ANI & CNN – 2008-09-21 22:59:05
http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/18006
Senior CIA Officers Were Target of Islamabad Blast
ANI
ISLAMABAD (September 20, 2008) — Several senior officers of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) who are reported to be currently visiting Islamabad were the target of the blast at the Marriott Hotel which took place here tonight.
Well placed sources said that Marriott Hotel is usual hotel choice of the US officials and it seems that militants were tipped off that certain high level US intelligence officers were currently staying at the hotel.
While no confirmation was available Pakistan sources said it was clear that the explosion was aimed at specific targets based on a tip off.
At least twenty people were killed, and scores others seriously injured, when an explosives laden truck rammed into Marriott Hotel here today.
Over 50 people have been admitted in the local hospitals.
The powerful explosion caused fire in many parts of the hotel besides damaging the buildings around the hotel. (ANI)
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/09/20/pakistan.sovereignty/index.html
Pakistani President Tells Foreign Troops to Keep Out
CNN
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (September 20, 2008) — Pakistan will not allow foreign powers to violate the country’s sovereignty to pursue terrorists, the country’s new president, Asif Ali Zardari, said Saturday.
“We will not tolerate the violation of our sovereignty and territorial integrity by any power in the name of combating terrorism,” he said in his first speech to Parliament since taking the presidential oath this month.
The president’s comments echo those of Gen. Parvez Kayani, Pakistan’s military chief, who said recently that the country would not allow foreign forces to conduct operations inside Pakistan.
Those comments came after the United States launched a military ground operation in South Waziristan, a region near the Afghan border that is home to Islamic extremists.
The United States maintains that Taliban and al Qaeda forces operate with relative impunity in tribal areas along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan. It says extremists use those areas as a staging ground to attack U.S. forces and their allies inside Afghanistan.
The U.S. military sent ground forces into South Waziristan this month without Islamabad’s permission. Several months ago, President Bush authorized U.S. special forces to carry out ground assaults inside Pakistan without seeking Islamabad’s permission, according to media reports.
In addition, missiles fired from unmanned aircraft have targeted members of al Qaeda and suspected Taliban militants inside Pakistan several times this year. The United States is the only nation with forces in the region that is known to be able to launch missiles from the small, quiet and deadly drones.
After news of the U.S. military operation in South Waziristan, Kayani said Pakistan’s “territorial integrity … will be defended at all cost and no external force is allowed to conduct operations … inside Pakistan.”
On Wednesday, the top U.S. military officer, Adm. Michael Mullen, visited Pakistan to confer with senior leaders.
During his brief visit, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff met with Kayani and Pakistan’s newly elected prime minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani.
The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan described the talks as “extremely frank, positive and constructive.”
Mullen reiterated U.S. commitment to respect Pakistan’s sovereignty and to develop further U.S.-Pakistani cooperation and coordination, the embassy said in a statement.
Zardari will meet with Bush next week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the White House announced Thursday.
“The two leaders will discuss efforts to strengthen the bilateral relationship and build a long-term partnership based on common values,” said Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino.
Missile Attack Reported in Pakistan
CNN
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) — A missile attack Wednesday night on the Pakistani village of Dahgerat near the Afghan border killed seven residents and wounded three, a local intelligence official and eyewitnesses told CNN.
Four missiles were fired from unmanned drones into the South Waziristan region of Pakistan, the witnesses said.
The United States maintains that Taliban and al Qaeda forces operate with relative impunity in tribal areas along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan and use those areas as a staging ground to attack U.S. forces and their allies inside Afghanistan.
The U.S. is the only country operating in the region known to have the capability to launch missiles from the small, quiet and deadly drones, which are operated remotely.
The attack came just hours after the United States’ top military officer, Adm. Michael Mullen, concluded talks with top Pakistani officials amid tensions between the two countries over the battle against terrorism.
Three houses were destroyed in the attacks, said eyewitness Mohammed Gulab Mahsud. Two drones flew over the homes for 40 minutes before unleashing two missiles each, Mahsud told CNN.
The people in the homes were renting it and were believed to be foreigners — Arabs and Uzbeks, Mahsud said.
During Mullen’s brief visit, he met with Pakistan’s newly elected prime minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani, and Pakistan’s military chief, Gen. Parvez Kayani.
The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan described the talks as “extremely frank, positive and constructive.”
Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reiterated the U.S. commitment to respect Pakistan’s sovereignty and to develop further U.S.-Pakistani cooperation and coordination, the embassy said in a news release.
Relations between the United States and Pakistan have been tense lately.
The U.S. military sent ground forces into Pakistan’s tribal regions earlier this month without consulting Islamabad.
There also have been media reports that several months ago, President Bush authorized U.S. special forces to carry out ground assaults inside Pakistani territory without first seeking permission.
The Pakistani government responded harshly to the incursion, and last week Kayani announced that no foreign forces will be allowed to conduct operations inside Pakistan in light of the “reckless” U.S. military ground operation.
Kayani said Pakistan’s “territorial integrity … will be defended at all cost and no external force is allowed to conduct operations … inside Pakistan.”
There was no immediate response from Pakistani officials to Wednesday’s missile attacks.
Three houses were destroyed in the attacks, said eyewitness Mohammed Gulab Mahsud. Two drones flew over the homes for 40 minutes before unleashing two missiles each, Mahsud told CNN.
The people in the homes were renting it and were believed to be foreigners — Arabs and Uzbeks, Mahsud said.
This was Mullen’s fifth visit to Pakistan since becoming chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs in October, but it was his first visit with Gilani, the new Pakistani prime minister.
Kayani replaced former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf as military chief last year.
Musharraf, who swept into power in 1999 in a bloodless coup, resigned as president last month ahead of a possible impeachment.
He had been a key ally of the West in the fight on terror, receiving billions in military aid from the United States and launching attacks on militant groups near the country’s border with Afghanistan.
Mullen’s visit came after he stopped in Iraq to take part in Tuesday’s handover of control of U.S. forces from Gen. David Petraeus to Gen. Ray Odierno.
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