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ckmuflg:tfgdf ;'/Iff Joj:yf s8f

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Pak awarded Scholarship and donated equipment

Kathmandu : The Pakistan Embassy in a ceremony held at Tilingtar Higher Secondary School, Dhapasi, Kathmandu distributed cheques and certificates among the winners of Ambassador of Pakistan Essay Writing Competition-2012. The ceremony was attended by a large number of student community, Principals of educational institutions and media. Mr. Mahasharam Sharma, Director General Education Department was the Chief Guest at the function.

During the ceremony, the Embassy also awarded scholarships to 122 students of 7 Secondary and Higher Secondary Level School and donated IT equipment to five Secondary/Higher Secondary Schools.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Asif Hussain Memon, Charge d' Affaires a.i. Embassy of Pakistan in Nepal said that humble gesture of goodwill from the Government and people of Pakistan was indicative of excellent friendly relations between the two countries. The initiative will go a long way in further promoting bilateral relations between the two countries at grass level. He added that Pakistan would continue to provide such assistance in future also deserving individuals / organizations in Nepal.

Mr. Mahasharam Sharma, Director General of Education Department thanked the Government and people of Pakistan for the generous donation and hoped that the bilateral relations between the two countries would grow further. Such gesture would also encourage the students to excel in their studies in future.

Visit to Newly-built Primary School, Nursery and Kindergarten in Changjon Street

Kim Jong Un, First Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, First Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army, went round Changjon Primary School, Kyongsang Nursery and Kyongsang Kindergarten newly built in the Changjon Street. He was accompanied by Jang Song Thaek, member of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and vice-chairman of the DPRK NDC, Ri Jae Il, first deputy-department director of the WPK Central Committee, and Ryang Chong Song and Pak Chun Hong, deputy-department directors of the WPK Central Committee. The first leg of his visit was Changjon Primary School. After seeing the place where the statue of President Kim Il Sung will be erected, he dropped in at the room dedicated to the history of the school. Seeing historic data one by one, he received a report that twice Labour Hero Kim Su Bok, lady principal of the school, had the honour of giving a lesson on the Korean language in the presence of the President on the day of his visit to the school and has worked as a teacher and the principal of the school for 58 years. He highly praised her for having devoted herself to the education of the rising generation.

Making the rounds of classrooms, a foreign language room, a computer room and other places of the school, he was very pleased as they are well provided with teaching conditions and environments. On hearing the news that the school will open before long and begin lessons, he promised to revisit it without fail to see its pupils in class. The next leg of his visit was the Kyongsang Nursery. He went round several places of the nursery to learn in detail about its construction.

Underscoring the need to always pay deep attention to bringing up children, the future of the country, he said that the nurses of the Kyongsang Nursery should take warm care of children as their real mothers would do. The last leg of his visit was the Kyongsang Kindergarten.He looked round the room dedicated to the history of the kindergarten.  He was pleased to hear a report that the kindergarten has trained many music prodigies and gave delight to leader Kim Jong Il several times, and highly praised its teachers for their devoted efforts. Looking round various rooms on each floor, he said that everything appeals to his taste and repeatedly expressed his satisfaction.After enjoying a performance given children in the auditorium on the first floor, he had a photo taken with them, embracing them in his arms.

He expressed his expectation and belief that officials, teachers and nurses would creditably discharge their duties and thus remain faithful to the outlook on the rising generation of President Kim Il Sung and leaderKim Jong Il who put forward the children as the king of the country and devoted their whole life for their sake. He looked round the room dedicated to the history of the kindergarten. He was pleased to hear a report that the kindergarten has trained many music prodigies and gave delight to leader Kim Jong Il several times, and highly praised its teachers for their devoted efforts.Looking round various rooms on each floor, he said that everything appeals to his taste and repeatedly expressed his satisfaction. After enjoying a performance given children in the auditorium on the first floor, he had a photo taken with them, embracing them in his arms.

He expressed his expectation and belief that officials, teachers and nurses would creditably discharge their duties and thus remain faithful to the outlook on the rising generation of President Kim Il Sung and leaderKim Jong Il who put forward the children as the king of the country and devoted their whole life for their sake.

Field Guidance to Central Zoo

Kim Jong Un, First Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, First Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army, provided field guidance to the Central Zoo. He was accompanied by Jang Song Thaek, Kim Yang Gon and other officials.

