US Congress approves $2.3bn aid package for Pakistan

WASHINGTON: The American Congress has approved an aid package of over two billion dollars for Pakistan for the current fiscal year ahead of an important meeting between President Asif Zardari and a US economic team, DawnNews reported.

The US Congress approved the $2.376 million aid for the 2008-2009 financial year, while the US administration’s request for $2.282 million for the financial year 2009-2010 is pending for approval of the US Congress.

In addition, the US administration has provided $913 million cash reimbursement with regard to the Coalition Support Fund.

SOURCE: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/04-us-congress-approves-2.3bn-aid-package-qs-04

India increases security after Israel, Australia warnings

NEW DELHI: India said on Tuesday it was increasing security to thwart possible militant strikes in the country days after Israel and Australia issued warnings to its citizens to avoid travelling to Indian cities.

Israel and Australia have issued travel warnings to its citizens based on intelligence inputs on militant strikes.

'We are increasing our level of preparedness to meet any terror threat or terror attack,' Palaniappan Chidambaram, the home (Interior) minister told reporters in New Delhi, when asked about the country's security worries.

'Don't present an alarmist picture. We are fully aware of the threats from across the border,' Chidambaram said, replying to questions on the foreign intelligence reports.

Australia's Victoria state Premier, John Brumby, cancelled his trip to Mumbai this week after the Australian government issued a travel warning to avoid Mumbai.

Brumby, on a official trip to India, will now stay in Delhi and Bangalore, an Australian High Commission official said in the capital.

Security has been tightened with more checking in shopping malls, government buildings and important landmarks in Maharashtra state and its main city of Mumbai, which goes to state polls in October.

Last week Indian officials said they were in contact with Israel after a television report said Jerusalem had a 'pinpoint' intelligence tip-off about Pakistani militants attacking India in the coming weeks.

India is a popular destination for Israeli holidaymakers.

Foreign tourists at two plush hotels and a Jewish centre were among the several targets attacked by 10 gunmen in last November's militant strike on Mumbai, which India blames on Pakistani nationals.

'In case of a terror threat or terror attack our response will be swift and decisive,' Chidambaram said on Tuesday.

SOURCE:http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/india+increases+security+after+israel,+australia+warnings

Former Indian army soldier accused of spying

PATNA: An ex-Indian army soldier who was kicked out of the military for indiscipline has been arrested for allegedly spying for rival Pakistan's powerful intelligence agency, police said Tuesday.

Sudhakar Sudhanshu was arrested Monday in Patna carrying sketches that showed the location of Indian troops in the disputed Kashmir region and an ordnance factory, said Bihar state police official Neelmani, who uses one name.

He was allegedly planning to visit Nepal to hand over the sketches to a contact from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence, Vineet Vinayak, a senior superintendent of police, told The Associated Press.

Police also recovered five mobile phone SIM cards that could be used on networks in Nepal and elsewhere.

India and Pakistan have fought two wars over control of Kashmir since they won independence from Britain in 1947. They both claim the Himalayan territory in entirety.

Sudhanshu is being held under India's anti-espionage law and will be formally charged later, Vinayak said. He will be appointed a lawyer when he appears in court. He could be jailed for 10 years, if convicted for spying.

Sudhanshu joined the army in 2002, but was kicked out five years later for indiscipline, Vinayak said.

SOURCE: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/06-former-indian-army-soldier-accused-of-spying-rs-04

Younis not to play tomorrow’s match vs WI

JOHANNESBURG: Pakistan team captain Younis Khan has Tuesday announced not to play tomorrow’s match due to fracture in his hand’s finger.

Pakistan is playing its first match against West Indies tomorrow in ICC Champions Trophy.

Talking to media, Younis said he is raring to play match against India and rout it.

It should be mentioned here that doctors advised him to take four-week rest. He said he would be able to take part in the ICC Champions Trophy only after doctors’ advise.

Vice Captain Shahid Afridi will captain tomorrow’s match against West Indies.

SOURCE: http://geo.tv/9-22-2009/49592.htm

Al-Qaeda issues new threats on KSA

DUBAI: AL-QAEDA has threatened further attacks inside Saudi Arabia following a suicide bomber's failed attempt to kill Riyadh's deputy interior minister last month, the SITE Intelligence Group said.

'If you can flee with your skin, then do so. By Allah, they will climb your walls and will come to you from where you do not expect,' Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) leader Abu Baseer al-Wuhayshi says in a video posted online, the US-based monitoring group reported.

Deputy Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, responsible for security affairs, was lightly injured in the Aug 27 attack in Jeddah that was claimed by AQAP, which named the bomber as Abdullah bin Hassan bin Taleh Assiri.

'Our heroes have woven their grave-clothes with your blood,' Wuhayshi says. The video also contains a telephone conversation between Assiri and the prince, in which the bomber says he wishes to return to Saudi Arabia from Yemen because he has repented.

On Sept 1 the Saudi interior ministry also released excerpts of the same conversation.

'I would like to meet you to discuss the whole matter with you,' Assiri told Mohammed, according to the excerpts broadcast by Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television. The conversation took place after Assiri arrived at the the Saudi-Yemeni border, state news agency SPA reported.

Assiri was taken to Jeddah and when he arrived at Mohammed's residence and met him, he confirmed his wish to hand himself in and also help a group of Saudis living in Yemen to return home, the ministry said. While making a phone call to one of them in the reception room where they were meeting, he blew himself up.

Saudi and Yemeni branches of Al-Qaeda announced in January their merger into 'Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula'.

The attempt to kill Prince Mohammed was the first high-profile Al-Qaeda attack on the Saudi government since militants rammed a car bomb into the fortified interior ministry in Riyadh in 2004.

It was also the first strike on a member of the royal family since Al-Qaeda launched a wave of attacks in the kingdom in 2003, targeting Western establishments and oil facilities and killing more than 150 Saudis and foreigners.

SOURCE: http://geo.tv/9-22-2009/49596.htm