PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN, Sep 28 (Reuters) Secret pen guns, pocket guns, handguns, shotguns, machineguns, anti-aircraft guns , the wild west of Pakistan is a gun lovers dream.
Almost any type of gun can be bought or copied, and manufacturers and sellers are optimistic that a predicted US blitz on Afghanistan for sheltering Osama Bin Laden, prime suspect in the attacks on New York and Washington, could fuel a mini-boom in demand.
"If they attack, Ill be able to make more guns and sell more guns," said Yaser Afridi, sitting in his shop surrounded by display cases full of double-barrel shotguns, handguns and copies of Russian kalashnikov assault rifles, the weapon of choice for Mujahideen (holy warriors) in Afghanistan.
Afridi is part of a gun culture that has been passed down through the generations and has its heart in the village of Darra Adam Khel, 30 km (19 miles) south of Peshawar.
There rows of shops sell guns of almost every description, much like strings of stores sell shirts in a tourist hotspot.
"I belong to Darra.
I have people in Darra who can make any gun," said Afridi, whose shop opened just after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.
The government has put Darra Adam Khel off limits to foreigners for years, trying to hide the lawless frontier image as it tries to cope with an overflow of guns into the big cities.
A Reuters correspondent who gained permission for a rare visit early this year found men striding along the main road with armloads of freshly produced rifles.
The town reverberated with gunfire as purchasers slipped behind the shops to test out their weapons on the surrounding hills before concluding the purchases.
Men, and boys, sat cross-legged in scores of adjoining shops producing perfect copies of weapons , right down to engraved serial numbers and countries of manufacture , with nothing more sophisticated than punches, files, a hand-held power drill and a small lathe.
Violence in Afghanistan has always fuelled the gun culture in the border north west frontier province.
Broken weapons, scrap medal and used bullets from the decade-long battle with Soviet occupiers in the 1980s provided materials for the gun industry.
Local media report that the scrap supply has been drying up , but the arms industry, despite Washington ruling out large-scale attacks, is counting on better times from a US attack on the ruling Taliban for harbouring Bin Laden.
"The manufacturers happily expect that, with the start of a war in the region, scrap will once again be easily and abundantly available," said a report in The Dawn newspaper.
"The prices of ammunition, which had registered a 600 percent increase, especially those for kalashnikovs, would also fall because there would be millions of empty shells, which could be refilled and used in the locally and as well as foreign-made arms," it said.
Guns are especially a way of life in the semi-autonomous tribal areas that make up about 25 percent of the province, and where long, bloody tribal feuds , mostly over women or land , are common and smugglers, especially of drugs, are kings.
"This is the city so there are no guns, but in the tribal areas everyone has a gun, everyone has a kalashnikov," said Afridi.
His shop had posters of little boys with anti-aircraft guns , "We can make those" , and of Indian helicopters being shot down.
The gun dealer, sporting a New York yankees cap, added that he was against the United States.
Afridi sells copies of kalashnikovs for 4,000 rupees ( 62).
"We sell a lot of copies of kalashnikovs and M-16s, they are the best guns in the world," he said.
An original M-16, mainstay of the US army, costs 80,000 rupees ( 1,230), Afridi said, but a Pakistani copy knocked off in Darra was 20,000 rupees or less.
While those guns are the most popular, Afridi said it was possible to copy any type of gun.
"Give me two or three days and we can copy a gun we have not seen before.
There is not one centimetre difference between the original and the copy," he said.
Iran offers US conditional help to fight terrorism TEHRAN, Sep 28 (DPA) Iran today offered the United States its help in fighting international terrorism "within a rational framework".
"Despite all the differences we have with the US we are ready to help the Americans, but within a rational framework," former president Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani said at todays prayers ceremony in Teheran.
The fight against terrorism was essential, he said.
Earlier, the official news agency IRNA reported that Japan was ready to mediate between Iran and the US over the issue of an international anti-terrorism alliance.
Former Japanese foreign minister Masahiko Komura was expected in Teheran next Tuesday with a message for president Mohammad Khatami from prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, IRNA said.
Japan was said to be acting on a request by US president George W.
Bush to Koizumi to use Japans connections with Iran to tell the Teheran administration that cooperation would lead to economic benefits.
