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Manmohan hopes Pakistan will find ways to overcome its present "difficulties"
Tuesday, 20 November, 2007
On Board Air India One, Nov 20 (ANI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday expressed hope that Pakistan would find a "pragmatic, practical and effective means" to overcome the "difficulties" it brought on itself by declaring a state of emergency on November 3.
Refusing to comment on the present situation in Pakistan, Dr. Singh said "I would not like to comment on internal developments in Pakistan."
"I have said on more than one occasion that destinies of our two countries are very closely interlinked. A strong, prosperous, stable, peaceful and democratic Pakistan is in our interest," Singh told reporters while en route to Singapore to attend the ASEAN summit.
On November 3, President Pervez Musharraf proclaimed emergency in Pakistan and the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO).
India has taken the line to treat the declaration of emergency in Pakistan as an internal problem of that country, while being "watchful" and "on the alert".
"We regret the difficult times that Pakistan is passing through. We trust that conditions of normalcy will soon return permitting Pakistan's transition to stability and democracy to continue," the External Affairs Ministry said in a release, after imposition of emergency in Pakistan on November 3. (ANI) -AJ Labels: Indo-Pak
Non-Resident Punjabis doing their bit to take India's booming economy forward
Monday, 19 November, 2007
Chandigarh, Nov 19 (ANI): A number of non-resident Indians (NRIs), looking for best investment opportunities, are keenly looking at India's growing economy.
Desiring to be a part of the India's growth story, many non-resident Punjabis are now ploughing back redemption proceeds from various NRI deposit schemes and investing them in India's stock markets.
Growing liberalisation and the opening up of India's economy is luring NRI investors, who are directly or indirectly pouring money into the Indian capital markets.
G S Chahal has already invested nearly 20,000 dollars in the past two years. The money has been sent by his Canada-based son-in-law and two brothers-in-law based in the United States.
Chahal, 61, regularly consults investment companies specialising in capital markets and investment banking.
"My advisors on investment, Allegro, advise me on how to invest in mutual funds and direct us if any insurance or taxation is required. They even guide us on the stock market scrips in which one can invest; so that you get better profits and your investments are divided properly," said Chahal.
Investment service providers are flourishing across Punjab and cashing in on the stock market boom.
Options are now wide open for NRIs to invest in the Indian capital market with maximum returns, be it equities, property or mutual funds.
By picking up equity stakes in Indian companies they form a major component of the country's Foreign Direct Investment.
"The stock exchange is a secondary market. Then there is a primary market with many companies floating their shares. The stock market may not have much of a ripple effect, but will have a very positive effect in the primary market because the people's confidence builds and grows with the growth of the stock market. So even the primary market succeeds," said Romesh Pande, a stock market expert.
The Portfolio Investment Scheme allows NRIs to acquire shares/ debentures of Indian companies or units of domestic mutual funds through the stock exchanges in India.
At the Ludhiana Stock Exchange, queries by NRI investors are growing manifold for the best investment opportunities.
The rupee appreciation and the market being at a new high have buoyed NRI investors on the lookout to enter the market.
"If the US economy has not slowed down, it has become a bit static. And the Federal Bank of the US has cut the rate of interest. Now it is somewhere around 4.5 percent. So there is a lot of attraction if they come to India and they can make lot of profit by investing in the Indian capital market. So the number is increasing day by day," said Prof Arvind Malhotra, Director, LSG Securities Ltd.
NRI investment in Indian capital markets will benefit them immensely, as it is monetarily rewarding and emotionally gratifying and helps them in maintaining their bond with their homeland. So it's a double-bonanza for NRIs. (ANI)
--MP Labels: Indo-Pak, NRI
Peace prevails on India-Pakistan border despite turmoil in Pakistan
Saturday, 17 November, 2007
Bharopal (Punjab), Nov 16 (ANI): Peace prevails on India's western front despite turmoil across the border following imposition of emergency in Pakistan.
Although Indian forces have been place on alert, there has been no spillover effect from developments across the border.