He first looked round the monument to the revolutionary history which was erected to convey the immortal leadership exploits of the three generals of Mt. Paektu down through generations, recollecting with deep emotion the proud road traversed by the zoo.

He then went round several places of the zoo to learn in detail about its management and operation.

He met with Kim Sun Ok and Myong Su Il who have been working at the zoo for decades and highly praised them for having devoted themselves with an attachment to their job.

He advanced tasks which would serve as guidelines in the management and operation of the zoo, and expressed his expectation and belief that its officials and employees would, in the future, too, creditably perform their honourable mission and duty as servants of the people.

Choice of the United States

The withdrawal of the US troops from the Korean peninsula has been a long-pending issue to be solved since their occupation of south Korea after the Second World War. For nearly 70 years the US has justified the stationing of its armed forces in south Korea on several ridiculous pretexts.

The US stationed its troops in south Korea in September 1945 on an absurd pretext of “disarming the Japanese troops” and divided Korea into the north and the south. It also started the Korean war (1950-1953) with the object of occupying and dominating the whole of Korea, hurling into the war its huge armed forces and even the troops of its 15 satellite countries in the name of the “UN Forces.”

Having suffered in the Korean war a disastrous defeat, the first of its kind in its history, and signed the armistice agreement, the US still schemed to perpetuate its troops’ stationing in south Korea by forming the “ROK-US Mutual Defence Pact” after the war.

For several decades in the past when the Cold War constituted the foundation of the international politics and served as an omnipotent justification for interventions and highhandedness of the imperialist forces the US had advocated the need of stationing its troops in south Korea in order to “contain the southward advance” of the former Soviet Union. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the US has styled its troops in south Korea a “deterrent to dispute” and the “means of stability,” insisting that they are imperative for the security on the Korean peninsula and other Asia-Pacific areas.

However, everybody knows that ever since the stationing of the US troops in south Korea, acute military confrontation and tensions have been running high on the Korean peninsula, far from peace and stability. It was the US which started the Korean war, one of the most devastating wars after WWII, and provoked the incidents of the armed spy ship Pueblo, the large spy plane EC-121 and Panmunjom, which brought the whole world to the brink of a thermonuclear war.

Then, why does the US persistently refrain from pulling its troops out from the Korean peninsula?

In a nutshell, it is because the US is ambitious for world supremacy. It has constantly pursued an ambition to occupy all of Korea with south Korea as a stepping-stone and form the military encirclement around the big countries including China and Russia with the Korean peninsula as a bridgehead.

However, it is an anachronism. A “strategic partnership” is being established between the US and the big countries neighbouring Korea, though they had confronted with each other in ideology. The troops which had been stationed in some countries and regions are being withdrawn and military bases abolished.

In the current of the times the question of easing tensions on the Korean peninsula and improving the DPRK-US relations is posed as practical demand. What is vital is to put an end to the US troops’ stationing in south Korea. Even those from the political and public circles and military strategic brainpower of the US are asserting that the US troops’ stationing in south Korea is unreasonable and thus they should be withdrawn.

A senior fella at a research institute in the US contributed an article to one of the US magazines, stressing on the condition that north Korea possesses nuclear, the GIs tens of thousands strong in south Korea could only be taken its nuclear hostage and, therefore, they must be withdrawn.

The US cannot reduce the DPRK to submission–this is the summing up of the DPRK-US confrontation continued for nearly 70 years. It must never forget the ignominious defeat it suffered in the Korean war in the 1950s. It must also keep in mind that the Pueblo incident, the EC-121 incident, the Panmunjom incident and all others it had machinated against the DPRK were concluded with either its acknowledging submissions or offering apologies. The DPRK, which inflicted serious defeat upon the US in the past with military hardware far inferior to the US, has prepared a reliable nuclear deterrent at present. This is the fact worthy of special attention for the US, too.

It is no more a possibility that a new provocation of the US on the Korean peninsula will lead to its doom. The wars it waged against Iraq and Afghanistan are explained as the main cause of the recent crises and weakening and crumbling of the US. That a new Korean war beyond comparison will trigger the complete collapse of the US is a truth that is as plain as noonday.

There is another point that the US must see. As it cannot help but reduce its war expenditure owing to a serious economic crisis, is it a wise policy for the US to keep on squandering money on the maintenance of its troops and military bases in south Korea, anachronistic and troublemaking?