Iran has suffered losses as a result of US trade sanctions since 1995 and , according to Iranian estimates , billions of Dollars from before the 1979 Iranian revolution remain frozen in US Banks.
Iran has declared its readiness to join in a fight under United Nations auspices against international terrorism, but not in an alliance under US leadership.
Protesters warn Pak against aiding US war on Afghanistan ISLAMABAD, Sep 28 (DPA) Islamic activists warned Pakistan president General Pervez Musharraf today that he would be treated as an enemy if he aided the United States plans to punish Afghnistans Taliban for not delivering suspected terrorist mastermind Osama Bin Laden.
"We will treat you like Bush," shouted a charged crowd of Sipahe Sahaba activists at a rally outside a Mosque in Islamabad after todays prayers.
Their leader, Azam Tariq, standing on an effigy of US president George W.
Bush, vowed with his followers that they would wage "Jihad", holy war, if the US attacks Afghanistan.
Tariq warned the Pakistan army would lose public support if it aided an US assault.
A pamphlet distributed at Fridays congregations in Islamabad charged the fight against terrorism was a pretext for the US to impose itself in the region.
"It sees terrorists in Moslems only.
Why not in Israeli and Indian actions in Palestine and Kashmir?" it read.
"Listen, Muslims, helping the US with intelligence, logistics or use of your airspace, land, waters will be enmity to Islam and its followers," said the pamphlet.
"Instead of looking for the real culprits, the Bush administration straight away blamed Moslem terrorists for the September 11 attacks, and declared a war against terrorism , naming it a crusade , and confronted the Islamic countries with the insulting choice of either you are with US or the terrorists," the pamphlet said.
No plan to visit Afghanistan: Jackson ISLAMABAD, Sep 28 (UNI) A day after Taliban supremo Mullah Mohammad Omar accepted Jesse Jacksons offer of mediation to resolve the crisis in Afghanistan, the us civil rights leader ruled out his visit to the war-torn country on a peace mission.
The news said today quoting the former presidential hopeful that he had no plans to visit Afghanistan.
"I do not want to go.
I have no plans to go," Jackson said.
Yesterday, Jackson, 59, said he had been invited by the Taliban to act as mediator over US demands for the handover of Osama Bin Laden.
However, Taliban ambassador in Pakistan Abdul Salam Zaeef had said, "We have not invited him (Jackson), but he has made an offer to mediate which has been accepted by our leader Mullah Mohammad Omar." The newspaper said there was confusion about which side had proposed his involvement.
While the civil rights leader said he had been invited by the Taliban ambassador, the Taliban said Jackson had offered mediation, which was accepted by Mullah Omar.
While Jackson had now decided not to go, he had earlier said that he would consult international religious leaders before deciding on the visit, it said.
The Taliban religious authorities could provide an avenue to defuse all tensions between the countries, Jackson said.
"The window that we have at this point is that religious leaders who have some sway have not yet closed off communications," the news quoted him as saying.
US ready to end UN sanctions on Sudan UNITED NATIONS, Sep 28 (Reuters) The United States has dropped its opposition to lifting largely symbolic UN sanctions against Sudan, allowing the UN security council to end the embargoes in a vote today, diplomats said.
The council had delayed a September 17 meeting to end sanctions on the movement of diplomatic personnel because of the attacks against the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington.
But the envoys said the United States apparently has softened its view that Sudan was supporting terrorist activities and may abstain in the vote but not use its veto to block a resolution on the embargoes.
The UN sanctions are separate from broader ones imposed unilaterally by the United States, which are still intact.
Earlier this week, US State department spokesman Richard Boucher praised talks with Khartoum.
"For about a year, we have had a counter-terrorism dialogue with Sudan and had been making concrete progress in that regard," boucher said on Wednesday.
"I would characterize our discussions so far with Sudan as good," he added." "Since the bombings, we have seen statements from Sudan that are positive and offered sympathy and support," he said, following reports Sudan was rounding up so-called extremists.
UN sanctions against Sudan were imposed in 1996 to force the Khartoum government to hand over suspects in an assassination attempt against Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.
They require states to reduce the number of Sudanese diplomatic personnel and to restrict the entry or transit of Sudanese government officials.
But the United States is one of the few countries to honor the sanctions.
Even Egypt, on whose behalf the embargoes were imposed, and Ethiopia, where the attack against Mubarak took place, support ending the sanctions.