"There has been no change in activities in the border area after the imposition of emergency in Pakistan. The situation is under control. Our troops are on guard and are patrolling the 553 kilometers area of the border region. Till now, there has been no untoward incident," said S.A. Khader, a Border Security Force (BSF) official in Jalandhar.
Farmers continue with their routine cultivation escorted by BSF men.
"There is no threat to us from the other side (Pakistan). They keep to their business and we do our work. We don't feel threatened by them," said Tasneem Singh, a farmer.
The Indo-Pakistan border in Punjab has been a sensitive spot for long, and therefore, special attention is paid to security and the safety of residents of the area.
The border districts of Punjab have been affected by terrorism due to the infiltration of militants at intervals from Pakistan.
To contain this "cross border terrorism", India has fenced the thousand-kilometer- long border. (ANI)
- AY Labels: Indo-Pak
India wishes to see the beginning of democratisation in Pak: Pranab
Wednesday, 7 November, 2007
New Delhi, Nov 6 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said New Delhi wished to see the beginning of democratisation in Pakistan, adding that the people of that country would then be able to elect their government. "We do hope the process of democratisation in Pakistan to begin and people of Pakistan will get an opportunity to have their government as per their Constitution," Mukherjee told reporters on the sidelines of the first India-Africa Hydrocarbon Conference here. Mukherjee said that New Delhi wants "peace, prosperity and stability" in Pakistan. On Saturday, the day on which the emergency was proclaimed in Pakistan by President General Pervez Musharraf, New Delhi hoped that normalcy would soon return to democracy. Mukherjee inaugurated the first India-Africa Hydrocarbon Conference.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora also attended the conference. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, FICCI and UNCTAD are jointly organising a two-day conference. The primary objective of the conference is to provide a platform for exploring mutually beneficial partnership opportunities between Africa and India in the hydrocarbon sector. Twelve Ministers of Energy from Africa will be leading delegations to this conference. All the leading public and private sector players from India like, ONGC, IOC, GAIL, HPCL, BPCL, EIL, OIL, OVL and Reliance will showcase the Indian hydrocarbon sector. (ANI) Labels: Indo-Pak
India regrets emergency in Pak
Sunday, 4 November, 2007
MP: Reacting to the imposition of emergency rule in Pakistan, Indian External Affairs Ministry said that India regreted the declaration of emergency and also expressed hope that normalcy will soon be returned in the neighbouring country. "We regret the difficult times that Pakistan is passing through," Indian foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said in New Delhi. "We trust that conditions of normalcy will soon return permitting Pakistan's transition to stability and democracy to continue," he said. In the wake of the recent political developments Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee for talks and took stock of the situation. Other political parties including the Left and BJP strongly condemned the emergency rule. Labels: Indo-Pak
School on Indo-Pak border shaping careers of many students
Friday, 26 October, 2007
MP: Majha, Oct 26 (ANI): A school in Narli village on the Indo-Pak border in the Majha region has the distinction of shaping the careers of many students who have achieved eminent positions in the field of medicine, education, the armed forces and engineering.
Now, those who passed out from the school have got together to help reinforce education in this border village.
The village did not have the required infrastructure and amenities. Being a border village, it also faced tribulations during days of tension with Pakistan.
But, what makes the village proud is its Government Secondary School.
The alumni of the school in India and abroad joined hands to make the village much more attractive.
"The members not only include NRIs, but many who are settled in Chandigarh, Amritsar and Jalandhar. The villagers have allotted land to open up educational institutions for those who migrated from Sindh, Pakistan and elsewhere. Out of 60 acres, they donated 6 acres to schools," said Manveen Sandhu, wife of an alumnus (Principal, Springdale School, Amritsar)
The Springdale Educational Society in Amritsar, run by an Alumnus from Narli School, established a state-of-the-art computer centre in the village two years ago.
"Springdale Educational Society is helping us a lot by providing computers and teachers. Government teachers at schools located in the border areas get transferred whereas the private teachers regularly guide and teach us," said Mahima, a teacher.
A computer education in the village is like a dream come true for the students.
"Computer education is necessary for the new generation because everything is now dependent on computers. Every child should get an education of computers," added Sudha, another teacher.