The US must make a reasonable choice.

Secretary-General visits Colombo

Mr. Ahmed Saleem, Secretary-General of SAARC, paid an introductory visit to Sri Lanka from 28 to 30 May 2012.
During the visit, the Secretary-General called on Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka on 28 May. At the meeting, the Secretary-General apprised the President of the status of implementation of the recommendations of the Seventeenth SAARC Summit, with a particular reference to intra-regional trade and connectivity. The President expressed the unwavering commitment of Sri Lanka to the strengthening of the SAARC process to promote the welfare of the people in the region.

The Secretary-General called on Niomal Perera, Deputy Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka on 29 May. During the meeting, the Secretary-General briefed the Minister about the ongoing activities of the Association.

On 28 May, the Secretary-General called on Mr. Karunathilake Amunugama, Secretary/External Affairs of Sri Lanka. During the meeting, the Secretary-General and the Foreign Secretary reviewed the decisions of the Seventeenth Summit and took stock of progress made in their implementation. At the meeting, the Secretary-General and the Foreign Secretary also discussed the urgent need to strengthen the SAARC Secretariat.

While in Colombo, the Secretary-General met Mr. Sumith Nakandala, Secretary-General (designate) of BIMSTEC on 29 May. The Secretary-General briefed the latter about the role and structure of the SAARC Secretariat, among others.

The Secretary-General paid a visit to the SAARC Cultural Centre on 29 May. During the visit, Mr. G.L.W. Samarasinghe, Director informed the Secretary-General about the ongoing activities of the Centre. The Secretary-General felicitated the Director and his able team for the very useful work being done by the Centre to promote cultural links among the countries in the region.

Earlier on 28 May, the Secretary-General addressed the Inaugural Session of South Asia Follow up Regional Consultation on the UN Study on Violence Against Children hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka. In his Address, he briefly highlighted the initiatives taken by SAARC in promoting the cause of children and women in particular.

Directors Mrs. R. D. Rajapakse and Mr. Ibrahim Zuhuree accompanied the Secretary-General to these meetings in Colombo.

NPFCA President hosted Reception

Kathmandu: Mr. Himalaya S. Rana, President of Nepal-Pakistan Friendship & Cultural Association (NPFCA) Mr. Himalaya S. Rana hosted a lunch in honour of SAARC Director (Pakistan) Mr. Ahmar Ismail, Charge d'  Affaires Mr. Asif Hussain Memon and Head of Chancery Mr. Nazar Hussain of Embassy of Islamic Republic of Pakistan on 7th May 2012 at Hotel Grill Me Restaurant & Bar, Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur.

NPFCA General Secretary Mr. Manju Ratna Sakya was also present at the program.
Long live Nepal-Pakistan friendly relations.

June 15 for Reunification

The term “June 15 for Reunification” is much in vogue among the Korean people who have lived for nearly seven decades, divided into the north and the south by outsiders.

Why does the Korean nation aspiring after the national reunification in the sufferings of its division, place in parallel the words reunification and June 15?

It can be said that this term connotes a firm faith that only when the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration is thoroughly implemented can the reunification be achieved without fail.

In June 2000, the top leaders of the north and the south met in Pyongyang for the first time in history of the national division and discussed the issue of reunification.

Leader Kim Jong Il of the north ensured that the joint declaration which constituted a guiding principle and a basic spirit in realizing the country’s reunification was adopted. As a result, the historic June 15 North-South Joint Declaration was made public to achieve the co-prosperity of the nation and reunify the country independently and peacefully based on the spirit of “By our nation itself.”

The declaration evoked full support and sympathy of the entire Korean people. Thanks to it, the north and south of Korea, which are pursuing different ideas and systems and in the state of confrontation, distrust, dissention and antagonism with each other, could aspire after the reconciliation, unity and reunification of the entire nation, proceeding from the common features that they are one nation and of the same blood.

In the course of implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration, tremendous changes have taken place in the cause of the Korean nation for reunification.

Several meetings of ministerial and other levels were held between the north and the south in the fields of politics, the economy, military affairs and culture, followed by the agreements made on giving priority to desire and interests of the fellow country people.