The United States has insisted sudan show it is no longer providing sanctuary to alleged terrorist groups, and U.S.
counter-terrorism experts said last month the government was not supporting the gunmen involved in the attack on Mubarak.
Separately, the United States has its own sanctions, imposed by former president Bill Clinton, who closed the U.S.
Embassy in Khartoum in 1996 and put trade embargoes in place.
Sudan also remains one of seven countries listed by the state department as a sponsor of terrorism.
In August 1998, Clinton ordered air strikes on a Sudanese pharmaceutical factory on grounds, much disputed, that it was preparing to produce ingredients for chemical weapons.
Washington said then that Saudi-born militant Osama Bin Laden, now suspected in the latest attacks against the United States, had a stake in the plant.
The White House, particularly U.S.
president George W.
Bush, had hesitated to lift any sanctions, mainly because of Khartoums use of slaves throughout the countrys brutal 18-year-old civil war.
On September 6, however, Washington decided to launch a peace initiative to mediate between Sudans Islamic government and Christian and animist militias fighting for autonomy.
Missing in WTC attack falls to 5,960 NEW YORK, Sep 28 (Reuters) The list of those missing and feared dead in the hijacker attacks on the World Trade Center fell to 5,960 as many people originally believed lost in the disaster have turned up elsewhere, officials said.
The toll, which has varied as the search for victims in the the September 11 tragedy has gone on, had last been estimated to be 6,347, they said yesterday.
"The police department missing persons report is now 5,960 as a result of going through the report, removing duplicates and also in some cases finding people," Mayor Rudolph Giuliani told a news conference.
Giuliani said a significant number of those removed from the New York list were foreign nationals who had been reported missing by their governments and later turned up somewhere in the United States.
The Mayor said the final toll could fall somewhere below the current police number and above the list of 4,620 people who have been reported missing by close relatives.
There are 305 people confirmed dead in the attack, of whom 238 have been identified.
The latest numbers dropped to about 6,500 the total number of dead or missing in the coordinated attacks.
Two hijacked passenger jets slammed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, a third struck the Pentagon near Washington and a fourth crashed in rural Pennsylvania, apparently en route to another landmark target.
Diplomats at the South Korean consulate, for example, said they had initial reports of 30 of their citizens missing but further checks had reduced the number to 18.
New York officials have said it is up to family members to say when the hope of finding life in the twisted ruins has been exhausted.
Giuliani said, thus far, relatives of 565 missing people had begun paperwork to acquire death certificates.
Five people were pulled alive from the rubble but they were all found in the first two days of the operation.
Officials and rescue workers say it would take a miracle to find survivors now.
Two weeks after the attacks, doctors and scientists are concerned a combination of humidity, smoldering fire and chemicals are diminishing the odds that quality DNA can be extracted from the remains for identification purposes.
"Everyone is concerned about how long the DNA at the World Trade Center site is exposed to the elements.
But no one can give us an exact estimate as to how long the DNA will remain intact," said Brian Ward, a vice president at Myriad Genetics INC., one of the Biotech Firms helping to identify bodies by matching DNA.
Giuliani said a large number of unidentified body parts had been recovered from the site.
Powell does not know where Bin Laden hiding LONDON, Sep 28 (Reuters) US secretary of state Colin Powell said he did not know where Osama Bin Laden was hiding, but added that the prime suspect in the September 11 attacks on the United States would be found.
"I cant tell you that I know where he is.
I dont think many people know where he is, but we will find him.
We will find him in due course and those who harbour him will discover there is a penalty for harbouring him, for giving him haven," Powell said in an interview from Washington with Britains ITV television yesterday.
Powell also said the United States had a "spine of steel" which those behind the attacks on New York and Washington should not underestimate.
"Well come back from this.
Well deal with this tragedy.
We will deal with our losses and they have made a mistake by striking at America.
We will strike back," he said.
The former general dismissed the suggestion that the United States had not provided the public with evidence linking Bin Laden to the bombing.
He said authorities were still gathering intelligence and will make it known as soon as they are able, but that there was little doubt of his guilt.
"We indicted this man some years ago for bombing two of our embassies in Africa.
So we already have a case.
Even before this came along we had a case.
We can link him to other acts of terror in our history,"Powell said.
"We have no doubt that it is him.There is no doubt in our mind.
