Musharraf attends Khule Aasman Ke Neeche premier

ISLAMABAD: President Musharraf has said that good films could project the culture and social problems of Pakistan in a better way. The president expressed these views while attending the premier of film “Khule Aasman Ke Neeche” in Islamabad. President Pervez Musharraf watched the film at National Art Gallery Theatre. The director, producer and cast of the film also attended the premier. Musharraf lauded the ARY as media partner of the film and praised Javed Shaikh for his professional expertise. He said exhibition of the films like “Khule Aasman Ke Neeche” would promote healthy entertainment activities. He said the film has effectively highlighted the social problems of our country.

No US attack threat in tribal areas: Mukhtar

ISLAMABAD: Minister of Defence Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar has said that the tribal areas were not under threat of an American attack. Talking to media here Saturday, the defence minister said that there was routine movement of the NATO forces in the Pak, Afghan border areas. “Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani during his upcoming tour of United States will discuss the issue with President George Bush and other US leaders,” the defence minister added.

Senior US envoy to meet Iran's top nuclear negotiator

VIENNA: A senior U.S. envoy will sit eye-to-eye for the first time with a top Iranian nuclear negotiator Saturday, a sharp reversal in U.S. policy that aims to entice Tehran into ending activities that could be used to make atomic arms. The move to send Undersecretary of State William Burns to the Geneva nuclear talks has raised the hackles of Washington hardliners who say it signals U.S. weakness. But supporters say because both Tehran and the United States want to ease tensions, the move could breathe life into deadlocked nuclear talks. On the eve of the meeting, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said that the talks themselves give hope "that there can be a peaceful solution" to the standoff over Tehran's nuclear program.

US Helping Pakistan, Afghanistan: McCormack

WASHINGTON: The United States on Friday said it is helping both Pakistan and Afghanistan work through the issues related to the "tough problem" of controlling their border and expressed the hope for continued communications between the two neighbors. "It is a tough problem controlling that border, there are issues on the Pakistani side, there are issues on the Afghan side, and we are helping both sides work through these issues and would expect that the communications between the Afghans and the Pakistanis will also continue," State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said. He cited the recent cooperative effort by anti-terrorism partners in the joint investigation into last month's incident on a Pakistani border post in the Pakistani tribal area. McCormack said while the findings were different the partners agreed they would increase resources to help personnel on both sides of the border in terms of border posts, improved communication and, demarcate the border where the line is.

Iran talks set to begin in Geneva

Geneva: The United States and Iran, poised to meet today in Geneva in their first face-to-face talks on Iran's nuclear program. A senior Iran diplomat has arrived in Geneva for talks with European negotiators where for the first time a high-level US official will also be present. Iranian experts say agreement could come down to a sophisticated understanding of that process. Before his departure from Tehran airport, Jalili underscored the importance of attitudes. "What matters to us is the approach the other side takes. More important than who is going to participate is the kind of approach they take," he said. "If it is constructive, we could have positive talks".

Nepal To Vote For First President Today

KATHMANDU: Lawmakers in Nepal are expected to vote on Saturday for the country's first president following the abolition of the Hindu monarchy, paving the way for the dominant Maoists to form a government. The country has been in political limbo after a landmark meeting of a newly elected constitutional assembly sacked unpopular king Gyanendra and abolished the 240-year-old Hindu monarchy on May 28.

Inter-Faith Congress Urges Dialogue To Fight Terrorism

MADRID: The three-day international interfaith conference, which concluded here Friday, emphasized the need for promoting dialogue among religions and cultures in order to strengthen world peace and stability. The final declaration issued by the conference rejected the notion of the so-called “clash of civilizations” and warned against the danger of campaigns seeking to deepen conflicts and destabilize peace and security.