DINA for the issue of December 19, 2013

	December 19, 2013 | Safar 15, 1435
The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news service from Pakistan’s largest English language newspaper, the Daily DAWN.
Govt says youth loan terms set by banks By Khawar Ghumman Parliamentary secretary for finance and revenue Rana Mohammad Afzal Khan faced a barrage of complaints in the National Assembly on Wednesday from both sides of the aisle over what they said strict conditions attached to the loan scheme.	For suggestions and comments: Email: webmaster@dawn.com Website: http://dawn.com Fax: +92(21) 35693995 Karachi Stocks up 174.26 Points: KARACHI, December 18: At the close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 25524.46, up 174.26 points. Forex Update : KARACHI, December 18: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 106.4 to the US Dollar in the open market.
Five troops killed in N. Waziristan suicide blast By Pazir Gul MIRAMSHAH: At least five soldiers were killed and 34 others injured when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a mosque at a security checkpost in North Waziristan on Wednesday evening. According to officials, the bomber rammed his mini-truck loaded with explosives into the roadside mosque at the Khajori post, some 40km east of Miramshah, the administrative headquarters of the tribal agency adjacent to Afghanistan.
Iraq attack leaves 3 Pakistanis dead BAGHDAD: Iraqi officials say attacks across the country have killed 11 people, including three Pakistani pilgrims. Police officials say the deadliest among Wednesday’s attacks was in the town of Khalis, where a suicide bomber struck a group of Shia pilgrims, killing six and wounding 16. Khalis is about 80km north of Baghdad.
Strategic dialogue with US to resume in Feb: Aziz By Amir Wasim ISLAMABAD: The strategic dialogue between Pakistan and the United States, suspended in 2010, will resume by February in the perspective of post-2014 situation in the region after the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan. This was stated by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz who was winding up a debate in the Senate on Wednesday on foreign policy with particular reference to the prime minister’s visit to the US, drone attacks and repercussions of the expected reduction in the number of forces in Afghanistan next year.
Attack on polio teams disservice to people: Imran By Suhail Kakakhel NOWSHERA: People of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa may face travel restrictions and international isolation “if we don’t vaccinate all our children against polio”, PTI chief Imran Khan said here on Wednesday as he announced a plan to step up efforts in this regard. “Our people could lose their jobs abroad and suffer economically. We need to join forces for polio vaccination to avert such threats,” he said while inaugurating a polio vaccination campaign at a rural health centre in Akora Khattak.
Remarks evoke Taliban threat ISLAMABAD: In a late night development, a spokesman for Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) stated that the life of party chairman Imran Khan was seriously under threat from a militant group over his stance on the polio campaign. “PTI chairman Imran Khan has been informed that according to information from Waziristan there has been a serious threat to his life by (a militant group) Ansarul Mujahideen because of his polio announcement,” the spokesman said in a text message sent to Dawn.
Strategic arsenal’s custodian replaced By Our Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD: The government replaced on Wednesday the head of the department that administers the nuclear programme with a serving army general. Lt Gen Zubair Mehmood Hayat has been named as the new Director General of Strategic Plans Division (SPD). He replaces retired Lt Gen Khalid Ahmed Kidwai. Gen Hayat is currently serving as the Corps Commander of Bahawalpur.
CM warns against devolution rollback By Saleem Shahid QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has said that some political parties are working against the powers granted to provinces under the 18th Amendment and warned that his province would strongly resist any such move. Speaking at a seminar organised by the Chief Minister’s Policy Reform Unit and department of inter-provincial harmony, he said provinces had secured their constitutional rights after great sacrifices, adding that the old mindset about provincial powers should be changed.
Taliban torch US vehicles in Afghan border area JALALABAD: Taliban fighters wearing army uniforms attacked US military vehicles in a parking lot in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing at least one policeman and torching several trucks, an official said. The attackers detonated a car bomb outside the entrance to the facility at Torkham gate, a key crossing into Pakistan for Nato supplies leaving Afghanistan as the US-led coalition forces withdraw.
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