UAE
1. Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar held a meeting with UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi and appealed to finalize the free trade policy for Pakistan with the Gulf Cooperation Council. (Jinnah)

US/AFGHANISTAN
1. Addressing a public gathering in Bahawalpur, JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the resolution on Balochistan in the US House of Representatives was interference in Pakistan’s domestic affairs and the resumption of NATO supply lines before the decision of the Parliament was an insult to the nation. Rahman said that Pakistan was a slave to the US. Rahman also claimed that 6 states in the US also wanted to have the right to self determination. (Ausaf, 27 February)
According to a WikiLeaks report, Hamid Gul had been an honourable member of the US private intelligence agency “Stratfor”. (Jinnah)

2. Al Qalam Weekly editorial condemned the decision to re-open NATO supply lines. It said the statement of the Defense Minister that air routes remained opened for NATO supplies on humanitarian grounds was beyond understanding since NATO and the US have committed several human rights violations committed and listed the violations. (Al Qalam Weekly Edit, 24 February to 3 March)

3. Jinnah’s edit says that Senator John Kerry had rightly advised US President Obama that the US needed to be careful in its relations with Pakistan as stability in Pakistan was imperative for peace. Edit says that Pakistan had been doing everything for America’s war on terror but, in return, it only received problems. In comparison, India that had not been involved in this war was reaping all the fruits. Edit says it was high time that US stopped considering Pakistan as its puppet and support it to counter its economic and energy challenges. Edit says that Pakistan’s current vulnerability was only due to the US war on terror; hence, the US should respect Pakistan as a nation and as a true friend. (Jang Edit)

4. Khabrain edit on Pak-US ties blames the US for the Raymond Davis issue, the Abbotabad operation, the NATO attacks on the Salala check-post in Mehmand agency, the US resolution on the Balochistan issue and the desecration of holy Quran by US soldiers in Afghanistan. Edit suggests that in order to curtail foreign intervention, Pakistan should think about forming a bloc with Iran and Afghanistan which are both Pakistan’s neighbours and Islamic countries. Edit says that since the US is thinking about attacking Iran, Pakistan should adopt a cautious attitude and think about bringing both Iran and the US to the negotiating table; otherwise, this new war will affect other nations besides Iran. (Khabrain Edit)

INDIA
1. Despite Pakistan assuring India of having finalized the list of negative articles for trade with India, two important ministries have not yet agreed with this list. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

2.Religious, political and Kashmiri leaders have said that leaving aside Kashmir freedom and water issues, back channel diplomacy with India does not have any significance. The chairman of Jammu-Kashmir Freedom Movement, Hafiz Saifullah Mansoor said that resolution of Kashmir issue is not possible through back channel diplomacy. He said that taking excuse of dialogues India is busy building dams. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

3. Water and agricultural experts have expressed strong protest over India’s plan to link 30 rivers in J&K; they said that the motive behind this Indian plan is to render Pakistan into barren land and get complete control over Pakistani rivers. They said that India has violated the Indus Waters Treaty by making 300 small and big dams. The Chief Coordinator of Indus Water Committee, Aziz ul Haq Qureshi said that India wanted to deprive Pakistan of water from Chenab, Jhelum and Indus rivers. The president of the Pakistan United Farmers’ Front, Ayub Khan Meo said that India’s supremacy over the water issue was actually a part of its policy to destabilize Pakistan. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

4. Pakistan’s Export Association has said rice from India should be in the negative list. It said importing rice from India would destroy Pakistani rice farmers and that Pakistan will lose its market in EU as well in Central Asia. (Daily Pak)

5. 24 Indian fishermen were taken into custody with 8 of their boats for violating the Pakistani sea borders. These men were handed over to the Karachi Docks Police. (Ummat, Jang)

6.Sources have said that India had made stringent visa policies for Pakistanis in Japan. (Jang)

