5000 tribesmen enlist to fight Al Qaeda

Around 5,000 tribesmen gathered in a Pakistani border area Monday to enlist for ongoing battles against foreign Al-Qaeda militants.

The jirga or tribal assembly was called by a pro-government chief and former Taliban commander following two weeks of pitched battles in the South Waziristan region during which more than 200 people have died.

The Pakistani government says the efforts to drive the Uzbek, Chechen and Arab militants from the area show the success of Islamabad’s peace deals with formerly Taliban-supporting tribesmen.

“We should fight against the foreigners as one nation. They have created so many problems for us,” said the tribal commander, Mullah Nazir while addressing a gathering.

New visa policy put in place

Visa on-arrival counter plan has been implemented by Pakistan under new visa policy across the country.

Under this plan, people from 69 countries will be given business visas and others will be given visit visas on their arrival in Pakistan. Visa on-arrival counters have been established at all the airports of the country for issuance of visas under the said plan.

First visa on-arrival counter was inaugurated by DG FIA Tariq Pervez at Islamabad.

Source: Pak Tribune

New generation of Qaeda leaders emerges in Pak

Following the death or capture of many top Al Qaeda operatives in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, a new generation of the group’s leaders has emerged in Pakistan’s tribal areas, The New York Times reported on its website late Sunday.

West Indies condemned to third defeat by Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka 303 for 5 (Jayasuriya 115, Jayawardene 82) beat West Indies 190 (Chanderpaul 76, Jayasuriya 3-38) by 113 runs  

World Cup hosts West Indies fell to their third successive defeat as a superb century from Sanath Jayasuriya led Sri Lanka to a 113-run victory in their Super Eights game yesterday.

West Indies, beaten by Australia and New Zealand in their opening two matches, no longer have their destiny in their own hands and are relying on other results going their way if they are to have hope of reaching the semi-finals.

Jayasuriya, who hit 10 fours and four sixes as he struck 115 in 101 balls, was ably supported by captain Mahela Jayawardene who made 82 as the pair put on 183 for the third wicket.

The West Indies never recovered from the early losses of Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and captain Brian Lara as they fell to 42 for three.

Guyanese pairing Shivnarine Chanderpaul (76) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (44) put on a 92 partnership but their run-rate was too slow to leave the lower order with any real chance of making the target and the last seven wickets went for 56 runs, Jayasuriya completing a fine day with three wickets.

Today’s Super 8 match is between New Zealand and Bangladesh.