The reunification events that had been separately held in the past were promoted to be grand festivals of national reunification participated in by the Koreans in the north, south and overseas together and held in Pyongyang, Seoul, Mt. Kumgang and other places amidst great expectation and interests of the whole nation. Consequently, the industrial park was established to achieve common prosperity of the north and south in Kaesong city along the Military Demarcation Line, the railways and roads which had been cut off for more than half a century were relinked on land, and air and sea routes were made possible. Impressive reunions of families and relatives who had been separated for over five decades were realized, and many south Koreans visited Pyongyang to see the grand mass gymnastic and artistic performance Arirang, registered in Guinness Book of Records, and toured to such scenic spots in the north as Mts. Paektu, Kumgang and Myohyang.

The athletes of the north and south jointly entered the stadiums for opening ceremonies of international competitions, including the Universiad, Asian Games and Olympic Games, proceeded by a flag bearing the map of Korea, and the cheerers from the north and the south Korean spectators enthusiastically cheered the sportspeople, demonstrating that they were the one nation with same language, bloodline and culture.

The October 4 Declaration, a practical programme of the June 15 Joint Declaration, was adopted and made public in 2007, thus opening up a brighter vista of accomplishing the cause of Korean nation for reunification.

These eye-opening changes wrought out in inter-Korean relations are the fruition of the June 15 Joint Declaration that has affirmed to realize the national reunification and the common prosperity by concerted efforts of the Korean nation. The Korean people call this amazing reality that was even beyond imagination in the past the “June 15 reunification era.”

The word June 15 for reunification also incorporates the firm conviction and will of the Korean nation to reunify the country without fail under the banner of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration.

The past four years since the Lee Myung Bak took power in south Korea proved that the June 15 Joint Declaration was the only correct road to achieving the country’s reunification. From the outset of holding the reins of power, the Lee Myung Bak clan has denied in an all-round way the June 15 Joint Declaration and October 4 Declaration. They led the situation to confrontation by interrupting the successful advance in inter-Korean cooperation, the precious fruition of the June 15 reunification era, and cooking up all sorts of tricky plots in succession.

The Cheonan incident and the artillery firing incident of Yonphyong Island in 2010 are their typical schemes. To make matters worse, they dared to slander the supreme dignity of the Korean nation that they regard more precious than their life. This let loose their anger like an erupting volcano. All ties of exchange and projects of cooperation between the north and the south were completely cut off and stopped, and the Korean peninsula is faced with crisis of a war that may break out at any time.

Affirmation of the June 15 Joint Declaration precisely means the reunification and its negation division and war—it has become the truth accepted by not only the Korean nation but the world community.

Now the entire Korean people are out for nationwide struggle to defend the June 15 Joint Declaration and bring back the age of peace, unity and prosperity. The Korean people have sentenced to death Lee Myung Bak regime, the ringleader of Korea’s division and confrontation, on behalf of the entire nation. South Korean people are also denouncing the Lee Myung Bak clan who is driving the inter-Korean relations to rapture and inviting a war. Voices for supporting the June 15 Joint Declaration and implementing it to the last are ringing out more loudly from the entire Korean people in north, south and abroad.

Despicable act of Holy Qur’an burning

Sultan M Hali

Tensions continue to run extremely high in Afghanistan after the deliberate act of desecrating the Holy Quràn by US troops. More than 30 people have been killed in clashes since it emerged that copies of the Muslim holy book and other religious materials had been thrown into a fire pit used to burn garbage at Bagram Air Field, a large US base north of Kabul . The despicable act left the Afghans stunned; in a frenzy of rage, they resorted to rioting and arson. The US quest for winning over the hearts and minds of the Afghan people suffered a major setback due to the unfortunate incident.

Perhaps there is lack of understanding of the deep sentiments of the Afghan Muslims and the reverence they hold the Holy Scriptures in. Ordinary Afghans, even if they are illiterate, keep their personal copies of the Holy Quràn wrapped in covers and store them at a high and safe place in their houses to preserve the sanctity of the Holy Book. The act of US troops callously disregarding the holiness of the Book and dumping the pages in the incinerator pit broke the hearts of the devout Afghans. The news of the desecration of the Holy Quràn spread like wildfire and the relations between the local Afghans and the US troops became tense and the violence became widespread. The incident swiftly spiraled out of control leaving dozens of people dead, including four US troops killed by their Afghan counterparts. Meanwhile, Afghan authorities launched a manhunt across the country for a driver they suspect in the killing of two US military advisers who were shot to death at an Afghan ministry. International advisers working at Afghan ministries were recalled out of fears of another attack. In Kunduz province, thousands of demonstrators started out protesting peacefully but then the group turned violent as they tried to enter the district’s largest city. People in the crowd fired on police and threw grenades at a US base on the city outskirts, while seven NATO troops were wounded and one protester was killed when troops fired out from the US base. A car bomb claimed nine lives outside Jalalabad airport.

