Two arrested for throwing objects at White House

Washington:  The US Secret Service Thursday arrested two men for throwing objects at the White House, the perimeter around which was locked down for an hour as a precaution.

The suspects were identified as Evan J. Graham and Vaughn Greenbrier Lerriche, according to NBC television.

Graham threw over the north fence of the presidential mansion an object that looked like a cassette tape and Lerriche threw various papers over the south fence.

Pak concerns over Indian role in Afghanistan not groundless: US

WASHINGTON: In an acknowledgement of Pakistan’s concerns over India’s presence in Afghanistan, US Special Representative James Dobbins has said Islamabad’s fears are “not groundless”.

The US diplomat, in an interview with the BBC Urdu Service in Washington, recognised the cross-border infiltration of hostile elements into Pakistan from the Afghan side.

Al-Qaeda leader Zawahiri is said to have ordered terrorist attack

Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri ordered the head of the terrorist group’s Yemen affiliate to carry out an attack, according to intercepted communications that have led to the closure of U.S. embassies and a global travel alert, said a person briefed on the case.

In one communication, Zawahiri, who succeeded Osama bin Laden, gave “clear orders” to Nasir al-Wuhayshi, the founder of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, to undertake an attack, the source said. McClatchy newspapers first reported the exchange on Sunday.

UK evacuates Yemen embassy staff amid threat

Britain’s Foreign Office says it has evacuated all staff from its embassy in Yemen due to increased security concerns.

The moves come shortly after the U.S. State Department ordered non-essential personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Yemen to leave the country following the threat by al-Qaeda that has triggered temporary shutdowns of 19 American diplomatic posts across the Middle East and Africa.

US terror alert fails to deter tourists to the UAE

The US embassy in Abu Dhabi and the consulate in Dubai are among 19 diplomatic posts that will remain closed till Saturday in response to a possible Al Qaeda attack in the region.
The list includes 15 of the 22 that were already ordered closed on Sunday due to the security fears, as well as four additional posts.

But the global travel alert issued by the US State Department on Friday, warning of the dangers of travelling to the Middle East during August, seems to have done little to dampen the tourism sector in the UAE, as it gears up for a busy Eid.

Zawahri vows Al Qaeda to free Aafia, Guantanamo inmates

DUBAI: Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri said the group would spare no effort to free Aafia Siddiqui as well as the hunger striking inmates at Guantanamo Bay, according to an audio recording posted on the Internet on Wednesday.

“The (hunger) strike by our brothers at Guantanamo unmasks the true ugly face of (the United States of) America,” Zawahri said in an audio recording posted on an Islamist website and whose authenticity could not be verified.

John Kerry expected to visit Pakistan on July 31

ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to arrive in Islamabad on July 31, sources told DawnNews on Monday.

Kerry had accepted an invitation to visit Pakistan, extended to him by Adviser to Pakistan's Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz during a meeting held on the sidelines of the 20th Ministerial Meeting of the Asean Regional Forum on July 2.

Kerry arrives in India on three-day visit

US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in New Delhi on Sunday to participate in the fourth round of Indo-US strategic dialogue, even as the US announced to invest $100 million in India's burgeoning clean energy sector.

Kerry, 69, accompanied by a high-level delegation arrived here on a three-day visit, the first one after assuming the charge of the state department earlier this year.

No US-Taliban talks scheduled: State Department

The United States has not scheduled talks with the Taliban, the State Department said, after reports that discussions with the Afghan insurgent group could begin this week in Qatar.

"Reports of a meeting being scheduled or on the books aren't accurate," spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters, saying Washington had "never confirmed" the date and place of any specific meeting.

Putin faces isolation over Syria as G8 ratchets up pressure

Russian President Vladimir Putin faced further isolation on the second day of a G8 summit on Tuesday as world leaders lined up to pressure him into toning down his support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Following an icy encounter between the Kremlin chief and U.S. President Barack Obama late on Monday, the G8 leaders will seek to find resolution to a war that has prompted powers across the Middle East to square off on sectarian lines.

US welcomes new PM Nawaz

WASHINGTON: The United States welcomed the swearing-in of Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday as a “significant milestone” in the nation’s democracy.

“We look forward to working with him and the newly democratically elected government of Pakistan,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

“The United States stands with all Pakistanis in welcoming this historic, largely peaceful and transparent transfer of civilian power, which is a significant milestone in Pakistan’s democratic progress.”

US concerned about Turkey protests, says Biden

Washington: US Vice President Joe Biden says only Turks can solve the problem of anti-government protests sowing unrest in Turkey. But he says the US is concerned and isn't indifferent to the outcome.