We are acting on the certainty that it is the Al Qaeda organization and Osama Bin Laden." Powell also said there probably wont be an "exit point" in the countrys attempt to prevent attacks like those on September 11 and that people should prepare for a lengthy campaign.
"We are certainly putting together an adequate military capability for whatever the president might direct.
But as the president has said, along with so many others, it is a different kind of war," Powell said.
"The president is in this for the long haul.
The American people are in this for the long haul and I believe the International Community is into it for the long haul," Powell said.
US shares common goal with Pak on Afghanistan ISLAMABAD, Sep 28 (UNI) The United States shared a goal with Pakistan of ending the use of Afghanistan as a safe haven for terrorists and said it has "very continuous contacts" with Islamabad as both countries agreed that Kabul needed a broad-based and representative government which could not be made up from outside, according to a newspaper.
"It has never been our view to make the government , to decide on the government of Afghanistan," the news reported today quoting the US state department spokesman.
He, however, parried the question that if Pakistan believed, it required a similar broad-based representative government.
Us officials also sounded a cautious note about plans to bolster the Northern Alliance and acknowledged the seriousness of Pakistan.
A state department official said meaningfully the administration hoped to foster an Afghan opposition front far broader than the Northern Alliance that would also include dissident commanders within the Taliban movement, the newspaper said.
"Its a new world for us and the Pakistanis, the Indians and the Afghans.
It will require some new thinking which is still developing," the official said.
He said the us was in touch with a wide variety of Afghan groups and factions which were involved in the situation inside the warn-torn Afghanistan, as well as exiled groups and other interested parties.
"We have had some contact with the northern alliance, with former king Zahir Shah in rome and others.
We keep in touch with various factions inside Afghanistan, as well as people outside the country who care." The newspaper said the decision for the US attack on Afghanistan seemed to have been delayed, if not cancelled, as top US officials said yesterday that "a military strike against Osama Bin Laden and his supporters in Afghanistan is not imminent".
Meanwhile, US defence ministry official Paul D Wolfowitzs statement issued at nato headquarters in Brussels, released simultaneously in Washington, was interpreted by local media as a clear indication of the Bush administration backing off from immediate military strikes in Afghanistan.
"I think it cant be stressed enough that everybody who is waiting for military action .Needs to rethink this thing," he said, while citing the need for gaining better intelligence before any strikes against Bin Laden and his alleged camps.
"If we need collective action, we will ask for it.
We dont anticipate that for the moment," he was quoted as saying.
Former Soviet states to act together against terrorism MOSCOW,Sep 28 (DPA) Former Soviet Republics of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will act in Unison in the fight against International Terrorism, Russian president Vladimir Putin said today after talks with the government heads of the BLOC.
"We agreed that we shall take a common stand and shall be guided by common principles and understandings," the Itar-Tass news agency quoted Putin as saying.
He said Russia determined its position in anti-terrorist actions after consultations with cis government heads, above all from the five predominantly moslem cis countries in central Asia.
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenia have all offered to assist potential U.S.
strikes in Afghanistan.
Putin noted that following the tragedy in the United States, the CIS heads of state worked "to hammer out a common stand in the struggle against international terrorism and in pinpointing the place of CIS countries in international efforts to fight this threat".
Before the September 11 attacks the 12 former Soviet Republics had established a joint anti-terrorism centre to combat threats emanating mainly in the caucasus and central Asian region.
Putin today underlined the need for a strong funding base for the centre, and also called for support for a proposed International Conference in Russia titled "Islam against terrorism".
Iran criticises Italian premier over remarks on Islam TEHRAN,Sep 28 (DPA) Iran sharply criticized remarks by Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi for saying western civilization was superior to that of Islamic countries, the news network Khabar reported today.
Foreign minister Kamal Kharrazi termed the remarks at the present, sensitive juncture as "ignorant, irresponsible and simply unacceptable".
Speaking to Italian journalists on Wednesday, Berlusconi said the respect for human rights and religion shown in the west was absent from the Islamic world.
European Union Officials, seeking support from Arab and Islamic countries for a global anti-terror alliance after the September 11 attacks in the United States, immediately distanced themselves from Berlusconis views, which have come in for widespread criticism.
