ISLAMABAD: The Chairman of the Senate Defence Committee, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, is leading a 15-member parliamentary delegation, representing six political parties to monitor the presidential election in Azerbaijan tomorrow. He said: “The team has been invited by the Election Commission of Azerbaijan given the brotherly bond between both countries and in recognition of the fact that Pakistan is a vibrant and dynamic democracy, probably the freest, in the Muslim world”. On Saturday Ambassador of Azerbaijan, Dashgin Shikarov, hosted a reception for the delegation.
Peace ‘talks won’t succeed’
Islamabad: Pakistani Taliban have said peace talks with the government cannot be successful until the withdrawal of the army from the tribal areas and the release of prisoners, the spokesman of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Shahidullah Shaid, said yesterday. He also demanded an end to drone strikes, indicating that they were being funded by Afghan Taliban. He said the aim of TTP was to defend Muslims all over the world and it was not involved in killing of Pakistani citizens, adding that a third force, working for enemies of Islam, was involved in attacks in Pakistani cities. Last month, Pakistani Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani confirmed that the army would not accept any pre-conditions imposed by Taliban militants.
Karzai slams Nato strike
Kabul: Afghan president Hamid Karzai condemned the recent Nato air strike in eastern Nangarhar province that left at least five civilians dead. The presidential palace said in a statement that Karzai discussed the security situation in the country and the Nato raid in Behsud district of Nangarhar during a National Security Council meeting.
The dead included three schoolchildren and the air strike was carried out on Friday night. The statement said an Interior Ministry delegation which was assigned to investigate the incident had confirmed that five civilians including three brothers were killed.
The council insisted that the issue of civilian casualties during Nato operations will be discussed with Nato officials. Civilian casualties in Nato operations have long been a source of friction between the government and coalition forces. At least 16 civilians, including women and children, were killed in a Nato strike in eastern Kunar province of Afghanistan last month.
Agencies
