Tag: Diplomatic

Pak, China reaffirm to steer strong bonds of friendship to new...

Pakistan and China have reiterated the importance of further deepening and enhancing their strategic cooperative partnership and determination to take the friendship to new...

Pakistan wants diplomatic solution to drone attacks

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that that the government is trying to evolve a diplomatic solution on drone attacks. He said that...

Diplomatic channels being used to put stop to drone attacks: Gilani

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday told the National Assembly that diplomatic pressure was being applied on the US to stop drone attacks in the Tribal Areas.
In response to a point of order raised by Leader of the Opposition in the NA Nisar Ali Khan, the prime minister said Pakistan was using diplomatic channels to compel the US to stop drone attacks because they were counter-productive.
He said security forces conducted successful operation against

All embassies should be moved to Diplomatic Enclave

ISLAMABAD - The Government must shift the foreign embassies operating in the residential areas of the capital city to the highly secured diplomatic enclave to lessen the woes of citizens, which they are facing because of the presence of these missions.
Emtiaz Enyat Elahi chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) said this during an exclusive interview with Pakistan Today. "The CDA is very keen to solve the ordeal of people residing in sectors G-6, E-7, F-7, F-8 and F-10, which

Barclays sub-branch opens at Diplomatic Enclave, Islamabad

ISLAMABAD - Adam Thomson, British High Commissioner, inaugurated a sub-branch of Barclays Bank in the Diplomatic Enclave, Islamabad. This sub-branch will support Barclays in serving the Diplomatic community and Development Organizations (DOs) better. Speaking on the occasion, the British High Commissioner said "I have observed Barclays impressive growth in Pakistan very keenly and with much appreciation.

Britain revokes Gaddafi’s diplomatic immunity

LONDON - Britain has revoked the diplomatic immunity of Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi and members of his family, Foreign Secretary William Hague said Sunday. He was speaking after the UN Security Council unanimously ordered a travel and assets ban on Gaddafi's regime and a probe into potential crimes against humanity during the attempted crackdown on the revolt against his rule.
Hague also called on Gaddafi to stand down, saying it was the "best hope" for Libya. "We have here a

‘Davis has diplomatic immunity’

WASHINGTON - The White House has demanded Raymond Davis's immediate release, reiterating that he had diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention. It said the Obama administration remained focused on the release of Davis, who was arrested in Lahore on January 27 after he shot and killed two Pakistanis he claimed were trying to rob him.
"We believe that the principle that every country in the world that participates in the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations has a

Diplomatic bus service challenged in IHC

ISLAMABAD - A petition was filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) by Chaudhry Attaur Rehman on Wednesday against the diplomatic shuttle bus service, which he claimed was charging too much (Rs 500) to transport visitors to foreign missions inside the Diplomatic Enclave.
A single bench of the IHC comprising Chief Justice Iqbal Hameed-ur-Rehman heard the case against the administration of the shuttle service and the Capital Development Authority (CDA). The petitioner's counsel told

Munter asks Hina to certify diplomatic immunity

ISLAMABAD - US Ambassador Cameron Munter on Monday held a meeting with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and discussed with her the issue of Raymond Davis, the American jailed in Lahore for murdering two Pakistani citizens.
"Munter had a detailed discussion with the minister of state for foreign affairs and he asked her to certify the diplomatic immunity for Davis," said an official wishing not to be named. He said the US envoy reiterated that Davis enjoyed

LHC moved for Davis’ diplomatic record

LAHORE - Barrister Javed Iqbal Jaffrey on Saturday filed a petition in the Lahore High Court asking that all certified copies of diplomatic record, if any of Raymond Allen Davis be submitted to the court immediately to stop issuance of the same in the backdates by way of forgery and tempering.
Barrister Jaffrey contended that the court should issue a preemptive order to the federal government against possible tempering of US citizen's record for his benefit in the larger

Diplomatic tension knocks KSE from top of ratings list

KARACHI - The prevailing diplomatic discord between Pakistan and its strategic partners in the United States over the arrest and the claimed immunity of Raymond Davis has begun to reflect adversely on daily share trading at the local bourses. The Karachi Stock Exchange's (KSE) Progress Report for 2006-2011 reveals that the position of KSE on February 11 had been pulled down to fifth among the top 12 international stock market indices owing primarily to, what the KSE officials said,

With diplomatic passport, Davis deserves immunity: Fauzia

ISLAMABAD - PPP Information Secretary MNA Fauzia Wahab has said Raymond Davis enjoys immunity if he holds a diplomatic passport. "We understand international and ground realities. Davis had diplomatic passport and whosoever has diplomatic passport enjoys the diplomatic immunity," she said.
Talking to a private TV channel, she said it would be difficult for the Punjab government to offer any excuse if the centre objected to any out irregularities being committed in Punjab. She

Egypt screens diplomatic bags after weapons claim

CAIRO - Authorities at Cairo airport began screening incoming and outgoing diplomatic pouches on Monday, the MENA agency said, a day after the foreign ministry accused diplomats of trying to bring weapons into Egypt. The pouches will be screened by X-ray... to stop any illegal items from entering Egypt, which has been rocked by two weeks of deadly nationwide anti-government protests.
The exceptional measures were introduced on the orders of the foreign ministry, despite

Davis has diplomatic passport, not visa: Malik

ISLAMABAD - Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Friday that Raymond Davis, a US national accused of killing two Pakistani youths in Lahore a few days ago, had a diplomatic passport but he travelled to Pakistan on a non-diplomatic visa. Talking to reporters outside the Parliament House, he said the Interior Ministry issued Davis a visa on the recommendation by the Foreign Office after due clearance by the security agencies.
"I again repeat, I never said that Davis travelled to

Pakistan’s diplomatic doom continued in 2010

ISLAMABAD - With every passing year, Pakistan's economy keeps going further down in the dumps, the security situation keeps getting worse and the country keeps getting more politically isolated in comparison to the previous year.
A country dubbed "strategically and geopolitically vital" in the corridors of power keeps proving itself to be a tragedy for its own citizens. No prominent leader, apart from Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, visited Pakistan in 2010. Barrack Obama, the

Spain, Russia in tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions: Madrid

MADRID - Spain has expelled two Russian diplomats in a move that triggered a tit-for-tat reaction from Moscow, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
The two Russian embassy staffers were asked to leave the country for having "engaged in activities incompatible with their status," the ministry said in a statement.
In diplomatic language, the phrase is usually taken to mean spying.
The statement said the embassy was notified of the decision "about a month ago". "In

WikiLeaks bares even tiny Vatican’s diplomatic soul

VATICAN CITY: The Vatican may be the world's smallest state but even its diplomatic soul has been laid bare by WikiLeaks cables covering everything from sex abuse and media blunders to old "technophobic" cardinals.
Cables sent from the US embassy to the Vatican to the State Department depict Pope Benedict as sometimes isolated as aides try to protect him from bad news, and say his number two is seen as a "yes man" with little credibility among diplomats.
The cables were