Thousands have joined rallies voicing discontent with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's 10-year rule. The protests spread after police cracked down on a peaceful sit-in over an Istanbul park's demolition.

SC orders Hussain Haqqani to appear within four weeks

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday ordered former Ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani to appear before the court within four weeks time.

A bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, was hearing the 'Memogate scandal' case here Tuesday.

Haqqani was first named in the 'memogate' controversy by US businessman Mansoor Ijaz who accused the former ambassador of asking him (Ijaz) to deliver a contentious memo to Washington, asking for its help in reining in Pakistan's military days after the May 2, 2011 US raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound.

Rasmussen rules out decision on future force size

BRUSSELS: As NATO defence ministers began a two-day meeting here on Tuesday, the alliance secretary-general ruled out an immediate decision on the number of troops that would stay in Afghanistan post 2014.

“I wouldn’t expect this meeting to make decisions on the exact number of troops and trainers after 2014,” Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters. NATO and ISAF defence ministers would adopt guidelines for the new mission in Afghanistan, he said.

About the shape of the Resolute Support mission, beginning in 2015, he said certain elements were already clear and that it would be a non-combat campaign with a much smaller number of troops and trainers.

Nine children killed in Afghan suicide attack: officials

KABUL: A suicide bomb attack targeting US and Afghan forces killed nine children heading home from school in eastern Afghanistan on Monday, officials said.

One policeman was also killed and two coalition soldiers were among about 16 people wounded, Zalmai Uriakhail, the police chief of Paktia province, told AFP of the attack, which used an explosives-packed motorcycle.

Waliur Rehman buried, say intelligence officials

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Pakistani intelligence officials said the Pakistani Taliban's deputy leader has been buried after his death in a US drone strike.

The killing of Waliur Rehman has not been confirmed by the White House or the official Pakistani Taliban spokesman. But it would be a major blow to the militant group.

The US had accused Rehman of involvement in a 2009 suicide attack in Afghanistan that killed seven CIA employees.

US special envoy to visit Pakistan soon

ISLAMABAD: With the United States eager to establish a working relationship with the incoming PML-N government, its special envoy for the region will soon be visiting Islamabad.

A meeting with Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan James Dobbins would probably be the next government’s first direct, face-to-face, and formal engagement with any senior Obama administration functionary.

Nawaz Sharif, who has been named by PML-N as the next prime minister, has already met Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and talked to a number of world leaders, including President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Hamid Karzai by phone after his party won the May 11 polls.

Informed sources said that during his visit, Mr Dobbins would discuss both bilateral issues and matters related to peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.

Washington’s policy towards the incoming PML-N government has been one of developing a good interactive relationship. US Ambassador Richard Olson has visited Mr Sharif twice at his palatial estate in Raiwind to brief him on the US perspective about the bilateral relationship.

Relations between Islamabad and Washington have always been complicated, but remained particularly tense after 2011 raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad and the subsequent attack on the Salala border checkpost. The relationship, however, witnessed some improvement over the past year. Mr Sharif as an opposition leader in the past had been extremely critical of Washington, but soon after his party’s success expressed his desire for improved relations with the US.

“There are several factors that do not allow either of us to part,” one of Mr Sharif’s foreign policy advisers explained.

Pakistan has been depending heavily on economic and military aid from the United States and needs its political support at international forums and lending agencies.

The Americans, meanwhile, need Pakistan’s unconditional support for withdrawal from Afghanistan and achieving peace and stability in the war-ravaged country.

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WHO suspends polio drive in Pakistani city after shooting

PESHAWAR :  The World Health Organisation suspended its polio eradication campaign in a Pakistani city on Tuesday after two young workers were shot as they administered drops, the latest attack aimed at the U.N.-backed operation.

The victims of the shooting in the violence-plagued northwestern city of Peshawar were aged 18 and 20. Police said both had died, but medical sources said one had died and one was seriously wounded.

Syrian opposition split as peace moves forge ahead

International efforts to end the conflict in Syria accelerate on Monday with key talks in Brussels and Paris, amid a push for a new peace conference despite growing divisions within the Syrian opposition.

US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet his Russian and French counterparts in Paris to advance an initiative for an international conference on ending the more than two-year conflict.

Border firing: Afghan diplomat summoned

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan summoned the most senior Afghan diplomat in the country on Tuesday to protest over border skirmishes that it said left five security personnel wounded and strained bilateral relations.

Exchanges of fire and ensuing protests are threatening to worsen already fractious ties between Kabul and Islamabad, despite renewed efforts last month by US Secretary of State John Kerry to get them to work more closely on peace efforts.