Terror hits lahore.

ahmedsid

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Pakistan declares: 'We are at war'

Pakistan declares: 'We are at war'
Pakistan in shock after masked gunmen ambush Sri Lankan cricket team, leaving seven people dead and six players injured

By Kim Sengupta and Omar Waraich in Lahore


Pakistan declared that it was in a "state of war" after masked gunmen ambushed the Sri Lankan cricket team as they were on their way to play a Test match, injuring six players and their English assistant coach as well as killing seven Pakistanis.

The spectacular military-style raid in Lahore bore marked similarities to the assault in Mumbai last year, which left 172 people dead. Pakistani officials suggested the Islamist group, Lashkar-e-Taiba, responsible for the carnage in the Indian city, also carried out the attack in Lahore.

What happened yesterday is certain to stop sports teams from abroad visiting Pakistan for the foreseeable future and deals a grave blow to the country's plans to host the World Cup in 2011. It also highlights how security is disintegrating, with the civilian government seemingly unable to cope with the tide of violence unleashed by militants.

About a dozen armed men mounted the attack as the Sri Lankan team was being driven in a convoy to the Gaddafi Stadium, shooting out the tyres of buses before opening fire with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades.

Six policemen and the driver of a bus carrying the match umpires were killed during a firefight lasting more than 15 minutes. Players and match officials, some of them bleeding from bullet and shrapnel wounds, huddled on the floor of their vehicles.

The Sri Lankan all-rounder Thilan Samaraweera suffered the worst injury after being hit on the thigh with grenade fragments. Among the others injured was Paul Farbrace, a former Kent cricketer who was assistant coach to the Test team. He said: "There was a lot of shouting and people hitting the floor and when I got to the floor I realised that the blood I could see was coming from me." A former England player acting as an official, Chris Broad, helped protect an injured umpire, Ahsan Raza.

Pakistan's President, Asif Ali Zardari, said he "strongly condemned" the attack and pledged that those responsible would be caught. Rehman Malik, the Interior Minister, said the country was in a "state of war... Be patient, we will flush all these terrorists out of the country".

Salmaan Taseer, the Punjab province's Governor, said: "It was the same terrorists who attacked Mumbai. It was the same pattern, the kind of weaponry they had, the way they attacked, they were obviously trained." He added that the gunmen had been chased into a nearby shopping area after the attack where police had lost track of them. The province's police chief, Khawaja Farooq, said "some" arrests had been made but refused to say whether they included any of those who had taken part in the attack.

The police displayed 10 AK-47 rifles, two grenade launchers, 32 hand grenades and plastic explosives.

Imran Khan, the Pakistani politician and former captain of the country's cricket team, said the Sri Lankan team had been given inadequate protection. "This was one of the worst security failures in Pakistan," he said.

The International Cricket Council cast doubts over Pakistan's ability to continue to host high-level games. "It's difficult to see international cricket being played in Pakistan for the foreseeable future," said its chief executive, Haroon Lorgat.
 

ahmedsid

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Murali blasts Pak security arrangement, suspects insiders

Melbourne: Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan today hit-out at the security arrangements in Pakistan in the wake of the deadly terror attack on his team bus in Lahore and suspected militants had inside information about their movement.

"Somehow in this incident there were no police with guns on the bus," the 36-year-old off-spinner said.

"If someone was there with a gun we would have had a chance of defending ourselves," said the world's highest wicket-taker in both Tests and one-dayers.

"Normally all the buses go and we have four or five escorts," said the spin legend revealing his anguish that there could have been inside information about the Sri Lankan team bus' route to the Gaddafi stadium.

Also read:
Chris Broad says Pakistan security forces failed players
Australian umpires angry at security lapses

"We left at 8.30am, and Younis Khan (with the Pakistan team) at 8.35am. We divided into two, maybe they knew the information for the right time. They tried to shoot the driver. Then they were shooting both sides of the bus and they counted 39 holes," he told 'Radio 5AA' in an interview.

