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[To demonstrate that there's no feud between the co-founders and sponsors of the Afghan Mujahedin, the al-Qaeda network that developed in support of it and the Taliban which was sired by it. As well as various movements that sprang from or were inspired and aided by the original 'freedom fighters,' from the Balkans to China's Xinjiang Province.] http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/articleshow?artid=25074070 The Times Of India October 14, 2002 US, Pak to resume military exercises -The US Central Command is deploying part of the First Battalion of the Fifteenth Infantry Regiment of the Third Brigade, Third Infantry Division, based in Fort Stewart, Georgia for the exercises.... -"What we do for one we have to do for another," said another US official, speaking on condition of anonymity. -The official said the exercises would take place in eastern Punjab province, close to the border with India. -The Pentagon has already offered to sell six C-130 Hercules to Pakistan's air force.... ISLAMABAD (AFP): The US and Pakistan will conduct joint military exercises on Pakistani soil this week, the first since Washington lifted sanctions against Islamabad late in 2001. A US infantry company and a Pakistani infantry battalion will hold three weeks of exercises starting sometime this week, US embassy spokesman Terry White said. The last joint exercises were held in 1997. Military and economic sanctions were imposed after Pakistan conducted nuclear tests in 1998. The exercises, dubbed "Inspired Gambit", "will focus on small arms ranges and small unit tactics," White said. He was unable to say exactly where the exercises would take place. The US Central Command is deploying part of the First Battalion of the Fifteenth Infantry Regiment of the Third Brigade, Third Infantry Division, based in Fort Stewart, Georgia for the exercises, White said. The US recently completed military exercises with Pakistan's arch-rival and neighbour India in September. "What we do for one we have to do for another," said another US official, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official said the exercises would take place in eastern Punjab province, close to the border with India. In September, the two countries resumed joint military talks after a four year suspension. US defence officials said they were ready to consider providing more military hardware for Pakistan as a reward for its help in the fight against terrorism. The Pentagon has already offered to sell six C-130 Hercules to Pakistan's air force and is awaiting Congressional approval. ------------------------------------------------------- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/articleshow?artid=25097443 The Times of India October 14, 2002 Serious flaws in Pak elections: EU ISLAMABAD (AP): European Union observers assailed the military government on Saturday for trying to distort Pakistan�s election by giving preferential treatment to pro-government candidates, misusing state news broadcasts, and locking out top political rivals. The observers cited "serious flaws" in this week�s vote � the first since President Pervez Musharraf seized power in a coup three years ago. "This is just not true," said the government in a statement. It said the EU conclusion was "indeed unfortunate." Before the vote, Musharraf issued a series of decrees including the establishment of a security council that institutionalizes the military�s role in government. He also gave himself the power to sack the prime minister and dissolve the legislature, and passed laws that required that all candidates hold a university degree, a requirement that effectively barred 90 percent of the country�s largely illiterate population from running. The government�s moves constituted "unjustified interference with electoral arrangements and the democratic process," said the European Union�s chief observer, John Cushnahan. "The action taken by the authorities led to serious flaws in the process." The EU observers also criticized the government for effectively blocking the two best-known Pakistani politicians from running. Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was eliminated by a Musharraf decree barring anyone convicted of crimes in absentia, and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif accepted a 10 year exile in Saudi Arabia in return for his release from prison following the 1999 coup. The EU observers said the Election Commission was partial to government candidates, allowed state funds to go to pro-government parties, and limited campaign time. They also said that in some areas voters may have been unfairly turned away on election day. The government statement issued late Saturday said "leaders of political parties were given a fair share of airtime to express their views" on state-run radio and television. It said the autonomous Election Commission had done "a reasonable job" of carrying out "a mammoth election" by an electorate enlarged to nearly 72 million people by the lowering of the voting age to 18 from 21. Musharraf�s pledge that the election would be fair was the reason that election observers and the foreign media "were provided full and unfettered access to any part of the country," it said. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos & More http://faith.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