UAE to freeze accounts of terrorist oraganisations, leaders DUBAI, Sep 28 (UNI) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has directed all financial institutions in the country to immediately search for and freeze the accounts of the 26 terrorist organisations and the leaders, including that of Osama Bin Laden.
"All banks, money-changers, investment companies and other financial institutions, including the insurance sector and the financial markets are required to search for immediately and freeze any accounts, deposits and investments by individuals and organisations, linked with terrorism," the Central Bank of UAE was quoted by local newspapers as saying in a directive issued yesterday.
The UAEs step came three days after US president George W Bush ordered freezing of bank accounts and assets of organisations regarded as terrorist groups by Washington and threatened to act against those foreign banks which did not follow suit.
The Central Bank made it clear to the countrys financial institutions that non-compliance with the order would lead to freezing of their assets in the US and would subject them to severe penalties UAE itself.
Eleven terrorist organisations figured in the Central Banks list are Bin Ladens Al Queda group, Aby Sayyaf group, Harkat Al Mujahidin, Al Jihad ( Egyptian Islamic Jihad), Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Libyan Fighting Group and the Islamic Army of Aden.
Bin Laden, the prime suspect in the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington, figures in the list of eleven individuals.
Four terrorist NGOs also figure in the list and one entity going by the name of Mamoun Darkazanli import export company.
US attack may swell number of refugees in Pak ISLAMABAD, Sep 28 (DPA) Pakistans refugee population may rise to 4 million in the event the United States attacks Afghanistan in its war against terrorism, a federal minister told a meeting of donors in Islamabad today.
Minister for Kashmir affairs and frontier regions Abbas Sarfaraz said the expected arrival of 1 million new Afghan refugees would swell the ranks of the 3 million refugees burdening the country from the last war fought in Afghanistan 20 years ago.
Sarfaraz said Pakistan will need nearly 122 million Dollars to provide shelter to new arrivals and another 34.2 million to feed them.
Afghans fleeing the anticipated US retaliatory strikes against the terrorist attacks on its cities have already been massing on the border in thousands but Pakistan is allowing only those who are sick or carrying valid visas to enter.
Japan and the European Union have committed 58 million Dollars to cope with the expected influx once the shooting starts.
Syrians march in support of Palestinian uprising DAMASCUS, Sep 28 (Reuters) Hundreds of Syrian artists, intellectuals and politicians today marked the first anniversary of the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation by demonstrating and collecting donations.
The demonstrators marched through main streets in Damascus and walked past the parliament building before dispersing.
They were wearing special anniversary T-shirts for which each paid 500 Syrian Pounds (10 Dollars).
"The value of the T-shirts that have been sold would be sent to help the Palestinians in the west bank and Gaza strip who are suffering from the inhumane Israeli siege imposed on them which severely cut down food and medical supplies," said leading Syrian actor Douraid Laham.
At least 593 Palestinians and 169 Israelis have been killed in the uprising which erupted on September 28 last year when prime minister Ariel Sharon, who was then an opposition leader, visited a shrine revered by Muslims and jews in Jerusalem.
The demonstrators carried Palestinian flags and banners expressing support for the uprising and condemning what they called Israels excessive use of force against Palestinians.
"All children of the world are born happy except the children of Palestine.
They are born to become martyrs," one banner said.
OIC conference on Oct 9 in Qatar ISLAMABAD, Sep 28 (UNI) An emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) would be held in Qatar on October 9 to discuss the latest situation arising out of the September 11 terrorist attacks on Washington and New York.
This was disclosed by Pakistan foreign minister Abdul Sattar here yesterday while addressing a huge gathering of torch bearers to express their solidarity and support to the government, reports the frontier post today.
Mr Sattar said the meeting would be of foreign ministers level.
"Convening of the emergent meeting by the Islamic countries is an important decision and would express that the entire Muslim Ummah condemn the terrorism," he said.
"We all the Muslims are against the killing of innocent people and this would be expressed in the OIC meeting," Mr Sattar added.
He said the OIC meeting would also provide an opportunity to apprise the rest of the world that the Muslim Ummah had always been giving priority to peace and there should be no misconception about islam.
"Some elements had been working to give bad name to this religion of peace," he added.
Malaysian Airlines suspends service to Pak ISLAMABAD, Sep 28 (Reuters) National flag carrier Malaysian Airline System MASM.Kl , citing security and commercial concerns, today said it had suspended its twice-weekly flights to Pakistan.
