ISLAMABAD, 11 December 2006 — Pakistan and India are warm to the idea of a joint survey of Sir Creek, sources in the Foreign Office told Arab News yesterday.
The idea of conducting a joint survey and preparing a mutually-acceptable map of Sir Creek was discussed at the India-Pakistan talks held from Nov. 13 to 16.
The sources said both sides discussed several proposals concerning demilitarization and ways to resolve the Kashmir problem.
Pakistan, they said, had not only rejected Indian allegations of its involvement in the Mumbai blasts but also conveyed its resentment at the Indian decision to suspend the composite dialogue following the blasts.
Foreign Secretary Riaz Muhammad Khan, sources said, told the Cabinet that discussions were also held with Kashmiri leaders, which he termed a positive development.
“Both sides discussed proposals regarding Siachen, including authentication of existing positions, zones of disengagement, schedule of withdrawal of forces and possibility of meetings at the military level,” the sources maintained.
US to Give Anti-Submarine Aircraft
Islamabad will get three P-3 Orion navy anti-submarine aircraft from the United States under a deal approved by the Pentagon recently.
The Pakistan Navy currently has old versions of the P-3 Orion aircraft which it acquired from the US during the mid-80s. Other than P-3 Orions, the navy has two French sea surveillance aircraft and Sea King helicopters.
The P-3 Orion is a land-based anti-submarine warfare patrol aircraft. It has advanced submarine detection sensors such as directional frequency and ranging sonobuoys and magnetic anomaly detection equipment.
The avionics system is integrated by a general purpose digital computer that supports all tactical displays, monitors and automatically launches ordnance and provides flight information to pilots.
In addition, the system coordinates navigation information and accepts sensor data input for tactical display and storage.
The P-3 Orion can either operate alone or support many different combat elements including the carrier battle group and amphibious readiness group.
The aircraft can carry a variety of weapons internally and on wing pylons, such as Harpoon missiles, the MK-50 torpedo and the MK-60 sea mines. The P-3 Orion naval weapon system is developed by the Lockheed Martin.
10 killed in Tribal Clashes
Ten people were killed and several others injured in fresh clashes between two groups in Khyber Agency.
Authorities yesterday beefed up security to prevent more violence and were making efforts to resolve the dispute through talks.
The two rival groups — Lashkar-e-Islami and Lashkar-e-Ansar — have been at loggerheads for several months.
Their feud often sparked bloody clashes that claimed the lives of several people in the past.
The bone of contention has been an FM radio station. Followers of Pir Saifur Rahman attacked the supporters of Mufti Munir Shakir in Bara Tehsil of the Khyber Agency. Several people were killed during that clashes.
In September, supporters of Lashkar-e-Islami and Lashkar-e-Ansar fought gunbattles in Tirah resulting in 13 deaths.
In the latest clashes that erupted on Friday and continued yesterday, at least 10 people were reported killed.
Daud Afridi, a businessman, told Arab News: “Men of Mangal Bagh (Lashkar-e-Islami) say they want to eliminate all kind of evils from the region. They are influenced by the Taleban and usually attack Lashkar-e-Ansar’s well-armed men.
Afridi said the two groups used AK-47s and rockets during the clashes.
