Newly-elected Pakistan President Asif Zardari on a visit to the US met with President Bush on September 23 in New York. The two leaders discussed the situation in FATA and reports noted that President Bush promised to respect Pakistan’s territorial sovereignty1. US Defence Secretary Robert Gates had however earlier noted that the US had a right to strike at terrorist outfits within Pakistan and that Islamabad was expected to cooperate with it as a “willing partner2.”

Meanwhile, in an interview to the Washington Post, President Zardari noted that the world was a “safer place” due to the able leadership of President Bush. Zardari further asserted that the “axis of evil is growing.” He however did not specify who constituted this particular axis3.

Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) revealed that at least 50 militants were killed in Darra in security operations on September 234. 14 people were also reportedly killed and several injured when militant targets in the Bajaur Agency were attacked by helicopter gun ships and artillery5. Amidst these developments, Army Chief General Kayani on September 21 asserted that the army was committed to fight the war against terror6.

In other developments, Afghan Consul General Abdul Khaliq Farahi was kidnapped on September 22 in Peshawar by unidentified persons7.

• 1. Anwar Iqbal, “Bush skirts around issue of sovereignty,” Dawn, September 24, 2008, at http://www.dawn.com/2008/09/24/top1.htm
• 2. “US has right to hit targets inside Pakistan: Gates,” Daily Times, September 25, 2008, at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\09\25\story_25-9-2008_pg1_1
• 3. “World safer place because of Bush,” Daily Times, September 28, 2008, at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\09\28\story_28-9-2008_pg1_1
• 4. Abdul Sami Paracha, “50 militants in Darra killed, claims ISPR,” Dawn, September 24, 2008, at http://www.dawn.com/2008/09/24/top2.htm
• 5. “14 militants killed in Bajaur,” Dawn, September 27, 2008, at http://www.dawn.com/2008/09/27/top3.htm
• 6. “Army stands by nation in terror war, says Kayani,” Daily Times, September 22, 2008, at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\09\22\story_22-9-2008_pg1_1
• 7. Ali Hazrat Bacha and Syed Irfan Raza, “Gunmen kidnap top Afghan diplomat, kill driver,” Dawn, September 23, 2008, at http://www.dawn.com/2008/09/23/top1.htm