"We have suspended our flights until October 7 " wan Othman Mohammad Noor, Malaysia Airlines Pakistan area manager told Reuters.
"Yesterdays flight looks like being the last, its not viable any more, and also for security reasons we felt we should stop and monitor the situation," he added.
MAS operated flights on Thursdays and Sundays on the Kuala Lumpur-Karachi and Karachi-Dubai routes.
Cathay pacific 0293.HK , Singapore Airlines SIAL.SI and British Airways bAY.L have already suspended flights to Pakistan due to uncertainty over threatened US military strikes on neighbouring Afghanistan.
US introduces legislation for removing all sanctions against Pak WASHINGTON, Sep 28 (UNI) A legislation has been introduced in the US Congress to remove the remaining sanctions against Pakistan and, if passed, it would lead to defence sales and export of dual-use technology to that country.
The legislation which was introduced by senator Sam Brownback was referred to the senate foreign relations committee proposes to lift sanctions imposed after the military took over power in Pakistan in 1999.
The US lifted nuclear-related sanctions against India and Pakistan last week.
Since then there has been talks in Washington to further roll back sanctions against Pakistan.
Pak "protects" foreign media, raises hackles QUETTA, (PAKISTAN) Sep 28 (Reuters) - It looks like something built by an eccentric billionaire in Palm beach, but Baluchistans most luxurious hotel is also regarded by many of its guests as little better than a gilded cage.
It is supposed to represent a Pathan fort of mud walls, fountains and courtyards, but the concrete and cement structure, painted a startling pink, soon loses its charm for foreign correspondents, television crews and photographers.
Arriving in droves to cover possible US strikes against bases used by Osama bin Laden, the Saudi-born dissident named by Washington as the prime suspect in the September 11 suicide attacks on New York and Washington, the journalists are intercepted at Quetta airport by police with automatic rifles.
The visitors are escorted through the Old Garrison town to the Sereena hotel.
"Its for your protection," a Police Inspector insists in response to an outraged TV Producers protests at being herded around the provincial capital.
"If anything happened to you in this tense situation, we would be to blame." Sitting in the airconditioned lobby with its Afghan rugs, the visitor finds himself in the company of strangers.
They seem keen to make friends.
Then the questions start - where is the visitor from, who does he work for, who has he been talking to, where has he or she been, what story is he or she working on.
On the way to the massive front door, the guest passes uniformed police officers, automatic rifles across their knees.
Outside, dozens of well-armed Baluch police are working shifts round the clock.
They also camp outside the hotel walls.
Special branch officers are in charge, patrolling rooftops, taking down car registration numbers and wagging their fingers disapprovingly at anyone pointing a camera in their direction.
The journalist might want to buy a pair of shoes or eat at a restaurant where the food is better and cheaper, but he must take an armed policeman with him.
The special branch officers want the drivers name.
They want the reporters name, and his room number.
"Ive been here two days and I really cant stand much more of this," protested one British Television journalist.
Journalists seeking access to the border with Afghanistan must submit their names in advance.
They are not allowed to film or photograph the border if and when they get there.
When they eventually do leave the hotel premises - often after heated exchanges with their minders - it is in a military- style convoy escorted by truckloads of gun-toting police.
Returning from interviewing a prominent opposition figure, this correspondent was approached by a plainclothes security man.
He knew where I had been, and wanted me to know he knew.
He then asked for details of what the politician had said.
But any suggestion that journalists were being deliberately obstructed and harassed is brushed aside.
"You are our guests," said Azmat Hanif Orakzai, Secretary of Baluchistans Interior Ministry, the body responsible for security policy in the vast frontier region.
"Imagine if something did happen to you.
It would be our responsibility." In downtown Quetta, among Baluch and Pushtuns, there was no sense of antagonism towards foreigners - only curiosity and offers of tea and the inevitable question: will America attack Afghanistan? Orakzai dismissed any suspicion that the security masked efforts to create a sense of tension.
By doing so, Pakistan might persuade Washington that the military governments room for manoeuvre in dealing with Bin Laden and his Taliban hosts was constrained by domestic pressures.
Another view, according to one opposition politician, was that curbs on the media were imposed to conceal Pakistans speedy withdrawal from Afghanistan of military advisers and special forces working with the Taliban in battling the Moscow-backed Northern Alliance opposition.