7.Nawa-i-Waqt says in its edit that the Kashmir issue could not be addressed through backdoor diplomacy. India wanted to extend its control over Kashmir using backdoor dialogue as an excuse. Pakistan should take steps to free Kashmir from Indian control through force. If India got a few more years, it would reduce Pakistan into a desert by building more dams on Pakistani rivers. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. A sectarian attack on a bus in the Kohistan district of KP resulted in 18 people being killed. All the people on board the bus were reportedly Shias. (Daily Pak)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Both PTI chairman Imran Khan and opposition leader, PML-N’s Chaudhary Nissar Ahmed have complained that PPP used national funds to further its prospects in the by-elections. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

2. In his column, Nazir Naji says results of by-elections would give political parties an idea about their true position amongst the people. It is quite possible that PPP again get the vote of sympathy as the PPP government was not allowed to work properly. (Jang)

3.In his article, Riyaz Baloch writes Baloch youth had again succeeded in frightening the Pakistani establishment. He says that just like the Balochs, the Sindhis too could make their voice heard at global platforms. He is of the opinion that the establishment alone was responsible for the destruction of both the Baloch and Sindhis; hence, both should fight simultaneously. Baloch says this was not happening as the Sindhi groups were not joining hands even at this juncture. He says that whether the US helps Balochistan or not, in the end, the Baloch will get freedom from Pakistan. He says that the nationalist movement in Balochistan was no longer confined only to Baloch chieftains; the educated youth had also joined this struggle.. (Awami Awaz, 27 February)

4 Ausaf edit on by-polls says the contest was between PPP and PML-N as PPP bagged 4 seats; PML-N obtained 3 seats and ANP and PML-(Functional) got 1 seat each. Edit writes that despite EC’s claims of maintaining law and order, the police was not alert at many places. (Ausaf Edit, 27 February)

BALOCHISTAN
1. The government has decided to convince all political parties before the APC on the Balochistan issue. The FC had been transferred to the control of the Balochistan CM. Political cases against the Baloch would be ended and that the PM wanted to announce a new package as the military leadership had emphasized on the proper implementation of the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package and on giving employment and scholarships to Baloch youth and students. (Ummat)

2. Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that at present, no operation was going on in Balochistan. . He claimed that the government had acceded to all Baloch demands. He also said that President Zardari would visit Balochistan very soon. He said that till now, 80 FC officials had been gunned down. Baloch Liberation Army had taken the responsibility for all these deaths (Ibrat)

3. In his article, Aijaz Mungi says that if the governments in Pakistan had been far sighted, the situation in Balochistan would not have deteriorated; he says that now that the world has started taking interest in the issue, the Baloch leaders are not in a mood to talk to Pakistani authorities. Mungi is of the opinion that something drastic may happen on the Balochistan issue as there were indications that even Musharraf may not be spared in the case of the Nawab Akbar Bugti killing. He says that the fire in Balochistan is now spreading to Sindh which translated into the blasts at the railway tracks in the province. Referring to Home Minister’s statement that these blasts could be a result of the growing sense of alienation amongst the Sindhis, Mungi says that this ‘sense of alienation’ grew during Zia’s times. He says that the best way to address the issue is to hold talks with the Sindhi forces that are often regarded as not having ‘popular support’. He says that Balochistan had been burning for a long time and this had impacted Sindh, just as the Taliban movement in KP had an impact on Punjab and had led to the growth of Punjabi Taliban. Mungi ends by saying that till now, no one had claimed the responsibility for the blasts on the railway tracks and opines that this could also be a reflection of the burning Balochistan. (Awami Awaz, 27 February)

4. Nawa-i-Waqt edit on Balochistan resolution in the US House of Representatives says the US and India have supported troublemakers in Balochistan. PM Gilani gave evidence of RAW’s involvement in Balochistan to the Indian PM by. It writes that due to the strategic and geographic importance of Balochistan, the US wants its control over the Gwadar Port. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