The Springdale society has also recruited private teachers to run regular classes.
The girls do not drop out of the school and these days make `rural education' a reality.
Lakha Singh, Headmaster of the School, said, "The village has witnessed a great transformation. People are proud when their daughters are appointed as teachers in their own school. They are happy, as their financial condition has improved. The educated children in the border villages get good marriage offers. All these combine to make villagers understand the need for education."
The alumni also provide monetary assistance to maintain the school premises and provide all facilities for the betterment of education.
It's a concept that may well bring about a revolution in the field of education. (ANI) Labels: Indo-Pak
India, Pak to release civilian prisoners and fishermen
MP: Islamabad, Oct 26 (ANI): Pakistan and India will release all civilian prisoners and fishermen who have completed their sentences, according to an Interior Ministry official.
A recent meeting of Indian and Pakistani officials in New Delhi decided that the two countries would expedite the release of the prisoners, the official said.
He said that a large number of Pakistani prisoners are languishing in Indian jails despite the completion of their sentences and confirmation of their national status by the Pakistani Government.
The official said the Interior Ministry had confirmed the status of 266 civilian prisoners and travel documents of 157 civilian prisoners with the Indian External Affairs Ministry.
During the last five years, he said, Pakistan had released 2,824 Indians, including fishermen and civilian prisoners, while India released 832 Pakistanis, the Daily Times reported. (ANI) Labels: Indo-Pak
J-K has never been an integral part of India: Pak
Wednesday, 24 October, 2007
MP Washington, Oct 24 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir has never been "an integral part" of India, as several UN resolutions have recognised the state as a disputed territory, a Pakistani delegate told the United Nations General Assembly's fourth committee. Ahmad Raza Kasuri, a member of the Pakistani delegation, responding to remarks made by Indian delegate Rameshwar Oraon, emphasised that both India and Pakistan accepted the UN resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir. He said that in a situation of foreign occupation, no electoral exercise can be considered as constituting an exercise of the right to self-determination. That is why the Security Council in its Resolution 122 of 1957 declared that no Constituent Assembly could be constituted without the consent of the people of Kashmir through a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the UN, Kasuri added. Kasuri said Pakistan does not need advice, certainly not from India, either on self-determination or on democracy. "We shall refrain from commenting on India's 'democratic credentials,' which are, at best, highly tarnished. Suffice it to say that in a democracy, all citizens are a willing part of a state. The Kashmiri people are not. Although the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is an international issue, it has been agreed to address this bilaterally through composite dialogue (with India)," he said. Earlier, during the committee's proceedings, Oraon had insisted that Pakistan's call for self-determination for the Kashmiri people was "unwarranted and completely irrelevant" to the committee's work. Pakistan would have been better served by focusing on giving the right of self-determination and democracy to its own people, the Daily Times quoted Oraon, as saying. (ANI) Labels: Indo-Pak
Indo-Pak relations have never been this good
MP Islamabad, Oct 23 (ANI): Pakistan's Foreign Office has said that progress in the ongoing composite dialogue with India is healthy, and relations between the two neighbours have never been this good in the last 60 years. "The composite dialogue is very positive and Pakistan-India relations have never been this good in the last 60 years, but results should not be expected overnight," said Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq. Sadiq said that India and Pakistan's internal political situations would not affect the dialogue, and added that there is no instability in Pakistan. The peace process was moving slowly because of the complex nature of the bilateral ties, he said. "But we would like to speed up the peace process, especially the talks on Kashmir," Sadiq added. Commenting on a reported statement by Bryan Hunt, the US Consul General in Lahore, on Pakistan's political situation, Sadiq said if it was proven that Hunt had made such a statement, it would be considered against diplomatic norms and the matter would be taken up with the US Administration. He said that Iran had not asked for Pakistani assistance about the reported kidnapping of a Japanese student, but Islamabad would be happy to help if a formal assistance request is made. "Pakistan would fully cooperate with Iran and Japan if asked," he said. He also said that talks on the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline were moving in a positive direction, the Daily Times reported. (ANI) Labels: Indo-Pak
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