A Russian report sent to a UN Security Council Committee in March listed what Moscow said were the Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence officers in Afghanistan, along with Pakistani regular and irregular forces.
Orakazai said the restrictions were introduced simply out of concern for the journalists welfare.
"There have been a number of public demonstrations (by militant muslim parties) and we thought it wise to introduce these precautions," Orakzai said.
Werent the rallies in support of the Taliban orchestrated by Pakistans Intelligence and Security Services? Orakzai laughed.
"Thats disinformation," he said.
Bdesh women lose illusions about women leaders Dhaka, Sep 28 (Reuters) Bangladeshi slum dweller HHazera Begum voted in the 1991 election which ushered to power the first ever woman prime minister in the predominantly muslim country.
Hopes among women for an improvement in their lot surged when Begum Khaleda Zia, widow of the slain army chief and president ziaur rahman, took over as prime minister.
But Hazeras life did not change.
She remained a maid.
Keeping her hopes alive, hazera voted again in the 1996 election, which brought to power another woman sheikh hasina, daughter of slain independence hero, sheikh mujibur rahman.
Hasinas victory sparked huge enthusiasm among bangladeshs women who, during khaledas rule, had seen an increase in cases of torture, rape and even incidents of the stoning of women for alleged adultery.
Women hoped the new government would take action to cut crime and abuse but those hopes too were largely dashed.
Now in the run-up to an election on monday, hazera and many women like her are wondering if they should even bother to vote.
"why should i vote again? asked hazera, a mother of five and the wife of a rickshaw-puller, whose combined daily income is about 150 taka three dollars.
"I was a maid-servant before 1991 and i am still the same.
There is little hope my life will change, said the 45-year-old woman who lives in a slum in the capital, dhaka.
Another slum dweller, salam miah, agreed, were only approached...When there is a vote.
Once it is over, we are just forgotten like a torn pair of shoes.
crime and abuse are the main issues most poor women want political leaders to tackle, and there is a long list of crimes against women in bangladesh.
Official records and newspapers say there have been 700 cases of rape reported so far this year.
Every year nearly 20,000 women and children are smuggled to india and beyond to become prostitutes.
Many bangladeshi women are tortured and killed over dowry disputes.
"Women have been tortured by their husbands or their families for dowry for a long time.
This is one abuse that still scares bangladeshi women today, said razia khan, a women rights activist.
Most victims are from poor families and while there are laws to deal with crime against women they are often not enforced, lawyers say, partly because women often fear reprisal if they report crime and partly because of corruption in the police.
The two former women prime ministers, hasina and khaleda, the main contenders in the election, take every opportunity to trumpet their achievements for women, and tout their plans for the future.
Both leaders have launched efforts to improve education for women, to create employment and improve health facilities, especially for women in the countryside.
And these have had some impact.
"Certainly, these are notable positives we have seen in the past ten years, said ayesha khanam, the secretary-general of bangladesh mahila parishad, or womens association.
"These reflected the respective governments policy of empowering women in society, she said.
The number of women joining the civil service and employed in the private sector has increased steadily over the past decade.
Hasinas government also started recruiting women into the armed forces, something previously unthinkable.
But despite the women prime ministers there are still only six elected women members in the outgoing parliament and the total is not expected to increase much after mondays vote.
Only about 30 women, including hasina and khaleda, are among more than 1,900 candidates running for parliaments 300 seats.
One major sector of employment for women is the countrys multi-billion dollar garment industry its biggest export earner where 90 percent of the sectors 1.7 million employees are women.
But most are low-paid and have to work long hours in often poor conditions.
Some garment factory workers are victims of sexual abuse.
But it is not just poor women who have become disillusioned with the countrys women leaders.
Educated women complain that little has changed when it comes to opportunities for them and money and power still speak much more loudly than merit.
"I dont believe them...They speak for buying votes, said school teacher selina akhkar.
"I had to struggle for years and then pay a hefty bribe before getting this job, she said.
Tahera nasreen, a post-graduate from dhaka university, has been looking for a job for years.
"I scored very well in all my examinations but they are not a real yardstick for employment, she said.
"You need money, powerful relatives or a miracle to get a job.
This has not changed though our country has been ruled by women for a decade, nasreen said.
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