5. While speaking to EU Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigenmark, Balochistan CM Nawab Muhammad Aslam said that they were aware of the interferences in Balochistan and believed in negotiations for a peaceful solution to the issue. People who were fighting keep taking of ‘freedom’; if Balochistan succeeded in getting independence, a bloody civil war will erupt. He said that every chieftain in Balochistan had his own territory and that they were totally lawless; hence, in case of independence, they would start fighting with each other. Aslam also appealed to the US and the EU to get the Kashmir dispute resolved. (Jasarat)

6. Chief of BNP Sardar Akhtar Mengal has demanded for a referendum in Balochistan under UN observation. (Jasarat)

7. Ausaf edit writes that the enemies of Pakistan were restless since Pakistan was a nuclear power and hence, they were trying to split up Pakistan. Edit says that the recent propaganda surrounding the Balochistan issue should also be viewed in this light. Edit advises that the leaders should negotiate with Baloch leaders and find an amicable solution to the issue. (Ausaf Edit, 27 February

8. Hafiz Muhammad Idris, deputy General Secretary of the Pakistan Rabta Council (UK) said that tribal chieftains of Balochistan have played a role in the destruction and deprivation of Balochistan; he compared today’s situation in Balochistan to the fall of Dhaka. Idris said that ANP and PML-Q had an alliance with the forces that took lead in breaking off East Pakistan from Pakistan. (Ausaf, 27 February)

NWFP
1. Jinnah edit on relations with India and Afghanistan says Mehmood Khan Achakzai had said that if peace was established with Afghanistan, Pakistan’s Pakhtoons would not ask for a separate state. It says that a stable and peaceful Afghanistan was good for Pakistan’s interests. (Jinnah Edit)

SINDH
1. Rangers arrested Safdar Saraiki, chief of Jiye Sindh Tehrik in Karachi. Saraiki was released after an hour’s interrogation. Sources say Saraiki was on his way to Lyari to mobilize support for his rally on March 18th. (Ibrat)

ECONOMY
1. Secretary, Ministry of Treasury Wajid Rana, in a Senate Committee hearing, revealed that the government debt had grown to Rs. 12, 000 billion. He said that according to the Governor of the State Bank, the loans that the government was taking from private banks could be stopped, but that would damage the government profile and affect the market. (Jasarat)

POK NEWS
1. Tehrik-e-Kashmir UK Vice President Chaudhary Muhammad Yasin said that Pakistan had invited APHC (G) Chief Syed Ali Geelani to Pakistan where he would voice his reaction against Pakistan’s decision to give India MFN status. He said that calling a country like India the most favourite was like supporting its cruel practices. (Jang)

2. Daily Dharti welcomed AJK government’s ordinance for the establishment of the Poonch University. (Daily Dharti Edit)
 
G-B NEWS
1.PM Gilani has nominated Senator Jehangir Badr as a Gilgit-Baltistan Council member.

2. Markazi Imamiya Gilgit has demanded that Gilgit-Baltistan not be linked with AJK anymore as it was making G-B into a scapegoat. It said that when the 1973 Constitution was formed, there was no mention of G-B; even later, G-B was never mentioned in the Constitution. (Baad-e-Shimal)

3. Attabad spillway was opened yesterday and 40,000 cusecs of water was released. The level of the lake was expected to go down by 10 to 15 feet in the next 24 hours. A new dam will be constructed on the Attabad Lake after 2 months. (Baad-e-Shimal)

4. Thousands affected by the landslide near the Attabad Lake were still waiting for government aid. 39 villages and 47 families were badly affected in the Hunza Valley two years ago. Trade with China was also affected due the closing of the Karakoram Highway. Its restoration became a challenge for the government due to continued spilling of water. (Ummat)

5. CM Gilgit-Baltistan Mehdi Shah said that corrupt officials would be dealt with stringently. PPP (Gilgit-Baltistan) alliance parties have
announced a movement called ‘CM Mehdi Hatao, Party Bachao’. A rally would soon be taken out from the Islamabad Press Club to the President’s Palace in this regard. (Ausaf, 27 February)

6. Baad-e-Shimal editorial has welcomed G-B CM’s announcement of taking stringent action against corrupt government officers. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)