he Presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan will hold talks in Turkey on Tuesday and Wednesday in a bid to resolve a row after Kabul claimed an attack against its spy chief was planned in Pakistan. The assassination attempt on National Directorate of Security chief Asadullah Khalid was carried out on Thursday by an attacker who claimed to be a Taliban peace envoy but had a bomb hidden in his underwear. Afghan President Hamid Karzai did not directly blame Pakistan for the attack but said the Taliban alone would not have been able to carry out the bombing and that bigger hands were involved. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry rejected the claim and said it is ready to help investigate what it called a criminal act.

India and Pakistan have signed three agreements for co-operation in customs matters, redressal of trade grievances and conforming to quality standards to further normalise economic relations between the two countries. A joint statement issued after the two-day commerce secretary level talks in Islamabad yesterday said that these agreements are expected to substantially facilitate bilateral trade mechanisms. Commerce Secretary S R Rao was in Islamabad for the 7th round of talks on Commercial and Economic Co-operation with his Pakistani counterpart Munir Qureshi.

 Pakistan's Supreme Court today disqualified 12 federal and provincial lawmakers, including Interior Minister Rehman Malik, for violating provisions of the Constitution by holding dual nationality. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry issued the order in response to a petition filed by Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi, who had asked the apex court to disqualify all lawmakers having dual nationality.

• On June 20, 2004, both India and Pakistan agreed to extend a nuclear testing ban and to set up a hotline between their foreign secretaries aimed at preventing misunderstandings that might lead to nuclear war.
• India and China announced a hotline for the foreign ministers of both countries while reiterating their commitment to strengthening ties and building "mutual political trust".^[1]
• United States and China set up a crisis hotline between their military establishments in 2008.

 She asserted that that Pakistan has sent some very serious signals in viewing India in different light and on moving with India in various sectors, for instance trade relations. Khar said, her country is "reaking away from many positions it has held. 

Making a strong pitch for the resumed dialogue process to continue, she said, moving forward will mean Pakistan and India being able to sit around the dialogue table . The Minister said whatever has happened before is past and the two countries should not miss an opportunities to build cooperation in future.

 Ahead of Foreign Minister S M Krishna's visit to Islambad, Pakistan today said it has taken bold and unprecedented steps to improve ties with India and to resolve all bilateral disputes,
including the key issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said in Islamabad that Pakistan believe's that a better and deeper relationship will eventually lead us to ways and means to resolve all bilateral disputes, including the most important of all, the status of Jammu and Kashmir.

Members of Parliament from India and Pakistan today pushed forward for better ties. They suggested a number of measures ranging from expediting trade agreements to making the parade at Wagah-Attari border more ceremonial and friendly. At the conclusion of the fourth round of India-Pakistan Parliamentarians Dialogue in New Delhi today, they said, the two countries should also consider taking unilateral initiatives to improve relations. In a joint statement issued at the end of the two-day talks, they noted that time was ripe to consolidate relationship between the two countries and pitched for liberalisation of the visa regime at the earliest and resolution of long-standing disputes such as Siachen and Sir Creek. The Parliamentarians urged the two governments to sign at the earliest the liberal visa regime finalised between the two countries that introduces the concept of group tourist visa, visa on arrival and a separate category of business visas. They felt that there is a need to explore opportunities for collaboration in facilitating people-to-people contacts in crucial fields such as education, health, local government and media. The Parliamentarians also recommended immediate release of prisoners who have completed their term and humanitarian treatment of fisher folk and others who inadvertently cross into the territory or territorial waters of the other country.

Pakistan has not responded to India's request for a visa-free travel to Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara in that country. The government had requested for a safe corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur, Punjab, to Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara in the Narowal district in Pakistan during a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the two countries on 27th of June, 2008. India had proposed to Pakistan in that meeting to allow a small team to visit that country to discuss the modalities for visa-free travel through a corridor. But there has been no response till date. Minister of State for External Affairs, Preneet Kaur, gave this information in the Lok Sabha today.

India and Pakistan have agreed to allow two banks each from both the countries to set up branches across the border.

Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Yaseen Anwar told PTI in Singapore that discussions were held with the Reserve Bank of India and both sides have agreed to issue a full banking licence to two banks of each country.

The two Indian banks that will be allowed to operate in Pakistan are State Bank of India (SBI) and Bank of India (BoI).

On the other hand, quasi-state owned National Bank of Pakistan and privately-owned United Bank Ltd. will be running full-banking operations across the border, once licensed by India.

