High Profile

US relationship with Pakistan ‘incredibly important’: White House       WASHINGTON: On the eve of President Barack Obama’s visit to New Delhi, the White House has described the US-Pakistan relationship as “incredibly important” to their shared security and emphasised that the United States’ relations with Pakistan and India are not at the expense of the other. “We don’t view these relationships as taking place at the expense of the other, that we can have a good relationship with India and we can have a good relationship with Pakistan,” Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Adviser, said. He was underscoring Washington’s commitment to having close ties with both the South Asian neighbors while speaking ahead of President Obama’s January 26 visit on the occasion of the Indian Republic Day. “Obviously, the US-Pakistan relationship is incredibly important to our shared security,” Rhodes remarked, adding the US president could not visit Pak...

Zarb-e-Azb Pakistan army launches operation 'Zarb-e-Azb' against terrorists in North Waziristan

Saudi King Abdullah dies, new ruler is Salman   RIYADH: Saudi Arabia´s King Abdullah has died, Geo News reported early on Friday and his brother Salman became king, it said in a statement attributed to Salman. King Salman has called on the family´s Allegiance Council to pay allegiance to Muqrin as his crown prince and heir. Saudi King Abdullah was in his early 80s when he ascended the throne in 2005 but he sprang into action in a campaign to free the kingdom from dependence on oil and the influence of hardline Islamists. Tapping into the absolute monarchy´s massive oil wealth, Abdullah, who died Friday aged around 90, launched projects to build new economic cities, universities and high-speed railways. He tried to convert the country from a breeding ground for Islamic radicals into a moderate, constructive partner in global politics. In 2011, Abdullah withstood the convulsions of the Arab Spring uprisings that ousted several...