Foreign Secreary Salman Bashir arrives in Washington for US talks

21 April 2011
Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir arrived here Wednesday evening to hold talks with U.S. officials as the two countries seek ways to sort out differences and find “strategic convergences” to move their strategic relationship forward.The top Pakistani career diplomat is visiting Washington for two-day talks at the invitation of US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Marc Grossman, who will lead the American side.Bashir will spearhead the Pakistani delegation in two rounds of meetings of a steering group.
The meetings take place in the backdrop of tensions that arose from the Central Intelligence Agency contractor, Raymond Davis killing of two Pakistanis and Islamabad’s objections to frequent drone strikes in Pakistani Tribal Areas.Security and foreign affairs experts believe that cooperative
relations between Pakistan and the United States are critical to
outcome of the decade-old Afghan conflict.

Collection of Hajj applications starts

15 April 2011
The collection of the Hajj applications have been started from Friday on a first come, first serve basis.
 political workers, journalists and even government officials would have to pay the Hajj fee in advance.
Machine readable passports and national identity cards will be compulsory for eligibility.This year, there has been an increase in the quota of pilgrims by 20,000 and no one will be performing Hajj, free of costs.The pilgrims who would submit their applications first will be given accommodation near Masjid-al-Haram.

David Cameron telephones Prime Minister Gilani

15 April 2011
British Prime Minister David Cameron called Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani over telephone on Friday afternoon to follow up on the very useful discussions on bilateral and regional issues, held during his visit to Islamabad on April 5. Prime Minister Cameron apprised Prime Minister Gilani that his government was proactively pursuing Pakistan’s case with EU for greater market access, as well as for dispatch of EU’s Fisheries’ delegation to Pakistan.Besides, his Government, was also considering resumption of British Airways flights to Pakistan to help reinvigorate the friendly ties between the two countries, David Cameron said.The British Prime Minister further said that he would be writing to the Prime Minister, shortly, in detail, on implementation of the decisions taken during his visit to strengthen the strategic relations encompassing all areas of cooperation.Both the leaders also discussed the Prime Minister’s forthcoming visit to Kabul on April 16 and the prospects of a political settlement to pave the way for restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has conveyed resentment on drone attacks to US: FO

14 April 2011
Pakistan said on Thursday that its policy on drone attacks was very clear and that its leadership besides condemning the attacks had conveyed its resentment to the United States leaders time and again.
“Such attacks are counter-productive and only strengthen the hands of terrorists,” said Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua while replying to questions on the recent drone attacks at the weekly briefing.
She said, “Drone attacks have become a main irritant in the counter-terror campaign.” The spokesperson said, “Pakistan has repeatedly taken up the matter with the US at all levels.”
She said that Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday gave a comprehensive statement on the drone attacks and expressed Pakistan’s resentment on the issue.“The Foreign Secretary has lodged a strong protest with the US Ambassador on the latest drone attack yesterday,” she added. To a question regarding Pak-US ties, the spokesperson said, “Pakistan attaches great importance to these relations and has been engaged with the American leadership to cooperate and coordinate in the law enforcement operations against terrorists and to improve bilateral relations in all the fields.”

Pakistan cricket team leaves for West Indies

14 April 2011
Pakistan cricket team has left for West Indies from Lahore after completing the training camp.Talking to media before departure at Allama Iqbal airport, team manager Intikhab Alam said, "I am hopeful with young cricketers, they will perform well and InshAllah would help to win the series against West Indies."
He said that young players have a golden chance to get experience and to show their performance.
National cricket team would play a T-20 and a series of one-day international matches under the captaincy of Shahid Afridi, while two test matches under the captaincy of Misbah-Ul-Haq.National cricket team will start the tour of West Indies with a practice match. The practice match between Pakistan and West Indies teams will begin on 18 April.The tour would formally start from April 21 from a T-20 match.