In Pakistan, a stampede at the shrine of Pir Jo Goth near Khairpur has resulted in the deaths of at least eight people. According to the head of shrine’s administration the tragedy unfolded when thousands of followers of Pir of Pagara, were leaving Dargah’s premises.

Suffocation led to most of the deaths in the wake of a sudden stampede. Some received serious injuries after they were trampled over by the crowd.

ew Delhi today conveyed its concerns and asked Islamabad to check rumour mongering inciting violence in India. Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has expressed concern to his Pakistani counterpart over the issue of social media-networking sites being misused by elements based in Pakistan to circulate false pictures and stories so as to whip up (

1. उत्तेजित होना

)communal sentiments in India. He has sought Pakistan’s full cooperation in checking and neutralizing such elements.

Mr.Shinde expressed these views when Mr. Rehman Malik, Interior Minister of Pakistan spoke to him today over telephone. This was the first direct contact between the two Ministers.
Mr.Shinde conveyed his Eid wishes to him and the people of Pakistan. The Union Home Minister expressed the hope that the occasion would herald an improvement in Indo-Pak relations.

The Interior Minister of Pakistan briefly spoke of the pending issues between the two Ministries and re-iterated his commitment to bring the masterminds and perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attack to justice. He assured full mutual cooperation in this matter. Mr. Rehman Malik also invited Mr. Shinde to visit Pakistan to sign the revised Visa agreement which has now been agreed to by both sides.

Both concluded the discussion by agreeing to continue the mutual cooperation and to work towards rooting out terrorism in all its form and manifestation.

 India today decided to reduce the number of items in the sensitive list for SAARC countries, aiming to expand trade in goods in the region.

News Agencies quoting official sources reports that the government has approved pruning of sensitive list to
increase trade with SAARC countries.

Shifting of items from sensitive list to general category would do away with duty impediments and boost trade, according to officials.

Under the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA), which came into force in July 2006, India's imports are classified under two lists-- the MFN list and sensitive list.

India's sensitive list for least developed countries (LDC) like Bangladesh has just 25 items. And the same for non-LDC like Pakistan has over 800 commodities.

It was proposed to cut 30 per cent of products under the sensitive list for non-LDCs under SAFTA.

According to an official, the decision would benefit Pakistan more than any other SAARC member.

India and Pakistan Commerce Ministers in April had agreed that discussions would continue at official levels to
draw a roadmap for further reductions in the SAFTA-sensitive list.

he US Embassy in Islamabad has issued a security alert for its citizens living in Pakistan. The alert cautions US citizens to refrain from visiting public areas on August 14 and during Eid. The security message highlights the continued potential danger to US citizens posed by the presence of al-Qaida, Taliban and indigenous militant groups in Pakistan. According to threat reports these groups continue to seek opportunities to attack US Mission personnel, citizens and other westerners at locations where they are known to congregate.

The Pakistan government has decided to file petitions in the Supreme Court seeking a review of the annulment of a new law aimed at preventing the Premier's disqualification.

It will also challenge another order on reopening graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar confirmed that the government will file a petition seeking a review of the apex court's order that struck down the Contempt of Court Act of 2012. 

The government will also challenge the apex court's order of July 12 that asked Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf to approach Swiss authorities to revive graft cases against Zardari. He said the two petitions will be filed soon. 

The Supreme Court has set August 8 as the deadline for the Premier to approach the Swiss authorities.

Government today reviewed the Foreign Direct Investment policy permitting investments from Pakistan. It has been decided to permit a citizen of Pakistan or an entity incorporated in Pakistan to make investments in India, under the Government route, in sector or activities other than defence, space and atomic energy. Earlier it was not allowed.

Pakistan and the US today signed a Memorandum of Understanding on transporting supplies for NATO forces in Afghanistan through Pakistani territory after weeks of intense negotiations. The MoU states arms and ammunition for foreign troops in Afghanistan cannot be transported through Pakistan and that all cargo will be scanned in the port city of Karachi and at the border crossing points of Chaman and Torkham.

Richard Hoagland, the American Charge d'Affaires, and Pakistan's Additional Defence Secretary, Rear Admiral Farrokh Ahmad, signed the MoU during a function at the Defence Ministry in Rawalpindi.

Pakistani officials told reporters that the MoU would safeguard the country's national interests. Hoagland said the US would soon release 1.1 billion dollars of aid for Pakistan. The cabinet had last week approved the draft of the MoU after several rounds of talks between senior officials of the two countries. Pakistan had closed all supply routes to Afghanistan after a cross-border NATO air strike killed 24 of its soldiers last Novembe

Pakistan has issued a travel advisory for its nationals, especially aspiring pilgrims, asking them not to visit Syria, the war-torn country embattled by civil strife. A statement issued by the Foreign Office in Islamabad said Pakistani citizens are advised to postpone their plans of visiting Syria until the situation there normalises. 

