Asif Ali Zardari

During his meeting with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari over dinner last Saturday, PML-N leader and former premier Nawaz Sharif reportedly urged him to take certain “tangible” measures like repealing the 17th Amendment, restoring the deposed Supreme Court judges and ensuring sovereignty of parliament and its decisions.

Talking to newsmen last evening, Nawaz Sharif said he also asked Zardari to immediately restore the deposed judges, as it was critical to ensure the rule of law, especially to nullify the “unlawful, unconstitutional, unjustified and immoral act of the dictator”.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has told US Assistant Secretary of State for Central and South Asian Affairs Richard Boucher that Afghan drug dealers are funding terrorists in Pakistan''s tribal areas.

The above statement was made when both leaders met and discussed ''bilateral affairs'' during a ''courtesy call''.

Zardari also informed that Pakistan had stopped Afghan drug dealers from using its territory for smuggling, which was why they had funded terror activities in Pakistan.

National Security Advisor MK Narayanan has said that India will not block Chenab River water to Pakistan.

Talking to a news channel on Sunday, he said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari held ‘a very good’ meeting in New York last month.

He said the Prime Minister was clear on the matter that India would not block Chenab water.

Narayanan said India wants to carry forward the peace process and does not want it to derail.

To a question, he said India would deal with whoever is in power in Pakistan.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani have reportedly resolved to crush terrorism within the country, particularly in the tribal areas, and evolve a new security plan for political and religious leaders, at a meeting held at the President’s House last evening.

The two top leaders said terrorists were on the run in Bajaur Agency and that they needed to be contained, reported the Dawn.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has reportedly condemned yesterday’s suicide attack on ANP chief Asfandyar Wali in the strongest terms and vowed to continue the fight against terrorism.

The President also called up ANP Chief and expressed his gratitude to Allah Almighty that the veteran politician and coalition partner Asfandyar Wali was safe.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that if Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and his deputy Al Zawahiri were caught in his country, he might hand over the duo to the US for trial, but would do so only on the advise of “friends”.

“The two Al Qaeda leaders could also be handed over to the US to face trail if ‘friends advise’ Pakistan to do so,” the Daily Times quoted Zardarin as saying in an interview with the CNN.

He added that Pakistan can also initiate a trial against Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden or his second-in-command Aiman Al-Zawahiri, if it captures them.

The world bank will be coming to Pakistan''s aid, by pledging 1.34 billion dollars for development programmes that are already in the pipeline.

The commitment came after Pakistan’s President Zardari held a meeting with World Bank head Robert Zoellick.

Robert Zoellick said the World Bank funded programmse in the pipeline this year include investments in energy, water and infrastructure.

He also assured the president of the Bank’s support for development in FATA as well as poverty alleviation, The News reported.(ANI)

The meeting between Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin in New York today added a glamour quotient to US trip.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly session in New York.

The no show of Republican presidential nominee John McCain didn’t seem to matter as the glamorous new poster girl of the Grand Old Party met Manmohan Singh for half an hour.

No details of the meeting were released.

Following is the joint statement issued after meeting between Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday evening during the 63rd UNGA session in New York.

Manmohan Singh congratulated Zardari on his election and the victory of democracy in Pakistan. He expressed the hope that this would pave the way for a profound transformation of the bilateral relationship, so that India and Pakistan could work together on their shared objectives of peace, prosperity and security.

Deeply hurt by the recent bombings in India and Pakistan, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday evening decided that their respective governments will take the menace head on.

Dr. Singh, in particular, took a strong stand against terrorism during their meeting in New York on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly.

A joint statement issued by both leaders stated: "Violence, hostility and terrorism have no place in the bilateral relationship and must be visibly and verifiably prevented."