DINA for the issue of February 18, 2014

	February 18, 2014 | Rabi-ul-Saani 17, 1435
The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news service from Pakistan’s largest English language newspaper, the Daily DAWN.
Army assails ‘provocative act’ By Our Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD: The army denounced on Monday the killing of 23 Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers by the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as a “highly provocative act”.	For suggestions and comments: Email: webmaster@dawn.com Website: http://dawn.com Fax: +92(21) 35693995 Karachi Stocks down 390.24 Points: KARACHI, February 17 : At the close of trading, the KSE-100 index was 26003.89, down 390.24 points. Forex Update : KARACHI, February 17 : The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 105.95 to the US Dollar in the open market.
FC men’s killing throws talks into disarray By Khawar Ghumman ISLAMABAD: Another day, another claim by Taliban militants of having killed security personnel, and yet another tailor-made condemnation of the tragic incident by the prime minister: “The country cannot afford more bloodshed.” In a statement issued on Tuesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif paid ceremonial tribute to the 23 fallen soldiers of Frontier Corps (FC), but maintained an uncanny silence over the ongoing talks between the government and the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) whether his government was still interested in carrying forward the peace process or had decided to take militants head on.
Iran warns of sending troops into Pakistan DUBAI: Iran said on Monday it would send forces into Pakistan to free five border guards said to have been kidnapped by militants if Islamabad did not take measures to secure their release. According to Iranian media reports, the guards were seized on Feb 6 in the Iranian province of Sistan-Baluchestan by militants who allegedly took them across the border to Pakistan.
Similarity of views on regional issues with Saudi Arabia By Baqir Sajjad Syed ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia announced on Monday a common regional view which signified growing centrality of Riyadh in Islamabad’s foreign and security policies. A joint declaration issued at the conclusion of Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud’s three-day visit briefly touched on the steps the two countries would take to fortify their relationship but was explicit about an understanding achieved on the regional issues from Syria to Afghanistan.
WHO official among six polio workers kidnapped By Ihsan Dawar TANK: A World Health Organisation (WHO) official and five members of a polio team were kidnapped in the tribal area of Frontier Region Tank on Monday. The local political administration identified the personnel kidnapped as WHO’s polio eradication officer Dr Khandan, supervisor Fareed, driver Taleemullah and Levies’ Lance Naiks Amanaullha and Dawlat Khan and sepoy Minhas.
Govt blundering into a blind alley? By Ismail Khan BARELY a week after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced launching a new peace initiative to end more than a decade of militancy and terrorism, there were telltale signs the road to peace would not be easy. In an email on Feb 7, Omar Khorasani, special assistant to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Mohmand (TTM) chief Mohammad Wali aka Omar Khalid Khorasani, had put a big question mark on the fate of peace talks, citing what he called killings-in-custody of “activists” and “workers” in Peshawar and Karachi.
THE GREAT ESCAPE By Taha Siddiqui UMERKOT: In the early hours of dawn, Mannu escaped on foot from the feudal landlord who had made him and his family hostage and was demanding a Rs300,000 payment for a loan that Mannu did not borrow for their release. He knew the police were under the landlord’s influence so his destination was elsewhere. Walking for miles, he arrived at Dr Ghulam Haider’s two-room makeshift office. Haider heads a human rights organisation which helps modern-day slaves like Mannu in Sindh’s Umerkot district.
1,200 cops to be on duty for Musharraf today By Munawer Azeem and Malik Asad ISLAMABAD: The capital police are expecting to receive former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad on Tuesday for his first appearance before the special court seized with his high treason trial. “Although there is no signal from the former military ruler, he is likely to appear before the court today (Tuesday). There are 90 per cent chances,” a senior police officer told Dawn.
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