President Obama and other US officials have apologized for the burnings, which they said were a mistake. But their apologies have failed to quell the anger of Afghans, who see the Quràn burnings as an illustration of what they perceive as foreign disrespect for their culture and religion. They are demanding not just apologies, but a local trial and the death penalty for the Koran burners. Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who has condemned the incident, renewed his calls for calm in a televised address to the nation lest the enemy exploits the situation.

To throw salt in the wound, Republican presidential candidate and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich demanded a formal apology from the Afghans for killing US soldiers. The incident has provided more fodder to the Taliban, who have proved more than a match for the US troops. They are likely to exploit the heinous incident to their advantage and further inflame the Afghan angst. In a year of Presidential election in the USA , Obama is facing a multitude of problems. A major challenge for the Obama administration was recuperation of the economic setbacks inherited from George W. Bush. Obama tried to turn around the economic meltdown by attempting to take people into confidence by bringing a new law on signing economic stimulus plan to expand state health insurance program and enhancing bank systems, but his critics focused on a different issue, taking a narrow view of Obama’s policy announcing plans for the closure of the Guantanamo prison in Cuba, incarcerating the so called Taliban and Al-Qaeda elements.

The imprisoned suspects were shifted to Kandahar and Bagram bases Jail which later on proved far worse than the Guantanamo Bay prison. Consequently Washington decided to deploy additional US troops in Afghanistan to meet the growing threat from the Taliban. The US defence planners’ assessment of the threat was inadequate in the face of guerrilla tactics and hit and run strategy of the Taliban, which took a heavy toll of the US and NATO troops. Despite the troops’ surge and much hyped Marjah and Kandahar operations, which failed to achieve the desired results, the Obama administration, which had announced a drawdown of the US troops from Afghanistan by 2014, decided to engage the Taliban in a dialogue for peace. The peace talks too have undergone numerous ups and down. The instances of Taliban imposters making away with “reconciliation money” and the cold blooded assassination of former Afghan President and head of the peace and reconciliation committee, Burhanuddin Rabbani are still fresh in the minds to make US administration wince with discomfort. Ultimately, the process has gone underway, with the US providing tacit approval to the Taliban setting up an office at Doha , Qatar and meeting with selected representatives.

The more than ten years’ US war campaign in Afghanistan, which has become the longest in American history has taken a major toll of not only US economy but also of the morale and mental health of US soldiers. Frayed nerves and psychologically battered US troops have committed unthinkable crimes in Afghanistan . The transgressions of the US Kill Teams, the urinating over Afghan dead bodies by US Marines, abusing Afghan children, the reprehensible nigh raids and indiscriminate moral turpitude of US soldiers have left a dark smear on the US image. The much publicized case of the US diplomat, who resigned in 2009, condemning the war in Afghanistan , stating that the war in Afghanistan was aimed to occupy its natural resources did not help matters. The US drone attacks continue to take a large toll of civilian life and further alienate the US . In face of domestic protests in USA , Obama is likely to expedite the drawdown of US troops. Eleven years in, if US forces are still burning Quràns in a deeply religious Muslim country, it’s way too late and they should leave posthaste.

Afghanistan: Ending the game: op-ed

by Khalid Iqbal

The writer is a retired Air Commodore and former assistant chief of air staff of the Pakistan Air Force. At present, he is a member of the visiting faculty at the PAF Air War College , Naval War College and Quaid-i-Azam University .

Now is the time for a paradigm shift in international approach towards resolving the Afghanistan issue. This is the moment for a healing touch; it is time for the occupation forces to disengage and leave Afghanistan at that. Left to itself, the country would eventually normalise after some constructive aftershocks.