The off-spinner said he thought Tharanga Paranavitana, who along with Thilan Samaraweera was one of the more seriously wounded players, would die from his injuries.

Paranavitana had a bullet lodged in his chest while Samaraweera had a shrapnel in his right leg. "There were gun shots going on and the bullets were passing us. I saw Paranavitana was bleeding in the chest. I thought he was gone, actually. Thilan Samaraweera was bleeding, Kumar Sangakkara was bleeding from the shoulder. There was blood everywhere. It was frightening," he said.

Both Paranavitana and Samaraweera were operated upon after they reached colombo yesterday and were known to be recovering.


http://sports.in.msn.com/cricket/stories/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1909420
 

thakur_ritesh

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LAHORE: Pakistan on Thursday said it suspected al-Qaeda to be behind the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team and said the perpetrators have been identified while ruling out the involvement of India or LTTE in the terror strike.

Investigators have not found any evidence of India's involvement in the attack, Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik told reporters at the National Assembly in Islamabad. He also rejected speculation in media about possible involvement of rebel Tamil Tigers in the island nation.

The possibility of al Qaeda's involvement in Tuesday's attack could not be ruled out, he said, adding the preliminary report of the investigation will be ready by tomorrow.

to tell the truth there is a sigh of relief at my end partly because my country's name is not being talked about in the rumor mills any more, and also because if the pak authorities do point a finger at the alqaeda, then that reinforces the optimism that pakistan has woken up to the fact that alqaeda is no angel, its like a snake which will bite back, and they can never be seen as assets.


if this is true though i still have my doubts for some hawks wouldn't let go by any such opportunity without trying to tarnish india's image, still if indeed this is true then i would like to see a change in the mindset of the educated pakistani who still finds himself engulfed trying to differentiate between the good taliban, and bad talliban. as a matter of fact what is good taliban, werent they all good to being with, and all very loyal to pakistan, so what happened in the mid way. the bad ones as per our pakistani friends were used as assets by vested interests, even if i were to believe that for a moment would that not mean that the so called good ones could also be made assets against the state of pakistan in the near and far off future, which has a grave danger to the very existence of pakistan. if they continue with the concept of good and bad and not see them as long term threats then they are treading a line where at one side there is a “kua” and on the other “khai”, as the saying in english goes between the devil and the deep blue sea.


i hope with this they have woken up to the fact the state policy of terrorism can not be flirted with any more but then having the confidence in zardai that i have, the main power centers of pakistan let me down in my belief, isi has too much to lose when they allow any such thing to let go by so the psy ops against a certain section of pak authorities who dont want to be seen as supporting terrorism in other's territories continues in pakistan. it is time the real “evil” the isi is tamed, and they have to be seen right in the eyes face to face, and something the civilised world led by the US has to support, and please for GOD's sake dont talk about another coup in pakistan, because if it happens now then it seems never will democracy get a golden opportunity like this one to rise no matter how weak it might seem now but things could change for good if democracy is allowed to function. political institutions in pakistan have to be made strong and if that happens i have the confidence that in the long run that will only be of help to india. we have to sit with the US and work on a democratic setup in pakistan, for that country has always seen short term benefits and has made blunders in its foreign policy, and now with obama in who does look a little sensible, it is time that long term was grilled in the policy makers in the US.



the two points get very important to talk about at this point in time for both are related with the current state of affairs in pakistan and both will have a bearing on what direction the said country takes in future, and that will have direct impact on our country, as also there is a slight sense of optimism when i write all this.
 

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http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25144579-25837,00.html


Islamists wage war against cricket, 'the other religion'
Amanda Hodge, South Asia correspondent | March 06, 2009

CRICKET is akin to a religion in Pakistan, which might explain why it is so loathed by Islamic extremists there.

While few believe Tuesday's terror strike on the Sri Lankan team was designed as a specific attack on the sport of cricket, the ambush has highlighted one of the more peculiar preoccupations of Islamic extremists.

