to fight back. “The national mood is changing,” said a senior Pakistani official with knowledge of foreign policy and security matters.

“People got scared, which is good. Getting scared is good.”

The turnaround is occurring as President Asif Ali Zardari prepares to meet Obama and Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai in Washington on May 6-7 to discuss how to destroy Al Qaeda and Taliban sanctuaries on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The Taliban currently control, are active in or hold influence over 12 percent of Pakistani territory, according to Farrukh Saleem, executive director of the Centre for Research and Security Studies.

These days every Pakistani newspaper and television channel’s top story is how well the army is doing in a week-old offensive against the Taliban in Buner and the need to support the military. Few people give Zardari credit, but at least a hostile media got off his back in order to support the government’s decision to send troops into a valley just 60 miles from Islamabad.

Obama made clear the support he will be offering at this week’s talks when he described Pakistan’s government as fragile and short of money, and noted that its army has begun to realise it has to fight homegrown militants instead of obsess over India.

Backing: Analysts agree Zardari will probably return from Washington with backing for his one-year-old civilian government, and US commitments to fast-track economic and military aid and speed up reimbursements for expenses incurred fighting militancy. Some $1.5 billion could arrive from the United States alone this month, according to the senior Pakistani official, giving a hard-up government some leeway to help its people when it announces an annual budget in June. Zardari is also expected to agree confidence-building measures with Afghanistan to reduce mistrust between the nations.reuters

Zardari asks Brown to give Pakistani students fair chance

President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday expressed concern over the recent arrest of ‘Pakistani students’ in Britain, and hoped that the students would be given a fair chance to defend the charges against them and allowed to complete their studies.

Zardari was talking to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who had called on the president. The two leaders discussed matters related to the regional situation, terrorism and bilateral ties.

Zardari acknowleged British support for Pakistan in the war on terror, and hoped that the strengthening of economic relations between the two countries would help Pakistan overcome its socio-economic problems.

Zardari called for the internationl community’s support in fighting terrorism and extremism. He said the government had the will to fight terrorism, but there were areas in which capabilities needed to be strengthened.

The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Privatisation Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, British High Commissioner in Islamabad Robert Brinkley and other senior British officials accompanying Brown.

Nuclear weapons safe from Taliban: Zardari

Nuclear weapons safe from Taliban: Zardari

* President says parliament may reassess Swat deal
* Says whereabouts of Osama Bin Laden unknown
* Says Islamabad has will to fight terror, but needs international support

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday ruled out the possibility of his country’s nuclear weapons falling into the hands of the Taliban.

In a wide-ranging interview with local and international journalists, Zardari spoke about the mystery surrounding the whereabouts of Osama Bin Laden, the Taliban clout in Pakistan and his own political future.

“I want to assure the world that the nuclear capability of Pakistan is under safe hands,” he said.

Zardari said the whereabouts of Osama Bin Laden remained a mystery, and there was a suspicion that he could be dead. However, he said, “That’s not confirmed. We can’t confirm that.” He said US officials had told him that they had no trace of the Al Qaeda chief, and the same view was shared by his own intelligence agencies.

Zardari said the Swat peace deal was in line with ‘popular demand’ for a negotiated and political settlement of the issue.

However, he said parliament could reassess the situation after the Taliban extended their activities to other parts of the region.

He dispelled the impression that Pakistan launched the recent military operation in Dir under pressure from the US.

Zardari said he enjoyed a ‘trustful relationship’ with the military. “I don’t see (a military coup) possible at the moment.”

Pakistan won’t bow before extremists, says Zardari

Pakistan will not bow before the high-handedness of extremists and terrorists, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Friday.

“Pakistan is committed to fight militancy in the region and the government will not succumb to any pressure by militants,” Zardari told British special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles who called on him.

Zardari also said the process of dialogue would only be initiated with those who lay down weapons, shun violence and do not challenge the writ of the government. He said military action was only one aspect of a larger solution.

The president said, “We need a Marshall plan to help overcome our socio-economic problems [which are] a result of the damages inflicted on the country by the fight against militancy and extremism.”

Sir Cowper-Coles said the UK was keen to help Pakistan in its fight against militancy, and his appointment as a special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan was in line with this.

The president expressed his concern with UK High Commissioner Robert Brinkley, who was present in the meeting, over the 10 Pakistani students’ arrest in Britain on charges of terrorism.

Zardari said the fact that they had now been set free shows that there was no credible evidence against them. He expressed the hope that the students would be allowed to complete their studies in the UK. Pakistan’s High Commission in London would defend them, the president added.

CJCSC meets: Also on Friday, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) Gen Tariq Majeed called on President Asif Zardari and discussed various security issues.

A statement by the Presidency said the CJCSC apprised Zardari about his recent meeting with US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen. He also briefed the president about professional matters and the operational preparedness of the armed forces.