The international community has wandered in the wilderness to find a viable solution for Afghanistan . Too many cooks have, indeed, spoiled the broth. Everyone had been giving their own vision and wisdom; hardly anyone cared to incorporate the Afghan perspective and sensitivities to the ever-changing recipes. The formulation of the Afghan crisis still continues, emanating from lack of consensus on policy and objective. A late January Pew Research Centre poll indicates that 56 percent of the Americans want the troops removed from Afghanistan as soon as possible, while just 38 percent believe that they should stay until the country is stabilised.

The symbolic and intangible objectives like democratisation, women empowerment, and law and order have long been forgotten. Tangible ones like the end of corruption and building up of strong security forces have gone astray. A sham electoral process has left a deep scar of betrayal. Reconfiguring of the Afghan state structures has all along been an open ended dream. The existing Constitution does not suit the traditional loose confederation style arrangement; it may last only as long as Afghanistan is under occupation.

It appears that America has abandoned its stated, good-sounding objectives and is working hard to create a ‘mission accomplished’ aura by May this year, when the Nato Summit is to convene in Chicago . However, with the collapse of Istanbul , Bonn and Doha initiatives, as well as the fast-eroding will of Nato, this objective may not be easily achievable.

Last week, President Hamid Karzai officially invited the Taliban leaders to talk directly with his government in the Afghan-led peace process; the bid was publicly supported by the Prime Minister of Pakistan as well. This indicates the two countries’ lack of trust in the US-Taliban talks.

The Defence Secretary, Leon Panetta, stated last month that the US troops in Afghanistan would start to finish combat missions in mid-2013; one year prior to earlier deadline. The French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, also announced his decision to end combat mission of French troops in Afghanistan by the end of next year; this came in response to an incident that took place in the Kapisa province on January 20, in which four French soldiers were killed by an Afghani dressed in the Afghan National Army uniform. Several other Nato members, too, have indicated that they would withdraw troops from Afghanistan ahead of previous schedule. Indeed, this shows an unprecedented eagerness to end the decade-long war. And this change of mind has not come about because of any sense of accomplishment; rather it is born out of the frustration that nothing worthwhile is achievable by prolonging the occupation.

Pakistan factor has all along been overplayed. The Pakistani military has been under pressure to “do more”; it was asked to overstretch itself and engage the targets that the Americans could not dare to do themselves. Unfortunately, a regional approach of involving adjoining neighbours for a durable solution was looked down upon in favour of accommodating the expansionist designs of distant neighbours with a vested interest in employing these irrelevant actors in proxy role. Pakistan has been portrayed in various shades, jockeying between an indispensible facilitator to a stubborn spoiler. The judgments passed on the role of Pakistan have often been subjective and harsh.

The establishment of the Afghan National Army has been another irrelevant venture that has given birth to a conglomerate of feuding armed gangs having strong ethno-sectarian allegiance, rather than national orientation and motivation. To sustain the Afghan security forces an annual cash flow of around $5 billion is required; it is not clear who would underwrite this liability. Drugs have mushroomed as an industry; consumers of its products live in distant lands and huge profits generated by it have created vested interests and powerful mafias that are difficult to deconstruct. Reverting to the non-war economy is another challenge: Afghanistan ’s gross GDP in $26 billion as compared to around $113.7 billion war expenditure. Like the drug mafia, beneficiaries of the war-related transactions are too strong to dismantle easily.

Afghanistan continues to be volatile. The recent opening of fire and gunning down of two US senior advisors inside the fortified Afghan Interior Ministry compound has not come as a surprise to Afghanistan watchers. The incident coincided with the widespread demonstrations in Afghan cities to protest the Holy Quran burning at a garbage pit at the American airbase in Bagram.

 “Shooting inside the Interior Ministry, which is responsible for ensuring law and order in the country, speaks of Taliban penetration into security entities,” said political analyst Rahman Ughlo. The man who killed the American advisors is an employee of the Interior Ministry. However, a Taliban outfit was prompt to claim responsibility for the assault. The protestors have expressed their resentments by shouting slogans and calling for punishment of those responsible for the irreverent act; this call has also been endorsed by President Karzai.
Instead of taking charge of the situation and restoring law and order, the US government reacted in an erratic way by recalling its nationals serving with the Afghan government bodies in and around the capital. That was shortly followed by Britain . For instance, the US commander of Nato/Isaf, General John R. Allen, recalled his forces from Afghan military installations and ministries. “For obvious force protection reasons, I have also taken immediate measures to recall all other Isaf personnel working in ministries in and around Kabul ,” said Allen. Certainly, this shows lack of will on the part of the occupation forces to bear responsibility for the outcome of their rash acts.