Following the Indian cricket tour of Pakistan in 2004 -- the first in a decade -- the Lashkar-e-Toiba terror group in Pakistan issued what amounted to a fatwa against the sport.

"The British gave Muslims the bat, snatched the sword and said to them: 'You take this bat and play cricket. Give us your sword. With its help we will kill you and rape your women'," the LET magazine Zarb-e-Toiba said in its April 2004 edition.

The magazine article commented: "It is sad that Pakistanis are committing suicide after losing cricket matches to India. But they are not sacrificing their lives to protect the honour of the raped Kashmiri women. To watch a cricket match we would take a day off work. But for jihad, we have not time!"

More fitting for a mujahid (or holy fighter), the magazine said, were the sports of archery, horseriding and swimming.

"The above are not just sports but exercises for jihad," Zarb-e-Toiba told its readers.

"Cricket is an evil and sinful sport. Under the intoxication of cricket, Pakistanis have forgotten that these Hindu players come from the same nation that raped our mothers, sisters, daughters, wives and daughters-in-law."

The Punjab-based LET is a prime suspect for the Lahore attack, with analysts suggesting it could be motivated by a desire to retaliate for the recent arrests of six top operatives linked to November's Mumbai terror strike.

The other major suspect for the ambush, the Tehrik-e-Taliban -- which has waged a bloody campaign for control of the northwestern tribal areas and Swat Valley -- has also made clear its distaste for flannelled fools.

Just days before Tuesday's attack, Sufi Mohammad, the Taliban-linked cleric who brokered the dubious peace deal between militants in the Swat Valley and the Islamabad Government in return for the imposition of sharia law, condemned cricket as a distraction that needed to be curbed.

But cricket is not universally condemned among Islamists. During its years in power, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan applied -- unsuccessfully -- for membership of the International Cricket Council. The sport was played in Afghanistan during that time, although with a distinct Talibani flavour. Players were forbidden from wearing short-sleeved shirts, and crowd participation of any sort was banned, as were women spectators.

Several of Pakistan's national cricket team are devout Muslims.

But there is a growing movement against the sport among Pakistan's increasingly powerful Islamist militants now waging war within Pakistan for the overthrow of the civilian Government.

The Hindu newspaper noted yesterday that the weekly radical Islamist magazine al-Qalam last year attacked Pakistan's plans to reform its religious schools, or madrassas, which included plans for an inter-schools cricket tournament it branded as "evil".

"We, the ulema (arbiters of sharia law) of the Deoband school, will have nothing to do with this tournament," al-Qalam's editors wrote in April last year, saying the West was "promoting obscenity" in Pakistan's schools.
 

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Lahore Liberty ambush: Defunct outfit involvement revealed

Updated at: 0915 PST, Friday, March 06, 2009


ISLAMABAD: A defunct religious outfit ambushed the Sri Lankan cricket team and the assailants had come from the tribal areas.

Sources said that the law enforcing agencies have dug out evidences against the attackers, which revealed that the terrorists having links with Afghanistan give rise to this conclusion that Al Qaeda was also indirectly involved in the Liberty tragedy.

Sources said that the two vehicles near the Big City Plaza, which were used for Sri lankan team’s ambush had come there early in the morning and no one checked them. Sources said that the terrorists, who has stayed in the Youth Hostel, took part in the action, while the other accomplices had stayed at Kot Lakhpat and Township Area. Secret agencies have found out from the record obtained from cellular phone that the terrorist’ four associates were present around Qaddafi Stadium, who in touch among themselves through mobile phones---one of them stationed near Punjab University new campus, other at Lahore Canal near Qaddafi Stadium, the third one at nearby Boulevard, while the fourth in the Firdaus market area.

Sources claimed that the terrorists kept using the station code for Sri Lankan team van and as soon as the van reached Liberty Chowk, the terrorists told each other that the ‘station’ was about to arrive. According to information, among the 14 terrorists a few belonged to Lahore, while others came from the tribal areas armed with explosives RDX highly inflammable.

