Religious Freedom « Pakistanis for Peace

Service Notice: Afghanistan and Pakistan Conflict Monitors Cease Publication July 4, 2011
Service Notice June 30, 2011
Please be advised that our offices will be closed on Friday, July 1st, 2011 in observance of Canada Day. We will resume publishing the Pakistan Conflict Monitor on Monday, July 4th.
Pakistani Troops Kill 40 Militants near Afghan Border June 30, 2011
Pakistani troops backed by jets and helicopter gunships have killed 40 militants in a restive tribal area bordering Afghanistan in the past three days, a military commander said Thursday.Brigadier Aftab Ahmad told AFP by telephone that his forces had destroyed 17 militant hideouts in the Baizai region under his command in the lawless tribal area of Mohmand. […]
"Pakistani Cooperation Remains Essential" in New US Counterterrorism Strategy June 30, 2011
President Obama’s counterterrorism strategy is narrowly focused on al-Qaeda and its ability to strike the U.S. homeland and is “not designed to combat directly every single terrorist organization in every corner of the world,” White House counterterrorism chief John O. Brennan said Wednesday. Acknowledging that the president’s goals […]
Key Scientist Discusses Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons Program: Interview June 29, 2011
He built Pakistan's nuclear bomb and is accused of having sold his knowledge to Libya and Iran. Since 2004, Abdul Qadeer Khan has been under a state of house arrest. In an e-mail interview, he now explains why he accepted sole blame for the accusations at the time and points a finger at the Pakistani army. Spiegel Online: Recent attacks on a naval base […]
NGO Finds Balochistan Human Rights Abuses Worsening June 29, 2011
Human rights violations in Pakistan’s southwest province of Balochistan are getting worse as militants and security forces target civilians, while authorities seem unwilling to rein in lawlessness, according to a report released on Wednesday. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), an independent non-governmental organisation, said in its repor […]
Recent Developments in Military and Security Inquiries June 29, 2011
A tribunal headed by Justice Mohammad Hashim Kakar of the Balochistan High Court submitted on Tuesday its report on the Kharotabad incident of May 17 in which five foreigners, three of them women, were killed by security personnel, but the provincial government has decided not to make it public. According to sources, the government observed after going throu […]
Militants "Use Children to Fight, Carry Out Suicide Attacks" June 28, 2011
A report released by the US State Department suggests that militants in Pakistan use children to fight or carry out suicide attacks. In a statement delivered with the Trafficking in Persons report, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said: “Every year, we come together to release this report, to take stock of our progress, to make suggestions, and to […]
Drone Warfare, Costs and Challenges: Analysis June 28, 2011
The announcement by President Obama on 22 June 2011 of substantial withdrawals of United States troops from Afghanistan by September 2012 marks an important moment in the almost decade-long war in the country. The impact of the decision will be felt on the current diplomatic calculations over the nature of a settlement that will bring the war to an end. It m […]
Addressing Pakistan's Sovereignty Deficit: Report June 28, 2011
The Pakistan government’s inability to provide for the security and prosperity of its own people has led to questions about its sovereignty, whether in terms of its monopoly of violence, fiscal solvency, or human security. But rather than asking questions of the Pakistani government, Pakistanis are content with blaming Washington for the country’ […]
Police Stations Understaffed in Punjab, KP and Sindh: Report June 28, 2011
The police stations in Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) were understaffed to a varying degree, the police stations in Balochistan and Islamabad capital territory were heavily overstaffed, according to Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN’s) police station monitor. This report is based on information collected by FAFEN monitors who visited 90 […]
Pakistan, India Decide to Open New Trade Post After Talks June 28, 2011
Pakistan and India on Monday decided to open up another trade point at the Wagah border, to boost trade ties between the two neighbouring countries. The decision was taken at a meeting held at Wagah border between officials of Pakistan and India. The new point will help facilitate trade and the passage of freedom busses, officials told The Express Tribune. T […]
TTP Commander Leaves Group amid Disapproval of Civilian Killings June 27, 2011
A Pakistani Taliban warlord who claims to control hundreds of foot soldiers said Monday he had broken with the militia and would form his own anti-American group along the Afghan border. Fazal Saeed described himself as the leader of Pakistan’s umbrella Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) faction in the tribal district of Kurram, but said he had run out of patienc […]
Pakistan's Border Regions Vulnerable amid Planned US Withdrawal June 27, 2011
Fighting across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border will overshadow talks when the two countries meet along with the United States on Tuesday to map out plans for reconciliation with the Taliban. Pakistan on Monday rejected Afghan allegations it had fired 470 rockets into Afghanistan over the past three weeks, saying only that "a few accidental rounds" […]
Pakistan Expels British Military Trainers June 27, 2011

BBC South Asia News Feed

China 'arrests high-level US spy' June 1, 2012
A Chinese security ministry official has been arrested on suspicion of spying for the United States, Hong Kong media reports say.
Suu Kyi warns on Burma 'optimism' June 1, 2012
Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi warns against ''reckless optimism'' over reforms in her first major foreign speech in more than 20 years.
Bali arrest Briton in hospital June 1, 2012
A British woman being held in Bali over a £1.6m cocaine haul is taken to hospital after complaining of illness.
Bomber attacks Afghan Nato base June 1, 2012
A suicide bomber attacks a base of the Nato-led peacekeeping force (Isaf) in eastern Afghanistan.
Sheep plunge on to Melbourne road June 1, 2012
Sheep "rain down" on motorists in the Australian city of Melbourne after a livestock lorry overturns on a flyover.
Kazakh killings 'act of terror' June 1, 2012
The president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, says he believes an "act of terror" was behind the deaths of 15 people near the border with China.
Protesters block Thai parliament June 1, 2012
Thai protesters block parliament to postpone debate on a reconciliation bill they fear would allow deposed Prime Minister Thaksin's return.
Google help against China censors June 1, 2012
Google offers search users in China suggestions on which words run foul of the country's strict censors, hoping to let them find alternatives.
Chen hopeful on Chinese democracy May 31, 2012
Activist Chen Guangcheng, in his first major US public appearance, says democratic change in China is slow but irreversible.
Samoa issues anniversary pardons June 1, 2012
The Pacific island nation of Samoa is to pardon 35 prisoners to mark the 50th anniversary of its independence from New Zealand.
Indian private army chief killed June 1, 2012
The head of a banned upper caste private army is killed by unknown gunmen in the northern Indian state of Bihar, police say.
VIDEO: Ai Weiwei's hopes to visit London June 1, 2012
Ai Weiwei's hopes to visit London to see 2012 pavilion
AUDIO: Being on death row in a Bali jail June 1, 2012
The lawyer for the Australian 'Bali Nine' told BBC Radio 5 live about their time in jail facing the death penalty.