In the same vein, White House Spokesman Jay Carney said: “The violence will not mean faster troop withdrawal.” The administration’s Spokesmen were at pains to answer the core question of whether to keep fighting a war that has lost support not only in America , but also among the people it has pledged to protect. The perception that the Afghans are ungrateful for the US sacrifice and are turning on their American saviours further complicates the matter. The officials said that they believe President Karzai’s fragile government could collapse and the Taliban would regain power if the US were to walk away “No doubt, shooting inside the Interior Ministry reduces the confidence towards the security apparatus and reduces the trust of the coalition forces and international agencies towards the administration and recalling Nato advisors from the ministries is a proof to the fact,” said a Kabul-based security analyst Wahid Mujda. The attack inside the Interior Ministry just months after the attack inside the Defence Ministry is a clear indication of the penetration of militants’ influence into the government bodies, which makes it possible for them to target anyone anytime.

There is a need to go back to the drawing board and work out as to how to restore the status quo ante in Afghanistan. It is an inviolable right of the Afghans to live the way they  want to..

The international community owes the restoration of this right to the Afghans. Despite the decade-long carnage, all ethnic and sectarian groups are unanimous about the territorial integrity of Afghanistan ; surely, it must seize the opportunity and expand on this silver lining.

Chinese Ambassador Meets Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai

Kathamndu : H.E. Mr. Yang Houlan Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, met with Rt. Hon. Dr. Bhattarai, Prime Minister of Nepal On 29 May, 2012. The two sides exchanged their views on Nepal's political current situation and China-Nepal relations. Bhattarai stressed the importance of Nepal-China relations and expressed will try best to promote Nepal-China Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation.

Yang highly appreciated Bhattarai's efforts to develop China-Nepal relations. Yang also expressed his hope that all the parties of Nepal to work together, push Nepal to enter an era with political stability and fast economic and social development.

China-Pakistan strategic partnership of cooperation

Beijing : On 30 May 2012, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, during his official visit to Pakistan, met with representatives of Pakistani think tanks and gave keynote remarks on deepening the friendly and cooperative relations between China and Pakistan.

Yang said that during the visit, he has reached broad consensus with Pakistani leaders on ways to deepen friendship, expand cooperation and enhance mutual support between the two countries in this new era. Today, the China-Pakistan strategic partnership of cooperation, marked by all-weather friendship and all-round cooperation, has become an example for harmonious coexistence and friendly cooperation between countries with different social systems. Our friendship has shown such enormous vitality because the two sides have adhered to the following principles in developing our relations. First, Chinese and Pakistani leaders have always approached our relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective. Second, our two countries have abided by the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, respected each other's choice of development path suited to our respective national conditions, and rendered support to each other on issues bearing on our core interests. Third, our two countries have carried out fruitful practical cooperation. Fourth, our two countries have closely coordinated and cooperated with each other in international and regional affairs, firmly upheld the common interests of our two countries and other developing countries, and endeavored to maintain regional and international stability. No matter how the international and regional situation may evolve, China and Pakistan should remain true to these principles and be firmly committed to maintaining and carrying forward our strategic partnership of cooperation. This is conducive not only to the fundamental interests of our two peoples, but also to regional and global peace, stability and development.

Yang noted that the world has entered the second decade of the new century and both the international and regional situations are undergoing complex and profound changes. Peace, development and cooperation represent the trend of our time. The Asia-Pacific region where our two countries are located is one of the fastest growing regions in the world, yet it is also a place where tensions and conflicts of various types keep emerging. Countries in the region face both rare historical opportunities and multi-faceted challenges and risks. Under this new situation, China and Pakistan need to work closely together to seize opportunities and meet challenges. We should focus our efforts on developing the economy and improving people's well-being. For us, this is the most important and most pressing task. We must adapt ourselves to the changing environment and bear in mind the common interests of our two countries in pushing forward our cooperation in various fields. In this way, we will better meet the expectations of our people and contribute to peace, stability and development of our two countries and the entire region.