Sources said that a breakthrough has been achieved as plausible evidences have been obtained and some crucial arrests could be made in the next one/two days.


http://thenews.jang.com.pk/updates.asp?id=70601
 

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Three Sri Lankan cricketers still in hospital: doctor

Updated at: 1215 PST, Friday, March 06, 2009


COLOMBO: Three Sri Lankan cricketers were under observation in hospital Friday after they underwent surgery following the gun and grenade attack in Pakistan, a doctor said. Tharanga Paranavitana, who had a bullet removed from his chest, is expected to be discharged later Friday, Geethanjana Mendis, director general of the Sports Ministry medical unit, told.

The left-handed batsman should be able to resume light training within about six weeks, Mendis said. Thilan Samaraweera, who scored successive Test double centuries in Pakistan, was the worst affected. He underwent a near three-hour operation Wednesday to remove a bullet from his left thigh muscle. Samaraweera will remain hospitalised for the rest of the week and is only expected to resume physical training in two months.

Mendis, who travelled to Pakistan to assess the wounded before their return said spin bowler Ajantha Mendis also remains hospitalised, after two operations on Wednesday to remove shrapnel from his head and lower back. "He is out of danger but he should be out of action for about six weeks," the doctor said. Vice captain and wicket keeper Kumar Sangakkara was discharged on Thursday after doctors removed shrapnel from his shoulder. Assistant coach Paul Farbrace is expected to remain in hospital for two to three days after having a large piece of shrapnel removed from his right arm. Mahela Jayawardene, who was playing his last Tests as Sri Lanka's captain, was treated for a minor leg injury, while players Thilan Thushara and Sampath Lakmal also underwent hospital treatment.

Security remained tight outside the privately-run Nawaloka hospital where the players were being treated. Uniformed police as well as plain-clothed officers were placed outside their hospital rooms. Six policemen and two civilians were killed in Tuesday's ambush in the Pakistani city of Lahore.


http://thenews.jang.com.pk/updates.asp?id=70617
 

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Lanka rubbishes India link in attack on cricket team

6 Mar 2009, 1650 hrs IST


Sri Lanka has rubbished Pakistan’s allegations that India could be involved in the attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore on March 3.

On Thursday, Indian involvement in the terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team cannot be ruled out, Lahore Commissioner Khushro Pervaiz was quoted as saying Tuesday.

India was trying to weaken Pakistan, Gen (retired) Hameed Gul, a former chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had said.

He told Geo News that India wanted to declare Pakistan a terrorist state and the firing on the Sri Lankan team was related to that conspiracy.

Six escorting security personnel were killed and six Sri Lankan cricketers as well as the assistant coach were injured when the team cavalcade was targeted by heavily armed gunmen close to the Gaddafi Stadium while they were going to play the third day of the second Test against Pakistan.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ttack-on-cricket-team/articleshow/4234721.cms
 

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Lashkar denies role in attack on Lanka team in Pak

6 Mar 2009, 1958 hrs IST, AFP


SRINAGAR: Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba rejected media reports in Pakistan that it was involved in an attack on Sri Lanka's cricket squad.

"These media reports are false, incorrect and baseless," Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) spokesman Abdullah Ghaznavi said. He was speaking by telephone from Srinagar from an undisclosed location.

Pakistani newspapers suggested Friday that preliminary investigations pointed to the involvement of home-grown militants, including LeT, which has been blamed for the attacks in Mumbai late last year that killed 165 people.

LeT has also denied any role in the Mumbai attacks.

"The attack on Sri Lanka's team was an attack on Pakistan's sovereignty and Kashmiri militants could never even think of that (such an attack)," Ghaznavi said.

LeT, which has been fighting New Delhi's rule in Indian-administered Kashmir, blamed Indian security agencies for the Lahore attack.

"The attack is the handiwork of Indian agencies to defame Pakistan and bring instability to the country," Ghaznavi said.

Pakistan's interior ministry chief said Friday he could not rule out foreign involvement in the Sri Lankan cricket attack, as speculation increased in Pakistan's domestic press that home-grown militants were to blame.