It has also directed all Pakistanis present in Syria at the moment to report to Pakistan’s Embassy in Damascus for emergency assistance.

The India-Pakistan Joint Working Group Meeting for working out a mechanism for release of fishermen and their boats who cross maritime borders inadvertently was held in New Delhi today. The Indian delegation was led by Vice Admiral MP Muralidharan, Director General Indian Coast Guard while the Pakistan delegation was led by Rear Admiral Waseem Akram, Director General, Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA).

The group held preliminary discussions on the issue and recognised the need for addressing the humanitarian aspect of inadvertent crossing of maritime borders by legitimate fishermen. The discussions were fruitful in mutual exchange of ideas and deliberating way ahead in evolving a suitable mechanism for release of such fishermen and their boats. It was also acknowledged that focused approach and sustained efforts of the group needs to be continued.

The meeting was held in pursuance of the decision taken during the India-Pakistan Home Secretary Level Talks held on 28-29 March last year , where both sides agreed to task the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and PMSA to work on setting up a mechanism for release of fishermen and their boats who cross maritime borders inadvertently.

New Delhi has asserted that bringing perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack to justice will be the greatest confidence building measure between India and Pakistan. In a joint press interaction with Pakistan Foreign Secretary Mr. Jalil Abbas Jilani, after two days of discussions in three sessions, the Foreign Secretary Mr. Ranjan Mathai today said in New Delhi that there is a need of sincere efforts to build greater trust and understanding between the two neighbours. Mr. Mathai said that sufficient evidence of involvement of State actors in perpetrating terrorism in India has been provided to the visiting Pakistan Foreign Secretary and revelations made by Abu Jundal has added urgency to the issue. He said that the investigations in the matter is on and asserted that they will take the issue to a conclusion. He reiterated that fulfillment of commitment made in this regard will be essential for full normalisation of relationship between the two neighbours.

Quoting joint statments, Mr. Mathai both the countries have agreed to work towards eliminating the threat of terrorism from the region and work towards peaceful resolution of all issues including Jammu and Kashmir. Both the sides agreed that the relationship has to be normalised by narrowing divergences and building convergences. He said, both the countries have agreed to continue the resumed dialogue and increase people to people contact.

On his part, the Pakistan Foreign Secretary Mr. Jilani denied involvement of state actors in spreading terrorism in India. He said, Pakistan is even willing for a joint investigation into Mumbai attacks . He said that both India and Pakistan see terrorism as a common threat as both the countries suffering form the scourge of terrorism. Mr. Jilani, however, said that complaining against each other is not going to help solve the issue. He said that terrorism is a serious issue and sincere efforts are needed to resolve it. He said that we are moving towards a positive relationship. He, however, asked India to share information so that action could be initiated.

The Foreign Secretaries reviewed the ongoing implementation of the already adopted Nuclear and Conventional CBMs. It was decided that separate meetings of the Expert Level Groups on Nuclear and Conventional CBMs will be held to discuss implementation and strengthening of the existing CBMs and suggest additional mutually acceptable steps that could build greater trust and confidence between the two countries, thereby contributing to peace and security. The dates for the meetings of Expert Level Groups will be determined through diplomatic channels.

On trade issues, Mr. Mathai said that there is a forward movement on trade and economic cooperation and there is a win-win situation for both the countries. He said that a roadmap has been drawn and agreed upon.

In the joint statement issued after the talks, both the sides said the Foreign Secretaries will meet again in
Islamabad, on a date to be decided through diplomatic channels, to prepare for the meeting of the Foreign Ministers
in September.

The visiting Foreign secretary will also call on External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon.

Pakistan on Wednesday began allowing NATO supplies to move out from a port in Karachi, a day after it lifted a seven-month blockade of vital routes to Afghanistan. The route was reopened after the much-sought US apology for the killing of 24 of its soldiers in a cross-border raid last year.

Authorities at Port Qasim, Pakistan's second busiest harbour, told the media that they had received instructions to allow the movement of NATO supplies after the payment of विलंब-शुल्कdemurrage() for the period when the goods were kept at the port. 

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in a telephonic conversation with her Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar, reiterated America's deepest regrets for the NATO attack on November 26 last year, which had triggered a major diplomatic rift between the two countries.