Yang said that on the political front, China and Pakistan should maintain high-level exchanges and continue to support and help each other on issues that involve each other's major interests. We should support each other's efforts in resisting foreign interference, upholding independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and fostering a sound external environment. We need to enhance contacts between political parties, parliaments and local governments and share experience in governance in order to deepen and broaden our political relations. On the economic front, China and Pakistan should fully unleash the potential of our business cooperation and make the FTA an even bigger success. China will continue to provide sincere and selfless help to Pakistan for its economic and social development. We will enhance cooperation with Pakistan in energy, infrastructure and agriculture on a priority basis, intensify exchanges and cooperation between the two sides in finance, science, technology and aerospace, and help Pakistan raise its capacity for self-development. On the security front, both China and Pakistan face the threat of terrorism, separatism and extremism. We must step up counter-terrorism and security cooperation and jointly fight the above "three forces". China maintains that Pakistan has made important contribution to the international campaign against terrorism and made tremendous sacrifice in this regard. The fight against terrorism requires the common efforts and sincere cooperation of the entire international community. In fighting terrorism, both its symptoms and root causes should be addressed in order to eliminate the breeding ground for terrorism. On the cultural front, China and Pakistan should increase people-to-people exchanges and promote full understanding between people of the two countries. In this connection, the media, think tanks and academics should play a bigger role and contribute their ideas and proposals on growing the bilateral relations and helping our people know each other better. We encourage young people of the two countries to engage more deeply with each other and play their part in carrying forward the worthy cause of China-Pakistan friendship. On the international and regional front, China and Pakistan should take advantage of our frequent exchanges at the top and other levels to have timely and in-depth discussions on strategic and hotspot issues of common concern. We should engage in effective cooperation and coordination at the United Nations and other international and regional organizations to uphold our common interests.

Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman of Pakistan-China Institute and Secretary-General of PML(Q), Ehsan ul Haq, former Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Riaz Khokhar, former Foreign Secretary and Ashraf Azim, President of the Institute of Regional Studies, among others, participated in the meeting and shared their views and proposals on further developing the China-Pakistan relationship.

Women enjoy 'best sex' at age 28

A new survery has found that women have the best sex of the lives when they are aged 28, but men don't reach their peak until they are 33. The study also found that women have the most sex at 25 and lose their virginity at aged 17.

Men, who on averge lose their Virginity at 18 are most active when they are 29, the Sun reported.

Asked when they had their best sex, 40 percent of 1,281 people aged 26 polled said now. And those in their 50s and 60s said they their best sex aged 46. The results contradict research which says men reach their sexual peak at 18 and women at 30.

It found the average age of virginity loss was 17 for those in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s but those in their 60s waited until they were 18.

Thai PM: All sides should turn for talks

Bangkok : All concerned parties should turn for talks and any disagreement expression should be made in line with the law, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said. On the weekly programme on NBT, Yingluck government meets the people, Ms Yingluck called all political groups to forgive each other in order to end political conflicts and move the country forward. If the political rivals fail to forgive each other, the country would not be able to step forward. Once political certainty takes place, the economy would further expand accordingly, she added.

Asked about a criticism that the reconciliation bill was for whitewashing her elder brother, fugitive former prime minister Thaksin, Ms Yingluck said that it was the discussion about the end of the destination which is too soon for the moment. National reconciliation should be discussed through parliamentary mechanism. The differences should be tuned up to finalise on which points of the reconciliation bill should be altered, she said. The prime minister said nobody would try to do anything unaccepted to the Thai society.

Bangladeshi conquered Mt. Everest

Kathmandu : The first ever Bangladeshi female conquered of the summit of Mount Everest. Ms. Nishath Majumder and Mr. MA Muhith arrived Kathmandu from Lukla. They were received by the Bangladesh Embassy officials at the airport. From airport they were taken to the official residence of the Ambassador of Bangladesh in Nepal where they were received by the Ambassador and veteran freedom fighter and eminent personality Mr. Nasir Uddin Yousuf Bachchu.

Meanwhile, the second Bangladeshi Everest winner female Ms. Wasfia Naznin return to Kathmandu on Saturday, 02 June 2012.

On Monday, 04 'June 2012 at I2:00 clock Bangladesh Embassy had arranged a civic reception and a Press Conference for all the three Bangladeshi conquerors.

According to M. Forhadul Islam Minister & DCM of Embassy of Bangdesh, Nishth and Muhith reached the pick on 19 May at 0930 am and Wasfia at 0615 am on 26 May 2012.