"I cannot rule out (the involvement of a) foreign hand in the incident," Rehman Malik told reporters in Lahore.

Six Pakistani police and two civilians were killed Tuesday when gunmen ambushed the team en route to a Test match in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore. Seven Sri Lankan cricketers and a coach were among 19 people wounded.

Up to 12 men attacked the convoy of officials, coaches and players, firing automatic weapons, grenades and a rocket launcher as the vehicles approached Gaddafi stadium. The attackers fled without a trace but pictures of them were caught on videotape.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-Lanka-team-in-Pak/rssarticleshow/4235847.cms
 

thakur_ritesh

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Boy aren't the media similar.

Not a second into Mumbai terror, ISI blamed. [just a statement, no opinion =p]
Not a second into SL players, RAW blamed.

This will only hurt Pakistans already shaky world image. Hope the mess can be sorted out.

mate even though this is a statement and no opinion per se still since you have passed one it gets important to put forth the facts rather than let a speculative statement go by unanswered.


if you recall and if you have gone through the dossier that was presented by the indians then you would realise that the indians had been recording the voice conversation of those terrorists and their handlers/instructors who were based out of pakistan and with in a very short time the indians had the numbers traced to pakistan and all this happened by the wee hours of the 27/11 (less than 6 hours post the attack) so the euphoria of sorts and finger pointing at pakistan, as also there were strong inputs from the cia which led to raw and cia coordinating for the cia had a lot of knowledge of what was happening behind the scene, and then intentionally part of the information was leaked to the media for we had hard evidence and also you have to understand the relevance of media in today's age, as it is one of the best mediums through which a case and an opinion can be built with in a span of time like none other.


do recall what the world opinion was after 26/11 with in the first 72 hours post the attack as compared to the opinion that has been generated this time round. believe me mate when i say that a certain heads of states pass a comment on a certain terrorist activity after having a decent amount of detailed briefing on what has happened behind the scene for their intelligence agencies are quite privy to all that conspired and also these leaders have a lot of credibility in the eyes of world media, so what they speak is taken very seriously, so they don't just open their mouths just for the heck of it. you have to realise the reasons why secretary of state Ms clinton has gone on a over drive post these attacks with regards to the dangers of pakistan falling in the hands of terrorists.


i agree that most of the times we have a habit of putting a finger on pakistan the moment there is a terror attack in our country and certain times that is untrue and is completely unwise on our part. there are politicians and babus who with the intention of saving their ass tend to do that but with chidambram that is fast changing, as the babus have been forced to work and toil in the mid night oil. guess what, a lot of political appointees have been transferred from key positions without any media glare and fresh competent blood has been infused at all key positions, right from the babus in the home ministry to key positions in security agencies and all are working at a level like they have never worked before, and for a change various intelligence agencies and security agencies are all working at very well coordinated level.
 

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World Agenda: Sorry, Imran Khan, cricket isn't immune from conflict

We’re in a war. It’s a bloody game of cricket, and we’re in a war. Life shouldn’t be like that.” Thus did Simon Taufel, one of the two Australian umpires in Pakistan during this week’s attacks in Lahore, comment in disbelief on cricket’s new status as a target for terrorists.

Much as Mr Taufel may wish for cricket to be immune from international conflict, he is naive to think that this is so. Even though sport has a long history of political entanglement – the Berlin Olympics, the Munich massacre, the tit-for-tat boycotts of the Olympic Games in Moscow and Los Angeles, the boycott of apartheid South Africa – its fans cling to the notion that because everyone loves it, because it is so thrilling, so unifying, so culturally vital, sport exists inside some sort of protective bubble.

This was most clearly stated by the cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan when he criticised India in December for cancelling its tour to Pakistan after the Mumbai terrorist attacks. His argument was that no one would ever dare attack a visiting cricketer because cricket was so loved in Pakistan that the entire nation would turn against the perpetrators. The Indian media has not been slow to remind him of these remarks – it could have been India’s cricketers, not Sri Lanka’s, who got on a bus to the Gaddafi stadium this week.

