China has stake in 
Kashmir issue: Mirwaiz
SRINAGAR: China has a stake in peace in South Asia, and Kashmir in particular, as part of the disputed Himalayan region is under Beijing's control, Kashmir's main separatist alliance said.
J&K separatist leaders have mentioned China's role for the first time in resolving the dispute in Kashmir and its control over a part of the Himalayan region, since a revolt against New Delhi broke out in 1989.
India rules 45 per cent of Kashmir and the bulk of its more than 11 million population. Pakistan has about 35 per cent of the territory and China controls the rest.
‘It (China) has a direct link with Kashmir as certain parts of Kashmir, including Aksai Chin, are under its control,’ Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference, told thousands of Muslim worshippers late on Friday.
‘I believe that China is not a party to the Kashmir conflict but it has stakes as far as peace in the region is concerned.’
Farooq, also the chief priest of Kashmir, said he is planning to visit China soon.
‘Hurriyat welcomes the approach adopted by China and America jointly in terms of addressing the issue of Kashmir in South Asia,’ he said.
He was referring to a joint statement issued by the United States and China after President Barack Obama met his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao, which included a line of support for the improvement of India-Pakistan relations.
New Delhi said in response it does not need any external help to improve ties with neighbour Pakistan.

PPP wining candidates 
in GB polls call on Zardari
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari while felicitating the PPP winning candidates in Gilgit Baltistan elections has urged them to rise to the expectations of the people of the area as they have reposed great confidence in the PPP. The President was talking to a delegation of PPP winning candidates in the Gilgit Baltistan’s elections that called on him in the Presidency on Monday night. 
The delegation led by the party President Gilgit Baltistan  Syed Mehdi Shah included Aftab Haider Advocate, Muhammad Ali Akhter, Wazir Baig, Sheikh Nisar Hussain, Shakil Ahmad, Wazir Hassan, Syed Muhammad Ali Shah Rizvi, Hamid Khan, Muhammad Naseer, Ali Madad Sher, Muhammad Jaffer, Muhammad Ismail Engineer and Ayub Shah.  Governor Gilgit Baltistan and Minister for Information, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister for Labour, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Ms. Rukhsana Bangash, MNA, Ms Fouzia Habib, MNA and Spokesperson to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar also attended the meeting.  
The President said that the huge win by the party in the elections had convincingly demonstrated that the PPP in office or out of office was a potent political force. He said that people of Gilgit Baltistan through their vote in favour of PPP had belied the inimical propaganda of our adversaries, who claimed that the party had lost public support.  
The President said that the people of Gilgit Baltistan had made great sacrifices for democracy and democratic struggle led by the PPP.

General Kapoor hints 
possibility of N. war 
NEW DELHI: Indian Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor has said the possibility of a limited war under a nuclear overhang is still very much a reality in South Asia. South Asia along with West Asia has emerged as "one of the epicentres of conflict and instability," he said and added the situation would "further worsen since there was neither any political or diplomatic unity nor any common ground to build a consensus to fight this new war, " General Kapoor said at a seminar on "Changing Nature of Conflict: Trends and Responses".
 "Territorial disputes, provocation by proxy wars, religious fundamentalism, radical extremism, ethnic tensions and socio economic disparities are the hallmark of South Asia," he said.
General Kapoor said sub conventional conflicts may force nations to undertake interventions on "purely humanitarian grounds if the diaspora is under threat, sovereignty of nations being questioned such as attacks on missions abroad and national assets and foreign soil being used constantly for attack by state and non state actors.
Speaking on the occasion, Indian Defence Minister A K Antony said the threat of nuclear weapons falling into wrong hands was an "area of serious concern" and its consequences would be "unimaginable".

Pakistan comments Indian army 
chief’s remarks show intentions
ISLAMABAD: Terming the Indian army chief’s remarks about nuclear war as a reflection of India’s offensive nuclear doctrine, Pakistan has said it was fully capable of safeguarding its national sovereignty and defending its borders.
In response to a question regarding the reported remarks by India’s Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor on Monday warning that ‘a limited war under a nuclear overhang is still very much a reality at least in the Indian sub-continent,’ Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit said that these remarks only reaffirm India’s dangerous and offensive nuclear doctrine.
‘India has long been working on the so-called ‘Cold Start’ strategy and preparing for a limited war against Pakistan. General Kapoor’s statement confirms the hegemonic thrust of India’s nuclear doctrine,’ the spokesman added.
Abdul Basit said the international community should take notice of General Kapoor’s remarks and India’s long-term intentions.
He said that major powers have a particular responsibility in this regard, adding that they should refrain from steps that in any manner negatively affect the strategic balance in South Asia.

Pakistan says J&K disputed territory, 
needs settlement through UN resolutions
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has once again reminded India that Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory and it should be resolved and settled in accordance with the resolutions of United Nations.
Commenting on Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s remarks about Jammu and Kashmir in an interview with CNN, Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit reminded India that Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory awaiting settlement in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. 
The spokesman said, "India is only one of the parties to the dispute; it cannot, therefore, unilaterally change the status of the dispute or place preconditions in open contradiction to the right of self-determination of Kashmiris."

Aspirant CM of Gilgit-Baltistan vows 
to utilize energies for peace, prosperity
ISLAMABAD: Promotion of peace, education, health and poverty alleviation would be priorities of his government which would utilize all its energies for the betterment of the area and its people, said aspirant Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly, Syed Mehdi Shah. "I am determined to take steps for promotion of mining sector, create investment friendly atmosphere and eradicate poverty from the area so that people could live a prosperous and decent life," he told APP. 
In an exclusive talk here, Syed Mehdi Shah said PPP has won the election on the basis of its performance and services delivered by the PPP leadership including the introduction of Self-governance Order-2009, and economic package for the welfare of the people.
He said PPP had always served the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and that was why the people of the area have reposed confidence and cast their votes in favour of the PPP candidates in the election.
He reminded PPP had also won eight seats in 2004 elections and PML-Q secured only five seats and PPP was not allowed to form a government and PML-Q which was in power at the federal level formed its government in GB with minority seats.

Tripartite dialogue only way 
to resolve vexed Kashmir issue
NEW DELHI: Pandit Bhushan Bazaz, President of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Forum said on Sunday that tripartite dialogue among Pakistan, India and Kashmiris was the only way to resolve vexed Kashmir issue.
However, he said without accepting the disputed character of Kashmir, any dialogue process would be a futile exercise and would lead no where, Pandit Bhushan Bazaz said while speaking at a two-day seminar on Kashmir Kashmir issue at Samba in Jammu.
The seminar was organised by civil rights activists and intellectuals to high light the Kashmir issue.
He said India is not sincere in its dialogue offer for settlement of Kashmir issue.
Those considering disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India do not enjoy support of common Kashmiris, who have been making supreme sacrifices for the freedom struggle since 1947. Those elements have no role in deciding destiny of Kashmiris, Pandit Bazaz said.
All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) is the only forum representing the wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir, he added.
emands re-elections in nine stations,
PML-Q says PPP has broken rigging records