Sources said the two also discussed the latest incursions by Taliban in the areas adjoining the Swat valley and agreed the government and armed forces would not allow anyone to challenge the writ of the government.

Secretary General to the President Salman Farouqui, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Senator Rehman Malik and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir were also present during the meeting.

Zardari seeks sustained world support against terrorism

Zardari seeks sustained world support against terrorism

* President says Pakistan can’t remove troops from Pak-India border
* IMF chief assures Zardari of support for economic growth

WASHINGTON/LAHORE: Pakistan will be able to root out violent extremism with the help of sustained international support, President Asif Ali Zardari said late on Thursday.

“I can assure the world on behalf of the people of Pakistan that we are up to the task. Just help us. Get us the capability and we can defeat the common enemy for a better tomorrow for our children and the coming generations,” he said while speaking to a gathering at a dinner hosted in his honour by Pakistan’s Ambassador in Washington Husain Haqqani and his wife MNA Farahnaz Isfahani at the Pakistani embassy.

According to a private TV channel, Zardari said in an interview with a US newspaper that Pakistan could not remove its troops from the Pakistan-India border to deploy them on its western borders.

He said Pakistan had already deployed a significant number of troops on the western border.

He said the drone attacks would be more effective if the US provided the technology to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) assured Pakistan of its support for the economic development of the country in a meeting between IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn and President Zardari.

Zardari says will fulfil Benazir’s mission

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari has said that he will lay down his life to fulfil his wife, Benazir Bhutto’s mission.

Appealing to PPP leaders, workers and people of Pakistan to question him should he deviate from Bhutto’s mission, he said: “I shall have no right to be buried at Garhi Khuda Bux if I drift away from her mission.”

Benazir’s Bhutto will names Zardari as next PPP chief

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP’s) martyred Chairperson Benazir Bhutto's will was issued on Tuesday afternoon.

The will dated October 16 says that she was proud of the PPP leadership and desirous of a federal and democratic Pakistan.

Paying glowing tribute to PPP Founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, she said his steadfastness against dictatorship should be followed by the party at all costs.

The one-page will clearly mentions Asif Ali Zardari as the next chairman of PPP. She wrote that Zardari would lead the party after her.

Zardari vows to avenge Benazir’s murder in a democratic way

Garhi Khuda Bux, Feb 7 : Pakistan People’s Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has vowed to take revenge of the murder of former premier Benazir Bhutto in a democratic way.
Addressing the chehlum of Benazir Bhutto here, he said: “Our leader Benazir always attempted to effect change in the prevalent system, we will change this system at all costs as this was the mission of Benazir Bhutto.”
“We will avenge Benazir's martyrdom in a democratic way.

International deals enabled Benazir’s return to Pak: Zardari

The Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has said that his wife Benazir Bhutto had returned to Pakistan as a result of international agreements, but after her assassination, all agreements stand nullified.

Zardari told the Voice of America that he could not reveal the details of the agreements.

He said he was very upset with those who had brokered the agreements, as they were not supporting his appeal for a United Nations investigation into his wife’s murder.

Fatima Bhutto a surprise supporter for Musharraf

As a major surprise for the beleaguered Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto’s niece Fatima Bhutto has come out in his open support, saying that both PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif were enjoying power even without being a member of the National Assembly.

Fatima, who still strongly believes that Zardari was behind her father Murtaza Bhutto’s murder, further alleged that their coterie of advisers was also not elected to the National Assembly.

Zardari targeting Benazir’s close aides considered threat to his supremacy

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari considers his critics and supporters of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, as rivals and a potential threat to his supremacy, a Telegraph report suggests.

Zardari has initiated disciplinary action against Dr Safdar Abbasi and his wife, Naheed Khan, a close associate of Bhutto, for their open criticism of his rule.

Another senior Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader, Aitzaz Ahsan, has been snatched of his Central Executive Committee membership, as Ahsan played a leading role in the movement to restore the former Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who was sacked by former President General Pervez Musharraf.

"We have not yet been issued notices, but Aitzaz is first and we will be next in line," the newspaper quoted, Abbasi, as saying.

Naheed Khan had charged Zardari of running the party as a ''one-man show'', and termed his leadership as a complete failure. She also accused Zardari of abandoning Bhutto's political vision.

Sources said that Zardari was particularly irritated when Abbasi, her wife, and Ahsan visited Bhutto's sister Sanam in London recently. Zardari considered the meeting as a conspiration against his leadership, as Sanam had earlier been presented as a possible successor of Benazir Bhutto, following her assassination, by some senior party leaders.

Sources also added that close associates of Zardari aired false news about romance between Fatima, Bhutto's niece, and Hollywood actor George Clooney to malign her image and dent her authority as a potential future leader of the party.