Cricketers and other sportsmen know instinctively – even if they balk at admitting and articulating it – that they are just as vulnerable as everyone else to extremist violence. In March 2008 the Australians cancelled their tour of Pakistan hours after bombs killed 15 people in Lahore. The idea that as cricketers in a cricket-mad country they had immunity from the bombs and bullets of al-Qaeda was not part of their thinking. They were not alone. The Sri Lankans were the first team to dare to visit Pakistan for 14 months. Now the Pakistan team is even facing a reluctance to let it play abroad: Bangladesh has just called off Pakistan’s upcoming tour.

Post-Lahore, the Indian Premier League – cricket’s big-money event that has given its stars an earning power comparable to the best-paid sportsmen – is panicking at the suggestion by the country’s Home Minister that it may have to reschedule some of its matches. The players, team owners and businessmen involved in the IPL have no idea what will happen if the multimillion-dollar TV rights, sponsorship deals and gate receipts vanish overnight, but they may soon find out. (As for the 2011 World Cup, hosted jointly by the countries of the sub-continent – well, there’s nothing like as much money involved, so that’s much easier to cancel.)

As if to illustrate cricket’s blinkered attitude to the real world, consider the little-noticed announcement this week that India will tour Zimbabwe after New Zealand pulled out of a one-day series there. No terror threat from the Zimbabweans, but what about the economic ruin, the humanitarian disaster, the callous indifference of the Mugabe regime towards its people? England, Australia and New Zealand won’t go, but give India – a fellow Commonwealth country – a gap in the calendar and it is only too happy to oblige. This is before the bloodstains have been washed out of the grass of Lahore’s Liberty roundabout.

Even the argument that sport events hosted by “unsavoury” regimes – the Olympics in China, for example – do more good than harm by letting some light into the dark corners of dictatorships is an acknowledgement that sport is political. The additional justification for allowing sports events to go ahead in places run by despots is that it would be wrong to punish ordinary people with a boycott. But given the right pressure, be it public opinion or economic incentive, sporting or government bodies are quick to forget about ordinary people.

As the flak flies over the Lahore attacks, as the IPL panics, as India frets about terrorist threats to the 2010 Commonwealth Games it is hosting, it is clear that cricket – especially in the fanatical sub-continent – has become enmeshed in the region’s troubles. Imran Khan’s idea of cricket as undefiled and untouchable has been exposed for the fallacy it really is.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/world_agenda/article5856646.ece
 

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World Agenda: cricket attack exposes increasing chaos in Pakistan

Yesterday’s terrorist attacks do not mean that Pakistan is a failed state. But it has a failed President. Asif Zardari, a disastrous replacement for his assassinated wife, Benazir Bhutto, is compounding his country’s problems by his pursuit of personal survival at the expense of its Constitution, the rule of law and agreement between the main political parties that they will work to shore up democracy. He is utterly inadequate to meet the threat that Pakistan is facing.

What is it facing? What kind of terrorist group would find it useful to hit at cricket, a national passion? Fingers were pointed yesterday at Lashkar-e-Taiba, widely held responsible for the Mumbai attacks.

The actions of militants make sense only if their aims are the destruction of the normal civil life of Pakistan, as well as the shattering of international links — particularly those with India and others on the sub-continent. Yesterday’s shootings show that terrorism can reach into the heart of Pakistan’s main cities — even Lahore, heart of the Punjab, the part of Pakistan that most solidly functions as a normal country.

The feature that gives cause for hope is that most Pakistanis are moderate and loathe religious extremism. Until recently, another claim for stability was that the big cities remained remarkably free of terrorist action. Normal commercial and sporting life must now be overshadowed by nervousness.

Will it help Mr Zardari? Not really. It would help a competent president, who might gain strength to rally the country against the threat of home-grown terrorism.

