Source: Telegraph
Just when it was looking as if the situation in Pakistan could not get any worse, along comes the global credit crisis. As if the newly appointed administration of President Ali Zardari didn’t have enough on its plate already trying to establish its political authority while waging war against a determined Islamist insurgency. But […]

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Source: Telegraph
Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves are so low that the country can only afford one month of imports and faces possible bankruptcy.
Officially, the central bank holds $8.14 billion (£4.65 billion) of foreign currency, but if forward liabilities are included, the real reserves may be only $3 billion - enough to buy about 30 days […]

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Source: Economic Times
ISLAMABAD: The United States has asked Pakistan to undertake joint military patrols of its border with Afghanistan along with NATO forces and Afghan troops to end cross-border raids and fight against Taliban militants.
The US also sought the participation of Pakistan in a major winter offensive against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants.
At a recent […]

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Source: Newsweek
In the battle against militants, President Zardari is increasingly isolated and besieged.
The security guard on the CCTV screen cut a lone, heroic figure. It was Sept. 20, and the guard stood at the barricaded entrance of Islamabad’s Marriott Hotel trying to douse the explosives-laden truck while others around him ran for cover. Seconds later, […]

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Source: DAWN
LONDON, Sept 30: The Financial Times in its editorial on Tuesday has asked the US to treat Pakistan with the respect due an ally, help it rebuild its institutions, restore economic growth and extend the rule of law.
On the other hand the newspaper advised Asif Zardari to try to regain control of all Pakistan’s […]

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Source: Economic Times
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari may be keen on improving ties with India, but New Delhi is not sure whether he can deliver on his anti-terror pledge.
The joint statement at the end of talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Zardari in New York Wednesday re-committed Pakistan to honour its Jan 6, 2004 […]

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Source: Daily Times
A permanent forum known as Friends of Pakistan was launched in New York on Friday with the mission to help Pakistan out of its economic crisis. It has been estimated that Pakistan would need around $15 billion to prevent its economy from collapsing. The Forum’s first substantive session, hopefully meaning actual execution of […]

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Source: Daily Times
The generation entering professional life towards the mid and late 1990s was uni-focal on Islam and conversant only with Islamic discourse on politics, society and global affairs. They had a natural affinity with Islamic radical elements like the Taliban
The September 20 suicide attack in Islamabad was the deadliest so far by Islamic militants […]

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Source: Daily Times
NEW YORK: Significant progress had been made on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline and the foreign ministers of the two countries will meet in early October to flesh things out, Information Minister Sherry Rehman told a press conference on Tuesday.
She said Iran and Pakistan would set up a joint company with Iran providing the […]

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Source: Los Angeles Times
If the country doesn’t crack down harder on Islamic radicals, analysts suggest, Pakistan could crumble into chaos.
By Henry Chu, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — More than any other terrorist attack in this volatile country, the devastating truck bombing of the Marriott Hotel over the weekend has presented government and military […]

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Source: Bloomberg
Sept. 22 (Bloomberg) — India and Pakistan reached preliminary agreement on trade across the border in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, witness to recent unrest on India’s side over a land transfer to a Hindu group and alleged cease-fire violations by Pakistan.
“The modalities of cross-LoC trade were finalized,” India’s Foreign Ministry said in […]

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Source: Daily Times
* Zardari, Karzai already looking beyond Bush, will meet with Sarah Palin at UN assembly
WASHINGTON: US President George W Bush is expected to meet President Asif Ali Zardari on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Besides his meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Bush’s only official sit-down is with Zardari. Topping […]

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Source: The Frontier Post
The inauguration earlier this week of Asif Ali Zardari as Pakistan’s president offers the possibility – but hardly the certainty – of a new beginning for Pakistan, and a new era in US-Pakistan relations. Zardari’s election gives Pakistanis an opportunity to move beyond the passions and antipathies of the Pervez Musharraf years. […]

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Source: Guardian
Asif Ali Zardari will discuss his radical new vision in Downing Street today, knowing Washington can derail everything
After claiming to have spent nine years nurturing democracy in Pakistan and festooning the country’s military dictatorship with $11bn in aid, the Bush administration’s policy is careering out of control, as US soldiers trade bullets with the […]

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Source: Sydney Morning Herald
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says he plans to go to Pakistan next year to discuss with its government the “hot-bed” of international terrorism on that country’s border with Afghanistan.
He said rather than just being a bilateral issue between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the border activity had regional and international community implications.
“It also has […]

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Source: Reuters
Last week, after U.S. forces were reported to have launched their first ground assault in Pakistan, the website Registan.net asked the obvious question: “Did We Just Invade Pakistan?” Nearly a week and several missile attacks by U.S. drones later, I am still pondering the same question.
We have just witnessed what may have been the […]

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Source: Guardian
Benazir Bhutto’s widower takes power with terrorism, power shortages and economic strife gripping the country
The husband of Pakistan’s assassinated former leader Benazir Bhutto was sworn in as the country’s new president today.
Asif Ali Zardari took office following a brief ceremony at the presidential palace recently vacated by Pervez Musharraf, who resigned under growing pressure […]

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Source: China View
ISLAMABAD, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) — Pakistan’s President-elect Asif Ali Zardari Monday moved into the President House along with his two daughters, according to official Associated Press of Pakistan.
Zardari won the presidential election on Saturday and will take oath of his office on Tuesday.
Zardari was greeted at the President House by the staff. He […]

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Source: BBC News
Pakistan needs a “substantial” injection of external funds if it is to improve its worsening economic situation, an IMF official has said.
Mohsin Khan said Pakistan had not yet requested help from the IMF, which some economists have called for, to address a growing balance of payment crisis.
A falling rupee, soaring inflation and […]

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Source: Economic Times
 ISLAMABAD: In a bid to woo estranged ally PML-N, Pakistan People’s Party chief Asif Ali Zardari favoured a “national consensus” government to solve the problems of the country even as he strengthened his chances for the presidency by winning the backing of a majority of Baloch lawmakers.
PML-N chief and former premier Nawaz Sharif, […]

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Source: The Terror Wonk
This short analysis from the invaluable Middle East Media Research Institute is well worth a read. It discusses the controversy Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader, Asif Zardari set off when, while delivering the keynote address at the 23rd Internationalist Socialist Congress, he described madrassas as propagating Islamist extremism.
Unsurprisingly, Pakistan’s religious leaders condemned […]

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Source: Teeth Maestro
Tables have turned for the better for Asif Zardari since the assassination of his wife Benazir Bhutto on 27th December, he is been literally handed the leadership of the most popular party on a silver platter, he then spins it all to his advantage and consequently his party wins the elections to make […]

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1999 - When Musharraf came in power, everybody thought Pakistan is going to get it right this time around, we are going to get rid of corrupt politicians, our institutions will be stronger, we will progress as a nation and Musharraf would prove that his intent of coup was right … people were jubilant …. […]

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The directionless PPP government seems to be dropping in darkness. The 100 days treated as a litmus test for a nascent government to prove its willingness and capacity to perform have been wasted. The regime seems to be treading the same path of preserving the status quo. The president is as dummy as was Shaukat […]

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ISLAMABAD: The Establishment Division on Monday issued an ambiguous notification explaining the package and remunerations of the newly-appointed chairman-cum-managing director of the state-owned Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV).
The letter of the Establishment Division bearing No 1/64/2008-E-6, dated June 30, 2008, says that besides the fixed remuneration of the new chairman PTV, any other “financial benefits” are […]

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