Karzai floats new peace plan to win over Taleban
Saturday, 3 July 2010
From Fazle Rashid
NEW YORK, July 03: President Hamid Karzai has provided his stamp of approval to a plan akin to one proposed by Islamabad. Karzai plan is to "win over Taleban foot soldiers and low level commanders" in a bid to restore peace and normalcy in the war torn country.
Nato officials hope the plan will entice the Taleban militants. The plan pledges education, development programmes, jobs and other incentives to put pressure on militants to stop fighting. The Talebans in return must respect the Afghan constitution, renounce violence and severe links with the terrorists, the New York Times said today.
Karzai will seek Pakistan's support for the success of his Peace Plan. Meanwhile Peter Galbraith, former United Nations no 2 man in Afghanistan has filed a legal suit against Secretary General Ban Ki-moon alleging wrongful dismissal and defamation. He is demanding compensation and reinstatement to a similar position.
The UN Dispute Tribunal which hears such cases is expected to take up Galbraith case in September.
Peter Galbraith, an American diplomat, was dismissed in 2009 over his accusation that the UN was ignoring widespread electoral fraud. He was pursuing accountability.
Farhan Huq, UN Secretary General's spokeperson refused to make any comment. Reincarnation of Tibetian spiritual leaders including the Dalai Lama will require Chinese approval. China will appoint the next Dalai Lama after the death of the incumbent. The sitting Dalai Lama has tense relationship with Beijing. Dalai Lama works from his sanctuary in India. He is a bitter critic of Chinese policy.
President Obama yesterday signed into law new unilateral American sanctions on Iran that go beyond the penalties imposed by the UN last month as he tries to escalate the pressure on Teheran to halt its nuclear enrichment programme, the NYT reported.
China's Xinhua News Agency has introduced a 24 hour English news channel from yesterday and is planning to open a news room in Times Square, New York, Mecca of global news networks. The Chinese network has been modelled on Al-Jazeera, Arabic TV network that shot into fame and ranks equal with CNN, BBC and other famous TV channels.
China is expected to invest billion of dollars over next few years to create a global media empire that can match country's rising economic, military and diplomatic power to effectively project its views to an international audience.
Fears grew yesterday that the global economy is faltering with data showing slowing of manufacturing output across large parts of the world led by weaker growth in China. Figures suggested that global demand is slackening posing further challenges to leading economies as they attempt to shore up shaky fiscal positions without falling back into recession, a reputed paper reported.
Email: mumtazk43@juno.com
NEW YORK, July 03: President Hamid Karzai has provided his stamp of approval to a plan akin to one proposed by Islamabad. Karzai plan is to "win over Taleban foot soldiers and low level commanders" in a bid to restore peace and normalcy in the war torn country.
Nato officials hope the plan will entice the Taleban militants. The plan pledges education, development programmes, jobs and other incentives to put pressure on militants to stop fighting. The Talebans in return must respect the Afghan constitution, renounce violence and severe links with the terrorists, the New York Times said today.
Karzai will seek Pakistan's support for the success of his Peace Plan. Meanwhile Peter Galbraith, former United Nations no 2 man in Afghanistan has filed a legal suit against Secretary General Ban Ki-moon alleging wrongful dismissal and defamation. He is demanding compensation and reinstatement to a similar position.
The UN Dispute Tribunal which hears such cases is expected to take up Galbraith case in September.
Peter Galbraith, an American diplomat, was dismissed in 2009 over his accusation that the UN was ignoring widespread electoral fraud. He was pursuing accountability.
Farhan Huq, UN Secretary General's spokeperson refused to make any comment. Reincarnation of Tibetian spiritual leaders including the Dalai Lama will require Chinese approval. China will appoint the next Dalai Lama after the death of the incumbent. The sitting Dalai Lama has tense relationship with Beijing. Dalai Lama works from his sanctuary in India. He is a bitter critic of Chinese policy.
President Obama yesterday signed into law new unilateral American sanctions on Iran that go beyond the penalties imposed by the UN last month as he tries to escalate the pressure on Teheran to halt its nuclear enrichment programme, the NYT reported.
China's Xinhua News Agency has introduced a 24 hour English news channel from yesterday and is planning to open a news room in Times Square, New York, Mecca of global news networks. The Chinese network has been modelled on Al-Jazeera, Arabic TV network that shot into fame and ranks equal with CNN, BBC and other famous TV channels.
China is expected to invest billion of dollars over next few years to create a global media empire that can match country's rising economic, military and diplomatic power to effectively project its views to an international audience.
Fears grew yesterday that the global economy is faltering with data showing slowing of manufacturing output across large parts of the world led by weaker growth in China. Figures suggested that global demand is slackening posing further challenges to leading economies as they attempt to shore up shaky fiscal positions without falling back into recession, a reputed paper reported.
Email: mumtazk43@juno.com