However, Mr Zardari is not that figure. He has proved as willing to talk to America and Britain about the war in Afghanistan as they could reasonably expect, but he will do any deal, it seems, to secure his survival. The most damaging for the stability of the country may prove to be last week’s support for the ruling by the highly politicised courts to bar Nawaz Sharif, head of the Pakistan Muslim League, from contesting elections. When Mrs Bhutto and Mr Sharif, heading the two main political parties, re-entered Pakistan in 2007, after years of exile, they swore to work together to restore democracy. That is a concept in which Mr Zardari is less interested, it seems.

Pakistan’s salvation is likely to depend on reforging commercial and social links with its neighbours to the east — India above all, but also Sri Lanka. The gunmen knew the value of their target.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5837066.ece
 

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Similarities in Mumbai and Lahore attack: NY Police Chief

Washington (PTI): As attackers of Sri Lankan cricketers continued to elude police, experts have found similarities between Mumbai and Lahore strikes and have cited evidence to show that terrorists were changing tactics to go for commando-style operations over suicide bombings.

Intelligence division of the New York Police Department (NYPD) have carried out a study of the twin terrorists strikes and said there was evidence of a "shift in tactics" from suicide bombs to a commando-style military assault with small team of highly trained, heavily armed operatives launching simultaneous, sustained attacks.

Testifying before a Congressional sub-committee on Mumbai terrorist attack on Wednesday, the New York City Police Commissioner, Raymond W Kelly has said "We are paying very close attention to this trend."

Appearing before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Kelly also pointed out other similarities as choice of location: dense, relatively unprotected urban areas where the terrorists could establish strategic choke points to impede the response of authorities.

This was the fourth hearing by a Congressional committee on Mumbai attack, which killed more than 170 people including several American nationals.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200903121540.htm
 

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Police taken hostage while arresting 3/3 suspect

* Alleged terrorist’s neighbours disarm police, help Ali Shair escape
* Advocate says villagers got furious after police opened indiscriminate fire, injured children


By Rana Tanveer

LAHORE: One of the suspects of the Liberty terrorist attack who was arrested managed to escape after his neighbours intervened and attacked the police party, eventually taking the police as hostages, Daily Times learnt on Wednesday.

Sources said on directions of the Sahiwal district police officer (DPO), the City Chichawatni Police Station House Officer (SHO) Rao Shafqaat along with Elite Force personnel, raided and arrested one Ali Shair from the jurisdiction of Renala Police Station in Okara. The police had wanted Shair for his alleged involvement in the 3/3 terrorist attack in Lahore and several other cases of murder and robbery. The Punjab government had announced Rs 600,000 as his head money.

Police robbed: Police sources said they had arrested Shair but his neighbours succeeded in arranging his escape by taking the police as hostages after seizing their weapons. They said the accused escaped with nine sub machine guns, one 444-bore rifle, two 30-bore pistols, a wireless set, six mobile phones, and Rs 50,000 in cash after robbing the police. However, after intervention of other police officers, the hostages were released. They said over 200 people attacked the police with sophisticated weapons and took the policemen as hostages. They said the policemen were seen in torn uniform after the attack of villagers and were admitted at the Sahiwal District Headquarters Hospital for treatment.

No case had been registered against the accused for attacking or robbing police officials until the filing of this report. Instead, Advocate Mehmood filed a first information report (FIR) against the station house officer (SHO) and nine unidentified policemen at the Renala Police Station for injuring his brother Asif. He said Asif was playing in the village when policemen opened indiscriminate fire and injured him. Mehmood said the act of opening indiscriminate fire had angered the people, who then attacked the police. He denied knowing Shair and alleged there was no criminal in sight.

Renala Police Station moharrar Amjad Hussain said the injured police officials had not filed a complaint for registration of the FIR. He said SHO Rao Shafqaat was in the hospital after suffering serious injuries. He said the other policemen were in stable condition. The moharrar said the area had been declared a zone extremely unsafe for the police but it still raided the area to arrest the criminal.
 

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